Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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At the opening of the railroad era, Judge Hanna again proved himself a leader. When that grand national line of railroad,

which is now the pride and strength of Fort Wayne, and with which his name is forever identified, -the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago,-was projected, Judge Hanna was among the first to appreciate and take hold of the enterprise. And his whole connection with this road, in the various official capacities in which he served, up to that of vice-president, was character- ized by untiring energy, and loyal devotion to its best interests. No man connected with the management of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad ever had a greater share of the confidence of all inter- ested in it than Judge Hanna possessed. About three months before his death he was elected president of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, but feared to assume the responsibilities.

Always having in mind the welfare of Fort Wayne, he worked unceasingly for the establishmet of the immense shops of the railroad company in this city. In addition to these greater projects, he was a partner in the establishment of the woolen factory, the great Bass foundry and machine shops, and the Olds manufactories, to the founding of each of which he contributed capital.

Judge Hanna was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, in which for half a century his father was an Elder. From 1853 up to the time of his death the Judge was a church member and the greater part of this time a Ruling Elder. His last sick- ness was of short duration, covering only five days, and when he died the whole city mourned. The City Council passed reso- lutions of sorrow. The bells of all churches tolled, and amid sombre draperies on every side a procession no less than two miles in length followed his mortal remains to their last resting place in Lindenwood, Thus

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

ended the pure and noble life of one whose name will be ever cherished by the citizens of Fort Wayne.

0 LIVER S. HANNA .-- A grandson of the honored and distinguished pioneer, whose memoir just pre- cedes, and himself recognized as one of the representative citizens and busi- ness men of Fort Wayne, it is certainly in- cumbent that mention be accorded the gentleman whose name initiates this para- graph.

The subject of this review is a son of James B. and Mary King (Fairfield) Hanna, the former of whom was the oldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hanna and born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, January II, 1823, his untimely death occurring in 1851, at the age of twenty-eight years. He conducted a mercantile business at the northwest corner of Barr and Columbia streets, under the firm name of S. Hanna & Son. His wife, who survives him, was born September 8, 1823, at Kennebunkport, Maine, descending from two of the prominent families,-the Fairfields and Kings, -in the Pine Tree State. Each family furnished a Governor to the State. A representative of the King family was the first chief executive of Maine, and other members of the house became leaders in the affairs of state, winning na- tional reputations as statesmen, while their names are enrolled on the pages of history. Rufus King was appointed by General Wash- ington as Embassador to England, was sent on the same mission by President Adams and retained by President Jefferson. He was a member of Congress from Massachu- setts, was the first State Senator of New York in Congress, was twice candidate for

the Vice-Presidency, and in 1816 came be- fore the people as candidate for the Presi- dency. Other members of the family were alike prominent in public affairs. One was elected to the office of Vice-President of the United States in 1852, one was a Gov- ernor of New York for two terms, others were members of Congress, or editors of New York and other journals, one a presi- dent of Columbia College, New York, another a Governor of California, and one a Minister to Italy, while the present United States Senator from California, -George Perkins,-and the novelist and military hero,-Captain Charles King, U. S. A.,- are also members of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanna were born three children-Mrs. W. L. Carnahan, of Fort Wayne; Oliver S. and James T., both of this city.

Oliver S. Hanna is a native of the city to whose development his paternal grandsire contributed in so magnificent a degree, and the date of his birth is August 12, 1847. His educational discipline, of the more pre- liminary order, was secured in the public schools of Fort Wayne, and was effectively supplemented by his course of study at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and the classical institute in Stamford, Connecticut. After the com- pletion of his theoretical education, Mr. Hanna at once entered upon active bus- iness life, at first accepting a clerkship in a boot and shoe establishment of La Fayette, Indiana, where he remained but a short time, returning then to Fort Wayne. He became one of the employes in the count- ing-rooms of the First National Bank, and was subsequently made a director of that institution, in which he continued until the expiration of the bank's charter.

In 1877, Mr. Hanna established the no-

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

tion house of Hanna, Wilder & Company, in this city, but afterward disposed of his interests in this line to identify himself with his father-in-law in the founding of the Nutt- man & Company Bank, which is one of the solid and prosperous monetary establish- ments of the city, its affairs having been directed by our subject since its organiza- tion. He has shown a marked business acumen, and is an able financier, having conducted his banking business upon that high standard of honor and integrity and with that conservatism that has insured its success, and gained to it the confidence and respect of the public. Mr. Hanna is regard- ed as one of Fort Wayne's substantial and influential citizens, and has gained and holds the esteem of the public. In his political adherency he is stanchly in line with the Republican party, and fraternally is identi- fied with S. D. Bayless Lodge, No. 359, F. & A. M.

The marriage of our subject to Miss Mary Ella Nuttman was solemnized Decem- ber 5, 1878, and she has since presided with gracious dignity over his attractive home. Her father, to whom reference has been made, was for many years one of Fort Wayne's prominent and honored bankers. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are the parents of two children, -Gertrude K. and Julia N.

ON. ANDREW A. ADAMS .- Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be de- nied that members of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and training which qualify one to

practice law also qualify him in many re- spects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society.

Holding marked precedence among the members of the bar of Whitley county, In- diana, and retaining a clientele of so repre- sentative a character as to alone stand in evidence of his professional ability and per- sonal popularity, Andrew A. Adams, attor- ney at law, of Columbia City, must assuredly be accorded a place in a volume purporting to render the biographies of the leading citi- zens of the county mentioned. Mr. Ad- ams, unlike the prophet, is not without honor in his own country, for he is a native of the county which represents the field of his endeavors at the present time, the date of his birth having been January 27, 1864. He was one of six sons born to John Q. and Christina (Elliott) Adams, the former of whom is a native of Ireland, and the latter of Ohio. The father is a farmer and resides in Thorn Creek township, this county. From 1866 to 1870 he served as Treasurer of Whitley county, and is esteemed as one of the leading agriculturists of this section of the State. Of his six sons four are living at the present time, namely: John W., editor of the Columbia City Post; Charles, a lum- berman in South Carolina; Andrew A., sub- ject of this review; and Frank E., a travel- ing salesman in the lumber industry, with headquarters in New York city.

Our subject remained on the paternal farmstead until he had attained the age of fourteen years, having received his prelim- inary educational discipline in the district schools. In the winter of 1878 he entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, in which institution he took a three years' course, subsequently matriculating at Washington

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

and Jefferson College, at Washington, Penn- sylvania, where he graduated in 1884. He then read law for two years in the office and under the preceptorage of Colonel R. S. Robertson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he secured admission to practice law before both State and United States courts. He entered upon the active practice of his pro- fession in Columbia City in 1886, and in 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for Representative of his county in the State Legislature, being elected by a very satis- factory majority, and being retained as his own successor by gaining a decisive victory at the polls at the election in 1890. While a member of the Legislature he served on the Ways and Means and Judiciary Com- mittees, and took an active part in the va- rious deliberations of the legislative body, where his efforts proved altogether satisfac- tory to his constituents and to the public at large.

In March, 1889, Mr. Adams consum- mated a professional association with Judge James S. Collins, and this continued until the spring of 1894, since which time our subject has practiced alone, and has been retained in many important causes and as counsel for a clientage which is of distinct- ively representative character.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Adams is identified with the Masonic order. As may be inferred from the political preferments which have been his, as hitherto noted, he is a stalwart Democrat in his political pro- clivities, and he has been an active and effi- cient worker in the party ranks. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of our subject to Miss Lois Andrew, daughter of Hon. James M. Andrew, a prominent citizen of Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. and

Mrs. Adams have one son, Robert, who was born on the 30th of August, 1891.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams reside in a hand- some home on North Chauncey street, in Columbia City, where their hospitalities are enjoyed by their large circle of friends.

BEL BALDWIN, father of the city of Montpelier, now deceased, was born March 11, 1791, in Caven- dish township, Windsor county, Vermont. He was a son of Albert and Su- sanna (Coffeen) Baldwin.

Abel Baldwin was a farmer. His early education was gained in the common schools in the winter time principally. He then began arranging to enter college, when his father died and he gave it up, returned home and took charge of the farm. He brought up all the younger children on the farm, and sold the place. The subject, after selling the farm, visited his cousin, Goldsmith Cof- feen, at Lebanon, Ohio, and having heard of this territory before, he explored it in 1835, and probably then entered a tract of land that year. He then visited one James Smith, a friend of his at Prairie Ronde, Michigan. He then returned to Vermont, and in 1836 moved his family and located them at Goshen, Indiana, while he with two of the children, John G. and Charles P. came on to this tract. He then bought land in Goshen (now in the city) in the spring of 1837. He then moved the family on the land noted. John Blunt was the first and only settler. When Mr. Baldwin moved the family here there were only three other families-those of David and Josiah Twibell and John Blunt-living there. He built a house where A. Miller now resides, near the corner of Windsor and Washington streets.

1. S Tuttman

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

It was a round-log cabin. The next year he built a double log cabin, for wife and eight children. He platted the town and lived there until his death, which occurred August 15, 1839.

Our subject married Rhoda Stent, daugh- ter of Eli Stent, about 1814. She was born November 20, 1792, in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont. She died March 1I, 1872. Their children were named as fol- lows: Rhoda Stent, who married Amos Perry, both dead, no children. Marthesia, who married J. J. Cook, dead, lived in this county, later moved to Fayette county, Ohio. Children as follows: Maria Webb, Rhoda Perry (Sims), Edward, Bates M., Marthesia Betsey, Charles Phillipps, who was married first to Rachel Lancaster. Their children were John Abel, Hamab, Rhoda, Elizabeth, Zaydia, Jennie and Nellie.

John Coffeen was born December 13, 1821, at Cavendish, Vermont, and was mar- ried first to Rachel Waugh, January 8, 1846. Their children were as follows: Winifred S., John C., Horace E., Helen, William E., Clarence, Charles F. His wife died March 19, 1859. His second marriage occurred May 17, 1860, to Caroline Trostle, of Ver- mont, and their children were: Abel J., Calvin H., John Coffeen, Edward P., Lewis E., Baldwin, Stella and Nebraska.

Edward Plant, born July 10, 1831, never married, but died single. Henry Clay is a farmer; he was born July 10, 1831, married March 25, 1859, to Louisa Amanda Rose, daughter of Daniel and Susana (Browns) Rose, and their children were: Martha Hor- tense, John A. Hunt, Emma, Louisa, Will- iam Lewis, Winifred, Hertha. They live in Neosho county, Kansas.

Hortense Rosalie married Benjamin B. Kendall. They had one child, Emma Jane.

The entire family is dead. Benjamin B. Kendall died from a disease contracted in war.

Zayda Lorette married William Lewis Cook, and their children were: William Lewis, Charles, Joseph, Ella Kate and Henry Lewis.

The widow of this subject was married to Isaac Spaulding about 1843, and had no children. Judge Spaulding first married a sister of our subject, Susan Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin named the town of Montpelier, and Windsor street was also named by him. Cavendish Square was named for the town- ship in which he lived. The town was sur- veyed by W. L. Cook, son-in-law of our subject, in 1838. Accompanied by Joseph Streeter, from Vermont, Mr. Baldwin left Muncie for Fort Wayne by way of this sec- tion, and they were lost in a cranberry marsh the first of January; but the next day they rarived at John Blunt's cabin all safe and sound.

Our subject was heavy-set, broad-shoul- dered. John Coffeen, maternal grandfather of Mr. Baldwin, was a Captain in the Re- volutionary war, who first settled in Caven- dish township, Windsor county, Vermont.

Our subject was a prominent Mason in his native State, and was Master of the lodge there, and during the anti-Mason ex- citement stood firmly by the lodge.

He preferred the Baptist Church, but was not a member of it. A younger brother, Frank, was a minister in that church.

J OSEPH DAYTON NUTTMAN .- In the death of the honored subject of this memoir, September 6, 1890, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, there passed away another member of that little group of

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

distinctively representative business men who were the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief industries of the West- ern Middle States. His name is familiar not alone to the residents of the city to whose development he contributed so con- spicuously, but to all who have been at all intimately informed in regard to the history of the State of Indiana. He was identified with this section of the Union for more than half a century, and contributed to its ma- terial progress and prosperity to an extent equalled by but few of his contemporaries. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing country, and acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he reaped, in the fullness of time, the generous benefits which are the just recompense of indomitable in- dustry, spotless integrity and marvelous en- terprise. Prominently identified with the business history of the city of Fort Wayne, the career of Mr. Nuttman is one most worthy of record. Greater fortunes have been accumulated, but few lives furnish so striking an example of the wise application of sound principles and safe conservatism as does his. The story of his success is short and simple, containing no exciting chapters, but in it lies one of the most valuable secrets of the great prosperity which it records, and his business and private life are pregnant with interest and incentive, no matter how lacking in dramatic action, -the record of a noble life, consistent with itself and its pos- sibilities in every particular.

Joseph Dayton Nuttman was born in the historic old town of Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1816, being the third son of Oliver and Abigail W. (Dayton) Nuttman, who came of old and distinguished New England an-

cestors, and who were married in the year 1810. A representative of the family on the maternal side was Hon. Jonathan Day- ton, whose name is enrolled, as a member, from New Jersey, of the convention of 1787, which framed the Federal constitution. He subsequently served as a member of Con- gress and as United States Senator. His nephew, William L. Dayton, was a member of the United States Senate, and in 1856 was made the first candidate of the Repub- lican party for Vice-President. Our sub- ject grew to mature years in his native town, receiving his educational discipline in its excellent schools, and thereafter putting his acquirements to practical test by teach- ing for a time in the same city. There, on August 27, 1844, was consummated his mar- riage to Miss Caroline L. Burnett, who re- mained his faithful and devoted companion until the hour of his demise, -a period of nearly half a century. What the separation implied to this venerable and noble woman none can appreciate save herself, and yet to the gray twilight of her latter days is lent augmented softness in the memories attach- ing to the one who has simply gone before. Four children were born to them: Carrie L., who became the wife of W. L. Pettit, and who is deceased; Julia and Joseph D., Jr., both of whom died unmarried; and M. Ella, now the wife of Oliver S. Hanna, of whom specific mention is made elsewhere in this volume. All of the children were born . in Indiana.

The initiation of Mr. Nuttman's very act- ive and successful business career was that of a clerkship which he held in a mercantile establishment in New York city, where he remained from 1832 until 1837. In the lat- ter year, after attaining his majority, he de- termined to locate in the West, believing

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

that in this section of the Union were af- forded better opportunities for a young man of energy and determination to win for him- self success in the temporal affairs of life. His first stopping place was at Tecumseh, a small town in southeastern Michigan, where he remained one year, after which he re- turned to New Jersey and accepted a cleri- cal position in the branch establishment maintained at Elizabeth by R. W. Townley & Company, a mercantile firm of Elizabeth. This house also had a branch at Fort Wayne, and in 1839 young Nuttman was entrusted by the firm with funds and was instructed to go to New York city and there purchase a supply of goods for the Fort Wayne establishment. He executed the commission and directly afterward, in May, 1839, he came to Fort Wayne and here con- tinued in the employ of the firm mentioned, the same being later known as Townley, De Wald & Company, and the enterprise being yet continued by the firm of George De Wald & Company. Untiring energy and in- tense activity were dominant characteristics of our subject, and he was not long content to remain in a subordinate position, his bold and enterprising genius demanding a field where personal endeavor might show its po- tency. He was thus prompted to engage in business upon his own responsibility at the very earliest opportunity, and, accordingly, in 1840 he opened a mercantile establish- ment of his own in the town of Decatur, In- diana. Estimated in dollars and cents, his resources at the time were somewhat mea- gre, but in mental endowment, pluck and self-reliant manhood he had abundant capi- tal. His financial basis of operations was represented in the little sum of $200, but this was most effectively supplemented in energy and indomitable will. His scrupu-

lous fairness and honor in all his dealing soon gained to him a consistent supporting patronage and the naturally implied confi- dence and respect of the community. His was a mind that could discern the possibili- ties in store for this section, as is shown in the fact that his profits, though small at first, were uniformly invested in Government lands. To his thus having taken advantage of the opportunities offered, but not rea- lized by the average man, he owed to a large extent the ample competency which he en- joyed in later years. He was at one time the owner of a large amount of this kind of real estate, whose subsequent appreciation in value is known through the specific his- tory of the State.

In 1861 Mr. Nuttman disposed of his then valuable mercantile interests in Deca- tur, and, returning to Fort Wayne, here en- gaged in the banking business by opening a private institution for the transaction of busi- ness in this line. In this enterprise again is shown the progressive attitude which he ever maintained, -his was a creative rather than a receptive genius, and he was never con- tent to follow, but aimed to lead and to in- augurate. This was the period which marked the outbreak of the late war of the Rebellion, and our subject showed himself to be loyally devoted to the cause of the na- tion, doing all in his power to aid in the up- holding of the Union arms during the long and crucial hours of conflict. Immediately upon the passage of the national banking law he became associated with the late Judge Samuel Hanna in founding the First National Bank of Fort Wayne. The appli- cation for the charter of this bank was the sixth in order filed at Washington, but, owing to some delay at the department in Washington, its charter, as finally issued,

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

was No. 11. It is however a significant fact that this institution goes down in history as the first national bank organized and char- tered in the State of Indiana. Mr. Nutt- man was elected president of the bank and Judge Hanna vice-president, the first cash- ier having been W. B. Fisher, who is a nephew of Mrs. Nuttman, and who was later a resident of New York city and is now de- ceased. While he was president of the First National Bank at Fort Wayne he organized the County Bank, at Decatur, in company with Mr. Niblack. This bank has been a pros- perous institution. Mr. Nuttman's executive ability and keen discrimination proved im- portant elements in insuring the successful operation of this important financial institu- tion, of which he remained at the head until just prior to the expiration of its first charter. Fostered by wise and conservative manage- ment and in charge of men of eminent honor and reliability, it was a foregone conclusion that the bank should eventually come to be considered, as it is, one of the most solid monetary institutions in the State, - one that has weathered the storms of finan- cial panic and withstood the disintegrating influences of business depression. Well may the name of Joseph D. Nuttman be hon- ored and his memory revered in the city to whose normal development and substantial prosperity he contributed in so generous a measure. Just before the expiration of the charter of the First National Bank Mr. Nuttman disposed of his interests therein and established the private banking house of Nuttman & Company, his associates in the enterprise being his son, Joseph D., Jr., who died shortly afterward, and Oliver S. Hanna, a grandson of his tried friend and business coadjutor, Judge Hanna, and the husband of his youngest daughter, M. Ella. Mr. Nutt-

man seemed to feel that when he left the First National Bank his active business ca- reer was completed, and he undoubtedly was willing to shift the burden of effort and re- sponsibility upon younger shoulders, im- plicit as was his confidence in the honor and ability of the ones to whom he thus as- signed the duties. He gave but little atten- tion to the details of the business of his pri- vate bank, and after the death of his son the entire conduct of the enterprise was left in the hands of Mr. Hanna, who has ever since remained at the helm and has retained to the institution all the honor and prestige that was granted it by its noble founder.

We cannot do better than to quote at this juncture from the obituary notice ap- pearing in the Ft. Wayne Daily Gazette of September 7, 1890: "Those who have been brought into most intimate contact with the deceased unite in describing him as a man of the strictest business integrity, un- flinching in the assertion of his rights, but just as exact in discharging his obligations to others. It may not be generally known, but it is nevertheless the fact that he was a judicious, but at the same time a generous benefactor, and many deserving poor will remember to-day the help they have received at his hands. But in these matters he obeyed strictly the injunction of the Savior, . Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.'" It is but simple justice to record that no man was ever more alive to the duties which wealth imposes. Many are the deeds of charity set opposite his name, but his actions were always unosten- tatious and he ever shrunk from personal notoriety. His sympathies were always with the poor and unfortunate and from the deserving he never withheld his hand.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932