History of the Maumee River basin, Allen County, Indiana, Part 5

Author: Slocum, Charles Elihu, 1841-1915; Robertson, R. Stoddart, 1839-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Indianapolis ; Toledo : Bowen & Slocum
Number of Pages: 630


USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of the Maumee River basin, Allen County, Indiana > Part 5


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


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position was such that he was able to secure good educational advan- tages. After his preliminary discipline in the common schools, he entered a technical college in Bergen, Norway, where he completed a course in mechanical engineering, being graduated when nineteen years of age, while later he was a student in a prominent polytech- nical institution in the city of Munich, Germany, where he further fortified himself for the practical work of his chosen profession, as did he also by experience in machine shops in both Norway and Ger- many. In May, 1880, Mr. Guldlin came to America and soon after- ward he secured a position as draftsman in the engineering depart- ment of the great Baldwin Locomotive Works in the city of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and where he soon reached the position of ex- aminer of drawings, continuing to be identified with this industrial concern about two and a half years. In 1882 he made a visit to his old home in Norway, and there remained a few months, after which he came again to the United States. In 1884 he met, in the city of Washington, D. C., on the occasion of a convention of the American Gas Light Association, A. D. Cressler, one of Fort Wayne's repre- sentative business men, and it was largely through the influence of the latter that the subject was induced to take up his residence in this city, his attention in the meanwhile having been directed to gas en- gineering. He came to Fort Wayne in 1885, and forthwith identified himself with its business interests, while of the rise of the great in- dustry of which he is virtually the head an interesting description is given in Volume II of this history, referenec being made there to an attractive brochure recently issued by this company, from which we quote as follows: "The history of this company's development has always proved an interesting one to the gas fraternity. In 1888 con- ditions appeared very favorable for a gas engineering firm in the west, and a partnership was formed by O. N. Guldlin, as manager and engineer ; F. D. Moses, as superintendent, and W. A. Croxton, as secretary. A modest one-room office was by them opened in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Considerable work was secured, but Mr. Moses, and subsequently Mr. Croxton, in 1890, apparently seeing more profitable opportunities in other lines, soon withdrew, although by that time the business had justified more commodious business offices. A


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company was then incorporated, with Mr. Guldlin as the principal owner and president, which position he has since retained.


"A vigorous policy of introducing originality in the design of gas apparatus resulted in a steadily growing business, and on the expiration of the Lowe patent on water-gas apparatus, in 1892, the company, which had previously given considerable attention to this process, entered the market with its design, and several contracts were secured. This branch of the business was then vigorously pushed, and has ever since been given special attention. A number of patents have been applied for and allowed, covering the development of the . apparatus, and this dvelopment has been continued, with additional patents still pending, as represented in the perfect type of water-gas apparatus now built by the company and in operation in some of the largest gas concerns in the country. The special design of double- gate valves for gas works was designed and patented during the ear- lier years, and by their popularity these devices have materially in- creased the company's business. In 1893 it was clearly demonstrated that the business volume was in excess of what could be systematically handled, the company being entirely dependent upon outside shops for the execution of the work, and as a result about twenty-eight lots were bought alongside of the Pennsylvania railroad and the original machine shop built, the same being about sixty-five by one hundred feet in dimensions, and adjoining this was erected what was at the time considered a very commodious building. These provisions, how- ever, gave only partial and temporary relief, and two years later, in 1895, the machine shop was extended one hundred and fifty feet, which improvement was then considered to be such as to afford ample accommodations and facilities for years to come, a complete installa- tion of modern and special tools for the work in hand being made simultaneously. The business, however, kept growing, notwith- standing the panic, and as more and more difficulty was experienced in securing satisfactory foundry work, as well as shell work, the company decided to establish both foundry and boiler shop of its own, the result being that in 1900 about one-third of each of the present shops was built, each having from one to three times the capacity of the company's purchases up to that time, so that the company felt justified in assuming that its needs had been taken care of for several years to come.


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"That the growth of the business was much underestimated was quickly demonstrated as to the boiler shop and foundry, by the en- ergetic adaptation and introduction of new designs of gas apparatus- such as having taken up vigorously the introduction of an improved Pelouze and Audouin tar extractor, with the earlier introduction of which Mr. Guldlin had been identified in 1882, when employed as engineer with James R. Smedburg. The popularity and resultant large orders of 'Western Gas' designs of valves; the introduction of the 'duplex' purifier system ; improved forms of washers, both for coal gas and water gas, since further developed and patented; and further improvement in its water-gas apparatus, as well as the introduction of the company's system of coal-gas condensation with intermediate tar extraction, on which patent was granted; as well as the intro- duction in this country of the Holmes Patent Rotary Scrubber, which had already established such an unprecedented record abroad-re- sulted in such a volume of business that in 1902 it was clearly demon- strated that unless radical measures were taken for works of ample capacity it would be a question, and a very serious one, of not being able to fill orders as offered. It was then decided to act accordingly, disregarding all previous consideration, and plans were immediately prepared for such radical extension and rebuilding of the works as is represented by the same as they stand today."


It may be stated that there was from this time on an amplification of all the facilities of the great factory which grew up on the site of the first little buildings, until Fort Wayne found itself here pos- sessed of what is unmistakably the largest plant in the country ex- clusively devoted to the manufacture of gas apparatus, while the guiding hand throughout has been that of the able president and chief engineer, Mr. Guldlin, whose technical knowledge is on a parity with his administrative powers. The nature of this article is such as to preclude more detailed description of the great industry, but in the following paragraphs further incidental reference will be made, in touching the personal career of the subject. It may be said that his interests and ambitions center in the Western Gas Construction Com- pany, whose great works now cover twelve and a half acres, while in the same employment is given to an average corps of four hundred operatives. Mr. Guldlin is interested in a financial way in other en-


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terprises, notably oil in California, coal in Illinois, and mining in Colorado, but to the direction of the great industry described he gives his time, thought and attention, while he has attained high prestige in the line of his profession, both at home and abroad.


The Western Gas Construction Company made a significent and most interesting exhibit at the world's fair at St. Louis, and in this connection Mr. Guldlin, as well as his cultured wife, gained marked recognition. Apropos of this we quote as follows from an article ap- pearing in the American Gas-Light Journal, under date of Novem- ber 28, 1904: "Mrs. O. N. Guldlin was hostess at the Indiana state building during this month. Mr. Guldlin is an honorary member of the Indiana state commission. The recognition extended to both Mr. and Mrs. Guldlin is worthy of special notice at this time. The honors to Mrs. Guldlin are the sequel to those heretofore extended to Mr. Guldlin. The board of commissioners of Indiana, realizing that the magnificent exhibit of the Western Gas Construction Company merited some unusual distinction, by unanimous vote made Mr. Guldlin an honorary member of its body and presented him with the official badge worn by themselves. The only other person in the state to enjoy this honor was Governor Durbin." At the fair Mr. Guldlin was also appointed one of the international jurors, also a member of official committees, on which he officiated actively. He received for his plant and its products three grand prizes, four gold medals, and six silver medals, besides the first official recognition of the gas-works industry at an international exposition. It may further be stated that the first grand prize was awarded his com- pany for complete exhibit of apparatus and methods for the manu- facture of coal gas and water gas and recovery of byproducts; the second grand prize for superior values and fittings for gas works; while the third grand prize was awarded to Mr. Guldlin personally, on the basis of the entire exhibit, embracing development of ap- paratus, patents issued to him on his own inventions which have merited adoption by all leading gas companies in the United States and also in foreign countries. He was the only citizen of Indiana to receive this distinguished personal honor at the fair.


Mr. Guldlin has always been a Republican on national issues. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Manufacturers' Club, the Fort


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Wayne Commercial Club, the Lotus Club of New York city, the Missouri Athletic Club, of St. Louis, Missouri, and the Cosmos Club, of San Francisco, California.


On the 28th of August, 1899, Mr. Guldlin was united in mar- riage to Miss Addie L. Bleekman, who was born in the state of New York, being a daughter of Jerome and Henrietta (Sixbey) Bleekman, who are now living near Fort Wayne. Mr. Bleekman was prominently identified with Fort Wayne business enterprises till his retirement from active business a few years ago. Mrs. Guldlin received her education in the schools of Fort Wayne; after finishing her course at the high school, she completed her education as Bachelor of Philosophy in Buchtel College, at Akron, Ohio. She is a woman of gracious presence and distinction, being prominent in the best social life of the city of Fort Wayne, where she enjoys unequivocal popularity, being identified actively with literary, club and church work, while the beautiful home is a center of generous hospitality.


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SAMUEL M. WILLIAMS.


The subject of this review is one of the well known and highly honored citizens of Allen county, maintaining his residence in Mon- roeville, where he devotes the greater portion of his attention to the raising of fine poultry, being known as one of the leading chicken fanciers of the Union, and by reason of his long residence in the county and his high standing as a citizen it is most consonant that a resume of his career be incorporated in this publication. He gave evidence of his sterling patriotism during the crucial period of the Civil war, bearing arms in defense of the Union and aiding in main- taining its supremacy in many a hard fought battle.


Samuel M. Williams is a native of the old Buckeye state and a representative of one of its honored pioneer families. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the Ist of August, 1841, being a son of John T. and Belinda (Selby) Williams, both of whom came to Adams county, Indiana, and died there. The father of our subject was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, on the 8th of February, 1808, and about the year 1818 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Harrison county, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. The genealogical line is traced back to stanch Welsh origin, and the original American ancestors came to this county in the colonial era of our national history. When the subject of this sketch was a child his parents removed to Meigs county, Ohio, where he was reared to maturity on the homestead farm, in the meanwhile availing himself of the educational advantages afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. At the age of eighteen years he secured employ- ment in the oil fields of West Virginia, being thus engaged at the time of the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. His northern sympathies and his outspoken loyalty to the Union caused him to


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become persona non grata in West Virginia, and he, in company with other northern men, was compelled to beat a hasty retreat, forth- with abandoning their work. In company with seven others he secured a boat and rowed the same down the little Kanawha river by night and then crossed over the Ohio river into the state of Ohio. As Mr. Williams has expressed the animus of those who were thus sum- marily driven forth from the south, "The next thing in order was to get ready and go back and see them about it." On the 8th of July, 1861, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, but as the regiment in which he enlisted did not secure its necessary quota as soon as expected he was not mustered into service until the 8th of the following September. The regiment was mustered in at Marietta, Ohio, becoming the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, while our subject was a member of Company C. Colonel George Crook, who afterward became major general, was assigned to the command of the regiment, which was forthwith sent to Parkersburg, Virginia, to prepare for service. Of his commander Mr. Williams has spoken as follows: "Right well did Colonel Crook perform his part, while he also gave us to understand that we must perform ours at the same time and along the lines which he mapped out." Continuing his description of his army career, Mr. Williams says: "Camp life had its pleasures and also its drawbacks and disillusions, but reality came when we met General Heath and his five regiments at Lewisburg, Virginia, on the 22nd of May, 1862. Here, in less than thirty minutes, with the assistance of the Forty-fourth Ohio, we obliterated Heath and his forces from the map of Virginia." Within the limits of an article of so circumscribed character as the one at hand it is impossible to enter into minute details as to the military record of Mr. Williams, but it may justly be said that his record is coincident with the history of his regiment. With his command he next took part in the second battle of Bull Run, after which he participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. The regiment then moved back to western Virginia, and at Charleston embarked on transports and proceeded by way of the Cumberland and Ohio rivers to Nashville, Tennessee. From the latter city they proceeded to Carthage, where they had a night battle with a cavalry force, in the midst of a blinding thunder storm. They captured the enemy's


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camp equipage and took a large number of prisoners. Moving thence to Murfreesboro, the regiment thereafter took part in the engage- ments at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Ring- gold, after which the command went back to West Virginia and was in action at Cloyd Mountain and Staunton, after which they took part in General Hunter's raid on Lynchburg, where they fought almost continuously for a period of thirty days and met with most serious losses, owing largely to the stubbornness and indiscrimination of the commanding officer. Failing to take Lynchburg, the forces under Hunter made a retreat across the mountains to meet the supply train, in the meanwhile fighting and marching under cover of night until Meadow Bluffs was reached. Our subject describes this trip and further movements in the following words: "Many of our men never reached that point. At Meadow Bluffs we met a provision train, and after a brief rest we took up our line of march for Charleston, where we took boats for Parkersburg, whence we pro- ceeded overland to the Shenandoah valley. At Winchester we met General Jubal A. Earley with a large force, and here we were routed for the first time in all our experience, being flanked so successfully that the only recourse left us was to proceed to the north, and we 'set the pace,' reaching Bunker Hill at nightfall, somewhat discom- fited but not dismayed. To prevent any further flank movements on the part of the enemy we continued north to Williamsport, Penn- sylvania, in order to there get ourselves in shape to meet them again. We next met the enemy at Charleston, in a light engagement, after which the Confederate forces retired southward, making a stand at Berryville. But they still thought the better fighting to be at Cedar Creek, and had it not been for the timely arrival of General Sheridan our second repulse would have been even worse than our first. Next came the decisive battle for our arms in the Shenandoah valley,- Opequon Creek, or sometimes called the second battle of Winchester. This ended my services as a soldier in the ranks."


Mr. Williams made an admirable record as a valiant and faith- ful soldier, serving three years and four months in the ranks and taking part in thirteen of the most noteworthy battles of the great


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conflict, besides twenty-three skirmishes. He was slightly wounded on two different occasions,-at Antietam and Lexington, Virginia. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and duly received his hon- orable discharge, while he reached his home on the 9th of October, 1864.


On the 31st of March, 1864, Mr. Williams was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret J. Hanlin, and they continued their resi- dence in Meigs county, Ohio, until October, 1867, when they re- moved to Adams couty, Indiana, making the trip overland with wagons. They settled on a farm, but did not find the life enjoyable, and our subject therefore disposed of the property and located in the village of Pleasant Mills, that county, in 1869, when he came to Allen county and took up his residence in Monroeville, where he has ever since maintained his home. Here Mr. Williams engaged in the hotel business, in which he met with fair success, retiring shortly after the death of his wife, who succumbed to consumption in De- cember, 1874, their only son being summoned into the life eternal only two years later. On the 20th of February, 1875, Mr. Williams consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Emma L. Lutz. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have continued their residence in Monroeville during the long intervening years, and have witnessed the various stages of development and progress, while our subject has at all times been recognized as a liberal, loyal and public-spirited citizen. He devotes his attention principally to the breeding and improving of fancy poultry, having originated the now famous and popular White Plymouth Rock, which he has been breeding for a score of years, while the attractive type has been disseminated throughout the various sections of the Union. He is now engaged in building and equipping a steam laundry, for the benefit of the rapidly increasing population of this thriving community. What more pertinent as touching the position of Mr. and Mrs. Williams could be asked than his own words: "We are contented with out lot; we live comfortably, enjoy life, and hope the world is not worse for our living in it."


In politics Mr. Williams accords a stanch allegiance to the Re- publican party, though he has never been afflicted with office-seeking


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propensities. He is a member of Lodge No. 293, Free and Accepted Masons, at Monroeville, and was a charter member and quarter- master of a former Grand Army post at this place, though not now affiliated with the order. Mr. Williams is one of the most prominent and enthusiastic members of the Fort Wayne Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association, of which he is secretary at the time of this writing.


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WESLEY I. WORK.


The responsible duties devolving upon him as truant officer for Allen county are being most ably and acceptably discharged by the present incumbent, who figures as the subject of this brief sketch and who is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Fort Wayne.


Mr. Work was born in Dekalb county, Indiana, on the 31st of October, 1842, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Emesy) Work, the former of whom was born in Lancaster county, Ohio, in the year 1812, while the latter was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, on the 19th of September, 1818. They were numbered among the pioneers of Allen county, Indiana, where their marriage was solemnized in 1834, but a year later they removed to Dekalb county and located on a tract of wild land near the present station of New Era, where the father developed a good farm. On this old homestead the devoted wife and mother died, in 1852, and her husband thereafter remained on the place until 1865, when he removed to the city of Fort Wayne, where he passed the remainder of his long and useful life, his death occurring in 1886. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Indiana in 1852, as a delegate from Dekalb county, and in that county he also served with distinction as probate judge. He was a man of exalted character and much intellectual ability, while to him was ever accorded the unreserved confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He was thrice married, and from the first union were born one son and six daughters, while one son was born of the third mar- riage. Four of the sisters are living, namely: Mrs. W. W. Shoaff, of Fort Wayne; Mrs. Peter Shoaff, residing near the old homestead farm, in Dekalb county; Mrs. L. T. Sturgis, of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Hezekiah Hillegass, near Hunterstown, Allen county. R.


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C. Work, the only child of the third marriage, is a representative farmer near Fort Wayne.


Wesley I. Work, the immediate subject of this review, passed his youth on the old homestead farm in Dekalb county and in the common schools of the locality he secured his early educational dis- cipline. He continued his allegiance to the great basic industry of agriculture after attaining to years of maturity, and was engaged in farming in his native county until 1889, when he removed to Fort Wayne, where he became identified with the agricultural implement business, in which he was interested about seven years, after which he engaged in the school-supply business, keeping in stock a general line of textbooks, maps, blackboards and general supplies, including seats, furnaces, etc. He has met with success in this enterprise, which he continues at the present time. In May, 1904, the trustees of the several townships of Allen county, constituting, ex-officio, the county board of education, selected Mr. Work for the position of county truant officer, this being a salaried office and one provided for by an act of the state legislature in 1903. Mr. Work's official duties require him to see that all children between the ages of seven and fourteen years are kept in school during the full school terms, and his jurisdiction includes the entire county outside of the city of Fort Wayne, while his reports afford a complete record of his official labors and are made to the state board of truancy, created by the same act which has been mentioned in this connection. In his political ad- herency Mr. Work is found stanchly aligned as a supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and he has taken an active part in local party work.


In Allen county, in the year 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Work to Miss Jennie Warcup, a daughter of John and Sarah Warcup, representatives of honored pioneer families of this county, where they lived until venerable age and until the time of death, the father having been a prosperous farmer and honored citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Work have one daughter, who is now the wife of W. B. Mayer, a traveling salesman, and she remains at the parental home.


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SAMUEL HANNA.


The spirit of a pure, noble and earnest life burned in the mortal tenement of the late Judge Samuel Hanna, than whom no pioneer of the city of Fort Wayne attained to higher distinction in connection with the material and civic development of this favored section of the state, while none wielded a wider or more beneficent influence in connection with the promotion of the great public utilities which conserved such development and progress. His life was one of ful- ness and completeness, one of vigor and inflexible integrity. He accomplished great things for the general good and was not denied a due individual reward in the matter of temporal affluence. A man of rugged strength of character, of finest moral fiber, and one who real- ized a magnificent measure of useful accomplishment, his name is deeply graven on the pages of Indiana history, particularly as apply- ing to Allen county and the city of Fort Wayne, so that such a pub- lication as the one at hand must needs enter a tribute of honor and appreciation to his memory if any measure of consistency and sym- metry is to be claimed for the same.




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