USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Memorial record of distinguished men of Indianapolis and Indiana > Part 35
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It has already been stated that Mr. Murr was president of the Indianapolis Maennerchor at the time of his death, and the members of this organization held a special meeting the day following his death, for the purpose of expressing in a formal way their sense of loss and bereavement. Several of the officers and other members made appreciative testimonials in this meeting and the memorial adopted on the occasion is consistently reproduced in this sketch. The members of the Maennerchor attended his funeral in a body and the remains of the honored citizen to whom they thus showed mark of appreciation were laid to rest in Crown Hill cemetery. The memorial, as translated from the German text, was substantially as follows:
"With deep regret we realize our loss in the death of our beloved president, Mr. Louis Murr, who died July 29, 1905, after a long illness. Mr. Murr succeeded Gottfried Recker, whose memory is cherished with great love and who will never be forgotten. During the four years Mr. Murr was president he endeared himself to all who came in contact with him. The Maennerchor realize their loss with Borrow. He was president during the jubilee celebration of the Maennerchor last year, and no one thought that he who worked so hard for all that pertained to the good of the cause and one who was so well adapted for the leadership of the same, in the advancing of sociability and unity, would so soon be called from his post. Appreciation and thankfulness insure him a place in the memories of the members of the Indianapolis Maennerchor, who also extend their heartfelt sym- pathies to the loved ones of his family."
In a home whose every relation was ideal, Mr. Murr found his sanctuary and his greatest solace from the "cares that infest the day." It would be incongruous to touch this phase of his career to a more intimate extent than to offer a brief outline concerning his marriage, his loved companion and their children. On the 2d of August, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Murr to Miss Amalie Dieta, who was born and reared in Indianapolis and who has ever maintained her home in this city, in whose social life she has taken an active part, the while her popularity is of unqualified order. She is a daughter of Frederick and Frederica (Schmid) Dietz, both natives of Saxony, Germany, where the former was born
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November 2, 1829, and the latter on the 28th of September, 1842. Mr. Dietz came to America at the age of twenty-two years and he made an extended itinerary of the country in search of a desirable location. Most of this journeying was peri- patetic, and after a period of about six months he came to Indianapolis and decided to make this city his permanent home. In his native land he had learned the tan- ner's trade and soon after coming to Indianapolis he purchased a tannery on East Market street. He improved this property and there conducted operations for several years, at the expiration of which he sold the tannery and turned his atten- tion to the hide and leather business, in which he became associated with the late Frank Reisner, with headquarters in South Delaware street. Mr. Reisner finally became a candidate for sheriff of Marion county and Mr. Dietz then purchased his interest in the business, which he thereafter conducted individually until his death, which occurred on the 11th of October, 1889. He was long numbered among the representative business men of Indianapolis and was honored for his sterling attributes of character as well as for his public spirit and civic loyalty. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and identi- fied with the Maennerchor and other leading German societies. His widow now resides with her elder daughter, Mrs. Murr, in a beautiful home at 3208 Ruckel street. Mrs. Murr is identified with the Indianapolis Maennerchor, the German House, the German Aid Society and other representative bodies, and she attends the German Zion church, as did also her husband. She is the elder of two children and her sister, Pauline, is the wife of Charles F. Meyer, a coal merchant in Indi- anapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have one son, Charles F., Jr. Emma, the elder of the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Murr, was born on the 2d of July, 1883, and was summoned to the life eternal on the 30th of October, 1889. Frederick L., who was graduated in Purdue University, as a member of the class of 1907, is now engaged in the retail drug business at the corner of Eleventh street and College avenue and is one of the popular young business men of his native city, where he was born on the 9th of February, 1887. He remains with his widowed mother in their attractive home, which is known for its gracious hospitality.
MARY A. MOODY
LORENZO D. MOODY
Lorenzo D. Moody
T HE life of the late Lorenzo Dow Moody was one of great use- fulness to the community, and full of honor to himself. In the story of his life the fine part which he played as one of the world's workers is clearly shown. His character was the posi- tive expression of a strong and loyal nature and he made the best of himself and of his opportunities. He was long one of the most prominent and influential figures in the field of fire- insurance in Indiana, and in his chosen sphere of endeavor he became a recognized authority, while his individual success was of unequivocal order. High principles and ideal ethics guided him in all the relations of life, and thus it was a natural result that he should command the unqualified respect and confidence of his fellow men. Of fine intellectuality and well fortified convictions, he had naught of big- otry or intolerance. He had depended upon his own resources in making his way in the world, and thus he ever had a deep respect for the dignity of honest toil and endeavor and valued the man for himself rather than for his fortuitous circum- stances. In short he was one of the representative business men of Indianapolis, where he lived for more than thirty years, and where his death occurred on the 28th of February, 1909.
Mr. Moody was born in the vicinity of the village of Carthage, Moore county, North Carolina, on the 18th of March, 1839, and was a scion of one of the sterling families of the commonwealth. He was a boy at the time of his father's death and such were the financial circumstances of the family that he was early compelled to assume his own support and to aid in the maintenance of his widowed mother, to whom his filial devotion ever remained most intense. Such were the exigencies of time and place that his early educational advantages were most meager-in fact he had the opportunity of attending school only six weeks when he was a boy. An alert and receptive mind and a definite ambition proved adequate to the overcoming of this early handicap, and through application and the lessons gained in the school of experience he became a man of really scholarly attainments. As a youth he studied at night and in his leisure moments, and he was most earnest and assiduous in this study, as is shown in that he carried in his pockets an arithmetic and a gram- mar, so that when a spare moment came along he might be able to make the most of it. That this elementary training which he gave himself was thorough is shown by the fact that he proved himself eligible for pedagogic honors when he was a mere youth and became a successful teacher in the public schools of Indiana. He was eighteen years old at the inception of the Civil war, and was loyal to the cause of his native land. He enlisted in a North Carolina regiment, but his service only lasted three months, when he suffered an attack of typhoid fever which so affected him that he was thereafter incapacitated for military service.
On the 10th of August, 1862, Mr. Moody was married and shortly afterwards he set forth with his wife for Kansas, for the purpose of looking after large real estate interests which were a part of her deceased father's estate. The young
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couple made the journey northward with a horse and carriage, and upon arriving in Indiana they found it inexpedient to continue their trip westward, as the war was then in progress and had disrupted affairs throughout the country, and espe- cially in Kansas, which was the scene of the bitterest factional disturbances. After the war was over and the country was once more in a settled condition, Mr. and Mrs. Moody had become so acclimated that they decided not to return. They were also influenced by the fact that their old home had been laid waste by the war and they felt that they could not bear to face the devastation, so they deeded their landed possessions in North Carolina to the government to pay the accumulated taxes, and bravely set to work to earn their livelihood under new conditions.
The first home of Mr. and Mrs. Moody in Indiana was in Rush county, where they' remained for some time. Mr. Moody later completed a course of study in the Bryan Business College in Indianapolis, and then for a time was engaged in selling bocks in an itinerant way. He afterwards taught in a district school near South- port, six miles south of Indianapolis, and was later a popular teacher in the dis- trict schools of Hancock county. In the meanwhile he utilized his spare time and added to his rather meager income by selling sewing machines through the sur- rounding districts. He lived in Southport until 1872, when he removed to Indian- apolis, where he continued to reside until his death.
Soon after his removal to the capital city Mr. Moody became associated with William Henderson in the fire-insurance business, a line of enterprise to which he continued to be devoted during the residue of his long and successful business career. The greater part of his work was that of adjuster of insurance, and in this capacity he represented the Franklin Fire Insurance Company of Philadelphia, for a number of years, and later the Aetna Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Concerning his work in his chosen field of endeavor, Rough Notes, an insurance paper published in Indianapolis, spoke as follows at the time of his death: "News of the death of Mr. L. D. Moody is certain to be received with sincere sorrow, as he was one of the most popular men that ever labored in this field, be- cause of his unfailing good humor and genial sociability. The advice of no mem- ber (of the Indiana Association of Underwriters) was more earnestly sought on important questions, and his opinions always carried weight. In the passing of Mr. Moody there is removed one typical of the 'old school' of field men-one of the old guard and one whose memory will long remain in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him."
Mr. Moody was associated with Charles E. Coffin in the organization of the Central Trust Company, and he was vice-president of the same at the time of his death, as was he also of the Indiana Savings and Investment Company and of the Universal Nozzle Company. In his own field he was not only a member of the Indiana Association of Underwriters, but served as a member of many important committees and was president of the organization. He had a deep affection for his home city and was always alert in supporting measures and enterprises tend- ing to advance its material and civic welfare. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Unitarian church, in which he was an influential member of Friends church in Indianapolis for many years prior to his decease. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, held membership in the Indiana Democratic Club, and was identified with the Indian- apolis Commercial Club and the Indianapolis Whist Club. He read a number of papers before the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest and was one of
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its most valued members, his active identification with insurance affairs continuing until about five years before his death, when ill health and advancing years caused him to retire. At the forty-first annual meeting of the Fire Underwriters' Asso- ciation of the Northwest, held in the city of Chicago, October 5-6, 1910, the follow- ing tribute was paid to the memory of Mr. Moody and was unanimously adopted by the association, upon whose records the same was spread. Inasmuch as a por- tion of it is a virtual repetition of what has already been given in this memoir the same will not be reproduced and minor paraphrase will be made: "Lorenzo Dow Moody engaged in the fire-insurance business first as a solicitor and local agent, and then as a field man. He represented the Franklin of Philadelphia as special agent and adjuster for Indiana, with parts of Illinois and Kentucky added to his field at different times. His efficiency and loyalty were appreciated and recognized by his company retaining his services in an advisory capacity for several years after he voluntarily resigned from field work. He was one of the charter members and a most active worker in the Indiana Association of Underwriters, an organization of field men, the purpose of which was mutual advancement in the personal mem- bership and general advancement of the principles and conditions of fire under- writing in the state of Indiana, the spirit of which appealed to his broad and gener- ous nature in a singular manner. Many of the field men of today can recall the encouraging words, the little kindnesses, that led up to their advancement in effi- ciency, and sincerely mourn him as a friend.
"Mr. Moody was a man of bright intellect, a lover of good books and a fine conversationalist, ready at wit and quick at repartee. He was candid and open in the extreme,-nothing to conceal and disdainful of deceit. In his prime he took a deep interest in politics, especially relating to state affairs, and was the personal friend of such leaders as Senator McDonald and Turpie, Vice-President Hen- dricks and Auditors Rice and Henderson, to whose counsel and homes he was al- ways a welcome guest. No man in the insurance business had more influence for the good laws and legislation that prevailed at that time than our deceased friend. In so short a space we can only call attention to the characteristics, to which chap- ters could be given, of this man, who so fully contributed to the welfare and the work of others. In the passing of Mr. Moody there is removed one who made the highway of life brighter, the sunshine more real." In conclusion of the tribute from which the quotation has been taken appears the beautiful poem of Tennyson, "Crossing the Bar." this being a favorite of Mr. Moody's
In Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 10th of August, 1862, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Moody to Miss Mary A. Nixon, who still maintains her home in Indianapolis, her residence being at 219 East Tenth street. For many years she has been a gracious factor in the social life of the capital city and has been specially prominent in connection with religious, temperance and charitable activi- ties. Now venerable in years, this noble woman is held in deep affection by those who have come within the compass of her gentle influence and have felt the stimulation of her keen intellect.
Mrs. Moody was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, and is the daughter of Dr. Barnabas and Flora Gardner (Worth) Nixon. Her father, the son of a physician, became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of North Carolina and was a valued contributor to the important medical publications of his day, besides being the author of a number of technical works on medicine and surgery, and a lecturer of wide reputation. His practice extended throughout the whole
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state of North Carolina, and he died at the age of sixty-six, as the result of a fall which injured his spine. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Moody was a promi- nent jeweler in North Carolina, who met his death in a tragic way, for while he was making one of his periodical trips to Philadelphia, on horseback, he was murdered and robbed of a large sum of money. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Gardner became the wife of John Long, who was a prominent figure in public affairs in North Carolina, being the representative in Congress from this state. Dr. Nixon was a member of the Society of Friends, and was one of its leading representatives in North Carolina. His wife was from the historic town of Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, and was a kinswoman of the Folgers, the Maceys and the Coffins-prominent families of the place. She was thus related to Benjamin Franklin, whose mother was a Folger, and to Lucretia Mott, whose father was a Coffin. The distinguished Dr. Channing was also a kinsman. From an article published in 1900 is taken the following interesting data concerning Mrs. Moody, a liberal interpretation being indulged in at certain points to make the text consonant with the character of the sketch: "Mrs. Moody was graduated at Jamestown Protest- ant Methodist Female College and afterward studied medicine with her father, Dr. Nixon, whose two sons were also physicians. The death of her father pre- vented her plans being consummated, as no one else in all that country believed in a woman studying for a profession, and Mrs. Moody allowed herself to be in- fluenced by the opinions of others, believing that the relinquishment of her plans was the mistake of her life,-an opinion in which those who know the trend of her mind concur.
"Having traveled for a year prior to her marriage, Mrs. Moody's mind was still further broadened in its views of life and its true purposes; and that her inheritance from such a vigorous and intellectual and moral type of ancestry, to- gether with her faith in God, fitted her for the circumstances and surroundings of subsequent years. It was the earnest determined stand taken by her grand- father on the slavery question which effected the incorporation of anti-slavery principles into the discipline of the Society of Friends, thereby causing many slaves to be freed many years before the war. In recognition of this work the Society of Friends published a biography of her grandfather. Her father's family, true to these same principles of right and justice, freed their slaves and on the day on which the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter a second lot of fifty slaves was started for Ohio and freedom.
"While she is proud of the anti-slavery record of her family, Mrs. Moody is equally proud of their anti-war record, only one member of the family, Colonel John Nixon, ever having worn a military title. He had the honor of reading the Declaration of Independence the first time it was ever read in public.
"Mrs. Moody joined the Woman's Christian Temperance Union when her chil- dren were small but did not do active work therein until they had reached the age that they went away to school. For some years she has held the vice-presidency in Indiana of the National Household Economic Association, and has the same depart- ment of work in the Indiana Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She is also superintendent of public baths and physical economics in the International Woman's Protective League, and her labors in local affairs on similar lines of work have been untiring and productive of beneficial results. She is a broadminded, up-to-date woman, reaching out in the various lines which look to the betterment of humanity and the elevation of her sex. With a marked ability to reach people
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of influence and good judgment, she has been successful in enlisting the sympathy and aid of those who have it in their power to crystalize her opinions and purposes into such local laws and ordinances as are beneficial to the home, the schools and the general public."
Although more than a decade has passed since the foregoing article was pub- lished, Mrs. Moody is still active in such noble work and her powers have shown no appreciable diminution for hers are the mind and heart which age can not impair.
Mr. and Mrs. Moody became the parents of two children. The daughter is Mrs. Henry W. Palmer of New York City, and the son, Arthur G. Moody, who is engaged in the photography supply business in the city of Manila, Philippine Islands.
MURAT
Bryonmin
Benjamin Roberts
ENJAMIN ROBERTS, now deceased, was for many years B closely connected with the business life of Indianapolis. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, on the 19th of July, 1846, a son of Joseph and Oraminah (Compton) Roberts. His father, Joseph Roberts, a Baptist minister, was born in Virginia, and moved to Warren county in the days of his young manhood, where he met and married his wife, the daughter of a well-to-do and prominent resident of that county.
As a small child, Benjamin Roberts was deprived of his mother by death. He grew up on his father's farm and received his education in the public schools of his native community. When he was seventeen he found it impossible to longer endure the sight of others marching off to the front, and he enlisted in the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served till the close of the war. When peace was re- stored he returned home, and in order to prepare himself for the business career which he foresaw for himself, he attended a business college at Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon leaving that institution he went to Illinois, where he bought a farm and settled down to farm life, but he found after a matter of two years that the life was not suited to his talents or inclinations, and he disposed of his interests there and came to Indianapolis, where he entered the employ of the Atlas Engine Works as a shipping clerk. He continued with that concern for a number of years and then took charge of a branch of the Kingan packing house business, and in later years established himself in the coal and feed business in Indianapolis, a business in which he enjoyed more than a modicum of success and prosperity.
Mr. Roberts was a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Capital City Lodge of Odd Fellows, a member of the Knights of Pythias, Chapter No. 56, of the Red Men, of Ben Hur Chapter, of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. As a veteran he took great pleasure in his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he was a Republican.
On the 27th day of October, 1884, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Martha J. Davis, who was a daughter of John D. and Fanny (Jones) Davis. John D. Davis was born in Kentucky, but lived the greater part of his life in Morgan county, Indiana, where Mrs. Roberts was born. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Fannie Oraminah. She is a graduate of Purdue University, where she took her degree in pharmacy, being one of the comparatively few women to graduate from that department. She lives at present with her mother. Mr. Roberts died on the fifth day of January, 1912.
The following resolutions were passed by the members of the degree of Poca- hontas of the Improved Order of Red Men, and serve to show in a measure the high esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were held by this order: "While we are assembled together and our hearts are made glad by the warm and kind greet- ings of Brothers and Sisters in this our beloved Tepee, we are yet reminded that Death stalks abroad in the land. This time he has crossed the threshold of the
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home of our beloved sister, Martha Roberts, and the aged companion who has walked by her side these many years now sleeps in the silent city of the dead. Sister Martha Roberts has been a member of this council several years, and al- though ill health has prevented her attendance at the Kindling of our Council Brand, yet we have always known that she loved the order and is a firm supporter of its noble principles. How small in the long years of eternity seems this little speck which we call vital life! How brief the span between the budding and the falling leaf, and after all, how brief the span of Memory which it can accord to us! And yet we would have our bereaved sister know that our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her in this, her great sorrow that has come into her life. We realize that it is doubly hard to bear, coming upon her when she has already reached the western hills of life, where with lengthening shadows stretching behind us we look upon life's sunset, and there comes an over-powering desire to all of us that we may not be forgotten. Words seem empty and meaningless at a time like this, but we would ask Sister Roberts to look not at the vacant chair, but rather look out upon this old world all wrapped in snow, and believe that they who have gone on before have not missed much except cares and trials in passing out of this life.
"Be it resolved that a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the records of this council and a copy of the same be given to the bereaved sister.
"Fraternally submitted in F. F. and C. "SARAH E. HOFFBAUER, K. of R.
The tribute offered by the members of the Grand Army Post to which Mr. Roberts belonged is added, because any tribute paid by as brave and noble a band of men as these is sure to be sincere: "To the officers and comrades of George H. Thomas Post No. 17, Department of Indiana, Grand Army of the Republic: Your committee appointed to prepare a memorial on the lift of our late comrade, Benjamin Roberts, would respectfully make the following report
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