USA > Indiana > Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood, Volume V > Part 28
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MARJORIE BENTON COOKE was born in Richmond, Indiana, and is now a resident of the City of New York. After attend- ing preparatory schools in Detroit and Chi- cago she graduated from the University of Chicago, class of 1899, and began her pro- fessional life in recital work of original sketches and monologues, spending her leisure time in writing stories, plays and poetry. In 1910 she gave to the world her first novel, "The Girl Who Lived in the Woods," and this has been followed by many well known works, including one vol- ume of short plays and a collection of orig- inal plays for children.
CHARLES ALBERT COLE began the practice of law at Peru forty years ago. His reputa- tion as a lawyer has been as clean as his success has been abundant, and when a number of years ago his fellow citizens and professional brethren began to call him "Judge" Cole they were prompted to do so from a serious appreciation of the fact that he was well worthy of judicial honor. Those honors came to him when in 1914 he was elected to the bench of the Fifty- First Judicial Circuit, succeeding Judge Joseph Newton Tillett. Judge Cole for the past four years has held court in this cir- cuit, and is looked upon as one of the ablest jurists in Northern Indiana.
He was born on a farm in Peru Town- ship of Miami County March 21, 1855, son of Alfonso A. and Sarah (Henton) Cole. His father died in 1862. The family home was soon moved to Peru, where Judge Cole attended the public schools. He left In- diana University in his junior year to enter the law office of Lyman Walker, and was admitted to the Miami County Bar Jan- uary 8, 1878.
Along with his large private practice Judge Cole has always manifested com- mendable interest in public affairs. He has served as county attorney, member of the city school board, and in 1880 was elected on the democratic ticket to represent Miami County in the Legislature. He is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Presby- terian Church.
December 3, 1884, Judge Cole married Miss Elizabeth Shirk, daughter of Harvey J. and Eliza M. Shirk of Peru. They have two children, Albert Harvey and Sarah Helen. The son is a graduate of the liter- ary and law departments of Indiana Uni- versity and became associated with his father in practice. The daughter was also educated in Indiana University and in a musical school in the east.
JOHN S. ALLDREDGE. In the epoch mak- ing Legislature of 1917 one of the best in- formed and most influential members was Jolın S. Alldredge of Anderson, represent- ing Madison County. Mr. Alldredge was elected in 1916, overcoming the heavy democratic majority which for a number of years had seated all candidates of that party in Madison County. His opponent was William Mullen of Summitville.
In the organization of the House of Rep-
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resentatives at Indianapolis in 1917 Mr. Alldredge was assigned on committees on cities and towns, chairman of the loan and trust committee, committee on mileage and per diem. The most distinctive work he did in that session was to draw up the bill which was at first known as the Alldredge Woman's Suffrage Bill. When this became law it was known as the Mckinley Bill, but Mr. Alldredge was the real author of the essential features of the law, the provi- sions of which place Indiana among the list of progressive states which share the electoral privileges and responsibilities with both sexes. Mr. Alldredge also introduced and succeeded in having passed the bill raising the amount allowed Civil war vet- erans and their wives for burial and ceme- tery expenses. The old allowance was $50, and it was raised to $75. Mr. Alldredge was regarded as one of the hardest working and most studious members of the Legis- lature, and impressed his ability upon much of the work done in the 1917 session.
Mr. Alldredge has long been interested in politics, and good government, and is a successful business man of Anderson. He was born on a farm in Mount Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana, Feb- ruary 15, 1875. His parents were John and Susanna (Baxla) Alldredge, of Dela- ware County. The Alldredge ancestry is a distinguished one, coming originally from England. The first American of the name was Edmund Alldredge, who came from Northern England, settled in North Caro- lina, and served as a private in the Revolu- tionary war. He fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. It is said that he took with him as a souvenir from that battlefield a British powderhorn embellished by a brazen deer on one side.
A local historian whose researches delved into the records of some of the veterans of the War of 1812 in Delaware County, a few years ago published the following re- garding Edmund Alldredge, grandfather of John S. Alldredge and a son of the Revo- lutionary soldier just mentioned. Accord- ing to this account Edmund, Jr., was born April 2, 1784, in North Carolina. His fun- damental education was limited, but all his life he was a wide reader. Hearing of the fertile country in Indiana he set out on horseback and rode the entire distance. When he arrived in what is now Delaware County the community known as Muncie-
town, now Muncie, did not contain more than half a dozen houses. He entered a fine traet of land and secured a patent from the government. He had made the ac- quaintance of a young lady near Cincin- nati, Miss Jane Mulford. They were mar- ried October 4, 1810, and the wedding trip was a journey on horseback from her father's house to the new home in the woods. They became the parents of ten children : Francis B., Elijah, Hiram, Wil- liam, Isaac, Kezia, Mary, John, Elizabeth and Edmund, Jr. When the second war for independence was declared Edmund, Sr., joined the standard of General Har- rison. He suffered much during the cam- paign in Michigan, and refusing promotion he served in the ranks until peace was de- clared. When he returned home his oldest son did not recognize him with his buckskin clothes, soldier equipment and his Indian tomahawk. He again took up farming and stock raising and prospered until 1833, when a scourge of milk sickness visited the community and in a little more than a year five of his family, including his wife, died. He married three times after that. This veteran of the War of 1812 died March 30, 1858, at the age of seventy-four, his death being the result of an accident when he fell from a load of hay. His last words to his son John were: "I am going to rest, having no fear of death." He was a worthy, honest man, absolutely truthful, trusted and respected by his neighbors, and a faithful Christian. In politics he was an ardent whig, despising slavery and doing all in his power against it. Of his kindred only two now remain, Edmund F. Alldredge of Muncie and J. S. Alldredge of Anderson.
John S. Alldredge in the maternal line is descended from James Turner, who was an English sailor and who later came to the colonies and fought on the American side in the Revolution. Mr. Alldredge's grand- mother, Catherine (Turner) Baxla, had six brothers and three brothers-in-law who were soldiers in the War of 1812, and one of them was Col. James Turner after whom Jamestown, Ohio, was named.
John S. Alldredge grew up in the coun- try district of Mount Pleasant Township, attended the district schools there, also the Muncie High School and the Muncie Nor- mal School, and finished with a business course in the Indiana Business College. In 1892, at the age of seventeen, he began
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teaching in country districts, and subse- quently studied law with Judge Templer at Muncie. Mr. Alldredge was admitted to the bar in 1898, and soon afterward was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney of Delaware County, and gained valuable ex- perience during the four years he spent in that office.
In 1906 he removed to Anderson, and since then has been actively engaged in the real estate business. Among other experi- ences he was for five years a mail carrier, and at one time was state delegate at large to the National Letter Carriers Associa- tion. His real estate business has grown and increased from year to year, and he has handled a large volume of important transactions in that field. His offices are in the Union Building at Anderson. Mr. Alldredge owns several fine farms compris- ing several hundred acres of land near Anderson, and has considerable other prop- erty interests.
In polities he has always been a republi- can, with rather decided independent pro- elivities. At the age of twenty-one he was elected a member of the County Committee in Delaware County. In 1907 he was can- didate for the nomination of mayor at An- derson, and practically had the nomination within his control, but in the end turned the strength of his following to a rival candidate. In 1912 he was nominated for the office of county treasurer, but was de- feated in that year of democratic land- slides. However, he ran far ahead of his ticket.
In 1895 Mr. Alldredge married Leathy Lucinda Wellington, daughter of Rev. John R. and Malinda (Holt) Wellington. Her father was for many years an active minister of the Church of the Brethren of Dunkard denomination, and at the time of his death in 1906 was pastor of the Church of the Brethren at Anderson. Mrs. All- dredge's mother died in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Alldredge have two children: Linna Iola and Sherman Cromer, the latter born in 1902. The daughter is now the wife of Russell Lee Showalter, of Anderson, and Mr. Alldredge has one grandson, Jolin Wellington Showalter, born March 15, 1917.
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CHARLES HENRY CHURCH is a veteran Indiana banker. In 1917 he rounded out a service of thirty consecutive years as
cashier of the Delaware County National Bank at Muncie. This is an institution with a capital of $150,000 and is the old, est bank of continuous business in Dela- ware County. It was organized April 14, 1887, as a state bank, and has been under a national charter since 1892. Some of the foremost citizens and business men of Delaware County have always been con- nected with its board of directors. Charles H. Church was the first cashier, and well informed men have given him much of the credit for the fact that the bank has weathered all financial storms and has ac- quired and retained the complete confi- dence of the business public.
Mr. Church has been a resident of In- diana as long as he has been cashier of this bank. He came to Muncie when it was just beginning its unprecedented growth and development as a center of the nat- ural gas district. In 1887 it had a popu- lation of 8,000 while today its population is over 30,000. Mr. Church, like his bank, has kept his interests enlarging and grow- ing with the development of his city and has a recognized place among the effective workers for the city's welfare.
Mr. Church was born in Chenango County, New York, at a place called Church Hollow, in honor of his family. His father, William Church, was a promi- nent man in that section of New York State. He was a merchant and for many vears was postmaster of Church Hollow. He also served as county sheriff. He was actively leagued with the forces battling slavery before the war, was a whig in poli- tics and afterwards a republican, and was a supporter and close personal friend of Horace Greeley.
Charles H. Church was educated in the common and academic schools of his na- tive county. From early manhood to the present time his business interests have always been as a merchant and financier. From New York State he moved to Ohio and in 1872 organized the First National Bank at New London in that state. He was vice president and manager of this bank until he came to Muncie. Mr. Church also organized the Muncie Savings and Loan Company in 1888 and became its treasurer, and is still treasurer and a di- rector. He was one of the charter mem- bers of the Indiana Bankers Association, and in 1906 was honored with the office of
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president of the association. His opinions have frequently been quoted on financial matters, and in any gathering of men of business or bankers he is a conspicuous figure.
Mr. Church is a Knight Templar Mason, has been very active in the different branches of that order, and in politics has been a republican since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. In December, 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Church celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding. Mrs. Church before her marriage was Miss Lou Tyler, daughter of Henry P. and Ann Ty- ler of Norwalk, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Church have two sons, William and Ernest. William is engaged in the wholesale gro- cery business at Peru, Indiana and Ernest is living in Denver, Colorado.
DAVID M. ISGRIGG, long prominent in the lumber industry at Indianapolis, represents a pioneer family of the city.
His father, the late James A. Isgrigg, was one of the early lumber merchants of Indianapolis. The Isgrigg family came to America from England in 1725, and for a number of generations they lived in Maryland. There were soldiers of the name who fought for independence during the Revolution, and one of the family, Dan- iel Isgrigg, came to the Ohio River coun- try with Gen. William Henry Harrison in 1789. James A. Isgrigg was born on a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio, February 2, 1830. In 1849 he joined the army of gold seekers and crossed the western plains to California. After his experiences in the gold mines he returned by way of Panama and New York City, and he had to show for his hardships and adventures in Cali- fornia about $1,000.
In 1853 James A. Isgrigg came to In- diana and entered the lumber business at Indianapolis. For a time he was in busi- ness at Market Street and the Big Four track, and later his yards were on Four- teenth Street and Senate Avenue. He was a successful business man and equally es- teemed for his public spirit and his honor- able and upright character. He retired from business in 1899 and died July 24, 1908. James A. Isgrigg married Julia Noble, now deceased. For nearly half a century he was identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows as a member.
David M. Isgrigg was born at Indian- apolis November 6, 1859, grew up in his native city and attended public schools, and in the course of his business career spent a number of years in New York City and Chicago. He followed in the footsteps of his father as a lumber merchant, and for a number of years conducted one of the most extensive retail lumber yards in the city, on Northwest Avenue and Twen- ty-First Street. Politically he is a repub- lican.
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WILLIAM E. HANEY. It is thought that many produce either comfort or dismay that forces put in motion long ago are, by one of the primary laws of physics, still producing results. That fact is a supreme justification of history. Otherwise a busy and preoccupied people might well forget the past as having no relation or conse- quence in the present. But the truth is that the civilization of today was produced in large part by the men of yesterday. The living present is only a narrow fringe be- tween the great dead past and the looming future. The older the community or state the more it owes to the forces and person- alities which were at work before this gen- eration came on the stage.
In the City of Logansport there were two notable names that thus belong in the era before the present generation. One was William W. Haney and the other his son, the late William E. Haney. The for- mer was born in Bucks County, Pennsyl- vania, December 25, 1809, and died at Lo- gansport April 20, 1889. His only son, William E. Haney, was born at Lewisburg, Indiana, December 28, 1837, and died at Logansport March 16, 1916. The surviv- ing representative of the family in Logans- port is Mrs. Jessie M. Uhl.
William W. Haney was a son of Joseph and Mary (Weaver) Haney. Being people of small means they were unable to provide their son with any education except that of the primitive local schools. But William W. Haney grew up and lived in a time when brains and energy were more import- ant than conventional culture. He pos- sessed keen perception and a fine memory, excelled in his judgment of men, and was a master in handling large and complicated affairs. During his youth he lived on a farm and developed a fine physique. After his farm experience he worked in a hotel,
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clerked in a store, and at the age of seven- teen joined the engineering corps engaged in the construction of a portion of the Pennsylvania Canal between Easton and Bristol. For a time he also boated coal along the river. He was made superin- tendent of a division of the Pennsylvania Canal, then resumed coal transportation, again had supervision of a branch of the canal, and carried out a contract for the construction of the Delaware and Raritan canal feeder.
Such was his training and experience before coming West. He arrived at the Village of Peru, Indiana, July 4, 1835. He had made the journey by steamboat, flat- boat and pirogue. The great improvement then talked of on every hand was the pro- posed building of the Wabash Canal. Mr. Haney soon had a force of men engaged in construction work, supplying stone for the Peru dam and later taking a contract for a section of the canal at Lewisburg. When that was completed he engaged in mer- chandising at Lewisburg, selling goods both to the white and Indian population.
July 15, 1851, William W. Haney estab- lished his home at Logansport. For a time he was a merchant, but his chief interests were as a dealer in real estate and as a private banker. For several years he was president of the Logansport branch of the old bank of the State of Indiana. The energy and native resources of his mind were indicated by the fact that he picked up in this busy career a substantial knowl- edge of the law and was admitted to the bar soon after locating at Logansport. He never had more than a limited office prac- tice, but used his knowledge of the law advantageously in his own affairs. He was for many years a member and leading sup- porter of the Broadway Methodist Church at Logansport.
Through all his material activities ran the golden thread of a splendid character. What he was as a man and citizen was well described by his old friend Judge D. P. Baldwin in remarks delivered after the death of Mr. Haney. "The late Mr. Haney was a remarkable man in many respects. This is proved by the grand fortune he accumulated in this little city where money is scarce and riches the exception. I do not hesitate to say that Mr. Haney had the best financial brain of any man that, at least in my time, ever lived in Logansport.
At seventy-nine years, and until his last sickness, his mind was as clear and as quick as that of any man in middle life. Mr. Haney's honesty was very remarkable. No scandal was ever connected with his great fortune. His word was sacred. He took no undue advantages. He was a re- markably friendly man, he was as kind and sociable with a tramp as with a mil- lionaire. He did not know what pride was any more than he knew what deceit and double dealing were. He was always clean- mouthed. No one ever heard him retail- ing scandal or speaking unkindly. Mr. Haney's great wealth brought upon him, as wealth or exceptional success always does, a great weight of envy or ralliery, but he took it good humoredly. No one ever knew him to get angry or excited, and much less vindictive or sullen. No one knew better of good and ill of life and hu- manity. Mr. Haney did not pretend to' be anything else than a business man and never sought office or promotion of any kind. He did'not set up to be a charitable man any more than a talented man, and yet his kindly voice, friendly ways, and unquestionable honesty gave him a happy and honored old age, and made him a gen- eral favorite with all classes."
December 13, 1836, he married Miss Louisiana Fidler, who survived him a num- ber of years. They had only two children, Maria Emma, who died a number of years ago, and William E.
The late William E. Haney had all the qualities of native ability and character which distinguished his father. He was educated in the common schools, attending school at Logansport after 1851. His first business venture with his father was in the produce business in 1859, but soon afterward he engaged in farming in Cass County, and continued that occupation about twelve years. On his return to Lo- gansport he was for a brief time in the boot and shoe business, later a broker, and more and more became associated with his father in handling their extensive enter- prises. When his father died the manage- ment of the entire estate devolved upon him, and he handled it as the just and righteous steward, and justified his ac- counting by the highest moral as well as business standards. For all the means and influence he possessed he exercised them with the most unassuming manner and stu-
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diously avoided all honors associated with politics or public life. He voted as a re- publican, and his only fraternal connection was with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
April 5, 1859, he married Miss Christina Conrad. Her father, William Conrad was one of the pioneer settlers of Cass County. Mrs. Haney died in the spring of 1871, the mother of eight children. Six of these children died in infancy and early child- hood. The two to reach adult age were Carrie E. and Jessie M. Jessie M. is a resident of Logansport, at 730 Broadway, and is the widow of Miller Uhl, of the well known Uhl family of Cass County.
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JOHN H. PETERS, a former postmaster of Michigan City, has been identified with the working business affairs of that com- munity since early days, and is one of the oldest and one of the most highly respected residents.
He was born in the Village of Sehiwink- endorf in the Province of Mecklenburg- Schwerin, Germany. His father was a stone cutter by trade and spent all his life in Germany. The mother survived her husband and afterward came to America with her two daughters and spent her last days in Michigan City.
John H. Peters attended school steadily to the age of fourteen, after which he learned the stone cutter's trade under his father. He worked at the trade in his native land until he was eighteen years old, and then left home to come to America. He was nine weeks on a sailing vessel be- fore reaching Quebec, and from there he went to Rochester, New York. He was a stranger, had practically no resources after paying his expenses over, and was unable to speak the English language. He was an an apt scholar and by experience and prac- tice quickly acquired a knowledge of the new language and also adapted himself quickly to American customs and ways. For two months he worked on a railroad and then came to Michigan City. Michigan City at that time had only a few hundred inhabitants, and a large part of the present site was covered with woods, while game of all kinds was abundant in the surrounding country district. Even deer was still found in this locality.
Mr. Peters entered railroad work and had charge of the local yards making up
trains, and finally was promoted to ticket seller. He officiated at the ticket win- dow for twenty-one years. He then re- signed the railroad service to engage in business as a grocery merchant on Franklin street. In company with M. C. Follet he erected a business building on the west side of that street between Fourth and Fifth streets. After being a grocery mer- chant for about a year he sold out and then bought an interest in a shoe business with his son-in-law, W. J. Fealock. The firm of Fealock and Peters continued for nine years, after which Mr. Peters sold out and has since devoted his time to his private interests. He was appointed postmaster of Michigan City by President Arthur in January, 1884, and held that office two years.
At the age of twenty-one he married Henrietta Oppermann. She was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, daughter of Henry Oppermann, who on coming to the United States located at Michigan City and spent his last days there. Mrs. Peters died in 1885. For his second wife he married Mary O'Connell. She was born at Boston, Massachusetts, daughter of William and Alice (Carroll) O'Connell, natives of Ire- land, her father of Limerick and her mother of Louth. Her parents on coming to America settled in Massachusetts, where her father died. Later her mother married Michael McHenry, and in 1869 moved to Michigan City, where both of them died.
Mr. Peters' three children are by his first marriage. They are Herman, Emma and Minnie, six others were born to this union but died when small. Minnie became the wife of W. J. Fealock and died leaving four children, named Arthur, Walter, Florence and Henrietta.
Mr. Peters has been a stanch republican ever since receiving the gift of American citizenship. He represented his ward in the City Council four years.
WILLIAM H. INSLEY is founder and head of one of Indiana's distinctive industries, The Insley Manufacturing Company at In- dianapolis. It would be instructive to deal with this company somewhat at length for more reasons than one, not only because of its present size and the scope and service- ableness of its output, but also as reflect- ing and illustrating the remarkable possi- bilities of growth that proceed from the
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