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 21
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DAVID E. RHODES. As an active and successful attorney Mr. Rhodes during the past eighteen years has occupied a prominent place in his profession in Miami county, and has had a varied and broad experience as a lawyer in all departments of practice. The present firm of Law- rence & Rhodes, of which he is the junior member is recognized as one of the strongest law partnerships in active practice at Peru, and has enjoyed a large and influential clientage.
David E. Rhodes is a native of this state, born on a farm in Fulton county, August 17, 1869, a son of Joseph P. and Alma (Hoover) Rhodes. Both sides of the family have long been identified with Indiana, and the mother's people in particular were among the pioneers of this state. Joseph P. Rhodes, the father, was a farmer by occupation and during the war enlisted in Company A of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, giving loyal service as a soldier for the preservation of the Union. Both parents are now deceased. Mr. Rhodes spent his boyhood on a farm where he acquired the physical vigor necessary to success in any department of life, and obtained his education in the district school near the old home. When he was seventeen years of age he took one course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Val- paraiso. With that preparation he took up work as teacher and spent the winter terms in teaching, and engaged in farming during the summer until he was twenty years of age. At that time he had acquired suf- ficient capital to continue his education, and another year was spent in the Valparaiso institution. After that he continued alternately in farm- ing and teaching until he was twenty-three. Then he again entered the Northern Indiana Normal School and at the end of two years and a half had completed the scientific and teachers' courses, and in June, 1895, was graduated from the law department. In August of the same year he began his practice at Peru, at first as a member of the law firm of Larimer & Rhodes. This partnership was dissolved in 1897, and Mr. Rhodes then remained by himself until 1901, at which time the present firm of Lawrence & Rhodes was organized.
Mr. Rhodes is one of the broad-minded men of his profession and has for many year's been a keen student of local and national politics. Up until 1912 he was actively identified with the Republican party in both principles and policies. The belief was then forced upon him as a positive conviction that the party was dominated by a group of eastern leaders whose general tendencies were essentially retrogressive, and after the memorable proceedings in the Republican Convention at Chicago, he transferred his political allegiance to the new Progressive faction and was one of the organizers of the Progressive party in Indiana. He was chairman of the Progressive Organization for Miami county.
On Christmas Day of 1895, Mr. Rhodes married Miss Edith Rooney of Athens in Fulton county, Indiana, and they are the parents of two sons, Russell R. and Teddy D.
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ELMER E. MITCHELL. In writing the commercial history of Peru it is of interest to note that many of the men who are now regarded as the most successful and substantial merchants began their careers at the bottom, some as clerks, some as common laborers and in various other capacities, which afforded each one an entrance to which he might progress to higher achievements in business life. One of these present- day successful merchants is Elmer E. Mitchell, who for more than thirty years has been identified with the business district of Peru, and is now at the head of a large baking establishment.
Mr. Mitchell was born at Lewisburg in Cass county on January 20, 1864. He was one of three children, all of whom are still living, whose parents were Edward and Victoria (Fields) Mitchell. His father, a carpenter by trade, during the latter part of his life devoted much of his time to farming. In 1866 the family moved to Miami county, Ohio, where the father died during the same year, and in 1875 the remaining members of the family returned to Cass county, Indiana.
Mr. Mitchell was reared for the most part on a farm, and owing to the early death of his father and to the requirements that each member of the household should do something to contribute to the general sup- port, he was early thrown largely on his own responsibilities, and as a result his education was only such as could be obtained in the common schools. When he was about seventeen years of age he began life's battle on his own responsibility as a clerk in Dubb's bakery at Peru. This was in 1882 and the beginning of his long connection with mercantile affairs of this city. After about a year as a clerk, during which time he had acquired a thorough familiarity with the business side of bak- ing, he went into the bake shop and learned with equal thoroughness the baker's trade. About 1895 he had progressed so far as to open a shop for himself at 107 South Broadway. Mr. E. M. Lang was associated with him in this enterprise. After a time he sold out and then returned again to work at wages. His next venture in the Peru mercantile field was in opening a store at 54 South Broadway, his partner being Max Soatebier. Since 1899 Mr. Mitchell has been sole proprietor of his business and at the present time operates two establishments; the one at 54 South Broadway is largely devoted to the manufacture of bread, and the one at 11 West Second street is where the pastry is made. Mr. Mitchell has 'built up a large sale for his products, which have a standard reputation over a large section of this part of Indiana, and his wares are distributed in Peru and many adjoining localities.
Mr. Mitchell is in politics a Republican and is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Moose. He was married in 1885 to Miss Lillie M. King of Peru. They became the parents of four children, namely : Two that died in infancy ; and Eldon E. and Mary Gladys.
JOHN B. PHILAPY. When John B. Philapy reached his legal major- ity, he withdrew from the farm home and turned his attention to the lumber industry, in which he has ever since been successfully engaged. He is now reckoned among the successful and prosperous business men of Bunker Hill, with which he became identified in 1900 as manager of the Bunker Hill Lumber Company, and it may be said to his credit as the incumbent of that position that the business of the concern is four- fold what it was in 1900, no inconsiderable increase, and one that has resulted chiefly from his management and progressive ideas.
Mr. Philapy was born in Cass county, in Galveston, Indiana, on May 7, 1879, and is the son of James Henry and Emma A. (Fox) Philapy.
JOHN B. PHILAPY FAMILY GROUP
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His paternal and maternal grandsires were Willard Philapy and Jacob Fox, worthy men of their time. James Henry Philapy settled in Cass county in 1868, or thereabouts, and continued to make that place his home during the remainder of his life.
Up to his twenty-first birthday, John B. Philapy remained at home, and at that age started in the lumber business. He was first identified thus in Galveston, but in the same year came to Bunker Hill where he took over the management of the Bunker Hill Lumber Company, and he has held that position continuously since that time. With the passing years he has made a steady advance in his knowledge of lumber and conditions controlling and touching upon the market, so that he is one of the well posted men of the county on lumber questions today. Under his management the business of which he is in control has doubled, trebled and quadrupled in the past ten years, and many important changes have come to pass in the management of the plant. The location of the plant has been changed and all the buildings are new, while the lumber yard is continually increasing its capacity and output. It is known to be one of the most complete and up-to-date yards in this section of the state at the present time, and the company is a factor that must be reckoned with when matters pertaining to their field come up for consideration.
Mr. Philapy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Bunker Hill Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Chapter at Peru; the Knights of Pythias of Bunker Hill, Lodge No. 299, and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and as to his political connections, he is a Republican, and he has served as councilman of Bunker Hill during two terms.
Mr. Philapy was married on December 28, 1904, to Miss Dottie L. Ross, the daughter of Robert H. Ross and Johanna I. (Shaffer) Ross. Four children have been born to them: Russell Ross, born February 1, 1906; Josephine Marian, born October 7, 1907; Robert Raymond, born February 2, 1909, and James Edgar, born February 16, 1910. Robert died at the age of two years.
SOLOMON A. MELCHER. In the Peru shopping district one of the es- tablishments which come in for special recognition is the wholesale house of Solomon A. Melcher, who is engaged in the wholesale cigar, tobacco, and confectionery business. Mr. Melcher was for a number of years identified with the cigar manufacturing business in this city, and several years ago established his present business which he has built up to large and successful proportions.
Solomon A. Melcher was born in the city of Peru, September 2, 1868. As a boy in this city he attended the public schools and when still several years from his majority began an apprenticeship at the cigar making trade. When he was twenty years of age he had become so expert and was possessed of sufficient initiative to open a shop of his own for the manufacture of cigars. This shop was located on the second floor of the Ream Block on East Main Street. He continued manufacturing there until 1909, at which time he established his present business of wholesaling smokers' articles and confectionery. The con- fectionery branch of the business was added in 1912. As a private citizen Mr. Melcher has in a quiet way identified himself with all the commercial prosperity and public-spirited movements of Peru during the last few years, and is a man whose support can be counted upon for the advancement of every undertaking in behalf of the general welfare.
In politics he is a Democrat, and is affiliated with the Masonic
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order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Order of Elks, besides several local minor organizations.
At Peru on January 27, 1893, he married Miss Catherine Jordan. They are the parents of two children : Rosa, now deceased, and Florence. Miss Florence Melcher became a member of the Presbyterian church on the fiftieth anniversary of its organization, thus representing the third generation of the family in this old church, her grandmother hav- ing been one of the organizers of the church society back in pioneer times. Mr. Melcher is one of the large family of children whose parents were John and Lydia (Holman) Melcher. Both parents are still living in Peru, and his father is at present time assessor for Peru township.
TIMOTHY E. DUNN. Few men now in middle age are able to look back upon a career as full of ups and downs and severe struggles with chance and circumstance as can Timothy E. Dunn, presenty city clerk of Peru. Mr. Dunn has resided in Peru for the greater part of the last quarter of a century, and throughout this time has grown in the respect and esteem of the community.
Timothy E. Dunn was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, April 2, 1866, a son of Timothy C. and Honora (Reardon) Dunn, the parents were born and were married in Ireland, and came to America in 1852, locating first at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where the father was con- nected for a time with the Fitchburg Paper Company. Subsequently .he engaged in manufacturing wiping waste. His death occurred in Fitchburg a few years ago, and the mother of Timothy passed away when he was a boy.
Timothy E. Dunn had the advantage of a high school education at Fitchburg and graduated from the local schools before he took up the practical work of life. He then began work for his father and was employed in various capacities and at different places until he was twenty-one years of age. In March, 1887, he first came to Peru, in which city he made his home with his aunt, Mrs. Daniel Maloney. He became agent for the United States Express Company, next was a clerk in a grocery, and then was appointed freight agent for the Lake Erie & Western R. R. at Kokomo, after which he was connected with various positions in railroad service, both in Peru and elsewhere. In 1901 he became barn foreman for Louis Ward in the livery business, and re- mained with Mr. Ward until June, 1907. At that time he was appointed superintendent of the Peru Water Works, and managed that municipal utility until January, 1910. At the latter date began his service as city clerk, an office to which he had been elected in 1909, and he has held this important place in the municipal government down to the present time.
The preceding is but a brief outline of Mr. Dunn's career. His mother died when he was a small boy, and as he was unable to get along agreeably with his step-mother, he began drifting around in various places and working at various occupations when only a boy, and since then has had a range of experiences such as the average man seldom knows. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the Catholic church.
JOHN B. SOLLITT, ELMER A. SOLLITT, RALPH V. SOLLITT. For more than a quarter of a century the Sollitt family have been identified by residence with Peru, and by the varied distinctions and achievements of its members has conferred much credit upon local citizenship. The name is well known in railway circles, the Wabash System having obtained two of its most trusted and efficient officials from this family, and the
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youngest representative of the name is now a rising young lawyer of Peru.
John B. Sollitt, the head of the family, has for twenty-six years been a resident of Peru, and during the same length of time has been connected with the Wabash System as special agent. He was born in Sheffield, England, on September 9, 1843, and received his father's name. The maiden name of the mother was Hannah Dodd. The senior John B. Sollitt with wife and family came to America in 1849, first locating at Chicago, where he worked for a time at the butcher's trade, and subsequently moving to Will county, Illinois, in 1855. In Will county, where he and his wife passed the greater part of their remain- ing years, he became very prominent as a citizen, and was successful as a farmer and stock raiser. In many ways he was a remarkable man and possessed unusual force of character and variety of accom- plishments. During the Civil war and the years preceding the conflict he was one of the most pronounced abolitionists in his community. In the annals of the old "underground" railway his home is mentioned as one of the stations, where slaves brought under cover of night and by friendly stealth from the southern borders of slavery, were con- cealed during the day or during the vigilance of slave-hunting officials and were then started out again upon their journeys to the borders of Canada and freedom. In politics he was a Republican, though he differed with the fundamental principles of the party on the doctrine of free trade. At one time he served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Will county, and in Masonry attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite.
John B. Sollitt was six years of age when the family came to America and began his education in the public schools of Chicago, but after the age of eleven, at which time the family removed to Will county, he spent most of his time in assisting in the work of the home farm and had few additional advantages at school. On February 26, 1868 he married Miss Jennie E. Sollitt. After that he established a home for himself and engaged in farming until 1878. In the mean- time he had taken an active interest in politics, and served in several local offices and also as county supervisor. After removing to Joliet he was appointed deputy sheriff, and for several years continued to act in that capacity. During the last thirty years his career has been extended into a broad field of service. About 1883 he went into the southwest and became manager of a large ranch and forage station, situated be- tween Fort Apache and Holbrook in Arizona. He continued there for three years, and it was during that time that the last great Indian war of the southwest occurred, during the uprising of the famous Indian Geronimo. From the southwest he came to Peru, his locating here following his appointment as special railroad agent for the Wabash Railroad, and he has now given a long period of efficient service to the road in that capacity.
In politics Mr. Sollitt is a Republican, and has taken the Knights Templar degrees of Masonry. The seven children born to himself and wife are as follows: Jessie B., deceased; Della E., deceased; Elmer A .; Beatrice V., now the wife of Dr. D. C. Ridenour ; Mabel L., deceased ; Florence W., deceased, and Ralph V. Elmer A. Sollitt, the oldest son, was born in Will county, Illinois, January 20, 1874, but spent most of his boyhood and began his career in Peru. It is a matter of pride to Peru that it has produced so eminent a man in the railroad field. Most of his schooling was obtained in the public schools of Peru, and when he began his career it was as office boy in the office of the Division Superintendent of the Wabash Railroad in this city. His
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various promotions marked the rapid rise of a successful railroad man. He became locomotive fireman, then engineer and at the time was the youngest engineer on the Wabash System. After this he next became the youngest traveling engineer and fuel inspector for the road, and next was promoted to train-master of the Moberly Division. He held a similar position at Decatur, Illinois, then became assistant superintend- ent of the Detroit Division with headquarters at Montpelier, Ohio. His last promotion was as acting superintendent of the Buffalo and Detroit Divisions with headquarters at Detroit, a position in which he now gives his service to his road. Mr. Elmer A. Sollitt married Miss Minnie J., a daughter of Solomon L. Shively of Peru.
Ralph V. Sollitt, youngest of the children of John B. Sollitt was born in Peru, April 3, 1888. He was reared in this city and was grad- uated from the high school in 1906. His early talents having indicated his aptitude for professional life, he continued his education in the Indiana State University at Bloomington where he was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1910, and after completing his law course was graduated LL. B. from the same institution in 1911. In September of the latter year, having been admitted to the Indiana bar, he was taken in as a partner of Robert J. Loveland, one of the oldest and ablest lawyers of Peru. The firm is now Loveland & Sollitt and Mr. Sollitt has gained an early distinction in the Miami county bar. In politics he is a Republican. He began making political speeches for the Republican party in 1904 and in the campaign of 1910 made an extensive tour of the state. While at college he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and the Phi Delta Phi honorary fraternities. During the last three years of his work at University, he served as instructor in charge of the department of public speaking, being the youngest man who was ever given this responsibility in the state university.
DAVID IRWIN. The head of the old established real estate and in- surance firm of David Irwin & Company, Mr. Irwin has been identified with Peru in a successful and public spirited manner for many years, and represents one of the old pioneer families of this locality. Mr. Irwin is one of the men who can look back upon a boyhood during which they began to rely upon their own efforts for advancement, and from a time when his wages per day amounted to only a few cents until he gained his first real start in life, Mr. Irwin encountered courageously many obstacles and hardships in his career.
His father, Hezekiah Irwin came to Miami county in 1845 from Huntington county, Pennsylvania. A plasterer by trade, he followed that occupation throughout his career. Before coming to this county he married Matilda Couchenour, and they were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living. Hezekiah Irwin died in 1860 and his widow survived until 1903.
David Irwin, who was born in the city of Peru, January 27, 1847, has always made this city his home. He was reared during a time when the schools were not yet established on the public and free basis of later times, and his education was attained from schools that were supported by subscription. He also has the distinction of having at- tended the first free school which was opened in this city. When he was fourteen years old he earned his first money, twenty-five cents per day, by driving a horse in a wheat elevator. During two following seasons he worked on a farm, and then learned the butchers trade. Mr. Irwin followed the business of butchering, conducting a meat market, and for twelve years he presided over a business of his own in this city and supplied a large patronage with the best products in his line.
Pugsley
"MAPLE HURST" RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. ELMER E. GWINN
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In 1894 he was elected to the office of city clerk and held that posi- tion four years. Since retiring from this office he has been engaged in the general insurance, real estate and bonding business, and his office has been the medium for a large volume of transactions in those lines.
In politics Mr. Irwin is a Democrat, but maintains an independent attitude so far as local affairs are concerned, and in every way is a supporter and advocate of good government. Fraternally he is affil- iated with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and his church is the Presbyterian. On September 28, 1876, he married Miss Emma N. Stigleman, of Peru.
ALBERT Q. GALLAHAN. Secretary of the Peru Building & Loan Asso- ciation and a member of the insurance and real estate firm of David Irwin & Company, Mr. Gallahan represents an important field of local business enterprise and is one of the able and representative citizens of the county seat. .
He was born just across the Miami county line in Cass county, October 22, 1871, being one of six children, four of whom are now living, born to Nathan W. and Mary F. (Voorhis) Gallahan. The maternal grandfather was H. N. Voorhis. Nathan W. Gallahan, who was a native of Miami county, followed farming in this district all his life.
Albert Q. Gallahan was reared on the old home farm and received his education in the public schools. When he was twenty-two years of age he started out for himself, and began as a house painter. Soon afterwards he developed his trade into a business proposition, and began taking contracts for house painting. In August, 1895, he located at Peru and in this city became identified with the grain and milling business of Messrs. Mercer & Neal. Then in July, 1899, he became a clerk in the local office of the Wabash Railway, and was connected with the railway service in this city for twelve years. He resigned that position in order to accept the secretary-ship of the Peru Building & Loan Association, and at the same time formed his partnership with David Irwin in the insurance and real estate business.
Mr. Gallahan is independent in politics and is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is now secretary of the Peru-Miami Lodge No. 67, A. F. & A. M. He was married January 23, 1895, to Miss Luella M. Stigleman. They are the parents of one daughter, Mary Irwin.
ELMER E. GWINN. The customary movement of the American farmer in seeking a new home is in the direction of the west or southwest or northwest, but in recent years there has been a noteworthy tendency of landowners in the state of Illinois and also of Indiana to move east- ward, selecting lands in still older states. One of the newcomers in Miami county, now a resident of Pipe Creek township is Mr. Elmer E. Gwinn, who some five or six years ago bought a beautiful country place in the township, and now makes it his permanent home and is engaged in the development of its acreage as a modern stock farm.
Mr. Elmer E. Gwinn, who belongs to a pioneer family of the middle west was born in Douglas county, Illinois, January 10, 1861. He is a son of Andrew Gwinn, a grandson of Moses Gwinn, and a great-grandson of Samuel Gwinn. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Sargent, and the name of his grandmother on his father's side was Elizabeth Wilson, a daughter of Henry Wilson.
Andrew Gwinn, the father, was born in Virginia, April 3, 1836. and when a young man went out to Douglas county, Illinois. He arrived in that vicinity with a horse and bridle, and one hundred dollars in cash. Though he started with little money, he had the ability of a
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