USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 36
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(1878) was elected to the State Legislature. His principal speeches while in office were in opposition to the enactment of a bill for the re-establishment of capital punishment in the State; a plea for the financial support of the Reform School; in advo- cacy of a bill for the repeal of what was known as "the wine and beer clause," and in support of a bill for compulsory education. In 1879 he published "My Brief History of the American Peo- ple, for Schools," which has reached the sixteenth edition in six years. Under the auspices of the State Temperance Alliance he spent the winter of 1879-80 in travel as a State lecturer in advo- cacy of the reform. In 1881 he removed to Indianapolis, and the following year was elected to his present position. As a boy, it may be said of him that his taste was for science, especially astronomy; as a college student, it was for the ancient languages ; later, for historical and literary studies, and is now for moral and economic questions. -
FRANCIS A. THUIS is a native of Holland, where he was born in 1837, son of Francis A. and Johanna H. (Hendrickson) Thuis, and is of pure Dutch descent. He came to America in 1853, and settled in New York, where he remained one year, and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained three years. In 1856 he came to Vincennes. He learned the saddler's trade in Europe. After coming to Vincennes he secured a position on the Evanston & Terre Haute Railroad, which he held two years. He then clerked in a store until 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry as a musician, and served four- teen months. He then came home and remained nine months, and then re-enlisted in Company A, Ninety-first Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was dis- charged in 1865 at Indianapolis. Since the war he has been engaged in the manufacture of the "Scotch horse-collar," and has. secured an extensive reputation as a collar manufacturer. He was married in 1866 to Mary Jane Page, a native of Vincennes, born in 1843. They have seven children: Johanna E., Louis E., Mary E., Francis E., Charles A., George J. and Silas L. He is a member of the Democratic party, and in religious belief is a Catholic.
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FREDERICK TWIETMEYER, of Vincennes, Ind., was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, January 17, 1837. His parents, Deitrich and Ada Twietmeyer, were born in the same country. Frederick was raised on a farm in Hanover, and at the age of twenty immigrated to the United States, landing in New York City in 1857, and worked as a clerk in a grocery store for about two years, and then worked for himself in that city until 1860, when he went to New Orleans, but left the following year and came to Vincennes, where he remained as clerk for M. Tyler & Son a year, and then enlisted as private in Company .A, One Hundred and Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving in the war of the Rebellion until its close. He then returned to this city and engaged in the grocery business. In 1866 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and was a grocer in that city until July, 1883, when he again returned to Vincennes and re-engaged in his old occupation, in which he has been quite prosperous. In 1868 he married Henrietta Kleintopf, a native of Germany. They have seven children-six sons and one daughter. In politics he is in- dependent, but generally votes the Republican ticket. He and family, are members of the German Lutheran Church.
WILSON M. TYLER, president of the Vincennes National Bank, was born in West Brookfield, Mass., February 20, 1836, the son of Moses and Eliza (Makepeace) Tyler, natives of Massachusetts, but were of English and Irish extraction respect- ively. The father came to Ohio in 1843, and resided at Chagrin Falls until 1852, when he removed to Vincennes, Ind., where he engaged in the general merchandise business, meeting with more than ordinary success, and accumulating quite a handsome com- petency. In 1864 he engaged in the general hardware, building material, and agricultural implement business, in which he re- mained as senior partner until his death in March, 1881. He was a Whig, and later became a Republican in politics, but took no active part in political affairs. He was well and favorably known throughout the county as an active, energetic and success- ful business man, and an upright, Christian citizen, being a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. The mother still resides in Vincennes, at the advanced age of eighty years. Our subject was brought up by his father in the mercantile business, and se-
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cured a good academic education, and at the age of twenty-one entered into partnership with his father, under the firm name of M. Tyler & Son, and continued this until his father's death, al- though he and Alfred S. Lane had active management of the business a number of years previously. Since that time they have successfully continued the business, Mr. Lane being the junior member and acting as manager. In 1865, upon the organization of the Vincennes National Bank, Mr. Tyler became one of the stockholders, and in 1875 was made cashier, which position he filled creditably until 1881, when he accepted the position as president, made vacant by the death of President W. J. Williams. February 2, 1858, he was united in matrimony to Margaret East- ham, a native of Bairdstown, Ky. They have two children, Frank E. and Alice. Mr. Tyler is a stanch Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
HENRY VIEHE (deceased) was born in Germany, Febru- ary 19, 1802. He came to this country with his family in 1845, and located near the present village of Freelandsville, Ind., where he entered eighty acres of land. The country was then almost a wilderness, and the settlers' homes few and far between. His wife's mother came with them to America, and was a member of the family. She died in the fall of 1845, or 1846, and was buried on the home farm. His wife died in January, 1858, and he was buried on the day of the presidential election, in November, 1880. To their marriage twelve children were born; two died in infancy, one in Germany and one on the steamboat while landing at Evansville, Ind. His eldest son died in this country. Nine of the children are living; one at Vincennes practicing law, one a physician at Henderson, Ky., and one a missionary in South Af- rica. The rest are well to do farmers.
HERMAN J. WATJEN, retail (limited) dealer in drugs, paints, oils and medicines, is a native of Germany, born near Bremen in 1841, son of John D. and Margaret Watjen, and is of German descent. The parents were native Germans, and came to America in 1848. They landed at New Orleans, and came up the Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash Rivers, and settled at Vin- cennes, Ind., in the fall of that year. Here the father died in
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1849. Subject was educated in the public schools of Vincennes, and in 1856 went to Indianapolis, where he served a four years' apprenticeship. The first year he received $4 per month for his services, the second year $8. In 1861 he entered the Philadel- phia College of Pharmacy, and remained one year. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly three years in the war of the Rebellion. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and through the Carolinas. He participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was honorably discharged in 1865. He then returned to Indian- apolis and entered the service of his former employers, Browning & Sloan, and remained with them until 1867. He then came to Vincennes, and immediately engaged in the drug business, in which he has since continued, meeting with good success. He was married in 1865 to Louisa Eberwine, a native of Vincennes, born in 1844. To them were born these four children: Mamie A., Cora O., Woodie and Otto. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. He has been a business man of Vincennes for about eighteen years, and limits himself to a strict retail trade.
L. L. WATSON, who for the past fifty-one years has been a resident of Vincennes, was born in this city April 13, 1809. His father, Robert G. Watson, was of Scotch descent, and passed the greater part of his life engaged in merchandising and fur trad- ing. Mrs. Genevieve (Conoyer) Watson, his mother, was de- scended from one of the oldest and best families of this country, their advent in America dating back to 1704. L. L. Watson re- ceived but limited educational advantages in youth, which in later years has been greatly benefited by desultory reading and close observation. In 1826 he removed with Pierre Brouillette to St. Louis, when, after learning the tailor's trade, he returned to his native town to find employment. After a few months' stay he returned to St. Louis in 1832, but in 1834 again came to Vin- cennes, which has since been his home. Until 1849 he worked at his trade, but being appointed postmaster in that year by President Taylor, he administered to the requirements of that position until 1853. The two succeeding years he served as receiver of toll at the lock and dam at Grand Rapids, on the
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Wabash River, then served one year as conductor of a passenger train on the Evansville & Cincinnati Railroad, and was then ap- pointed agent for the road at Vincennes. He also carried on a lumber yard in partnership, which he continued four years. In 1859 he was appointed paymaster and supply agent for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which he resigned in 1871 to take an active management, in conjunction with Capt. Mass, in the Union Depot Hotel, which he still continues. Mr. Watson for many years has been one of Vincennes' most enterprising and ener- getic citizens, and by an honorable, upright life has won the high esteem of his fellow townsmen. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is a Democrat. November 6, 1832, Lydia E., daughter of Willis Fellows, became his wife, and to their union have been born twelve children-four sons and three daughters now living: Samuel W., Edward, Willis H., Robert G., Jane E., Ruth and Ida M.
EDWARD WATSON was born in Vincennes, Knox Co., Ind. September 21, 1846, and is a son of Lewis L. and Lydia (Fel- lows) Watson. He attended the public schools of Vincennes and afterward the university at that place, also Prof. L. G. Hays' Acad- emy at Indianapolis and the Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind. In the spring of 1866 he left college and became traveling salesman for a shoe firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1867 he began traveling in the West, and June of the same year arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and reached the terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad in California, then Julesburg. At the comple- tion of the road he sold out his stock and returned to Salt Lake City, intending to return home, but was prevented on account of a three weeks' snow blockade. He then went to California and spent six months in looking over that State and, in 1869, took the oath of allegiance and became secretary to E. C. Doraen, pay- master of the United States Navy, but resigned in 1871 to take charge of the Union Depot at Vincennes, Ind. In the spring of 1872 he returned to San Francico and while there was offered his old position with his former employer, but declined. In June of that year he formed a partnership with Daniel Baenhart, continu- ing until 1875, when he sold his interest to his brother, R. G. Watson. In 1876 he disposed of his entire property and took
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passage for New York via Panama. Owing to some accident they were delayed on the Isthmus six days. He reached New York September 22, 1876, and came to Vincennes via Philadelphia. He was made manager of the Union Depot Hotel. April 14, 1877, he was married by Father Hugh Galligher in San Francisco to Miss Carrie Keyes. In business he is connected with the City Gas Light Company as stockholder and director and is also a stock holder in the First National Bank and the Lake Ice Company. He is director and one of the committee on Manufacturing Inter- ests of the Board of Trade and is president of the Vincennes & Ohio Railway. He is his father's attorney and is treasurer and . director of the Vincennes Water Supply Company. He is a Democrat politically and is one of the first men of this part of Indiana and a partner of J. F. Sechler & Co. in the city foundry.
G. WEINSTEIN, wholesale and retail dealer in dry goods and notions, is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1827. He is a son of L. and Hannah Weinstein. Our subject came to America in 1853 and settled at Cincinnati, Ohio. For three years he was employed as traveling salesman for a leading Cin- cinnati house. In 1857 he went to Gallatin, Tenn., and engaged in the clothing business which he continued until 1862, when he came to Vincennes and engaged in the dry goods business, the firm being known as Weinstein & Brother. They continued together until 1867, when our subject bought out his brother's interest and carried on the business alone until 1875, when he formed a partnership with a gentleman of that city and the firm is now known as G. Weinstein & Co. Mr. Weinstein is one of the most thorough and successful business men of this portion of Indiana. For many years he has been a director of the First National Bank of this city. Since the organization of the Vincennes Board of Trade he has been one of the trustees. He is a leader in busi- ness circles and was married, in 1857, to Eva Brownold, who died in March, 1884. Mr. Weinstein married Rosa Lapp, in Novem- ber, 1885. She is a native of Louisville. In politics he is a Democrat and a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F.
CHARLES M. WETZEL, attorney at law, Vincennes, Ind., was born in Sullivan County, Ind., August 24, 1850, and is a son
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of Solomon and Eliza (Burris) Wetzel, both natives of Virginia. His father came to Knox County in 1837, was married here and has resided ever since, with the exception of a short residence in Sullivan County, where our subject was born. Solomon Wetzel followed there and elsewhere the occupation of a millwright, until "of later years, which he has spent upon a small farm. Our sub- ject was raised with his parents and secured a fair education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he commenced the blacksmith's trade, and worked at it until he was twenty-one. Seeing the necessity of improving his education, he diligently applied himself to reading and study while working at his trade. At the age of twenty-two, having prepared himself for teaching school, he commenced and followed that profession in this county about seven years. In 1877 he began the study of law with a view to making that his profession. He read with Cauthorn & Boyle, of Vincennes, two years, and was admitted to the Knox County bar in 1878. On May 1, 1879, he established an office, and has since followed the practice of his profession, meeting with well-deserved success. In politics he is a Democrat, and has taken active part in local campaigns. He was appointed county superintendent of schools in 1875, and was a candidate for the office in 1877, but was defeated. He remains unmarried and is recognized as one of the enterprising and rising young practition- ers of the county.
REV. EDWARD P. WHALLON, A. M., Ph. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Vincennes, is a native of Indiana, having been born in Putnamville, Putnam County, March 30, 1849. His father, Rev. Thomas Whallon, now in the seventy- fifth year of his age, residing at Oak Park, Ill., preached in Indi- ana for nearly half a century, graduating from Miami University and Hanover Theological Seminary, commencing his work at Richmond, and having pastoral charge last at Vevay. He was one of a family of thirteen, the children of James and Allie (Hageman) Whallon, residing near Cincinnati during their life- time, and descended from Irish ancestors. Rev. Thomas Whallon married Miss Harriet S. Bickle, of Centreville, Ind., the sister of Judge William A. Bickle, of Richmond, Ind., whose parents came from Virginia, and were of German descent on the father's side,
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the mother's family name being Bridgland. Dr. Whallon's childhood was spent at Putnamville, Rensselaer and Tipton, from whence he went to attend Hanover College, graduating in June, 1868, receiving the degree of Master of Arts from the same insti- tution in June, 1873. He has been a trustee of Hanover College since 1879. He attended the Theological Seminary of the North- west, at Chicago; was licensed to preach the gospel by the Pres- bytery of Madison (O. S.) April 13, 1870, and after laboring a year as the home missionary at Kasson, Minn., was ordained April 25, 1871. He subsequently spent a year in study in Union Theological Seminary, New York City, where he graduated May 6, 1872. He took charge of the Presbyterian Church of Liberty, Ind., the same month, where he remained for more than six years. Here, November 17, 1873, he married Miss Nellie M. Kitchell, daughter of Jacob C. and Rebecca (Bennett) Kitchell. From this marriage four sons have been born: Philip, Thomas, Walter and Albert. In August, 1878, Dr. Whallon and his family re- moved to Vincennes, where he has since continued as pastor of this church, which, with the two Indiana churches, enjoys the con- joint honor of being the first Protestant Church organized in In- diana. Upon the consolidation and organization of the synod of Indiana he was chosen stated clerk, and has held the position ever since. Since the incorporation of the synod in 1884 he has been one of its trustees. He has twice represented his Presbytery in the General Assembly-at Pittsburgh, in 1878, and at Saratoga Springs, in 1884. He is a member of the General Assembly's committee on Systematic Beneficence, and is chairman of the same committee in his Presbytery and Synod. He is intimately asso- ciated with all practical work, being for many years secretary of the Knox County Bible Society, president of the Knox County Sabbath School Association, and of the third district of the State Sunday-school Union. Dr. Whallon is an active member of the Good Templars, Royal Arcanum, Odd Fellows and Masonic organizations, and for five years has been the grand chaplain of the Masonic Grand Chapter, and also of the Grand Council of the State. He has had large success as pastor of the church here. Between 200 and 300 have been received into its membership during his pastorate, the elegant new building on the corner of
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Fifth and Busseron Streets has been erected, and the interests of the church have been in many ways greatly advanced. No man has warmer friends than he, and few are more warmly attached to the community in which he lives. The University of Wooster, in June, 1885, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
JOHN WILHELM, mayor of Vincennes, Ind., was born on a farm near Mt. Carmel, Ill., May 10, 1854. He is the youngest one of five children, and the only son of Conrad and Gertrude (Smith) Wilhelm, both natives of Germany. They came to the United States when young. The father located in Mt. Carmel, where he married and resided until his death, when our subject was but a small boy. He remained with his mother on the farm, securing the best education the public schools of the neighbor- hood afforded, attending in the winter seasons and in the summer remained upon the farm sharing the lot of the sturdy sons of toil. At the age of seventeen years he had by his industry accumu- lated sufficient means to pay the expense of attending school at South Bend, Ind., and afterward attended a business college at Evansville, in the same State. His first occupation in life was the tilling of his mother's farm until he was twenty-three years of age, with the exception of the time from 1872 to 1874, when he was engaged in merchandising in Mt. Carmel, meeting with reasonable success. He began the study of law in 1874, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He is not a member of any church, but is of liberal views. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He came to Vincennes, Ind., March 18, 1878, and has been engaged in the practice of law since that time. His political views are Democratic. April 4, 1885, he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for mayor of the city of Vincennes, defeating James H. Shouse, a very popular man, by a large majority. He was elected on the 5th of May following without opposition, it being the first time he was ever candidate for office. December 28, 1882, he was married to Miss Nannie Browne, of Vincennes.
WILSON JOHN WILLIAMS (deceased), once president of the Vincennes Bank, was born in Charlotte, Chittenden Co., Vt., January 17, 1836, son of James W. and Adelia (Barnes) Will- iams, whose ancestors may be traced to Massachusetts. In boy-
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hood our subject received the ordinary common school education, and when quite young was given a position in a store in Burling- ton, Vt., and later worked in a bank in that place for about three years. Being of an energetic and enterprising disposition, he determined to seek his fortune in the great West. He located in Burlington, Iowa, where he accepted a position in the banking office of Coolbaugh & Brooks, but remained with them for only a short period. After a brief visit to New Orleans he returned to the "Hoosier State," locating in Terre Haute, where he clerked in the State Bank of Indiana. In 1863 he moved to Vincennes, where he accepted the position of cashier in another branch of the State Bank. In 1865 he was elected cashier of the Vincennes National Bank, and at the death of Mr. Ross, the president of the bank, he became president and remained such until his death. January 17, 1860, he took for his companion through life Sophia J. Isaacs, born in England in 1840, daughter of Abraham C. Isaacs, who was a native of Manchester, England, and a prominent mer- chant of Terre Haute at the time of his. daughter's marriage. " Mr. and Mrs. Williams became the parents of these children: Adelia S., a beautiful and accomplished young lady, who died at the age of seventeen; Charles W., Clara R., Margaret E., Wilson T., Robert J., Barnes and Harry R. Mr. Williams was a Mason of high order, and a Republican in his political views. His death, which occurred May 6, 1881, was a source of profound regret and sorrow to his innumerable friends. Though he is dead, yet his memory will ever remain green in the hearts of the many he has aided in their struggles with adversity. No death which has occurred in the county has been more universally regretted, for he ever had the interest and welfare of the community at heart and in charity, generosity and liberality was unsurpassed. His hand was ever extended to aid the weary and distressed, and his deeds of kindness and love will ever remain as monuments of glory to his memory. His literary tastes were of a high and cultivated order, and his library was filled with many valuable works. His great-grandfather, Col. Williams, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he and his son, Col. Williams, our subject's grandfather, owned adjoining farms in Vermont, which are still in the possession of the Williams family, and are said to be in
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the most romantic and picturesque portion of the Valley of Lake Champlain. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is a lady of rare attainments. She aided her hus- band in his many deeds of kindness, and since his death has car- ried on the good work.
HON. SAMUEL WARDELL WILLIAMS was born at Mount Carmel, Ill., February 7, 1851, the son of Flemming and Elmira Williams. Flemming was the son of Joseph Williams, and is at present a well-known farmer and politician living in Wabash County, Ill. The Williams family is of Irish descent. Flemming was born in New York State, and settled with his father in Edwards County, Ill., about 1830. Joseph and his wife, Eliza, are buried in the cemetery at Albion, Ill. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in New York State, her maiden name being Wardell. She was a lady of culture, ed- ucation and literary tastes. She died in 1875, and is buried at Mount Carmel. Samuel W. was educated at the Friendsville Academy, a Presbyterian institution, and before he was of age served a term as deputy county clerk of Wabash County, Ill., under James S. Johnston. He lived in Gibson County, Ind., several years, and engaged as book-keeper and clerk in Hazle- ton. In 1869 he located in Vincennes, Ind., where he has since resided. After taking a course at the old Heinly & Rank Com- mercial College, he became a commercial traveler for L. B. Smith, wholesale grocer, where he remained about two years. On all his trips on the road, in addition to teas, coffees and to- baccos, his sample cases contained a volume of Blackstone, Chitty or Kent, and on the trains and in the hotels he spent his time in solving the mysteries of the law. He then entered the law office of Messrs. Cauthorn & Boyle as a student, and was ad- mitted to the Knox County bar in 1874, and to the Supreme Court in 1876. He is a close student of law and politics, and has a well-selected and valuable private library of miscellaneous works. He has had a lucrative practice in his profession from the first, and enjoys the full confidence of his clients. His work is usually in contested cases, and he is recognized as a success- ful jury lawyer. In 1877 and 1878 he defended Henry Berner, in the courts of Knox and Gibson Counties, on the charge of
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