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 17
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Edward H. Griswold was reared partly in Lafayette, and partly in Franklin county, Missouri. His early life was spent in the environ- ments and atmosphere of a learned profession, and almost naturally he turned to studies in medicine. His literary education was attained at the Missouri State University at Columbia, and when nineteen years of age, he took up the study of medicine under the direction of his father. March 14, 1891, he was graduated from the University Medical College at Kansas City, and began his practice at the historical town of Marthasville which has been mentioned above. Very soon after-
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wards he was offered the position of physician in charge of the Wabash Employes Hospital at Peru, and became a resident of this city on June 1, 1891. During the more than twenty years of his management, the institution which when he first came here was a small and experi- mental undertaking, has become one of the largest and best equipped railroad hospitals in the middle west. The hospital building is located a short distance north of the Union depot, and is a large brick build- ing, thoroughly equipped with comforts, and all surgical conveniences, and Dr. Griswold has a competent staff at his disposal in the manage- ment of the institution. The hospital is considered one of the public institutions of Peru, and one of the assets which increase the impor- tance of this city.
In 1895 Dr. Griswold took a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic. He is a member of the Miami County, the Indiana State and the American Medical Societies, a member of the Order of Rail- way Surgeons, and through his private study and experience and asso- ciation with the organizations of his profession has kept in close touch and apace with the great advance in medical and surgical knowledge during the twenty years of his own practice.
Dr. Griswold in May, 1895, married Miss Georgine C. Rettig. They are the parents of two sons : Rettig Arnold and Edward Harvey. Mrs. Griswold's parents were George and Georgia Rettig, long residents of Peru. Dr. Griswold and wife are communicants of the Episcopal church, and he is a Knight Templar Mason.
WALTER C. BAILEY. For more than thirty-five years a member of the Miami county bar, Mr. Bailey is one of the senior members of his profession in which he has gained successful distinction and has been not less prominent in the broader fields of citizenship. It was through the avenue of school-teaching that Mr. Bailey finally acquired the means to prepare himself for his profession and to enter upon his active practice, and since his admission to the bar he has also served this county as superintendent of schools.
Walter C. Bailey belongs to one of the pioneer families of Miami county. He was born in what is now Allen township of this county March 16, 1845. So far as can be ascertained his father, Stewart Bailey, was the first brick manufacturer to locate in this county. Stewart Bailey was born in Onondaga county, New York, at Batavia, married Sally Berry, who was a native of Albany, New York, and descendant of Dutch ancestry, and in 1837 with his wife and daughter Melinda, came west to the wilderness country of northern Indiana. He and his family were in company with and rode in the same covered wagon with Mathias Carvey and wife. Salmon Collins, a cousin of Mr. Bailey, at that time lived in Fulton county, just across the line from Miami county, and this fact no doubt influenced the Bailey family in their selection of a home. Stewart Bailey bought forty acres of land in what was then a part of Union township, but has since become Allen township. On that land he began the manufacture of brick, and at the same time conducted farming on a small scale. Up to that time all of the inhabitants had depended almost entirely upon the native timber, and the few sawmills which then existed throughout this section for the material used in the construction of houses and other buildings. With the advent of Stewart Bailey and his enterprise it became pos- sible to use a different material, and one which introduced a more permanent and a more attractive form of residence in this vicinity.
Before leaving the east for Indiana, Stewart Bailey had shipped his furniture from Buffalo to Michigan City. , After locating in Miami
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county, he hired a man and team to go with him to Michigan City to get the goods. Michigan City was at that time the great lake port and market for all nothern Indiana. On arriving at Michigan City, it was learned that the goods had been carried on to Chicago by mistake. Mr. Bailey then sent the team back and walked to Chicago, where he found his goods. Chicago was at that time just about to be incorporated as a city, but was still a small town about the mouth of the river, the old fort still stood on the banks of the river and it was little more than a rival of the other lake port of the south, Michigan City. He brought his goods by lake to Michigan City, and thence conveyed them overland into Miami county.
In 1850 Stewart Bailey moved his family to Logansport and in the vicinity of that town was engaged in the manufacture of brick until the fall of 1854, at which date he returned to Miami county. The father of his wife at that time lived in Union township, and the Baileys also lived in the same neighborhood, and with the exception of the years of the war, during which time they made their home in Marshall county, continued to reside in Union township until the time of their death. The father was an oldline Whig during his early career, and subsequently became a Republican. When a boy he had been converted to the Methodist faith, and was licensed as a local preacher, being widely known throughout this section of Indiana as an exhorter and revivalist. Eleven children were born to Stewart Bailey and wife, ten of them reaching maturity, and five now living.
Walter C. Bailey, who was the fifth in this family, was reared on a farm, and at the same time worked about his father's brick-making plant, and learned about everything there was in that industry. Hard work and perseverance were the means by which he prepared him- self for a career of larger usefulness, and among the active members of the Miami county bar, there is none whose title of self-made man is better justified and is more a reason for pride. During his boyhood his educational opportunities were limited, and the first school lie at- tended was taught in a log cabin. He subsequently attended school at Bourdon, and then one year in the high school at Plymouth. By alternate teaching and study he progressed gradually but surely to- wards the goal of his ambition. In December, 1864, when a boy of nineteen, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, but was rejected through the influence exerted by his father over the colonel. Two of his older brothers Stewart J. and Wellington E. were already in the army and the father thought that their service was sufficient sacrifice on the part of this family.
Mr. Bailey continued to teach school during the winter and man- ufacture brick during the summer until 1873. At that date he took up the active study of law, and in 1874 entered the law office of Corbin & Chaney at Plymouth. While a regular law student, he also continued teaching school until his admission to the bar in 1876.
Mr. Bailey then located at Peru, and began practice as a lawyer. From June, 1881, to June, 1885, he served as county superintendent of schools, but with the exception of that period has given his un- divided attention to his profession, and for many years has been recognized as one of the strongest attorneys of this county. From 1896 to 1908 he was in partnership with Mr. Charles A. Cole, under the firm name of Bailey & Cole. This partnership was dissolved in 1908 to make room for two new firms, that of Bailey & Bailey, and of Cole & Cole. Each of the former partners had at that time a son, who had begun practice, and both partnerships now consist of father and sons, and the offices of both firms are in the same building.
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM GRIMES "THIE GRIMES HOMESTEAD GRANGE"
1 DONT hayshing.
, -. . .
Louise M.
Grimes
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Mr. Bailey married on May 31, 1876, Miss Elizabeth Thompson, the second daughter of Dr. Valentine Thompson of Union City. Her death occurred a few months after the marriage, on October 3, 1876. At Moscow, Michigan, on September 23, 1880, Mr. Bailey married Mary B. McCowan. Four children have been born to this marriage, namely : Estelle C., who is the wife of Oren B. Schutt, of Champaign, Illinois; Henry S., who is the junior partner of his father in the firm of Bailey & Bailey; Webster R., who is a practising lawyer at Visalia, California ; and Linus M., who is now in the University of Illinois at Champaign. The mother of these children passed away on May 1, 1909, at Long Beach, California. Mr. Bailey has long been one of the influential Republicans of this county, is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Order of Elks and the Maccabees, and has given his ready cooperation in all measure- ments and movements for the improvment and betterment of his community. He has taken a very active part in the recent movement for setting aside by state authority, of the Missisinewa battle ground as a park for the permanent use and enjoyment of the people. Mr. Bailey is a man of genial character, and has long been one of the most popular men of Peru and is well known throughout the state.
HARRISON GRIMES AND WILLIAM GRIMES. Among the pioneers of Miami county, Indiana, mention should be made of Harrison Grimes, for he was not only one of the early settlers but a man of great promi- nence and influence in the county. A man of great industry and tenacity, typical of that generation that changed the middle states from primeval forests and untouched prairies to prosperous farms. His death was a blow to the community but perhaps his best work lives after him in the persons of his children. Of these William Grimes is a true son of his father. A successful farmer, he also finds the time to interest himself in public matters and in the welfare of the community. He is active and wide awake, progressive in his ideas and a valuable citizen for any community.
Harrison Grimes was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on the 14th of February, 1823, the eldest of the children born to Jeremiah and Barbara (Hashbarger) Grimes. His father was a native of Maryland and was of Irish ancestry, while his mother was born in Virginia and was of Dutch descent. Harrison Grimes was only a lad of ten when he left the parental roof and went to Preble county, Ohio. Here he bound himself out to a farmer, the understanding being that when he became of age his employer, one Jacob Harter, should release him and pay him $150. He worked for his board and clothing until he was sixteen and then continued under different terms until he had reached his majority. Instead of abiding by the original agreement, the young man agreed to accept $100, and a horse and with this as his capital, he started out in life for himself. In March, 1844, he left Ohio and came to Miami county, Indiana, making his way, almost entirely, on foot. He worked here on a farm until the following June and then he walked back to Preble county, Ohio. He did not remain long, however, for the ensuing August found him on his way back to Indiana, this time mounted on a horse. For a year he worked at farming and any odd jobs he could pick up, and he hoarded his money almost like a miser, for while he was far from a miser in reality, he realized that he must have land of his own before he could make much of his life. In 1846 he was able to buy ninety acres of land in Union township on section 16, and he at once set to work clearing and grubbing this property, for it was then in a primeval condition, untouched by man. Only those early settlers who did such work themselves can fully appre- Vol. II - 8
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ciate the amount of hard work that his task involved, and he accom- plished it without any assistance whatever. With such a deed as this to his credit in the early twenties it is not surprising that as time passed he grew prosperous. He bought additional land with his savings and at one time he owned something like a thousand acres of valuable land.
Shortly after he had permanently located in Miami county, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Brower, a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and a daughter of George Brower, who is given further mention else- where in this work. The wedding took place on the 4th of May, 1845, and from the very beginning of their married life Mrs. Brower was a true wife in every sense of the word, doing all in her power to aid in the establishment of a home and in saving the money to obtain for their children an education.
Mr. Grimes died on the 18th of March, 1895, in Denver, Indiana, whither he had moved during the latter part of his life. He had retired from the active work of the farm, although he never lost interest in it. He was a liberal contributor to all public enterprises and those of a charitable nature and his death was considered a real calamity to the community in which he spent his last years. His funeral services were conducted from the residence and he was laid to rest in West Lawn cemetery. His wife lived only a few months after the death of her husband, passing away on October 16, 1895, and the same minister who conducted the funeral of her husband, Elder Jacob Fisher, also held the services when she was laid to rest beside her husband in West Lawn cemetery.
The children of this devoted couple were nine in number and of these five are living. Josiah, who was born on July 31, 1846, married Ellen Seibert and died on the 6th of June, 1911. Hiram who was born on January 5, 1848, married Jane Burkett and died September, 1880. John H. was born on the 1st of March, 1849, and died on February 11, 1853. Sarah D. who was born August 22, 1851, became the wife of William H. Howes, and died February 6, 1904. George T., born on the 24th of October, 1854, married Rose Sawyer and lives in Savage, Indiana. Albert, whose birth took place on the 5th of September, 1856, married Margaret Trent and resides in Peru township, Miami county. Martha J., born December 24, 1857, married William H. Davis and lives in Akron, Indiana. William, who was born on the 29th of June, 1859, and Charles, who was born October 13, 1868, married Ella Friend and now resides in Denver, Indiana.
William Grimes grew up on the old home place, aiding his father and elder brothers in the work of the farm. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood, and after he had completed his schooling, he aided his father until his marriage at the early age of twenty. It was on the 2nd of October, 1879, that he was married to Miss Mary Louise Howes, a daughter of Henry and Mary J. (Speck) Howes. Mrs. Grimes was born on the 25th of September, 1864, in Miami county, In- diana, the second in a family of three children, one son and two daughters, born to Henry and Mary J. (Speck) Howes, Mrs. Grimes being the only child now living. Mr. Howes was a native of Vermont, the old Green Mountain state, born June 19, 1816, and he died November 19, 1898. He was an agriculturist and was educated in the primitive schools of New England. He was a man of superior mind and intellectuality and one who had the confidence and respect of all who knew him. Politically he was first an old-line Whig and then a Republican, voting for the first nominee of the party for president, General John C. Fremont. He was assessor of his township. It was in 1836 that he came to Miami county, Indiana, when the Miami Indians, the bear, deer, panthers, and
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wolves were plentiful, and he was one of the founders of the county. Both he and wife were devout members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Howes is a native of Ross county, Ohio, born December 29, 1840, and she makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Grimes. She is now seventy-three years of age, and is bright and active. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. William Grimes. The elder is Dora Mabel. She was born November 28, 1880, and received her diploma from the publie schools, and then took a musical course at the Valparaiso Uni- versity, at Valparaiso, Indiana. She wedded Charles O. Derek, who is an agriculturist of Miami county, and is one of its progressive young farmers. They have two children, Miriam Louise and Grimes Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Derck are members of the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Derck is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Maecabees and the Gleaners and Mrs. Derek is also a member of the last named order.
Maude Elizabeth, born July 18, 1882, received her diploma from the public sehools, spent one year in the Denver high school and has taken musieal instruction. She wedded Edward E. Saline, who is a well edu- eated man and cashier of The International Harvester Company at South Bend, Indiana. They have had two children, but the elder, William Edward, is deceased. Cecilia E., the younger, is in the second grade of school. Mrs. Saline is a member of the Methodist church.
Mrs. Grimes, the mother, was educated in the Denver publie schools and was reared in her home county. She is a lady of pleasing address and personality and has hosts of friends.
After his marriage William Grimes farmed the Howes property in Union township for about thirteen years. He then bought his father's old place, and has sinee made his home on what has always been known as the Grimes plaee. He is the owner of 180 acres in this one farm and owns about 600 acres in all, this being all located within Miami county. In addition to his farming operations Mr. Grimes deals in stock to a considerable extent.
In polities Mr. Grimes was a Republican, until 1912 when he felt that the Progressive party had the stronger and better platform and more fully filled the country's need. He consequently voted the Pro- gressive tieket and was himself the candidate of the party for the office of county commissioner, though defeated. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Knights of Maceabees. His wife is an aetivo member of the Baptist church. The beautiful estate of Mr. and Mrs. Grimes is known as "The Grimes Homestead Grange."
REV. JOHN H. GUENDLING. Representing a family which loeated in Miami county more than seventy years ago, Father Guendling is the irremovable reetor of St. Charles Catholic Church at Peru. His parents were worthy German people, who during the pioneer era settled in this county, were farmers, developed a rural home in Washington township and having contributed by their own thrift and labors to the material development of this region also gave three of their sons to the services of the church and humanity.
John H. Guendling was born on the old farm in Washington town- ship December 19, 1855, a son of John and Mary Frances (Faust) Guendling. The parents were natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. In order to better their circumstanees they migrated to America, and in 1840 located in the then little improved and almost wilderness of Washington township, Miami county. They contended with the hard- ships of pioneer life, inade a productive farm, and reared a large family of children. The parents were devout Catholics, brought up
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their children in that faith, and it was always a matter of gratifieation to the old people that three of their sons entered the priesthood.
Father John H. Guendling was reared on the old farm, and in 1870, at the age of fifteen, entered Mount St. Mary's Seminary at Cincinnati, where he completed his elassieal studies. He was then sent to the North American College at Rome, Italy, in 1876, but ill health in that environment obliged him to return to his native country in 1878. He then entered the Sulpician Seminary at Baltimore, where he completed his studies in theology and was ordained a priest in the Cathedral at Fort Wayne, Indiana, by Bishop Dwenger on July 2, 1880. During the same month he was appointed by Bishop Dwenger as Superintend- ent of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum at Lafayette, Indiana, a position of many responsibilities which he efficiently discharged until July 1, 1898. On the 3d of the latter month he was appointed pastor of the Cathedral at Fort Wayne, and in January, 1899, was made viear-general by Bishop Rademacher. On , January 12, 1900, occurred the death of Bishop Rademacher, and until the present Bishop Alerding took up his duties in the dioeese Father Guendling was administrator for this dioeese. On being relieved of those duties, he reeuperated his failing health by extensive travels in the west. From June 29, 1901, to July 4, 1902, he was pastor-in-eharge at Goshen, this state. On the latter date he was named sueeessor to Father Meissner, deceased, as reetor of the St. Charles church in Peru.
Father Guendling is a member of the Bishop's Couneil, and of the Dioeesan sehool board. In his parish at Peru he has endeared himself to his large congregation by a singular devotion to the welfare of the ehureh as an organization, and of its individual members, and he is both a priest and a eitizen, possessing those sterling qualities of mind and ideals of service which make him a factor of fine usefulness.
FRED W. SENGER. Undoubtedly the most conspicuous mereantile establishment of the modern eity of Peru is the Senger Dry Goods Com- pany Store of Peru, at the northeast corner of Broadway and Fifth street. To omit mention of this establishment among the mereantile enter- prises of Peru would be as serious as to fail to mention the court house in giving a list of the publie buildings of the county seat. Solid, substantial and prosperous in every department and feature, the Senger Store is nevertheless one of the younger mereantile enterprises of the eity of Peru, beginning its eareer April 11, 1906. Its present executive head eame to Peru less than twenty years ago, his advent into the eity being marked by the date November 4, 1895, and began his eareer as a elerk in one of the stores of that time. His business sueeess has been remarkable among the eareers of Miami County merchants, and Fred W. Senger stands today as one of the most influential and enterprising business men of this seetion of Indiana.
Fred W. Senger, who is a native of Danville, Illinois, was born Mareh 25, 1875, and is a son of Peter and Franees (Royer) Senger, both of whom are now residents of Danville. He was reared in his native eity, where he attended the Catholie parochial sehools and where he also attained his first experienee in business affairs as a boy assistant in his father's store. At the age of nineteen he eame to Peru and was employed for ten years in one establishment. This took him up to the age of twenty- nine years, and at that time he was ready to begin his independent eareer as a merchant. He had in the meantime become a friend of Col. B. E. Wallaee the great showman, and with Colonel Wallace and Mr. C. E. Cory, a nephew of the Colonel, he formed a eo-partnership and the Senger Store Company was launched. This venture, with the financial
Frank D.Butter
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backing of Colonel Wallace and the splendid enthusiasm and business judgment of Mr. Senger and Mr. Cory, prospered from the very start. The business opened in a small room in the MeCafferay Block, now occu- pied by the Woolworth Five and Ten Cent Corporation, and in less than two years the Senger Store was looking for larger quarters.
In February, 1908, Colonel Wallace purchased the building at the corner of Fifth and Broadway. A building 66x110 feet stood there tlien, three story and basement, and this they had rebuilt into a building especially designed for a new and up-to-date store, and in its appoint- ments and facilities for the successful handling of its business, the new store is at least twenty-five years ahead of other mercantile enterprises of Peru. The Senger Store is the most conspicuous and attractive on Broadway today. It is equipped with its own power and lighting plant, and has one hundred and seventy six feet of window space for display purposes, with 29,040 square feet of floor space. The interior fixtures, such as show cases, etc. are of San Domingo mahogany, edged with Ten- nessee marble, with French beveled plate glass, and satin finished brass. Sixty-three persons are employed in the store and it is the only exclusive dry goods store in the city of Peru, devoting all of its floor space to the sale of merchandise for women, misses and children and home furnishings. It is the largest store of its kind in this section of Indiana and has among its regular customers people who live within a radius of fifty miles of the city.
Although devoted to his business, Mr. Senger takes an interested part in local affairs. He is a communicant of the Catholic church and is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 365 of Peru.
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