USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Memorial record of distinguished men of Indianapolis and Indiana > Part 25
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Elmer C. Laughlin
marriage to Miss Adaline Brady, daughter of Rev. John Brady, who was an hon- ored clergyman of the Christian church and who held at that time a pastoral charge in Warren county, this state. Of this union were born five sons and two daughters, and of the number three sons are living. About five years after the death of his first wife Mr. Laughlin returned to Shelby county, Ohio, where, in 1836, was solemnized his marriage to Mrs. Amanda Stephenson, who survives him.
Elmer C. Laughlin gained his early educational discipline in the public schools of Benton county, Indiana, and later he availed himself of the advantages of the Northern Indiana Normal School & Business University, now known as Valparaiso University, where he admirably fitted himself for work as a teacher. His initial experience in the pedagogic profession was gained in the vicinity of Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, and he finally assumed a position in the public schools of Boswell, Indiana, where he continued as a successful and popular instructor for a period of seven years, during the greater part of which time he was principal of the schools, which he brought up to a specially high standard. After his retirement from this field of endeavor Mr. Laughlin became one of the organizers of the Farmers' Co-operative Grain Association, and as manager of its business at Bos- well he made a splendid record, continuing the incumbency of this office until he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal endeavors. From an appreciative memorial published in the Boswell Enterprise at the time of his death are taken the following extracts :
"Elmer C. Laughlin was a man of exceptional qualities, and his loss to the community will be felt in many ways. Upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, sympathetic and kind-hearted, he endeared himself to those with whom he came in contact. In his relations to his church and fraternities he was always consistent,-always espoused the right against the wrong, and was fearless in fighting evil. He was as nearly a Christian as any man. Socially he was a pleas- ant companion and was popular. Having faults himself, he did not magnify those of others; neither did he draw down his face nor look sanctimonious. He loved life, as every other big, full-blooded man does. He was good to look upon, and in his physique there seemed enough of vitality to carry him through the struggles and storms for fifty years to come. But the wear on his brain was too much, and the fatal stroke came. The greatest loss falls on his wife and two little daughters. They were first with him, and by him was left undone nothing that would add to their happiness,-and he was to them their all. The funeral was conducted from the home on the Monday following his death, and in the services the Rev. John J. Claypool, pastor of the Methodist church of Stockwell, was as- sisted by the Rev. Messrs. McCloud and Leonard."
In politics Mr. Laughlin was aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, but he never had aught of desire for the honors or emolu- ments of public office. He was a most zealous worker in behalf of measures tend- ing to advance the moral and general social welfare of the community, and, as a de- vout and consistent member of the Christian church, his abiding faith was shown forth in thought, word and deed, with no semblance of pharisaical intolerance. He was an elder in the Christian church of Boswell at the time of his death, was also superintendent of its Sunday-school, and held the office of vice-president of the Sunday-school Association of Benton county, and president of the local Anti- saloon League. His interest in educational affairs never waned and he was a
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valued member of the board of education in his home village at the time of his sudden summons to the life eternal. He was actively affiliated with Boswell Lodge, No. 486, Free & Accepted Masons; Boswell Lodge, No. 463, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which latter fraternity he was also identified with the Encampment body; and with the Woodmen of the World. Each of these organi- zations, as well as a committee from his church, passed appreciative resolutions of sorrow and respect when he was summoned to the better world. From the tribute given by his Masonic lodge are taken the following well justified state- ments :
" 'Death loves a shining mark.' Truly do we see this exemplified in the death of our friend and brother, Elmer C. Laughlin, whose loss we deeply deplore and whose memory we shall ever revere. We realize that in his death our lodge has lost one of its most worthy members and our community one of its most worthy citizens. In every station of life, whether as a business man charged with re- sponsible duties, as a Christian, as a husband and father, as a citizen, neighbor and friend, as a man and a Mason, he fearlessly and faithfully executed every trust and discharged every duty, and, passing away, left no stain upon his name. Cut down in the full vigor of his manhood, his life's work is ended, but he did not live in vain, for his good works still survive to bless the community in which he lived, and he has left to his family the rich heritage of a good name."
The following extracts are from the tribute given by the church of which he was so prominent and zealous a member:
"We all know of his increasing work of love and kindness among us; of his earnest endeavors to uplift his fellow men and bring about a higher moral con- dition in every community. His friends were legion. To know him was to love and esteem him. His work was not alone in a general way. As a member of the Church of Christ at Boswell, and one of its elders and the superintendent of its Sunday-school, and also in the Endeavor society, he was especially and ear- nestly engaged in the work of his Master and Lord. But the Great Ruler of all has seen fit to call him up higher, and we must bow in humble submission to His supreme will, knowing that He doeth all things well."
The gentle beatitudes exemplified in the life of Mr. Laughlin found their greatest glory in the sanctuary of his home, and to his wife and daughters there must remain the consolation and recompense granted by the gracious memories of all that he was to them and to the world in which he lived. At Boswell, on the 20th of June, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Laughlin to Miss Clara Christley, who was born and reared in that place and who, with her daughters, now resides in Indianapolis, as has been previously noted in this context. Mrs. Laughlin is a daughter of Dr. Joel B. and Mary E. (Borders) Christley, who still reside on their old homestead near Boswell, and both of whom are octogena- rians. They are held in reverent affection by all who know them. Dr. Christley was one of the early physicians and surgeons in the community which is still his home and for many years he ministered with much of ability and devotion to those in affliction, so that it is but natural that he should retain the high regard of the community in which he has so long maintained his abode and in which he and his cherished wife are now numbered among the most venerable pioneers. Dr. Christ- ley was born in Pennsylvania and is a man of fine intellectual and professional attainments, though he has not been engaged in the active practice of medicine
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for the past thirty years. Mrs. Christley was born near Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, this state, and is a representative of one of the prominent and influential pioneer families of that section of the Hoosier commonwealth. Of the children of Dr. and Mrs. Christley, four sons and two daughters are now living. Mrs. Laughlin established her home in Indianapolis in 1907 and here finds pleasing so- cial environments and the best of educational advantages for her two daughters, Ermil L., and Vera H.
ottlieb Wlachtstetter
HE sterling citizen to whom this memoir is dedicated was a rep- T resentative of one of the influential and prominent German families of Indiana and in his character and services he exem- plified the sturdy characteristics and best traditions of his native land and thus made himself the more worthy and useful as a citizen of the country of his adoption. He was long iden- tified with business interests in Indianapolis and achieved sub- stantial prosperity through his own endeavors. He was well known and highly esteemed in the capital city of Indiana and here his death occurred on the 13th of October, 1893, his widow still maintaining her residence in the fine old homestead at 1902 Park avenue.
Gottlieb Wachtstetter was born in the kingdom of Würtemburg, Germany, on the 21st of January, 1835, and thus he was nearly sixty years of age at the time of his death. He was a son of Matthew and Christina Wachtstetter, who immigrated to America in 1854 and established their home on a farm in Pulaski county, Indi- ana, where the father became a successful agriculturist and a valued citizen. When well advanced in years the parents removed to Indianapolis, where they continued to reside until their death and where they commanded the high esteem of all who knew them. Gottlieb Wachtstetter was indebted to the excellent schools of his Fatherland for his early educational training and was a youth of twenty years at the time of the family immigration to the United States. He remained for a time on the farm secured by his father and then came to Indianapolis, where his first employment was that of teamster for the state asylum for the deaf and dumb. He carefully conserved his resources and was finally enabled to initiate his inde- pendent business career by opening a restaurant in the Sherman House block, near the Union passenger station. He there began operations in 1862 and about five years later, after having built up a prosperous enterprise, he disposed of his restau- rant and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on the Hamilton county line. This property was partly improved, and he erected on the place a substan- tial brick house, to supplant the old log house which had been erected many years previously. He made other excellent improvements on the farm and there con- tinued to reside about four years, at the expiration of which he rented the place and returned to Indianapolis. In 1875 he sold the farm and, incidental to this transaction, received in exchange the valuable residence property now occupied by his widow. A few years after his return to the capital city Mr. Wachtstetter engaged in the retail liquor trade by opening a buffet and cafe at the corner of Sixteenth street and Senate avenue. He conducted this place in the careful and orderly manner characteristic of the sturdy German system and built up a most prosperous enterprise, to the management of which he continued to devote his attention until his death. His widow eventually disposed of the business and fur- nishings of the place but she still owns the property, besides which she also owns
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much other valuable realty in the city, her husband having made judicious invest- ments in such property from time to time. While living on his farm Mr. Wacht- stetter began buying and selling live stock, and he continued in this line of enter- prise upon a somewhat extensive scale after he had returned to Indianapolis. He was a great lover of horses, and at various times was the owner of many fine animals in this line, including a number of standard bred horses of the best type. He was well known in his home city and had a wide circle of friends, especially among the German citizens. He gave his time to his home and business and thus had no predilection for identifying himself with clubs and other social organiza- tions, though he was for some time actively affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Loyal and progressive as a citizen, he never took an active part in political affairs, though he accorded a staunch allegiance to the Democratic party. He held membership in the German Lutheran church. He was a man of strong mentality, and good literature, and instructive lectures had much attraction for him. The substantial brick residence which he purchased in 1876, and which his widow still occupies, was erected in 1873, and when he there established his home there but few other houses in that section of the city,-the old state fair grounds,-and of the houses on these grounds at the time he purchased his prop- erty his old homestead is now the only one standing.
On the 13th of April, 1861, Mr. Wachtstetter was united in marriage to Miss Anna Thom, who was born at Aberdeenshire, Scotland, within a mile of Castle Forbes, and who is a daughter of James and Helen (Kesson) Thom, who passed their entire lives in the "land of hills and heather." Mrs. Wachtstetter received good educational advantages in her native land and came to the United States in 1854, in company with her elder sister, Mrs. Elsie Emslie, wife of James Emslie, of New London, Ohio. The sisters maintained their home at New London, Huron county, Ohio, for several years after coming to America. Mrs. Wachtstetter holds membership in Plymouth church and has many friends in the social circles of the city which has so long represented her home. Concerning the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Wachtstetter, the following data are given in conclusion of this memoir: Jessie A., who was reared and educated in Indianapolis, was united in marriage, on the 13th of April, 1884, to William J. Miles, who was born at Wabash, this state, and who is now a successful business man of Indianapolis. They became the parents of eight children, Willa C., Bessie V., Hazel B., Jessie L., James A., Shirley A., Beulah M., and William W. All of the children are living with the exception of Willa C., who died at the age of nine years. Josephine, the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wachtstetter, became the wife of Walter B. Silver, and she died in Indianapolis, on the 31st of January, 1898; she is survived by one son, Dwight W.
James TU. Bryan
3NATIVE of Kentucky and a scion of one of the old and patrician families of Virginia, it was given to Mr. Bryan to gain a po- A sition of prominence as one of the representative business men and honored citizens of Indianapolis, where he was engaged in the retail drug trade for many years and where he was one of the pioneer representatives of this line of enterprise at the time of his death, which occurred on the 16th of March, 1902. He was a man of sterling character and distinctive business ability, while his fine intellectual powers and social qualities made him an effective exponent of the higher ideals of life and gained to him a place in popular confidence and esteem. His position as one of the representative citizens of Indianapolis during the course of a long and successful business career render the recognition accorded to him in this memorial edition.
James William Bryan was born at Yelvington, Daviess county, Kentucky, on the 25th of August, 1836, and thus was nearly sixty-six years of age when he was summoned to eternal rest. He was a son of Dr. Albert H. Bryan, a representative of a family early founded in Fairfax county, Virginia, and long a leading physician and surgeon of the state of Kentucky. Dr. Bryan accompanied his son, James W., to Indianapolis in 1863, and here passed the remainder of his life, a man of fine character and marked professional ability. For many years prior to his removal to the Indiana capital he had been engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. The subject of this memoir was a child at the time of the family removal to Louisville and in the schools of that city he gained his early educational training. There, in 1851, when about fifteen years of age, he acted as an apprentice in the drug store of Dr. J. A. Krack, and thoroughly familiarized himself with all details of the business, in connection with which he became a specially skillful pharmacist. At the time of the Civil war he was unswerving in his alle- giance to the cause of the Union and served for a time as a member of the home guard in the city of Louisville,-a military organization that proved of much value in supplementing the activities of the regular troops.
In 1863 Mr. Bryan came to Indianapolis and established a drug store in the old Spencer house, on Illinois street, a hotel whose site is still occupied by one of the same name. It is worthy of special mention that his was the thirteenth drug store in the city at that time, while now there are several hundred. He later removed his store to a building situated diagonally across the street, on the site of the present Union passenger station. When the new station was erected he removed one block north on Illinois street, where he conducted the Union station drug store until 1898, when, after many years of close and successful application to business, he sold his stock and business. A life of inactivity was repugnant to him after these long years of consecutive application, and after living retired about one year he estab-
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lished a drug store at 1752 East Tenth street, where he continued in business until the close of his long and useful life. His death took from the community a pioneer druggist and a citizen whose character and services had made him a valued and honored figure. He was loyal and progressive in his civic attitude and took deep interest in all that tended to advance the social and material welfare of the com- munity. Though never an aspirant for public office, he gave a staunch allegiance to the Democratic party and he was long one of the valued and influential members of the Central Christian church, to the various departments of whose work he con- tributed liberally and appreciatively, his widow having also been a member of this church for many years and being still active in its work. The funeral services of Mr. Bryan were conducted from his home, at 18 East Pratt street, and the pastor of his church, Rev. Allan B. Philputt, was assisted by the Rev. J. Cumming Smith, pastor of the Tabernacle Presbyterian church, interment being made in the beautiful Crown Hill cemetery. Mr. Bryan was survived by five sisters and three brothers, all residents of Indianapolis,-Misses Anna, Maxie and Laura Bryan, Mrs. A. Burdsal, Mrs. Mary E. Dreyer, and John, Felix and Robert Bryan.
In the city of Louisville, Kentucky, on the 17th of July, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bryan to Miss Jennie Hughes, who survives him, as do also two children. Mrs. Bryan was born at Simpsonville, Kentucky, and was the youngest of four daughters of James and Charlotte (Hundley) Hughes, both of whom were born in Virginia and both of whom were members of sterling families of the historic Old Dominion commonwealth. The parents of Mrs. Bryan continued to reside in Louisville until their death, and her father devoted the major part of his active career to the lumber business. Mrs. Bryan now resides at 136 East St. Joseph street and finds her associations most grateful and pleasing in the city that has so long represented her home and in the social life of which she has played a prominent part. Albert Hughes Bryan, the elder of the two children, was graduated in the Indianapolis high school and in Purdue University, at Lafayette, Indiana. He is an expert sugar chemist and as such he has held for several years the chiefship of the Sugar Laboratory in the department of agriculture at Washington, D. C. He mar- ried Miss Alma Cole Hayworth of Lafayette, Indiana, and they have one child, Albert Hughes Bryan, Jr. Miss Juillette Wharton Bryan remains with her widowed mother.
Charles F. Faulkner
HE life of Charles F. Faulkner is a typical example of the lives of many of the successful American business men of to-day, who T have started with practically nothing and have ended with a con- siderable portion of this world's goods. Mr. Faulkner was struck down in his prime, and one can not say just how high he would have climbed up the ladder that the world calls success, but from the progress which he made during his life time it is safe to prophesy that he would have gone far. He was a thorough business man, and was one of the first to champion the pure food law, his business being one in which adulteration was largely practiced. He did not live, however, to see it carried into effect.
Charles F. Faulkner was born in Franklin, Indiana, on the 15th of March, 1858. He was a son of Greshem Faulkner, who was a farmer of Scott county, Indiana. Greshem Faulkner was born on the 13th of December, 1829, and spent practically all of his life in agricultural pursuits, dying on the 29th of May, 1885. The mother of Charles Faulkner was Eliza Jane Faulkner, who was born on the 25th of March, 1838, and died on the 4th of March, 1874. Charles F. Faulkner was brought up on the farm and expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer. In 1866 he moved with his mother to a farm in Marion county, about twelve miles south of Indianapolis, and as he grew to manhood much of the farm work fell to his lot. Finally he determined to try his hand at something else, and following the lure of the city he came to Indianapolis and entered the employ of the William Arch- drakon Company. This firm was a large dealer in pickles and vinegar, and young Faulkner soon became city salesman. This was a very good position for a man who had had as little experience as he had in the business, and he secured it simply by his alertness and his readiness to do whatever he was told to do. Later his ability as a salesman was recognized by his employers and he was given the whole state as his territory. He was always a welcome figure in every town, and made life long friends throughout the state. His geniality and tact as well as his straight- forward business methods made money for his firm and won many patrons that it would not have had otherwise. He was with Mr. Archdrakon for thirteen years, and no one could have been better fitted to start out for himself than was Mr. Faulkner at the end of this time. It was now apparent how large a circle of friends he had made, for when, in the spring of 1893, Mr. Faulkner went into partnership with Homer C. Webb, and established a preserving business, they found a large patronage ready at hand. The firm was located on North Delaware street, under the name of Faulkner-Webb Company. For ten years a very successful business was carried on, and then the firm was dissolved. Shortly afterwards Mr. Faulkner established the Faulkner Preserving Company on South Madison street. This company gave em- ployment to thirty-five men and forty girls, and soon became widely known for the purity of its products. Mr. Faulkner was president and to him was due the success of the new venture. The products of the factory,-pickles, kraut, ketchup and
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kindred products-were shipped all over the country, the "Fa. We." brand, in par- ticular, having a national reputation. The trade grew at a remarkable rate, and at one time the firm owned four canning factories in the city. When Mr. Faulkner was at the height of his career, when the factories were running overtime to supply the demand, and it seemed as though the founder of this lucrative concern could take a much needed rest, his death occurred. This was caused by the bursting of one of the large kraut cutting machines in his own factory. He died on the 20th of September, 1907. His wife was a very capable business woman, having been trained in the methods of business from her childhood. She closed up the business and settled the estate, fully as well as any man could have done, thus refuting the now almost obselete cry that woman has no business sense.
Charles F. Faulkner was a member of the Capital City Lodge of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, No. 312, and was a loyal believer in the teachings of Masonry. He was a Republican but never ran for office believing others better fitted for that sort of work, though he was always well posted on the political ques- tions of the day, and was what we now need so badly, an intelligent voter. He was married on the 9th of November, 1887, to Cora A. Gilbert. She is a daughter of John W. and Sarah (Hearn) Gilbert. Mrs. Faulkner lost her mother when she was quite young, the latter dying in Ohio at the age of thirty-six. Her father was born in England but came to this country in his youth and became one of the pioneer piano dealers in Loraine county, Ohio. He later came to Indianapolis, bringing his little daughter with him, and continuing in the same line of business. Mrs. Faulkner was only nine when she was introduced to the world of affairs through the medium of her father's office, and from that time until she married she was a thorough-going business woman. After her marriage although she had the cares of a family, her interest and activity in her old field of work did not wane. It has been seen how very fortunate this was for her on the death of her husband. She was born in Loraine county, Ohio, in the town of Amherst, and was one of a family of four children. George, the eldest of these, lives in Cleveland, Ohio; Edgar A. died at the age of twenty-nine; Charles lives in Cleveland; and Cora A. is the youngest.
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