USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 61
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tired to his protein and me hum Shelbyville. In 55 was appointed by Provideut Hier go out land crampi . jones. in which capacity he verte ready for years, and in 1860 was nominated for governor of buding geraint Homy S. Long, op. of the state's most prominent nost, and the mar directly respon sible for Lincoln's nomi afin I . D .1. 1. canvass, during which the two competitors spoke together in nearly every county of the stifte, defeat again came to Mr. Hlen drieks. In the same year he moved to Indiapolis, where he spel. the remainder of his life. In January, 1863, he was elected to the United States Senate, which position he held for six years. In 1872 he was again nominated for governos. Mr. Hendricks went before the people as a temperance Gam, opposed to prohibi- tion, but willing to sign and co -finition Ilegi ation looking to- ward the amelior ition of crime and the advancement of temper- ance. He was elected and kept his pledzes to the letter. He al- ways kept his pledge inviolate, and over remains' true to his friends. Ho Med a high em of duty, ail a spirit of philan- thuropy perva d his who! nature. In 1876 he was nominated for the Vice-Preside oy on the D momistie tieret with Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, and of this election it was claimed they we . flagrantly dela led by returning boards and the electoral commission. In 188' the name. o. Thom 1. Hembicks was placed in nomination for the Procdeney . Cincinnati, by In- diana, and his omination was sfr in the convention. In 1884 he was a delegate to the lie go condution, and as chair- man of the Indiana delegation presented in fitting terms and mas terly manner the name of Je ph E. VeDuradd for the Presi deney. After the latter lad positively afused to accept the see- ond place on the ticket, Mr. Hendrick, das mavimon Jy chosen, and the successful Democratie wehet for 15 1, the first in twenty five years, becar Grover Cleveknol ! Tomas A. H dricks.
But few greater calamities der for the people then the death of Vice-President Hendricks, winch ceeurred on November 25, 1885, at his holde in Indianapolis, for he was one of the up- tion's greatest mon; deep, broad minded, diplomatie and, above all, a truc man.
CHARLES FOGAD HECK
"The most elaborate history is present an amidement the Instoria being compelled to select his facts and materials from a multitude of details. So in every life of honor and usefuhiess the biographer finds no dearth of ineldent, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch ony the most salient points, giving only the keynote of his character, but eliminating much that is superfluous. Consequently in calling the reader's attention to the life record of the late Charles Edgde Heck no at- tempt shall be made to recount all the huportant acts in his use- ful life, nor recite every interesting incident in his son owhat re- markable career, for it is deemed that only a few of them will sufice to show him to be eminently worthy of a place in this volume along with his follows of high standing and recognized worth, men whose names have figured prominently in the affairs of Indiana in the generations that are pa sed.
Mr. Heck was for years one of the best known and most rep- resentative citizens of Shelly county, was one of its most pro- gressive and substantial farmers and stock men and a man of national reputation as the proprietor of the Spring Lake Fishery, being an expert of widely recognized ability on all questions re- lating to this branch of natural science. He was a profound lover of nature, a man of decided esthetic attributes and of keen pene- tration in the secrets of wood, stream and field, a man of broad mind, kind heart and magnanimous soul, and in every way merit- ed the universal admiration and gentive esteem which he could claim.
On April 27, 18633, occurred the birth of Charles Edgar Heck in Shelby county. Indiana, just north of the present Heck home- stead. about ten miles east of Shelbyville. He was the scion of a prominent and influential pioneer family, members of which live done much toward the general npbuilding of the coundy. He was the son of Jasper and Lavina Ilecek, both also native. of Shelly county, where they grew to matmity, received theis e location
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training and gere married, and here they have continued to re- side to the present time.
The immune liate subject of this memoir was reared on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when a boy, receiving his early education in the common schools, from which he was graduated, and, being a close student, he became well caninmed for his life word which Is banan by teaching school during the winter months and farming in the summer time. Later he turned his attention to farming and became the owner of a large and valuable farm near Waldron, his native county, which he kept well improved and under a high state of cultiva- tion, carrying on general fanning and stock raising on a large seale for a number of years, but his principal industry later in life was his world-famed Spring Lake Fish Hatchery, which he conceived of starting in 1903, end which is devoted to breeding and rain g ornamental fish of many varieties. It is the largest hatchery in the world and under his able management became knowi not only throughout the United States, but Iso in for- eign nds everywhere, and he became such an expert authority in this line of endeavor that he was frequently consulted by United States fish counnissiones. In this work he was assisted by his father-in-law, William Shoup. A complete history of this noted hatchery will be given in the concluding paragraphs of this article.
Mr. Ileck was married in November, 1891, to Margaret M. Shoup, a lady of culture and many praiseworthy characteristics, and the daughter of William and Samantha Jane Shoup, the father becoming noted as au originator of fisheries. He was born in Decatur county, Indiana, where his parents, who came from Germany, settled in an carly day, and there they were summoned to their rest when Mr. Heck was eight years old, and he was reared by Bonn t Powell, a farmer, who originated the gold fish idea in this part of the country, and followed this work on a small se:le. Ile died June 1, 1906. Mrs. Heck grew up in this county and received a good education in the local schools. She is still residing at the beautiful and modernly appointed Heck home- stead near Waldron, and is overseeing the Spring Lake Hatchery, assisted by her only child, Chester Clyde Heck, who is now nine- teen years of age, a young man of nach business promise, a worthy son of .. worthy sire.
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he always had the courage of hi condetvar, Politically, he wa. very independent, and believed in como. IF Vallet for the candi dates when he deemed be bauted for the position sought. Fra- 1. ". als, by was a member of the Modern Woodmen. The tragic death of this distinguished citizen occured on March 5, 1910,
whole country was shocked at the news of his untimely taking off, for he was in the very zenith of his pavers and life work. He was a man of pleasing personality, geni. , able, obliging, an hon- orable and courteous gentleman whois to know was to admire and esteem. He became widely popular, an evidence of which is seen in the fact that Jolm M. Ring, the Famous writer of popular songs. of San Diego, California, dedicated one of his well known songs to him, entitled, "When Love Was Bom," although the author and Mr. Heck had never met.
For the principal facts in the following comprehensive ae- count of the Spring Lake Fish Hatchery, mentioned in preceding Paragraphs, we are indebtel to E. I. Lewis, whose artick, "In- diana Gold Fisheries, " appeared in the "Commissioner's Report; Fisheries and Game, " for 1902.
The largest gold fish farm in the world is located at Wald- ron, Indiana. It is the only place in America where gold fish are ammally raised by the one hundred thousand ind shipped, not only to all parts of the country, but to foreign lands, There is an annual American demand for between a quarter and a third of a million goldfish, and at least one-third of that demand is met from the Waldron fisheries. William Shoup, who founded this indus- try some thirty-five years ago, was the pioneer commercial goldfish grower in this country, and the late firm, consisting of William Shoup and Charles E. Heel, was the first in America to go back to the source of original supply, in the waters of China and Japan. and exercise a strict selection of breeders, that an improvement might be had in the American stock, which had been obtained for some two centuries from Europe and had great- ly deteriorated. Space forbids a detailed account of the history of the goldfish, which is one of the most interesting romances found in the fascinating story of animal life.
William Sh up took np goldfish raising by accident, and as the result of being a lover of dogs and other pets, and the pres-
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ener of a small pond ou hi. Farm, caused him to add fish to his list, and he tried eapp raising, but soon do carded them and bonght a few gold colored fish and in a few years he had a pond teeming with all kinds of goldfish, from the silver, white, blue and black, to the red and the real gold About a your later he sold three hundred, and during the latter years of his partnership with Mr. Hook they soll o . L . 14 .. goldfish. The world is the Waldron firm's market, and that mar- ket grew so rapidly that they added pond after pond until up- wards of one hundred were required, and they installed a great water pumping plant and increased their facilities to a point where two hundred thousand or more perfect fish could be pro- duced annually. Several years ago they established two fish hatcheries near Waldron, the Spring Lake Fish hatchery being the largest in the world as long as ten years ago, which included fifty ponds at that time. Near it is the Blue Ridge Fishery. Around these fisheries has sprung up quite a village, all of the houses being occupied by the men who work on these peculiar farms where nothing but pet and high scoring fish are reared. The first impression the stranger who visit. this place gets is that there is an abnormally large profit in rai ing a few hundred thou- sand fish annually at prices ranging from three to fifty cents apiece, but when one considers the expense attached to this enl- ture it is not at all diffien !. to see that these prices are not extrav- agant. There is no erop raised that is so post-ridden as this one of goldfish. The Waldron hateheries have furnished fish for the world's fairs at Paris, Chicago, St. Louis. Buffalo and others, and they are swimming today in almost all the parks and aquariums in Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe and even in western Asiatic countries, Most of the shipments are made during eight months of the year, sine goldfish cannot stand heat well, but are hard to freeze to death.
The Spring Lake Fishery can scarcely be seen from the coun- fry road that rims along the base of a piece of rolling land. Only the lower large ponds are visible from the road, the other ponds in which the spawning, hatching and growing to shipping size is done, occupy a series of terraces, the drop of the land being about a foot to every ten feet, and at the top of this strip there are a series of springs that supply water. The series of ten ferrari's then begins, and there are a minber of ponds on cach terrace.
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The water passes through the upper ponds to those in the lower terraces until it reaches the last one, and from there it is pumped back to the fountain head and fhished in with water isning from the spring. The evolution of the tish begins with the first series of ponds, that are given over to the spawning and hatching. When the fish is three weeks old that particular pond is drained out and the little and old fish are caught in sereens and are separated. Each female is capable of producing five thousand eggs every two weeks. Three weeks after the fish is hatched it begins to devour the e gs that are deposited on various objects around the edges of the ponds. It is then necessary to drain the lake and catch all in screens, placed in sliceways. About twenty large fish are then taken to the upper ponds that have been previously drained and a new spawning ground is given them. The hatch is divided into two or three parts, according to size, and assigned to different ponds in the lower terraces, and as the fish grow they are carried on down through the ponds until, when they are about two inches long, and three or four months old, they finally land in the new, big pond, where there are generally over one hundred thousand fish "ripening." They are then ready for shipment. It takes three or four years for the fish to get their growth, but they will live a long time. They begin spawning the second season. There are fish in the Spring Lake Fishery that are fifteen years old, and are still spawning, the females continning at the rate of fifty thousand eggs a year. It is known that some have lived forty or fifty years, and some authorities assert that they will live to be one hundred years old. They grow to a foot in length, and as they grow their beauty increases in proportion. There are some goldfish in the spawning ponds that would weigh almost a pound.
Four different kinds of goldfish are raised at the Spring Lake Fishery and all are bred from imported fish that cost from ten dollars up. These different varieties are kept separated through all the developing stages. This has been carried on so long that each variety is full-blooded according to its classification.
The breeding ponds are about forty feet long and fifteen wide, and they range in depth from three inches to three feci. The banks are high, in order to protect the water from the winds and from excessive cold in winter. Catalpa trees are planted around the ponds to afford shade for the fish, and in addition to this there
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is a bed of water lilies in each pond. It is said that the beautiful gold and red tints of these fish are produced by the sun shining on them. They are first of a silver color, then change to black and gradually take on their magnificent hues. The most expensive goldfish are produced here. It is called the Telescope, some of which, imported as breeders, have been known to bring two hun- Lied dollars apiece. The next most expensive goldfish is called the Comet, that grows almost a foot long and has a tail nearly as long as its body. Here are to be had also the common gold and silver fan, the finny and other varieties. Besides doing an ex- tensive goldfish business, there are also raised at the Spring Lake Fisheries thousands of water lilies and other aquatic plants, which are shipped to all points. A big business is also done in tadpoles and frogs.
LEWIS WILLIAM HOLMES.
That "man lives not to himself alone" is an assurance that is amply venibed m all the affair's of nie, but is perimence is the more patent in those instances where persons have so employed their inherent talents, so improved their opportunities and so marshaled their forces as to gain prestige which finds its angle of influence ever broadening in practical beneficence and human helpfulness. He whose productive activities are directed along legitimate and normal lines is by very virtue of that fact exerting a force which conserves Innan progress and prosperity, and the man of capacity for business affairs of importance finds himself an involuntary steward upon whom devolve large responsibilities. To the extent that he appreciates these duties and responsibilities and proves faithful in his stewardship does he also contribute to the well being of the world in which he inoves. The late Lewis William Hohes, for many years a well known business man of Indianapolis, was essentially a man who "did things" and this accomplishment was altogether worthy in all the lines in which he directed his energies. As a man of ability, sturdy integrity and usefulness, and as a citizen representative of the utmost loyalty he merited consideration by his fellow men, and his life record is deserving of a place in this publication, which touches those who have given to and sustained the civic and material prosperity and precedence of our capital city and therefore the state of Indiana.
Mr. Holmes was born in Jackson county, Indiana, January 17, 1847. Ile was the son of John Wesley Holmes and Catharine (Peck) Hohes, both of whom were natives and life-long residents of Jackson comity, each representing sterling old pioneer families. John W. Holmes was born at what is known as "Grassy Forks," February 28, 1823. He was a farmer in his younger days and he became the owner of valuable farm and town property, having been a man of industry and thrift. Before the railroad was built through to Medora, Indiana, he condneted a country store for some time, and after the road was completed he engaged in the mercantile business at Medora, building up a large trade. He was always active in Republican polities, and was a man of in-
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fluence in his community. His death occurred on December 2, 1899, his wife having preceded him to the grave January 21, 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years, her birth having occurred July 17, 1845.
Eight children were born to John W. Holmes and wife, named as follows: Lewis William, subject of this memoir; Robert is de- ponendo Dalilah, "I Ativa Dr. James Memmen; Damel was next in order of birth; Idelia, who married Lewis Earnest; Edgar was the sixth child; Leota, now deceased, married Andrew Wool- ery; Ken lives in Indianapolis.
Lewis W. Holmes, of this sketch, grew to manhood in Jack- son county, this state. He was educated in the pubhe schools and later studied pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then entered his father's store as a clerk for a short time. In 1868 he opened a drug store at Medora, Indiana, and after a very successful career there sold out to his brother-in-law, Dr. James McMillen, in 1886 and moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he accepted a position in the office of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, remaining in Kan- sas for a period of nine years, rendering the most faithful and acceptable service to the company, being regarded as one of their ablest employes, also as one of their most trusted.
But during these years he always had a longing to return to the drug business, and in 1894 he moved his family to Indianapolis and purchased a drug store on the corner of East Tenth and Bevel streets, taking his eldest son, Ferdinand, in partnership with him. Later they moved to the corner of Jefferson avenue and East Tenth street, and from there back to the first location, which had been remodeled in the meantime. Later the store was moved to the corner of East Tenth street and Keystone avenne, where they had erected a building for this purpose. Ferdinand Hohnes, the son, has taken full charge of the store since the death of his father, Lewis William Hohnes, which occurred on April 12, 1912, at his pleasant home, No. 1110 North Keystone avenue. Young Hohnes is carrying out most successfully the plans inaugurated by his able father.
Fraternally, Lewis W. Hohes was a member of the Masonic order, with which he associated hinself while in Brownstown many years before his death, and he ever stood high in this time- honored order. Politically, he was a loyal Republican, but pro- ferred to devote his time principally to his business affairs and
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his home, rather than to public life. In religions matters he was a worthy member of the Christian church. He was a good and upright man, a Christian in every sense of the word, and he en- joyed the confidence and good will of all concerned. Ilis busi- ness acquaintances regarded him as a man whose word was as good as his note. After his death it was said of him that he was one of the squarest men who ever engaged in business on Tenth street. Among the many letters of condolence received by Mrs. Hohnes after the death of her husband, the following will show in what high esteem he was held by those with whom he did business, this being similar to many others; it came from the old and well known firm of Daniel Stewart Company, wholesale druggists and manufacturing chemists and perfumers, and was written by Will- iam Scott, president of that concern, under date of April 13, 1912: "Dear Mrs. Holmes-I have just learned of the death of your husband and hasten to extend my most sincere sympathy in your bereavement. Mr. Hohes was one of my old friends, a man in whom I had every confidence and who richly deserved it. His death will be a loss to the business community in Indianapolis, as his commercial record is without blemish. I will miss him not only as an old and valued customer, but as a friend that it was always a pleasure to meet and his death I do most sincerely regret. Again extending my sympathy to yourself and the members of your family, with kindest regards, believe me very sincerely your's."
Regarding the funeral of Mr. Holmes we quote from the In- dianapolis Sun: "The funeral of L. W. Holmes, the prominent druggist who died Friday evening after an illness of one year, will be held Monday at two o'clock at the family residence, No. 1110 North Keystone avenue. Interment will be made in Crown Hill cemetery. The funeral will be private. Friends may call at the home Sunday afternoon and evening. Mr. Hohnes came to Indianapolis eighteen years ago from Topeka, Kansas. Ile is survived by the widow, two sons, Albert K. and William F. Holmes, and one daughter, Mrs. Winona Shaeffer, all of Indian- apolis."
On October 28, 1866. Lewis William Holmes was united in marriage with Sarah Kirkpatrick, a daughter of George W. an l Melissa (Hopkins) Kirkpatrick, a highly esteemed old Indiana family. Mrs. Holmes, who was born, reared and educated in this
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state, is the only child of her father's first union. Her mother died when Sarah Kirkpatrick was only six years old.
The union of Lewis W. Hlohnes and Sarah ( Kirkpatrick) Ilolmes was blessed by the birth of three children, as intimated in a preceding paragraph, namely : William Ferdinand, who mai- ried Catherine Marshall and who is engaged in the drug business; Albert, who married catherme matureton, and they have one child, Alberta; Winona married Oscar Shaeffer, whose death occurred in 1909; she makes her home with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Johnes have made the eastern part of the city their residence since locat- ing in Indianapolis. They built the present comfortable and at- tractive bungalow on North Keystone avenue in 1910.
THOMAS M. HONAN.
An chumeration of the representative chizens or indiana who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time conferred honor upon the connnonwealth, would be incom- plete were there failure to make definite mention of the gentle- man whose name introduces this review, Thomas M. Honan, whose name is a familiar one in this state, where he has held worthy prestige in legal and political circles. He has been dis- tinetively a man of affairs, wielding a wide influence among those with whom he has associated, ever having the welfare of his state at heart and doing what he could to aid in its progress and de- velopment. He firmly believes the old Hoosier state to be one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous of any in the Union and it has always been due to such men as Mr. Honan that she could justly claim a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which conserved consecutive development and marked advancement along all lines of upbuilding. The state of Indiana has been, and is, signally favored in the class of men who have administered its affairs in official capacity, and this is one of the connections in which Mr. Honan demands recognition, serving his community and the commonwealth faithfully and ably in po- sitions of responsibility. He achieved a splendid record at the bar at an age when most men are merely starting out on their life work, for from the beginning he was intensely methodical and unswervingly persistent in search of the true light and of the essentials of the legal foundations, and in sources of legal con- ception and thought, holding devoutly to the highly embellished record of equity, the invariable therooms of law, the sure, cer- tain, invincible methods of practice; therefore snecess could not help crowning his efforts and attracting to him public recogni- tion and appreciation.
Thomas M. Honan was born at Seymour, Jackson county, In- diana, on the 8th of August, 1867. He is the son of James and Mary (Giger) Honan, who were mumubered among the carly set-
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tlers of Jackson county. The subject is indebted to the common schools for his elementary education. Desiring to continue his studies he then entered Hanover College, at Madison, Indiana, and afterwards entered Indiana University, where in due time he was graduated. In 1890 he was admitted to the bar and at once en- tered upon the active practice of his profession. From the be- ginning Mr. Honan was actively interested in all public affairs and with healthy zest he entered the political campaigns of his party, proving an effective and potent influence in his locality. Ile was elected prosecuting attorney of the forty-second judicial district and so satisfactory was his discharge of the duties of the office that he was twice re-elected, thus serving three terms, an unusual honor and speaking well for his ability and popularity. . He also gave efficient and satisfactory service for four years as attorney for the city of Seymour. He was slated for still further publie honor and recognition, however, and was elected to repre- sent Jackson county in the lower house of the Legislature, where he served during the sixty-fourth, sixty-fifth and sixty-sixth ses- sions, being elected speaker of that body during his last legisla- tive term. As a legislator he served on a muuber of the most im- portant committees of the house, being instrumental in secur- ing the passage of much important and needed legislation. As the speaker of the House, Mr. Honan earned the commendation of that body, being eminently fair and impartial in his decisions and presiding over its deliberations in a dignified, vet courteous, manner that won for him at once the respect of all.
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