USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 77
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On November 4, 1873, he came to Terre Haute, where he has since made his home. In 1873 he published his first law book entitled "Eggleston's Commissioners," in 1874 his "Township Trustee," and in 1881 "Eggleston on Damages." He is also the author of the popular drama entitled "Liberated Slave." He has other manuscripts well under way. Judge Eggleston has been twice married, the first time to Miss Etta, daughter of Dr. John R. Gil- more, and after her death he married Miss Cyntha, daughter of
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Robert Mount. Judge and Mrs. Eggleston are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he for a period of thirty-three years, and has been steward and trustee in the same, and is a member of the quarterly conference.
EDWIN ELLIS, secretary of the Terre Haute Electric Light Company, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 21, 1848, and is a son of George F. and Harriet (Hollinger) Ellis. The father, who was a native of England, came to Ohio in 1836, and oper- ated a woolen mill at Miamisburg. In'1853 he came to Terre Haute, built the Wabaslı Woolen Mills, which he carried on until his death in 1884. Edwin, who is the youngest in a family of five children, was reared and educated in Terre Haute, and his first employment was in his father's mill. He aided materially in organizing the Electric Light Company at Terre Haute, in 1885, and has since been its secretary. He was married at Lafayette, Ind., to Laura, daughter of Rev. George W. Crawford, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they have two children, George F. and B. P. Mr. Ellis is a Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the city council, two years.
G. W. EPPERT, farmer and coal operator, Coal Bluff, Nevins township, is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, born February 2, 1832, and is a son of John and Mary F. (Elston) Eppert, former a na- tive of Virginia, latter of New Jersey, and they were of German and English descent. The father who was a millwright and farmer, came to Indiana in 1834, dying in Clay county in 1865. His family consisted of thirteen children-ten sons and three daughters-all of whom attained to their majority. Mr. Eppert's mother was born September, 17, 1807, and died May 16, 1870. G. W. Eppert was reared on the farm, attending the district schools, and made farm- ing a business for some time. For four years he carried on a gen- eral country store at Cloverland, Clay Co., Ind., and then for four years was engaged in the flouring-mill business. In 1864 he came to Vigo county, and embarked in the coal business and farming at Coal Bluff. In 1884 he opened a shaft at Coal Bluff, which lie sold in 1886; then opened a strip coal bank at the same place, and in 1888 sold a one-lialf interest. He is now superintendent and gen- eral manager of the last named mine, and is the owner of about 255 acres of land. He has made his own way in the world. Mr. Eppert was married in Clay county, Ind., in 1857, and has one child, W. E. who is secretary of the Coal Bluff Mining Company at Terre Haute. Mrs. Eppert dying in 1864, he was married, the second time, in Clay county, Ind., and his children are Warren, Charles. Russell, Leonard and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Eppert are members of the U. B. Church. In politics he is Independent.
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WILLIAM E. EPPERT, coal dealer, Terre Haute. This gen- tleman, who is secretary of the Coal Bluff Mining Company, was born in Clay county, Ind., March 28, 1858, and is a son of George W. and Sarah (Jones) Eppert, who were natives of Clay county, of Welsh and German origin. The father was a farmer and miller, and is now living on his farm in Nevins township, this county. He has been twice married, and William E. is the only child by the first wife. Our subject was reared on the farm, attending the schools in Vigo and Clay counties, where he received an excellent English education in the fundamental branches. After teaching school one year, he attended the Terre Haute Commercial College, where he graduated in 1878. Soon after graduating, he found employment as salesman in a store. In 1880 he went to Carbon, Ind., and managed the store of the Coal Bluff Mining Company. In 1888 he came to Terre Haute, and was made one of the directors and also elected secretary of the company above named, which position he now holds. He has won his way in life by his own efforts, all he received from home being the advantages of a good school. William E. Eppert was married in Clay county, Ind., May 16, 1880, to Miss Ida L. Stephenson, who was born in that county, of German origin. Their children are named Carl and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Eppert are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active workers in the Sabbath-school. He has served four years as chief counsellor in the order of the Chosen Friends at Carbon, Ind.
JULIUS F. ERMISCH, proprietor of steam dyeing and scouring establishment, Terre Haute, was born in Germany, Decem- ber 22, 1856, and is a son of Charles and Minnie (Prager) Ermisch, natives of Germany. Julius F., who is the youngest in a family of three children, was married in Clay City, Ind., February 21, 1886, to Kate, daughter of Christian and Mary (Beil) Schafer, natives of Ohio and of German descent. Mrs. Ermisch is the eld- est in a family of nine children, and was born in Clay City, Ind., September 12, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Ermisch have two children : Elsie and Robert. Our subject was reared in Germany, where he learned the dyeing and scouring trade when quite young, and fol- lowed same in his native land, about eight years. In 1879 he immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there worked at his trade five years; then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and remained there one year, coming to Terre Haute in the spring of 1885, where he worked for John H. Nelgen, one year, and then bought out his interests. He thoroughly understands his business, and has a large and growing trade. He does cleaning and dyeing of all kinds of goods, from the coarsest to the finest. Mr. and Mrs. Ermisch are members of
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the Evangelical Association, and he is class leader, treasurer of the Sunday-school and secretary of the missionary society.
NOAH EVINGER, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, near Terre Haute, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, November 4, 1828, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Miller) Evinger. His father was a farmer during his life, and died in Ed- gar county, Ill., in 1877. He had lived since 1843 on the farm, near Terre Haute. His family consisted of eight children, Noah being the fourth. Our subject was brought up on the farm, at- tending the common schools of Ohio and Edgar county, Ill. He is the owner of a farm of eighty acres where he resides; also other real estate, and he has made his own way in the world. He is a natural mechanic, and has had eight different articles patented, some of which have come into general use, and are very valuable, such as his Sorghum Evaporator and New Champion Husking Pin. The greatest patent is his churn, which is the greatest improvement in the art of churning ever invented; one- fifth more butter can be made out of the cream easier and quicker than by any other churn or process. He was married in 1851 to Susana, daughter of Enoch Hussong, and their children are Will- iam; Catharine, wife of George Ferguson; Benjamin; Addison H .; Merideth ; Minnie, wife of William Halsteadth; Etta and Cora. Mr. and Mrs. Evinger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been superintendent of the Sabbath-school for a number of years. He enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ind. V. I., and served until the close of the war.
HON. HENRY FAIRBANKS (deceased). There are but few family names of America that are more familiar throughout the civ- ilized world than that of Fairbanks. The inventors of a nation are its historical people.
Henry Fairbanks was one of the early and most prominent set- tlers of Vigo county. The family are of the good old New England origin. He was a cousin of the widely noted "Fairbanks' Scales" inventor, and while he only rated himself as a Vigo county farmer, as unassuming as any farmer on the Wabash, yet, by sheer force of intellect and integrity of character, he became a strong factor in the political and general development of this part of the State. His judgment and advice were sought by many, and such was his known integrity that his influence became widely extended, and thougli never an office-seeker, but really retiring of nature, yet the strong partiality of friends at times forced him to not only lead but to ac- cept political places of honor. In this way he was elected to fill the office of mayor of Terre Haute, succeeding Hon. Chambers Y. Pat- terson, one of the most popular men of the city; he was also elected
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and served a term as county treasurer. Mr. Fairbanks died during his term as mayor, in the early part of 1878, and Col. W. K. Ed- wards was elected to the vacancy.
Henry Fairbanks was born at Brimfield, Mass., January 2, 1814, youngest in the family of five children of Henry Fairbanks, and cousin of the noted inventor of the Platform Scales. The family are of English stock, and came as colonists to America. Henry spent his childhood on the farm, and learned the gunsmith's trade. At the age of twenty he turned his face toward the west, and mi- grated to this county, settling in Terre Haute, where he com- menced the work of shaping his future in life. He was welcomed to the new country, and soon had established himself. Mr. Fair- banks was twice married, and his second union was with Emeline Crawford, daughter of Caleb Crawford, one of the most prominent early settlers of Vigo county, whose name is interwoven in nearly every page of the county's pioneer history. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford came from their native State-New York; he first came in 1816, returned and again came and made his permanent settle- ment in 1819. By this marriage with Emeline Crawford were born the children of Henry Fairbanks-seven in number, of whom six are living. The following is a record of the children in order of birth: Col. William Fairbanks is a resident of the west, and is in the wholesale grocery trade, also extensively engaged in pork pack- ing. He was a distinguished soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in the Thirty-first Ind. I. V., and served his term; then re-enlisted in the same company, and by meritorious services won the eagles that adorned his shoulders as colonel of the regiment, having passed through the grade of A. A. G. under Gen. Cruft. ... Crawford Fair- banks [See following sketch.] Edward Page Fairbanks is en- gaged with his brother as aid and book-keeper in his extensive business affairs ... . Frank Fairbanks is one of the prominent young men of Terre Haute, and is general manager of the Wabash Straw Board Company ... . Pauline, is the wife of Frank Montagnier . . Ella is deceased .... Carrie is at the parental home.
CRAWFORD FAIRBANKS, Terre Haute. Among the busi- ness man and financiers of Terre Haute this gentleman ranks far toward the front. Starting in life a poor boy, he has carved out his pathway successfully, and in winning fortune he has been a large factor in the advancement of the material growth and pros- perity of his native city. His liberal public spirit and enterprise have made a permanent mark on the rise and progress of Terre Haute, and many of the institutions of which the people, and of which posterity will pride themselves, have felt his strong helping hand in the hour of greatest need. It is impossible to estimate the
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money value of a strong and able man to a young and growing city, on whose shoulders rest the creation and establishment of those great plants of industry that are the city's chief glory, because they gen- erally lend their valuable aid, brain, brawn, and money in the hour of the particular industry's infancy and obscurity. The Fairbanks Distilling Company, one of the largest of its kind in the world, owes its inception and growth to this gentleman, and while it has made his fortune it has also brought wealth to Terre Haute.
Crawford Fairbanks was born in Terre Haute, [See sketcli of Hon. Henry Fairbanks at page 748 ] and, with the exception of about five years, his life lias been spent here, his education having been secured in the public schools. In the Civil war he enlisted in the army, and served a full term of three years. On the reorganization of his regiment he was elected lieutenant of his company. Return- ing from the army, he commenced liis successful business career, with those strong instincts of self-reliance that has led on to fort- une. A brilliant record for a poor boy! Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Loyal League, and is a prominent Mason. Mr. Fairbanks was married in Vermill- ion county, Ind., to Miss Clara Collett, a sister of Hon. Josephus Collett, of Terre Haute [See his sketch. ] and of this happy marriage there is one child, Sarah. Mr. Fairbanks is prominent in the esteemed social circle of the city, and the family have many warm and devoted acquaintances and friends.
GEORGE W. FARIS, attorney at law, member of the firm of Faris & Hamill, Terre Haute, was born in Jasper county, Ind., June 9, 1854, and is a son of James C. and Margaret M. (Brown) Faris, the father a native of Kentucky, the mother of Indiana, and both of English descent. James C. Faris engaged in merchandis- ing, and is now a resident of Terre Haute. George W., who is the elder of two children, was reared in Pulaski county, Ind., and mostly worked his way, by school teaching, through Asbury University, where he graduated in the classical course in 1877. He then went to Indianapolis, where lie read law in the office of Claypool & Ketcham, then, after admission to the bar, he went to Colorado, and after teaching a year engaged in the law practice in that State. He removed to Terre Haute, and in the fall of 1880 went into part- nership with George C. Duy, a lawyer. In 1883 he formed a part- nership with Mr. Hamill, constituting the firm of Faris & Hamill. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1884 he received the nomi- nation of his party for judge of the circuit court. In 1888 he was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, and is at present the attorney to the board of county commissioners. Mr. Faris is a ripe scholar and a sound lawyer, a very pleasant and
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agreeable gentleman, both in his office and in social life; he is ener- getic and industrious, having at an early day realized that success depended largely on his own exertions. He was united in marriage in 1878 with Miss Anna, daughter of Hon. Solomon Claypool, of Indianapolis, and born in Indiana, of English descent. They have two children: George M. and Ruby C. Mr. and Mrs. Faris are members of the Methodist Church.
GEORGE E. FARRINGTON, secretary of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad Company, Terre Haute, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., September 24, 1841, and is a son of James Farrington, who was born in Boston, Mass., in 1796, of English descent, and came 'to Terre Haute in 1821. He was an attorney, and died here in 1869. His wife's maiden name was Harriet Ewing, and she was a native of Pennsylvania. They reared two children: Mary E. and George E. Our subject received his education in the public schools of his native city, and in Kenyon College. In 1862 he enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Ind. V. I., Company C, and in 1864 he was com- missioned second lieutenant, subsequently becoming quartermaster of the Eighty-fifth Regiment, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He is a member of Morton Post, G. A. R., also of the Loyal Legion. Soon after the war he engaged in the whole- sale grocery business, and for twenty-two years he has been in the employ of the railroad company at Terre Haute. He is a prom- inent member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken all the de- grees in the different branches thereof. For seven years he has been a member of the board of park commissioners of the city of Terre Haute; is secretary and treasurer of the Terre Haute & Logansport Railroad Company, also secretary of the Rose Orphans' Home board of managers.
DANIEL FASIG, Health Office, 503 Wabash avenue, Terre Haute, was born in Clark county, Ill., and is a son of William and Eliza (Taggart) Fasig, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who began life for himself as a shoemaker, afterward becoming a mer- chant, died in Clark county, Ill., in 1852, at the age of twenty-six ; his mother in 1869, at the age of forty-three. Daniel, who is the younger of a family of two children, and the only one now living, came to Terre Haute when quite young, and received his education in the city schools. In 1873 he served an apprenticeship at the harness trade with Farley & Roach, and was with them about six years. He then formed a partnership with Oscar Froeb, under the firm name of Froeb & Fasig, and continued in the harness business four years. His present business he began in 1880, and he has now one of the finest and best equipped halls in the city, the headquarters for the Terre Haute Trotting Association, of which
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he is a member. Mr. Fasig served as lieutenant on the police force for about five years, and as chief, one year. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 157. He takes an active interest in politics, and is identified with the Democratic party, his place of business generally being headquarters for receiving election returns.
FREDERICK FAUST, member of the firm of Frederick Faust & Co., grocers, Terre Haute, is a native of Burscheid, Kreiss So- lingen, Germany, born September 7, 1847, and is a son of Ferdinand and Auralia (Liesenthal) Faust, also natives of Burscheid, Ger- many, where they now reside, the father being a wholesale hardware dealer. Frederick, who is the eldest in a family of eight children, was educated in the schools of his native home, and in 1866 he immigrated to Hoboken, N. J., remaining there about two months, thence came to Terre Haute. He worked in Henry Will- iams' wholesale grocery for a short time, then for Steinmehl & Mayer about fourteen months. Not being wholly pleased with his employment, he started to travel and visited St. Louis, New Orleans, Little Rock, Helena, Vicksburg, Alhambra and Highland (Ill. ), returning to Terre Haute in 1871, where he worked for Hul- man & Cox, five years. In 1876 he engaged in the grocery busi- ness on the opposite corner of the square from where he is now lo- cated. In 1878 he took Adalbert Faust in as a partner, and this giving him an opportunity to take a vacation, he made a trip to Europe, and was absent several months. By energy and indus- try the firm have built up an extensive and growing trade, and in 1884 they erected a fine two-story brick building, where they are located at the present time-size being 80x22 feet, with cellar and wareroom-and here they deal largely in staple and fancy gro- ceries and provisions. Mr. Faust has had to depend entirely on his own resources in his struggle for success. He was married in Terre Haute, Ind., May 8, 1873, to Christena, daughter of John and Catherina (Stock) Richartz. She is a native of Reussrath, Kreiss Solingen, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Faust had born to them seven children, of whom three died in infancy; the living are Otto, Fritz, Rudolph and Herman. Mr. Faust is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Humbolt Lodge No. 42, and has passed the chairs. In
politics he is a Republican.
EDWARD L. FEIDLER, merchant, fruit jobber and family grocer, Nos. 1301 and 1303 Wabash avenue, Terre Haute, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., February 25, 1859, and is a son of Ferdinand and Barbara Feidler, natives of Austria. They immigrated to Cin- cinnati about the year 1850, and remained there about six months before coming to Terre Haute. The father was a merchant about thirty-five years, but retired from business a short time ago.
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The mother died in 1887. Edward L., who is the fourth in a family of eight children, received his education in the public schools of Terre Haute and entered the Commercial College in 1877, where he graduated. He was book-keeper for Jacob White, five years, and was in the same employment four years for P. J. Kaufman. He then purchased the interest of Joseph Diekemper, who was doing a trade of $21,000 a year. In the first year Mr. Feidler did a business of $40,000, the second year, $48,000, and the third year, $60,000. He handles a full line of staple and fancy groce- ries, flour, meal, hay, corn, oats and bran. He also does an exten- sive commission business in fruits and vegetables. By energy, enterprise and close attention to business, he has built up a large trade. He has nine men in his employ, and employs five wagons. Mr. Feidler was married in Terre Haute, Ind., April 29, 1886, to Miss Edith, daughter of Fredrick and Matilda ( Baganz) Goetz, former of whom is a furniture dealer and a native of Germany, latter is a native of Indiana. Mrs. Feidler is the third in a family of four children, and was born in Terre Haute, Ind., April 23, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Feidler have one child, Ursula, Mrs. Feidler is a member of the Episcopal Church.
FREDRICK FELLING, farmer and stock-grower, Lost Creek township. This gentleman is truly a self-made man, as he started out in the world a poor boy, and now is the owner of 560 acres of valuable land in Vigo county, being a leading farmer and stock- grower. He was born in Germany, April 19, 1818, and is a son of Ulrich Felling, a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was a farmer, and reared two children, Fredrick being the eldest. Our sub- ject was reared in Germany, and there attended the common schools. When seventeen years of age he started for America, where he landed in due time, a stranger in a strange land, among people who spoke a language he could not understand. He first went to Miami county, Ohio, where he worked on the canal, and when he arrived there, in 1839, he found he had only 25 cents. After working on the canal four years, he and two other men took a sub-contract on the same, on which they worked two years, during which time the other two men died, and Mr. Felling himself was taken so ill that he came near following them to the grave. Indeed, he would have died had not some man come into his room and told him that he "had killed two men, and now he would die himself." This excited and roused Felling, and he began to get better from that moment, He had made by hard labor and saved some $600, but this spell of sickness used it all up save $5, so he was again left a "poor boy." Having fairly recovered, Mr. Felling set out for Terre Haute in company with some hackmen, and on the road they stopped at a place for
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breakfast, in payment of which he presented his last $5. In change he was given a $2 bill, which proved to be counterfeit, so on his ar- rival at Terre Haute he found himself absolutely penniless, save the counterfeit $2. But Mr. Felling never was a man to be dis- couraged or daunted by adversity. He farmed about six years on the prairie, and then went into the woods where there was not a stick cleared, nor any covering for his horses, which he had to hitch
to the wagon. The people about the locality made fun of him, but that only served to make him the more resolute to remain and clear up his farm. The result is that through perseverance, industry and sound judgment Mr. Felling has now the finest farm and house in Vigo county, and is one of its most prominent farmers and stock-growers. His life has been one worthy of imitation by future generations. Mr. Felling was married June 9, 1850, in Vigo county, Ind., to Miss Augusta Matice, a daughter of Frank Matice, and a native of Germany. Their children are Fred H., Aaron L., Clement N., Henry and Charles. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Felling is one of the trustees. In politics he is a Democrat.
AARON L. FELLING, farmer and stock-grower, Lost Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, is a descendant of one of the early settlers of Vigo county, and was born in Lost Creek township, Vigo county, Ind., September 14, 1859, a son of Fredrick and Augusta ( Matice) Felling, natives of Germany, former of whom is a wealthy farmer of Lost Creek township. Aaron L., who is the fifth in a family of nine children, five of whom are living, was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools, has always followed farming, and is now the owner of 174 acres of land where he resides. He was married in Vigo county, Ind., in 1876, to Miss Clara, only child of John and Emma (Hartley) Nelson, natives of Indiana, and of German origin. Her father, who was a pros- perous and leading farmer, came to Indiana in 1857, and located in Lost Creek township; he died in 1874. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Felling has been blessed with one child, Frederick Ernest. In politics Mr. Felling is a Democrat.
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