History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 96

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

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

HON. PHILIP SCHLOSS (deceased). At the time of his death, which occurred in 1888, Mr. Schloss was a prominent dealer in and manufacturer of clothing in Terre Haute. He established the house which is now the firm of Thorman & Schloss, and ad- vanced its extended business affairs. Mr. Thorman and Philip Schloss were brothers-in-law. Harry T. Schloss, the eldest son of Philip Schloss, is a native of Terre Haute, and is a graduate of the city high school, of the class of 1887. Harry, in his father's life- time, was more his companion than sons usually are. The subject of this sketch was born at Rineck, Bavaria, May 2, 1836, and was the third in the family of six children of Hertz Schloss, a merchant. Very early in life he commenced to attend school, and by the time he was thirteen years old he had mastered his lessons to such a re- markable degree as to excite not only parental pride, but that of teachers and friends generally. On quitting school he came to America and settled in Maryland, at which time his English vocab- ulary extended no further than " yes" and " no." He went to school, and within a few months was able to read and write English fairly well. He then went to Philadelphia, and clerked until he came to Terre Haute, in 1854, when he became employed as a salesman in a store, being then nearly twenty-one years of age, and he was engaged as a salesman when the war broke out in 1861. He was now educated in both his mother tongue and that of his adopted country, and was kept well posted on the current news of the day. Having determined at once to go to war, and help to defend the flag of his adopted country, he joined, in 1861, the Fort Harrison Guards, re-enlisting in 1863 for thirty days, and when his time had expired again re- enlisted, serving until the close of the war.

Mr. Schloss did not close his business when he became a soldier, but through employes kept it on foot. He was in active business here about a quarter of a century, and succeeded in establishing one of the leading houses of Terre Haute. In 1874 he was elected a member of the city council on the Democratic ticket, but he es- chewed politics and office, preferring to give his exclusive attention to his private affairs, yet he was prevailed on by numerous friends, and in 1882 he was elected to the State legislature, and so ably did he discharge the duties of the position that he was elected in 1884 State senator from Vigo county. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, had taken the thirty-second degree, and was serving as high priest at the time of his death. He was past grand president of the I. O. B. B. Mr. Schloss was married at Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 1867, to Miss Laura, daughter of Simpson Thorman, of Cleveland, and born in that city, her parents being natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Schloss had four children, as follows:

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Harry T., engaged in mercantile trade in Terre Haute; Lillie, Fannie and Sidney, the three last named being residents of Cleve- land, Ohio. Mr. Schloss will long be remembered as one of Terre Haute's intelligent, prominent and liberal-minded citizens. He was a man of great personal popularity, and his coming here was a val- uable acquisition to the city.

FRED W. SCHMIDT, one of the young and enterprising business men of Terre Haute, is extensively engaged in the grocery business, and at the present time he is the owner of two stores, in which he is doing a prosperous business. He was born in Ger- many, February 27, 1863, and is a son of G. F. and Maria ( Betten- brock ) Schmidt. The parents emigrated from Germany in 1864, and in 1865 came to Terre Haute, where they permanently located. Fred W., who is the first in a family of five children, attended the public schools in Terre Haute, and for some time a private school. He commenced the labors of life as a clerk in the store of H. Hulman; in 1885 he embarked in business on his own account, which he has pushed with remarkable success. He is a self-made business man, and has earned all his prosperity. Mr. Schmidt was married in Terre Haute, October 26, 1887, to Miss Emma, daughter of Mr. Dahlen, and born in Effingham, Ill., of German descent. They have two children, as follows: Maria and Fredrick H. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are members of the German Reformed Church and of the Sabbath-school.

LEONARD D. SCOTT, farmer and grain merchant, Fayette township, P. O. New Goshen, was born in Vermillion county, Ind., June 12, 1853, a son of M. W. and Mary ( Mann) Scott, former a native of Indiana, latter of Ohio, and they were of English descent. The father made farming his business, and is now living a retired life at Clinton, Vermillion Co., Ind. Leonard D. is the third in a family of eight children, and was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education in Vermillion county, Ind. He chose farming and stock-growing as his life occupation, is now the owner of 388 acres of land, and has dealt largely in stock. He came to Vigo county in 1880, and in 1888 embarked in the grain business in Terre Haute, in company with Marcus Dyer. Mr. Scott has been successful in business. In 1877 he was married to Effie L., daughter of Feilden Shepherd, and of English descent, which union has been blessed with three children, viz .: Clyde L., Mary E. and Doyne. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Scott was elected township trustee in 1881, and served two terms. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and he is a genial and pleasant gentleman.

JOSIAH T. SCOVELL, M. D., Terre Haute, was born in Eaton county, Mich., July 29, 1841, and is a son of Stephen D.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

and Carolina (Parker) Scovell, of English and German origin, for- mer a native of Vermont and a farmer, latter a native of Con- necticut. The father died in Michigan in 1852. They reared a family of four children, our subject being the eldest. He was raised on a farm, and attended the district schools for a time; then entered Oberlin College, Ohio, where he graduated in the regular classical course, in 1866. He had commenced the study of medicine before finishing his college course, and after completing his college studies, he studied one year in the medical college at Ann Arbor, Mich. He then entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he graduated in 1869. He went west, and practiced two years in Colorado, and then returned to Michigan. The Doctor had in the meantime de- voted considerable attention to scientific subjects, and soon after his return to Michigan was offered a position in the State Normal School of Indiana, Terre Haute. This he accepted, and has since made this city his home. He filled the chair of professor of nat- ural science nine years in this institution. Thus his time was fully employed teaching others, and at the same time advancing himself until he is now recognized as authority on many subjects of sci- entific interest. He resigned his professorship in 1881, and since then has engaged in the business of abstractor of titles. Dr. Scovell was united in marriage December 25, 1876, with Miss Johannah Jameson, a lady of Scotch descent, and their children are Zayda and Robert C. Dr. and Mrs. Scovell are members of the Presbyterian Church, In politics he affiliates with the Re- publicans. He volunteered in 1865, in the One Hundred and Fif- tieth Ohio Vol. Infantry, Company K, and served until the close of the war.

JAMES SEATH, president of the Terre Haute Car & Manu- facturing Company. The philosophy of history teaches us that the real benefactors of the race are largely those who have made two blades of grass grow where but one grew before. This class of men is generally of the quiet, unobtrusive kind, often shrinking from public notoriety. The subject of this brief sketch is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, born August 1, 1827, a son of James and Ann (Ross) Seath, The parents were natives of the same place, and of their household of thirteen children James is the third in the order of birth. In 1833 the family emigrated to America, and located in Albany, N. Y., where the son was just of the age to com- mence attendance in the common school. Here he reached his legal majority, receiving a fair English education, during which time he learned the machinist's trade. In the year 1848 he went to New York City, and commenced work in the shops of the Hudson River Railroad, Walter McQueen, master mechanic. After two years in

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

the shops he took a position as engineer on this road, holding this place until he accepted the position offered him of master mechanic on the Hudson & Berkshire Railroad, which he filled until 1858, when he resigned. From thence he went to Bloomington, Ill., and was employed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad, as machinist and engineer, and shortly afterward was appointed to the position of master mechanic in the railroad shops at Litchfield, Ill., on the Terre Haute & Alton road. A change in the administration of this road caused him to resign, and he returned to his former employ at Bloomington. From thence he went to St. Charles, Mo., as engi- neer, and was soon given the position of foreman, later on that of master mechanic of the Northi Missouri Railroad. An interesting event in his history presents itself here. A day or two after the firing of Fort Sumter Mr. Seath received his appointment as mas- ter mechanic for this road, a position he held for about fifteen months, and during these times of strife and disloyalty he can justly be proud of the fact that he proved a faithful son to the fos- ter mother country, and stood true to his convictions of right, he being the only officer of the road who was in sympathy with the government. In his position lie had fair opportunities of proving his loyalty in many acts of kindness shown the United States troops, in the way of transportation, etc., giving instructions and aid to the officers of the different regiments, as to the movement of trains. While at St. Charles, Mr. Seath was offered and accepted his former position on the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, at Litch- field, where he remained until 1867, when he resigned and moved to Terre Haute, to make his permanent home. His extensive ex- perience in the management of the mechanical department of rail- roads, as well as in operating locomotive engines, had well quali- fied him to engage in the manufacture of railroad machinery of all kinds. He at once founded the shops that have grown in a few years to be the extensive Car Manufactory of which he is the lead. The original firm was Seath, Smith & Co., and it was located in the old Holmes building. After six monthis the firm was changed to Seath & Hager, and in a small way was commenced the manufacture of freight cars for the Vandalia Railroad. The vastness of the plant to-day is evidence of its rapid growth; a growth that may be considered phenomenal, when we remember that the company, when young and yet struggling for prominence, encountered the years of panic in railroad enterprises that came in 1873 and lasted until 1878. The company was changed to a joint-stock concern in 1875. From the first hour until the present time Mr. Seath lias been one of the master and moving spirits. His knowledge of railroad me- chanics, and his familiarity, from experience, with the wants of rail-

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

road service had admirably equipped him for the high and respon- sible position he occupies.

Mr. Seath was united in matrimony at Bethlehem, N. Y., in the fall of 1852, with Christina Kilner, a daughter of John G. and Catherine (Herron) Kilner, natives of New York, she being the eldest in a family of six children. To Mr. and Mrs. Seath have been born four children, as follows: Mary D. (deceased), who was married to C. E. Blood; Jessie, (deceased) ; Jessie, Mrs. C. Conant, of Terre Haute; and James R., who is engaged in manufacturing. Mr. Seath in politics is in accord with the Republican party. In religious belief he is in sympathy with the Universalist faith.

CHARLES SEITZ, manager for the Schmidt Brewing Com- pany, of Indianapolis. Mr. Seitz, who has the general superin- tendency of their business at Terre Haute, was born in that city on June 27, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Jacobs) Seitz, natives of Germany, who, in 1839, came from there to the United States. They arrived in Terre Haute in 1840, and here the father spent the remaining portion of his life, dying in 1888. The family consisted of nine children, of whom Charles is the third in order of birth. He was reared in Terre Haute, and attended the public schools, also a private one, and afterward the Commercial College. He began life for himself as an engineer, running a sta- tionary engine for several years, and since 1875 he has been en- gaged in his present business. Mr. Seitz was married at Paducah, Ky., to Miss Amelia, daughter of Jacob Bleich, and born in New- ark, N. J., of German descent, and raised in Kentucky. They have five children: Jacob, Mary, Charles, Frank and Emma. Mr. Seitz is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics he is a Republican.

FREDRICK W. SHALEY, Jr., physician and surgeon, Terre Hatte, office No. 928 Chestnut street, residence No. 458 North Ninth street, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., September 13, 1858, and is a son of Fredrick W. and Matilda ( Criss) Shaley, former a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, and latter of Ohio. The father, who was a pio- neer settler of Owen county, Ind., came to Terre Haute in 1853, and was one of the leading grocers of the city. Dr. Shaley is the eldest in a family of four children that grew to maturity. He was united in marriage February 24, 1886, with Julia Brewer, a daughter of N. L. and Harriet ( Chidister) Brewer, former a native of Maryland, latter of New York, and both of German-English descent. 'Mrs. Shaley is the eldest in a family of four children, and was born in Tiffin, Ohio, April 10, 1862. Dr. and Mrs. Shaley had born to them two children, viz .: One that died in infancy and Irene. The Doctor was reared in Terre Haute, receiving his early education in the city schools, and attending the Mission House College (Ger-

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

man), at Franklin, Wis., three years, graduating in 1876. He entered Heidelberg University, at Tiffin, Ohio, in 1877, and graduated in 1881; then began the study of medicine under Dr. Armstrong. In 1882 he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he graduated in the spring of 1884, and began the practice of medicine in Terre Haute, where he has built up a good practice. Dr. and Mrs. Shaley are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 19, Terre Haute, and is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, No. 1044, also of the National Union. He is president of the board of health ; has served as township physician one year; is a member of the Vigo County Medical Society, of which he was secretary, three years, and is now serving his second year as treasurer'; is also a member of the Esculapian, Indiana State, and American Medical Associations. He is surgeon on the surgical staff of St. Anthony's Hospital ; in politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES A. SHARP, chairman of the Republican committee, of Pierson township, P. O. Farmersburgh, Sullivan county, is a rising young farmer, who was born in Sullivan county, Ind., July 29, 1861, a son of David and Mary A. (Stewart) Sharp. David Sharp, who was born in the north of England in 1831, when a young man came to the United States, and has followed mining most of the time for several years in different western States. Afterward he located at Evansville, Ind., where he married, and then removed to Sullivan county, where he engaged in mining and farming, and has been very successful, having accumulated considerable property. His wife was born in Scotland, and when a child her parents im- migrated to America, locating in Evansville, where she was mar- ried to Mr. Sharp. They are members of the New Light Church; he is a member of the F. M. B. A., and, politically, is a Republican. They are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now liv- ing. James A., who is the eldest child, was educated in the com- mon schools, commencing work, when quite a young boy, in the coal shaft with his father, and coal mining has been his principal occupation up to the present time. For the past six years he and his brother, David W., have been operating a coal shaft, supplying the surrounding country with coal. In 1882 he purchased the farm he now owns, which he has been carrying on in connection with mining. September 5, 1882, Mr. Sharp married Miss Mary B., daughter of John and Caroline Carpenter, and born in Sulli- van county, Ind., in 1865. By this union there are three children: Ada, Carrie and Viola. Mr. Sharp is a member of the F. M. B. A .; in politics he is a Republican, and in 1889 he was elected chairman of the Republican committee of Pierson township.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

GEORGE H. SHAW, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Riley township, Vigo Co., Ind., February 1, 1844, and is a son of Hamilton and Maria (Price) Shaw. The mother was born in Indiana, the father in Pennsylvania, and they were of German and Irish origin. The father, who was a farmer during his life, was an early settler of Pierson township, this county, and died in 1879. His family con- sisted of ten children, seven of whom are living, and two of these were children of his first wife. George H., who is next to the youngest by the second wife, was reared on the farm in this county, attending the district school, and has made farming his business, being now the owner of a well-improved farm, where he has lived since 1864. He has been twice married, first time, in 1866, to Hannah Pucket, who died in 1875. He was again married in 1875 to Nancy B., daughter of John and Elsie J. (Lemmons) Vice. She is of Irish descent. They have six children: Arletha, Elsie J., Myrtle, Henry, Pearley and John. They are members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. Our subject has made his own way in the world.

EDGAR M. SHEPHERD, farmer and coal mine owner, P. O. New Goshen, was born September 16, 1842, on the farm he now owns and where he resides, in Fayette township, Vigo Co., Ind., a son of James W. and Catherine A. (Clapp) Shepherd, former a native of Kentucky, latter of Ohio, and who were of Scotch-Irish and English origin. They were early settlers of Vigo county, and ranked among the best citizens. In early life the father was a cab- inet-maker, but spent most of his life as a farmer, and he was among the early settlers of Fayette township, where he succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune. He was an industrious, en- ergetic man, and helped to build the first frame house in Terre Haute. For a time his mother was in Fort Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Shepherd reared a family of eight children-six sons and two daughters-of whom Edgar M. is fifth in order of birth. He was reared on the farm, attending the district school, and has made farming his business. He opened a coal mine ou his farm in 1881, which has since been a source of revenue to him. In 1867 he was married, in Vigo county, to Miss Mary, daughter of Zelotus and Jemima ( Armstrong) Hovey, who were of German and English descent. The children born to this union are: W. R., Katie A. and Eunia V. Mr. Shepherd enlisted August 13, 1862, in Company K, Thirty-first Ind. V. I. ; he is a member of the G. A. R. and the I. O. O. F., and is past grand master of the subordinate lodge; in politics he is a Republican.

J. N. SHEPHERD, ex-county treasurer, Terre Haute, is a na- tive of Fayette township, Vigo Co., Ind., and was born November

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

10, 1838, a son of James Washington and Catharine ( Clapp) Shep- herd, former of whom was a native of Kentucky, and latter of Ohio; they were pioneer settlers of this county. Mrs. Shepherd came here about the year 1813, and was in Fort Harrison; James W. Shepherd came to this county about the year 1817. He helped to build the first frame house put up in Terre Haute, being a carpen- ter by trade, but later in life he turned his attention to farming. He died in 1876, in his sixty-seventh year; Mrs. Shepherd died in 1882, in her seventy-first year. They had a family of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, of whom our subject is the fifth. He was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education, and at the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself. Au- gust 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first Ind. V. I .; was wounded February 15, 1862, at Fort Donelson, was sent to hospital, and was discharged on account of the wound received, De- cember 31, 1862. Returning home, he farmed until 1864, when he was elected treasurer of Vigo county, being re-elected in 1866. At the expiration of his second term he turned his attention to the stock business, in which he dealt about ten years, and then engaged in dairying and gardening until March, 1888, when he purchased the livery stable where he is located at the present time. Mr. Shepherd was married in this county, February 19, 1863, to Miss Arminda O., daughter of Henry and Margaret (Shuey) Rhyan, natives of Vir- ginia, who came to this county about 1835. Mr. Rhyan was a coop- er by trade, and also followed farming. Mrs. Shepherd is the sixth in a family of eight children, who grew to maturity, and was born in this county May 28, 1844. Our subject and wife had born to them nine children, viz .: Clara E., wife of Rev. J. W. Connett; Maggie K., wife of Nelson B. Borden; Rolla H .; William J. ; Orilla (deceased) ; Della, Myrtle, Floy and Nellie E. Mr. and Mrs. Shep- herd are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a mem- ber of Morton Post, No. 1, G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

JESSE SHERIDAN, farmer and stock-grower, Honey Creek township, P. O. Terre Haute, was born in Jefferson county, Ky., March 30, 1831, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Goodman) Sheridan, who were of Irish and English descent, the father born in Pennsylvania, and the mother in Jefferson county, Ky. The father, who was a farmer all his life, died in 1834 in Kentucky. His family consisted of twelve children, our subject being the eleventh; seven of the children grew to maturity, and four are still living. Jesse is the only one of the family now living in Vigo county, where he has resided since 1868, and he came to Honey Creek township in 1881. In 1862 he enlisted in Kentucky, Com- pany B, Eighth Cavalry ; was a non-commissioned officer, and served

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liis term of enlistment. He is a member of Toppin Post No. 158, and in politics he is a Republican. Mr. Sheridan was married, in 1854, to Margaret, daughter of James and Margaret Davis, who were of English descent. Of their nine children all are living and prosperous. Mrs. Sheridan is a member of the Christian Church.

ABRAHAM SHEWMAKER, baggage master, Union Depot, Terre Haute, is a native of Vermillion county, Ind., born Angust 11, 1842, a son of Samuel M. and Susan (Hollingsworth ) Shew- maker, former a native of Kentucky, and latter of Wayne county, Ind., near Richmond. Samuel M. Shewmaker was an early settler of the State, and came to Terre Haute in 1858. In the early part of his life he followed farming, and after coming here was engaged in mercantile and commission business. He died here in the fall of 1863, in his forty-sixth year; his widow is still living. Abraham, who is the second in a family of four children, was reared in Ver- million county until he was sixteen years old, when he came to Terre Haute with his parents. He attended the common schools in Vermillion county, and the city schools of Terre Haute, also the Commercial College here. July 6, 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Ind. V. I., and some of the important engagements in which he participated were the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Port Gibson and Halltown, Va. He was taken prisoner at Vermillionville, La., November 2, 1863, was exchanged January 1, 1864, and was mustered out at Harper's Ferry, August 31, 1864. He returned to this county, and engaged in farming near the city three years; then moved to Indianapolis, and followed farming near that city about four years. He then returned to Terre Haute, and accepted the position of baggage master at the Union Depot May 20, 1873, which position he still lıolds.

Mr. Shewmaker was married in Terre Haute, Ind., September 10, 1866, to Miss Anna R., daughter of Alfred Luce, who died at Corinth, while in the service during the Civil war, her mother's maiden name being Eliza J. Moore. The father was a native of New York, and the mother of Ohio. Mrs. Shewmaker is the fourth in a family of ten children, and was born in Vermilion county, Ill., November 22, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Shewmaker have three children : Frank, Adah and William. Mr. Shewmaker is a member of Morton Post No. 1, G. A. R., also of the K. of P., Occidental Lodge No. 18, and has passed the chairs; he represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis; he is a member of the Uniform Rank. Politically he is a Republican.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 96

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