USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 12
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James R. Goodwin pursued his education in the public schools of Leavenworth, Indiana, at Cave in Rock, Illinois, and in the high school at Louisville, Kentucky. During the vacation periods in his youthful days he
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had assisted his father and about the time he attained his majority was admitted to a partnership, joining his father in the restaurant business, in which he continued for a short time. He then turned his attention to industrial pursuits, engaging in skiff building at Cave in Rock, Illinois. The skiffs were built in the fall and winter, floated down the Mississippi river at the time of the high waters in the spring and sold at southern points. Mr. Goodwin continued in that businsess for about a year and in February, 1878, removed to Evansville, where he spent about three weeks in search of work. At length he obtained a position at gluing bedsteads for the Armstrong Furniture Company, working for two weeks at a salary of only four dollars and seventy-five cents per week. Such a position would, of course, not content a man of his ambitious nature and he sought other employment which he found in the Southern Chair Works, at the corner of Fourth and Division streets. There he was engaged in rolling logs and wheeling sawdust at one dollar a day. After six weekes spent in that way he entered the employ of the Evansville & Terre Haute Rail- road Company, loading freight for two months. He next solicited adver- tising for Tom Groves, to be inserted in the county fair catalog, working in the territory around Evansville for two months. At the end of that time Mr. Morse, who conducted a bankruptcy shoe store, arranged with him to go to Henderson and take charge of a branch store at that place. He remained there for six months, at the end of which time the stock was re- moved to a new building erected at the corner of Fourth street and Market place in Evansville where it was closed out. Mr. Goodwin next secured a position as salesman in a dry goods store conducted by Miller Brothers where he remained for three years, and on the expiration of that period turned his attention to the insurance business in which he prospered so that he was able to save considerable money. The capital thus acquired was invested in a jeans pants manufactory, the product being known as buckskin breeches. In this enterprise he was associated with Mr. Pleasant and afterward with Mr. Harrison, who in turn was succeeded by Wallace Cook. Mr. Goodwin continued in that business for fifteen years and found it a profitable source of income. In January, 1904, he began the manu- facture of plumbers' woodwork, bought out the patents in Chicago of the never-split seat and removed the business to Evansville where H. P. Ben- nighof and Samuel Jacobson joined him in the conduct of the business now conducted under the name of the Never Split Seat Company. Mr. Jacob- son and Mr. Bennighof have been succeeded by E. O. and J. S. Hopkins. Mr. Goodwin is president of the company with John S. Hopkins as sec- retary and treasurer. From the beginning the business has grown steadily until it has reached extensive proportions. The output is sold all over the United States and in many foreign countries, including France, England, Panama, Australia and the Philippines. For manufacturing purposes the company uses a large building three hundred by sixty feet with a wing
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one hundred and sixty by sixty feet. The plant is splendidly equipped with the latest improved machinery for turning out work of this character and the substantial quality of the output brings a ready sale and makes the enterprise one of the important and profitable productive industries of Evansville.
On the 5th of January, 1876, Mr. Goodwin was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Cook, a native of Crittenden county, Kentucky, and they now have three children; Walter C., who at the age of thirty years is as- sociated with his father in business; Percy E., twenty-eight years of age, who is conducting a moving picture show in Missouri; and Grace G., now the wife of Leslie Williams, of Detroit, Michigan.
Mr. Goodwin belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He has been very active in politics for more than twenty years, although he devotes less time to it now than formerly. He remains, however, an interested witness of the political movements of the country, keeping thoroughly in touch with the questions of vital import. He has served as a member of the city council and was a delegate to the national convention in 1896 when William Jennings Bryan was first nominated for the presidency. His business, however, leaves him little time for outside interests and activities, demanding almost his entire time and attention. Gradually he has worked his way upward and his own capacities and powers constituted the founda- tion upon which he has built his success. Untiring industry, faithfulness to every trust reposed in him and enterprising methods have been the domi- nant factors in an active life, whereby he has gained recognition as one of the leading and worthy business men of Evansville.
GEORGE M. DAUSSMAN, JR.
George M. Daussman, Jr., sole agent for Indiana for the F. W. Cook Brewing Company of Evansville, was born in Evansville, January 28, 1883, a son of George M. and Anna Daussman. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and mastering the lessons of successive grades even- tually entered the high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. Throughout his business career he has been connected with the F. W. Cook Brewing Company, entering the service of that corporation as clerk in the bottle shop office at one dollar per day. He continued to fill that position for two years, after which he was placed in charge of the city bottle business and so continued until January 1, 1910. From that day he became a licensed dealer of these bottle products in the city and state of Indiana and has since met with excellent success in placing the goods upon the market. Something of the growth of his business is indicated in the fact that he now uses nine wagons in delivering and employs twelve men.
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Mr. Daussman was married in Evansville to Miss Amelia Gamble, the wedding being celebrated on the 26th of June, 1907. Mr. Daussman at- tends St. John's Lutheran church and is a member of several fraternal societies including the Ranchman and the Eagles. He is well known in various German societies including the Liederkranz, the Turners and the Concordia Society.
ERNEST C. MEYER.
For twenty-one years Ernest C. Meyer has resided upon the farm of sixty-acres in Center township which he now owns and operates. It is a well developed tract of land and moreover it is the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He was born in Germany, October 12, 1841, and is a son of Frederick and Mary Meyer, who were also natives of that country. The father followed the occupation of farming in Ger- many and continued in his native land throughout his entire life, being called to his final rest in 1873. For about six years he had survived his wife, who died in 1867.
It was previous to this time that Ernest C. Meyer left Germany for the new world. His education was acquired in the schools near his father's home, and in his youth he had been trained to habits of industry upon the home farm. On attaining his majority he determined to test the truth of the reports which he had received concerning the business conditions and advantages to be found in the United States. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic and, making his way into the interior of the country, settled at Elberfield, Indiana, where he remained for six months. On the expiration of that brief period he came to Vanderburg county, taking up his abode in Evansville, where he secured employment in the tailoring shop of Mr. Feldman, for whom he worked for two years. He had learned the tailor- ing business in Germany and was therefore well qualified for the position which he secured. He was ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account that he might receive the direct reward of his labors, and in 1867 he opened a tailoring shop, carrying on business for twenty-one years. He enjoyed throughout that period a good trade, for the work which he turned out was always satisfactory. He employed competent help, carried an attractive line of materials and in style and workmanship his product was in keeping with that turned out in the larger cities. In 1889 he withdrew from the tailoring business and removed to Center town- ship, purchasing sixty acres of fine farm land on which he has since re- sided. He has erected a large barn here and has made other improve- ments, and twenty-one years have now been devoted by him to general agricultural pursuits, in which business he has met success similar to that which he won at his trade.
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In August, 1865, Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Caroline Schulte, a daughter of Henry and Louise Schulte, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which land the father spent his entire life. The mother after- ward came to America and here her remaining days were passed, her death occurring in 1898. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been born eight children: Louise, aged forty-five years, residing in Evansville; Matilda, who is married and also resides in Evansville; Ernest, who in conducting a tailoring business in that city; Frederick, who passed away in 1900; Henry, who died in infancy; Edward, who at the age of thirty-two years, resides at home and assists his father in the cultivation of the home farm; Annie, aged twenty-eight years, also at home; and Charles, who passed away in infancy.
Politically Mr. Meyer is a republican and as every true American citi- zen should do keeps well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He and his family attend the Lutheran church and he is a member of the Central Labor Union. His life has been characterized by unfaltering dili- gence, determination and perseverance. These have been the dominant qualities in his business career and in time have brought him a comfortable competence, making him one of the substantial citizens of his adopted county. He has never had cause to regret his determination to come to the new world, and no native born citizen of Indiana is more loyal to the best interests of the state and nation.
THOMAS N. BEIDELMAN.
Thomas N. Beidelman is operating successfully in the field of real estate, in which connection he has been well known in Evansville since 1888. During this time he has negotiated many important transfers, and it would be difficult to find one who is more thoroughly informed concerning the real-estate market and conditions in this part of the state than he. His birth occurred in the neighboring state of Illinois, Mount Carmel being the place of his nativity and the date July 15, 1850. His parents were George L. and Jane (Ulm) Beidelman, the latter a great-grandaughter of Edward ยท Ulm, a Hessian soldier, who was among those hired by the British troops to aid in crushing out the "rebellion" among the American colonists in 1776. A number of the Hessian soldiers afterward deserted, among them Edward Ulm, who, on learning of the real condition here, did not care to wage warfare against the Americans. Pleased with the new world, he settled in Maryland and afterward resided in southern Illinois. George L. Beidelman was a cabinet maker by trade, continuing in that business until his life's labors were ended in death in 1871, when he was forty-six years of age. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted, in 1861, at Spring-
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field, Illinois, as a member of the Thirty-second Illinois Regiment, and served for three years. He then reenlisted and became a first lieutenant of the Sixth Mississippi Colored Regiment afterward known as the Fifty- eighth United States Infantry. He contracted illness during this time which later resulted in his death. His widow is now living in Union county, Oregon, in her eighty-first year.
Thomas N. Beidelman pursued his education in the public schools and in a private school in Fairfield, Illinois. He was but eight years of age when the family left Mount Carmel, going to Albion, Illinois, whence a year later a removal was made to Grayville, Illinois. Another year passed and they returned to Mount Carmel in 1860, there continuing until 1866, when the family home was established at Jeffersonville, Illinois. Three years later they removed to Fairfield, Illinois, where Thomas N. Beidel- man completed his education and after leaving school began work at the cabinet maker's trade with his father. Thinking that he might have better opportunities in one of the states west of the Mississippi, he went to White Cloud, Kansas, where he remained for two years. Returning to Illinois, he settled at Carmi, where he had the contract to erect all of the buildings on the fair grounds thirty-one years ago. In 1880 he began the operation of a sawmill, establishing the largest enterprise of that character in the town. He was meeting with substantial success in the undertaking and had a large number of logs in the river above the state dam at New Haven, but the farmers in that vicinity banded against him and one night some unknown person or persons blew up the dam, letting all the water out, so that his logs were ruined by dry rot and worms. He then entered suit against the state for eighteen thousand dollars. At that time there was no court of claims in Illinois, but his efforts to recover damages led to the establishment of such a court in the year 1888. Mr. Beidelman's attor- ney was then appointed one of the members of the board of the court of claims and was thus forced to turn his client's case over to another. Mr. Beidelman's suit still stands before the board and, with the interest for the length of time that has intervened, thirty-five thousand dollars is now due him.
In August, 1888, he left Carmi and came to Evansville, where he opened a real-estate office. For two years thereafter he was a partner of L. S. Ford, a very prominent real-estate dealer of this city. He has since operated alone and is one of the leaders in this line of business in Evans- ville. He is thoroughly acquainted with property conditions, understands values and knows what is purchasable, so that he can ably attend to the wants of his clients.
When in Fairfield, Illinois, in 1869, Mr. Beidelman married Miss Susan B. Fitzgerell, her father being at that time a prominent merchant of Fair- field. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beidel- man have been born a daughter and son. The former is now Mrs. Maud E. Tinker, of Evansville, while the son, I. L. Beidelman, married Ada
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Bullock, of this city, in 1895 and has become the father of one son, Edward Thomas. I. L. Beidelman is now connected with the offices of the Louis- ville & Nashville Railroad Company.
In the face of conditions which would have utterly discouraged many a man of less resolute spirit Mr. Beidelman has established for himself a profitable and growing business, and made for himself an honorable name in the business circles of his adopted city.
(Since the above was written Mr. Beidelman died suddenly December 6, 1910).
W. VARNEY DIXON.
W. Varney Dixon, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Evansville Bookcase & Table Company, has since the outset of his busi- ness career placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of energy, determination and perseverance. In the exercise of such qualities difficul- ties and obstacles vanish like mists before the morning sun, and therefore Mr. Dixon has gradually worked his way upward until called to his present responsible position in September, 1910.
He was born in Evansville, December 16, 1867, and is a son of George L. and Mary J. Dixon. The father was born in Parkersburg, West Vir- ginia, in 1832, and removing westward to Vanderburg county, Indiana, settled in Union township, where he secured employment on a farm. Here he remained until 1849, when he removed to Henderson, Kentucky, where he was connected with general merchandising until 1862. In that year he returned to Indiana and took up his abode in Evansville, establishing a wholesale shoe business, in which he continued for thirty-six years, or until his death in 1898. Throughout that period he was accounted one of the foremost merchants of the city, promptly executed well formulated plans and at all times conducted his interests in strict conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics.
Born and reared in Evansville, W. Varney Dixon attended the public schools until graduated from the high school with the class of 1884. His business training was received under the direction of his father, for whom he went upon the road, representing the shoe business as a traveling sales- man for twelve years. He then turned his attention to the men's furnish- ing goods business, in which he continued on his own account for five years. His enterprise and ability then received public recognition in his election to the position of secretary of the Evansville Business Association, in which position he remained for five years. At the end of that time he was chosen secretary and treasurer of the Evansville Bookcase & Table Company and in this connection is contributing in substantial measure to the growth and development of the business. His experience as secretary of the Business
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Men's Association has made him thoroughly familiar with the conditions of trade here so that he is well qualified to assume active control of one of the important industrial interests of the city.
On the 12th of April, 1898, Mr. Dixon was married in Salem, Illinois, to Miss Edith Merritt, and they have two children; George L., eight years of age, who is attending the public schools; and Thomas Merritt, five years of age who is now a little pupil in the kindergarten. The parents are promi- nent socially and theirs is a hospitable home in which a cordial welcome is ever extended to their many friends.
Mr. Dixon's political endorsement is given to the democratic party. He belongs to the Evansville Business Association, to the Travelers Pro- tective Association, to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Masonic fraternity. He is loyal in his support of each and in fact it is characteristic of Mr. Dixon that he is always a stanch adherent of any cause to which he pledges himself. His cooperation can be counted upon in matters of progressive citizenship and in business transactions his relia- bility is above question.
PHILIP EULER.
Philip Euler, deceased, was one of the best known insurance men of Evansville and this part of the state and his engaging personality made him a popular and esteemed citizen. He was born in Germany in 1837, a son of Philip and Barbara (Breneis) Euler, who were also natives of Germany. When the son was fourteen years of age, the parents crossed the Atlan- tic with their family to the new world and after a year spent in Cincinnati removed to Evansville, where the family home was established. Here the father engaged in business as a wholesale wine dealer, importing wine in casks from Europe. He was a man of remarkable strength and weighed three hundred and ten younds. He continued a resident of Evansville until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age.
Philip Euler acquired his early education in the schools of Germany and after coming to America took up the study of bookkeeping. He also learned the saddler's trade and continued in that line of business until after the outbreak of the Civil war. During the period of hostilities he joined the army for one hundred days' service and held the rank of lieutenant. He first became connected with the insurance business as a representative of the firm of Drew & Bennett and from time to time was continuously connected with insurance interests until his demise. In 1876 he entered the service of the Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company as a field worker, the western department of the company being established at that time. He was capable, earnest and energetic, was thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the insurance business and succeeded in building up
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an extensive clientage. The high regard in which he was held by the com- pany that he represented is indicated in the fact that on the IIth of July, 1881, following his death, the company passed resolutions concerning his efficiency and the respect entertained for him as a man.
In 1861 Mr. Euler was united in marriage in Evansville to Miss Susanna Elles, a native of this city, and unto them were born six children: Mrs. Helen Cramer, Frank, Mrs. Tecla Henry, Philip and Herman, all of Evans- ville; and August, deceased. Mr. Euler reared a fine family and was proud of his children and what they accomplished. He was indeed a most de- voted husband and father, finding his greatest happiness in the welfare of his family, in whose interests he put forth earnest and untiring effort. He was, moreover, a public-spirited citizen who cooperated in many move- ments for the general good. He belonged to St. John's church and his life was an upright and honorable one, winning him the high regard of all with whom he was associated. His success was attributable entirely to his own labors and the visible evidence of his life was found in the property which he owned here. His life in all respects measured up to the highest stand- ards of honorable manhood and although almost three decades have come and gone since he passed away his memory is yet dear to many who knew him.
HENRY ERHARDT.
A well improved farm property of sixty acres pays tribute to the care and labor which is bestowed upon it by its present owner, Henry Erhardt, now a well known and representative farmer of Center township. Vander- burg county has largely been settled by German residents and those of German descent. To the latter class belongs Henry Erhardt, who was born September 19, 1858, in German township-that section of Vanderburg county which indicates in its name the fact that it was developed by the sons of the fatherland. His parents, John and Elizabeth Erhardt, were both natives of Germany and established their home in German township, this county, at a very early period, the father purchasing forty acres of land. It was entirely wild and unimproved, but he at once began clearing away the timber, grubbing up the stumps and plowing and planting the fields. In due course of time this tract was transformed into a cultivable property, and year by year the fields returned good crops up to the time of his death, which occurred September 6, 1872. His wife, also well known in the community, passed away in 1889.
The youthful days of Henry Erhardt were spent upon the old home- stead farm to the age of fifteen years, when he began providing for his own support by working by the month as a farm hand in the locality. He was diligent and reliable, so that he readily secured employment, and thus
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time passed until he attained his majority, when he felt it incumbent upon him to make some arrangement whereby his labors would more directly benefit himself. He, therefore, rented land and in this way carried on farming for eighteen years, during which period he carefully saved his earnings. He then bought sixty acres of land in Center township and with renewed courage and determination began the cultivation of the place. He has made substantial improvements thereon, supplying the farm with many modern accessories.
In 1882 Mr. Erhardt was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Ehkofer, a daughter of George and Christina Ehkofer, who were also natives of Germany. This marriage has been blessed with six children: Christina, who died in 1883; Henry G., who follows carpentering and lives at home ; Josephine, twenty-three years of age; Katy F., twenty years of age; Aurelia E., a young lady of sixteen years ; and Evelyn, ten years of age. The living children are all yet under the parental roof. Mr. Erhardt is independent in thought and of liberal tendencies. He is a believer in the spiritualist faith and in socialistic doctrines-not the doctrine of anarchy but that which recognizes the rights of others and seeks a just and equitable division of material and political rights and interests.
WILLIAM STORTON.
While steam had been introduced as a propelling force in navigation in the middle of the nineteenth century, yet the greater part of the trans- Atlantic vessels were still propelled by sails. It was on one of the old time sailing vessels that William Storton left England for America. Sixty days passed-days of storm and of fair weather, ere the ship on which he sailed dropped anchor in the harbor of New Orleans. He was then a youth of four- teen years, his birth having occurred in the town of Sumersham, in the district of Huntington, England, October 16, 1840.
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