USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 41
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
The domestic life of George J. Bippus began in 1865, when he was united in marriage to Sarah A. Purviance, representative of one of the prominent and highily esteemed pioneer families of Huntington, Indiana. She is the daughter of James Purviance, who was born near New Paris, Ohio, in January, 1811, and died in 1866. He became a successful dry goods merchant in his native town, and married in Preble county, Ohio, April 20, 1840, Eleanor (Schanck) Morton, who was born in Ohio, October 11, 1811, and her death occurred on December 20, 1884. James Purviance came to Huntington, Indiana, and engaged in the dry goods and grain business and was very successful, and he retired from active busi- ness a few years before his death in 1866. Mrs. Bippus was one of five children. She was born in New Paris, Ohio, October 1, 1843, and she came to Huntington, Indiana, with her parents when a child, and here she grew to womanhood and received a good education. D. A. Purviance, one of the prominent retired business men of Huntington, is her brother, and Mary Alice Pur- viance, also of Huntington, is her sister. Another child, Capt. Aurelius Purviance, is deceased, passing away when forty-seven years of age, after an eventful life. Enlisting in the service at the outbreak of the Civil war, he gave excellent service in the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned to first lieutenant under Captain Shearer, afterward Major Shear- er. In 1863 he retired from the service, came home and a few months later re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and for meritorious conduct rose to the rank of captain. As a business man he gave ample proof of much ability, and for years held a partnership with his brother, and their business grew rapidly to immense proportions. He pos- sessed in every detail superior qualifications suited to a business
458
career, and with his agreeable disposition, always had many friends.
To George J. Bippus and wife two children were born, Albert and J. Fred, the former having died at the age of one year. The latter is one of the best known men of affairs in Huntington, hav- ing succeeded his father in business affairs. He is successfully imanaging the fast estate left by the elder Dippus, and he is in every respect a worthy son of a worthy sire. Young Bippus mar- ried Myrtle Watkins, of Chicago, a lady of culture, the representa- tive of a prominent family. They reside in a beautiful home on North Jefferson street, Huntington, and have the following chil- dren: Berniec, Dorothy, George and Albert.
The death of George J. Bippus occurred on January 7, 1904, after a protracted siege of ill health. He was sixty-nine years old. This funeral was an imposing and largely attended one, and he now rests in a beautiful large white granite mausoleum in Mount Hope cemetery. The funeral was conducted by Rev. M. L. Donahey, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, of which the deceased was so long a faithful member. He delivered a eulogy that covered the life of the deceased generally, in the course of which he made use of this paragraph: "Some speak of Mr. Bip- pus as a business man. But in him, as in few other men, do we find a business man. It is often said that a man cannot be ever a Christian and a thorough business man. He followed Paul's law for business men: 'Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit and serving the Lord.' He never did lose sight of God and his cause. He was a liberal giver to the cause of foreign missions. A man of his stamp is not bothered with strikes. As far as possible he par- ticipated in the golden rule in business. Those in his employ re- garded him as friend and mourn over him as such. While he began life as a poor boy, he always had sympathy for the journeyman in life's struggle."
Rev. George B. Newcomb, pastor of the First Baptist church of Huntington, delivered a sermon on "Lessons from the Life of George J. Bippus," in the course of which he said, in part:
"Like John Jacob Astor, who amassed a fortune by fair deal- ings, Mr. Bippus was of German parentage and furthermore he was of the peasant class. These men, alongside of hundreds of others of similar bent, are specimens of the possibilities attainable under American institutions. It is not true that all men who
459
strive for wealth do so for wealth's sake only. And that this de- claration is strictly true of our subject can be easily shown. He knew how to keep a secret. Natural gas was discovered and put into use a long time in Pennsylvania before it was in Indiana. Mr. Bippus acquired the proper knowledge, without saying much to anyone of this natural product and then successfully ventured into the same when the proper time came. Hle was known as a quiet man, but he brought things to pass before others began to think about them. He was a matter-of-fact man. Such are the far- seeing kind. They are capable of reasoning from cause to effect and therefore can produce unerring conclusions. While others are financially failing, this kind are piling up money. Before his death he had conceived and carried through at least four great undertakings, any one of which would have been sufficient to give a man the name of public benefactor. He became the father and promoter of two hundred and twenty-nine miles of railroad from Chicago to Marion, Ohio, thus being responsible for the splendid outlet for Huntington's market, the establishment of shops here and benefiting the city immeasurably. Then came his investiga- tions in the gas fields and piping to nearby towns. It was a big undertaking, and at a large expenditure, but he succeeded and Huntington was publicly benefited by it. Then came the project for artificial light for the business places and for homes, with the same result as above noted. And still more recently came his in- vestments in oil fields, with like satisfactory results. He was a man of details, and he was a considerate man also. Of all his ae- cumulations of money no man was ever squeezed in order to in- crease his wealth. This was a most worthy trait in him. He was even kindly in heart in his consideration for others. He was a religious man. While he was devoted to his church and wor- shipped his God truly, he made no great display about it."
Of the many columns printed in the daily papers all over the country on the life and death of George J. Bippus, the following editorial from The Indianapolis Sun is deemed especially ap- propriate for reproduction here:
"In the Sun Monday, there was a little item that told of the sale of three hundred thousand dollars' worth of gas and oil hold- ings in the northern part of the state. The holding included five thousand, two hundred and eighty-four acres of oil leases, ten wells and three hundred barrels per day of oil production. The
460
sale was made by Mrs. George J. Bippus and her son, J. Fred Bippus, of Iluntington, to the Wagner Oil Company. Back of all this there is a good story to those who know it.
"George J. Bippus was one of the leading-or, rather the leading-citizens of Huntington. He was a man of wealth. Ile made money fast, but honestly. He speculated. He sometimes plunged. He built a railroad. That railroad is now a part of the great Erie system that runs across the north part of the state. He had houses, lands and stocks. When natural gas was dis- covered in Indiana, Mr. Bippus was one of the first to see that in time it would be the means of making a lot of money. He decided to build a pipe line from the gas field to Huntington and supply natural gas for fuel. He did not have enough ready money to do it all himself, so he went to some of his friends and business asso- ciates and sought their aid. He asked them to go in with him and put up some of the money.
"Did they do it? Not on their life. These were shrewd and able business men and turned him down. They laughed at hin. They were not willing to throw their money away by drilling holes in the ground. Not much. They would keep their money and shave notes at twenty-five per cent. No natural gas business for them. Then Bippus showed the stuff that was in him. He went elsewhere and raised the money. He took the chance him- self, knowing full well that if it went against him he might be ruined. But he had faith-an honest faith-and he followed it. He drilled holes in the ground and found gas in abundant quan- tity. He built his pipe line. He secured a franchise in Hunting- ton and laid gas mains. Everybody in the city that could get gas got it and at a high rate. Bippus began making money hand over fist. The oil was found in the same land. More money for Bip- pus. Oil made him more money than gas. When he made enough he bought an artificial gas plant. Then he bought an electric light plant.
"But those friends, what of them? No sooner did Bippus get a big flow of gas and no sooner was the success of his venture as- sured than these same friends came to him and very generously offered to take stock in his companies. Oh, yes, they knew all along that he would do well. They would be glad to help him out with it. That's where Bippus did exactly the right thing. Hc turned them down as they had done by him some time before. He
461
was sure to make money and declined to share it with those who had been afraid of his judgment. Bippus never took any of those people into his enterprises. During all these years they have kicked themselves daily, perhaps hourly, for their lack of judg- ment, but it has done them no good.
"Bippus died a few months ago, worth a million and a half dollars, and he made nearly all of it out of his gas and oil.
"The only thing this story shows is that some people are selfish and others are unselfish. Some are willing to help a friend if it doesn't cost anything. They are willing to share in the profits if some one else will take the risk. But everybody knows all this. Selfishness is as old as the world."
As an evidence of Mr. Bippus' kindness of heart and high sense of personal honor it may be related that he brought his par- ents to Huntington county from their old home in Canal Dover, Ohio, and bought them a farm and helped them in many ways. Be- fore the elder Bippus died he wished to give his property back to his son, but Mr. Bippus allowed the property to go to other rela- tives more needy. When a boy at Canal Dover he was a member of a little Moravian church, and he subscribed one hundred dollars a year to its support. Many times during his young manhood he was sorely pinched to pay this obligation, but he always met it. It is related that one year he was compelled to go without a new over- coat to pay this subscription, but he did not hesitate to consider his obligations first. Mr. Bippus helped all of his relatives very generously.
4762
GEORGE WASHINGTON DUFENBAUGH.
The history of Howard county, as an integral part of the great commonwealth of Indiana, reveals the handiwork of many a great and noble soul who wrought heroically and mselfishly. Her splendid homes, her high-grade institutions, her happy, pros- pering people speak volumes of some one's steadfastness of pur- pose, of some one's strength of arm, courage of heart, activity of brain-of some one's sacrifice. But time, that grim obliterator, before whose destroying fingers even the stubborn granite must, in the end, succumb, is ever at his work of disintegration. Beneath his blighting touch even memory fails, and too often a life of splen- did achievement and good works is forgotten in a day. "Lest we forget," then, this tribute to the late George W. Defenbaugh is penned. Pioneer successful quarryman, prominent contractor, brave, kindly, generous man, it is the desire of the writer, as it must be of all who knew him, that his deeds and his character be recorded for the benefit of those who follow after. Not im- mensely rich, as mere worldly possessions are estimated, he was rich in a thousand thronging memories of the carly rugged days, when hardy men stood shoulder to shoulder and fonght for the best interests of their community, and those who survived him are blessed in the memory of this good man, whose life in this con- munity was as a blessed benediction on those who came under its influence.
George W. Defenbangh was born in New London, Ohio, in 1838, came to Kokomo, Indiana, in 1849, and lived here con- tinuously until his death, which occurred on June 9, 1906. ITis father was a successful grocer in Kokomo for many years and was a substantial and leading citizen of the community. Being one of a large family of children, the subject of this sketch did
being in many ways a self-made man. At a comparatively carly age he started to work on his own account, his first employment being in burning lime. From that he drifted into the stone quarry business and in this line he was active during practically the rest of his life. In the material upbuilding of Kokomo he had a prom-
463
inent part, having constructed many of the best streets and stone in some of the finest and most substantial buildings in this city came from his quarry, which was located just south of the city. For a half century he was thus engaged and besides building up a large and profitable business, he gained what is of far greater value, the reputation of a man of integrity, prudence, loyalty and honor. His life was governed by the highest motives and his business record is unsullied by any unworthy transaction. His private life was such as gained for him the sineere respect and confidence of the entire community and in his death the com- munity suffered an irreparable loss. Aside from his quarry interests, Mr. Defenbaugh gave his support to every movement for the advantage of the people generally and he was prominently identified with the movement in Kokomo which led to the dis- covery of natural gas and thus gave an impetus to the manufac- turing clement of the city's life. .
Politically, Mr. Defenbaugh was all his life an ardent Repub- lican, but did not take an active part in political affairs, being content to cast his ballot in accordance with the dictates of his conscience. In his religious life he was also absolutely con- scientious. He took a deep interest in the spiritual verities and as a result of his investigations he became identified with the Swedenborgian church, of which he was a faithful and earnest disciple. He gave to the support of his faith liberally of his time and means, and the splendid building known as Defenbaugh hall, Kokomo, was erected by him primarily as a temple for the wor- ship after his belief.
George W. Defenbaugh was twice married, first, to Martha Moore, of Jonesboro, Indiana, to which union were born three children, who survive him, namely: Mrs. Charles Hansell, Mrs. Nativa Smith and Wilbur Defenbaugh. His second marriage oc- curred in Kokomo on November 9, 1898, when he was united in matrimony with Mrs. Elizabeth Stecly. Mrs. Defenbaugh, who was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on July 29, 1832, is the fifth in order of birth of eight children born to Peter and Martha Chris- tiana (Amos) Pruden. Peter Pruden was a very successful farmer and prominent citizen of near Sidney, Ohio, having been a native of Orange, New Jersey, and his death occurred in Shelby county, Ohio, in 1879. Mrs. Defenbaugh's mother was a native of Bour- bon county, Kentucky, and her death occurred in Shelby county,
464
Ohio, in 1883. Their surviving children, besides Mrs. Defenbangh, are as follows: Mrs. Catharine Smith, of Kokomo; Mrs. Chris- tiana Frost, of Piqua, Ohio, and David Pruden, of Sidney, Ohio. Mrs. Defenbaugh secured her education in the common schools of her home community, she being reared on a farm. In 1867 she became the wife of Caleb Steely, whose death occurred in 1883. Prior to her marriage to Mr. Dfenbaugh che had come to Kokomo on a visit to her niece, Mrs. P. E. Iloss, whose husband is a re- tired banker and one of Kokomo's leading citizens. While here she met Mr. Defenbaugh, their acquaintance ripening into an af- fection which consummated in their subsequent marriage. Mrs. Defenbaugh also embraces the Swedenborgian faith and as an adherent of the New Jerusalem church she has exemplified her faith in her daily life. She takes an active part in church work, being especially earnest and liberal in relation to missions. The old homestead in which she resides, No. 318 West Taylor street, is in the heart of the city and is a valuable piece of ground, its value constantly enhancing. Besides her business interests in this city, she has other interests in Ohio. She is a lady of refined and gracious personality, who, because of her personal worth, has gained and retains a large circle of warm and loyal friends. She retains a deep interest in her city and gives her support to all worthy moral and educational movements.
FRANCIS W. FLANNER
FRANCIS WILLIAM FLANNER.
Ceaselessly to and fro flies the deft shuttle which weaves the web of human destiny, and into the vast mosaic fabric enter the individuality, the effort, the accomplishment of each man, be his station that most lowly or one of majesty, pomp and power. With- in the textile folds may be traced the line of each individuality, be it the one that lends the beautiful sheen of honest worth and honest endeavor, or one that, dark and zigzag, finds its way through warp and woof, marring the composite beauty by its blackened threads, ever in evidence of the shadowed and unpro- lific life. Into the great aggregate each individuality is merged, and yet the essence of each is never lost, be the angle of its influ- ence wide-spreading and grateful, or narrow and baneful. In his efforts he who essays biographical memoirs finds much of profit and much of alluring fascination when he would follow out, in even a cursory way, the tracings of a life history, seeking to find the keynote of each respective personality. These efforts and their resulting transmission cannot fail of value in an objective way, for in each case may the lesson of life be conned, line upon line, precept upon precept. One could not contemplate the life record of the late Francis William Flanner, for many years one of the leading business men and public-spirited citizens of Indianapolis, without gaining therefrom many helpful hints and forming at the same time a very high opinion of the man, for his benevolent and charitable work, extending over a period of many years, resulting in incalculable goods and stamping him as whole-souled and genuine lover of his kind, would alone excite the admiration and reverence of all, especially of the contemplative turn of mind, for his munificent gifts came not from a desire to win the plaudits of men or for any ulterior motive, but merely out of an altruistic na- ture and a spirit of profound human sympathy.
Mr. Flanner was born in Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio, an attractive old Quaker town, long enjoying prestige in maintaining an annual meeting house of the Society of Friends. The date of his birth is recorded as December 5, 1854, and he was the son of Henry B. and Orpha A. (Tyler) Flanner. The father was born in the year 1820, in Ohio, and the mother was born in 1824 in the state of New York. Henry Beeson Flanner spent his
(30)
466
early life in his native state and was educated there. He devoted his life to school teaching and farming and he was a talented musician. During the Civil war he served in the Union army in a regiment of volunteers. In the autumn of 1863 he came to In- dianapolis. His wife was educated in Miss Axtell's Seminary, a popular institution of that day in New York. She came to Indi- ana about 1810, having made the journey over the old National road, only portions of which had been improved at that time. She was a daughter of Dr. William W. Tyler, who came from the state of New York to Rushville, Indiana, in the thirties, when the country was but little developed, and he later moved to Kokomo, Howard county, this state, where he became well established and spent the rest of his life, dying about 1860. The paternal grand- father, William Flanner, was a clergyman of the Society of Friends and he was of English and French lineage.
The original representatives of the Flanner family settled in the Carolinas, and from those sections representatives subse- quently went to Ohio with other members of the Society of Friends. The parents of Francis W. Flanner continued to main- tain their home in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, until the death of the father in 1863. Soon afterwards the mother moved to Indianapolis. Both were members of the Friends church. Only one of their children now survive.
Francis W. Flanner, of this memoir, spent his boyhood in Indianapolis and received his education in the public schools here and this continued to be his place of abode and his arena of activ- ity for a period of more than half a century or during nearly all of his life, during which time he saw the city develop from a small country town to one of the nation's most important metropolises. In 1864 and 1865 he was a student in the old third ward school on West New York street, where the cigar factory of John Rauh is now located. Later he attended school in the old court house, which stood in the center of the present court house square, and still later he was a student in the old church of which Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was at one time pastor, the same having been lo- cated on the Circle, now known as Monument Place. The faculty of this institution included Prof. William A. Bell, Miss A. Cannell (who later became the wife of Professor Bell), Miss Johnson (Mrs. O. S. Runnels), Mrs. Sarah Oren (afterward state librar- ian), and a Miss Kelly, who was a teacher of elocution. For a portion of one year thereafter Mr. Flanner attended the old high
467
school that stood on the site of the present Shortridge high school, and the principal of the same at that time was Prof. George T. Brown, who is at this writing editor of a school journal in Illi- nois.
Mr. Flanner early in life turned his attention to the under- taking business, studying his profession under Charles Kregelo, and in 1881 he entered into partnership, with John Hommoun. In 1886 C. J. Buchanan purchased Mr. John Hommoun's interest in the firm and since that time the firm has been known as Flanner & Buchanan, and the firm has long been owners of the only crem- atory in the state, and they also maintained a public ambulance service. The crematory and business headquarters of the firm is located at No. 320 North Illinois street, and this firm has for many years held unmistakable leadership in its field of operations. Mr. Flanner was president of the firm, which was incorporated Janu- ary 21, 1911. C. J. Buchanan, who was vice-president of the firm in the life time of Mr. Flanner, is the latter's brother-in-law, and the other two firm members are F. B. Flanner, manager, and P. II. Buchanan, secretary-treasurer.
Francis W. Flanner was a progressive and public spirited citizen and was especially interested in the development of the public park system of Indianapolis, and was actively identified with the Civic League, the Indianapolis Art School, the Taxpay- ers' League, the May Music Festival Association and many other organizations which have been influential in their respective func- tions. Through the influence of Rev. Oscar C. McCulloch, who was then pastor of Plymouth Congregational church, Mr. Flanner became much interested in the work of the associated charities and he attended some of the national and state meetings of such organizations, in an informal capacity. He assisted in securing the enactment of the original law permitting in Indiana the estab- lishment of boards of guardians for the various benevolent, chari- table and penal institutions of the state, and he was a member of the state board, as a representative of Marion county, until tem- porary illness caused his retirement. In later years Mr. Flanner showed a deep concern in the work of the associated charities among the negroes of Indianapolis, and he put forth an earnest effort to encourage educational work among the large colored population of this city. His greatest work for Indianapolis was the founding of the Flanner Guild, a colored industrial home and neighborhood house, at No. 875 Colton street, to aid the city's
:
468
poor. A large amount of his charitable work was carried on alone and lie extended aid to many poor men and women during the win- ter months.
Mr. Flanner was a trustee of the Flanner Guild at the time of his death, together with Dr. W. E. Brown, Dr. Carleton B. McCul- loch, Charles W. Moores, B. J. Morgan and M. L. Turner. The board of directors are R. L. Broekenburr, president; Dr. W. E. Brown, vice-president; Mabel Newton, secretary; Mrs. R. L. Brockenburr, resident director; Mrs. Peter F. Bryce, treasurer; Francis Berry, Mrs. E. M. Peters, Edwin F. Stokes and M. L. Turner.
The Flanner Guild has, beside the neighborhood settlement house near the City Hospital, a commodious hall above, office and other rooms where a number of clubs meet and social work is ear- ried on, a small cottage in connection where the residents live, a free kindergarten, a branch of the public library, a hand laundry, a bathroom for the neighborhood, and nearby a rescue cottage, the only place in the state where unfortunate colored girls can be re- ceived to wait their time to go to a hospital. It is a general elear- ing house and information headquarters for that part of the city. It has been the aim of the management to raise one thousand dol- lars annually for the successful carrying on of this work.
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.