Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 26

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

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tails and demands of such work. He came from Buffalo across the lake and has seen all the track from Pittsburg to Fort Wayne, first as foreman then as roadmaster. He soon came to the West, and in 1854 he laid the track of the Pittsburg Railway from Crestline, Ohio, to what was then the packet-boat landing, in Fort Wayne, this being the first line to enter the city. In the following year he completed the construc- tion of the Wabash Railroad tracks from a point beyond Defiance, Ohio, to the depot ground in Fort Wayne. These highways of travel are the advance agents of civiliza- tion, and in their wake come development, progress and improvement. With the ad- vent of the railroads in Fort Wayne there was given a wonderful impetus to the growth of the little city, and Mr. Fletcher believed it a favorable opening for business. Ac- cordingly, in 1858, he established here the first restaurant ever opened in the city, and within the following year he erected the Summit City Hotel (now known as the Har- mon House), which provided accommoda- tions to the traveling public and which was the most popular and ably conducted hos- telry in Fort Wayne during the time our subject dispensed its hospitalities. In 1864 Mr. Fletcher established an omnibus and transfer line in Fort Wayne, and the busi- ness grew to be one of much importance, being successfully continued under his man- agement until 1878. Various other enter- prises have engrossed his time and attention, and incidentally he has contributed very largely to the material progress and pros- perity of the city where he has so long maintained his residence and whose growth he has witnessed with satisfaction and pride. For a number of years he was the owner of the Academy of Music, one of the most pop-

ular and attractive amusement resorts of Fort Wayne, and one which has offered to the people the finer order of theatrical and musical entertainments. It has been characteristic of Mr. Fletcher's career that whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, and his efforts have not been held within selfish confines, for he has ever maintained a lively interest in every enterprise or project which have had in view the public welfare or the advance- ment of the substantial and normal pros- perity of the city.

In his political adherency Mr. Fletcher has ever been stanchly arrayed in the sup- port of the Republican party and its tenets, and has taken an active part in public and political affairs of a local nature. During the late war of the Rebellion he gave a loyal support to the Union cause, lending his in- fluence to further the ends of right and served nearly two years as Provost Marshal. From the early days of Fort Wayne's his- tory he has resided in the city, and educa- tional, social and business interests have been promoted through his efforts. In his undertakings he has met with that measure of success which comes as the reward of hon- orable dealing, good management and the observance of sound business principles.

Mr. Fletcher has been twice married. On the 16th of September, 1854, he was united to Miss Hannah C. Cline, whose un- timely death occurred November 26, 1856. She left one daughter, Luella, who died in 1872, at the age of sixteen years. October 9, 1858, was consummated the marriage of our subject to Miss Jennie Heath, a native of the State of New York, and the daughter of Schuyler and Sarah (Minton) Heath. She was reared and educated in the city of Rochester. The two children of the second

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marriage are now deccased, namely: Minnie, the eldest, died at nine years and eight months; the other died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have also been bereaved in be- ing deprived, by death, of three children whom they had adopted. They are highly esteemed in the community, their home is noted for its hospitality, and their friends are in number as their acquaintances.

ENRY CLAY BRANNUM is the general manager of the Brannum & Mercer Lumber Company, of Montpelier, Indiana. The study of the character of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valuable instruction. The life work of him whose name heads this sketch, fraught with good results, is most worthy of record. The man who by patient perseverance, arduous effort and well conceived and proper- ly executed plans succeeds in winning pros- perity, and a rank among the foremost in commercial circles demonstrates what can be accomplished by determined will and ability, and furnishes an example well worthy of emulation. Such a man is Mr. Brannum.

Our subject was born in Fairfield, Indi- ana, May 15, 1831, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Ball) Brannum. He has de- scended from an early family of North Caro- lina, where lived four brothers, -William, Samuel, Michael and Aquilla Brannum. The first named, the grandfather of our subject, was born February 17, 1774, and his chil- dren were John, born May 29, 1797; James, born April 12; 1799; Samuel, born May 25, 1801; Sarah, born October 26, 1803; Will- iam, born April 24, 1806; Thomas, born July 27, 1808; Aquilla, born November 24,

1814; and Esther, born February 26, 1817. The last named died in childhood.

The father of our subject removed with his parents to New Madrid, Missouri, where they lived at the time of the earthquake there. They were also residents of Arkan- sas. He was probably married in the former State to Miss Nancy Ball, who was born in Massachusetts in 1808. Mr. Brannum en- gaged in buying horses, but they were stolen by the Indians. He afterward cut cord-wood, at twenty-five cents per day. Taking up his residence near Liberty, Indiana, he there engaged in operating a sawmill, in 1831, and he went to Fairfield, Indiana, where he assisted his father-in-law, Mr. Ball, who was there teaching school. In 1851 he removed to Chester township, Wells county, locating one mile from Keystone, Indiana. His pos- sessions at that time consisted of an eighty- acre farm, $4 in money, a gray horse, a buggy and a wagon. He erected a resi- dence, began the cultivation of his land, and prospered in his undertakings, winning a comfortable competence. There he resided until his death, which occurred January 12, 1877. He was a strong Union man, and from the time when he supported Fremont in 1856 was an ardent Republican. He was also a warm advocate of Henry Clay.

From the age of sixteen years the sub- ject of this review, Henry Clay Brannum, has been dependent on his own resources. He at that time began learning the carpen- ter's trade and subsequently engaged in contracting and building, which he followed until twenty-four years of age. He spent his early life in Union, Wells and Blackford counties, Indiana, In 1861 he located in Chester township, Wells county, that he might care for his aged parents, and made his home in that neighborhood for nine

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years, when in 1870 he came to Montpelier. Here he established a hardware and imple- ment store, which he successfully conducted until 1887, when he traded the business to George A. Mason for 160 acres of land in Jackson township, Wells county.

There he lived for three years, after which he returned to Montpelier and became man- ager of the Mercer & Brannum lumberyard. He became a partner in the business by pur- chasing the interest of H. H. Bennett, and in 1892 the business of the Mercer & Bran- num Lumber Company was removed to its present location. Their annual shipments amount to one million feet of lumber. They ship thirty car-loads of lumber per month on an average, and in July, 1895, their ship- ments amounted to fifty car-loads. They carry in stock everything needed in the erection of a house. William S. Brannum, a son of our subject, now living in Chicago, has been admitted to a partnership in the business and a branch establishment has been located in that city. They now have an office in the Marquette building and the Chicago headquarters are now the principal point of orders and shipments. The firm also conducts a lumber business at Hartford City, Alexandria, Elwood and Eaton, all in Indiana. The firm of Mercer & Brannum is now at the head of one of the largest lumber industries in the State, a business which has not only proved a profitable one to them but has also aided greatly in pro- moting the material welfare of the various towns where the yards are established.

Mr. Brannum's interests and capabilities are by no means limited to one line of en- deavor. In the spring of 1894 he aided in the organization of the Royal Oil Company, the officers of which are Charles Spence, president; E. G. Cottinghan, vice-president;

H. C. Brannum, treasurer; and George Ely, general manager. These gentlemen, in con- nection with Jo G. Brannum, of Alexandria, Indiana, were the organizers. They leased 4,400 acres of land in one body and sunk five wells.

On the 3d of October, 1856, Mr. Bran- num was married in Dunlapsville, Union county. Indiana, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of William and Martha (Cory) Johnson. She was born May 19, 1836, in Cheviot, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father was born near Trenton, New Jersey, August 27, 1808, and died at the home of Mrs. Bran- num December 10, 1893. He married Mar- tha Cory March 13, 1834, in Union county, Indiana. She was born in Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, February 16, 1813, and died in Liberty, this State, Jan- nary 25, 1888. Her father, Jeremiah Cory, was born in Pennsylvania May 29, 1786, of Scotch ancestry, was a tanner by trade, and became one of the earliest settlers of Franklin county. His death occurred in May, 1873.

Daniel Johnson, the paternal grand- father of Mrs. Brannum, died July 9, 1828, at the age of fifty years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brannum were born uine children: Mary Alice, born July 23, 1857, became the wife of John Perfect Mc- Geath March 15, 1880, and died September 8, 1893. Annie, born June 30, 1859, died February 26, 1862. William Samuel, born September 7, 1861, was married May 28, 1885, to Elna McGrew, and has two chil- dren: James Harry, born April 26, 1887; and Marjorie, born November 12, 1894. Joseph Grant, born October 28, 1863, was married January 18, 1893, to Lenora Mc- Lead, and is engaged in the lumber business at Alexandria. Martha Etta, born March 19,

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1866, died October 29, 1869. Nancy Irene, born June 8, 1868, died November 1, 1869. George, born August 5, 1870, died two days later. Lizzie Edith, born October 25, 1872, married Oscar Bevington, foreman of the lumber-yard in Montpelier; the wedding was celebrated February 12, 1890, and they have three children-Grace May, born No- vember 28, 1890; Catherine Cairo, born September 23, 1892; and Frederick Grant, born November 12, 1894. Grace, the youngest of the family, was born July 31, | 1876, and is now bookkeeper in her father's office.

The family attend the Methodist Church, and Mr. Brannum is a Republican in politics. Socially, he is a Knight Templar Mason, having been connected with that fraternity since 1856, while since 1855 he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has always been known for his prompt and honorable methods of deal- ing, and has both deserved and received the unbounded confidence of his fellow citi- zens. His own interests have now become extensive and varied, and his life fairly illus- trates what one may achieve who is actu- ated by a worthy ambition to make the most and best of his opportunities and talents.

J OHN B. LATCHEM .- Prominent among the leading business men of of northeastern Indiana stands this gentlemen, whose connection with various industries has not only brought to him prosperity but has enhanced the mate- rial welfare of the community. He is sec- retary and treasurer of the Treaty Creek Stone & Lime Company, secretary and treas- urer of the Wabash Soap Company, a direc-

tor of the Underwood Manufacturing Con- pany, president of the Board of Trade, treas- urer of the Agricultural Society, and presi- dent of the Wabash Valley Building & Loan Association. The study of biography in point of interest and profit is second to no other, for it shows the methods that have been pur- sued by the successful business man and the plans he has followed, and furnishes an ex- ample which all may emulate.

Numbered among the native sons of In- diana, Mr. Latchem was born in Rush county, April 2, 1842. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Latchem, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He followed the shoemaker's trade, and was more than sixty years of age at the time of his death. He served as Sheriff of Dover for one term, and was a man of genial, kindly disposition, and was held in high regard by all who knew him. Caleb Latchem, father of our subject, was born in Delaware, and emigrating to Indiana located in Rush county, where he operated a sawmill. In 1848 he came to Wabash county, settling six miles north of the city of Wabash, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land for $300. This he improved and added to it forty acres, de- veloping a farm, upon which he reared his family and spent his remaining days. He married Sarah Baker, a native of the Hoosier State, and they became the parents of eight sons and two daughters. The follow- ing are still living: John B .; Rebecca, wife of Isaac Ivens; Isaac, Frank, George and Edward. For several years the father served as Justice of the Peace, and was a public-spirited and progressive citizen. His life was well and worthily passed. He died in 1882 at the age of sixty-three years, and his wife passed away several years previous. They were devoted members of the Chris-

Val Brown

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tian Church. Mrs. Latchem was one of the three children of John Baker, a native of Scotland, who became an Indiana farmer in the '30s, during the pioneer days of this State. He reached the traditional age of three-score years and ten.

From the age of six years, Mr. Latchem of this sketch was reared on the old home farm in Wabash county. When a young man of twenty he came to the city of Wa- bash, where he has since made his home, and for twelve years was connected with the grain business, working on a salary. He then became interested in the stone and lime business, and a few years later branched out into the lumbering and manfacturing in- dustries, supplying the fine woodwork for in- terior finishing. He helped to organize the Underwood Novelty Works; is engaged in the manufacture of soap as secretary and treasurer of the Wabash Soap Company, and is the efficient and capable president of the Board of Trade, an organization to en- courage the establishment of manufacturing enterprises in Wabash. As the head of this enterprise he solicits correspondence with parties seeking locations for factories, and spends much of his time in welcoming to this city men who are connected with such concerns, and in pointing out eligible sites for factories, and in showing the induce- ments and advantages Wabash can offer to such men and their industries.

On the 21st of October, 1869, Mr. Latchem was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Alber, daughter of Philip and Bar- bara (Hilty) Alber. They have three chil- dren: Charles, who married Miss Mollie Nordyke, by whom he has two children, Clyde and Ruth. He is traveling salesman for the Wabash Soap Company. Lucy and Paul are still with their parents. Mrs.

Latchem is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is an estimable lady who pre- sides with grace over her hospitable home.

Socially, Mr. Latchem is a Knight Temp- lar Mason, an Odd Fellow, and is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, -the Tribe of Ben Hur. In politics he is a Democrat. He owns in connection with his other business interests a pleasant residence on Huntington street, Wabash, and a good farm near the city. Systematic and method- ical in all business dealings, honorable and straightforward in all transactions, he has thus been enabled to carry forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he has under- taken. For forty-seven years he has lived in Wabash county, and has been one of the most important factors in promoting its in- terests and advancing its welfare, and in coming years his descendants will point with pride to the achievements of their ancestor. He is a man of quiet demeanor and unpre- tentious, but his good works and valuable service are well known, and all honor and esteem him for the part he has played in the history of northeastern Indiana.

ALLOROUS BROWN, of Colum- bia City .- The study of biography yields to no other in point of inter- est and profit. It tells of the suc- cess and defeats of men, the difficulties they have met, and gives us an insight into the methods and plans which they have fol- lowed, enabling them to pass on the high- way of life many who started out in the race ahead of them. The obvious lessons therein taught would prove of great benefit if fol- lowed, and the example of the self-made man should certainly encourage others to press forward. Such a man is Mr. Brown,

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and in the history of northeastern Indiana he well deserves mention.

He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1846, and is a son of Will- jam R. and Sarah Pond) Brown, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of the Buckeye State. They had a family of three children, our subject being the only survivor. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation and removed with his family to Noble county, Indiana, in 1848, locating in York township, where he remained for four years, removing thence to Columbia town- ship, Whitley county. Subsequently he went to Thorn Creek, where his death oc- curred in 1870. The mother afterward married William Ream, but she, too, has now passed away.

The early life of Mr. Brown of this sketch was a quiet one. In the usual man- ner of farmer lads he was reared to man- hood, and in the common schools of the neighborhood he acquired his education. At the age of twenty he began teaching, which profession he followed for four years, and during the succeeding four years of his life he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, but tiring of this mode of living he resolved to enter a field of labor which he thought might be more profitable. He pur- chased a sawmill three miles north of Colum- bia City, which he operated for three years, when he took up his abode in the city and engaged in the manufacture of lumber near the Eel River Railroad, subsequently pur- chasing another mill near the Wabash de- pot and successfully operating both. He was thus employed until 1881, when he transferred his field of labor to Albion, In- diana, and carried on business there until January, 1882, when he disposed of all his lumber interests and opened a hardware

store in Columbia City. This new venture was continued for about a year, when he re- sumed the lumber business, owning a saw- mill at Churubusco and another at Men- tone. In connection with his other indus- tries Mr. Brown, in 1891, became one of the organizers of the Harper Buggy Com- pany, and was elected its first president, which position he has since held.

On the 6th of March, 1871, Mr. Brown was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Baker, and their family now numbers four children, -William, Laura, Charles and Daisy. He is a highly esteemed and hon- ored member of the Masonic fraternity and has taken thirty-two degrees in Masonry.

The life of Mr. Brown has been purely a business one, unmarked by excitement or thrilling incident. It has been quietly passed in the performance of the daily du- ties that have come to him; and persever- ance, diligence, good management and honesty of purpose have brought him a hand- some competency that now enables him to lay aside business cares and enjoy a well earned rest. He can look back over the past to the period when he was a "little ragged urchin " toiling from sunrise to sun- set on the farm, dreaming perhaps of the time when he should possess wealth, but little realizing how his hope would one day be realized.

Q ARY ALTON TAUGHINBAUGH. -In the subject of this sketch is found one of the promising young lawyers of Montpelier, Indiana, a native of Hartford City and a son of Horatio G. and Mahala J. Reasoner) Taughinbaugh, the date of his birth being February 11, 1868.

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Mr. Taughinbaugh's father is also a na- tive of Hartford City, Indiana, born fifty- five years ago, and in his family are the fol- lowing named children : Cary Alton, Bessie, William and Mary. He is a son of William Taughinbaugh, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born near Gettysburg, and who died at the age of sixty-four years. For a number of years he lived in Hartford City, Indiana, and was prominently identified with that place, filling all the county offices. By occupation he was a contractor and builder. Many of the principal buildings in Hartford City were erected by him, prominent among which is the court-house. He was married while yet in Pennsylvania to a Miss Myers, who accompanied him to Indiana and who shared his joys and sorrows of life with him here. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, namely : Frank, Nicholas, Martha, Caroline, Emma, Margaret, Anna and Hora- tio Gates. Great-grandfather Taughinbaugh was the progenitor of the family of this name in America, he having emigrated hither from Denmark, his native land, at an early day and made settlement in Adams county, Pennsylvania. Some of his children are still living in Pennsylvania, at an ad- vanced age. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Noah Reasoner, was born near Kenton, Ohio. From there he moved to Indiana, being among the pioneers of this State, where he died at the age of forty-four years. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Seaton, were the parents of five children,-David, Mary, Mahala J., Anna and Reuben.

C. A. Taughinbaugh, whose name graces this article, grew up in his native town and attended its public schools until he was seventeen. He read law in the office of Shinn & Pierce, of Hartford City, remaining

with them until June, 1889, when he passed a creditable examination and became a full- fledged lawyer. Then he entered upon the practice of his profession at Muncie, Indiana, but shortly afterward removed to Alexandria, where he remained three years. In August, 1893, he came to his present location; at first practicing alone, and in June, 1895, forming a partnership with Mr. Ashley G. Emshwiller, the firm being Taughinbaugh & Emshwiller. They laid out the John A. Miller addition to the town of Montpelier, and also the Fred Miller addition. Mr. Taughinbaugh, like his forefathers, is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and takes an active and commendable in- terest in public affairs.

He was married in Muncie, Indiana, Au- gust 4, 1892, to Miss Etta Anna Lee, daughter of John W. and Alice (Williams) Lee, and a native of the town of Seaforh, Ontario, Canada, the date of her birth being August 27, 1868. They are the parents of two children : Lee Roy, born Angust 5, 1893, in Anderson, Indiana; and Ruth Anna, December 13, 1894, in Montpelier.

LMER EARNEST LATHEM, the popular young dentist of Montpe- lier, Indiana, was born at Lathem Schoolhouse, Jackson county, West Virginia, August 24, 1870, son of Matthew Crawford Lathem and Florence M., nce Boyce. In 1873 his parents moved to Ra- venswood, West Virginia, which continued to be their home eleven years, their next lo- cation being at Charleston, West Virginia. At the latter place, however, they remained only one year; the next two years they lived in Gallipolis, Ohio, and from there they re- moved to Columbus, same State, where they

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maintamed their residence until April Io, 1895, the time of their removal to Montpe- lier, Indiana.

Dr. Lathem removed with his parents to the various places above named, and lives with them at present. He had excellent educational advantages in the schools of Gallipolis and Columbus, and at the former place, in September, 1885, began the study of dentistry under the instructions of Dr. J. H. Lipton, in whose office he served an apprenticeship and with whom he remained two years and a half. He finished his course under the tutorage of Dr. C. E. Safford, of the same town, under whom he studied six months. In 1888 he formed a partnership with C. A. Eckert, at Columbus, for the practice of dentistry, and under the firm name of Eckert & Lathem practiced his pro- fession there until his coming to Montpelier, his location being at the corner of Third avenue and High street. At the same time they had a branch office at Canal Winches- ter, Ohio; and in the meantime Dr. La- them further prepared himself for his pro- fession by a thorough course in the Medical University at Columbus, being a student there in 1892-3-4, receiving his degree the last named year.

April 10, 1895, Dr. Lathem opened his dental parlors in the McDorman Block, Montpelier, where he has since been en- gaged in practice. He has a membership in the Order of Red Men, Buffalo Tribe, No. 109, Columbus, Ohio, and, politically casts his vote for the candidates of the Republi- can party. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 26

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