USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 59
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mr. Raupfer is an ardent and unwaver- ing Democrat, faithful to his party in defeat as well as success, and was eight years treas- urer of the Democratic county committee. He is a member of the Catholic church and one of its stanchest supports. He is also a member of the Marquette Club.
Mr. Raupfer married Mary Meyers, No- vember 9. 1869. and four sons are the fruit of their union, all of them able assistants of their father in his business. Joseph and John, the oldest and youngest, are looking after the brewery interests, and William and Jerome have charge of the immense hard- ware store, which employs a number of men in the mechanical and sales departments.
Two years ago Mr. Raupfer for the first time visited his old home, remaining several months, coming back more satisfied than ever with the country of his adoption and its social and financial systems.
SAMUEL S. MILLER.
In 1833 Peter Miller, born in York coun- ty. Pennsylvania, November 11, 18II, walked across the mountains towards the west with a pack on his back containing all his earthly possessions, and eventually found a home in Clarke county, Ohio. There he married Sarah Snyder, with whom, in Au- gust, 1864, he removed to Thorncreek town- ship, Whitley county, where the wife died at the age of sixty-nine. He survived until January 25, 1887, being in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was successful and died possessed of a large farm, which he had improved and developed into a valu-
able estate. Both were long members of the Lutheran church. Of their children, three sons and one daughter grew to matu- rity and two, a son and a daughter, died in Ohio. Henry W. came to Whitley coun- ty with his parents and at present lives on the old homestead. Mary E. is the wife of William Miller and a resident of Whitley county.
Samuel S. Miller was born in Clark county, Ohio, April 30, 1844. and grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1862, when eighteen years old, he enlisted in Com- pany A, Ninety-fourth Regiment Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was engaged in thirteen prominent battles, including Perry- ville, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain. Chickamauga, and Kenesaw Mountain, and he accompanied Sherman on the famous "March to the Sea." After receiving his discharge at Columbus, Ohio, he came to Whitley county, where his parents had re- moved in the meantime. December 27, 1868, he was united in marriage with Anna Z., daughter of Gideon T. and Elizabeth (Hornaday) Klinck, the latter a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, where she was born December 23, 1816, and when six year old was brought to Fayette county, Indiana. Gideon Klinck was born near Buffalo, New York, in 1812, and when the latter city was burned by the British, his mother fled and shortly afterward settled on a farm of General Harrison's in Ohio, but later came to Connersville, Indiana. When fourteen years old Gideon learned the sad- dler's trade and at the age of twenty-two married at Shelbyville and went to Illinois. where his wife died. Returning to Indiana
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he was married. August 6. 1839. to Eliza- beth Hornaday, after which he went back to Illinois to enter a tract of government land, which subsequently was traded for a farm in Whitley county, where he lived until his death. November 6, 1893. His wife survived until December 30, 1901, when she passed away in the eighty-fifth year of her age. In early life a Methodist, Mr. Klinck had for fifty years been a member of the Universalist church, while she for a time belonged to the "New Lights." but was not a communicant in later life. After his mar- riage Mr. Miller settled on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Thorncreek town- ship, on which he built a fine barn and made other extensive improvements. His health, which had been failing for some years. eventually became so poor as to compel him to retire from active business. He removed to Columbia City, supervising the farm in a general way, but in 1902, hoping a change of climate would bring benefit, he purchased a farm of two hundred and thirty-six acres in Benton county. Missouri, residing at Windsor. a near-by town. The change bringing no improvement, he longed to re- turn and spend the few remaining months near old friends. The family accordingly returned to Columbia City. The touch of the Death Angel could not be delayed and on the 12th of December. 1906, his spirit took its flight. He had ever felt a warm interest in his old soldier comrades and the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Porch. paid the last sad rites to their departed friend. Mrs. Miller, as also three of the four children. Murray, Ocie and Ethel, reside in Columbia City, Marl Miller is a resident of
Redlands. California. Mr. Miller was reared in the Lutheran faith, and after coming to Columbia City, became a member of Grace church. Quiet and unobstrusive, his great- est pleasure was found in the midst of his family. though he retained a warm friend- ship for all with whom he had ever been on terms of intimacy. With a keen sense of cit- izenship. he was alive to the advancement of the county's interests, though never an aspirant for public honor, and in his death the community lost a loyal citizen.
FRANKLIN H. FOUST.
In modern times banks have constituted a vital part of organized society and gov- ernments have depended upon them for ma- terial aid in times of depression and trouble. Their influence has extended over the entire world and their prosperity has been a barometer which has infallibly indicated the financial status of all nations. Of this im- portant branch of business, Franklin H. Foust is a worthy representative. The story of his success is instructive as well as enter- taining, dealing as it does with a gradual rise from unpromising beginnings to a po- sition of commanding influence in the finan- cial world.
Franklin H. Foust was born in Delaware county, Ohio, January 10. 1825. The paternal grandfather. Jacob Foust, was born in Germany, and when a youth accompanied his father to the United States, settling in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, where the family became tillers of the soil. Jacob Foust removed to Delaware county, Ohio, being one of the first settlers in that section.
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Franklinble Fornet
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He located where the city of Delaware now stands and constructed the first bridge across the river between that point and Columbus. The family lived in their wagons until they could hew timbers and complete the erection of the primitive log cabin which served as their domicile. The land was wild and the Indians still disputed dominion with the in- coming pioneers. Jacob Foust bore arms in the war of the Revolution and in recog- nition of his services was awarded a pension, which he continued to draw until the time of his death. His son, Henry, who was born in Pennsylvania, married Mary Olds, of the same state, in 1812, and settled ten miles north of Delaware where they began house- keeping in a log cabin, typical of the place and period. He'enlisted as a soldier in 1812, while his wife contributed what she could to the cause by doing camp work at Fort Norton. After the war they were reunited and for more than sixty years lived happily on the farm which they had reclaimed from the wilderness, where both eventually found graves. Henry Foust was a successful farmer and accumulated a competency. He was a man of strong individuality and in- tegrity of character and served many years as a local preacher of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He had nine children who grew to maturity, but the only survivors are Solomon and Franklin, the former a resi- dent of Atlanta, Kansas. Franklin Foust was reared on the old homestead in Ohio and bore his part in its reclamation and cultivation. Schools were scarce and poor in those days, but he managed to acquire an elementary knowledge of the ordinary English branches and arithmetic. In his boyhood he partially learned the shoemak-
er's trade at which he frequently worked until twelve o'clock for the compensation of fifty cents a night. The frequent want and need of a dime taught him to realize the value of money, a lesson never forgotten during his subsequent career. He made most of the footwear worn by the members of the family, and in every way did his part toward their support. He hauled wheat from Delaware county to Sandusky City by team, a distance of seventy-five miles, and sold it at sixty cents per bushel. In 1848, when unable to command a single dollar, he hired to Adam Wolfe to peddle fanning mills, retaining the position for two years, receiving for the first year eight dol- lars per month and expenses, which was increased to fifteen dollars the second year. Even at this small compensation he man- aged to save some money, and in the fall of 1849 formed a partnership with his em- ployer under the firm name of F. H. Foust & Co., for the manufacture of fanning mills. This association was maintained without in- terruption until the death of Mr. Wolfe in 1892 at Muncie, Indiana.
At the time the above mentioned part- nership was consummated, Mr. Foust came to Columbia City, rented a room and be- gan the manufacture of fanning mills, the firm continued this enterprise for three years. In 1852 the firm purchased a stock of dry goods, valued at about ten thousand dollars, and opened a store which the partners op- erated about nine years. Mr. Foust hired an experienced buyer to accompany him to New York to purchase the original stock. but subsequently attended personally to all purchases. The firm retired from the mer- cantile business to engage in other lines in
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which the senior partner, Franklin H. Foust, especially was destined to achieve a notable success. Mr. Foust for some time did a collecting and banking business of a modest order. During the war he received deposits, and the confidence which was placed in him is shown by the fact that his system of accounts consisted in merely making a note of how much he received and from whom, making no charge for his services. In this way he had in his old-fashioned, large, fire- proof safe at one time deposits aggregating sixty thousand dollars. Realizing the neces- sity as the town grew, he opened a private banking house in 1867 in partnership with Mr. Wolfe. This enterprise prospered and became in time one of the most reliable financial concerns in northeastern Indiana, its conservative management gaining public confidence and making it widely known. The firm acquired ownership of about one thousand acres of land contiguous to the city, of which three hundred acres were brought under cultivation, the remainder be- ing devoted to pasturage. In April, 1904. the bank was organized as The Columbia City National Bank, Mr. Foust being made president. About this time the properties of Foust & Wolfe were divided, Mr. Foust retaining about seven hundred acres of land, all personal property, and the banking build- ing for his share, the balance going to the Wolfe estate. Later he sold the bank build- ing to the bank. He still continues to take much interest in agriculture.
In 1850, Mr. Foust was married. at Columbia City to Maxia Jones. They have no children. Mr. Foust is a Republican and although never a seeker of official prefer- ment, has rendered hearty support to the party whose principles he advocates.
As a pioneer banker of Whitley county, within whose limits no man is better known, and enjoying the confidence and respect of men, a particular interest attaches to the career of Mr. Foust. At the age of sixteen he was found buying and selling with as much confidence as a man of the world, ex- ercising his mental powers to a proportion- ate degree in the little sphere within whose narrow limitations his life was bounded at the time. Finally, overwork told upon a constitution none too rugged, and on the advice of a kindly physician who told him his only hope for life and health laid in abandoning the farm, he contracted with Mr. Wolfe to peddle fanning mills and con- tinued to work under this contract for one year. Before taking a position with Mr. Wolfe for the second year, he contemplated going to California, but afterward gave up this idea. He had also been offered thirty dollars per month by one Bohart, of Mans- field, Ohio, to enter his employ in the fan- ning mill business ; but notwithstanding the temptation of this offer and looking to the future and placing implicit confidence in the honesty of Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Foust ac- cepted his terms, fifteen dollars per month, a decision he has never had cause to regret. The two gentlemen in their long and pleas- ant business associations accumulated a fine property, including four fine business blocks, besides much other property in the line of suburban and farm realty. To such men all honor is due and to them it is seldom denied.
ISAAC MASON SWIGART.
The era of reform in Indiana has caused a watchful eye to be cast on all the county
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seat towns to ascertain the manner in which they enforce laws and order. Columbia City has been able to stand this inspection reasonably well and much of the credit for this is given to the gentleman above named, who for nine years has acted as night police- inan. His official duties are so performed that the city is known as a peaceable, law- abiding place, where tough characters are repressed and all are expected to lead the lives of good citizens. In 1885, A. Y. and Margaret (McCuen) Swigart, natives of Ohio, settled on a farm two miles north of Columbia City and lived there until the former went to the war as a member of the Eighty-eighth Regiment Indiana Infantry. with which he served until the close of hos- tilities. Returning to his farm, he was en- gaged in its cultivation until 1901, when he retired to live with his son, Christopher M., in Columbia City. He died January 2, 1904, having survived his wife five years. This couple has a family of ten sons, seven of whom grew to maturity, and five are liv- ing in 1907. John, eldest of the survivors, is a watchman in the Harper Buggy Works; Henry is a physician at Hastings, Nebraska : and Frank is a railroad employe at the same place: Isaac, subject of this sketch, and Christopher M., a barber at Columbia City.
Isaac Swigart was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 8, 1855, and was brought an infant to Whitley county. After he grew up he worked for some years on the farm and at a later period became a commercial traveler for a firm in one of the large cities. He made an enviable record as a salesman, leading the entire force em- ployed by his house in the amount of sales. In 1897 he accepted his present position as
night-watchman in Columbia City, and has administered that important office so well as to seem to have been especially cut out for this line of work. For nine years he has been on duty, constantly without a break, and, while not popular with evil-doers, is pronounced by citizens generally an affable and most pleasant gentleman. Mr. Swigart is a Dem- ocrat and has been a lively participant in state and county conventions of his party. His fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. May 25, 1882, he married Alice Welch, who died in 1888, at Mentone, Indiana, without issue. December 21, 1892, Mr. Swigart took a second wife in the person of Miss Mariah Flaharty, of Mansfield, Ohio. Her father having died when she was two years old Mrs. Swigert was reared by an uncle at Mansfield, and after she grew up became his housekeeper. She learned dressmaking and now has a high reputation in that line of work so dear to woman's heart. Mr. and Mrs. Swigart have one child, a daughter named Ercia May.
JAMES M. HARRISON.
Prominent among the leading business men and representative citizens of Whitley county is James M. Harrison, to a brief re- view of whose family history the reader's attention is respectfully invited. Samuel Harrison, his father, a native of county Down, Ireland, emigrated to America about 1814 and settled in Virginia. He had one brother by the name of Alexander and a sis- ter Jane, who married John Boyd, also of
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Ireland, where his family remained and where his descendants still reside. The par- ents of Samuel Harrison were Adam and Martha ( McWilliams) Harrison, the former born in England, from which country he went to Ireland, where he married and be- came a well-to-do landowner, prominent in the affairs of the community in which he lived.
Samuel Harrison was married March 12, 1820, in Greenbrier county, Virginia, to his cousin, Polly McDowell, daughter of John and Esther Ann ( Harrison) Mc- Dowell. Samuel and his wife were either first or second cousins of William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, first gov- ernor of Indiana territory and afterward President of the United States.
James M. Harrison was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 8. 1837. and in 1855 came to Indiana, settling in Noble county. where, during the ensuing seven years, he devoted the winter seasons to teaching and the rest of the time cultivated his farm of forty acres, meeting with grati- fying success as educator and agriculturist.
On March 15, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Richards, daughter of Joseph Richards, a old-time resi- dent of Churubusco and for a number of years one of its leading merchants. Six children were born to this union, three dead and three living, the latter being Joseph R., William and George F. Joseph R. Har- rison is now serving his second term as mayor of Columbia City: William A. is en- gaged in the mercantile business at Argos. Indiana, and George F. is a member of the firm of Clugston Brothers & Comapny, in Columbia City. Mrs. Mary J. Harrison
died at Churubusco, in 1873, and in August of the following year Mr. Harrison entered the marriage relation with Jennette, daugh- ter of John J. and Delilah DePoy, the union being blessed with two children, Mary Ione, and Jesse W. Mary Ione Harrison, after receiving a liberal scholastic training, took up the study of music, in which she acquired great proficiency, graduating from The American Institute of Music, in the state of Massachusetts, after which she became supervisor of music in the public schools of Columbia City. Miss Harrison did not live long to enjoy the marked success which she attained in her profession, dying after a sickness of a week's duration, at the age of twenty-three years, her sad premature taking off proving a severe blow to the family and being profoundly lamented by the large cir- cle of friends with whom she has ever been a favorite. She was a young lady of many estimable qualities, cultured and refined, and had her life been spared she doubtless would have achieved marked distinction in the call- ing to which her time and talents had been devoted. Jesse W. Harrison is in the Boyd- Harrison Company, dealers in automatic musical instruments at Chicago. Mr. Har- rison's second wife, who was prostrated on account of the death of her daughter, never recovered from the blow and soon followed the latter to the land of silence, departing this life on December 12, 1904.
James MI. Harrison became a resident of Whitley county in 1862, from which time until 1874 he was engaged in farming and merchandising, being associated in the latter years with Joseph Richards, his father-in- law. Subsequently in 1879, he was elected clerk of the Whitley county circuit court and
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discharged the duties of the position with eminent fidelity for a period of eight years, retiring from the office in 1887 with an hion- orable record. From 1893 to 1898 he served as mayor of Columbia City, proving an able, conscientious and exceedingly popu- lar executive, and since the latter year has devoted his time and attention to the real estate and loan business, in which his success has been gratifying, as is attested by the large and lucrative patronage he now com- mands. He is a Democrat and for many · years held active relation to his party. He is a pleasant. well-informed gentleman, es- pecially well liked in Columbia City by all classes of people. He lias indicated great interest in advancement of his county. While mayor, the city water system was in- stalled, by which the community was sup- plied with pure water. A system of sewers was also constructed, and the city now owns all the public utilities, including an up-to- date fire department and electric light plant. Many cement and brick sidewalks were made and arrangements were put under way for the excellent paving now found on the streets. Mayor Harrison at first encountered great opposition to his progressive measures. even amounting to threats of personal vio- lence and destruction of his property, but the results of his policy eventually gained him many friends and increased his popularity.
FRANK MEITZLER.
What is known as the Red Cross Drug Store has a history almost coeval with the business development of Columbia City.
The location is the best in the city and for more than a generation it has been occupied by a drug store and the change to anything else would mark the loss of a landmark. The first proprietor was Dr. Clingerman, probably the first druggist in the town and he was succeeded by Dr. A. L. Sandmeyer. who. after long possession, sold out to W. H. Beeson. It was in the latter's hands until purchased by the eldest Tyree and eventually we are brought up to date by the subject of our sketch succeeding W. J. Tyree, which occurred June 12. 1905. It is only under the present owner that it assumed the capti- vating designation of "Red Cross," under which it seems destined for a new lease both of fame and fortune.
Frank Metzler was born in Columbia City. Indiana. January 31, 1873. His fa- ther. Willliam Meitzler. was a native of Germany and came to Columbia City in 1865. When twenty-six years old lie was married in Huntington county to Elizabeth Dexheimer and conducted the business of a baker and lunch room proprietor, but is now retired. When sixteen years old, or in 1889. Frank entered the drug business with E. J. Mowry, who subsequently became his brother-in-law. and when the latter sold his interest to W. H. Carter, Mr. Meitzler re- mained in charge of the store two years, till his own purchase. He took a course in pharmacy at Purdue University and is well qualified in every respect as a dispenser and compounder of medicines. He handles drugs, wall paper, paint, and all other arti- cles appropriate to the trade and the "Red Cross" has all the outward indications of the prosperity that comes from a liberal patron- age, insured through capable management and courteous treatment.
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In his political affiliations Mr. Metzler is a Democrat. and his fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows and Modern Wood- men, he being a charter member of the latter order and for ten years clerk of the local camp.
June 19, 1894, Mr. Meitzler was married to Miss Grace B., sister of E. J. Mowry, who was born at Roanoke, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Meitzler have two children, Esther and Edwin. Mrs. Meitzler is active in so- cial affairs, being a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
JOHN D. SHERWOOD.
and in the fall of 1871, moved to Thorncreek township, Whitley county, buying a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, where he died January 29, 1873. Caroline Seaman, wife of James D. Sherwood, was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, came to America with her parents when thirteen and was married in Ohio. She died August 30, 1875. Their four children living are John D., Lewis Edward, Margaret, who married James Maine, of Morrow county, Ohio, and Presley R., a farmer of Union county, Ohio.
John D. Sherwood was born August 24. 1853, in Delaware county, Ohio, and at the age of nineteen came with his parents to Whitley county, where he has since lived. He taught school during the four years after his arrival, and subsequently, in 1875. he purchased the interests of his brothers and sister in the homestead and for thirty years thereafter devoted his attention wholly to the operation of the farm, meeting with the success that generally comes to intelligently directed effort. The better to devote his attention to the manufacture of brick and drain tile, in which he and his son had be- come interested, he, in 1905. removed to Columbia City. As manufacturers of brick and tile the Sherwoods have achieved wide repute, there being but few farms within Whitley county that have not profited by the product of their kilns, the local demand ex- ceeding their capacity. Mr. Sherwood is an enterprising, wide-awake business man of progressive ideas and as manager of the oldest and largest industry of the kind in the country's material interests.
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