USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 14
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On October 18, 1881, Mr. Parkhurst was united in marriage with Miss Ella I. Blizard, and they have been the parents of two children : Maude and Frank.
WALTER W. STOWMAN. One of the most estimable citizens of Miami county and one who has been identified with Jefferson township since he was born, is Walter W. Stowman, the son of a pioneer resident of the county who migrated hither from New Jersey as early as in 1847. Mr. Stowman has continued with the worthy activities established and carried on for so many years by his parent, and has in every way proven himself a worthy successor of that gentleman. He was born on the farm on which he now resides in Jefferson township, on April 14, 1851, and here has passed his life thus far, with but slight exception.
Charles W. Stowman, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was of Pennsylvania birth, as has already been stated, and he came to Indiana in 1847, locating with his family in Jefferson township. He did not at first identify himself to any extent with the farming in- dustry, but bought a few acres where he established a home, and he also made the purchase of an old burl flouring mill on the Eel river. This mill he continued to operate for many years, and some twenty years after he came into its possession, the mill was destroyed, being swept out by an ice freshet. The history of the mill is of some little interest, it being one of the oldest established ones in the county at that time. It had its origin in 1835, when John Ratliff built it, and it was the second mill to be built in the township. In later years it was sold to Isaac Mar- quis, then to John J. McMurray, and still later to a Mr. Cole, who rebuilt the mill almost entirely. Mr. Stowman was the last man to come into ownership of the mill, and his activities in the milling line were long carried on here. When the freshet swept away the old mill, Mr. Stowman prepared to rebuild, and had his material all ready for the erection of a new and more modern mill, but the owners of the mill in Mexico refused to draw off the water long enough for him to lay his foundations. The case was finally taken into court and the litigation in the matter dragged
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STOWMAN HOMESTEAD RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. WALTER W. STOWMAN
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on for several years, finally being decided in favor of Mr. Stowman. He decided, however, not to rebuild the mill, after gaining his point, and from then on he devoted himself exclusively to farming activities, in con- nection with stock dealing. He was a successful farmer and came to be the owner of a comfortable place in Jefferson township, while he was known for a splendid citizen and a man of the most excellent parts. A strong Democrat in his politics, Charles Stowman gave his support to the activities of the party at all times, although he never aspired to office or any of the favors that accompany political activity.
Mr. Stowman married Mary Chambers in Ohio, where he had stopped on his way from New Jersey, and to them were born seven children. Six of the seven are living, and four of them reside in Miami county at the present time. In his younger days, Mr. Stowman had worked in a dis- tillery in his native state, but despite this fact, he never took a drink of intoxicating liquor in his life. He was a man of the stanchest integrity, and when he 'died in January, 1873, Miami county lost one of her most estimable and worthy citizens. His widow survived him for a number of years, and is now buried at his side in the cemetery at Mexico.
Walter W. Stowman worked on the home farm as a boy, dividing his time between attendance at school in the country and work about the place, as was the custom in those days with the youth of the country districts, and, indeed, as is much the rule today. When he reached his majority he engaged in work in a factory at Peru, and later lived for two years at Frankfort. With these exceptions, Mr. Stowman has always made his home on the old homestead. He is the present owner of a fine place of about one hundred and fifty acres, which he operates along lines of general farming and stock raising, and is counted one of the really successful farming men of the township. The place is known as "Stowman Homestead."
On Thanksgiving day, in 1879, Mr. Stowman took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss A. Kate Snively, the daughter of John M. and Lemitia (Stryker) Snively, then a resident of Peru, where Mrs. Stowman had been reared. To them have been born four children. They are named Vernice, Lemitia, Mabel and Marie. Vernice was educated in the country school and the Mexico high school. She took her business course at the Marion Normal and has been engaged with the State Life Association for nine years. She is a member of the Baptist church. Le- mitia is at home. She was educated in the common schools and Mexico high school. Mabel is the wife of Geo. E. Musselman, an agriculturist in the county. They have two little children, twins, Gayland E. and Gaythal E. Marie is in the seventh grade and is taking music. Mrs. Stowman was educated in the common schools and is a graduate of the class of 1876. She had her license to teaclı.
Mr. Stowman is a Democrat, as was his father before him, and while he is stanch and true in his allegiance to the party, he is still sufficiently alive to the best interests of his community to depart from party preju- dices and vote at times for candidates other than those of his political faith. His splendid citizenship is one of his finest qualities, and he ever manifests a wholesome interest in the affairs of the township, county and state. He has no churchly affiliations as a member, but his wife has membership in the Baptist church, and he supports the activities of that body in a .praiseworthy manner.
The Stowman family is one that enjoys the unadulterated friendship of a wide circle of the best people of the town and county, and they take a leading share in the social and other activities of their circle.
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A. H. KALBFLEISCH, M. D. In the practical work of his profession and in the devotion to the interest of the medical fraternity and the welfare of the community, Dr. Kalbfleisch is one of the conspicuous members of his profession in Miami county where he has resided for upwards of thirty years. His name is associated with the Peru Sani- tarium, which, while a private enterprise, has a large usefulness for other members of the profession and has served the needs of this city, and its people in many ways.
Dr. A. H. Kalbfleisch was born in the city of St. Louis, Septem- ber 1, 1847, being of German parentage. His father, Conrad C. Kalb- fleisch was a native of Hesse, Darmstadt, and by occupation was a merchant and tailor. The mother was a native of Wurttemberg and came to this country, her marriage with J. C. Kalbfleisch being cele- brated in New York. Thence they moved west to Missouri, joining a Lutheran colony in Perry county near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Subsequently the family moved to St. Louis and from there to Col- linsville, Illinois, where the father remained until his death.
Mr. Kalbfleisch was reared to manhood at St. Louis and in Col- linsville, and received his education in the public schools and in the parochial schools of the Lutheran church. When he took up the study of medicine he abandoned the lifework which had been marked out for him previously, which destined him for the profession of minister in the Lutheran church. His medical studies began in 1867 with Dr. Wm. Brandemuehl of Collinsville. In 1869 he entered the Hahne- mann Medical College of Chicago, and was graduated from that well known institution February 23, 1871. His practice was begun in his old home town of Collinsville, but soon after he moved to Pinckney- ville, Illinois, where he established his office and during his residence there attained a practice over a wide range of country.
Following a year's post-graduate work in Chicago, Dr. Kalbfleisch located at Peru, and this has been his permanent residence ever since. Thirty years of close attention to the profession have presented count- less opportunities for practical benevolence and helpful service for humanity, and to as great a degree as any other physician in this county Dr. Kalbfleisch has utilized these different sources of help- fulness. During 1889-90 Dr. Kalbfleisch spent a year at Cullman, Alabama, but with that exception has never been away from Peru for any considerable length of time. In 1900 he crected his Sani- tarium in this city, which was designed in the first place to accommno- date his own large private practice. This is a two story brick build- ing, 78x26 in ground dimensions, and is equipped with the most mod- ern appliances and conveniences for sanitarium and hospital prac- tice. Immediately upon its completion, Dr. Kalbfleisch extended the use of his building to other members of the profession and thus to a large degree it has served the purposes of a general hospital.
From 1891 to 1902 Dr. Kalbfleisch was secretary of the county board of health and has also served as secretary of the city board of health. He has held the office of secretary of the board of health longer than any other officer. He is an active member of the Miami County, the Indiana State and the American Medical Societies. Though he is a grad- uate of the Hahnemann School of Medicine, he is not dogmatic in his devo- tion to the principles of homeopathy, and practices any system that. offers the best results for the individual patient. Dr. Kalbfleisch is affiliated with the Peru Lodge of Elks, and in politics has always accorded his allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party.
On May 23, 1876, he married Miss Maltida K. Conradt, who is now an invalid. She is a daughter of Godlove Conradt, a prominent
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Peru business man whose name needs no description in this vicinity and a sketch of whose career appears also in this work. The Doctor and wife are the parents of four children: Albert H., a resident of California; George C., who is living in Tiffin, Ohio; Emma G., now Mrs. Dr. Arthur C. Baldwin of Peru; and Rose M.
DAVID CHARTERS. The late David Charters had a residence in Miami county early enough to give his name a place among the pioneers. Besides his work as a substantial farmer, he is remembered as at one time quite prominent in public affairs.
David Charters was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, born January 24, 1821, and was rcared on a farm in his native State, securing a somewhat limited education in the district schools of his day and local- ity. He accompanied his parents, William and Elizabeth (Comfort) Charters (the former a veteran of the War of 1812), to Miami county in 1846 and here purchased a half section of land in Peru township from the original settler, one Daniels, who then lived at Piqua, Ohio. Not having sufficient resources to finance this amount of land, he subsequently sold all but 140 acres and, removing to a log house in the woods, commenced the work of clearing and cultivating. In 1852 he was married to Miss Louisa Long, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living. Mr. Charters not only became one of the successful agriculturists of his township, but was also a force in Republican politics, serving Miami county as county commissioner and as representative in the State Legislature. His death occurred in March, 1882, while his widow survived until April, 1912. They were faithful members of the Methodist Church.
WILLIAM J. CHARTERS, whose merit and capability have brought to him successive advancement in the business world, is now senior member of the hardware firm of Charters, Brown & Company, at Peru, Indiana. A native of Miami county, his entire career has been passed within its limits, and his entrance into the business life of Peru dates back to 1884. The firm of which he is now the directing head is one of the leading enter- prises of its kind in the city, and its rapid and continuous growth has been due in a large degree to the progressive policies he has brought to its management. Mr. Charters was born in Peru township, Miami county, Indiana, January 31, 1855, and is a son of David and Louisa (Long) Charters, of whom more extended mention is made in the sketch imme- diately preceding this. He was one of their nine children, of whom seven survive.
William J. Charters was given the advantages of a common school education and was reared on the home farm, it being his father's in- tention for him to follow the agricultural business. The bent of the young man, however, scemcd toward mercantile pursuits, and when he was twenty-nine years of age, he came to Peru and secured employ- ment as a clerk in the store of Shirk & Miller. He continued with this concern for the next eightcen years, at the end of which time he decided that he was ready to enter the business arena on his own account. Accordingly, on January 1, 1902, the firm of Charters, Brown & Company was organized and this concern has continued to do an increasingly successful business to the present time. Mr. Charters is popular both in social and business circles, and is known for his thor- ough reliability, his enterprise and his progressive methods. Those who come within the closer circle of his friendship can always count upon his loyalty, and true worth can always win his friendship. In political matters he is a Republican, but has not aspired to prefer-
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ment in public office. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. For two terms he served as Worshipful Master of Miami Lodge No. 67, A. F. & A. M., and upon the consolidation of Miami Lodge and Peru Lodge No. 482, into Peru and Miami Lodge No. 67, he was elected the first Worshipful Master.
Mr. Charters was married on October 11, 1886, to Miss Ida M. Zimmerman, and they have one son, David B. Mr. and Mrs. Char- ters are leading members of the First Baptist Church of Peru.
CHARLES M. CHARTERS, another of the seven surviving children of David and Louisa (Long) Charters, was born on the farm home in Miami county, on February 17, 1872, and was there reared. He was educated in the county schools and in 1891 was graduated from the Peru High School. In September, 1891, he entered the Citizens' National Bank as bookkeeper and collector, and there served in dif- ferent positions until January, 1903, when he became cashier,-a posi- tion he now occupies.
Mr. Charters was married on September 5, 1907, to Harriet Porter, and they have two children, Mildred P. and John P. Mr. Charters is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
SAMUEL M. CHARTERS. In preceding paragraphs have been recorded the important facts about the Charters family during the first generation of its residence in Miami county. Samuel M. Charters, who is more gen- erally known as Mifflin Charters, is one of the children of David and Louisa (Long) Charters, who established the family in the county, and whose lives are sketched above.
Mr. S. M. Charters was born on the old homestead in Peru township, November 28, 1857. The other members of the family turned their atten- tion to merchandising and other lines of endeavor, but he has been more than content with the bounty and prosperity bestowed upon those who follow agriculture as their regular vocation. It is a noteworthy fact that his home has been on the same section of the same township from the time of his birth to the present. As a boy he attended the neighboring district schools, and also went for a time to the Peru schools, and then returned to the homestead to take up its practical duties.
On October 3, 1888, he married Mary Elizabeth Gallahan, daughter of W. Clarke and Martha (Arnett) Gallahan, who were farmers of Cass county. After his marriage Mr. Charters bought his present place of seventy acres, and built a good home and has improved the property to one of the productive and valuable rural estates of Peru township.
Mrs. Charters died June 3, 1900, leaving two children, Marie E. and Charles H. Mr. Charters is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Lodge 67 of Peru.
THE NEWMAN FAMILY. Samuel K. Newman was one of the noted characters of Miami county, Indiana, and was also one of its most noted citizens. He was born on March 19, 1819, and came here the year following the organization of Miami county, and from 1837 until the time of his death he made this district his home. During those years he succeeded in accumulating one of the large fortunes of the county, beginning his career with absolutely nothing of material pos- session, and closing it in the high position he had long occupied here. In his earlier years of business activity and struggle he overcame seem- ingly unsurmountable obstacles, but he was never one to look his diffi-
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BIRDSEYE VIEW OF "THE NEWMAN GRANGE" RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. MEDFORD KYLE NEWMAN
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culties other than squarely in the face, and it is well known that an obstacle stanchly met is half overcome.
On first coming to Miami county Samuel K. Newman found employ- ment at farm work, at the daily wage of fifty and seventy-five cents. He carefully hoarded his money, and as land was then cheap, it was not long before he came to be the owner of some real estate. He was nat- urally proficient in the art of trading, and it is related of him that he would start from home with a decrepit horse, and in a short time return with a span of fine horses, a wagon and various other commodities, and money in his pocket. He was a man of marked, but never offensive peculiarities. He paid scanty regard to matters of dress, but when he advanced an opinion hearers would listen intently. In the course of time his fancy for the accumulation of real estate resulted in his becoming the largest landed proprietor in Miami county, besides becoming the owner of large city and other properties. He was not much given to the idea of improving properties that came into his possession, his fancy being rather to acquire it.
The first wife of Samuel K. Newman was Lydia Ann Harman, who was born in January, 1824, and died on December 20, 1877. His second wife was Eliza Jane Busick, born in 1841, and who died in 1905. No children were born of the second marriage, but to the first was born one son, Thomas I. Newman. The father died on December 5, 1902.
Thomas I. Newman, only son of Samuel K. and Lydia Ann (Harmon) Newman, was born October 2, 1845, in Miami county, and in his boyhood received an exceedingly liberal education, judged by the standards of the day, having been a student at Merom College, Sullivan county. His training culminated in being a student in the Indiana State University. During the life of his father, Mr. Newman's principal activity lay in the business of improving the many properties that came to be added to the tax list of the elder Newman. He became as a result of his work along these lines, known for a man of especially advanced ideas, and rather ahead of his time in the matter of progress.
Thomas I. Newman married Kate E. L. Junkin, who was born on May 9, 1848, and who died on December 12, 1899. They became the parents of five children, as follows: Omer U., a lawyer of Indianapolis ; Olive, the wife of J. H. Fidler, of Peru, Indiana; Samuel I., living in Miami county ; William Turner, a Cass county farmer; and Medford Kyle. Thomas I. Newman died on August 6, 1911.
Medford Kyle Newman, son of Thomas I. and grandson of Samuel K. Newman, was born in Cass county, Indiana, May 28, 1887, and assisted his father in looking after the large estate of the family until after the death of the father. Since that time he has become the owner of nearly five hundred acres, and he operates this in conjunction with stock-rais- ing, a business in which he has experienced a pleasing degree of success.
Politically Mr. Newman is a Republican, but not more active in the party ranks than good citizenship demands. To his marriage with Miss Mildred, daughter of Clement Anderson, solemnized on June 21, 1908, one son has been born,-Clement Irvin, named thus in honor of his paternal and maternal grandfathers. Mrs. Newman is a native of Cass county, Indiana, born July 16, 1889, and she is the second child in a family of three daughters born to Clement L. and Martha (Fox) Ander- son. All the children are living, the eldest being Mabel, wife of Melvin E. Smith, a resident of Muncie, Indiana, an electrician. They have a son, Clement. Mrs. Newman is next in order of birth. Naomi is a resident of Peru, Indiana, and is a member of the Peru high school class of 1915.
Mr. Anderson was born in Miami county in 1862 and was engaged in
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the lumber industry. He was educated in the common schools and was a graduate of the Valparaiso University. He was a Democrat and he and wife were members of the Progressive Church Society. He died in 1903 and is interred in the Oak Grove Cemetery of Peru, Indiana. His wife is a native of Miami county and is a resident of Peru, Indiana. Mrs. Newman received excellent educational advantages and is ably fitted to preside over her beautiful modern country seat, which is known as "The Newman Grange," located six miles northwest of Peru, Indiana. It is a large modern brick residence, commanding an admirable view of the surrounding country and surrounded by the finest and most modern barns and outbuildings. The home is lighted by electricity, has a hot water plant and is finished in oak and poplar. Its portals are ever open to the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Newman. Mrs. Newman is a member of the Progressive church, and with her husband, is prominent and popular in local circles.
HAL C. PHELPS. A member of an old Empire State family, whose members have distinguished themselves in military and civil life, in the business arena, in agriculture and in the professions, Hal C. Phelps, prosecuting attorney of Miami county, Indiana, has maintained the reputation of the family name, and for some years has been a prom- inent legist of Peru. Mr. Phelps was born on his father's farm in Deer Creek township, Miami county, Indiana, the youngest of the five children of Charles R. and Ellen J. (Fishtorn) Phelps.
Barrett Phelps, the great-grandfather of Hal C. Phelps, was a res- ident of Hebron, Connecticut, and served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Skinner's company. He married Ruth, daughter of Elizur and Ruth Loveland, whose father also served the Colonies during their struggle with Great Britain for independence. Barrett and Ruth Phelps were the parents of ten children, the ninth being Bissell Phelps, the grandfather of Hal C. Phelps, who was born March 27, 1805, in Lewis county, New York. He married a Miss Loucks, whose Christian name was Margaret, on October 28, 1832, and in 1853 moved with his family to Miami county, Indiana, and settled on a farm in Clay town- ship, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in cheese manu- facturing and in dairying during the remainder of his life. He died April 4, 1898, and his wife April 30, 1884, and they were the par- ents of five children. Charles R. Phelps was the youngest of the chil- dren of Bissell Phelps, and was born in Lewis county, New York, Decem- ber 1, 1840, and died in Miami county, Indiana, July 1, 1879. He was reared on a farm, and in his youth became a school teacher, a voca- tion which he followed until his marriage to Ellen J. Fishtorn, April 8, 1868. Shortly thereafter he became engaged in farming, in con- nection with which he operated a dairy and cheese factory in Deer Creek township, and became one of the successful men of his locality, although he died when still in the prime of life.
Hal C. Phelps was reared in Miami county, and was primarily edu- cated in the district schools, following which he attended about eighteen months at Marion Normal College, several terms at the Tri-State Nor- mal College at Angola, Indiana, six months at Hull's School, Mantua, Ohio, and a course at Voorhies Business College, at Indianapolis, Indi- ana. He subsequently took an academic and law course in Valpa- raiso University, and was graduated from the law department thereof in 1907. Since that time Mr. Phelps has been practicing law at Peru. On May 2, 1912, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of the county by Governor Marshall, and to this office he was elected in the fall of the year. His services to his community have been characterized by
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the utmost fidelity to duty and as prosecuting attorney he is giving a conscientious and public-spirited administration. As a lawyer he has made a creditable place for himself in his profession and his ability is attested by the liberal clientage now accorded him.
Mr. Phelps is a member in the ninth generation of the Phelps family, the early progenitors of which came from England on the good ship "Mary and John," landing on American soil July 20, 1630. The Phelps family of Miami county have in their possession the genealogy and chron- ology of the Phelps family dating back to William the Conqueror who came to England from Normandy, France, about 1100. Hal C. Phelps has a full inventory of the chattels of Noah Phelps dated December 6, 1806 and it enumerates every article in detail in the household and farm. He has also a certified copy of the will and papers of executorship.
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