USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 47
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CITY OF LOGANSPORT.
libraries in the city of Logansport, containing more than 3,000 vol- umes, of a classical, scientific and general nature. He was made a Mason in the year 1852; is a member of Tipton Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M .; became a member of Logan R. A. Chapter, No. 2, in 1853, and has been a member of Logansport Council, No, 11, R. & S. M., since the year 1863. He is an active working member of the order, and feels a lively interest in its welfare. He is one who never sought public distinction; is naturally modest and retir- ing, and the official positions in which he has acted at various times have been tendered him by his fellow-citizens, in recognition of his many virtues and rare ability, and his official record is one of which he may justly be proud. Scrupulously honest and upright in all his dealings, he enjoys the friendship and good-will of all with whom he has ever been associated.
GEORGE C. HORNE was born in Washington County, Penn., November 21, 1825, and is the second son of John and Hannah (Custer) Horne, both parents natives of the same county and State. John Horne came to Indiana in 1849 and settled in Clay Township. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty years. George C. Horne received the advantages of a common-school education, and at the age of seventeen began working at the carpenter's trade, in which he soon became very pro- ficient, and at which he continued until 1879. He came to Logans- port in 1847, soon acquired considerable reputation as a successful builder, and for a number of years worked extensively in the city and county. In 1879 he engaged with the Pan Handle Railroad Company, and since that time lias been working in their shops at Logansport. At the breaking out of the Mexican war Mr. Horne entered the army, enlisting in Company C, Second Ohio Regiment, with which he served from June, 1846, until July, 1847. Com- pany C was raised in Highland County, Ohio, and was commanded by Capt. William Irick. The regiment was commanded by Col. George W. Morgan, a general of distinction in the late war, and participated in a number of irregular engagements between the towns of Camargo and Monterey. He was a soldier in the late civil war also, enlisting, in 1861, in Company K, Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, and serving with the same for a period of three years, during which time he participated in a number of battles, among which were Island No. 10, Vicksburg, and the various engagements of the Red River campaign. Mr. Horne was married April 18, 1853, to Miss Martha Thomas, a native of Clark County, Ohio, and daughter of Giles W. Thomas, one of the prominent citizens of Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Horne have one child, Sallie Horne, born November, 1854. Mr. Horne stands high in Masonry, having taken a number of degrees, including that of Sir Knight. He be- longs to the G. A. R., and in politics votes with the Republican party.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
ROBERT HUMPHREYS, city clerk, was born in the city of Pittsburgh, Penn., August 8, 1857, son of John C. and Nancy C. (Ross) Humphreys, natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Humphreys was educated in the schools of his native city, and in early life learned the printer's trade. He came to Lo- gansport in September. 1879, and engaged as salesman in the hard- ware house of I. N. Crawford, with whom he remained until 1882, when he resumed his trade and continued the same until 1885. In the latter year he was elected city clerk on the Republican ticket- a fact which attests the great popularity which he had gained in so short a period of residence. Mr. Humphreys has proved a very efficient officer. He was married in May, 1883, to Miss Anna Don- aldson, of Logansport. To this marriage has been born one child, William R.
THOMAS J. IMMEL is a native of Union County, Ind., born at the town of Liberty January 24, 1831. His parents, John and Mary (Grove) Immel, were natives of Pennsylvania and of Ger- man lineage. Mr. Immel was raised to agricultural pursuits, re- maining on the farm until about 1847, and received his early edu- cation in the common schools, supplemented by a course in a pri- vate school taught by William Wharton, attending the same during the year above mentioned. In 1848 he accepted the position of salesman in a dry goods house, and in 1549 engaged in a fanning- mill factory at Brownsville, Ind, where he worked one year. From 1850 till 1851 he was engaged in the manufacture of shingles in Union County, and one year later accepted a clerkship in a dry goods store at Richmond, where he remained until 1853. In the latter year he went to Hagerstown, and in 1855 engaged in the patent-right business, continuing the same until 1856, and then be- came a clerk in a woolen goods store at Liberty, in which capacity he continued until embarking in the hardware business at the same place in 1857. In 1862 he moved his stock to Brookville, in which town he did a successful business until disposing of his store in 1865. In the latter year he bought a hardware store in Conners- ville, and, after carrying on the same for a limited period, sold out and came to Logansport, where, in the fall of 1865, he again en- gaged in the hardware business, conducting the same with good success until 1876. He disposed of his store in that year, and has since been engaged in various enterprises, speculating in lands, gen- eral trading, etc. In connection with his real estate business, he is at the present time engaged in selling wagons, buggies, carriages, musical instruments, etc., his place of business being on Fifth Street, between North and Broadway. He was coal oil inspector from 1877 to 1881, aside from which he has not held nor sought official preferment. Mr. Immel is a man of great energy and in- dustry, as is attested by the fact that his various business enter-
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prises have been conducted with financial profit. He is also a man of decided opinion and great strength of character, fearless in the expression of what he believes to be right, and an active politician, voting in conformity with the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Immel was married on the 6th of June, 1860, to Miss Helen M. Miller, of Connersville, Ind., to which marriage one child has been born, Helen M.
WILLIAM H. JACKS, deputy clerk Cass Circuit Court, was born in Rush County, Ind., January 2, 1831. His father was Isaac Jacks, a native of South Carolina, and his mother, whose maid en name was Deborah Wilson, was born in Bath County, Ky. Isaac Jacks early moved to Kentucky, and shortly after his marriage in that State immigrated to Indiana (1830), and settled in Rush County. He moved to Jasper County in 1840, and subsequently be- came a resident of White County, where his death occurred in March, 1866. Mrs. Jacks survived her husband about six years, dying in 1872. William H. is the eldest of ten children born to Isaac and Deborah Jacks. He was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until attaining his majority, attending the common schools in the meantime, and obtaining a good practical education. He be- gan life for himself as clerk in a mercantile house in Rensselaer, Ind., and continued in that capacity until 1857, at which time he engaged in the grocery business at the town of Francisville, in part- nership with Samuel Rishling, with whom he sold goods until 1860. In the latter place he was elected clerk of the Pulaski Circuit Court, the duties of which position he discharged in an eminently satisfac- tory manner until 1869, having been re-elected in 1864. At the expi- ration of his term of service he came to Logansport and accepted the position as deputy clerk of the Cass Circuit Court under Horace M. Bliss, and served three years; then served in the same capacity under N. S. LaRose until 1876. In that year he effected a co- partnership in the practice of law with Hon. Rufus Magee, and the firm thus formed continued until January, 1880, doing an extensive business during that period. From 1880 until 1883 he was deputy county treasurer under Thomas H. Pierce, and from the latter year until the fall of 1884 he did a general real estate and insurance business in Cass and other counties. He was appointed deputy circuit clerk under Charles W. Fisk in 1884, the duties of which position he is discharging at the present time. Mr. Jacks is an ac- complished business man and perfectly familiar with all the details of the office with which he has been so long identified. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rensselaer, Ind., Novem- ber, 1854, and is now one of the most prominent members of the fraternity in the State. He was Grand Patriarch of the Grand En- campment of Indiana from November, 1884, to November, 1885, and for the years 1885-86 was representative to the Sovereign Grand
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Lodge, I. O. O. F. While serving as Grand Representative he was largely instrumental in the revision of the uniform encampment de- gree, out of which grew the Patriarchs Militant. Mr. Jacks is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Orient Lodge, No. 272. He has been a member of the Christian Church since about the year 1861 or 1862, and in politics supports the principles of the Democratic party. On October 22, 1857, was solemnized his mar- riage with Miss Anna M. Webb, daughter of Rufus and Malinda Webb, of Warren County, Ind. The children of this marriage were five in number, to wit: Minnie, Cora, Willie, May and Cortes L., all deceased.
ISRAEL JOHNSON, late of Logansport, Ind., was one of the early settlers of the great Wabash Valley. He was born in Wash- ington County, Penn., March 6, 1803. About the year 1820 he went to Richmond, Ind., and in 1829 removed to a permanent settlement at Logansport, where for thirty-seven years he was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits. He assisted largely in the organization and development of Cass County and its county seat, Logansport, build- ing the first two-story house in the city. He was a member of the the board of councilmen of Logansport, but with this exception he never, although urgently solicited to accept office, allowed his name to go before the public as a candidate. He was a Whig, and dur- ing the existence of that party labored earnestly for the promotion of its principles. He was an honored member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and in his business and social relations was held in the highest esteem. He married, December 19, 1822, Mary Amelia Hamilton. Fiye of their children are still living: William H., of Logansport; Peter B., of Dayton, Ohio; George F., of New York City; Israel G., of San Francisco, Cal., and Jennie M., wife of Judge Maurice Winfield, of Logansport. Mr. Johnson's death occurred June 7, 1866, when he had reached the age of sixty-three.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, banker, of Logansport, was born at Richmond, Wayne Co., Ind., September 19, 1823. His parents were Israel and Mary Hamilton Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, who immigrated to Indiana at an early day in the his- tory of the State. Mr. Johnson acquired in the common schools a sufficient knowledge of the branches essential to a general business education to qualify him for his contemplated field of labor. Early in life he had imbibed a desire for commercial pursuits, and accord- ingly concentrated his energies in that direction. In 1841, when he was eighteen years old, his father, who was extensively engaged in the general grocery business, gave him a position in his store, in or- der to gratify his youthful ambition and to instruct him in the prac- tical details of trade. At the age of twenty-one he was tendered a partnership with his father, which he accepted. The business of the new firm rapidly increased and facilities were enlarged to meet
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the growing demands of the trade. In 1846 they began to handle large quantities of pork, which, by judicious management, was made to pay a satisfactory profit on the labor and capital used and offered inducements for future investments. These successes continued to be realized from year to year; new resources were developed and en- larged capital evolved. A year later Peter B. Johnson, the next younger brother, was added to the firm, and a dry goods branch was opened. The grocery and pork business was conducted under the firm name of Israel Johnson & Sons, and the dry goods as P. B. Johnson & Co. An additional line of trade was opened in 1848, and they then began to deal extensively in the grain products of the country. To meet the demands of this new element of traffic, a large warehouse was built on the Wabash & Erie Canal, then the only avenue of transportation. The dry goods branch was discon- tinued in 1862, and the joint capital merged in other branches of trade. Among these was a milling interest, which was made a specialty in connection with W. B. Dix; the business was conducted under the old firm name of Israel Johnson & Sons. The withdrawal of the brother in 1865, and the death of the father the following year, left the entire business in the hands of William H. Johnson. He disposed of his interest in the grocery and gave his attention more exclusively to grain and pork. Besides handling several thousands of hogs annually, he buys and ships large quantities of wheat, corn, oats and clover seed, the finer quality of the latter be- ing made an article of export for Europe. His wool trade, for a number of years in connection with Messrs. Tanguy & Barnheisel, was another important element in the business. Mr. Johnson is president of the Logansport National Bank. He gives his allegi- ance to the Democratic party, but is not a politician, and never per- mits his name to be used as a candidate for office, preferring the more humble sphere of private citizenship. In December, 1851, he was married to Sarah, daughter of John Lytle, a physician of con- siderable prominence, formerly of Maryland. They have four chil- dren living-one son and three daughters. Mr. Johnson is of aver- age height and fair proportions; his manners are quiet and unob- trusive. In his social and business relations he has the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
JOHN D. JOHNSON, proprietor of the Johnson Hotel, is a na- tive of Scotland, and dates his birth from the 29th of September, 1839. He received a good education in the schools of his native country, and early engaged in the drug business, at which he served a seven years' apprenticeship. At the end of that time he went to Liverpool, England, and engaged as clerk in a drug house, in which capacity he continued until 1866, when he came to the United States and engaged in the restaurant business, at Sandusky, Ohio. In 1877 he removed to Springfield, Ohio, and took charge of the Eu-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
ropean Hotel, of which he was proprietor until 1879. In the latter vear he came to Logansport and purchased the well known Gehring House, on the Pan Handle Railroad, which he ran three years, and then replaced it with the elegant new Johnson Hotel, one of the most popular public houses in northern Indiana. The new hotel is a brick structure, 823x165 feet, three stories high, and supplied with all the conveniencies found in first-class hotels. Mr. Johnson is a popular landlord, and since coming to Logansport has done a very satisfactory business. He was married, April 13, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Kerns, of Seneca County. Ohio. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H.
JOHN Mc. JOHNSTON, sixth son of John and Elizabeth ( McDowell) Johnston, is a native of Wells County, Indiana, born June 4, 1842. He grew to manhood in his native county, received a fair English education in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen engaged to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of one year. In September, 1861, he entered the army, enlisting as private in the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, with which he served until mustered out in 1866. He was with his command in many of the most noted campaigns of the war, includ- ing the siege of Vicksburg, all the battles of Sherman's celebrated Georgia raid, and was wounded a short time before the expiration of his term of service, in a small engagement in Texas. Mr. John- ston was a gallant soldier, and feels justly proud of his military rec- ord. He came to Logansport in the fall of 1866, and the following spring engaged in the grocery business with Mr. Deckard, which Avas continued five years. He then effected a partnership with R. R. Crook, which lasted about two years, when the firm suffered a se- vere loss by fire. In 1874 he engaged with George C. Horne in the manufacture and sale of sash and doors, and four years later purchased his partner's interest and continued the business with good success until 1879. In the latter year he became a partner in the manufacturing firm of Hagenbuck, Parker & Co., with which he is still identified. Mr. Johnston is an active business man and courte-
ous gentleman. He belongs to the G. A. R., Royal Arcanum, and takes considerable interest in political affairs, voting with the Re- publican party. Mr. Johnston's marriage with Miss Emma Camp- bell, of Cass County, was solemnized in October, 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born the following children: Harry, John (deceased), Martha and Robert R.
JAMES M. JUSTICE, M. D., was born in Fayette County, Ind., September 21, 1817, and is the second son of Joseph and De- lilah (Juel) Justice. His grandfather, James Justice, fought in some of the most sanguinary battles of the Revolution and was with' Washington at Valley Forge. After the close of the war he settled in Pennsylvania, where his third son, Joseph, was born. In the
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year 1810 he went, with his family, to Cincinnati, Ohio. His son Joseph, the following year, located a land claim in the White Water
Valley, two miles southwest of where Cincinnati now stands. The Indians at that time, incited by the British agents, were often very troublesome to the settlers, and the block-house of the pioneers was often their most effective protection. In the war of 1812 Mr. Jus-
tice and his friends were compelled to go to Cincinnati and remain until the success of the American Army made it safe to return. Af- ter his marriage, in 1815, he permanently located in the White Wat- er Valley and hewed a farm out of the forest. His son James was born in the second year of this frontier life. Amid the active labors of the farm he received a fine physical training and such mental culture as was attainable in the log-cabin schoolhouse three months of the year. His religious instruction was all that Christian parents,
with but few privileges and books, could give. He was sent to the
county seminary, at Connersville, when twenty years of age, and
there acquired a fair English education and the friendship of Sam- uel W. Parker and Caleb B. Smith, young men whose lives were afterward closely identified with the growth and political history of
southeastern Indiana. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Jef-
ferson Helm, an eminent physician of Rush County, and was li- censed to practice, by the White Water Medical Association, in 1840. The young Doctor followed the tide of emigration to north- eastern Indiana, and with no capital but a fair knowledge of his pro- fession, a vigorous constitution and determined energy, he settled
in Camden, Carroll County, at that time a village of less than a doz-
en cabins. A surgical case was brought to him on the day of his
arrival, which afforded him the means of support for several weeks and brought him into favorable notice. He soon acquired a lucra-
tive practice in the counties of Carroll, Cass, Howard and Clinton.
In December, 1841, he married Zenith A. Norris, of Rush County.
Her active sympathy in her husband's professional career has great-
ly strengthened his hands and added to his success. In 1847-48 he attended the Ohio Medical College, and graduated with the de- gree of M. D. At Camden he accumulated, by economy and indus-, try, a large property. In 1859, desirous of giving his children bet-
ter educational facilities, he moved to Connersville and entered into
practice with his brother-in-law, Dr. Gregg. Dr. Justice has al-
ways been deeply interested in political matters. In 1840 he was an active supporter of Gen. Harrison, and in 1844 was zealous in the cause of Henry Clay. In 1860 he canvassed a large portion of
licitation of a warm personal friend, the Hon. D. D. Pratt, he re- Indiana for Abraham Lincoln, and subsequently, at the urgent so-
moved to Logansport, where he now resides, earnestly forwarding its growth and prosperity. His medical practice extends through the counties of Pulaski, Howard, Miami, Cass, Carroll, White, Ful-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
ton and Stark. He has always been a warm advocate of anti-slavery principles-first as a Whig, and afterward as a Republican. He was active in the support of the Government in suppressing the Re- bellion, and freely aided with his money and influence in the en- listment of volunteers and forwarding supplies. He was commis- sioned as surgeon of the One Hundred and Tenth Indiana Volun- teers by Gov. Morton, during the invasion of the State by Morgan. In 1864 he was delegate to the Baltimore convention from the Ninth District. The same year he was commissioned as pension surgeon by Abraham Lincoln, which position he still holds. He was pres- idential elector in 1868 from the Eighth District, and canvassed the State that year for Grant and Colfax. Dr. Justice is noted for lib- eral contributions to all public and private charities, and with his wife has been for many years an active member of the Christian Church. As a public speaker he is forcible and eloquent, and as a citizen and neighbor is highly esteemed. Though sixty-nine years old, he enjoys excellent health and is engaged in superintending a large farming interest in addition to his active professional work. He has three living children, viz .: Dewitt C., a prominent lawyer of Logansport; Priscilla and Frank L., also a lawyer at the Logans- port bar.
DE WITT C. JUSTICE, a prominent member of the Logansport bar and eldest son of Dr. James M. and Z. A. (Norris) Justice, is a native of Carroll County, Ind., and dates his birth from 1846. His early educational training was acquired in the city schools of Logansport, and in 1867 he entered the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, in which he took a thorough literary and law course, graduating from both departments in 1869. He had previously pursued his legal studies under the late Senator D. D. Pratt, and in the fall of the above year was admitted to the Cass County bar, where his abilities and thorough professional training soon won for him a conspicuous place. Mr. Justice's practice in the courts of Cass and other counties presents a series of successes and he stands high professionally among the lawyers of northern Indiana. He wields a political influence for the Republican party and has been an important factor in local politics. He served as city attorney of Logansport, but has never been an aspirant for official honors, pre- ferring to devote his entire attention to his profession. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Maggie Preston, of Logansport.
BENJAMIN F. KEESLING, one of the successful business men of Logansport, is a native of Henry County, Ind., and the son of Peter and Margaret (Loy) Keesling, parents born in Virginia and Pennsylvania and of German lineage. The subject was born Feb- ruary 18, 1850, received a good practical education in the schools of New Castle, and at the age of twenty began life as a clerk in a general store, in which capacity he continued until April, 1874. In
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the latter year he came to Logansport and engaged as clerk in the drug store of J. Needham & Co., with whom he effected a copart- nership one year later, which lasted until 1880. He purchased his partner's interest in that year and has since continued the business by himself, having at the present time one of the largest and best furnished drug houses in northern Indiana. Mr. Keesling has been successful in all his undertakings and has a business reputa- tion much more than local. He has accumulated a handsome com- petence since coming to Logansport and is deservedly classed among the city's representative business men. He is a Republican in pol- itics and belongs to several secret organizations, in the deliberations of which he takes an active part. On the 18th of February, 1875, Mr. Keesling was married to Miss Anna B. McCune, of Middle- town, Ind., which union has been blessed with the birth of one child, Arthur R. Keesling, born August 29, 1877.
HENRY I. KELLER, one of the prominent merchants of Logansport, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., May 15, 1848, and is the second son of Christian and Margaret (Immel) Keller, parents natives of the same State and of German lineage. Mr. Keller grew to manhood in his native county, received a good prac- tical education in the public schools, and at the age of twenty began life for himself as salesman in a dry goods house in the city of Lancaster, where he continued until 1869. In that year he came to Logansport and engaged as clerk with Merriam & Rice, in which capacity he continued until taking an interest in the house in 1880. He is now a member of the firm of Keller, Trontman & Co., one of the largest, most elegantly arranged and successful dry goods houses in northern Indiana. Mr. Keller is a careful business man and is perfectly familiar with all details of the dry goods trade. He is a courteous gentleman and well entitled to a place among the representative merchants of Logansport. He was a soldier for a short time in the late war, enlisting in April, 1865, in Company A, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, and serving until July of the same year. In October, 1871, he was married to Miss Barbara H. Denlinger, of Lancaster, Penn., a union blessed with the birth of two children: Harry G. and John M. Mr. Keller takes an act- ive interest in political affairs, votes the Republican ticket, and be- longs to the Masonic fraternity.
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