USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 19
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Mrs. Melissa E. Sloan is a daughter of John A. and Lavinia (Curry) Leonard, who was born in Davidson county, North Caro- lina, the son of Jacob Leonard and a grandson of Valentine Leonard, who came to America from Germany and was killed by the Tories near Lexington, North Carolina. For many generations the Leonards have been successful agriculturists and stock dealers and highly respected citizens and still living near Lexington, North Carolina.
John Leonard, the father of Mrs. Sloan, owned a large farm in Hancock county, Indiana, and there he brought his wife and family from North Carolina, in an early day, making a three weeks' trip in a covered wagon. He settled in the woods of Han- cock county, in 1836, when that section of the state was little more than a wilderness, and the family lived in a small log cabin there for some time. By dint of hard work and persistent effort he, in due course of time, developed a fine farm and had a comfortable home, erecting a large, substantial dwelling, and there his death occurred in April, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was for many years one of the best known and highly esteemed men of the country, one of its worthiest pioneers. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Lavinia Curry, was a native of North Carolina and her death occurred in April, 1875, at the age of sixty-five years. She was of Irish extraction. Twelve children were born to John and Lavinia Leonard, the first six in North Car- olina, namely: Susan, Sarah, Pleasant James, William Franklin, Rufus C. B., Martha, Hester A., George W. are all deceased, Martha having been but ten weeks old when the family left North Carolina; Melissa Elizabeth, widow of William G. Sloan, of this sketch, was next in order of birth after George W .; then came Jacob David, now deceased; followed by Homer, Lealtus F. and Shepard V. All of the above named children received a good com- mon school education.
Mrs. Sloan has been a taxpayer in the city of Indianapolis since 1864. She has always taken an active interest in civic im- provement and has done much toward the upbuilding of the part of the city in which she lives. She is a woman of excellent business qualifications and has managed the affairs of her husband's valua- ble estate in a most commendable manner, keeping everything in first class condition and carrying out the plans which he inaug- urated in a faithful manner. She is well known throughout her section of the city and numbers her friends by the scores.
JOHN M. RIEDMILLER, SR.
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JOHN M. RIEDMILLER, SR.
It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the cheers and the apprecia- tion of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame who before that had no reputation beyond their own neighbor- hoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits hu- manity most, but the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in Fort Wayne, Indiana, of a past generation who achieved success along steady lines of action and set the younger generation of business men a worthy example was the late John M. Riedmiller, Sr., who, like many of the most enterprising and valuable citizens of Allen county, from the days of the first settler to the present time, came from the German empire, which has furnished so many of the progressive citizens of the Republic of the West. He was one of the leading men of affairs of this city in its first stages of develop- ment and he played well his part in the progress of the same in every way possible. He was one of those solid men of brain and substance so essential to the material growth and prosperity of a community and whose influence was willingly extended in behalf of every deserving enterprise that has for its object the advance- ment and moral welfare of the state.
The birth of Mr. Riedmiller occurred in Asbach, province of Wurtemberg, Germany, March 14 ,1836. He was the son of John M. and Barbara (Beck) Riedmiller. His father died when he was about fourteen years old, his mother reaching the advanced age of eighty-three years before she passed to the mystic beyond. The subject of this memoir was the youngest of a family of six chil- dren. He grew up in his native vicinity and received his education in Germany. Having heard of the excellent advantages that ex- isted for the ambitions young man in the New World, he conceived the idea of trying his fortune here when but a young man, and at
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the age of eighteen years he set sail for our shores, and, after a long and tedious journey, he reached Fort Wayne, Indiana, hav- ing come direct to the then great military post on the western frontier when the section was little developed, reaching here in the year 1853. An older brother, George Riedmiller, had preceded him to this place. The subject's first venture was in the grocery business and then he started in the brewery business. He was by nature an excellent business man, possessing keen discernment, wise foresight and the ability to grasp a situation quickly, and he was successful from the start, his business gradually increas- ing with the years until he became one of the foremost and sub- stantial business men of Fort Wayne and one of the influential citizens of northeastern Indiana. He established a commodious home at No. 1345 Taylor street, and in this picturesque old home- stead the family has resided for the past forty-five years, and here John M. Riedmiller, Sr., passed to his rest on August 19th, twenty-seven years ago.
Politically, Mr. Riedmiller was a stanch Democrat, but his · first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He became very prominent in city affairs, as above intimated. Hc served as a member of the city council for three terms, during which he did much for the permanent good of Fort Wayne and earned the last- ing gratitude of the people. Religiously, he was a devout and very active member of St. John's Lutheran church, a liberal sup- porter of church and charitable work, but was always unassum- ing and never sought to make a public display of his beneficent gifts, but helped all good causes out of his deep love of the right and his duty to the unfortunate and the worthy, as he saw and understood the right. He was one of the founders of the church mentioned above and was a trustee in the same at the time of his death, being one of the most important pillars in the local con- gregation during his lifetime.
John M. Riedmiller, Sr., was united in marriage with Cath- erine Wolf, May 5, 1857, in Fort Wayne. She is the daughter of William and Ragena (Dietrich) Wolf. Her father was a brewer and a very successful business man. He lived but one year after coming to Fort Wayne, his death having occurred in 1853, his widow surviving until 1863. Mrs. Riedmiller was the second of a family of four children, and she was born in Koenig, Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, December 24, 1839, and she grew to wo- manhood there and was educated in her native land, emigrating
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from there with her parents to America in 1852. She is also a member of St. John's Lutheran church, and during her lifetime has been very active in church circles.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John M. Riedmil- ler, Sr., namely: Julia Eliza, who married Fred Rippe, both now derensed, were the parents of three children, Julia, Clara and Edwin, who live with their grandmother, Mrs. Catherine Ricd- miller. Charles John Riedmiller, the second child, married Rose Hensel, and they are both now deceased. The youngest child, John M. Riedmiller, Jr., a complete sketch of whom appears else- where in this volume, married Louise Fischer, and his death oc- curred on January 21, 1912, at the age of forty-six years. He was horn and reared in Fort Wayne, and here attended St. John's Lutheran school until he was thirteen years old, then took a two years' course in Concordia College. He then went to work as a driver for his father who, after abandoning the old Eagle brewery on Taylor street, which he established in pioneer days, conducted n bottling establishment and distributing house for brewers of other cities. Young Riedmiller was only nineteen years old when his father died in 1885, but he took charge of the bottling plant, which he managed with great success until 1893, when he sold his holdings and entered the employ of the Centlivre Brewing Com- pany as sales manager, becoming a stockholder and director in the plant in 1900, and he became one of the best known and most substantial of the younger business men of the city and county of his nativity. On October 30, 1902, he married Louise Fischer, as stated above. This union was without issue. John M. Riedmiller was a prominent member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, as well as the Alumni of Concordia College, and he was also an active member of the Commercial Club, of Fort Wayne. Like his honored father before him, he was netive in Democratic politics and a local leader in the councils of his party, and his support could always be depended upon in any movement looking to the betterment of his home com- munity. He was popular with all who knew him, and was truly a worthy son of a worthy sire.
ETHAN CLARK BLIVEN.
A review of the life of the honored and lamented subject of this biographical memoir must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of the career of the late Ethan Clark Bliven, touching the struggles of his early manhood and successes of later days when he ranked among the leading merchants and business men of Anderson, In- diana, would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and generation and the luster of his deeds and the memories which attach to his name and character form no incon- siderable chapter in the history of his chosen city, where he did his work and achieved success such as few of his compeers at- tained. But sufficient is submitted, we believe, to prove him en- titled to the honorable position he long occupied among the cour- ageous and energetic self-made men of Indiana, who, by enter- prise and unswerving integrity, forged to the front despite all opposition and won for the grand old Hoosier commonwealth a place second to none other in the bright constellation comprising the Union of American states. That he did his part nobly and well cannot be gainsaid and "though dead, he yet speaketh" in the work he accomplished and in the many kindly deeds and wholesome influence which not only his friends, but the city of Anderson and county of Madison as well, prize as a grateful heritage.
Mr. Bliven was born in Shelby county, Indiana, near the town of Freeport, in the month of December, 1832, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Hewett) Bliven. William Bliven was a merchant and farmer, also an extensive live stock dealer and the owner of a number of noted race horses. He was one of the leading agriculturists of his community for many years, and his fine stock were widely known in pioneer times in that section of the state. His death occurred in the fifties. His parents camc from Vermont. The Hewetts came from Maryland and, like the Blivenses, became well established in this middle western country
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through their industry, both families being highly respected in their communities.
Ethan C. Bliven grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the general work about the place during the summer months, and in the winter time he attended the public schools in his neighborhood. He was fond of live stock and as a boy rode his father's race horses, also clerked in his father's store. He seemed to take more readily to merchandising than to stock raising or agricultural pursuits, and in the year 1858 he came to Anderson with Morson Gad, in partnership with whom he had purchased a dry goods store, moving the stock to this place. Later he sold out his dry goods interests and clerked in the Haz- lett dry goods store, giving eminent satisfaction to his employer. He subsequently entered into partnership with a Mr. Siddall and they engaged successfully in the clothing business, and after that he again became a partner in dry goods with Bush Scott. He then engaged in the livery business with his brother-in-law, Frank Sparks, and still later was in the clothing business with Joseph Fulton, after which he clerked for Elias Seward, grocer. .
Mr. Bliven then formed a partnership with Thomas J. Ste- vens and conducted the clothing business until his retirement, ten years before his death. He enjoyed an extensive trade and his store was well known to the people of Anderson and Madison county, for he always carried a large and carefully selected stock of goods and treated his customers with every consideration. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word. He was an ex- cellent business man and accumulated an ample competency. He sold the lots in Bliven addition to the city of Anderson, a strip of his father-in-law's, old Andrew Jackson's farm. And he had a splendid and comfortable residence.
Politically, Mr. Bliven was liberal in his views and was no biased partisan, although he voted with the Democrats continu- ously in later years, but he saw in Lincoln and Grant men of su- perior mould and did not hesitate to support them for President. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church and liberally sup- ported the same.
The death of Ethan C. Bliven occurred on February 7, 1910, and in his passing the city and county so long his arena of action felt a distinct loss.
In February, 1861, Ethan C. Bliven was united in marriage
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with Caroline Jackson, and this union was blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Mattie married A. B. Buck, for a num- ber of years a prominent druggist of Anderson, whose death oc- curred in the year 1902; they became the parents of two children, Ruth Buck, who married Robert Bailey, and they have one child, Martha Ann Bailey, and they make their home in Anderson; Felix Albert Buck is the youngest child of Mrs. Mattie Buck. Mary B. Bliven, the second of the subject's children, who is familiarly known as "Honesty," is the wife of E. C. Daniels, and they live in Anderson.
Mrs. Caroline Bliven, a lady of many praiseworthy attrib- utes, is the daughter of Andrew Jackson, one of the honored pio- neers of Anderson, Indiana, and on whose farm part of the best residence section of the city has since been built. He was a son of James and Mary Jackson, both natives of Virginia, the father of James Jackson being Andrew Jackson, for whom the father of Mrs. Bliven was named. The birth of Andrew Jackson, father of Mrs. Bliven, occurred on a farm in Preble county, Ohio, Sep- tember 2, 1801. When a small boy he was very fond of making water mills, in miniature, but it was not until manhood's years that he owned and operated some of the best mills of his time. He had a natural talent for music and when a young man he taught singing school, and his love for music has outcropped in each succeeding generation. He was married in Ohio to Amelia Blanchard, who came from Pennsylvania with her parents, be- fore the days of railroads, making part of the trip on a raft.
Four children were born to Andrew and Amelia (Blanchard) Jackson, in Ohio, and with his wife and children Andrew Jackson came to Indiana in a wagon, stopping at Pendleton, where they entered land from the government, a part of which lay along Fall creek, where he built a cabin and started life in typical pioneer fashion. He was a hard worker and a man of courageous spirit and was equal to the task of starting a new home in the wilder- ness, and in due course of time he had a fine farm and became one of the substantial men of his locality. Mr. Jackson came here first unaccompanied, and after selecting a location returned East for his family. He later started the first woolen mill (hand-mill) at Pendleton. This mill he subsequently operated by horse power and afterwards sold it to a Mr. Irish, who installed more modern machinery. Andrew Jackson then clerked in a store for a Mr.
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Patrick at Pendleton, and was later elceted sheriff of Madison county while Pendleton was still the county seat, and he was serving in this capacity when the county seat was moved to An- derson in 1833, he being the first sheriff to serve at this place. He took a leading part in politics and, his ability being recognized by his party, he was finally elected state senator on the Democratic ticket. The duties of each of these offices he discharged in a most faithful and satisfactory manner to all concerned. In 1850 he went to California and remained there eighteen months, engaging in the dry goods business. While in the West, in crossing a stream with a stock of goods, the boat sank, and he experienced n heavy loss. After spending a year and a half in California he returned to Anderson and bought the Thorp farm and also en- gaged in the dry goods business with his son-in-law, R. N. Clark, and spent the rest of his business life in that capacity, becoming one of the leading merchants in Madison county. Before making the trip to the Pacific coast he engaged in the hotel business in Anderson, and for many years the sign "A. Jackson's Hall" bade welcome to the tired travelers on their journeys west. He also operated a flouring mill at this place, besides one in Perkinsville, and he often hauled flour to Cincinnati, Ohio, in wagons, return- ing with merchandise in exchange.
The death of Andrew Jackson occurred on April 21, 1878, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1876. They were both born in the year 1801, his birth occurring on September 2d. They became the parents of the following children, fourteen, four of whom died in infancy; all the rest grew to maturity and married: James, Jane, Matildia, David, Balinda, Enoch, are all now de- ceased; Mary A. is the widow of Ralph N. Clark; Eliza and Charles (. are both deceased; Caroline is the widow of Ethan C. Bliven, of this sketch; Martha A. married Sanford Reddish.
Andrew Jackson brought the first melodeon into Anderson in 1854, from Indianapolis. It was made in 1847. Mrs. Bliven is now the proud possessor of this instrument, which is a familiar right to the present generation of Anderson, having several times been used in church entertainments. Its sweet tones recall pleas- ant memories of "the days that are no more."
Mrs. Bliven and her sister, Mrs. Sabin, were two of the six to take music lessons in those early days. Her children and grand- children have made names for themselves in the musical world.
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It is worthy of note that at an entertainment given at the Presby- terian church, the old melodeon was a conspicuous figure. With Mrs. Bliven sitting at the old instrument, dressed in a gown for- merly worn by her mother, and her granddaughter Ruth at her side with violin, presented such a pretty tableau that they were prevailed upon by their many friends to have the picture repro- duced by the camera. Mrs. Bliven is a lady of culture and esthet- ic taste and she has long been a favorite in the circles in which she moves in her home city.
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شسعد باشاقيمة متأملا
JOHN R. MCAFEE.
In the person of this venerable pioneer farmer, now deceased, we have a sample of a worthy race of people to whom the country is largely indebted for its development and progress. He was not a showy man, simply a plain, industrious tiller of the soil, who worked hard to get a start in the world, provided well for his family, did his duty to his fellow men and made a good neighbor and citizen. To such as he Indiana owes much. Here and there, scattered over the state in every county, on well-tilled aeres, they toiled and worked, cleared, grubbed and ditched, fought the forces of nature in the way of swamps and dense forests, grad- ually making headway, until in time we see the beautiful and highly cultivated farms as the result of their arduous labors. Such were the pioneer farmers. They did not figure in public life. Their names were seldom mentioned in the papers, they lived quiet and unpretentious lives, but it was their work and self-sacrifice that was gradually building up the state, adding to its wealth and beauty, until it became one of the finest agricul- tural regions in the world. Mr. MeAfee was a public-spirited man in all that the term implied, was ever interested in enter- prises tending to promote the general welfare and withheld his support from no movement for the good of the locality so long honored by his residence. His personal relations with his fellow men were ever mutually pleasant and agreeable, and he was highly regarded by all, having been easily approached, obliging and straightforward in all the relations of life.
John R. MeAfee, for many years one of the foremost agri- culturists and stock raisers of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, who owned an extensive and valuable estate of about two thousand acres in the vicinity of Battle Ground, and who was also a skilled carpenter and builder in his earlier career, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, April 3, 1832. He was the son of Samuel and Hanna (Riggs) MeAfee, who finally moved from New Jersey to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where the death of the father occurred.
John R. MeAfee grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, to which
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state he was brought by his parents when young in years, and there he received his educational training in the common schools. He came of a westward-looking family, and had an innate desire to push on across the Alleghanies to a new country, so, when twenty-two years old, he bade farewell to his ancestral hills and came to Indiana. For some time he worked at the carpenter's trade in Tippecanoe county, and, being an excellent workman, his services were in great demand. He later turned his attention to farming, for which he seemed to have pronounced natural abil- ity, and in which he was successful from the first. Being a hard worker and economical, he soon had a start and his holdings in- creased with the years, for he managed well and was a man of excellent judgment and foresight. In due course of time he ac- cumulated a handsome competency and became one of the largest land owners in this section of the state, being the possessor of nearly two thousand acres of valuable and desirable land in this locality, which he kept well improved and carefully tilled. He always kept an excellent grade of live stock, and he was regarded as one of the best judges of the same in the county. He kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertained to modern agricultural affairs and reaped large annual rewards for his pains and close application. He established a commodious and substantial resi- dence for his family and surrounded it with large and convenient outbuildings. Everything about his place denoted thrift and prosperity and that a gentleman of excellent taste had its man- agement in hand. His place, known as "Ash Grove," was long one of the "show" farms of the county, and was greatly admired by all who saw it.
Mr. McAfee was married on February 10, 1856, to Elizabeth McCormick, daughter of Samuel and Isabelle (Bartels) McCor- mick. Her father came from Greene county, Ohio, to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, when a young man and settled here, becoming prominent in this part of the state, taking a leading part in public affairs and devoting his life to agricultural pursuits. He reared a large family. He was a very successful farmer and large land owner, a man of thrift and industry, and was one of the substantial men of the county, being widely and favorably known. He was public spirited and aided in whatever way he could the general development of his county, representing the same in the state Legislature for two terms, during which time he did much for
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the upbuilding of the locality of his choice and won the hearty approval of his constituents.
One child was born to John R. McAfee and wife, Hannah, who was reared and educated in Tippecanoe county, and who be- came the wife of Isaac L. Garrett, a prosperous farmer, now liv- ing retired. They have one child, Floyd, now twenty-four years old, and a young man of much promise; he married Edith Baker. Fraternally, Mr. McAfee belonged to the National Union lodge. This family has always been affiliated with the United Brethren church and liberal supporters of the same. Personally, Mr. MeAfee was a hospitable and genial man whom everybody admired and respected, and when he passed to his reward, or October 4, 1911, the community felt a distinct loss.
Isaac L. Garrett is the son of John C. and S. Garrett, who were carly settlers here. He came from Ross county, Ohio, and was a farmer. He completed his education in Brookston Acad- emy, Indiana, and was a successful school teacher. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belongs to the United Brethren church, and is a Democrat in politics.
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