USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 33
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tions of long years ago. He has won success because he deserved it. He showed his mettle when he donned the blue and the spirit of fealty to his country and courage in times of danger has never deserted him. He is to- day one of the honored citizens of Knox county-a place to which he is en- titled by his services and by a long life of adherence to duty.
ALBERT J. HEITZ.
Albert J. Heitz, superintendent and general manager of the Vincennes Electric Company, in which connection he is controlling extensive and important business interests of this character, was born September 19, 1875, in the city which is yet his home. His parents were George and Lena ( Bros- mer) Heitz, the former a native of France and the latter of Cincinnati, Ohio. The father spent the first twelve years of his life in France and then came to the new world with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Heitz. The grand- father of our subject was one of the first settlers of Vincennes, making his way direct from the Atlantic coast to this city, from which time the family name has been closely associated with the history of material development and substantial upbuilding in southwestern Indiana. Stephen Heitz was a railroad contractor, becoming closely associated with early railroad building in this part of the country. George Heitz, following in his father's footsteps in business, also became a railroad man, continuing actively in that field of labor until the measure of his success was sufficiently large to enable him to retire several years ago. He still makes his home in Vincennes and is one of the honored and respected residents of this city.
Albert J. Heitz was sent as a pupil to the parochial school of the Catholic church until the age of twelve years, when he entered the high school of Vincennes, in which he completed the usual course by graduation. Like his father and grandfather before him, he turned his attention to activities in the railroad world, but while thus engaged regarded the business only as a means to an end-it providing him support while he was preparing for other work. All of his leisure was devoted to the study of electricity in both its scientific and its practical phases and his proficiency became such that in 1902 he was made manager of the Knox County Telephone Company, which he thus rep- resented for three years. He afterwards became connected with the City Elec- tric Company and held the responsible position of assistant superintendent for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to his present position which he has since filled. The Vincennes Electric Company is an offshoot of the Vincennes Light & Power Company, the electrical business having been purchased by the corporation of which Albert J. Heitz is now superintendent and general manager. The business was reorganized under the name of the Vincennes Electric Company, the enterprise being financed by foreign capital save for the stock which is now owned by Mr. Heitz. The purpose of the
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business is to furnish light and power for commercial purposes and the plant is located on Hart street and the river. The ability which Mr. Heitz has gained enables him to speak with authority upon many questions concerning electricity and its use, and as superintendent and general manager he is winning success for the company which he now represents.
In November, 1906, Mr. Heitz was united in marriage to Miss Clara Hartel, of Washington, Indiana, and unto them have been born two children, Rose and Margaret. The family are communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Heitz also belongs to the Knights of Columbus. From an early period in the development of Vincennes the Heitz family has been closely associated with industrial and commercial activity here and Albert J. Heitz, like his father and grandfather before him, is making an excellent record in business circles by his ability, enterprise and laudable ambition.
CHARLES W. LAUBY.
Charles W. Lauby, one of the substantial citizens of Vincennes, is carry- ing on business as proprietor of sheet metal works and has built up an excel- lent trade in that line. A native of Indiana, he was born in Washington, Daviess county, October 24, 1879, and is a son of Alois Laube, who was born in Switzerland in 1855 and came to this country in 1873, locating in Indiana. The name has since become Anglicized and the father is now known as Lewis Lauby. For many years he was employed as a stationary engineer but is now living retired. In early manhood he married Miss Laura Patterson, who was born in Indiana in 1860, and they became the parents of six children, namely : Maurice J., of Vincennes ; Charles W., of this review ; Lavida, the wife of Russell Davis, of Washington, Indiana ; Florence, the wife of Joseph Klee, also of Washington; George, of Denver, Colorado; and Marie, at home.
Charles W. Lauby was educated in the common schools of his native county and in St. Simon's parochial school at Washington. After laying aside his text-books he entered the grocery business and was later con- nected with the confectionery business, and subsequently became identified with M. J. Carnahan in the tin business at Washington. Coming to Vin- cennes, he opened sheet metal works at the corner of Seventh and Seminary streets in January, 1904, and has since continued in that line of trade. He deals in metal and slate roofing, cornices, hot air furnaces, heavy sheet iron and sky lights and also has an extensive repair department. He has been employed on a number of the finest residences, business blocks and school- houses in the city and has secured an excellent patronage which is constantly increasing.
On the 17th of January, 1905, Mr. Lauby was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Ryan, also a native of Daviess county, born October 20, 1880.
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and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Fitzpatrick) Ryan. Her father was a merchant and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lauby have one child, Elizabeth Laura, born October 20, 1905.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Lauby has usually affiliated with the democratic party. In religious faith he is a Catholic and was a member of the building committee at the time of the erection of the Sacred Heart church and parsonage. Fraternally he holds membership in the Harmonie Verein, the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Eagles, being in hearty sympathy with the principles of those organizations. Early in life he learned to depend upon his own exertions and has become a man of good business ability and sound judgment who usually carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes. His career has been such as to win the confidence and high regard of those with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life, and he has many friends in Vincennes and vicinity.
A. B. EVERING.
For fifteen years A. B. Evering has figured in the commercial circles of Vincennes as a dealer in hardware, paints, varnish, glass, coal, wood and fuel, and in this connection has developed a business that is constantly growing and has long since come to be ranked with the profitable undertakings of the city. His life record is another illustration of the fact that in America opportunity is open to all, for he had few advantages to aid him at the outset of his career. Germany numbers him among her native sons. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Evering, hard working people and members of the Catholic church.
A. B. Evering was nine years of age when the family emigrated to the new world and much of his youth was spent in Cannelton, Indiana, where he acquired his education by attending the public schools. He afterwards went to Bellville, Indiana, and in 1889 came to Vincennes. When his school life was over he turned his attention to mining and was thus engaged until thirty- three years of age. The ability and industry which he displayed in that con- nection won him advancement and his wages were proportionately increased. He it was who put in the prospect shaft and in his efforts in the coal fields he won a measure of success that enabled him to turn his attention to mer- chandising about fifteen years ago. He is now conducting a substantial and gratifying business on Second street North, where he carries a large line of hardware, paints, varnish and glass and also conducts a coal and wood yard. He has won the favor of the public and a liberal patronage is accorded him, his business gradually increasing year by year until it has now reached a place among the more successful enterprises of this character in Vincennes.
Mr. Evering was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wise, and their chil- dren are four in number. Two, however, have passed away. The living are
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Agnes and Josephine. The former is the wife of A. J. Bultman and has five children, Morris, Helen, August, Sylvester and Morilla. Josephine is the widow of Glenn Smult and has two sons, George and Glenn.
Mr. and Mrs. Evering are members of the German Catholic church. There have been no exciting chapters in his life record. He has worked earnestly and persistently from early boyhood, depending upon his own earn- ings for a livelihood from the time he left school. His record proves that persistence and determination will eventually win success, for it has only been through the exercise of these qualities that Mr. Evering has advanced on the high road to fortune.
MRS. SARAH E. McKINLEY.
Mrs. Sarah E. (Robinson) Mckinley is the owner of an excellent farm in Steen township and is a representative of a very old and highly respected family of Knox county. She was born in this county in January, 1852, and is a daughter of Richard and Frances (Stevenson) Robinson. Her father was born in this county on the 24th of October, 1824, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 13th of February, 1888. He always engaged in farming, which occupation he took up on his own account after acquiring his education in the early subscription schools. The family is of Scotch lineage. Richard Robinson was united in marriage to Frances Stev- enson, a daughter of John and Sarah Stevenson, who were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to this country when John Stevenson was a com- paratively young man. Here he took up the occupation of farming, in which he met with substantial success, owning fourteen hundred acres of land at the time of his death. Dr. J. L. Robinson, a brother of Mrs. McKin- ley, is mentioned at length on another page of this work.
Sarah E. Robinson spent her girlhood days in her parents' home, acquir- ing her education in the public schools and aiding in the duties of the house- hold, so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own when she gave her hand in marriage to Simon Thornton Mckinley, one of Knox county's native sons. He was born on the 25th of June, 1848, and at the usual age became a pupil in the district schools, wherein he mastered the branches of learning usually taught. The periods of vacation were largely devoted to farm work and when he attained his majority he resolved to con- tinue as a farmer. He purchased two hundred acres of land in donation 102 and later made an additional purchase of fifty acres in donation 134. With characteristic energy he devoted his time and labors to tilling the fields, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and to which he added many substantial improvements. He continued the owner of this property up to the time of his death and left it all to his widow.
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Mr. Mckinley was a faithful and devoted member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Knights of Honor. He was highly respected in the community in which he lived, being honest and upright in all of his business dealings. He won his success by close application, unfaltering industry and earnest purpose. He continued actively engaged in farming until his demise, which occurred in 1886 and was deeply mourned by many friends.
Mrs. McKinley still resides upon the farm left her by her husband. It is a valuable and productive property and returns to her a gratifying annual income. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, guiding her life by its teachings. She has always lived in Knox county and her many good quali- ties of heart and mind have won her the friendly regard of all with whom she has been brought in contact.
ELISHA MORGAN.
Elisha Morgan, popular and prominent in business circles in Vincennes, is now the president of the Saiter-Morgan Company, in which connection he is at the head of a growing and prosperous wholesale and retail trade in paints and hardware. He is yet a young man and the success which he has achieved is the indication of his business powers, ability and enterprising spirit. He is imbued with the progressive element which has ever been a dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west.
He has always lived in the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred on the 9th of July, 1877, in Highland Park, Illinois, one of the attractive Chi- cago suburbs. His parents are Captain Elisha and Julia (Waggoner) Mor- gan, in whose home his youthful days were passed, his training there instill- ing into him many sterling principles which have been manifest in his later life. He began his education in the schools of Chicago and continued throughout his course a pupil in the same school which he entered in the primary grade.
He made his initial step in the business world as an employe of a dry- goods company of Chicago, with which he remained for six years. He first became connected with the line of business somewhat similar to that in which he is now engaged by entering the employ of the Chicago Varnish Company, which he represented on the road as a traveling salesman for eleven years. In this way he became widely acquainted with the trade and this has been of much value to him since he started out independently. Throughout his busi- ness career he has been actuated by the laudable ambition of one day engag- ing in business on his own account that his labors and energy might more directly benefit himself. About four years ago he joined Harry Saiter in purchasing the wholesale and retail hardware and paint store formerly owned by Mr. Saiter's father. The young men brought to their task an enthusiasm
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and determination which have been felt in the continuous growth and develop- ment of the business. Their wholesale trade interests are reaching out further and further and their retail patronage in Vincennes is becoming more and more extensive. They follow modern business methods, are actu- ated by a progressive spirit and in the conduct of the business they recognize no such word as fail. They are continually seeking out new ways in which to extend the trade and their labors are being attended by substantial and well merited results.
Mr. Morgan was married in Chicago to Miss Esther Scalborn, and unto them have been born two children, Esther Catharine and Ruth Elizabeth. Mr. Morgan has an interesting military chapter in his life record. He was a member of the First Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served with honor during the Spanish-American war, the regiment being on active duty in Cuba, where they suffered the usual hardships of war, after which they returned to camp on Long Island and thence proceeded to Chicago. Mr. Morgan after- ward became a first lieutenant in the First Regiment, which when mustered out of the United States service, again became a part of the Illinois National Guard, the leading military organization of Chicago. His fraternal relations are with the Masons, with the Loyal Legion, the Knights of Pythias and the Travelers Protective Association. By nature he is friendly and cordial and his geniality has made him many friends wherever business interests have taken him. His popularity is well deserved, for in him are embraced the characteristics of unabating energy, thorough reliability and loyalty in citizen- ship.
SAMUEL M. REEVE.
A thoroughly successful business man of Edwardsport, Samuel M. Reeve deserves a place in a biographical work relating to the substantial citizens of Knox county. He was born in Vigo township, near Edwardsport, this county, February 15, 1864, and received his education in the public schools of Indianapolis and Edwardsport. The boys of the family followed their father's trade of painter and paper hanger and the subject of this review was engaged in this occupation until eighteen years of age, when he began upon his own account as clerk in a general store. Later he learned the barber's trade, which he followed for seventeen years, at the end of which time he purchased the mercantile business, including hardware, implements and furniture, in which he has ever since been engaged, having acquired a patronage, by his excellent taste in selecting goods and also by his genial address, which yields him a generous income. He is also the owner of a fine private residence and the building in which the postoffice and barber shop are located.
On the 20th of May, 1888, Mr. Reeve was united in marriage to Miss Lela S. Hulen, of Edwardsport, a daughter of Simpson Hulen. Six chil-
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dren have blessed this marriage: Helen E., a teacher in the local schools ; Roscoe H., also a teacher in the local schools; Bruce B .; Margaret ; Virgil K .; and David Gordon, all living at home.
Mr. Reeve is a stanch supporter of the democratic party and a member of the advisory board of the township. He and his wife and his two eldest children hold membership in the Christian church, of which he is a trustee and elder. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and is senior warden and trustee of the lodge. He has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows and is a valued member of the Tribe of Ben Hur. He is an intelligent and useful citizen and by a life of industry and good judgment he has won his way to a promi- nent place in the community. The success he has attained is a striking illus- tration of the possibilities that await any young man who is willing to deny himself during his earlier years in order that he may possess an abundance later in life.
JOHN H. RABB, M. D.
Thirteen years have passed since Dr. John H. Rabb was called from this life, but his memory is yet cherished by all who knew him and his influence remains as a potent force for good among those who were his associates while he was still an active factor in the world's work. So ener- getic and capable was he in business, so loyal in citizenship, so faithful in friendship, that he came to be regarded as one of the most valued and honored residents of Knox county. His friends because of their warm affec- tion and high regard for him felt at his death
"He was a man. Take him for all in all I shall not look upon his like again."
It was on the 6th of April, 1830, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, that Dr. Rabb was born, a son of James and Frances (Weaver) Rabb, who were married at Lawrenceburg, March 12, 1827. The father, born in Staunton, Virginia, in 1805, was a Virginia gentleman of the old school and distinct- ively belonged to that type of men all his life. He followed merchandis- ing. His wife was also of southern parentage. In his early childhood John H. Rabb accompanied his parents on their removal to Warsaw, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood. He was educated at Hanover and graduated in medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, where he began practice. He was mar- ried at Aberdeen, Ohio, January 10, 1853, to Susan E. Sinclair, of Lexing- ton, Kentucky, and in 1854 they removed to Russellville, Illinois, where they resided until 1859. In that year they came to Vincennes and Dr. Rabb was closely identified with the business interests and development and prog- ress of the city until his demise. While following his profession he' was
J. H. RABB
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a close student of the science of medicine and did everything in his power to promote his efficiency in practice. He soon became recognized as a particularly able physician and was accorded an extensive patronage. He saw and embraced many opportunities for charitable and benevolent service and it is told of him that upon one occasion he was called from his home in Russellville to attend a very sick man on the Indiana side, near Oaktown. At that time the Wabash bottom was nearly all uncultivated and fever and ague in most distressing forms poisoned every one living in or near that locality. Upon this occasion Dr. Rabb was called into every house he passed on his way from his patient to his home, administering to the ill in six or seven different homes. Finally, near the bank of the river, he came to a poor woman seated by the roadside with a sick babe in her arms. She had heard that he would pass that way and had walked more than a mile to obtain his help. Dr. Rabb thought the child was dying but administered medicine and gave more to the mother to take home with her. He sup- posed the little sufferer would soon be at rest in death but a few months afterward the happy mother came to his office with her child entirely healed to thank him for his kindness. He always said the recollection of this incident was one of the happiest of his life and yet countless other good deeds which he did could be related. He was ever willing to extend a helping hand and many bear evidence of his benevolence and kindly con- sideration.
Dr. Rabb was enjoying a large and lucrative practice when a fall from his horse so lamed him that he could no longer pursue his profession and he turned his attention to merchandising in Vincennes. From the beginning he prospered in the new undertaking, from time to time enlarged his stock and enjoyed for long years a large and profitable business, which he carried on from 1859 until 1872. In the latter year he was elected to the presidency of the First National Bank of Vincennes and for twenty-six years con- tinued as its chief executive head. He closely applied himself to the busi- ness of building up the bank and expanding its connections and the pro- gressive policies which he inaugurated were always tempered by a safe conservatism that made the bank one of the most reliable financial institu- tions of southern Indiana. Into other fields he also extended his efforts, for he was a man of resourceful ability and enterprise. He became president of the Citizens Gas Light Company and a stockholder in many other com- panies to which he gave his energies as an officer. He was exceedingly modest and forbearing in his manner and it is said of him that at meetings of officers, where grave questions of business policy and conduct were con- sidered, he would listen with patient interest to the views of others, even when he knew those views were radically wrong, and yet show no sign of weariness and dissent. Finally, however, he would review the situation in so kind and considerate a manner and so clearly and forcibly that the most unreasonable would at once yield to his better judgment.
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As the years passed seven children were. added to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Rabb: Sallie A., who died in 1897; Susan G., who died in 1889; Fannie B., who died in 1861; David, who died in 1865; Sada Ross, the wife of James Wade Emison, of Vincennes; John H., of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Kate V., the wife of Dr. W. B. Ridgeway, of Vincennes.
In 1859 Dr. Rabb united with the Presbyterian church, of which he was a trustee for forty years. He was devoted to its welfare, sought its upbuilding and growth, contributed generously to its support and cooperated in its various activities, yet he was too broad-minded to manifest a narrow sectarianism and believed that there was good in all churches and the pos- sibility of good in every individual. He rejoiced in any work or organized effort that counted as an asset for moral progress and religious develop- ment. He was a stalwart advocate of the cause of education and for a long period served on the board of trustees of the Vincennes University. He rejoiced too in the growth and progress of the city, was vice president of the Board of Trade and cooperated in all of its movements for the benefit and upbuilding of Vincennes. No death in Vincennes in years has occasioned more extended or uniform sorrow than the passing of Dr. Rabb.
One of the local papers said of him: "No man has died in Vincennes whose life has been more fruitful of good and so barren of evil. His gen- erous hand was open to the poor, his wise advice and conduct a constant example for emulation to everyone; and his life work an enduring monu- ment more permanent than brass or marble. Very many places are left and will remain vacant; and yet, the study and knowledge of his life, and character, will aid all who strive to be good and useful. Standing in the presence of the lamented dead, it is not all sorrow; there is so much of helpfulness and comfort to have known him and to have enjoyed his society and friendship that we can but feel a sense of grateful indebtedness to him and a sense of subdued happiness in remembering that he was our friend. Before the dread hour came to him he felt that his life work was done and well done and he did not therefore experience that keen sorrow that he would have felt otherwise at the parting from his family and friends. He felt that his future was more secure to him than the past. That it was all right with him. His life was such that one might well suppose he had profited by the lines of America's greatest poet :
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