History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 83

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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NEWTON A. HULL, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Youngstown. This gentleman started in the world as a school teacher, but has since adopted farming and stock-grow- ing. He is a son of the late Wesley H. Hull. Our subject was born in Honey Creek township, this county, April 2, 1857, and is next to the youngest in a family of nine children. He received a good education in the English branches, also attended a business school at Terre Haute Commercial College. As above stated, teach- ing was his occupation for some time, having taught seven terms of school, since when he has confined his labors to the farm. He was married in Vigo county, Ind., April 8, 1880, to Miss Samantha, daughter of Washington Hess, and of German extraction. Their children are Cora, May, Elizabeth, Ethel, Georgia and Ollie. Mrs. Hull is a member of the U. B. Church; in politics Mr. Hull is a Republican.

HERMAN HULMAN. Among the prominent and public-spir- ited of the men of Terre Haute there has been none more deserving than this gentleman. He has been a resident of the city since 1854, where he has been in active business during all the years of his mature life. One of the eminently successful men of West- ern Indiana, not only in a business view, but who has made a reputation and a name that will be a perpetual part of the his- tory and pride of the beautiful city of his adoption. He was born in the city of Lingen, Hanover, April 20, 1831. His years of growth and education were spent in the place of his nativity, and .chiefly in the bosom of his father's family, where he received the advantages of a higher order of life than is the common lot of the

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people of this land. When he was eighteen years of age he was engaged in the grocery trade on his own account, in Osnabruck, Hanover, which he successfully conducted the next four years. His elder brother, F. T. Hulman, had emigrated to America in 1850, had settled in Terre Haute, and established himself in a moderate way in the grocery trade. Through his earnest solicitations, Her- man closed out his business in the old country and came to America, joined his brother in Terre Haute, and became his partner. They prospered well, and their trade was well established in 1858, when there came upon this family a shocking misfortune. It was in that year that F. T. Hulman, accompanied by his entire family, concluded to visit his old home and friends, and were all lost on the ill-fated steamer "Astria." This left Mr. Herman Hulman in charge of the entire concern, which he carried on alone until 1859, when he formed a partnership with Mr. R. S. Cox, who had. become his most formidable rival in the same line of business. Shortly after this Mr. Hulman purchased McGregor & Co.'s distillery, at that time rather a small concern. This he en- larged and increased in capacity, making it one of the most exten- sive concerns in Western Indiana. Mr. Hulman remained sole manager of this enterprise until 1875, when on account of failing health and a desire to revisit Europe, he disposed of the distillery to Mr. Crawford Fairbanks, but on his return he purchased an interest in the distillery, and the new firm was known as Hulman & Fair- banks. In 1878 Mr. Hulman traded his interest in the distillery for Mr. R. S. Cox's interest in the grocery business, becoming once more sole manager of the wholesale grocery, which he continued under the name of H. Hulman until 1886, when Mr. B. G. Cox and Mr. Anton Hulman were taken in as partners, the firm at present being known as Hulman & Co. The present Hulman Block, Fifth and Main streets, was purchased in 1864. The building was re- modeled and its capacity enlarged in 1867, and in 1869 another building of the same capacity was added on Fifth street. To-day the business has outgrown all this improvement, and it is the inten- tion to secure new quarters with buildings expressly designed for the economical handling of the vast wholesale trade of one of the largest wholesale houses west of the Alleghanies. This assertion may sound strange to those not cognizant of all the facts. Yet it is nevertheless true, but in the sense of the largest house wherein the trade is directly with the house's customers. With this limita- tion the assertion is strictly true. [It is proper to state that this information, like that of the facts of Mr. Hulman's biography, is not from him, nor made with his knowledge, or consent, but is obtained from a source entirely reliable. ]

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Great as has been Mr. Hulman's business prosperity, yet it really is as a philanthropist and a public-spirited and liberal friend of the city of Terre Haute, its prosperity and the comfort and wel- fare of its people-the advancement of the city and the permanent good of all its railroads, factories, schools, churches and hospitals- these have been the fields of his greatest benefits to his fellow-men. It is in this respect that he deserves and will be longest and most gratefully remembered. It is to him chiefly that there exists St. Anthony's Hospital, which institution was the old St. Agnes Epis- copal School. The grounds and buildings were purchased by Mr. Hulman, and donated to the Poor Sisters of St. Frances, and re- modeled and enlarged into its present form. It is not known gen- erally the exact amount of his contribution to this purpose, but altogether it was about $75,000. In the completion and furnishing of the hospital, liberal contributions were made by several of the leading men of the city. He has been one of the main promoters of all railroads coming to Terre Haute; and in securing the estab- lishment in Terre Haute of the Nail Works, the Blast Furnace, the Rolling Mill, the Tool Works and the City Water Works, no one has been more active or efficient. He has acquired great wealth, and has enriched and adorned the beloved city of his home. The world has not yet had too many such men as Herman Hulman. In all that constitutes a good citizen none can be called before him. Mr. and Mrs. Hulman were married in 1862, and their family con- sists of Herman and Anton, young men assisting their father in his vast business concerns from day to day-worthy sons of a worthy sire. Mrs. Hulman died April 17, 1883.

JOHN S. HUNT, physician and surgeon, Macksville, was born in Clark county, Ill., March 15, 1852. His father, Garretson Hunt, was born in Massachusetts ; his mother, Louise (Peck ) Hunt, in Vermont; they were of English descent. His father, who had been a farmer all his life, died February 11, 1860. His family consisted of three sons, John S. being the youngest. Our subject was reared on the farm in Clark county, Ill., and attended the dis- trict school of the neighborhood, subsequently Marshall College. Afterward he worked on the farm, and in the tannery with his father, until he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. A. Patton, in Livingston county, Ill., entering the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1877. Graduating in 1878, he opened an office at Livingston, where he practiced until he came to Macksville, Vigo ounty, in 1880. Here his professional skill and gentlemanly de- meanor soon won for him a wide practice, extending to many of the most influential families in Macksville and surrounding country. The Doctor is much attached to his profession, and is a diligent

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

student, endeavoring to keep himself thoroughly posted in his pro- fession. He has counseled with some of the best physicians in Terre Haute and is a prominent member of the State Medical Society. His ability to fill the position he has chosen is acknowl- edged by all who know him. He was married at Marshall, Ill., to Miss Etta, daughter of G. B. Houk, her parents having been of German descent, her father a blacksmith. The Doctor and his wife have one child, a son, named Oscar M. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Christian Church, the Doctor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican.

VOLNEY P. HUTCHINSON (deceased) was born in Ohio April 20, 1818, and made farming and stock-growing his occupation. He met with merited success in business, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1873, he was the owner of 315 acres of well-improved land in Fayette township, Vigo county, where his family now reside. He was of English descent, the youngest in the family, and came from Ohio to Vigo county in 1828 with his parents, but soon after moved to Vermillion county, same State, where he received a common-school education, and learned the car- penter's trade. After reaching his majority he devoted his time and energy to farming. He was a gentleman in the fullest sense of the word, greatly respected for his many excellent qualities. He was married in Vigo county, Ind., in 1867, to Mrs. Mary Denehie, widow of John Denehie, and a daughter of William and Catherine (Felowes) Armstrong, who were of German descent. She had three children by her first husband, named William F., Eliza- beth and John Austin, and by Mr. Hutchinson she has five children, who are all living, as follows : Clara Bell, Sarah Alice, Frank, George L. and Viola. Mrs. Hutchinson is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, as was also Mr. Hutchinson, and he was steward in same and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics he was a Republican, and served as school director.

WILLIAM P. IJAMS, Terre Haute, was born at Marietta, Ohio, January 18, 1847, and is a son of Rufus P. and Mary Burch Ijams, natives of Ohio, and of English descent. The father, who was a prosperous merchant, resides at Warren Park, in Vigo county, the noted stock farm. Our subject, who is the second in a family of three children, spent his childhood in Washington county, Ohio, where he attended the common schools of Marietta. His first em- ployment was as bill clerk for the Marietta Railroad Company, in which he continued until 1872, when he came to Indiana and ac- cepted a position with the South Western Railroad Company, as book-keeper. He has occupied various railroad positions, and in 1883 he became president of the Indianapolis Belt Railroad Com-

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pany. He has been eminently successful in great business enter- prises. He purchased the Terre Haute House, and organized the present company, superintending the remodeling and refitting of the hotel, which under his presidency and management has become one of the noted hostelries of the country. He is the owner of Warren Park, which comprises nearly 1,000 acres, and is to- day perhaps one of the most noted horse farms in America, es- pecially in the line of trotting-bred horses. In his stables are over one hundred, and among them is the most noted stallion in the world-Axtel. More money was paid for this three-year old ($105- 000) than was ever before in all history paid for any animal. When the hump-backed king offered his "kingdom for a horse," his title was shaky, and hence his offer that has been so noted in history, was little less than ten per cent of the cash paid for Axtel. On this farm are two horses, which hitched together reveal $150,000 worth of horse flesh-about $100 per pound, taking gross weight of team. Warren Park with its celebrity is chiefly the conception of Mr. Ijams, and to him is due the success it has attained. This has advertised Terre Haute throughout the civilized world. Mr. Ijams has not confined his energies on his farm to horses alone, but has given intelligent attention to cattle as well. He has served as pres- ident of the Vigo County Agricultural Society, and is at this time president of the Vigo County Trotting Association.

Mr. Ijams was married to Miss Sallie Warren, a daughter of the late Levi Warren, who was an early settler in Terre Haute, and one of its leading men and most influential citizens. He was a man of great enterprises, one who contributed as much to the growth . and prosperity of the city and county as any man ever did in it. His death, in the vigor of his useful life, was regarded by all as a public calamity. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Ijams has been blessed with three children, viz .: Warren, Alice and Burch. Mr. and Mrs. Ijams are members of the Episcopal Church. In the social life of the city this family have the sincerest of friends.

HENRY H. IRWIN, farmer and stock-grower, Sugar Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Licking county, Ohio, June 19, 1840, and is a son of Elijah and Mary (Shipps) Irwin, former born in Maryland, latter in Ohio, and both of English de- scent. The father was a farmer, and died in 1877. Henry H., who is the sixth in a family of eight children, was brought up on a farm in Ohio, where he attended the common school, and at the age of nineteen he started out in the world to make his fortune. He first had charge of sheep for three years, then, in 1862, he enlisted in the United States navy, in which he was made a non-commissioned officer, with rank of quartermaster; was in seven battles, and served

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until the close of the war. He then rented a farm in Clark county, Ill., where he engaged in farming until he came to Sugar Creek township, this county, in 1869, and settled on the Joseph Black farm, consisting of 320 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Irwin was married in 1868 to Miss Emily, daughter of Ira and Amanda (Hearst) Prevo, of French descent. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Irwin are Della, Otto, Minnie, Willie S., Ross, Bruce and Henry. Mrs. Irwin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Mr. Irwin is a Republican in politics, and is a Master Mason.

PROF. W. C. ISBELL, president of the Terre Haute Commercial College, ranks high among the prominent and enterprising business men and educators of the West. He advocates that a practical busi- ness education is putting in the hands of the young the tools with which they may readily form and fashion their lives in those higher walks of life where brain and brawn work in concert for the attain- ment of those comforts and luxuries that are the fundamental parts of the best civilization; that forward march of nations lead by com- merce that must precede both intellectual and physical develop- ment. His college was founded in 1862, and from its commencement has been one of the growing institutions of the city of Terre Haute. From the ranks of its graduates are to-day representatives in many of the leading business and financial concerns of the country, and are demonstrating the wisdom of Horace Mann, when he said: "If a' father wishes to give his son a legacy better than houses, gold or silver, let him send him to an institution where he can obtain a practical business education."

Mr. Isbell is thirty-eight years of age, and was born in Noble county, Ind. He acquired a good English education in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen he removed to Chicago, where he completed his business education. He then engaged in business for a Chicago publishing house ; for three years was their biograph- ical historian, and became their general field manager. He was engaged in the business of publishing county histories in his own behalf, which he pursued successfully until 1878, when he came to Terre Haute, which has since been his residence, and took charge of the flourishing institution of which he is now the head. He has for several years been connected with business enterprises outside of the college, which have been successful, and he is known as a well-to-do enterprising business man-the right man in the right place, at the head of an institution that does credit to the State.

JAMES JOHNSON, superintendent for the Coal Bluff Mining Company, Fontanet, was born in Manchester, England, October 26, 1849, and is a son of John and Jane Ann (Dunkerley) Johnson, also natives of Manchester, England, the father having been foreman of

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a cotton-mill in that country. His family consisted of six children, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest son. He was reared in England, where he attended school at Manchester, and at the tender age of eleven years was put work in the coal mines. In 1870 he came to this country, and after remaining in New York a short time, he went to Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines until 1873, when he came to Ohio, remaining one year. He then went West and bought a farm, which, however, he disposed of, and, coming to Illinois, worked in the coal mines. He then re- turned to his native land, and after remaining there nine months, visiting his old home and the friends of his childhood, he once more came to the New World and to Illinois, locating in Litchfield, Mont- gomery county. He first came to Vigo county in 1881, then went to look after the Black Coal Mines in Carbon, Clay Co., Ind., where he remained three years, when he returned to Vigo county. He served as foreman in the mines here, having charge of from 25 to 300 men, and in 1887 he accepted his present position. Mr. John- son is thoroughly qualified for the business, having spent the most of his life in coal mining, and is perfectly familiar with all its many operations. He was married in Medina county, Ohio, to Miss Har- riet, daughter of George Clayton, her parents being natives of England, and the children born of this union are William D., James J., Minnie, Charles and Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

JOHN B. JOHNSON, merchant, of the firm of Shickel & John- son, at Sandford, was born December 11, 1841, in Terre Haute, Ind., and is the son of Calvin and Mary (Bond) Johnson, former, who was a carpenter, born in North Carolina in 1810, of Scotch- Irish origin; latter was born in New York, in 1815, of English descent, and still survives. She came to Fort Harrison in 1816, and settled in Vigo in 1836. John B. is the only son in a family of three children, and was reared in Terre Haute, receiving his ed- ucation in the common schools in Edgar county, Ill., and in Terre Haute. He farmed for a time, but at the age of nineteen enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Company A, and served three years. He is a member of Charles Cruft Post, G. A. R., No. 86, at Sandford, and served one term as vice-commander. He followed farming until 1879, when he engaged in his present business, and is the owner of a farm of 130 acres of land. Mr. Johnson was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of David P. Fuqua, and of Irish and French descent. They have one child, C. C. Johnson, who is now telegraph operator at Pana, Ill. In politics Mr. Johnson is a stanch Republican.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

W. D. JOHNSON, farmer and stock-grower, Otter Creek town- ship, P. O. Atherton, was born April 5, 1830, in La Fayette, Tippeca- noe Co., Ind., of Scotch-Irish descent, and is a son of William H. and Jane S. Johnson, natives of Ohio. They came to this county in 1824, locating in Terre Haute, and subsequently moved to Otter Creek township, being among the pioneer settlers. The father, who was a farmer and stock-grower, was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1800, and died in Otter Creek township in 1867. Our subject, who is the second in a family of six children, was reared on the farm, attending the common schools in Otter Creek township, and chose farming as his life's work. For two years he was engaged in mer- cantile trade in Kankakee, Ill., since which time he has devoted his time entirely to farming, meeting with marked success. His farm consists of 185 acres of well-improved land, which is well stocked, most of it being under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Johnson was married January 20, 1859, to Miss Abagail C., daughter of Jonathan Rogers, and of German and English descent, and their union has been blessed with four children, as follows: Clara B .; George S., who is a merchant; William H. and Harvey D. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and has been school director a number of years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has made many friends, being a liberal, highminded, honorable man.

ARTHUR THEODORE JONES, Prairieton township, P. O. Prairieton. This gentleman is an energetic farmer and a native of this county, born September 6, 1854. His parents were Edward and Eliza ( Wheatley) Jones, the former of whom was born in this county in 1832, and died in 1868, in same county. John Jones, father of Edward Jones, was born in Kentucky and came to this county in an early day, where he died. His trade was that of a blacksmith, but the latter part of his life was devoted mostly to farming. His son, Edward, who was a farmer and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was married in Vigo county to Eliza Wheatley, who was born in Ohio, and is now living in this county. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley, who moved from Ohio to this county in an early day. Arthur T., who is the eldest in a family of four children-two boys and two girls- received a fair education in the common schools, but was deprived of attending the high school on account of the early death of his father. In August, 1874, he led to the altar Miss Emily Melissa Wright, an accomplished young lady, who was born in this county in 1851. Her father was Richard Frost Wright, a native of. Lon- don, England, born in the parish of St. Stephen, October 8, 1804; he came to this county in an early day, and died here. Mr.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Wright's first wife was Rachel Paddock, a native of Ohio, born September 5, 1812, and after her death he married Lucinda Lan- caster, who was born April 25, 1807, in Indiana, and she became the mother of Mrs. Arthur T. Jones. She (Lucinda) was first married to Mr. James Sanders in 1829, and to Mr. Wright in 1850, and by Mr. Sanders she had seven children; by Mr. Wright, one, Emily Melissa. Mr. Wright had eleven children by his first wife. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur T. Jones have two children: Nellie May and Belva Martha. Mr. Jones has resided where he now lives since 1874, the farm comprising eighty-five acres of well cultivated land, and he also owns twenty acres in another tract. In April, 1886, he was elected township trustee by the Democratic party, and was re-elected in 1888. He made a trusted and efficient officer, giving general satisfaction to both parties. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and F. M. B. A .; in politics he cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden.

AQUILLAR JONES, farmer and stock-grower, Lost Creek township, P. O. Seelyville, was born in Surry county, N. C., March 15, 1822, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Johnson) Jones, former of Welsh descent and latter of English and German. The father, who was a farmer, came from North Carolina to Greene county, Ind., in 1831. Aquillar, who is next youngest in a family of fifteen children, was reared on the farm in Greene county, attending the common schools, and chose farming for his

life vocation. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California to seek his fortune in the land of gold. He drove an ox-team thither, where he engaged in mining three years, when he returned to Indiana, and for a time was a teamster in Terre Haute. He is self made, and has worked his own way since he was sixteen years of age. In 1873 he bought a farm, and since then has devoted his entire time to agriculture, being the owner of the farm where he .now resides in Lost Creek township. He has been twice married, first time, in 1842, to Miss Mary Beauchamp, by which union there are two children: John B., who is among the prominent farmers of Vigo county; and Samuel, who is also a farmer. Mr. Jones' second wife's maiden name was Doretha Sanders, and their children are W. W., Louise Belle (wife of Oscar Bliss), Moody, Clem and Sarah Minnie. Mrs. Jones was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church; Mr. Jones is a member of the Christian Church; in politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Jones died January 20, 1877, in the thirty-sixth year of her age.

JOHN B. JONES, a prominent farmer and stock-grower, Lost Creek township, P. O. Seelyville, was born in Greene county, Ind., near the town of Jonesboro, March 6, 1856, and is a son of Aquillar

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and Mary (Beauchamp) Jones, natives of North Carolina, and who came of Welsh ancestry. The father is a farmer and stock- grower in Lost Creek township, this county, on the old homestead where he has resided for many years. John B., who is the eldest of nine children, grew to manhood on the farm, receiving a fair English education in the common schools of the neighborhood, and at a young age learned the vocation of a farmer. He owns a farm of seventy-two acres, and also rents adjoining land, managing in all 470 acres. He has met with very fair success in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Jones was married May 11, 1875, to Phebe Ann, daughter of Jerome Hulse. Her grandfather, Peter Hulse, was a farmer who came to Terre Haute in 1832. The family were of German descent. The two grandfathers, Robert Jones and John Beauchamp, came to Greene county, Ind., in 1821, and they were also tillers of the soil. The union of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Jones has been blessed with four children: Phebe A., Helena, Jerome Aquilla and Cora Lee. Mr. Jones, politically, is identified with the Republicans; he is a member of the I. O. O. F.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 83

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032