Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 20

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

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A VERGNE BELDEN STEVENS. -- He to whose career we now direct attention is a distinctively original and individual character in connec- tion with the political history of Indiana, and is one who has attained a pronounced prestige by reason of his ability and resolute and independent methods. Mr. Stevens is one of the representative citizens of Bluff- ton, and his is the distinction of being the youngest Mayor in the State of Indiana,- an incumbency which he retains, as a Re- publican, in a city whose political complex- ion is manifestly Democratic.

Our subject is a native of the city of Pontiac, Michigan, where he was born on

the 27th of December, 1869, the son of Ran- som B. and Susan (Freelove) Stevens, both of whom were natives of the Wolverine State. The father died in the year 1886, at the age of forty-two years, and the mother now lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan. For some years prior to his demise Ransom B. Stev- ens had been prominently connected in the real-estate and stock-raising business at Pontiac. To him and his wife were born two sons: Fred M. and La Vergne B., the former of whom is a well known resident of Bluffton, where he is manager and part owner of the Bliss House, one of the lead- ing and most popular hostelries in north- eastern Indiana.

The boyhood and early youth of La Vergne Stevens were passed in Armada, Michigan, and in the public schools of Mt. Clemens and Niles, Michigan, he received his preliminary educational discipline. His mentality was of a most alert and receptive order, and he became eligible for admission to the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, at a very early age, as is shown in the fact that he graduated in the political science and law departments in 1889, being at the time but nineteen years of age and was admitted to the bar the same year. Soon after his graduation he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and there entered vigorously upon the practice of his profession, forming a partnership association with John P. Davis, who had already an established business, under the name and style of Davis & Stevens. Prospects were exceedingly bright for a very lucrative practice in this noted city, but unfortunately, owing to uncontroll- able exigencies in the East, this partnership continued only one year, when a dissolution was effected, and our subject reluctantly re- turned from the scenes of his recent endeav-

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ors and located in the city of Bluffton, In- diana; while Mr. Davis, who is also an alumnus of the University of Michigan, re- turned to Ann Arbor, and the next year re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and published a book under the title "The Union Pacific Railroad," a clever treatise on the railroad problem and a pronounced success as a literary production. Mr. Da- vis is now a member of the faculty of the university as professor of political economy.

Mr. Stevens' advent in the city of Bluff- ton was in June, 1890, at which time he had not as yet reached his majority. His en- deavors in his new field of labor at first were more literary than in the line of his profes- sion, but he soon gained recognition as a lawyer and won a representative clientele. Old in appearance, the circumstance of his youth being seemingly no bar to his advance- ment, industrious, a laborious student and incessant worker, he soon gained the confi- dence of the public. While not engaged in legal duties he is producing some literary work, in which line he has decided ambi- tions. His practice, while not the largest in the city, gives him the standing as one of the leading members of the bar of Wells county.

As intimated in the initial paragraph of this review, Mr. Stevens is a stalwart Re- publican, and has been an active and efficient worker in advancing the party cause. In 1893 he was elected chairman of the Republican county central committee of Wells county, and although the county is very strongly Democratic, he brought to bear such potent executive ability that, through thorough and systematic organiza- tion the normal Democratic majority was greatly reduced at the ensuing election. The pronounced managerial ability and discrimi-

nation shown by Mr. Stevens in directing the work of the campaign secured to him, in 1894, the honor of a nomination for the office of Mayor of Bluffton. At this time he was but twenty-four years of age and had been a resident of Bluffton only four years; but he accepted the candidacy of his party, and, with that vigor which is so essentially characteristic of the man, determined to win a victory at the polls, if this could be gained by fair and honest methods. The Demo- cratic forces did not in the least anticipate defeat, but in the election a flattering ma- jority was rolled up to the credit of Mr. Stevens, thus attesting his personal popular- ity and the confidence which the public had in him as a man and as one entitled to the highest municipal honors. He thus became not only the youngest Mayor in the State of Indiana but very probably the youngest in the entire Union; but his administration has been one marked by careful and conservative methods, and he has directed municipal affairs with wisdom and mature judgment, conserving the best interests of the city in every possible way and gaining the endorse- ment of the local public to a significant degree.

Mr. Stevens is a man of introspective nature, and yet is a close observer and an excellent judge of character and of the mo- tives which sway humanity. Indeed, he has made the science of faciology a particu- lar study, has made careful research and investigation into this most fascinating line, and has visited many of the leading institu - tions of the Union in order to perfect him- self in the same. He was finally accorded recognition in being employed to write a book upon the subject, and this work, which is entitled "Faciology," was published in 1893, by Donahue & Henneberry, of Chi-

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cago, and its sale reached the notable aggregate of 10,000 copies, -a fact which offers indubitable attest to the merits of the work and to the able manner in which the subject was handled by Mr. Stevens. The volume, now in its third edition, received very flattering mention through the press of the Union and has been endorsed by the highest authorities in the line.

August 7, 1893, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Stevens to Miss Augusta Wentz, a native of Bluffton, and the daugh- ter of William Wentz, one of the early pioneers of the place. In his fraternal relations, our subject is identified with the Alpha Tau Omega, a college fraternity.

A. GEIGER is numbered among Whitley county's honored offi- cials, holding the responsible posi- tion of County Treasurer. He has been prominently connected with the political and business history of this locality, and few men are better known or more high- ly esteemed in northeasten Indiana than W. A. Geiger.

Almost his entire life has been passed here. He was born in the county which is still his home, October 25, 1842, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. His parents, Daniel and Julia A. (Darnell) Geiger, were natives of Pennsyl- vania and Virginia respectively, and the family is of German lineage. In his early years the father ,became a resident of Lick- ing county, Ohio, and in 1836 started thence for Allen county, Indiana, traveling in the primitive manner of the times, with a teanı and covered wagon. In 1838 he took up his residence in Smith township, Whitley county, where he entered a claim of eighty

acres of heavily timbered land. In the midst of the forest he built a little log cabin in which the family resided until it could be replaced with a more modern residence. Indians were frequent visitors at the pioneer home, and not far away were wild animals, for the white man had not yet brought under subjugation this locality, and the region was yet largely in its primitive condition. The father at once began to clear his land, lived frugally and industriously, and at length be- came independent, --- the possessor of a hand- some competence, -all acquired through his own labors. His widow still survives him. Their family numbered nine children, six of whom are yet living: Mary A., William A., James W., Edward, John and Hulda.

During the early youth of W. A. Geiger his father was in limited circumstances, and in consequence his opportunities were some- what limited. His educational privileges were those afforded by the district schools of the neighborhood, and during most of the year he worked on the home farm, aiding in its cultivation and further development until twenty years of age, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotism that he could not resist, he entered his country's service. It was in 1863 that he joined the boys in blue of Company E, Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Sel- ma, Alabama, Lookout Mountain, the At - lanta campaign, and was mustered out at Indianapolis on the 27th of August, 1865.

When the war was over and the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Geiger returned to his home and engaged in the sawmill and lumber business for about three years, after which he spent some years in conducting a successful and lucrative mer- cantile establishment in Churubusco; was

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

also engaged in the hardware and grain business at that place for several years. He is now the owner of a fine farm in Smith township, Whitley county, -a well- improved and valuable property which yields him a good income. IIe possesses excellent business and executive ability, and though he started out in life for himself with no cap- ital he has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence.

While residing in Churubusco Mr. Geiger was three times honored with an election to the City Council, and also served as City Treasurer for one term. He was elected to his present office, -that of County Treas- urer,-in 1894, being the first Republican who has held that position in twenty-five years. This fact certainly indicates his stand- ing in the county, showing his personal pop- ularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by many friends and acquaintances. The principles of Republicanism are staunch- ly upheld by him, and he does all in his power to insure the growth and success of his party.

In 1867 Mr. Geiger was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Brumbaugh, and they have two children, namely: Virgil A., who is now editor of the Saturday Truth; and Nettie A., wife of O. H. Downey, editor of the Albion Democrat. Mrs. Geiger holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Geiger is connected with sev- eral civic societies, belonging to the Masonic fraternity, Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic. He belongs to one of the oldest families of Whitley county and has witnessed much of the growth and de- velopment of this region. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier, and as the years have passed has taken an active

and commendable interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of this region, doing all in his power for its progress and upbuild- ing. He is as true to his duties of citizen- ship as when he followed the stars and stripes on Southern battle-fields, and in the history of this locality he well deserves honorable mention.

R EV. DANIEL W. SANDERS, the present efficient incumbent as Au- ditor of Whitley county, is not only one of the representative citizens of Columbia City, but is one whose earnest and devoted labors have gained him a wide acquaintance and high esteem throughout the northeastern part of Indiana. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the 17th of May, 1842, being the son of Mordecai and Ann (Edwards) Sanders, both of whom were of Southern nativity, the father having been born in Georgia and the mother in Virginia, and being respectively of English and Irish extraction. The paternal grandfather, also named Mordecai, was a resident of Georgia for a number of years, removing thence to Carroll county, Ohio, where he was among the early pioneer settlers. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a farmer, and he also died in Carroll county, Ohio, whither he had removed from Virginia. The father of our subject followed the occupa- tion which had been that of his ancestors, and was a successful farmer during the course of a long and useful life. He died in West Virginia while visiting his youngest son. The venerable mother is still living, and is a cherished inmate of the home of her son William, in Meigs county, Ohio. To Mordecai and Ann Sanders seven chil-

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dren were born, and of this number six are still living, namely: Ezra M., a resident of Colorado; John, a clergyman of the Baptist Church, now holding a charge in the State of Washington; Daniel W., the immediate subject of this review; William G., a farmer in Meigs county, Ohio; Mary, of Logan, Harrison county, Iowa; and David T., of Pueblo, Colorado.

Our subject was reared in his native county, receiving his preliminary educational discipline in the public schools. At an early age he was ordained to the ministry of the Baptist Church, and in the field of Chris- tian endeavor he labored faithfully for a period of twenty years, his efforts having been a power for good and his work a bless- ing to him and to those over whom he served as pastor. He passed two years in Wellington, Kansas, and the remainder of his pastorate was in various points through- out northeastern Indiana. Within the term of his ministerial work in the field last men- tioned he built the church edifice at Greens- burg, and also one at Larwill, increasing the membership of each and conserving both their spiritual and temporal prosperity by his devoted service. His clerical career was a most successful one, but owing to throat difficulties he was compelled to aban- don the work, which he did with personal reluctance and to the regret of his people. He became the candidate for the office of Auditor of Whitley county in May, 1894, and after a successful campaign his nomina- tion was ratified at the polls, where he was accorded a gratifying majority at the elec- tion of November 6 following. His tenure of office is for four years, and he entered upon the duties of the same on the 20th of the same month which marked his victory at the polls.

Mr. Sanders is an honored veteran of the late war of the Rebellion, having enlisted, in September, 1861, as a member of Con- pany A, Second West Virginia Cavalry. This regiment was raised in Ohio, but as the latter State had secured its full quota, this regiment crossed the line and was mus- tered in with the West Virginia forces. Our subject served two years and six months, after which he received an honorable dis- charge by reason of physical disabilities, which, as stated in the surgeon's certificate, entirely incapacitated him for further service in the field. He was confined in the hos- pital at Gallipolis, Ohio, for a period of five months. His two brothers, William G. and Ezra, were members of the same company and regiment, and were in active service un- til the close of the war. Both had several narrow escapes from death. All three are identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public. In his political beliefs our subject is an ardent Republican, and lends an active support to the party of his choice.

Mr. Sanders has been twice married. His first union was celebrated in October, 1863, when he wedded Miss Jane E. Bailey, of Meigs county, Ohio. The children of this union were two daughters : Emma and Mattie. Mrs. Sanders entered into eternal rest in 1875, and on the roth of August, 1876, was solemnized the marriage of our subject to Sarah A. Hartsock, of Columbia City. The offspring of this union is one son, Walter E. Mrs. Sanders is a devoted mem- ber of the church in whose work her hus- band was so actively engaged for a full score of years.

Enjoying a marked popularity as a man, as an official and as one who has ever stood ready to do whatever work his hand found to do, and honored as a faithful servant in

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the vineyard of the Master, our subject rests secure in the esteem of a large circle of ac- quaintances in this section of the State.

OUIS T. BOURIE .- There is an element of peculiar consistency in reverting in this connection to the genealogy and the life history of the honored subject whose name initiates this review, since he is not only a native son and patriarchal citizen of Fort Wayne, but is descended from ancestors whose identifica- tion with the history of the present beautiful and prosperous city dates from those early pioneer days when here was established merely a trading post, where the Indians found a market for their furs, pelts, etc. The name which our subject bears is thus one which is inseparably and consecutively linked with the annals of Fort Wayne, and there are many points of interest to be noted in the connection-points whose perpetua- tion should not be neglected, for this family is one of honor and prominence from the days of inception through the various transi- tion stages up to the present status of pros- perity and importance.

The Bouries originated in France, and from their native land they emigrated to America, within the reign of Louis XIV, locating in Canada. Louis Bourie, grand- father of the gentleman whose name initiates this review, was born in Montreal, Canada, in the year 1760, and his death occurred in Fort Wayne, he having attained the age of fifty-seven years. He came to this point as early as 1786 and here established a trading post, dealing with the Indians, the few French settlers and the soldiers, and devot- ing his attention to this line of enterprise up to the time of his demise. He was one of

the first traders here. In the year 1797, at Detroit, Michigan, was consummated his marriage to Miss Frances Malash, daughter of Baptiste Malash, owner of what was known as the " Bloody Run " farm, which is now a part of the city. This farm had been granted him by the French government, and the grant was subsequently recognized by the United States and England in their settle- ment. Frances (Malash) Bourie was born in Detroit in 1779, and died in Fort Wayne, in 1840, at the age of sixty-one years, having made this place her home from the time of her marriage until her death. She was a woman of marked intelligence and courage and she exerted no little influence in the pioneer community. She often rode on an Indian pony to the village of Little Turtle, this Indian chief having been a great friend of her husband. Mrs. Peltier, a niece of Grandmother Bourie, and mother of Louis Peltier, a leading citizen of Fort Wayne, was married at their home, about the year 1810. The said Bourie house and also one of Grandfather Bourie's trad- ing posts were burned by the Indians, in 1812, while he was on a visit to Detroit. In addition to his trading post in Fort Wayne, he had another located where the city of Elkhart now stands, and there Cap- tain John B. Bourie, the father of our sub- ject, was born, in the year 1800. Captain Bourie became one of the leading business men and most influental citizens of Fort Wayne, but his career was brought to an untimely end by his death, for he lived to attain only the age of thirty-nine years. To him belongs the distinction of having erected the first brick store-building in this now populous and prosperous city, said structure having been located on the site now occupied by Drier Brothers' drug store,

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and having been built in 1834. The Cap- tain was in trade here and at other points from 1823 until the time of his death, in 1839. He was one of a family of five chil- dren, and of the others we offer brief records as follows: Mrs. Hedges, wife of Captain John P. Hedges, was born in Fort Wayne, in 1803, and is now deceased; Mrs. Ewing, wife of Colonel George W. Ewing, was born at Fort Wayne, in 1806, and her death occurred in St. Louis, Missouri; David P., who engaged in the same line of enterprise to which his father had given attention- that of a trader-was born in this city in the year 1811, and his death occurred at Ligon- ier, Indiana, in 1890; Mrs. Ferry, wife of L. P. Ferry, a prominent lawyer, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1814, and is the only one of the children now living.

The old trading post of Louis Bourie was located on the site of the residence of F. P. Randall, and was in close proximity to the old council house, which was located at the point where now stands the residence of James M. Robinson. On this site was the family residence, maintained in connec- tion with the post, and there occurred the birth of our subject, Louis T. Bourie, in the year 1828, and it is an interesting coinci- dence that in the same house, in the year 1834, was born Ophelia Dubois, who be- came his wife in the later years.

Louis T. Bourie received his early edu- cation in the private schools of Fort Wayne, that being antecedent to the era of public schools, and later he attended Saint Mary's College, in Kentucky, and thereafter was for two years a student in a Jesuit college. Upon completing his collegiate course and returning to his home he entered the employ of J. W. McLain, dealer in hats, caps and furs, and retained this incumbency about

one year. After this he was for six years in the employ of W. Smith & Company, acting as bookkeeper and clerk. He was a young man of great mental and physical vigor and he became ambitious to try his fortunes in the far west, becoming thorough- ly imbued with the " gold fever," so preva- lent at that time. Accordingly, in 1852, he went to California, where he remained for some time and was quite successful, though he did not devote his attention to mining as did the average emigrant to the section. He acted as bookkeeper for a wholesale gro- cery concern for a period of three years, after which he engaged in the flouring-mill business at Sacramento, continuing opera- tions in this line for a year, when he dis- posed of the business and returned to Fort Wayne. Here he associated himself with Moss Drake, and under the firm name of Bourie & Drake they engaged in the gro- cery business. The partnership was ter- minated at the end of three years, our sub- ject purchasing Mr. Drake's interests and thereafter continuing the enterprise upon his individual responsibility for some time. He finally disposed of the business and en- tered the employ of John McDougall, with whom he remained one year. About this time he was honored with the election to the office of City Clerk, retaining the incum- bency for a period of two years. Within his term in this office the city issued about $25,000 worth of stamps to be used as cur- rency, -the same representing in denomin- ation five, ten, twenty-five and fifty cents. On these stamps appeared both the por- trait and autograph of Mr. Bourie. On re- tiring from the office of City Clerk Mr. Bourie went to Toledo, Ohio, and accepted a position as traveling salesman for the wholesale grocery house of George Wilder

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

& Company, being retained in this capac- ity for a full decade, and receiving an annual salary of $2,500. At the end of the period noted he engaged in the grocery trade in Toledo, being associated with L. France, but after a year he sold his interests and once more returned to his native city. Here he formed a partnership with C. F. Leutz, in the same line of business, and three years later purchased his partner's interest and thereafter continued the enterprise alone for four years, when he sold out, having since been retired from active business life. He is held in the highest honor and esteem not only as a representative of one of the dis- tinguished pioneer families of the city, but as a man of marked ability and unswerving integrity, one whose actions have ever been in strict accord with the highest principles of honor. He has done much to further the development and substantial upbuilding of the city of his birth, has been progressive and public-spirited and has been distinctively entitled to a foremost rank among the rep- resentative citizens and business men of Fort Wayne. While a young man he took a deep interest in securing a fire protection to the city, and to him must be ascribed the credit of having effected the organization of the first fire department. In 1856 he was elected chief of the department and served in that capacity for a period of two years, proving an able incumbent and greatly add- ing to the facilities for the effective protec- tion of the city against disaster by fire. This department was known as Alert Hook and Ladder Company, and among its members were a number of the distinctively represent- ative men of the city.

In political matters Mr. Bonrie originally rendered allegiance to the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 20

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