USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 41
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ROBERT J. LOVELAND, attorney at law, and youngest son of Ebenezer P. and Jane Loveland, is a native of Miami County, Indiana, born in the city of Peru, January 17, 1858. He attended the city schools until his thirteenth year and subsequently, 1873, entered Central College, Franklin County, Ohio, where he pursued his studies for a period of four years completing the prescribed course in that time. He then became a student of Wabash College, Indiana, and attended the same from 1877 till 1879, returning to Peru the latter year, and taking up the study of law in the office of Shirk & Mitchell. He pursued his legal studies under the above
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able instructors, until the spring of 1880, but prior to that time during his vocations, was engaged in teaching in Ohio, and Miami County, Indiana. He was admitted to the bar in 1880, but did not engage in the active practice of his profession until the spring of the following year, at which time he effected a co-partnership with E. T. Reasoner under the firm name of Reasoner and Loveland which lasted until 1884. Since June, 1884 he has been associated in the practice with R. P. Effinger one of the leading lawyers of Peru, and the firm thus constituted has a large and lucrative prac- tice in the courts of Miami and other counties. From his boyhood Mr. Loveland has been a dilligent student, and that he has suc- ceeded in his chosen profession is evinced by the reputation he enjoys among his brethren of the Miami County bar. He mastered the principles of the law in a short time, soon became familiar with its practice, and is now one of the best young lawyers in the city of Peru. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Votes in confirmity with the Republican party and since his thirteenth year has belonged to the Presbyterian Church.
HENRY MEINHARDT, merchant, is a native of Breslau, Germany, and only son of Henry and Elizabeth (Franke) Mein- hardt. He was born March 14, 1852, and at the age of three years was brought to the United States, and for ten years thereafter resided in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1865, he removed with his parents to Columbus and three years later came to Peru, Indiana, and engaged as salesman with the mercantile firm of Kilgore & Shirk, in which capacity he continued until 1884. In March, 1885, he engaged in the dry goods business on his own responsibility, and in October of the same year, effected a copartnership with Oscar L. Minor, which still continues. Mr. Meinhardt is a notable example of what energy and determination can accomplish in the face of adverse circumstances. Commencing life with little capital, save a desire to succeed, he has by diligent attention to business and strict probity of character, won for himself a place in the confidence of the people, and the house which he so recently established has already become one of the well known business places of the city. Mr. Meinhardt is Independent, so far as politics are concerned, and in religion belongs to the Methodist church. His marriage was solemnized on the IIth day of February, 1880, with Miss Missouri Hazzard, daughter of John Hazzard, of Kokomo, a union blessed with the birth of one child. Mrs. Meinhardt is also a member of the Methodist church.
REV. HENRY MEISSNER is a native of Munster, in the province of Westphalia, and the capital of that province. He was born on the 3d of December, 1842. His parents, August and Catharine (Brohmeyer) Meissner, both died when he was quite young, casting him upon his own resources and compelling
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him to fight the battles of early life, without the assistance of paternal care, in which he succeeded admirably, as the following brief review will indicate: After the death of his parents his nearer relatives desired that he should learn the carpenter trade, but his strong desire for knowledge prompted him otherwise, and, at the age of sixteen, he entered the gymnasium or college in his native town, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he graduated in Latin, Greek, mathematics, sciences and classics. He procured money sufficient to pay his tuition and purchase books, etc., by giving private instructions to his associ- ates, and by his superiority in examinations accomplished that which he had most desired. However, not satisfied with the amount of knowledge he already possessed, after he had attained his majority he entered the university and embraced the studies of theology, law, philosophy, etc., and continued there for three years, or until 1866, when he graduated with degree in most branches as "excellent." In 1866 he embarked for America. About this time the Austrian-Prussian war broke out, lasting only about six months, and his country was about to be involved with France. He landed at New York, going direct to Balti- more, where he finished his studies in St. Mary's Seminary. Our subject was ordained priest June 30, 1868, and then went to the Diocese of Fort Wayne, which comprises the Northern portion of Indiana. Here he had charge of the parish at Goshen, Elk- hart County, for two and one-half years, and, in the beginning of 1871, took control of the Crown Point charge, in which place he was continued for a period of nearly five years, and in Sep- tember, 1875, came to Peru, where he has since had charge of the parish at this place. While at Crown Point, by his indomi- table will and energy, he built a school house and church, which are both creditable reminders of his perseverance. At Peru he found the congregation encumbered with indebtedness to the amount of $16,000, which obligations have all been discharged. In 1884 he returned on a visit to the land of his birth, and while on his trip visited many of the cities of France and Italy, making a stay of about four months. In 1880 he completed a volume of poems in the Low German entitled, "Knaffeln," or in English, "Biscuits," which was a youthful production, and also a volume in High German, the title of which is "Orgeltoene," the English of which is "Organ Strains." He was advanced in 1880 by the Bishop to the position of Examiner and Visitor of the Fort Wayne Diocese. His territory as Examiner only extends over one district, viz: Peru. He is also one of three of the Board of Theolgians for the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
MOSES MERCER, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, was born September 5, 1827, and is the eldest son of Aaron and
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Mahala (Oliver) Mercer, natives of Rockingham and Tiger's Valley, Va., and who are of English origin. The father moved from Virginia in 1815 to Muskingum County, Ohio, and moved to Peru in 1845, and is now a resident of Newton County, In- diana. He was born in 1802, and is still living and enjoying a reasonable share of nature's blessing. The subject was reared in Muskingum and Putnam Counties, Ohio, on a farm, until at the age of twelve he commenced to learn the trade of mill-wrighting, which he completed at eighteen and soon after abandoning it, adopted the occupation of carpentering, at which he worked until 1866. In 1845 he was located in the town of Peru. He was engaged by the Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago Railway Company in 1865, to work in their shops, and then went with the Wabash Com- pany, where he worked in the wood department. He married Miss Ann J. Long on March 9, 1886. Miss Long was an accomplished daughter of Mr. John Long, a Cass County pioneer, who resided in the city of Logansport. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer are the parents of five children, Ada J., May, William S., Georgie (girl), and Robert E., deceased. Her death occurred in March, 1886. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically clings to the faith of the Republican party. The family are members of the Baptist church, and are regular attendants at public worship.
GEORGE C. MILLER, of the mercantile firm of Shirk & Miller, was born in Cass County, Indiana, January 2, 1845, and is the eldest son of John L. and Mary (Long) Miller, natives respec- tively of Pennsylvania and Delaware. John L. Miller was one of the pioneers of Cass County, and for some years carried on the mercantile business in Logansport, having been one of the first mer- chants of that city. He was a man widely and favorably known and departed this life about the year 1851. George C. Miller was raised in Cass and Miami Counties, received a practical education in the common schools, and began life for himself as salesman in the mercantile house of Kilgore & Shirk, in Peru. He continued in the capacity of clerk until 1873, at which time he become a part- ner, and subsequently, 1880, when Mr. Kilgore retired he pur- chased that gentleman's interests, thus changing the style of the firm to that of Shirk & Miller, by which title it has since been known. To describe in detail the vast amount of business trans- acted by this house would far transcend the limits of this sketch, but suffice it to say, that in dry goods, hardware, agricultural implements, and, in fact, all kinds of general merchandise, it is one of the largest and most successful mercantile firms in Northern Indiana, affording employment throughout the entire year to about twenty clerks and salesmen. Mr. Miller, as manager of the immense busi- ness, displays ability of a high order and a merchant thoroughly conversant with all the details of the trade, and, as a successful
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financier, he is, perhaps, without a peer in the city of Peru. He is withal a very popular citizen, and his success in addition to his thor- ough knowledge of the business, is largely due to his industry and fidelity and that courtesy which marks the well bred gentleman. He was married March, 1870, to Miss Ella Leebrick, of Wayne County, Indiana, who has borne him the following children, viz: Harry L., Charles W., Elbert S. and George C. Miller.
WILLIAM B. MILLER, Auditor of Miami County, and son of George B. and Margaret (Columbia) Miller, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, February 20, 1845. George B. Miller was born in Columbus, Ohio, about the year 1816, of German-Scotch ances- try, his parents being natives of Pennsylvania. He came to Indiana in 1836, settling in Fort Wayne, where he worked at the plasterer's trade, and where he resided until his removal to the town of Wabash in 1846. From there, in the year 1852 he came to Peru, where he still resides. Margaret Miller was born in the City of Fort Wayne, of French parentage, and died there on the 13th day of April, 1845. By a subsequent marriage with Mary Ross, sister of Judge N. O. Ross, of Peru, Mr. Miller has three children, all of whom are living at this time. William B. Miller was reared in Peru, moving to this city with his father when about seven years of age. He attended the city schools at intervals until his fifteenth year, at which early age he entered the army enlisting in June, 1861, in Company A., 20th Indiana Infantry, with which he shared the vis- cissitudes and fortunes of war in many of the bloodiest battles of the Eastern Campaigns, including among others the expedition from Fortress Monroe to Fort Hatteras. Seven days fight before Rich- mond and retreat to Harrison's Landing. Bull Run, Gettysburg, Frederickburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburgh. His term of service expiring immedi- ately after the engagement last named, he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis on the 18th of July, 1864. On leaving the army he re- turned to Peru, but the following October he again tendered his ser- vices to the country and joined Company K., 142d Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served till honorably discharged, August 5, 1865, spending the greater part of the time in Nashville, Tennessee. His military record thus completed, he returned home and after remaining with his friends in Peru until April, 1866, went to Kan- sas City, Mo., at which place he worked at the plasterer's trade until 1872. He returned to Indiana that year and worked at his vocation in Logansport, until 1875, at which time he came back to Peru, where he has since resided. In 1883 he was elected a mem- ber of the City Council of Peru and in the fall of 1886, was nomi- nated on the Republican ticket for Auditor of Miami County; an office to which he was elected after a spirited contest, overcoming a previous Democratic majority of 350 votes. Mr. Milller's record
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both as soldier and civilian is one of which he feels justly proud and his triumphant election over so much opposition attests his great personal popularity, with the people of the County. He is and has been since his twenty-first year an ardent supporter of the Repub- lican party and at this time is an active member of the G. A. R. and K. of H. orders. He was married July 18, 1872, in Cass County, Indiana, to Miss Julia, daughter of George and Mary St. Clair, of the same county and State.
OSCAR L. MINOR, of the mercantile firm of Meinhardt & Minor, was born in Rush County, Indiana, February 8, 1856, son of Constantine and Mary (Gates) Minor; both parents natives of the same State. Mr. Minor, when quite young, was taken by his parents to Rochester, Indiana, in which city he passed the years of his youth and early manhood, acquiring in the meantime from the pub- lic schools a practical English education. He came to Peru in 1872 and engaged as salesman in the mercantile house of Kilgore & Shirk, where he remained until 1855, at which time, in partnership with Henry Meinhardt, he engaged in business for himself. The firm of Meinhardt & Minor, although but recently established, has already won a conspicuous place among the successful business houses of the city, and has a reputation more than local. Mr. Minor has passed the greater part of his life in the dry goods business, and is thoroughly well posted in all the details of the trade. He was married October 13, 1881, to Mrs. Susan (Culbertson) Bearss, of Peru.
JUDGE JOHN MITCHELL, Peru. The subject of our sketch is a native of Great Britain. He was born in the city of Bristol, England, September 24, 1829. His father was a native of Prussia, and his mother a native of England. In November, 1833, he emi- grated, with his parents, to the United States, arriving at the city of Philadelphia. He lived in Delaware and Chester Counties, Penn- sylvania, until ten years of age. He then removed with his parents to Wayne County, Indiana, where he remained four years. His parents then removed to Peru, Indiana, bringing their family with them, arriving on the second day of October, 1843. Mr. Mitchell attended the public school, where he received a good primary edu- . cation. After completing his course of study in this department, he was sent to a seminary at Cambridge City, Indiana, where he continued his studies one year, under the supervision of Prof. Hos- hour, now of the Northwestern Christian University. At the age of 14 he learned the tailor's trade with his father, who was engaged in that occupation. This trade he followed in the city of Peru for a number of years, devoting his spare moments to the acquisition of legal knowledge, in which pursuit he made rapid progress, under the instruction of the late Alphonso A. Cole. In 1861, he was elected Justice, of the Peace, when he abandoned the tailor's trade,
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devoting his entire time to the study of law. In December, 1863, he was admitted to the bar of Miami County, and entered into part- nership with Hon. H. J. Shirk, with whom he has since been asso- ciated, excepting a short interval in the winter of 1872. He was elected Justice of the Peace three terms, without opposition. He rose rapidly in his profession, taking rank with the older members of the bar. In October, 1872, less than nine years after he commenced practice, he was elected Common Pleas Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District of Indiana, composed of the Counties of Miami, Cass and Pulaski. To this office he was also elected without opposition. This was a high honor to confer upon him; and more particularly so, as he is the only member of the Miami County Bar who was elevated to that position. In this capacity he served his constituents, until the Legislature abolished the court, when he resumed the practice of law with his former partner, Mr. Shirk. At the close of his brief judicial career, Judge Mitchell retired from the high position awarded him by his fellow citizens, with an enviable reputation as a jurist, and a record of which he may justly be proud. The annals of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District Court present no brighter example of integrity and dignity. He is a logical and impressive speaker, and is known throughout the county as a conscientious adviser and suc- cessful practitioner. Though a self-made man, he is one of marked ability. His name will stand out prominently, in the years to come, as an example of what may be accomplished by application and perseverance in the difficult profession of the law. Judge Mitchell was married February 24, 1859, to Miss Caroline R. Foote, of Paynesville, Ohio, who bore him several children, the following of whom are living, namely: Emily M., Samuel C. and Mary F. Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell died on the 16th day of September, 1883.
EDDMORE S. MORRIS, a native of Chillicothe, Rush County, Ohio, was born August 5, 1829, and is the eldest son of Carvil and Elizabeth (Beale) Morris, who were natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. Eddmore S. was reared on the farm until he reached the age of eighteen, when his youthful patriotism grew so strong that he entered the service of his country in the Mexican war in the Second Ohio regiment in 1847, and remained about one year, and he then returned to the farm, there continuing until reaching his majority, 1850, when he came to Peru, and in a short time thereafter was to be found in Logansport learning the trade of a stone-cutter, and after a time, when his eanings would permit, he would attend school, applying his surplus earnings to the payment of tuition until his education was so complete that he finally engaged in school teaching, at which he continued alternately with his trade until 1857, then returned to Peru and engaged exclusively at his business until 1862. He then
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purchased the Brownell farm which he managed for three years and then disposed of it and embarked in the mercantile business, in which he did not prove to be successful, losing his entire investment, $15,000. Although luck was not his companion, in 1869 he again re-opened his business, having secured the aid of some eastern capi- talist, which again re-established him, and since which time he has been doing a thriving trade in the grocery and bakery business. The 19th of January, 1857, his marriage was solemnized, he taking as a life partner Miss Nancy Johnson Grant, a native of Butler County, Ohio, and to them seven children were born. Their names are Nellie B., Jennie F., Elmer S., Wilbur G., Schuyler M., Lizzie, Ica E., and Anna (deceased). In 1853 he was made a Mason and also an Odd fellow. Politically he is a Republican. His son Elmer S., is an attorney at law, born in November, 1861, and commenced practicing in 1883. He is a graduate of the High Schools of Peru, as are also Wilbur S., Schuyler M., Jennie and Nellie.
JOSEPH D. OATES, a native of New Buffalo, Berrian County, Michigan; born June 30, 1851, and is the second son of Joseph D. and Hannah (Austin) Oates. His father was born in England and his mother in Indiana. In childhood the subject re- moved with his parents to Lake County, Indiana. At nine years of age he went to LaPorte to live with an aunt. In 1865 he began working on a farm in Porter County. Here he was accorded the privilege of attending school during the winter months. In 1868 he returned to LaPorte and began learning the cabinet maker's trade. He came to Peru in 1871 and from that time until 1883 he was em- ployed in the sewing machine factory of this city. Since 1883 he has been engaged in the insurance and real estate business. Mr. Oates was united in marriage to Miss Indiana E. Snively, in 1878, a daughter of John M. Snively of this city. To this union are four children, viz: Fred M., Alice E., Arlie M., and Indiana M. Mrs. Oates died May 31, 1886. In politics our subject is a Republican. In 1882 he was elected Councilman from the second ward, and re- elected to the same office in 1884, and elected to the same office in 1886. He is an honorable citizen and a man greatly respected.
ANDREW J. PARKS. The subject of this biography is a native of Miami County, born in Richland Township on the 22nd of June, 1843. His parents, James and Jane (Watson) Parks, were born in Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father came to Miami County in his early manhood-about the year 1839-and purchased land in Richland Township, upon which he lived until his death, in 1860. Andrew J. Parks was raised a farmer, received a practical education in the common schools, and followed agricultural pursuits in his native township until 1880. In that year he was elected Sheriff of Miami County, and in order to conveniently dis- charge his official duties, moved to Peru, where he has since resided.
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His official record having been one highly satisfactory to his party and the people at large throughout the county, he was re-elected in 1882 and served until 1884. At the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Parks opened out in his present business, viz .: dealing in har- ness, trunks and buggies, and has already met with well earned suc- cess in the enterprise. In 1865 he entered the service of his country as private in Company K, 134th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but the war closing soon after, he was in the army for a period of only four months. He is prominently identified with the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and Masonic fraternities, and also belongs to the G. A. R. His marriage in 1866 to Miss Sarah E. Monteith, daughter of Watson Monteith, of Richland Township, has been blessed with the birth of three children, viz: Emma (deceased), Louie and Watson Parks. Politically, Mr. Parks is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party.
CHARLES A. PARSONS, Clerk of the Miami Circuit Court, was born in the city of Lockport, N. Y., July II, 1839, and is the youngest son of Aaron and Emily (Stowe) Parsons, natives respec- tively of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The subject spent his youth on a farm, received in the common schools a practical educa- tion and at the age of fourteen accepted a position with the Great Western railroad company, in the employ of which he remained until he removed to Peru in 1859. In the latter year he received a position in the freight department of the I., P. & C. Rail- road with headquarters in Indianapolis, and in 1861 became passen- ger conductor, in which capacity he continued until taking charge of the office at Kokomo one year later. He served as local agent at Kokomo until January, 1865, at which time he abandoned railroad- ing and engaged with the American Express Company, Indian- apolis, in which city he subsequently became agent for the Mer- chants Union Express company, remaining with the latter for a period of ten years. At the end of that time he returned to Peru and again engaged in railroading, accepting the position of roadmaster with the I., P. & C., and continuing in that capacity until 1872. In that year he became identified with the Howe Machine Company with which he remained until 1873, when he accepted the position of Deputy Clerk, Miami Circuit Court, under Jesse Zern, the duties of which position he discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner until elected to the office in 1878. Mr. Parsons was elected on the Republican ticket by a majority vote of 404, a fact which attests his great personal popularity in a reliably Democratic county. He was re-elected by a decided ma- jority in 1882 aud is the present incumbent of the office. Mr. Par- sons life has been a very active one and against his official record no breath of suspicion has ever been uttered. He is a public spir- ited citizen, takes a live interest in all measures having for their
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object the public good and is an active member of the Masonic fra- ternity. On the 8th day of May, 1862, was solemnized his marriage with Miss Mary A. Ferris, of Niagara Falls, N. Y., a union blessed with the birth of four children of whom the following are now living, to-wit: Anna H., Fred A., and Ella G.
JACOB PAULY, is a native of Baden, Germany, and was born January 18, 1824. He is a son of Jacob and Mary Pauly, natives of Germany. He came to this country in 1851, and his par- ents followed ten years latter, he having been reared on a farm and received a good German education. On coming to this country he went to Cinciunati and worked at the shoemaker's trade, at which he had served an apprenticship of three years, and then came to Peru and worked at the tailor's business for about nine years, hav- ing abandoned the shoe trade on account of his eyes. In 1869 he opened his present business in Peru, at which he has been quite suc- cessful and has succeeded in accumulating considerable property. He was married in May, 1848, to Miss Mary Weltman, a native of Ger- many, who are now the parents of seven children, all of whom are dead. He passed through all the chairs of a subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows, is a Republican and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont.
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