USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
dren have found a suitable home with Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher. They are: Edward T., Bernard G., Ida M., Helen and Claudine.
WHITNEY & LUCKENBILL.
The above named firm of funeral di- rectors entered into business at Columbia City in November, 1904, as successors to Maine & Whitney, Mr. Luckenbill buying the former's interest. They occupy com- modious quarters in the Adair building and keep a full supply of everything appropriate to this line of business. Rev. Lewis A. Luckenbill, the junior member, was born in Miami county, Indiana, May 30, 1867. His father was a native of the Keystone state and served nearly four years during the civil war as a member of the Ninety-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after the close of hostilities, he re- moved to Miami county and located at Den- ver. Lewis A. spent his boyhood on the farm and when of age began teaching in the common schools, which occupation he followed for eight years. When thirty years old he came to Columbia City, to take charge of the Oak Grove and Evergreen congre- gations of the Church of God. For two years he served the Blue River circuit be- sides the two above mentioned. He is now serving his second term as pastor of the home Church of God, in connection with Oak Grove and Evergreen. They have prospered under his care and have a fine membership. The local church is out of debt, was recently re-decorated and now enjoys the luxury of electric lights and other
455
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
improvements. Mr. Luckenbill is quite ac- of E. G. Whitney, a teacher at the Fort tive and influential in connection with the Edward Institute. He spent his boyhood on a farm in Franklin county until his fa- ther's death, and then attended school at the Franklin Academy. At the age of nineteen he began to teach and spent four years in this occupation, two in New York and two in Vermont. being subsequently engaged for twelve years as a contractor and builder. In 1894. he entered into the undertaking business, preparing himself with a course in embalming. He was for two years at No- blesville. Indiana, and in 1902, came to Columbia City. He was in partnership with J. M. Maine until 1904, when the retirement of the latter brought about the firm of Whitney & Lukenbill. Mr. Whitney was married in 1886 to Miss Grace H. Barnard, who died ten years later. aged twenty- eight. By this union there were four daugh- ters, Ethel E., a teacher, in Whitley county, Mary E., a pupil in high school, Grace A., and Gladys. In December. 1896. Mr. Whit- ney married Miss Bertha A. Hudson.
general business features of his church or- ganization. What is known as the general eldership consists of about one hundred and forty members elected as delegates from each of the subordinate elderships and it meets every four years. The general elder- ship elects an executive board of five mem- bers, which meets each year for a week at the commencement of the college of the church. at Findlay, Ohio. This board has charge of all business of the general eldership and is of great importance in the affairs of this religious organization. Mr. Luckenbill was twice elected as a delegate to the general eldership and in June, 1905, was chosen as a member of the executive board, and was made secretary by that body. He has also for eight years been financial secretary of the eldership composed of Indiana and part of Michigan. The executive board is in control of the editorial staff of the church paper published at Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, and in fact has supervision of all the church work. Mr. Luckenbill is secretary and treasurer of the Inter-state Assembly of the Church of God and it is hardly necessary to add that he is one of the busiest men in Columbia City, as well as one of the most useful.
August 18, 1889, Mr. Luckenbill was married to Miss Laura Alspach, of Miami county, and they have had five children. Charles G .. Ulysses S., Jennie Lind, Lewis A., who died when two years old, and Argel Rudyard.
Charles G. Whitney, the senior member of the firm, was born in Washington coun- ty, New York, July 28, 1861, being a son
OTIS W. STAIR.
The railroad agent at an important ship- ping point is a man of many responsibilities. as well as a target for criticism and it takes both tact and judgment to gain and retain the good will of those interested. . Few men have better filled this role and achieved those results than the present agent of the Van- dalia at Columbia City. Taking charge of the station at South Whitley in 1896, and coming to the county seat in 1902, he has achieved an excellent standing with his com-
456
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
pany and the people. The Stair family in Indiana came from Virginia and settled in Tippecanoe county, where the father entered and occupied a farm near Lafayette. To this pioneer was born a son named Charles W. Stair, who after reaching manhood, mar- ried Savanna Frances Reed, also a native of Tippecanoe county. He passed his whole life on this farm up to the time of his death in 1879, and his widow still resides on the old place. Otis, son of Charles W. Stair. was born on this farm in Tippecanoe county. August 10, 1872. At the age of seventeen he entered a business college at Lafayette and after graduating, attended the school at St. Louis conducted by the Wabash Rail- road. In 1891 he began what has proved to be fifteen years of continuous railroad work, as night operator at Fairmount. Illi- nois, and after working for short periods at various places, he took a position at Newton, Indiana. Later he was in the office of the superintendent of the Wabash at Detroit, and in the despatcher's office at Peru. In 1893-4 he took a course in civil engineering at Purdue University, but was soon in the railway harness again as agent at South Whitley. He came to Columbia City, No- vember 7, 1902, being placed in charge of the station. In 1904, the depot was re- modeled, and now Mr. Stair has three as- sistants. He has a clean and creditable rec- ord, and stands well with the company, be- cause he procures business, and with the people, because he accommodates them in every possible way. During the great de- mand for cars in which to ship the immense onion crop of 1906, Mr. Stair managed it so that his supply of cars never failed, thus affording greater satisfaction to shippers.
Mr. Stair owns his home in Columbia City, and a part of the old homestead near Lafay- ette. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen.
In 1894, Mr. Stair was married to Miss Minnie Maud Baer, of Buck Creek, Indiana, and they have five children, Lucille, Otis W., Carlyle, Nina Bell and George Kenneth.
GIDEON WRIGHT WILCOX.
May 6, 1831, Gideon Wright Wilcox, now deceased, son of Gideon and Amanda Wilcox, was born at Worthington, Franklin county, Ohio. At eighteen he made the overland trip to California. May 29, 1861, he married Nettie Black and came to Whit- ley county, where some years before her parents had settled. His wife's untimely death, August 13, 1862, temporarily inter- rupted his plans. March 6, 1866, he was married at Columbus, Ohio, to Mary Aston, a native of that city, whose father, William Aston, was brought from Ireland in infancy and became a soap and candle-maker. Mr. Wilcox then brought his wife to the house he had previously built but had not as yet occupied. During the civil war he and his brother-in-law, David Weaver, worked for . a time as blacksmiths for the government at Little Rock, Arkansas, having put substi- tutes in the field to exempt them from mili- tary service. His life was unostentatious and devoted to the cultivation of his farm. He voted the Republican ticket though not active in politics. His only lodge connec- tion was with the Odd Fellows. He died
457
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
July 12, 1891, in the sixty-first year of his age. But two of three children lived to ma- turity. Clinton is the county treasurer of Whitley county, and Lucy is a stenographer in the office of Gates & Whiteleather, attor- nevs, at Columbia City.
In 1893, Mrs. Wilcox came to Columbia City for a permanent home and resides in a pleasant dwelling on North Chauncey street, where she enjoys the company of old friends. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JACOB A. RUCH.
Jacob A. Ruch, retired business man of Columbia City, and one of the community's well known and greatly esteemed citizens, was born March 2, 1851, in Smith township, Whitley county, being one of the thirteen children that constituted the family of Charles and Sarah A. (Fertig) Ruch. His paternal grandparents, Jacob and Hannah Ruch, were natives of Pennsylvania, and it was in Northumberland county, in which his father was born, November 1, 1808, and reared. In 1838, Charles Ruch married Sarah Ann Fertig, born July 7, 1819, and in 1845, moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he worked at his trade as cabinetmak- er until 1849, when he came to Whitley county, settling in Smith township. Six years later he moved to Columbia City, where he followed painting in connection with the livery business, and later became a merchant. Charles Ruch was a public- ·spirited man and a leader in the local De- mocracy, serving as postmaster of Columbia 'City, during the administration of Pierce.
He died April 8, 1895: his wife died Feb- ruary 8, 1902. Of the large family that gathered once beneath his roof, six only are living.
Jacob Ruch was three years old when brought to Columbia City, and he assisted his father as soon as his services could be utilized and at intervals attended the pub- lic schools. He soon became a painter, in connection with which he helped in the liv- ery, devoting his attention to these lines until the organization of the city fire department, when he was placed in charge of the same, as well as the construction of water-works and all other city utilities. Mr. Ruch con- tinued at the head of the department at in- tervals for ten or twelve years, proving a faithful and efficient fireman. He became deputy county treasurer under Joshua P. Chamberlain, upon whose death, while in office, he was appointed by the board of com- missioners to fill out the unexpired term. When John Gross was elected custodian of the county funds, Mr. Ruch was again made deputy and continued as such until the expi- ration of that term, serving eight years in all and gaining the confidence of the public. Mr. Ruch was then, in 1892, the Democratic nominee for county treasurer, but with the rest of the candidates, suffered defeat in the general Republican landslide of that year. Mr. Ruch organized the Whitley County Telephone Company, in which he was as- sociated with Messrs. Peabody, Pontius. Adams and Magley, the construction of the line falling to him. On the completion of the enterprise he took a contract to operate the same, and fitting up an office in his own business block, he continued in full control for six years, during which time he also superintended the extension of the line and
458
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
brought it to a high state of efficiency, mak- ing it meet the expectation of the promoters and the public and fully answer the purpose for which intended.
In 1892 he resigned his position and, disposing of his interest in the company, retired from business, being induced to take the step on account of failing health. Oc- tober 26, 1875, Mr. Ruch was united in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Edith A. Rhodes, daughter of John and Ann (Whitney) Rhodes, natives of Maryland and Ohio re- spectively. As already stated, Mr. Ruch has been an active politician and for many years a leader and influential adviser of the local Democracy, besides taking a prominent part in a number of state and national cam- paigns. The Presbyterian church repre- sents his religious creed, he having long been a valued member of the home congre- gation, and a liberal contributor to the sup- port of the gospel at home and elsewhere. His wife also belongs to the same church and like himself is deeply interested in its success and progress. Mr. Ruch is an en- thusiastic Mason, and as a Knight Templar has attended among others the triennial conclaves in California, Denver and Louis- ville. He and his wife have traveled exten- sively throughout the United States, visiting all the leading points of interest, east, west, north and south, thus becoming familiar with the magnitude of their country and the greatness of its people and institutions.
John Rhodes, Mrs. Ruch's father, was born at Hagerstown, Maryland, November 9, 1814, his father having been a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a millwright by trade and in 1841 moved to Columbia City, and purchasing a lot at the corner of Chaun-
cey and Van Buren streets, started a gen- eral store. He was an active and prosper- ous business man and did much to promote. the material growth of the city, erecting a number of buildings, among which is the large Rhodes' brick block, containing three- store rooms on the ground floor with several apartments above, which was put up in the. year 1890. This property is in the central part of the city and is one of the most valuable pieces of realty within the corpor- ation. Mr. Rhodes will long be remem- bered as one of the leading men of his day and generation in Columbia City, having been liberal in the expenditure of his means. to advance the interest of the municipality and public-spirited to the extent of assist- ing all enterprises for the general welfare of his fellow citizens. He died March II, 1904. Of the four children of John and Ann Rhodes, but one, Mrs. Ruch, survives. Two daughters, Sarah E. and Alpharitta, died young, and a son, Francis, who died March 25, 1898, aged fifty-six. Mrs. Rhodes, whose maiden name was Ann Whit- ney, was born February 29, 1812, died No- vember 22, 1874. She is well remembered as the landlady of the Rhodes' Hotel, and her reputation as such made her house one of the most popular stopping places in north- ern Indiana.
JOHN T. CLAPHAM.
William and Lydia ( Reish) Clapham, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Colum- bia City in 1885. He had been foreman, superintendent and owner of woolen mills,
459
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
and when he came to Whitley county be- nature of the climate, compelled him to came superintendent of the Eel River mills at Columbia City. He died in 1886, at the age of forty-nine, while the widow still re- sides in Columbia City. They have seven surviving children, three of whom live in Whitley county.
John T. Clapham was born in Mifflin- burg, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1865, and at nine years of age began to work in the woolen-mills. Upon arrival at this place he was given charge of the weaving depart- ment. He continued in this position until 1890, after which he worked for several seasons in the mills at Rochester and in Lagrange county, Indiana. In 1892, he helped pack the machinery of the mill owned by Eyanson & Hunt, going with it to Seattle, Washington, where he assisted in installing it and had charge of the weaving department until the mill closed down in 1893. He was then employed as foreman of the weav- ing department in the mills at Zanesville, Ohio. In December of 1894, he became deputy under Sheriff Thomas Hughes and so served until the expiration of the term. In 1898, he went to Cuba with the home company, under Colonel Harrison, and served until mustered out after twelve months' service. July 15, 1899, Mr. Clap- ham enlisted at Denver, in Company F. Thirty-fourth Regiment Infantry United States Volunteers, going with the regiment to the Philippines a few months later. He was one of the two chosen from his company to assist in policing Manila. His command was then four hundred miles north of Ma- nila, on the island of Luzon, and he was mustered out in order to accept the place at Manila. Ill health, due to the depressing
resign June 1, 1902, the return voyage being in July. The campaign to the north of Luzon was one of the hardest ever partici- pated in by federal troops, men suffering much from tropical tever, he being disabled from service for months on its account. During the session of 1903, Mr. Clapham held a clerical position in the Indiana state senate and in January, 1905, was appointed deputy under Sheriff Logan Staples, in which position he has since served, giving personal attention to the office demands, in- cluding attendance at the courts. Mr. Clapham is an ardent Republican. He was president of the Young Men's Republican Club in 1888 and has been secretary of the Republican county central committee, be- sides being delegate to congressional and, state conventions. He is a member of the United Workmen and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
CLEON H. FOUST.
Alfred L. Foust was born in Delaware county, Ohio, January 26, 1839. He was engaged in farming in his native county until 1886, when he became a resident of Indiana. He married Loretta Smith, by whom he had the following children : Archibald, deceased; Mabel, wife of Ferdi- nand F. Morsches, of Columbia City; Claude, who died in boyhood ; and Cleon H. Alfred was foreman and overseer for the large farming interest of Foust & Wolf, until his death, December 6, 1898.
Cleon H. Foust was born in Delaware
460
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
county, Ohio, November 21, 1881, and at- tended the public schools more or less until his sixteenth year, when he clerked with S. Stine and later in the hardware store of W. A. Tulley. Five months afterward he took a position in Peabody's planing-mill, until 1898. In July of that year he became identified with the Columbia City National Bank, of which he is now acting cashier and vice-president. He applies himself closely to the details of the bank management, hav- ing given financial affairs that careful study through which only can such enterprises be successfully conducted.
September 12, 1901, Mr. Foust was mar- ried to Miss Lela G., daughter of Franklin and Alice (Bumgardner) Stemen, a native of Allen county, Ohio. Her father was for many years an employee of the Pennsyl- vania Company. Mr. and Mrs. Foust have one child, Franklin H., Jr. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics Mr. Foust renders allegiance to the Republican party.
JOHN C. MILLER.
John C. Miller is a native of Prussia, and came to the United States, with his fam- ily, when thirteen years old. They located at Pittsburg, where he learned his trade of cigarmaker and in 1863 came to Fort Wayne, where he worked five years as a journeyman and then set up in business for himself. In 1879 he established a small cigar factory and eventually, in company with his brother, Henry, became a jobber in tobacco, pipes and other articles suitable to
this line of trade. From small beginnings he has enlarged until he now employs eight or nine hands, supplying an extensive job- bing trade in the surrounding towns, besides doing a paying local business. His own output is about 120,000 cigars annually of the finer brands of goods, though he sells fully double that number. Mr. Miller has ever taken a keen interest in the educational and commercial progress of Columbia City and as a citizen has liberally assisted in help- ing the growth of his adopted home. He was one of the organizers and is a director in the Building and Loan Association, an important factor in the city's growth. He is a supporter of the Republican party, though not counted as particularly partisan.
In 1873 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Lizzie Witte, of Fort Wayne, and to this union were born the following children. Flora, wife of Joseph Deerheimer, a con- tractor at Fort Wayne; Harry W., and Ida, a talented musician. Harry W., who is ac- tively associated with his father, married Miss Mabel G. Lee. He takes much inter- est in fraternal work and is an active member of the Order of Ben Hur, Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Maccabees, the elder Miller holding membership also in the order first named.
ROBERT HUDSON.
Among the representative business men of Columbia City, whose achievements en- title them to more than casual notice, the well known merchant whose name heads this article stands out clear and distinct. Robert
461
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Hudson was born on the 19th of June, 1865, in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland. In 1882 he came to America and at Buffalo, New York, secured a clerkship in a mercantile house. After becoming familiar with mer- chandising, he became associated with his brother in a general store at Mount Morris, New York. Mr. Hudson later became a traveling salesman for a wholesale house in St. Louis for five years, traveling over an extensive territory. In February, 1896, he established the present business, the begin- ning being on the modest capital of three thousand dollars, which the demands of the trade soon obliged him to increase, the growth of the business exceeding his fondest anticipations. To dry goods he added other lines and at intervals enlarged the floor space to suit the growing demands. This store soon became one of the largest and best patronized establishments of the kind in Columbia City.
Mr. Hudson's business has grown to its present mammoth proportions as a result of fair and honorable dealing and a desire to accommodate his patrons, between whom and himself mutually pleasant and agree- able relations have ever obtained. Since 1905 he has occupied the Masonic building, the ground floor of which is forty-eight and one-half feet front by one hundred and forty- five feet deep, the entire apartment hand- somely equipped, advantageously arranged and stocked with everything in the dry goods line that the most critical and exact- ing public could expect. The trade, as al- ready indicated, is extensive and constantly growing and so large at present as to require the combined services of twenty-one clerks. In addition to dry goods, Mr. Hudson car-
ries a full line of carefully selected carpets, rugs, house furnishings, boots, shoes, ladies' suits, a complete stock of millinery and nu- merous other kinds of merchandise. A part of the second floor has been completely stocked and all systematized under the su- pervision of a skilled salesman with a full corps of competent assistants, the entire es- tablishment being conducted in the most or- derly and systematic manner under the ju- dicious management of the proprietor. As a practical merchant, Mr. Hudson has few superiors and his career presents a series of continued advancements. Possessing ex- ecutive ability of a high order, with his wide and varied knowledge of the trade, his pleas- ant relations with wholesale firms and cus- tomers, his judgment as a buyer and skill as a salesman, make him one of the repre- sentative merchants of the state.
Mr. Hudson married Miss Helen Smith, of Dunlap, Iowa. His children are Robert, Margaret, Helen and Estelle. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are esteemed members of the Presbyterian church of Columbia City, of which for some years he has been trustee.
STEPHEN O. BRIGGS.
Stephen O. Briggs is a native of Whitley county, being born in Union township, Sep- tember 15, 1867, his parents being Silas and Rebecca (Nickey) Briggs. Until his twen- ty-sixth year he remained on the farm. At the period mentioned he determined to learn the plumber trade and found a favorable opportunity while the water-works plant was being installed at Columbia City. He suc-
462
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ceeded from the start, but soon found his business enlarging until at present he carries a stock worth about three thousand dollars, and employs seven men. Mr. Briggs' work is always first-class, being done conscien- tiously and under his own direction. Mr. Briggs does most of the well drilling in Whitley county. Aside from all of this, he finds time to supervise an eighty-acre farm, located five miles east of Columbia City, which is devoted to general farming and the breeding of Polled Angus and Dur- ham stock. For three years Mr. Briggs has been president of the school board, the pres- ent high school building being constructed under his direction at the cost of twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Briggs is a Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Mason, and in politics is a Democrat. Industrious, courteous and unobtrusive, attentive to business and strict- ly honest, in all his dealings no man in Columbia City has more friends than Stephen O. Briggs.
In 1893 Mr. Briggs was married to Miss Belle, daughter of the late Harlan Clark, of Union township. They have three chil- dren, Phil. S., aged twelve, and Gertrude and Garnett (twins.) aged ten. Mrs. Briggs was an invalid for nine years, during which time she underwent several operations, but at present is fully recovered.
WILLIAM H. MAGLEY.
William H. Magley was born on a farm in Thorncreek township, March 2, 1861, his parents being John and Elizabeth Magley. He was on the farm until the close of his
thirteenth year, during this time having passed through the grades of the city schools. At fourteen he began to clerk in the dry goods store of G. M. Bainbridge, and after four years in this line he became assistant postmaster under O. H. Woodworth, con- tinuing during the terms of J. W. Baker and E. W. Brown, an experience extending from 1879 until 1885, when he became a clerk in the bank of F. H. Foust. In 1890 Mr. Magley was elected county clerk, re- ceiving the small majority of four votes, which was in fact a decided victory, the lowest successful candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket receiving a majority of 150. He did not seek a re-election, but soon after the expiration of his term resumed his old position in the bank. In April, 1904, this institution was organized into the Columbia City National Bank, of which Mr. Magley became a stockholder and director and was also elected cashier. Owing to failing health he was forced to retire from the con- finement of the bank and in February, 1906, went to New Mexico, finding benefit in that salubrious climate so that he returned in a few months. Mr. Magley then became ac- tively interested in the management of the Whitley County Telephone Company, which he had helped to organize in 1896, and of which he continued to serve as secretary and treasurer. The company employs twenty- five people, Mr. Magley having full control over all its operations in Whitley county. Mr. Magley has devoted considerable at- tention to political affairs, and for one term was chairman of the Republican county com- mittee. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Presbyterian.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.