USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of the Maumee River basin, Allen County, Indiana > Part 29
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387
ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
GEORGE W. STOUT.
Among those who have made unassailable records for fidelity and effective work in the important office of sheriff of Allen county stands the subject of this sketch, who is one of the county's honored and popular citizens.
Sheriff Stout is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the 19th of April, 1846, and being a son of David and Nancy N. (Newman) Stout, both of whom were likewise born in that county, being representatives of honored pioneer families there, whither the original ancestors in the state re- moved from Washington county, Pennsylvania, while it may be said that Daniel Stout, paternal grandfather of the subject, was the founder of the family in Ohio. His brother John was a valiant soldier in the war of 1812, in which he was wounded while par- ticipating in an engagement, and while convalescing from this serious wound in the shoulder he ran away from the hospital in which he was confined and took part in a battle which was raging in the vicinity,-certainly a mark of insistent patriotism, while by reason of his action he suffered a relapse which nearly caused his death.
George W. Stout was reared to maturity on the homestead farm and early began to assist in its work, while his educational advan- tages were such as were afforded in the common schools of the lo- cality. Like many another youth of the day, he was roused to patriotic ardor when the war of the Rebellion was precipitated upon a divided country, and he manifested his loyalty by tendering his services in defense of the Union, enlisting when but sixteen years of age, in 1862, when he became a member of Company F, Thirty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and proceeding with his com- mand to the front. In the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi, in 1863, this regiment was instrumental in capturing a six-gun bat-
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tery from the enemy, and Company F operated this battery against the Confederate forces during the siege of Vicksburg, while the command eventually became known as the Twenty-sixth Ohio Bat- tery and served thereafter as a battery until the close of the war. The officers of Company F of the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry were as follows: T. D. Yost, captain; first lieutenant, Cox, and Homer S. Lee, second lieutenant. After the reorganization as an artillery company Captain Yost was retained as head of the company, Lieu- tenant Cox as senior first lieutenant; Homer S. Lee as junior sec- ond lieutenant; Abel T. Lee became senior second lieutenant; and Abe Kitzmiller, junior first lieutenant. These latter officers re- mained in command of the company until victory had crowned the Union arms, and the organization thus brought into existence almost by accident rendered valiant and faithful service in an arm of the federal forces with which the members originally had no thought of identifying themselves. Mr. Stout received his honorable discharge, in Columbus, Ohio, on the 5th of September, 1865, and then re- turned to the old homestead farm, with whose management and work he continued thereafter to be concerned until November 28, 1867, when he came to Allen county, Indiana, and located in Mon- roeville, where he remained in the home of his uncle, George Stout, until the following autumn, when he assumed connubial responsi- bilities, being united in marriage to Miss Isabel Murchland, who was summoned to the eternal life six years later, leaving three chil- dren, David A., Mary Margaret and Nancy N. David A. is en- gaged in the wholesale dental-supply business in Fort Wayne, and is one of the city's able young business men; Mary Margaret is the wife of George E. Carvill, a prosperous farmer of this county; and Nancy N. is the wife of William Biggs, of Decatur, Adams county, this state. In 1876 Mr. Stout consummated a second marriage, be- ing then united to his present wife, whose maiden name was Cath- erine Foster and who is a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Bow- ers) Foster, who passed the closing years of their lives in Allen county, where both were born and reared, having been members of representative pioneer families of this favored section of the Hoosier state. Concerning the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stout we record that Pearl May died in infancy; and that the other six are still living, namely: Lida M., wife of Ernest Close, of Hunt-
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
ington, Indiana ; Leah Viola; Coza Delilah, Clyde W., Kittie Maude and George Foster.
After his first marriage Mr. Stout located on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Monroeville, Monroe township, securing a tract of wild land and reclaiming about forty acres from the native forest and developing a good farm. Here he continued to reside until 1880, when he disposed of the property and removed to Hoag- land, Madison township, where he engaged in lumbering, while he also operated threshing machines during the successive seasons and also devoted much attention to the buying of poultry, which he shipped to New York city in large quantities, meeting with success in his energetic and well directed efforts. In 1892 he accepted the position of deputy sheriff under Sheriff Edward Clauseneger, his initial service being rendered in the capacity of turnkey at the county jail. He was later promoted to an active deputyship and served nearly four years in this position. In 1896 his associate deputy, Albert E. Melching, was elected sheriff, and Mr. Stout was by him continued as deputy, while in March, 1899, a fitting recognition of his faithful service and his executive ability in his being accorded the nomination on the first ballot, in a field of five candidates, for the office of sheriff, as nominee on the Democratic ticket, the dis- tinction being the more pronounced in view of the fact that each of the other four candidates in the nominating convention had previously made a vigorous fight for the goal. At the general elec- tion in November following he led the national, state, congressional and county tickets in majorities, a fact which testifies to his per- sonal popularity in his county and a record of which he may justly feel proud. Mr. Stout has ever taken a deep interest in the cause of his party and wields marked influence in its local councils. On March 1, 1905, Mr. Stout formed a partnership with C. M. Gillett and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, their place of business being at No. 229 East Columbia street, this city. In a fraternal way he is identified with General Lawton Post, Grand Army of the Republic; Fort Wayne Lodge, No. 155, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Court No. 15, Tribe of Ben Hur; and the local organization of the Modern American Fraternal Order. Mr. Stout and his family hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church.
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THE MAUMEE RIVER BASIN.
JESSE GRICE.
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At the opening of the year 1905 the subject of this review entered upon the discharge of his duties as sheriff of Allen county, and his choice as incumbent of this important office indicates the estimate placed upon the man by the people of the county, where he has long maintained his home, while in the connection it should be noted also that he has the distinction of being the second Re- publican candidate ever elected to the shrievalty of the county. His eligibility for the office is unmistakable and this fact has been clearly exemplified in the discrimination and energy which he has brought to bear in initiating his service in the connection.
Mr. Grice was born in Homeworth, Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 26th of November, 1852, and is a son of Anthony and Susanna (Yeager) Grice, the former having been born in Columbi- ana county and the latter in Henry county, Ohio, in which common- wealth the respective families were represented as pioneers. The father died when our subject was an infant, and the mother later became the wife of Emanuel Detrich, who is now deceased, while she still resides in Homeworth, Columbiana county, Ohio, being one of the well known and highly esteemed pioneer women of that section of the Buckeye state. The future sheriff was the only child of the first marriage, while of the second marriage of his mother were born two daughters, one of whom is living, she being the wife of Albertus Mclaughlin, of New Lisbon, Ohio.
The subject of this review is to be considered as essentially and distinctively a self-made man, since he has been dependent almost entirely upon his own resources since he was a child of nine years, when he began to work for his own support. He secured his early educational training in the public schools of the village of Mays- ville, Allen county, Indiana, and, in cognizance of the statements
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
previously entered, it is scarcely necessary to say that his educa- tional advantages were limited in scope and in time compass, though he was able to lay a firm foundation for that practical working knowledge which he has gained in the great school of experience and through personal application. He worked at various occupa- tions in his youth, having early identified himself with the butcher- ing and live-stock business, with which he was concerned in an active and successful way for many years. He learned the butcher- ing trade in Maysville, where he remained for a number of years, after which he engaged in that line of trade in Hicksville, Ohio, in connection with the handling of live stock, remaining there four years and then coming to Allen county, Indiana, where he followed the same lines of enterprise for the long period of forty-four years, -up to the time of his election to his present office. He has main- tained his residence in Fort Wayne since 1892, and his business operations have been marked by energy, good management and utmost reliability, so that he has ever held as his own the un- qualified esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been thrown in contact. Mr. Grice has taken a lively and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour and has been an active and zealous worker in the ranks of the Republican party, of whose principles and policies he is an ardent advocate, while in a local way he has been prominent in connection with the manoeu- vering of the party forces in the various campaigns. A fitting recog- nition of his eligibility and faithful service was that given in his being made the candidate of his party for the office of sheriff, to which he was elected by a gratifying majority, in the general elec- tion of November, 1904, while he assumed his official duties on the Ist of the following January. In a fraternal way Sheriff Grice is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is well known throughout the county and is a man who merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held in the community which has represented his home for so long a term of years.
On September 22, 1871, Mr. Grice was united in marriage to Miss Angelia Stopher, whose death occurred less than a year later, and she left one child, John, who is now engaged in the meat- market business in Antwerp, Ohio, being successful as a business
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man and popular as a citizen. On the 25th of November, 1874, Mr. Grice consummated a second marriage, being then united to his pres- ent wife, whose maiden name was Miss Dora Hall, and who was born and reared in the state of Indiana. Of the two children of this union we record that Wallace died at the age of eighteen months, and Vernon is a resident of Fort Wayne, being engaged as a clerk with the Rurode Dry Goods Company.
393
ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALFRED KANE, M. D.
Fortified by most careful and extended technical training and by a natural predilection, the subject of this sketch holds prestige as one of the able and popular members of the medical fraternity in his native city, where he is engaged in general practice as a physician and surgeon, with office headquarters at 828 Calhoun street.
Dr. Kane was born in the city of Fort Wayne on the 23d of June, 1878, and is a son of James M. and Amelia L. (Brooks) Kane, who are still resident of this city, the father being engaged in the mercantile business on Calhoun street. In the public and parochial schools of Fort Wayne Dr. Kane secured his early edu- cational discipline, completing the curriculum of the high school and thereafter continuing his studies under private tutors about one year, within which time he began reading medicine. In 1898 he was matriculated in the Fort Wayne College of Medicine, in which well equipped institution he completed the prescribed course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1902 and receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He thereafter did special post- graduate work in the polyclinic hospitals of the cities of Chicago and Philadelphia, while he still further amplified his technical and practical knowledge by a special course in obstetrics in the medical department of Harvard College. In September, 1903, Dr. Kane opened an office in Fort Wayne, where he has since been engaged in general practice and where his ability has so clearly been demon- strated that his professional novitiate was of very brief duration, his practice building up rapidly and satisfactorily and being of a representative character. The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, the Indiana Medical Society, the Fort Wayne
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Medical Society, and the Academy of Medicine, of which last he is president. In politics he is a Democrat and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a communicant, while in a fraternal way he is identified with the Knights of Columbus.
395
ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN D. CHAMBERS, M. D.
Established in the practice of his profession in the city of Fort Wayne for the past thirty years, Dr. Chambers has gained a posi- tion of no uncertain precedence as an able physician and surgeon, while as a citizen he is held in unqualified esteem. As a repre- sentative member of the medical fraternity in Allen county he is entitled to specific recognition in this work.
Dr. Chambers claims the old Empire state of the Union as the place of his nativity, having been born in Alabama, Genesee county, New York, on the 19th of July, 1844, and being a son of James Boyd and Mahala (Mandeville) Chambers. His paternal grand- parents were of stanch Irish stock and from county Monaghan. in the Emerald Isle, they immigrated to America in 1798, settling in the town of Salem, Washington county, New York, where James B. Chambers, father of the subject, was born in the year 1804. Ma- hala (Mandeville) Chambers was born in Ovid, Seneca county, New York, in 1806, her parents being of English and Welsh ex- traction, while her paternal grandfather served with distinction as a Continental soldier during the war of the Revolution, in which he was a captain. About 1848 the parents of Dr. Chambers removed from New York to Michigan and settled in Lenawee county, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father having followed the vocation of farming during the major portion of his active career. The Doctor passed his boyhood days in Macon, Lenawee county, Michigan, in whose common schools he secured his preliminary edu- cational training, while he later fitted himself for college by attend- ing an excellent preparatory school in Tecumseh, that county. He was ambitious in the matter of securing a liberal education, and through his own efforts largely defrayed the expenses of his uni-
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versity course. He was matriculated in the literary department of the celebrated University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, and was graduated as a member of the class of 1871, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science, and having completed the full four years' course. He then passed two years in the medical department of his alma mater, being graduated in 1874 and receiving his well earned degree of Doctor of Medicine.
In 1875 Dr. Chambers came to Fort Wayne, where he initiated the practice of his profession and where he has built up a large and representative business during the long intervening years, being recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the beautiful "Summit City" and being held in the highest esteem by his professional contemporaries and by the general public. He has held membership in the Allen County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In politics he has given support to the Democratic and Prohibition parties. Dur- ing his college courses Dr. Chambers provided for his own sup- port and for the other expenses involved by teaching in the public schools of Michigan, and for one year he was principal of the higlı school at Marine City, that state. He keeps in the front rank in the matter of following out the advances made in the sciences of medicine and surgery, and is known as a man of exceptionally high professional attainments. During one year he was lecturer on chem- istry in the Fort Wayne Medical College. Dr. Chambers is a zeal- ous member of the Third Presbyterian church of Fort Wayne, in which he has served as ruling elder for the past score of years.
In the year 1877 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Chambers to Miss Jennie C. Sinks, of Sidney, Ohio.
397
ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
FREDERICK W. STELLHORN.
It is most fitting that in this publication be incorporated a me- morial tribute to Frederick William Stellhorn, who was one of Allen county's leal and loyal citizens, having come here when a youth, and having won success and honor through his earnest efforts and unbending integrity of character. He was a native of Germany and came to America to win a position of independence through his own industry, and that he succeeded is best shown in his record as one of the representative business men and sterling citizens of the county in which he lived and labored for so long a term of years and in which his name merits a place on the roll of the worthy pio- neers of this section of the state.
Frederick William Stellhorn was born in Brueninghorsted, king- dom of Hanover, Germany, on the 13th of September, 1818, and his death occurred at his home in Allen county, on the 14th of August, 1897, so that he lacked by a few weeks of being seventy-nine years of age when he was thus summoned from the scene of life's en- deavors. Mr. Stellhorn was reared in his native land, in whose schools he secured his early educational training. He found em- ployment principally at farm work during his youth, receiving from twelve to sixteen dollars a year for his services, and finally he was tendered the position of coachman to a clergyman, at a stipend of twenty-five dollars a year, with board and clothing. He held this position about one year and saved his earnings, which he utilized in making his long and perilous voyage to America. In 1844, when twenty-six years of age, Mr. Stellhorn severed the ties which bound him to home and fatherland and set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States. He made the trip by way of Bremen to New York, the voyage extending over a period of nine weeks and being a tem- pestuous one, so that the passengers on the little sailing vessel had their full quota of anxiety and discomfort. When the young immi-
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grant arrived in the port of New York he was soon made the victim of typical American enterprise, since a sharper sold him a ticket to Toledo, Ohio, for a goodly price. The transportation proved ac- ceptable only as far as the city of Albany, New York, beyond which point it was not honored. His finances had by this time reached so low an ebb that Mr. Stellhorn was compelled to borrow the sum of ten dollars from a friend and companion in order to continue his journey. He was thus in debt to this amount at the time of his arrival in the city of Fort Wayne, which he made his destination. Among others who came over on the same vessel and who became honored citizens of Allen county were Charles Meusing, Frederick Kanne and a man named Brase. While in the connection it is im- perative that special mention be made of another and fairer passenger on the same boat, for it was hers to become the devoted and cherished wife of the honored subject of this memoir. This young lady, Miss Fredericka Moellering, in company with her aunt, came to Fort Wayne, being but nineteen years of age at the time. Her aunt con- tinued her journey and located in Lafayette, this state, but Fredericka remained in Fort Wayne, where she secured employment in a do- mestic way and found her surroundings pleasing. She was from the Prussian village of Heimsen, not far removed from the birth- place of her future husband, but they had not become acquainted until making the trip on the canal boat to Fort Wayne. This ac- quaintanceship ripened into mutual confidence and affection and eventuated in their marriage about a year after they took up their residence in Fort Wayne, their union having been solemnized on the 19th of June, 1845. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Mr. Winniken, who was then a missionary of the Lutheran church, and the event took place in the First Lutheran church, on Barr street, where the present imposing and commodious church edifice of the same denomination stands. In the first few years of his residence in Fort Wayne Mr. Stellhorn worked at whatever occupation he could secure, and he soon took the advice of a good friend, who ad- monished him to buy a building lot and thus establish a firm foot- hold in the city. He accordingly purchased a lot on Madison street. In 1847 he was employed as a mason's tender by the father of John C. Peters, a well known citizen of the county at the present time.
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About this time Professor Walter brought twelve students from Germany, these being the first students of the Missouri synod of the Lutheran church, in which synod Indiana was included, and also the first students of Concordia College. Mrs. Stellhorn was given the initial charge of the domestic economies for these students, being employed as housekeeper in the Peters residence, in which the first college work was done. She did the cooking at this location and later accompanied the students and teachers to the present site of the college, where she remained in the same capacity until the death of Professor Walter, who was one of the victims of the memorable cholera scourge at the time of its first visitation to Fort Wayne, in 1850. Soon after this unfortunate event she left the col- lege, where her husband had also been employed, and he then built
a small but comfortable residence on his lot, on Madison street. Later he became associated with seven other German-American citizens in the purchasing of a limestone quarry at Huntington. There they devoted the winter months to getting out the product, which they transported by canal to Fort Wayne in the summer, burn- ing the lime in their kilns, which they erected on Pearl street, about the location of the present feed yards. These were the first and only kilns in Fort Wayne utilizing the old pot system, and after operations had been continued about three years kilns were erected at the quarry, in Huntington, while the finished product was thence transported on the canal. Mr. Stellhorn remained in active charge of the lime house until 1861, when his lungs became so seriously affected from the lime dust that he found it necessary to retire from his executive and active labors in the connection. At this time he purchased one hundred acres of land in Wayne township, four miles south of the city, on the St. Mary's river and on the road of which Fairfield avenue is now a part. For this property he paid four thousand dollars. On the place was a sawmill, operated by water power. Before moving to the farm he had the mill rebuilt and brought up to the highest standard of the time, and he then placed the mill in active operation, hiring men for the purpose and taking up his abode on the farm. When his son John H. attained to the age of fourteen years he was placed in charge of the mill, whose operation he successfully continued until 1871, while in the
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meantime the father maintained a general supervision of the milling enterprise as well as of the operation of the farm. In 1872 the father and son became associated in the purchasing of a steam saw- milling plant, which they installed forthwith in a new mill, which is still standing and in active service a portion of the time. Six months later the subject of this memoir retired from all active as- sociation with the mill business and turned his entire attention to the management of his fine farm. In 1861 his landed estate comprised one hundred acres, as has been noted, and in 1869 he purchased an adjoining thirty acres, and shortly afterward added another tract, of forty acres, while still later he effected the purchase of the old Daniel Lawton farm, of fifty-two acres, lying nearer the city of Fort Wayne, thus making the aggregate area of his estate two hundred and twenty-two acres. This fine property he divided among his children, six of whom survive him. During the last seven years of his life he lived retired from active labor and business, enjoying the well earned rewards of his former toils. He made the best of improvements on his farm property, the original one hundred acres having had thirteen log cabins as its building accessories at the time when he came into possession. He erected large and substantial grain and stock barns and the requisite residence buildings, includ- ing the attractive old homestead place, which is still standing. It was originally located near the St. Mary's river, but the prevalence of high water at certain seasons of the year compelled the removal of the house to higher ground, this change being made in 1887. The family continue to occupy the house during the period of removal and it is now one of the commodious and attractive farm residences of the county. The loved and devoted wife of our subject is still living in the old homestead a portion of the time, while she passes the remainder of her time with others of her children, all of whom accord her the deepest filial devotion and solicitude. Mr. and Mrs. Stellhorn were numbered among the original or charter members of the first Lutheran church organized in Fort Wayne, while later they became members of Trinity church, in the vicinity of their home, while in the cemetery of the same the remains of Mr. Stell- horn were laid to rest. He was an uncompromising Democrat in his political adherency, and for a number of years he held the office
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