Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana, Part 8

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Brown
Number of Pages: 1674

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Nine children were born to Pleasant Johnson and wife, of whom four besides Sylvester are yet living, all younger than he; they are Mrs. Isaac H. Harrington, of Indianapolis; Milo Johnson, of Brownsburg, Indiana; John Ashley Johnson, a farmer in South Dakota; and Mrs. Eliza Ellen Compton, of Van Buren, Indiana.

Sylvester Johnson grew to manhood on the home farm where he helped with the general work during the crop seasons, attend- ing the common schools during the winter months, later attending the Beech Grove Seminary, south of Liberty, a school taught by William Houghton, an uncle, an Irishman by birth, and, accord- ing to the subject, one of the best school teachers that ever taught in this state. He attended three five-months terms there, after which he taught school for a period of fourteen years in Dublin Academy, at Dublin, Indiana, teaching all of each year. He gave eminent satisfaction as an instructor and took a high rank among the teachers of that section of the state.

Mr. Johnson always took a deep interest in politics, his father having been a strong Whig, a Henry Clay man. The former's next employment was as railway mail agent, between Indianapolis and Dayton, Ohio, on the road known at that time as the Indiana Central, which position he filled very creditably for three years. He was then elected auditor of Wayne county and served two terms of four years each, beginning in 1863, giving eminent satisfaction to the people, irrespective of party align- ment.

In 1870, Jacob B. Julian paid a visit to Indianapolis and met

Thomas A. Goodwin, who was in the real estate business. Ile had three hundred and twenty acres of land on the site of what is now Irvington, to sell for the Sandusky family of Kentucky, who formerly lived in Indianapolis. Mr. Julian and Mrs. Johnson bought it at one hundred dollars per acre, paying thirty-two thousand dollars for what is now worth a fabulous sum. Mr. Johnson moved here in 1872, and soon afterwards built his present home, a magnificent structure for those days, costing twenty thousand dollars. Ile shipped all the wood work from Wayne county. He sold his lots from time to time and realized a handsome profit, as the town built up, and he has now disposed of all of his original holdings, except the two and one-half acres surrounding his home, which is one of the most attractive in Irvington. This land is now worth fifty dollars a front foot. He was living at Centerville when he purchased the Irvington property, having made his home in the former town eight years, or during the time that he was incumbent of the office of auditor of Wayne county. The name of Irvington for this place was suggested by Mr. Julian, who was a great admirer of Washington Irving, the famous American author. Mr. Johnson accepted the suggestion. For a time their purchase did not promise very large returns on the investment, for the panie of 1873 came along and money was scarce and times were hard. But after a time people began to be interested in this suburb and there are now about four thousand people in Irvington, and Mr. Johnson takes much pride in the fact that there is not a saloon, for he is a vigorous Prohibitionist and says that the thing of which he is most proud is that in every transfer of land made in that suburb it is specifically set forth that no liquor shall be made or sold on the premises, and if this consideration is violated the property shall revert to the previous owner.

When asked how this place came to have such meandering streets, Mr. Johnson replied: "In this way. When we got ready to start a town, Mr. Julian and myself went to take a look at Glendale, near Cincinnati. The meandering streets of that beautiful place impressed us and we adopted that style of thoroughfare." Of the three hundred and twenty acres they purchased, one hundred and sixty lie north and a like number of acres south of the Panhandle and Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad tracks,

Mr. Johnson has been interested in horticulture and garden- ing ever since he left the farm. Even while teaching school he always had a garden. He is one of the founders of the Indiana Horticultural Society, and was its president for eleven years, and its large sueeess has been due in no small measure to his efforts. He has kept well up to date in all matters pertaining to this sub- ject and is a recognized authority on the same. He was treasurer of the state board of agriculture for six years. Ilis elegant home is surrounded by fine fruit trees, shade trees, and he has an attractive lawn, covered with shrubbery, and a splendid garden in the rear. He has a large and convenient barn and other substan- tial outbuildings. Although past ninety years old, he may be seen working about his place on any day when the weather is favorable, and he can do as much work as many young men, being remark- ably well preserved. When asked to what he owed his length of years and his excellent health, Mr. Johnson replied: "Well, I have never tasted a drop of liquor in my life, never used tobacco and I never swore an oath, and up to my ninetieth birthday I never had rheumatism." His is the only authentic case on record of anyone in Irvington celebrating their ninetieth birthday, but this the subject did at his pleasant home, No. 62 Audubon Road, on January 31, 1912, when many of his friends called, and many more sent congratulations.

Mr. Johnson was married to Rachael Minor, when she was only seventeen years of age. She was the daughter of Noah W. and Susan (Studebaker) Minor. To this union four children were born, namely: Franeenia Augusta, who married and became the mother of two children, died several years ago; Endorus M., whose death occurred in 1910, was at one time city comptroller; Lizzie, who married James Powell, lives in Denver, Colorado, her husband being now deceased; Oliver R., who is at this writing superintendent of the advertising department of the Indianapolis News, was vice-consul for two years in London.

Sylvester Johnson's first wife passed away in 1902, and in May, 1910, he was united in marriage with Eunice (Gilky) Brown. She became the mother of four children by a former marriage.

In early life Mr. Johnson was a Whig, and when the Republi- can party was organized in the fifties he began supporting it and continued to do so until 1884, since which year he has voted the Prohibition tieket. He has served in several minor offices

since coming to Irvington, including that of town treasurer for four years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not active in the same. He belongs to the Friends ehureh. He was the grand worthy chief templar of Indiana for six years. He was trustee of Purdue University at Lafayette, Indiana, for several years. Personally, he is a genial, obliging and courteous gentleman whom to know is to admire and respect, and his friends are numbered only by the limits of his aequaint- anee.

Seo Dewald

GEORGE De WALD.

In placing the name of the late George DeWald in the front rank of Fort Wayne's business men of a past generation, simple justice is done to a biographical fact, universally recognized throughout Allen county and northeastern Indiana by those at all familiar with his history, for he was virtually the founder of the extensive and well known mercantile house which bears his name. A man of rare soundness of judgment, wise discretion and business ability of a high order, he managed with tactful success important enterprises and so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public-spirited men of affairs. What of the man and what of his work? This is the dual query which represents the interroga- tion at least nominally entertained whenever that discriminating factor, the public, would pronounce on the true worth of the in- dividual. The career of George De Wald indicates the clear-cut, sane and distinct character, and in reviewing the same from an unbiased and unprejudiced standpoint, interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation. In this publication it is eon- sistent that such a review be entered, and that without the adula- tion of ornate phrases. The city of Fort Wayne naturally takes pride in the work performed by Mr. DeWald, who stamped the mark of definite accomplishment on the highest plane of industrial activity, and consistently demands that he be given due relative precedence in a work which has to do with those who have lived and labored to good purpose in the great commonwealth of In- diana in times that are past, and thenee permeated the great in- dustrial and civic life of the nation, in which he stood well to the forefront in representative citizenship. His history and that of the latter-day progress of Allen county is so indissolubly inter- woven that they are pretty much one and the same, for he lived to see and take a leading part in the upbuilding of the county and city of his choice, and during the years in which he honored this loeality with his residence no man stood higher in public esteem.

Mr. DeWald was born in Viernheim, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, May 14, 1831, the representative of a thrifty old fam-

ily, and he grew to young manhood and received his early educa- tion in his native community. When but a lad he often expressed a wish to come to America, and when only eighteen years of age he gratified this desire of long standing by emigrating to our shores, courageously severing home ties and giving exemplifica- tion of his self-reliant spirit. He did not spend much time in the East, but came on to the newer Middle West, locating at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he soon went into the employ of a small dry goods store that was stationed at the same location now oc- cupied by the large establishment of the George DeWald Com- pany. Being ambitious to get a start, he put forth every effort and, being apt to learn, soon mastered the ins and outs of the dry goods business, and readily grasped the examples set by his su- periors. Starting in at the lowest position in the little store, he gradually worked his way up the ladder. His own diligence and aptitude, combined with honesty and integrity in all his dealings, placed him in the confidence of his employers, and as the business of the firm increased young DeWald was promoted until he was finally taken into partnership, the firm then becoming known as Townley, DeWald & Bond. Within a few years Mr. DeWald was practically at the head of the firm, and it was largely due to his efforts and business ability that the house thrived and became one of the leading dry goods firms in northern Indiana. In a few years, R. W. Townley, the senior member of the firm, decided to retire, and he was succeeded by Mr. DeWald. It was not long thereafter until the latter became the sole manager and proprie- tor of the business. The company was merely nominal. This was in the year 1871. He gave it his close attention, and, being by nature a man of keen business acumen and rare industrial ability, the business rapidly and constantly grew until it assumed large proportions, taking its place among the leading concerns of Fort Wayne, and thus for a period of over forty years the store of George De Wald & Company has held high prestige in this section of the state, and it still draws its patrons from over a wide stretch of territory, the name of the firm having been slightly changed shortly after the subject's death, it having since been known as George DeWald Company, in the wholesale and jobbing lines, the retail department having been abandoned.

The death of George DeWald occurred on June 27, 1899. His vitality had been somewhat impaired some two years prior to

his demise, but he had continued to give his attention to his busi- ness and was active up to the day of his death, which came with- ont warning. Six months to the day after his death the estab- lishment of the firm was destroyed by fire, December 27, 1899, and in the following month was effected the organization of the George De Wald Company, by which it is still known. Apropos of the fire, the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette spoke as follows: "A pile of blackened, smoldering ruins is all that remains of the great dry-goods house of George DeWald & Company. This pioneer mercantile establishment, one of the oldest in the Northwest, was wiped out by fire before dawn yesterday morning (Wednesday, December 27, 1899). With the DeWald building went the old crockery store of M. F. Kaag, adjoining on the east. Both are a total loss, with all their contents, as the losses are variously esti- mated, but will not fall below two hundred thousand dollars. The house of George De Wald & Company was established in the carly pioneer days, and the original building, three stories in height, was erected in 1846. It was owned by Hartman & Jones, general merchants. In 1849 Hartman & Jones sold out to the Townley Brothers, who continued the business until 1854, when the firm became Townley, De Wald & Company. In 1870 the firm George DeWald & Company succeeded to the business. The death of Mr. De Wald, last spring, caused a change, and in January the firm name was to have been changed to the George De Wald Company. The firm was one of the most progressive and most widely known in the Northwest. Since 1881 a general wholesale business had been carried on, in addition to the original retail trade. The firm owned the building on the corner of Calhoun street and the build- ing on the east, which was connected with the store and occupied as salesrooms, was owned by the Hugh McCulloch estate until about five months ago, when Mrs. De Wald purchased the prop- erty, for a consideration of fourteen thousand dollars."

It may be noted that the business was continued without in- terruption by this disaster, but the concern dropped the retail trade and has since conducted an exclusive wholesale business, its volume of business being very large and its territory being wide and new fields always being invaded. The prestige of the concern is all that could be desired and the name remains as a memorial to him whose energy and ability made possible the building up of the great enterprise, while its indirect benefit to

the city of Fort Wayne cannot be estimated in metes and bounds. A substantial, imposing new building has been erected on the same site, and is one of the many modern business structures which give Fort Wayne a metropolitan appearance. The company was organized in January, 1900, and the officials of the same are as follows: Robert W. T. DeWald, president; George L. De Wald, vice-president, and William P. Beek, secretary and treasurer.

George DeWald was married on February 11, 1861, to Mrs. Sophia A. (Lasselle) Nettlehorst, widow of Charles W. Nettle- horst, to whom she bore two children, Hannah, who is now the wife of John Mohr, cashier of the Hamilton National Bank, Fort Wayne, and Francis, a son who died in infancy. Mrs. DeWald was born and reared in Fort Wayne, being a daughter of Francis D. and Hannah H. (Henderson) Lasselle, both members of ster- ling pioneer families of this city. Of the five living children, who, well known here, survive the honored subject of this memoir, brief record is entered as follows: Robert W. T. is president of the George DeWald Company, as stated in a preceding para- graph, and is one of the most successful and best known business men of the present generation in Fort Wayne; Mary E. is the wife of James A. McDonald, of Chicago; Caroline S. is the wife of Henry J. Benret, of Fort Wayne; Elizabeth M. remains an ocell- pant of the old homestead; and George L. is vice-president of the George DeWald Company and is doing much to make the same a continued success.

In his political adhereney George De Wald was a loyal Demo- crat, and while he heartily supported every movement looking to the general upbuilding of the community, he never sought official preferment, being intrinsically and essentially a business man, and preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his store and his home. Religiously, he was a communicant and a worthy mem- ber of St. Patrick's Catholic church, contributing liberally to its support. Being charitably inclined, he gave annually large sums to the collateral benevolences of the parish and diocese. In this church his funeral was held, and the edifice was filled with eiti- zens of all classes, who assembled to pay a last tribute of respect. Solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Delaney and his assistants, and the celebrant in his words of appreciation pointed to Mr. DeWald as one whose life had been passed in obed- ience to the divine mandate. His earthly existence had not been

fruitless, for he had lived in anticipation of the end and had shaped his life accordingly. The highest tribute that could be paid him as a man, according to Father Delaney, was that those who knew him best loved him most. His life was one of com- pleteness and worthy accomplishment, and while his death caused a wave of sorrow to sweep over the city and county in which he had so long made his home and in which he was so highly hon- ored, none could fail to realize that in the measure of his accom- plishments and in the fulness of his good works his days found fitting end and bore to those left behind the grateful compensa- tion which is that of true nobility and worthiness.

In speaking of his death the Fort Wayne News had the fol- lowing to say:

"Mr. De Wald had an extensive acquaintance not only in this city but also throughout Allen county and Northeastern Indiana. In his business and also in his private life he was a man of but few words, but always congenial. About the store he was friend- ly with the employes, and he always had a cheering word for a beginner in the business. He was benevolent and gave freely in a quiet way to charity. He shunned notoriety in all of his chari- table acts, but it was well known that a person in need would never be refused help by Mr. De Wald.

"Few events of recent years have caused deeper or more widespread regret than the death of George DeWald. He had been so long identified with the city's commercial growth, so long regarded as a pillar of strength in the business world, and so upright and honorable in his life, that his unawaited demise was felt as almost a public calamity. Mr. DeWald's life story is one of those, numerous in our western history, that serve as object lessons to those who would mount the ladder of success. His be- ginning was humble, and he owed his rise to no train of fortunate incidents or fortuitous circumstances. It was the reward of ap- plication of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, the combining of keen perceptions with mental activ- ity that enabled him to grasp the opportunities that presented themselves. This he did with success, and, what is more import- ant, with honor. His integrity was unassailable, his honor unim- peachable. The shrewd business man will be missed in business circles, but it is as the gentle-mannered, kindly gentleman that his friends will love most to remember him. Fort Wayne has lost

a sterling citizen, whose place will be hard to fill, innumerable poor who have known his benefactions will call his memory blessed."

The Fort Wayne Journal and other papers printed para- graphs of him in a similar strain, all lauding his useful, indus- trious life and his exemplary character. One of them said: "George De Wald was loved and respected not only in Fort Wayne, but in all the country round. His friends were legion, and none knew him who did not thoroughly trust and esteem him. He made honor the corner-stone and cap-stone of his success. He will be greatly missed from business circles of Fort Wayne, and thousands of his acquaintances will feel a sense of personal loss."

The life history of Mrs. Sophia A. DeWald is given in a sep- arate and complete sketch on another page in this work. Her death occurred April 27, 1906.

Ena by E S Witha's & Bro Ne

Oxy Lane

HON. HENRY SMITH LANE.

Not too often can be repeated the life history of one who lived so honorable and useful a life and who attained to such notable distinction as did the late Henry Smith Lane, lawyer, soldier, statesman and easily one of the most distinguished men that the great state of Indiana has ever produced. His character was one of signal exaltation and purity of purpose. Well disci- plined in mind, maintaining a vantagepoint from which life presented itself in correct proportions, judicial in his attitude to- ward both men and measures, guided and guarded by the most inviolable principles of integrity and honor, simple and unosten- tatious in his self-respecting, tolerant individuality, such a man could not prove other than a force for good in whatever relation of life he may have been placed. His character was the positive expression of a strong nature and his strength was as the number of his days. In studying his career interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation and there is no need for indirection or puzzling. The record of his life finds a place in the generic history of this state and that of the nation, and in this compila- tion it is necessary only to note briefly the salient points of his life history. And it is useless to add that both the state and nation were dignified by his noble life and splendid achievements, and that he stood as an honored member of a striking group of noted men whose influence in the civic and economic life of the nation was of most beneficent order. He served as governor, United States senator and was accorded other evidences of popu- lar confidence and regard; the while he ever ordered his course according to the highest principles and ideals so that he was found true to himself and to all men in every relation of life. To attain prestige and success in the practice of a laborious and exacting profession is even too great a task for most men, but Mr. Lane not only accomplished this early in his career, but was conspicuously identified with many interests which were calcu- lated to subserve the general prosperity of Indiana, proved a valuable factor in the legislative and political councils of his state and nation, and was in that constant sympathy and touch with

the work of Christianity that stand as an earnest of effective and zealous labor; and, while not without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful an incentive in public affairs, he ever regarded the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. So in every respect he eminently merited the high esteem in which he was universally held.

Hon. Henry S. Lane was the seion of a sterling old Southern family, and he was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 24, 1811. Unlike many of the young men of the West during the early years of the nineteenth century, he enjoyed the ad- vantages of a liberal education, and when eighteen years old began the study of law, in which he made rapid progress. Soon after reaching his majority he was admitted to the bar, and in 1835 came to Indiana and settled at Crawfordsville. In this place he soon obtained a good legal practice, particularly criminal cases. Manifesting an abiding interest in public affairs, he be- came very popular and in 1837 was elected to the state Legisla- ture from his county, and his record there was in every way satis- factory to his pioneer constituents, his influence having much to do with the early development of the state. He was elected to Congress in 1840, and something of his popularity in his district may be gained when we learn that he defeated his competitor by fifteen hundred votes, a very large majority in that day when the state was sparsely settled. He made such a splendid record in this high office that he was re-elected the following election to Congress, defeating John Bryce by an immense majority. He was a great admirer of Henry Clay, and when he made the race for President in 1844 Mr. Lane stumped the state for him, and no one felt the defeat of the great Kentuckian more keenly than the sub- ject.

At the outbreak of the Mexican war Mr. Lane engaged very earnestly in raising troops. Coming to Indianapolis, he attended a meeting and was one of the most active in the proceedings, his · influence doing much to fill the ranks of Scott and Taylor, who led the hosts against the ancient walls of the Montezumas. He was placed on the committee of resolutions at the above-mentioned meeting, and he drew up the resolutions in regard to the war. It is said that no man in the state was stronger in his support of this war than Henry S. Lane. He raised a company of volunteers in Montgomery county and was made captain of that company,

going to Indianapolis, where the regiment was formed and was elected major then. While in the field he was promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel for meritorious conduct and served as such until the regiment disbanded, proving a most gallant and able officer, winning the praise of his superiors and the admiration of his troops. After the expiration of his enlistment he came to Madi- son, Indiana, where, by his fiery eloquence and attack on certain members of the Whig party, he caused the war spirit to prevail, and a company was formed from Madison and went to the front as part of the Fifth Indiana Regiment under Col. James H. Lane.

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Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana, Part 8

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Brown Number of Pages: 1674

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Brown
Number of Pages: 1674