USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
CAPT. CHRISTOPHER F. HETTLER.
It will always be a badge of honor in this country to have known that a person's father, or even his uncle, enlisted in the service of his country when the great war of the Rebellion broke out, to assist in saving the Union and in eradicating slavery from our soil .. Just as to this day we boast that our grandfather or great-grandfather fought in the Revolution to gain independence, or fought in the war of 1812 to protect our rights on the ocean, so the descendants of the gallant soldiers who fought during the Rebellion to save the Union will boast through the coming cen- turies of the bravery and self-sacrifice of their fathers or other relatives. It is a pleasure to write of the late Capt. Christopher F. Hettler, who was one of the "boys in blue" who went forth to die, if need be, on the battlefield or in the no Jess dangerous fever camp or Southern prison, for the salvation of the country.
One writer, after his death, said, among other things: "To epitomize the life and character of the late Captain Hettler within the limits which a brief biographical work allows is impossible. The stalwart proportions of his living presence were realized in the void made by his death. But less than most men intellectually his equal does he need the voice of eulogy, for 'his works do follow him.' He was an honored and influential citizen of Fort Wayne, doing much to promote and conserve the interests of the city through his labors as an official and through private effort; he was for a number of years incumbent of the responsible position of purchasing agent for the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg; his integrity in all the relations of life indicate his fine moral fiber, and, though of foreign birth, no man could be more intrinsically American in attitude or more deeply loyal to the land of his adop- tion, the most significant evidence of this being vouchsafed in the faithful and valiant service which he rendered as a Union soldier and officer in the war of the Rebellion. In his death Fort Wayne lost one of her most valued and popular citizens."
Captain Hettler was born in Hohenhaslach, county of Vaihin- gen, kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, April 1, 1834. He spent his boyhood in his native land and there received an excellent edu-
1
bathin Do. !!!
221
cation in the schools of his community. He early determined to cust his fortune with the Americans, and when twenty-three years of nge, in the year 1857, he set sail for our shores, arriving at the port of New York on August 8th. He penetrated to the interior of the continent and located in Preble county, Ohio, where he re- mained four years, at the expiration of which, in the fall of 1861, he removed to Allen county, Indiana, and, being well pleased with the opportunities here and able to foresee a great future develop- ment in the same, decided to locate here permanently, and thus the remaining thirty-eight years of his life were passed here. He made his residence in the village of New Haven the first year, then moved to Fort Wayne, having secured a position in the Penn- sylvania railroad shops at this place, and his rise was rapid in the service of this company, who regarded him as one of their most trusted and faithful employes, and he finally became entrusted with the responsible position of purchasing agent for a vast terri- tory in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, giving the road, in this as in other positions with the same, eminent satisfaction.
We here reprint the following paragraphs which appeared in the Fort Wayne News, under date of November 6, 1899: "Captain C. Hettler, general purchasing agent for the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg, and one of the foremost citizens of Fort Wayne, passed away this morning at six-thirty o'clock. The news of the death of Captain Hettler flashed rapidly over the city, and seldom does it occur that so many express regret over the demise of a well-known citizen as in this case. Captain Hettler was widely known among all classes of people, and the grief over his untimely and unexpected death is widespread. He will be sadly missed in many walks of life in Fort Wayne. His rugged honesty and sin- rerity of purpose made even his enemies respect him, and his friendly qualities and manifold charities have made him respected and esteemed by hundreds. He came to Fort Wayne a poor boy, and by frugality and excellent business methods acquired such a share of this world's goods that he leaves a large estate.
"Although he had been but a few years in this country, his patriotism for his adopted country was so well known and gen- erally recognized that in 1864 he received a commission from Gov- ernor Oliver P. Morton, appointing him recruiting officer at this point. He was successful in securing a large number of recruits, and in September of the same year selected a company of his own
222
from those whom he had enlisted and received a captain's commis- sion. His company was organized as Company C, of the One Hun- dred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and the regi- ment was given a place in the Army of the Cumberland. Captain Hettler served his country at the head of his company until July 14, 1865, when it was mustered out. He then resumed his position with the Pennsylvania company. In 1871, the company recog- nized his marked ability and appointed him assistant purchasing agent, and ever since that time he has been a valued member of that department of the railroad.
"Ever since he came to this city Captain Hettler has made his strong personality felt in public affairs and has taken a lead- ing part in municipal affairs wherever there was a public benefit to be gained. He represented the second ward in the common council from 1873 to 1882 and his presence there at that critical time in the history of the city resulted in a cutting down of the expenses and the hastening of municipal improvements. Cap- tain Hettler stood for the advancement of the fire department's interests, and he was one of those responsible for the first fire alarm telegraph system. In 1876 Captain Hettler made the mem- orable speech in the council which brought the municipal owner- ship of water works first into public notice. The story of his fight against great odds, which resulted in the present splendid system of water works owned and controlled by the city, is fresh in the minds of the older citizens. In 1879 the question came up for popular vote, and Captain Hettler's position was sustained by the people with an overwhelming majority.
"In his social and business life Captain Hettler has been easily one of the foremost of Fort Wayne's German-American cit- izens. He has held the position of treasurer of many of the most profitable and most prominent building and loan associations, and at the time of his death was the largest stockholder and one of the controlling spirits of the Home Telephone Company. He was long a member of Harmony Lodge No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Sion S. Bass Post No. 40, Grand Army of the Re- public, and the Fort Wayne Saengerbund. While not a member of any church himself, he gave largely to church organizations and charities. He was an attendant at the Bethel church of the Evan- gelical Association, and when the new edifice was built Captain and Mrs. Hettler were the largest contributors."
Politically, the Captain was always a stalwart Republican,
223
and as such was elected to the city council, in which he served so long and faithfully and during which time he did so much for the permanent good of the city.
Captain Hcttler was united in marriage with Catherine Furthmiller, who was at that time a resident of New Haven, Indi- ana, a short distance east of Fort Wayne, where the family was prominent. She is the daughter of John Jacob and Mary Agnes Furthmiller, an excellent old family of German lineage. Mrs. Hettler was born in Stark county, Ohio, and was seven years of age when her parents brought her to New Haven, thus being numbered among the early settlers of Allen county, where her par- ents continued to reside the rest of their lives, the father having engaged in agricultural pursuits, and, being a hard worker and of honorable character, he became well established here and was re- spected by all who knew him. He owned one of the largest and best farms in the vicinity of New Haven, but Mr. Furthmiller re- tired from active farming late in life and moved with his family to Fort Wayne where he purchased a pleasant residence. He was a native of Wittenburg, Germany, and his wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Ann Weiberty, was also born in Germany. There they both spent their earliest years, but emigrated to Amer- ien when young, and while yet single, and they met and married in New York City. Not long afterwards they came to the Middle West and established their home. They became the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Hettler was the fourth in order of birth. She grew to womanhood at New Haven and received a good education in the local schools, which has been greatly sup- plemented by wide miscellaneous reading and study which she has ever since enrried on, and is now a well informed, cultured and broad-minded lady and a most charming conversationalist and a woman of much influence in the several circles in which she moves in Fort Wayne, enjoying the admiration and esteem of a very wide circle of friends throughout this section of Indiana and wherever she is known. Together with her husband she took quite an active interest in the work of the Evangelical Associa- tion church of East Dewald street, this city, in fact Mrs. Hettler is one of the most active in promoting the varied interests of the "mme and one of the largest contributors to its support, and she has always stood high in the congregation. She has very ably und acceptably officiated as president of the Ladies Aid Society, also as president of the Woman's Missionary Society, of this
224
church, in fact she is recognized as one of the pillars of this well known and popular church, although she is not so active at this writing as she has been in former years. Her love for the church was no doubt fostered in her through her parents, who were also devout Christians and very faithful in the work of the church, her father having faithfully served his church for a period of thirty-five years, remaining true to the end of his days, or until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years, six months and twenty- six days. His first wife and five children had preceded him to the grave, and at his death he left his second wife, five children and twenty-six grandchildren. Mrs. Mary Agnes Furthmiller, second wife of John Jacob Furthmiller, and the mother of Mrs. Hettler, died at New Haven, Allen county, Indiana, at the age of sixty years, ten months and eight days. She was survived by seven children, three having preceded her to the grave. She gave twenty-one years of her life to faithful work in the church at different cities in Indiana, and for nineteen years her home was a favorite stopping place for young ministers of her denomination. The training she and her husband gave their daughter, Mrs. Het- tler, resulted in the latter's love for religious work.
Mrs. Hettler is also very much interested in the young women of Fort Wayne and is serving on the board of directors of the Young Women's Christian Association and in the spring of- 1912 she participated in the laying of the corner-stone of the splendid new home of this association in Fort Wayne to which she con- tributed the sum of one thousand dollars, and she was one of the influential factors in securing the new building, which would be a credit to any city. She has indeed been of inestimable service to her home city and she merits in every respect the high esteem in which she is held. She maintains her home in the beautiful Hettler residence on East Dewald street, the same having long been the center of a gracious hospitality. As already intimated, she has for a long lapse of years been one of the active workers in connection with various charitable and benevolent associations, being well known in the social life of the city, and having the in- violable friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. She proved a true helpmeet and coadjutrix to her husband, and during their long association on the journey of life each was solaced and sus- tained by the abiding sympathy and love of the other, the gracious cords being loosened only when death gave its inexorable sum- mons to him to whom this brief memoir is dedicated.
225
To Mr. and Mrs. Christopher F. Hettler was born one son, Herman Henry Hettler, a man of superior business ability and of fine natural characteristics, who is now engaged in the lumber business in the city of Chicago where he has extensive interests. He married Catherine Elizabeth Sangston, and they have two in- teresting sons. It is worthy of note here that Herman H. Hettler conducts one of the largest lumber concerns in the Middle West, and he has officiated for a number of years as president of the Lumbermen's Association of the United States. He is now one of Chicago's progressive and substantial business men and is well known in commercial circles of that metropolis.
Christopher F. Hettler was survived at his death, other than his widow and son, by a brother and five sisters. They are Chris- tian ITettler, of near Marion, Indiana; Mrs. Christian Stahl, Mrs. Frederick Stahl, Mrs. H. Mennewisch, Mrs. J. Walter and Mrs. Mary Conrady; and a large number of nephews and nieces in Fort Wayne.
At a meeting of the common council of Fort Wayne on the morning of Mr. Hettler's death, Monday, November 6, 1899, Messrs. Poirson and Hosey, representing the second ward, intro- duced the following resolutions which were passed by a unanim- ous standing vote of the council:
"Resolved, that this council learns with profound regret of the death of ex-Councilman Christopher F. Hettler. He was a thoroughly upright official and a public-spirited citizen, ever zeal- ons to advance the interests of Fort Wayne. He was a generous man, a genial companion and a patriotic American citizen, and his demise wo sincerely deplore.
"Resolved, that we hereby express our sorrow at his death and extend our heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved widow and family.
"Resolved, that these resolutions be spread on the journal of this council and that the clerk be directed to transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased."
The following resolutions of the board of directors of the Fort Wayne Building, Loan-Fund & Savings Association, on the death of Captain Hettler, were passed at a meeting of the same shortly after his death:
"Whereas, it hath pleased Divine Providence to remove from our midst Captain Christopher F. Hettler, and
(15)
226
"Whereas, since the organization of the Fort Wayne Build- ing, Loan Fund & Savings Association he has uninterruptedly held the position of treasurer of this association, and
"Whereas, by his death this association has lost a faithful and valued officer and member.
"Be it resolved, that the board of directors of the Fort Wayne Building, Loan-Fund & Savings Association, in deploring the death of Captain Christopher F. Hettler, who, during the fifteen years last past labored unselfishly and zealously for the protection of the interests of said association and the rights of every stock- holder therein, and who discharged his official duties in a manner suggested solely by probity and the strictest honesty.
"Therefore, be it resolved, that we tender to the family of the deceased, our sincere, heartfelt condolence in their deep bereave- ment; that these resolutions be spread of record on the records of the association, and a copy thereof be tendered to the family of the deceased."
The funeral of Captain Hettler was held on Wednesday after- noon, November 8, 1899, from the residence and Bethel Church Evangelical Association, conducted by Rev. J. H. Evans, and it was very largely attended.
Captain Hettler was a man of sterling character, broad mental ken and mature judgment, placing true valuations on men, and things, and ordering his life upon the highest plane of honor. He possessed to a marked degree the self-reliant spirit and pragmatic ability so characteristic of the German type, and thus he was suc- cessful in his various business connections, accumulating a com- petency and thus making ample provision for his family. He was liberal in his views, and kindly and tolerant in his judgment of his fellow men, while to those afflicted in mind, body or estate he was ever ready to extend a helping hand, though his benefactions were invariably of the most unostentatious order. He was a good and useful man and his memory will long be cherished by the people of Fort Wayne and Allen county.
LU-
JOSEPH HAMILTON.
The character of a community is determined in a large meas- ure by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputation for the integ- rity of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and their influence such as to mould their characters and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the late Joseph Hamilton in the front rank of such men, justice is ren- dered a biographical fact universally recognized throughout the locality long honored by his citizenship by those at all familiar with his history. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he contributed much to the material, civic and moral advancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straight- forward, upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moved and gave him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct such as few achieve, and although he has long been sleeping the "sleep of the just," his influence still lives, and his memory is still greatly revered.
Joseph Hamilton was born on the Row Water, in county Derry, Ireland, of good old Irish stock, January 3, 1803. Being of an active, aggressive temperament, he early determined to seek his fortunes in the new world. He therefore emigrated to our shores in the month of May, 1821, having grown to manhood and received his education in the Emerald Isle. He landed in the city of Philadelphia. But even then the West was the point of resort for men prepared to carve out for themselves a position. To show at once the difficulty of travel in those early days, and to exhibit the decision of character which distinguished young Hamilton through life, the reader may be interested to know that he and his brother William walked all the way from Philadelphia to Pitts- burgh. They purchased a yawl in the latter city, in which they pursued their journey as far as Cincinnati. There they remained five years, then the subject came to Shelbyville, Indiana, where he spent two years; thence he moved to Dayton, Ohio, and re-
228
mained two years in that city. In 1831, he came to Rushville, In- diana, among the pioneers, and there spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the leading men of the place, actively engaged in various pursuits, in all of which he met with encouraging success. He was married at Rushville, on the last day of the year 1835, to Margaret Lowry, a native of Ireland, from which country she came to the United States when young in years. To this union four children were born, namely: One died in-infancy; Sarah J. is the widow of Coleman B. Pattison, and she resided in Indian- apolis; Joseph Dunn Hamilton, who married Emma Fay, is now deceased; he was for many years a prominent Indianapolis busi- ness man, having been a partner in the firm of Jones, Armstrong & Company, wholesale boot and shoe dealers; Margaret Elizabeth Hamilton is living at No. 939 North Pennsylvania street, Indian- apolis.
Joseph Hamilton's parents remained in Ireland. They were of old Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock, that settled the north of Ireland about the year 1600. Their children, besides the subject, were William, Samuel, John, Martha and Jane. The early relig- ious training of the subject of this memoir was of the best. In his opinions and convictions he was through life attached to the doctrines and worship of the Presbyterian church, in its strictest European rather than American type. He was a strong Demo- crat and more or less active in local party affairs, but being a man who loved to be about home, he never sought public offices. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the dry goods business at Rushville, where he built up a large trade with the people of Rush county through his honest dealings.
The death of Joseph Hamilton occurred on October 26, 1872, and his funeral, which was held on the 28th of that month, was very largely attended. The burial took place in the Rushville cemetery. During the morning of the day of the funeral a large number of citizens of Rushville gathered at the court house to pay their respects to the memory of the deceased, and some mem- bers of the crowd came from remote parts of the county. At this meeting the following resolutions were adopted:
"Whereas, in the dispensation of a gracious Providence, our friend and fellow citizen, Joseph Hamilton, has been called away from our midst by the hand of death;
"Therefore, we, the citizens of the town and neighbors of the deceased, recognizing the Providence and bowing in meek submis-
229
sion thereto, would record the many amiable traits of character manifested in the long and useful life that he was permitted to spend in our midst.
"Second, the active life of the deceased has been identified with the growth of our town, and the development of the country for the last forty years, and we feel that in his death our entire community has sustained a great loss.
"Third, in the retrospect of these years we recognize in the life of the deceased the energetic, correct business man, a kind husband, a provident father, a good citizen and a firm believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Fourth, that we will, as citizens, suspend all business and nttend his funeral this day from his late residence.
"Fifth, that John Carmichael, H. D. Dinwiddie, Doctor Helm, Jacob H. Ogelsby, William Havens, Finley Bigger, Thomas Worster and Thomas Link act as pall-bearers in taking the re- mains to the cemetery.
"Sixth, that a copy of this notice be furnished the family, signed by the president and secretary of this meeting, conveying to them our sympathy in their deep affliction, and that the same be published in our county papers."
A number of fitting addresses were made at this meeting by some of the leading citizens who had known Mr. Hamilton well.
In the Rushville Republican of October 31, 1872, the fol- lowing tribute appeared:
"After an illness of hardly a week's duration, Mr. Joseph Hamilton, the oldest merchant of Rushville, and one of the oldest citizens of Rush county, died at his residence in this place, of poenmonia. Mr. Hamilton was in the seventieth year of his age and had been in business here forty-one years. The building oc- rupted by him at the time of his death, known as the 'Old White Commer,' had been occupied by him since 1838. Thirty years of that time and up to within over a year ago, he also kept tavern in the same building, and his house had the reputation of being the best place of public entertainment in this section of the coun- try. Mr. Hamilton was a man of eccentric character, but withal was universally respected and an honorable, public-spirited citi- zen. His death severs another of those links binding the past to the present generation."
The funeral sermon, which was a masterpiece, was delivered by Rev. George Sluter, pastor at that time of the First Presbyter-
230
ian church, of Shelbyville, Indiana, and from it we quote the few closing paragraphs as follows:
"It is eminently appropriate, that upon an occasion like the present-when we are met to pay the last offices of affection and friendship and respect to one who for so many years has occupied a prominent place in your community, and whose life has been so closely identified with its business interests-that I should close this discourse with a brief estimate of his character.
"We have come here today to bury Joseph Hamilton, not to praise him. Funeral services are to benefit the living, not to laud the dead. And yet, I would be doing injustice to you did I not remind you that Joseph Hamilton was a strong man. His was an intense character. It is usually-you will find, if you will think of it-weak characters that everybody speaks well of. A man of native inborn conseious vigor will, and must, lave enemies. The Holy Gospel itself declares it no credit to anyone when all speak well of him. Thus, we must bear in mind, in estimating the character of Mr. Hamilton, a tall tree casts a deep shadow, and . great excellencies are always marred by striking defects. Let'us not form a hasty judgment. Rather let us remember and practice the words of our blessed Redeemer: 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone !'
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.