History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc., Part 51

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 714

USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 51

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Kesher Shel Barsel ( Iron Bound) Hebrew -- This order was first organized in San Francisco, Cal., in 1862. Spinoza Lodge, No. 132, instituted July 27th, 1874. This lodge occupies one of the highest ranks in the order for the intelligence and influence of its members, who are mainly the foremost Jewish citizens in the city. It has furnished two presiding officers to the grand lodge. There are forty-six members and the follow- ing gentlemen are the present officers: Leo- pold Scholem, president ; Leopold Roser, vice- president; S. I. Lowenstein, secretary [ and treasurer; A. Strouse, past president. Cen- tennial Lodge, No. 157, instituted July 1876. This lodge has about thirty members and is in a prosperous condition. The present officers are: Robert Paul, president; B. Levin, V. P .; L. Ichenhausen, R. and F. secretary; A. Morris, treasurer; M. Weir, conductor; N. Wolf, assistant conductor; E. Horn, I. G .; M. Levi, O. G.

Iron Hall .- This is a fraternal, benevolent and mutual benefit association, working under the supreme sitting at Indianapolis, in which city the order was founded, in 1881. Although the Iron Hall is a young institu- tion, its aims and objects are so popular that it is in universal demand and is growing rapidly. It is already established in thirty- four states, and is rapidly extending its bor- ders. ' It now has 150 members here, and its branches have been instituted since I885, as follows: Branch No. 284, organized November 10, 1885, with thirty-one charter members, by H. F. W. Fisher, past chief justice. It now has fifty members. Present officers: Jacob Schneider, chief justice; J. W. Beck, accountant. Branch No 729, organized April 20, 1888, with sixteen char- ter members, by W. J. Jones, chief justice, of Centralia, Ill. The present officers are: C. H. Baets, chief justice; J. W. Lither- land, vice-justice; G. W. Meyers, accountant;

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John Rittinger, cashier. Membership about thirty. Branch No. 759, was organized May 15, 1888, with twenty-two charter members, by H. F. W. Fisher, past chief justice. It has twenty-eight members with the fol- lowing officers: H. F. W. Fisher, P. C. J .; G. H. Weekamp, C. J .; J. H. Bergess, accountant; R. F. Schor, cashier. Branch No. 764 (ladies), organized in 1888. Mrs. W. Beck is chief justice.

Knights and Ladies of the Golden Rule .- Instituted at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1879. This order has the usual social and beneficiary qualities of secret organizations. Castle Rising Sun, No. 189, was erected in this city November 22, 1888, with twenty char- ter members. The first and present officers are: A. P. Aucker, district commander; Dr. D. A. Moore, C .; John Payn, V. C .; L. F. Williams, M. at A .; A. P. Ancker, sec- retary and treasurer; Hannah W. Pace prelate; Dr. George W. Vamer, medical examiner; F. W. Rentz, herald; George Muntzer, warden; Isaac Friedman, sentinel; and C. Rhoades, trustee.

Brotherhood of St. Andrew .- This broth- erhood is confined to members of the Prot- estant Episcopal church, and was founded in Chicago, Ills., in 1880. It was first estab- lished in the state of Indiana in March, 1887, the first chapter being organized in this city at that time. Rev. Charles Mor- ris, pastor of St. Paul's church, was made president of the brotherhood of the state, and E. N. Viele, general secretary. The Evansville chapter is presided over by M. J. Bray as dictator, and is in a very flourish- ing condition.

United Brothers of Friendship (colored). - This order, benevolent and charitable in its purposes, originated in Louisville, Ky., in 1861. Messrs. Frank Washington, Ferd Ferguson, John Johnson, Israel Glenn, James Finley and Alfred Carter, were the leaders

in founding the order in this city. Asbury Lodge, No. I, was established in 1865 with about twenty-five charter members, and Frank Washington as worthy master. It now has forty-eight members; A. Wooden, W. M. Enterprise Lodge, No. 5, established in 1878, worked several years and surren- dered its charter. Luther Asbury was its first and last W. M. Young Men's Hope Lodge, No. 9, was organized in 1880 with about thirty-five members; Henry McCrary first W. M. Its membership now numbers sixty; Luther Asbury, W. M. Mt. Carmel Temple, No. I (ladies), organized 1868; first worthy princess, Mrs. J. M. Townsend; present membership, over 100. Golden Rule Temple, No. 4 (ladies), organized, 1878; first W. P., Luella Grandison; present membership, fifty. Mt. Olive Temple, No. 8 (ladies), organized, 1878; first and only W. P., Mrs. Patsy Woods; present mem- bership, seventy-five. Mt. Bethel Temple, No. 10 (ladies), organized, 1879; first W. P., Mrs. Julia Webster; present membership, thirty. Some members of the Evansville lodges have attained more than local dis- tinction. For four years F. D. Morton was national grand master. Charles L. Asbury is now grand master; Frank Washington, grand lecturer ; and Albert Priest, past grand treasurer, for the state of Indiana.

Besides the societies mentioned in detail, recent years have witnessed the establish- ment here of almost every form of associa- tion that can well be conceived. Connected with all the churches are organized bodies for charitable and religious work. Trade and labor unions have been numerous. The Knights of Labor have done much effective work in alleviating distress among wage workers of all classes and in securing equal- ity and personal rights to individual work- men. The order was first organized in this city during the unusual and serious agitatio

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among the working classes which took place :1 1886. For a time, numerically, it had remarkable success, attaining a mem- bership, which exceeded 2,500. Ten as- semblies were organized and exhibited great activity for a time, but for various causes the interest waned and the assemblies disbanded until, at the present time, but one of them remains with, perhaps, less than 200 members. The Woman's Exchange, the Humane society, the Game and Fish Pro- tective association, the Gun club, the Cycle club, the Turn Verein Vorwaerts, other vereins, the Commercial Travelers' associa- tion, scientific and literary circles, musical and operatic clubs and social organizations of various kinds, are among the vast num- ber of societies which, representing organ- ized effort in every branch of human en- deavor, suggests the thought that organiza- tion is believed to be the sine qua non of success in all important undertakings.

Benevolent Institutions .- The Evansville Orphan Asylum. This humane institution stands as a monument commemorating the benevolence of the women of Evansville toward the whole human family. Here they have builded a refuge for the homeless and parentless little ones, whose untrained hearts drifting without anchorage and unguarded by the sacred ties that should gather around them, so often yield to besetting sins, till in the silence of some dreary night, crime numbers another wretch and virtue weeps bitter tears over another wasted life.

wharf shivering and neglected. She took them in charge and procured comfortable homes for them, and immediately concluded to interest herself in the establishment of an asylum for orphans. The matter was sug- gested to Colfax Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., Daughters of Rebeka, who in going around among the poor that winter found ten or- phan children without homes or proper pro- tection, and on April 1, 1866, the asylum was started with eleven children, placed in care of Misses Seeley and Hahn, at their residence on Mulberry street, near the old cemetery. The first officers were: Presi- dent, Mrs. N. W. Plumer; vice-president, Mrs. W: F. Reynolds; recording secretary, Mrs. C. Geissler; corresponding secretary, Mrs. F. Fisher; treasurer, Mrs. E. Turnock. Managers: Mrs. E. Sinzcih, Mrs. M. Archer, Miss T. Feast, Mrs. Ann Davidson, Mrs. Kate Sanders, Mrs. A. Chute, Mrs. C. Dannettell. In the summer of 1866 the ladies of Evansville, representing all of the churches, held a festival for the benefit of the asylum. and realized $1,400 profit. Sep- tember, 1866, the county commissioners bought a suitable house, corner of Mary and Sixth streets, and established the institution there. Mrs. Stewart was the first matron. She was followed by Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Cole- man, Mrs. Kearney, Mrs. Brasher, Mrs. Roy- ster and others. The present matron is Mrs. Pauline Knauth. The institution was incor- porated September 12, 1866, but ownig to its incompleteness, by advice of ex-Gov. Conrad Baker, it was reorganized and chartered by the legislature, March 23, 1871. The fol- lowing ladies were the original incorpora- tors: Sarah Lowry, Jane Morgan, Eliza- beth Sinzich, Mary A. Archer, Sarah K. Foster, Sinai Harrington, Margaret Urie, M. A. Semonin, Fannie Nisbet, M. L. Nex- sen, J. Johnson and W. C. Knox. October

It was in a spirit of the broadest benevo- lence that the Evansville Orphan Asylum was founded; and to no one is more credit due for it than to Mrs. Jacob Sinzich, a well- known philanthropic lady, whose life was full of good works. One cold blustering morning in the winter of 1866, she found two wretched little orphans, thinly clad and without friends, home or food, seated on the | 27, IS72, the county commisioners having

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purchased an admirable building and prem- ises, the asylum was formally dedicated and instituted. The surburban home of Dr. John Laval, on West Indiana street, was se- cured for $16,000. The purchase included a very comfortable and commodious brick building situated in the center of twenty acres of land. In addition the managers have also founded a colored orphan asylum, on premises adjoining, Mrs. Daffney Carr ments are under the same government but are separate institutions. Since the asylum was founded many children have been cared for and many placed in good homes. There are now forty white and thirty colored chil- dren in the institution. The asylum receives a weekly stipend from the city council and board of county commissioners. The trus- tees are: William E. Hollingsworth, J. M. Shackelford, D. A. Nisbet, William H. Caldwell and John Gilbert. The officers of the board of managers are: Mrs. J. W. Nexsen, secretary; Mrs. S. M. Barton, su- perintendent. Managers: Mrs. S. M. Bar- ton, Mrs. H. E. Blemker, Mrs. W. F. Nisbet, Mrs. William H. Caldwell, Mrs. Samuel Bayard, Mrs. H. M. Lindley, Mrs. A. John- son, Mrs. Nancy Casselberry, and Mrs. W. A. Heilman. hospital, and is therefore admirably suited to its present use. The building is 110x90 feet large, including wings and recesses, and three stories high, built of brick and trimmed with buff stone. After the late war the government sold the institution to private parties, who in turn sold it in 1870 to the Sisters of Charity of the order of St. Vin- cent De Paul. Sister Maria, the first su- perioress, left the mother home at Emmetts- being the present matron. Both depart -¡ burg, Md., to become its supervisor, and nobly performed her duty. She is now in Baltimore, from which city came the pres- ent superioress, Sister Mary Agnes, who has been in charge of the hospital for the past four years. She has eight assistants. Since the discontinuance of the United States Marine hospital, the patients formerly attended there are received at St. Mary's. The hospital has a capacity for 100 patients, and has never been in better condition for the care of ward and private patients, being equipped with all the modern appliances for the successful treatment of all forms of disease. The fol- lowing physicians of Evansville compose the medical staff: Drs. J. B. Weaver and T. E. Powell, visiting physicians; Dr. A. M. Hay- den, surgeon; Dr. G. M. Young, diseases of women; Dr. C. H Gumaer, diseases of the St. Mary's Hospital .- This noble and ad- mirably conducted charitable institution justly challenges admiration, and the phil- anthropist can but be pleased to learn of the great good it has done for this commu- nity. It is located on Vermont street between Wabash and Tenth avenues. The premises embrace two and one-half acres of valuable city property and originally cost $25,000. The building was erected in 1855-6, by the United States government, through the in- fluence of Judge James Lockhart, then the member in congress from this district. It was designed especially as a national marine eye and ear; Drs. R. M. Corlew, C. V. Wedding, W. J. Reavis, C. P. Cosby and W. B. Rose, consulting physicians. Because of the encroachments of the railroads and the changing of the surroundings of the hos- pital to a manufacturing district, the sisters, contemplating a removal of the hospital, have purchased a site for a new building on the corner of First avenue and Columbia street. It comprises several acres, and cost $10,500. They propose selling the present hospital and grounds for manufacturing pur- poses. Rev. Father Pepersack is chaplain of the hospital, Mrs. Robert Fergus has

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given over $15,000 toward the hospital. She also gave the first home to the Little Sisters of the Poor, and has been most charitable toward the churches, the needy and the fatherless. She is a life patient in the hospital at present, and is about seventy- two years old.

Home for the Friendless .- There is many a good work that God has entrusted to the hands of woman, especially those of love, charity and mercy. But in no station, in no labor, does her gentleness and Christian forgiveness shine forth more beautifully or conspicuously than in that pitying kindness expressed for the repentant Magdalenes of her sex - Pariahs, in the sight of God and man, fallen from an estate once pure, stainless and lovely.

The Evansville Home for the Friendless was founded in 1869, chiefly through the work of Miss Eleanor E. Johnson, its lead- ing object, as stated in its constitution, being " to assist women who have wandered from the path of virtue and who are desirous of leading better lives; also, to aid those who are in circumstances of peculiar temptation; to surround them with the blessed influence of the religion of Jesus, and to teach them the glad tidings of salvation." When the association was regularly organized Mr. Willard Carpenter conveyed to its trustees a house and lot on Ann street, capable of accomodating fifty inmates. The home was first occupied in May, 1870. Miss Johnson was appointed matron, and under her efficient and capable management the great value of the charity was speedily made manifest. Applications for admission were made as soon as it became known that a house had been secured, and from that time on its noble work was pushed forward. It was maintained wholly by private subscrip- tions at first, but to these were soon added regular stipends from the county and city.

In addition to his former generous gift, in 1872, Mr. Carpenter donated to the associa- tion, two and a half acres of land in the lower part of the city where a suitable house was soon afterward erected. The board of managers from time to time has been com- posed of many of the best known ladies of the city, who have been prominently connected with the Christian work of the city in other fields. Wisely conducted and endeavoring with true Christian spirit to save souls, the association has accomplished a good which is beyond human ability to

reckon. For some time past the matron has been Mrs. John C. Wade. Miss Eleanor E. Johnson, to whose efforts, more than to those of any other person, Evansville is indebted for this institution, was born in Southborough, Mass., in 1830. In early life she engaged in teaching, and did much good work as a city missionary in Worcester, Mass. In 1859, she came to Evansville, and soon became known as a faithful Christian worker in neglected fields. For nearly seven years she taught a school composed of colored children; for a time was engaged in city missionary work; was at the head of the orphan asylum, and after- ward did heroic work in providing the means of rescuing hundreds of fair lives from that pit of degradation which yearly engulfs so many daughters of the land.

U. S. Marine Hospital .- The need of an institution sustained by the general govern- ment, for the care of those unfortunates who became disabled by disease or accident while engaged on the waters of the Ohio and its tributaries, has long been pressingly felt. Through the active efforts of the Busi- ness Men's Association, ably assisted by Gen. A. P. Hovey, member of congress from this district, a bill appropriating $100,- 000.00 for the construction of such an insti- tution has become a law.

CHAPTER XIII.

PERSONAL MENTION- A LIST OF MANY WORTHY CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE NOT ELSEWHERE NOTICED.

HE recording of the history of [ of whom this work would be incomplete nations and communities can not be divorced from the narration of per- sonal achievement. The later school of his- torians has wisely discarded the ancient formulas and neglected the records of poten- tates who may have been but the figure- heads of their reigns, or gilded drift-wood in the currents of events; but in the com- monwealth of the new world, and in great municipalities like that of Evansville, those who have become conspicuous are so by virtue of their own deeds, and having influenced and directed the evolution of the present civilization, deserve mention in any account of it. Indeed, any attempt at pre- senting the history of such a county as Van- derburgh, and such a city as Evansville, would be incomplete without a narration of the lives of some of the prominent inhabit- ants. Already in the course of this work the careers of men who have been factors in the progress of the county and city, have been described in connection with the accounts of those lines of effort to which they were most closely allied. There remain, however, many more not yet men- tioned, or only incidentally referred to, and to brief accounts of some of these, this chap- ter is devoted.

DAVID J. MACKEY .- It is a well-worn observation that " labor conquers all things," but occasionally there is a man whose splen- did activities give the old proverb a new luster and fresh significance. Notable among Evansville's workers there is one such man,

without some mention. To give it is, how- ever, a task of some difficulty and delicacy, as in the character of David J. Mackey, to his capacity for making history is added a notable distaste for public notice and a modest shrinking from any form of contem- poraneous fame. For what is said of him here this work is indebted to a brief sketch published recently in the Evening Tribune, without his knowledge, and the excellent engraving reproduced here is from a family picture in the possession of his nephew, F. M. Gilbert, of that paper. Mr. Mackey is tersely and accurately described as " Evans- ville's most public-spirited citizen." He is the most prominent railway owner and man- ager in the state. He is president of, and owns a large interest in, the Evansville & Terre Haute, Evansville & Indianapolis, and Peoria, Decatur & Evansville railroads, the branch road to Mt. Vernon, the Belt road, and is a prime mover in the Evansville & Richmond road, and has recently acquired still more extensive railroad properties. It is well nigh impossible to enumerate his in- terests in and about the city, which he has grown up with from boyhood, with continual opportunities offered for the exercise of his rare business talent. There are few exten- sive manufacturing plants which have not his aid. He owns a principal interest in the great cotton mills at Independence. He built the St. George hotel, possesses large coal mining interests, extensive shares in the mills at Mt. Vernon, is a partner in the great

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wholesale boot and shoe house of Dixon, Mackey & Co., is the principal owner of the magnificent new dry goods building of Mackey, Nisbet & Co., and is building a large house for the Armstrong Furniture Co. He has aided magnificently the new building of the Business Men's Association.

David James Mackey was born in this city, December, 1833, the only son of James E. and Eliza Mackey. His father, a man of little means, and liberal with what store he had, helping others, without thought of himself, died in 1834, David J. being then but eleven months old. His mother was left practically without resources, and as soon as he was old enough, instead of going to school, he began to earn a small salary for her assistance, in the general store of Robert Barnes. His salary gradually in- creased until he finally received a share of the profits in addition to his salary, and most of the business was left in his hands. In 1857 he became the junior partner in the firm of Archer & Mackey, wholesale dealers in dry goods. A few years later, August 28, 1861, he married Caroline, the youngest daughter of the late John Law. Two of heir children are living, James Law Mackey nificence, or desire to impress his fellows

and Anne Newell Mackey. In 1864 Mr. Archer retired from the firm in which Mr. Mackey was interested, and Mr. Henning came in, making the firm name Mackey, Henning & Co. Afterward Mr. Mackey was alone for a time, until he was associated with the late W. F. Nisbet, with the firm style of Mackey, Nisbet & Co., which is still used by this house, which does a business in dry goods unexcelled in the state. Mr. Mackey's wonderful energy and endurance were first fully manifested when he engaged in the wholesale trade. First at the store in the morning and last to go at night, he was most happy when filling orders, and would enthusiastically add to his mental duties an amount of muscular effort that would discourage a porter. Genius has been defined as industry, and Mr. Mac- key's career certainly proves that it is at least true that genius is inseparably connected with rare powers of application. Even in his later years he takes breakfast at six, and earlier in the summer, and works hard the entire day. He may be seen going to his office at the time when most people are thinking of rising. Himself a great leader in business affairs, he evidently joins with those great generals who believed that the man who succeeds is he who gets into action first. Of simple habits, never tasting liquor or using tobacco, he does not know ill health, and possesses a rugged constitution. In politics he is disposed to be generous of the opin- ions of others, and though he is an earnest republican, and believes in the principles of his party, he has faith in the patriotism of all his fellow-citizens. To the industrious and deserving he is generous and open- handed, but as might be expected from those traits of character which have been spoken of, he has no time to waste upon idlers. There is about him no affectation or mag-

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with his ability to live without continual and patient exertion. In all the avenues of hon- est effort in which he is interested, he leads in the toil, knowing that example is more effective than command. The life-work of every man must be in a large degree of personal aggrandizement, for hope of per- sonal success is the most powerful motor in the activities of business life; but where the exertions of a man are in such broad fields as have been those of Mr. Mackey, vhere he has shown himself so ready to aid in every effort which increases the avenues of general industry, where every new venture gives work and happiness to hundreds of men, then however much the efforts of such a man may accrue to his own well-being, he must also be considered as a great benefactor.

ERASTUS P. HUSTON, the popular man- ager of the St. George hotel, is a native of Ohio, born in Miami county, February IS, 1852. His father, David Huston, is still living, and is a resident of Illinois. The mother, whose maiden name was Susan Darst, died February 17, 1884. In his youth Mr. Huston attended school at Paris, Ill., and at the commercial college at Terre Haute. To the latter city he moved at the age of seventeen, and engaged in the hotel business, which has been his life occupation ; wisely chosen, let it be said, as thousands who have enjoyed his hospitality will un- hesitatingly pronounce. Two years after engaging in this business he was manager of the Terre Haute house, and remained there until 1873, when he came to Evans- ville, and became connected with D. J. Mackey in the conducting of the St. George hotel. The firm name of the proprietorship is Mackey & Huston, but the entire man- agement is in his hands. The demands of such a position are exacting, and none but a man of the highest talent adapted to this vo- cation could fill the place with such entire

satisfaction to the public; but Mr. Huston, as a host or business man, is never found wanting. He is a distinguished member of the F. & A. M., La Valette commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar, and is past emi- nent commander. He is also a prominent member of the Grace Presbyterian church, having been an elder in this denomination at the age of nineteen years.

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History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc., Part 51

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller Number of Pages: 714

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 714