USA > Indiana > Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood, Volume V > Part 18
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The Blue Ribbon products of this com- pany are manufactured and sold through- out the world, and cover a wide range of uses. The Blue Ribbon products are pol- ishes and oils put out under a number of
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different brands, each with a special pur- pose and use, and the output also includes the Blue Ribbon Auto Specialties. The descriptive names of a number of the lead- ing products are Blue Ribbon Stainless Oil, Cleaners and Polishers for bars and for all the plumbing and sanitary fixtures of public and private buildings, Stove Polish. Silver Polish, Metal Polish, and in- cluded in the auto specialties are the Cream Metal Polish, Nickel Polish, Auto Body Gloss and Furniture Polish, Leak Proof Cement, Auto Top and Seat Dressing, Black Gloss Enamel, Oil Soap, Cold Cream Hand Soap, and a special lubricating oil for magnetos and other delicate machinery.
While Mr. Blackburn has necessarily ap- plied all his energies and time to building up his business, he has also proved an active and progressive citizen of Indianapolis and has gladly associated himself with the vari- ous civic enterprises. He married at Indianapolis Miss Maud Streight, a relative of the late General Streight, one of In- diana's distinguished commanding officers in the Civil war.
GEORGE F. BOVARD was born at Alpha, Indiana, August 8, 1856, a son of James and Sarah Bovard, both of whom were born in Ohio. After a thorough literary and professional training George F. Bo- vard became a teacher in the public schools, finally entering the ministry of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and since 1903 has been president of the University of South- ern California.
On October 1, 1884, at Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia, he married Emma Bradley, and they have three children, Warren B., Edna G., and Gladys F.
JAMES E. AYRES. A good business man, known to the community of Summitville as secretary and treasurer and manager of the Summitville Lumber Company, James E. Ayres is also one of those live and pub- lie spirited citizens who do much to influ- ence the ways of their home town and county and is one of the accepted leaders of the moral forces of his home county.
Mr. Ayres represents several generations of his family in Indiana. He is of Scotch- Irish descent, the family first locating in Pennsylvania and moving from there to Central Ohio. His grandfather, James
Ayres, was a cobbler. In early manhood he came to Hartford City, Indiana, where he spent the rest of his life. C. C. Ayres, father of James E., was born at Hartford City, and was a resident of that town thirty years. He finally moved to Redkey, and was a lumber merchant there. He married Anna B. Pollock.
James E. Ayres was born at Hartford City December 19, 1883. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Redkey and for one term was a student in the Indianapolis Business College. At the age of nineteen he went to work for his father, C. C. Ayres, keeping books for the lumber company both at Redkey and Dunkirk. He looked after the accounts of the two plants for three years.
In 1905 Mr. Ayres married Miss Minnie C. Bradley, danghter of John and Martha (Asling) Bradley. In 1908 Mr. Ayres bought a small lumber yard at Portland, Indiana, and for three months continued under the name James E. Ayres & Com- pany. After closing up its affairs he moved the stock to Redkey, and on November 20, 1908, came to Summitville as manager and treasurer of the Summitville Lumber Com- pany. In 1910 he and his father bought the entire stock, and the business has since grown and flourished under the old name of Summitville Lumber Company. They handle an immense stock of building mate- rial, lumber, paints, oils, cement, pipe, sewer and also coal. The radius of their trade connections extends for seven or eight miles around Summitville. Their plants and yards have a space 132 by 180 feet under roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Ayres lost both their own children, and have adopted two others into their home. Mr. Ayres is an ardent prohi- bitionist. In 1916 he was a candidate on that ticket for the State Senate to repre- sent Tipton and Madison counties, and went far ahead of his party associates, though he was defeated for election. He is a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Summitville, and has been chosen local exhorter of the congregation.
JARED GARDNER, a prosperous farm owner and resident of Westville, represents a family that has been identified with La- Porte County for eighty years. His wife is a member of the noted Clyburn family,
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one of the oldest and best known names in the history of the region around Lake Michigan.
Jared Gardner was born on a farm in Clinton Township, LaPorte County. His grandfather, Charles Gardner, was a na- tive of Massachusetts and moved from there to Watertown, New York, and late in life to LaPorte County, Indiana, settling in Clinton Township, where he spent the rest of his days. Edmund S. Gardner, father of Jared, was born in Hampden County, Massachusetts, and from Watertown, New York, came west in 1838 and settled in LaPorte County as one of the pioneer builders and homemakers of Clinton Town- ship. He bought land, improved a good farm, and erected a substantial house which is still standing. In the scenes of his early labors he spent his last days and died at the age of sixty-three. He married Polly Haskell, member of another pioneer family of Clinton Township. She was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and daughter of James Haskell, originally from Bradford, Pennsylvania. James Haskell spent his last years in LaPorte County. Mrs. Ed- mund S. Gardner died in 1863, leaving three children, named Alice, Jared and Frank.
Jared Gardner attended the rural schools of Clinton Township, also the West- ville High School, and finished with a course in Bryant and Stratton's Commer- cial College in Chicago. For five years he was a merchant, but then gave his entire attention to farming. Since his marriage he has lived in the Village of Westville and occupies the old Clyburn homestead. His farms are now handled by renters.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Gardner married Martha Ann Clyburn, daughter of Henley Clyburn, a famous pioneer of LaPorte County whose history is written on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have two living children Winifred, Pearl and Rolla Clyburn. Pearl is the widow of Dr. Robert Ansley and has two children, named Kenneth and Genevieve. Rolla mar- ried Winifred Herrold, and his five chil-
dren are Virginia, Ruth, Robert, Maurice J. and Martha Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Gard- ner have two children deceased, Marjorie, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Virginia Gardner Morehouse, who left one son, Lawrence Gardner Morehouse, a soldier in the British Service.
Mr. Gardner is a charter member of Westville Lodge No. 192, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a charter member of Westville Lodge, No. 309 Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at West- ville and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. In politics he is an ardent republican.
HENLEY CLYBURN. All authorities agree in giving Henley Clyburn distinction as the first permanent settler of LaPorte County. But that was only one of many distinctions. He was a cool-headed, en- terprising and courageous pioneer, fit for leadership in a new country, and was a rec- ognized power of strength in an age which begot strong men.
He was born in Richmond, Virginia, August 5, 1804. In different generations the name was variously spelled Claiborne, Clybourne and Clyburn. Henley Clyburn was a son of Jonas and Elizabeth (McKen- zie) Clyburn. His father served as a pa- triot soldier in the war for independence, and was a Virginia planter. A brother of Henley Clyburn was Archibald Clyburn, whose name is intimately associated with early history in Chicago.
The mother of Henley Clyburn has an especially romantic history. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Mckenzie. She and her sister Margaret when small girls were made captive during an Indian raid, and were carried off to the wilds of Ohio and lived with Indian tribes for twelve years. Margaret Mckenzie married John Kinzie, a famous character in the early history of Chicago and reputed to be the founder of that city. It was probably due to the in- fluence of John Kinzie of Chicago that the Clyburn boys also came west, accompanied by their parents in 1823-24. Henley was then about nineteen years of age.
In Illinois John Kinzie became an Indian trader. Henley Clyburn during his early business career made the acquaintance of Sarah Benedict. Her father, Stephen Benedict, brought his family west in 1827, and after a time bought a claim at Ottawa, Illinois, where he was one of the founders of that community. At Ottawa on May 4, 1828, Henley Clyburn and Sarah Benedict were married. Stephen Benedict died in the same year and his widow and his chil- dren then looked to Henley Clyburn as
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their protector. Though not a large man physically, Henley Clyburn possessed in an eminent degree courage, strength, perse- verance and all those qualities which are necessary to success in pioneer life. The family decided to leave Ottawa, and accom- plished with great difficulty their removal to LaPorte County, Indiana, during the winter season. On March 13, 1829, the lit- tle party went into camp near the present town of Westville in. New Durham Town- ship. Henley Clyburn and the Benedict boys soon erected a cabin at the edge of a grove about half a mile northeast of the present town of Westville.
On July 16, 1829, was born the oldest child to Mr. and Mrs. Henley Clyburn, Elizabeth Miriam, the first white child born in LaPorte County. She married Joseph Warnock and died in Westville. The other children of Henley Clyburn and his first wife were: Araminta M., who married Theodore Armitage, and is now the oldest living native citizen of LaPorte County ; William R .; Joseph H .; Mary J., who died in childhood; and Sarah E. The mother of this family died December 31, 1844. Henley Clyburn married for his second wife Mrs. Eliza (Concannon) Sherry. To that union were born five children, and the two now surviving are Martha Ann, wife of Jared Gardner, and they occupy the old Henley Clyburn home at Westville, and Mrs. Virginia Wight.
As a resident of LaPorte County Henley Clyburn confined his business affairs to farming and was never inclined to partic- ipate in politics, though he served two or three times as a county commissioner. He acquired a large amount of land and was prosperous in all his business undertakings and was extremely liberal in helping oth- ers less fortunate in bestowing the gifts of his affluence and generosity throughout a large community. It has been said that his influence was ever on the side of jus- tice, truth and right, and his kindly and benevolent spirit made his example one well worthy to be long remembered, hon- ored and revered. He died at his home in LaPorte County December 9, 1867, in his sixty-third year.
. HENRY ADAM HOLMES. As a business man and citizen the career of the late Henry Adam Holmes is identified both with Madison and Indianapolis, Indiana. He
was a splendid type of the foreign born American, and many of the older residents still recall his good name and good deeds.
He was born of an English father in County Cork, Ireland, May 22, 1825. When twenty-five years old he left his native country on board a sailing vessel for the United States. The boat became disabled and an incipient mutiny of the sailors was only quelled by the prompt and efficient action of the officers. The boat finally landed all hands safely at New Orleans. It was nearly a tragic and exceedingly dis- tressing experience to Mr. Holmes. While still on the ocean he resolved that should he ever safely reach land he would never again jeopardize his life on shipboard. He kept that vow. Coming up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Madison, Indiana, he went to work there as a common laborer. He was not particular about the work so it would earn him an honest dollar, but gradually he laid the foundation of an in- dependent career. He served an appren- ticeship at the plaster's trade. This work did not give him enough means to satisfy his desires, and he worked at night helping unload boats at the river docks. He also attended night school as a means of acquir- ing a better education.
Following the completion of his appren- ticeship he moved to Indianapolis before the outbreak of the Civil war and estab- lished himself at his trade and as a con- tractor. One of the principles to which he adhered and which had much to do with his success in life should be recalled as a source of inspiration. He made it a rule always to do a little bit better work than was called for by the strict terms of any contract which he accepted, and while many men have declared they found it un- profitable to observe such a rule, it proved otherwise with Mr. Holmes. He handled a large volume of business every year, and some of his work is still in evidence in In- dianapolis as a monument to his ability. Thus in every way he was a credit to the land of his adoption. He was a man of great energy, and his Irish blood furnished him the keen interest he always took in politics, which continued even to the day of his death. His oldest son, William, was accidentally drowned in the White River, and as his ambition was largely centered in this first born his zest of life thereafter was materially lessened. He was a convert
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to the Catholic religion, and to that church and faith gave his most active adherence.
While at Madison Mr. Holmes married Johanna Frances Fitzgibbon. He died in 1884, and his wife in 1911. Of their nine children two sons and three daughters are still living, the sons being David and Wil- liam H., both residents of Indianapolis. The daughters are: Mary, wife of Adolph St. Lorenz and the mother of one child, Hortenz; Louise, wife of Dr. Thomas Cot- ter, of Indiana Harbor, Indiana, and the mother of three children; and Nellie, wife of Samuel R. Hoffman.
William H. Holmes, president of the En- terprise Iron Works, was born at Indian- apolis April 11, 1872. He had a public school education and learned the trade of iron moulder with the Chandler-Taylor Company. In 1913, associated with others, he organized the Enterprise Iron Works, of which he has since been president. This is one of the leading concerns in the Indian- apolis industrial district.
December 31, 1901, Mr. Holmes married Miss Johanna Frey, who died March 16, 1918, leaving three children: Johanna Frey, Elizabeth Ellen and Mary. Mr. Holmes is a member of the Independent Athletic Club, the Transportation Club, the Foundrymen's Association, of which he was one of the incorporators, and fraternally is a Mason.
FREDERICK FAHNLEY. Friends and busi- ness associates have long spoken of Fred- erick Fahnley as a man of high sterling in- tegrity and upright business and social life. In his record of more than fifty years' participation in local affairs it is not difficult to find ample proof and repeated corroboration for this character and all the kindly estimates that have been spoken by his business and social acquaintances.
His is the kind of story that Americans never tire of reading, and is a constant, source of inspiration and strength. Born in Wuertemberg, Germany, November 1, 1839, educated in the common schools of his native town, he was only fifteen when in 1854 he crossed the ocean to the land of opportunity. He grew into American cit- izenship, not merely adapted it, and his loy- alty to this country and its ideals has been one of the prominent facts in his life and has been tested hy every reasonable proof
that might be required of a thorough American patriot.
With the vigor of his blood and race young Fahnley found his first employment in a general merchandise store at Medway in Clark County, Ohio. Two years later he went to Dayton, and for three years worked in a wholesale millinery and dry goods honse. It was there he laid the foundation of his permanent business ca- reer. In 1860, returning to Medway, he opened a general country store and stocked it with all the commodities usually found in an emporium of that class. It was a business that satisfied his early ideas as to profit, but was not sufficient to keep him always in the role of a country merchant. While at Medway, and at the age of twenty-two, he served as postmaster, re- ceiving his appointment from President Lincoln.
In 1865 Mr. Fahnley came to Indianap- olis, and associated with Daniel Stiles and Rollin McCrea established the wholesale millinery firm of Stiles, Fahnley & McCrea. Since that date Mr. Fahnley has been one of the leading wholesale merchants of the city, and as he looks back over the inter- vening half century he takes pride and pleasure not only in the achievements of his own house but in the development of Indianapolis as a general wholesale center supplying the necessities of the retail trade throughout the Middle West. At the end of four years, Mr. Stiles retired from the firm, and the business after that was con- tinned by his two associates under the name Fahnlev & McCrea. In 1875. to meet the demands of a steadily growing business, the firm bought ground just opposite from their first store on South Meridian Street and erected what at that time was the fin- est structure in the wholesale district. In 1898 the business was incorporated, when several old and valued employes were ad- mitted to share in the stock, under the title Fahnlev & McCrea Millinery Company. In February, 1905, as a result of the most destructive fire that ever visited the whole- sale district of Indianapolis, the company lost its building and stock, but in the course of the same vear erected a substantial and thoroughly modern five-story brick build- ing. which has since served as the home of this old and honored Indianapolis house.
Mr. Fahnley is still looked upon as one
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of Indianapolis' active business men. Be- sides the heavy responsibilities he has borne in building up the millinery business he has served as a director of the Merchants National Bank and the Indiana Trust Com- pany, and has been vice president of both of them. He is also actively identified with the Board of Trade and the Commer- cial Club, was one of the organizers of the Columbia Club, and has been identified with the German House and Indianapolis Maennerchor Society. In politics he has been a straightforward republican, never desiring or seeking any honor of any kind.
Mr. Falinley married Miss Lena Soehner, who was born in Baden, Germany, and came to America with her parents at the age of seven years. She grew up and re- ceived her education at Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Fahnley died October 7, 1899, at the age of fifty-eight. Her two daughters are: Bertha, who married Gavin Payne, of In- dianapolis, and Ada, wife of William Shafer.
HON. ALBERT J. VENEMAN, a former speaker of the House of Representatives in Indiana, has been a prominent lawyer and publie official at Evansville for twenty years. His grandfather was also an early member of the Evansville bar.
Theodore Veneman, his grandfather, was a native of Germany, and he and his brother Joseph founded the family in America. He came to this country after his marriage, and was admitted to the bar soon after locating at Evansville. He never had a general practice, but gave most of his time to banking, acting as agent for steamship lines, and as legal adviser to his fellow countrymen. He knew German as well as English law, and was often called upon to assist in settling estates in Ger- many. He was elected county treasurer of Vanderburg County in 1856 and 1858, and died at Evansville in 1872. His wife was Catherine Rathers. Their children were Theodore W., Louise, Josephine, Caroline, and August.
August Veneman was born while his par- ents were visiting in Germany, but spent most of his life in Evansville, where he he- came a merchant. He died in 1880. He married Julia Reitz, who died in 1879. She was born in Evansville, daughter of Clement and Gertrude Reitz. Albert J.
Veneman has two brothers, Edward and Oscar W.
Albert J. Veneman was born in Evans- ville, where he was educated in the paro- chial schools, took his law course at the State University, and was admitted to the bar in 1898. He served as city attorney from 1906 to 1910, when he was elected a member of the legislature, and during the following session was chosen to direct the deliberations of the House as speaker. From 1912 to 1919 Mr. Veneman held the office of county attorney.
In 1901 he married Anna H. Kelly, and they have a daughter, Mary Gertrude. Mr. Veneman is a district deputy of the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of the board of trustees of Willard Library, and president of Vanderburgh Anti-Tuber- culosis Society. During the sale of gov- ernment bonds he was one of the four min- ute speakers and was chairman of the local board, Division Three, City of Evansville. Mr. Veneman is a member of Vanderburgh County Bar Association.
COL. GUY A. BOYLE is commercial en- gineer of the Bell Telephone Company at Indianapolis, but is most widely known to Indianans through his service as an offi- cer in the Spanish-American and Philip- pine wars and his long and active associa- tion with the State National Guard and other military organizations. He is one of the distinguished veterans of Indiana mili- tary affairs.
Colonel Boyle was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, in 1874, and his parents, W. H. and Nancy J. (Richards) Boyle, were also natives of this state. When he was a small boy his parents removed to Indianapolis, where he was reared, attend- ing the grammar and high schools, and spending one year in Butler College. For four years Colonel Boyle was a clerk in the car service department of the Big Four Railway and later was in the insurance brokerage business at Indianapolis.
He was only fifteen years of age when he joined the National Guard of Indian- apolis. He was active in that organization over twenty years. When the Spanish- American war broke out in 1898 he volun- teered and was made battalion adjutant of the Second Indiana Infantry. He was mustered out in November, 1898, and in the
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spring of 1899 made application for a has been engaged in educational work. commission in the United States volunteer During the past nine years, since 1910, he has been professor of psychology and edu- cation in Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also the author of many standard works, and is promi- nently affiliated with many of the noted educational societies of the country. He is a lecturer on educational topics and re- searcher in experimental psychology. army for service in the Philippines. He was commissioned a lieutenant and in July, 1899, went to the Philippines with the Thirtieth United States Volunteer In- fantry. There were few men in any branch of the service who saw longer and more active work in the Philippines than Colonel Boyle. He was on duty two years and six months, covering the period of the insur- Mr. Breitwieser married Ruth Fowler, and their children are Charles John, Kath- erine Rebecca, and Janice Breitwieser. rection, and earned a distinguished record for gallant and meritorious service. By a gunshot wound through the knee he was badly wounded while leading a reconnoit- ering expedition, and was invalided home for several months.
After this long and eventful experience abroad Colonel Boyle returned to Indian- apolis and became personal aide to General McKee, adjutant general of Indiana. Later he was promoted to inspector general of the National Guard with the rank of lieutenant colonel, a staff position assigned to general headquarters. He finally retired from the National Guard in 1910, but has always kept up an active interest in the army and military affairs, and his experience and en- thusiasm have enabled him to perform many important services for his country during the present war.
Colonel Boyle was one of the first to join and take an active interest in the or- ganization of the veterans of the Spanish- American war. In a meeting at Chicago he was one of the founders of the present national organization of the United Span- ish War Veterans, formed from a consoli- dation of two older separate bodies. At that meeting he was made adjutant general of the national organization. His Indiana comrades also honored him with the post of commander of the Department of Indiana, and he filled that office from November, 1902, to November, 1903.
Since 1907 Colonel Boyle has been iden- tified with the Central Union Telephone Company, the Bell System, of Indianapolis, and has many responsibilities as its com- mercial engineer. Colonel Boyle is a re- publican. He married Miss Anna Dern- dinger, of Indianapolis, now deceased. He has one daughter, Miss Marie Alice Boyle.
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