History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 161

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 161

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CHARLES S. HARDY, druggist, barn December 20, 1846, at Lebanan, Warren County, Ind .; educated in common and private schools; was book- keeper in Cinncinati two years, came to Union City winter 1866-67, has been in the drug business, mostly alone, and his establishment is the oldest of that sort in town. He married, in 1872, Miss Eugenia Posey, of Richmond, Ind. They have two children. Miss Posey, before her marriage, hind been for years a successful teacher in the public schools of Richmond, Union City, etc. Mr. Hardy was School Trustee one term, and, since 1877, has been Vice President of the Commercial Bank. He is n worthy And valuable citizen, and well de- serves the reputation and success he has attained.

M. A. HARLAN is a gentleman of good standing and high promise. He was born in 1850 at Ilollandsburg, Darke County, Ohio, being one of aeven children, five of whom are living. Mr. Il. was brought up, as the great ma- jority of our active business men have been, on n farm, ' His education was obtained at the camman schools, at Whitewater Academy (Hillsboro, Ind.), and by one term at Ilolbronk's Normal School, Lehanon, Ohio. He began active life as a tencher at the age of seventeen. Besides other pinces he was employed six years in the public schools of Union City, Ohio; and has been for the past three years in those of Union City, Ind. He has been teaching music for twelve years, completing his musical education at the Central Conservatory of Music, at Columbus, Ind., in 1880. His present positions are Teacher in Pre- paratory High School and Superintendent of Musical Instruction in the public schools of Union City, Ind. Mr. H. has belanged to the Christian (New Lights) denomination, and in politics is a Republican. He also is a member of the Knights of l'ythias. In 1872, he came to Union City, Ind., and has been & resident there ever since. He was married in 1869 to Amanda Peden, of Darke County, Ohio, and they have had one child, and he is living. Mr. H. enjoys n rising reputation in his profession, being active, enterprising and reliable, sociable and genial withal, beloved alike by pupila and patrons, and esteemed by the community at large. December, 1882, his worthy companion and him- self united with the M. E. Church, Union City, Ind.

WILLIAM HARRIS is one of the solid men of Union City, a man of ster- ling enterprise, who takes pride in his business, and is an honor to the city in which he resides. Ile was born in Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., in August, 1845. being the son of William Harris, a carriage-maker of that county, who died before his son William was barn. William resided at Ovid till twenty years old, and in 1865 moved to Findlay, Hancock Co., Ohio. After clerking there for six mouths, he found his way to Union City, Ind. During three years he was in the employ of W. S. Osborn, egg and butter packer, having an " inter- est" in the establishment during the last year. In 1868, he entered the firm of Turpen & Harris, of which he has been a member ever since. In 1868, he married Anna E., daughter of Enos H. Turpen, and they have had six children, five of them living, all daughtera. In political sentiment, he is a Democrat. He has been a member of the Board of Control of Union City, for four years, and Treasurer of the School Board for two years. Mr. H. is a man of enlight- ened business views and energetic temperament, having done much to advance the interests of the city, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens. His career in the egg, butter and poultry business ia a striking example of what may be done, even in a small interior town, by intelligent skill and faithful de- votion to business. We give elsewhere a detailed account of the establishment of which he is the chief manager. Mr. Harris, from being a poor man without means ar the apparent prospect thereof, has become, in the course of twelve or thirteen years, and solely by his active, enlightened and judicious enterprise, one of the solid men of the city. In the fall of 1880, he purchased the benuti- ful and commodious maneion erected und owned by Dr. Joel N. Converse, one of the pianeers and so long one of the chief men of Union City, at a cost, it is understood, of $15,000. Heis still in the prime of life and health, and of business activity, and it is to be hoped that he may long be spared to his friends and to the community, that his activity may continue to be in the fnture, as it has already been in the past, a fountain of material goad and financial blessing to himself and to the country.

E. J. HARSHMAN, Union City, Ohio, is a native of Randolph County, Ind .; he was born in Jackson Township, in 1842, the san of Reuben Harsh- man, an early settler, and one of nine children. He grew up a farmer's son, attending only the schools of the neighborhood. In 1862. he joined the Fifty- fourth Indiana Regiment at Indianapolis, and after the end of his term of serv- ice he was mustered out, December, 1863. After spending some time at

457

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

Dayton, Chicago and at his father's home, he entered the anddler's shop of Eisenhour & Co., at Union City, and acquired that trade. After some years spent otherwise, he opened a shop for himself in 1871, and is etill thus employed. He married Sally French, in 1871, and they have had three chil- dren, all living. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. H. is industrious and thriving, a quiet member of society, diligent in his business, and confided in by his friends and the public.

SIMON HEDRICK, grain dealer, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, 1836; taken to Mercer County, Ohio, in 1839; married Amy Vail, 1860; has had five children, and has resided in Union City, Ind., for many years : his education was gained at the common schools, at Liber College, and nt Lebanon Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio; he taught school several years; be has also been an agent, carpenter, lumber dealer, was for three years a grain denler, and has since been handling lumber. Mr. Hedrick has been a church member twenty- five years, and also for six years an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, Union City ; he helped to organize the first Presbyterian Sunday school there, and was for ten years its Superintendent; he was Chorister also for several years. He is an ardent Republican, an efficient worker for temperance, an active member of the Y. M. C. A., and a strong helper in every good cause. Mr. H. in his early life was a teacher, engaging in that employment for many years in Mercer and Darke Counties, Ohio, and in Randolph County, Ind., spending several of those years in the echoole of Union City, Ohio, and Indiana ; his health proving unequal to the labor of continued teaching, he resumed his trade as a carpenter, taking up after a time the lumber-buying business. At length he entered the grain trade, as a partner with William A. Wiley, of Union City, for two years. At the expiration of the period, he commenced with Mr. Fowler, in the same occupation, but the building changing hands, having been purchased by R. Kirschbaum, Mr. Hedrick quit the grain trade. For some months he has been working insurance and other matters of agency, as also, more espe- cially in the purchase and sale of lumber throughout the region. Mr. Hedrick and his estimable lady are excellent members of society, and they have a most lovely and interesting group of children, the eldest of whom, Miss Aurie Hed- rick, was a graduate from the Union City High School, belonging to the class of 1880, since which time she has occupied n position as teacher in the public schools of the city.

ABRAM HOKE was born in Paradise, Penn., in 1818; came to Richland County, Ohio, in 1828, and removed to Union City, Ind., in 1853; he was mar- ried to Sarah Sennett in 1840; they have had six children, all living; he was for six years a hatter ; in 1844, he became a carpenter, and has worked in that employment till lately ; he has now taken up bee-raising; he is a Republican and a Methodist, though troubles in the church have caused him to withdraw from membership ; his children are: John W., carpenter, married, two chil- dren, Union City ; Jane A. (Humphries), four children; Martin T., carpenter, unmarried, resides at home : Samuel B., carpenter, married, three children, Iowa; Helen, single, tailoress, lives at home; Alice, young, resides at home. They seem to be a sensible, active, well-trained family, worthy, industrions and presperons. Mr. Hoke was, in the spring of 1882, appointed by the Com- mon Council of Union City, Ind., as Street t'ommissioner, and he has been for some months actively employed in the duties pertaining to that office.

SETH HOKE, jeweler, born in Pennsylvania, 1823; enme to the West, 1838, to Jackson Township, Randolph Co., Ind., 1845, and to Union City, in 1852 (April) : he was a carpenter till 1865, and since then has been selliog jewelry ; his son, Edward, was the first child (now living) born in Union City, November 17, 1852. Henry Debolt's child was born sooner, but that child is dead. S. H. was for nine months a soldier in the Thirty-eighth Indian Volunteer Infantry-fall of 1864 to spring of 1865; he married Elizabeth Johnson, 1846. They have had nine children, seven living. Mr. Hoke is a steady, industrious, thriving citizen, and commands the respect of the com- munity ; he is one of the "pioneers," who came here in April, 1852, when the settlers were very few, and scarcely a house had been built in the town.

HOOK BROTHERS. Charles S. Hook was born in Montreal, Canada, 1846. Willinm J. Hook was born as above in 1844. Both of them are of English descent. William married M .J. St. John, and has three children. Charles married Ella H. Maxwell, and has three children. They are partners in the tub and pail factory business, an account of which may be found else- where. They are intelligent and enterprising gentlemen, and are achieving. as they deserve, a thorough and permanent success. They are both active and enthusiastic Republicans. Charles and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church of I'nion City, of which he has been chosen Deacon; he has been for some years a member of the City School Board, and he seems to be a careful, prudent and faithful officint. Though the Hook Brothers are comparatively young, they have business capacity adequate to conduct an extensive and profit- able concern, which we may fairly hope their Union ('ity Tub and Pail Factory will more and more come to be as the years come and go. Though their worky are in Ohio, they are both residents of Union City, Ind., having recently pur- chased fine dwellings on North Howard street, that street nud that part of it being one of the most desirable in the entire city. Their father, aged but active, and a native of England, makes his home in his declining years with his son Charles.

JOSEPH R. JACKSON, born nt Spartansburg, Randolph Co., Ind., in 1810. His parents were early settlers of the region and of that class so largely repre- sented in the Old Burnt District, "North Carolina emigrants," coming from their youthful homes afar to get free from the curse and blight of slavery. His father died in 1850 at Spartansburg, of consumption. Since that time, Joseph has had to " paddle his own canoe;" until seventeen years old he worked on a farm, attending school winters; then taught school, going to Leha- non Normal School summers; while there the war broke out, and he enlisted in the Eighth Indiana, three months, and served in Virginia; taught school the next winter, and enlisted again in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, being commissioned as First Lieutenant Company F. He was pro- moted Captain after the battle of " Chickasaw Bsyou " for recapturing a sec-

tion of artillery from the rebels, and was in all the initial engagements of the siege of Vicksburg, after which he served on staff duty or as a mounted scout in Texas, Louisiana, his experience in that line being wonderful and varied. Since the war, Cupt, Jackson has resided in Union City, serving eight years as Postmaster under President Grant. Since that time he has been engaged as loan agent. Capt. Jackson was married to Mies Fisher, daughter of John and Jane Fisher. They have had two children. Captain Jackson is a man of fine qualities nnd of sterling principle as well, and deeply interested in all good and useful projects, and is highly and deservedly esteemed by his for. low-citizens. He is an active and enthusiastic Republican; he was a faithful and energetic public officer, and so far ss hie health will permit, isan active and en- terprising man of affairs. His health has been for years very precarious though less so now than formerly. He spent much timent the Cleveland Water Cure, and by great care and prudence he has been able for some years past to attend to business.

ALLEN JAQUA & CO., hardware. Mr. Jaqua came to I'nion City some thir- teen or fourteen years ago, as an attorney at law. Before long he entered the lumber business with Peter Kuntz, after that he engaged in hardware with the game firm. In 1880, a fine brick store was erected by the firm and their hard- ware store is now carried on by Mr. Jaque in that new, commodious edifice. Mr. Jaqua formerly resided nt Portland, and married his wife in Jay County; she being a Miss Lewis, a member of a prominet family in that region. Mr. Jaqua was in youth and early manhood a radical Abolitionist, fand a participant in the gallant struggles for freedom in Kansas in the heroic days of that youthful member of the sister hood of States, and, later, an active Republican; but since that time, perhaps in the Greeley campaign of. 1872, he left the Republican ranks; nud, during the latter years, he has been a prominent partisan of the Democratic faith. Mr. Jaqua has been a member of the Town Board of Trust- ees, Clerk of the Board, a member of the School Board, etc., showing that, even in the strongly Republican town of Union City, he has been honored by the generous confidence of his fellow-citizens.

THOMAS JONES is one of the active men of Union City, and belongs to the class so numerons in that thriving town whose indomitable energy and enlightened and persevering industry have turned that place, so lately a waste and desolate wilderness, into a thronged and crowdel mart of business and commerce. In fact, the entire history of that wide-awake little city illustrates for the thousandth time the truth universally declared, and yet greatly over- looked and sometimes well-nigh forgotten, that capital, labor and skill, com- bined with economy, integrity and honor, lay the sure and solid foundations of lasting individual prosperity and success, as well as of wide spread and per. manent public advantage, comfort and well being. Especially is the fact illus- trated and the truth enforced that properly regulated credit, i. e., the labor and skill of one man, combined with the surplus capital of another, in other words, the labor of men with a lack of capital of their own joined to the capital of men who prefer not to labor, or, to state the doctrine in still a different way, the employment hy the younger class who have energy and character, but who lack means, of the surplus capital possessed by their older fellow-citizens, pro- duces results, great, beneficent, far-reaching; accomplishes benefits for the whole human race, and for every individual thereof. otherwise utterty and forever ini- possible. Thomas Jones was born in Miami County, Ohio, in t841. When four years old, in 1815, he went with his parents to Delaware County, Ind., locating on the Mississinewa, twelve miles north of Muncie, n region, even at that late dny, wild and vacant and covered with the vast unbroken woods. He be- longed to one of those pioneer families, almost n host in itself, numbering four- teen children. In youth, he attended school a little, in the traditional log- cabin schoolhonse, with capacious fire-pince, having no jambs but only baek wall and a huge month above, with immense back logs lugged in by four and five of the largest scholars, and fire enough to roast an ox alive. In all be went to school perhaps six months, to Martin Reasoner a few days, to Mr. Butcher six weeks, and to a lady in the summer perhaps one month, and all the time in the spelling book. Next he went to n Mr. Wharton, n superior teacher, who took supreme delight in seeing his pupils learn. To him he went three full months, and beginning in the First Reader, went rapidly onward, gaining the Third Reader, reaching also the practice of writing and the study of arithmetic, accomplishing a partial knowledge of the " Simple Rules." Once more young Thomas attended school, this last time, when ahont fifteen years old, for two or three weeks to one John Lee, boldly attempting through that whole period the mysteries of the Fourth Reader, ns also holding fast to writing and arithmetic. Thus fitfully and by spells did he attain to such a height of knowledge, and such was the foundation Inid in his case for the in- telligence needful in the pursuits of an active business life. Mr. Jones grew np in that neighborhood and began adult life as a farmer, marrying Kate Negley (sister of llon. Charles Negley ) in 1864. In 1866, he moved to Darke County, Ohio, locating within two miles of Union City. In 1868, he moved to the town, and took up carpentering and cabinet making; after two years thus spent, he became for three years foreman in l'eter Kuntz's lumber yard. In 1876, he set up n hardwood lumber yard on the Ohio side himself. After a year alone, he took Simon Hedrick as a partner for two yeare, and, about .January, 1880, he became a member of the firm of Jones, Benner & Ehert, which for two and a half years past [June. 1882] has been carrying on a large and prosperous business in their line. Mr. Jones is a member of the City Council (1880-82), and belongs to the I. O. O. F., and to the Union City Hose Company. He is in politics a Republican, and in religions connection a Disciple, having been a member for eleven years, and a Trustee of the congrega- tion for five years. Though married for seventeen years, they have no chil- dren. But their household is not without the presence and the blessing of denr beloved ones. A brother of Mrs. Negley, dying with consumption at their own house, left to their affectionate care three children, the mother also having gone to the better land; and to guard and guide these objects of their love thus providentially left to their watch-care, has been for years the delight of their hearts. These children-Laura, seventeen years; Josephine, fourteen years,

458

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

and Charles, thirteen years-still survive, to repay with the fullness of filial af- fection the wealth of love which has for years been lavished upon them.

PATRICK G. KENNEDY, grocer, was born in 1839, in County Kerry, Ireland : came to America in 1854. went to Sidney, and then to Piqua, Ohio, and te Union City, Ind., in 1818. He was married to Catharine J. Weize, in 1864. He had been, when n lad in Ireland, a clerk in a wholesale and retail grocery store. Hle became in America, at first, a common laborer, then a clerk in Piqua, and at Union City he set up a grocery store, which he carried ou till his death, in 1875. He was, in religion, a Catholic, and, in politics, a Democrat.

C'S KENNEDY (brother of the foregoing) was born in County Kerry, Ire- Innd, in 1841. He was a clerk two years in Ireland, and came to Union City, Ind., in 1867, and served as clerk for his brother till his brother's death in 1875. In 1876, he set up in business for himself. 'He married Margaret Stack in 1878. lie is a Democrat and a Catholic.

WILLIAM KERR, hardware, etc. Mr. Kerr began in the stove and tin business in aheut 1869 in Union City. By diligence and thrift, he increasedl his trude, and in a few years he added general hardware, and now he carries on perhaps the leuling house in the city in his department. His father and Nev- eral brothers are employed with him, and together they make a strong and energetic company of artizsus. Mr. Kerr is one of the many leading citizens of Unien City, who have begun with little and worked themselves into prom- inenee and distinction, and have laid the foundations of prosperity and business success. Mr. Kerr and his father and brothers are Deinecrats in politics, and nltogether active, worthy and reliable citizens, adding substantially to the ett- terprise of the city where they reside. The elder Kerr and his sons, William and Michael, were all three sobliers in the Union army, and Michael spent three years in the regul ir service upon the Western plains. All three were in the same battery-Nineteenth Indiana-und Michael in the Twenty-seventh U. S. Infantry Regiment.

R. KIRSCHBAUM, merchant, born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1841 ; came to America in 1858. After attending school a short time, he came to Union City : remaining a little while with his brother, he soon set up a store at l'ort- land, Jay Co., Ind., with his brother, October, 1858. Afterward he took the business alone, and has continued it (in nnether firm) ever since. lie removed to Union City in 1865, setting up in dry goods, etc., and he has been engaged in that line since that titne. He married Flora Kahn, of lilianapolis, and they have four children. Besides the immense " Beehive" establishment at Union City, he has (with partners) two large branch stores; first, Portland, Jay Co., Ind., Kirschbaum & Silvernale ; second, Hartford, Blackford Co., Ind. fat first Kirschbaum & Winters, but now Kirschbaum & Weiler). These branches are extensive, selling great quantities of goods ; but the mam store, at Union City, outdoes them both-thut is truly immense The building is n large three-story brick, with a partin! iron front. The lower story is literally crammed with goods of all sorts-Iry goeds, clothing, hats, carpets, cie., etc. The building (ns well as the goods) belongs to Mr. K., and his business Cum- prisos selling dry goods, etc., tailoring, woul buying, etc., both wholesale and retail. In his eroploy may be found about twenty-five persons, clerks, tailors, seninstresses. By buying very largely for cash in the great cities, Mr. K. can sell ut low prices, nol yet thrive at the business. Twenty-two years ago. his beginning was small through scarcity of means ; now the splendid trade pilace, corner of Pearl and Columbia, is filled with piles of goods of every imaginable variety ; growing ever beautifully and rapidly less, yet ever replenish. ing, garments and goods disappearing ns by mugic every hour, the shelves and counters, nevertheless remaining constantly full. The activity chown, and the immense amount of sales day by day, clearly show what energy, prudence and trading skill can achieve. Mr. Kirschbaum is still in the prime of manhood, not yet forty years nld. fle seems to have been born a merchant, as his netivity as a store-keeper begao at Portland in 1858, and his business shrewdness and tact and success have been thereung year by year. In his eighteenth year, he took success- fully the position of salesman and manager of an important mercantile enter- prise. His residence js a plain, substantial mansion, Columbia, north of Oak, east side. Mr. K., in the winter of 1880-81, purchased the Coats' ware- house, and commenced the grain business, thus enlarging his already very ex- tensive operations. When a-keil why he had begun this new branch of activity, he is said to have replied: " Because I would like to keep myself busy." Active, energetic business men possessing " snap," nerve and stamina, are the bone and sinew, and musclo and brains as well of any place, and U'nion City seems to be blessed with a fair share of this class of men, which fact, indeed, explains the secret of its nhaudant and constantly growing prosperity.

Α. Λ. KNAPP,

Engineer, plumber, flue dealer, ote, was born in Wonster, Ohio, in 18:17; resided in Mansfield, Ohio. from 1888, till 1858: Recovery, Ohio, till 1>61. He eulisted in Company K, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers in 1861 (three months). On discharge, he formel a new company, and was made their Captain : Company K, Fortieth Ohio. After two and a half years of service, a horse fell upon him, severely injuring his spine, and he was discharged for disability. He had learned the tinner's traile at Mansfield, Ohio, and was working at the trade when the war broke out. After leaving the army, he was a trader, money-luaner, carriage dealer, etc .; was one and a half years with C'ol. C'ranor in hardware. He took up buying walnut logs, and senil- ing them to Europe whele, also owning and running a saw-mill at Redkey. Ind. Spring of 1873, he was elected meother of Council ( Trustees) In that, It was resolved to erect water works, und Capt. Knapp was appointed Super- intendent of Construction of water works. After their completion, he was kept in position as Superintendent of Water Works, which he held for more than seven years. In 1874, he began business as plumber and gas and steam-fitter, and in 1875 as agent for fire clay fines, fire brick, terra cotta

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History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 161

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664