USA > Indiana > Memorial record of northeastern Indiana > Part 27
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Having thus briefly referred to Doctor Lathem's life, we would now make further reference to his parents and grandsires. His grandfather and great-grandfather, James
and Elias Lathem, respectively, emigrated from Jefferson county, Ohio, to Jackson county, West Virginia, at a very early day. The great-great-grandfather, James Lathem, was born in the State of Delaware, moved from there to Jefferson county, Ohio, and later to Jackson county, West Virginia. He was of Scotch origin. James Lathem, the grandfather, was a soldier in the Mexican war. He married Elizabeth Porter, a na- tive of Jefferson county, Ohio, who was of Irish descent, her parents having been born and married in Ireland. The maternal grand- father of our subject was David Boyce. He was born in Pennsylvania, son of John Boyce, also a native of that State, the latter's parents having emigrated hither from Germany. David Boyce removed from Pennsylvania to Jackson county, West Vir- ginia, and from that place enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war. He was killed in battle. Grandmother Boyce was before her marriage Miss Susan Frazee. She was born in France, a member of a well-to-do family which was connected with the royalty of that country and is still living in West Virginia. Dr. Lathem's father is a veteran of the Civil war, having been Drum Major in Company 1, Eleventh West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and in the serv- ice three years and ten months. At the battle of Cedar Creek he was slightly wounded and taken a prisoner, but at the end of a month made good his escape. He and Captain Litle, while in the act of tak- ing down the rebel flag from the top of the court-house at Ripley, West Virginia, were fired upon, and after obtaining the flag and reaching the ground his companion suc- ceeded in getting away with the flag, which is now at the State-house at Columbus, Ohio. Both were wounded and the father
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of our subject was taken prisoner, and this time he made his cscape after only three hours' confinement. For some years past Mr. Lathem has been a traveling salesman in the boot and shoe line for twelve years, and three years for a grocery firm. He is now shipping clerk and stock-keeper in the tin-plate works at Montpelier.
J AMES IRVIN MCGREW carries on general merchandising in Montpe- lier, Indiana, and is a man of sound business judgment, enterprise and indefatigable energy, to which characteris- tics he owes his success in life.
He is numbered among the native sons of this State, for his birth occurred in War- ren, Huntington county, December 26, 1836. His parents were Noah and Eliza- beth (Thompson) McGrew. The father was a native of Virginia, and during his child- hood accompanied his parents on their emi- gration to Darke county, Ohio, where amid the wild scenes of frontier life he was reared to manhood. He married Miss Thompson, a native of Preble county, Ohio, and in 1833 started with his little family for Indiana, taking up his residence in Salamonie town- ship, Huntington county, where, in 1834, was born their daughter, Mary Jane, now Mrs. Hiram Brown, the first white child born in the township. The mother died in 1840, but the father continued his residence in Warren until called to his home beyond, November 3, 1860. His political connec- tions were with the Democratic party, and he always faithfully discharged his duties of citizenship though taking no very active part in public life.
Thus in pioneer days James I. McGrew became familiar with the experiences that
usually fall to the lot of settlers on the frontier. His carly privileges were not many, but the public schools afforded him a good practical English education. He be- gan working at the shoemakers' trade, but subsequently secured a clerkship in the store of Frame & Brawley, general merchants at Warren. Later he went West on a trip across the plains to Pike's Peak, Colorado; but one year's experience satisfied him that he preferred the less wild conditions of life in his native State. Accordingly he re- turned and secured a position as salesman in the mercantile establishment of Smith & Wolf, of Warren, Indiana.
Mr. McGrew has been a resident of Blackford county since June, 1867, at which time he took up his residence in Montpelier. He established a general store on the present site of the bank, a room 20x 50 feet, which at that time was the largest store in the county. His partners were his old employers, Messrs. Smith & Wolf, of Warren, and the busi- ness was conducted under the name of J. I. MeGrew & Company. This connection con- tinued until 1878, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. McGrew engaged in busi- ness alone, moving to the building now oc- cupied by Walmer & Wicking. There he continued for ten years, building up a large and profitable business, which at the end of the decade was sold out. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and after ten months' retirement from trade he again began business, near the post-office, and in August, 1893, removed to his present location. He has a large and well selected stock of goods, the store is complete in all its appointments, and he is now enjoying the fruits of an extensive trade. He was also one of the organizers and is a director of the Home Goods Company.
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On the 23d of June, 1860, in Hunting- ton county, Indiana, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McGrew and Miss Henrietta Lounsberry, daughter of Smith Lounsberry, one of the early settlers of Jackson township, Wells county. The following children have been born to them: Inez Clare, born Oc- tober 21, 1861, is now the wife of S. B. Twi- bell, and their children are Fay; Beatrice, deceased; Vaughn; Trenna and Bob. Eliz- abeth, born October 1, 1863, died August 3, 1866. Eva, born October 13, 1865, is the wife of Daniel Doyle, a resident of Fort Wayne, and they have one daughter, Ellen, and a son, James Irvin McGrew. Elna, born March 20, 1867, is the wife of W. S. Brannum, of Chicago, and they have two children: James Henry, born April 26, 1887; and Marjorie, born November 15, 1894. Luella, born September 17, 1871, is at home. Charles, born July 30, 1873, was married May 16, 1895, to Alice Kagle, and is living in Montpelier.
Mr. McGrew is identified with the Dem- ocratic party, and on that ticket was elected in 1872 as County Commissioner for two years. In 1884 he joined the Populist party, with which he has since been con- nected. He and his family are members of the Christian Church, and are people of prominence in the community, having the warm regard of all who know them.
a HARLES HAMLIN GOOD, M. D., is one of the most progressive and enterprising young men of Hunt- ington county, and is entitled to representation in this volume. He is a native of the State of Indiana, born at Warren, Huntington county, November 9, 1860. He received his elementary educa-
tion in the public schools, this training being supplemented by a course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, where he received the degree of B. S. in August, 1880. Following his graduation, he was engaged in teaching for a year, and at the end of that time he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Good and Dr. Sprowl. In the autumn of 1881 he entered Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, and pursued the course of that insti- tution until February, 1883, when he took the degree of M. D. He returned to War- ren and formed a partnership with Dr. J. S. Sprowl, which continued until 1890, when he became associated with F. M. Wall, the partnership being known under the name of Good & Wall. Having an un- usual aptitude and taste for the management of commercial affairs Dr. Good embarked in the dry-goods trade in 1888, in partner- ship with C. A. Winters, under the firm name of Winters & Good. Ambitious for his professional reputation he took a post- graduate course at the Chicago Polyclinic.
In the Republican ranks of Huntington county Dr. Good is one of the most enthu- siastic workers. He was a candidate for nomination to Congress in the Eleventh dis- trict in the spring of 1894, the contest being between himself and George W. Steele. The Doctor made a good race, and brought up a fine finish, but he scored second.
He was united in marriage, February 16, 1886, at Milford, Illinois, to Miss Edith Harvey Strain, daughter of David and Sarah (Harvey) Strain. Mrs. Good was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, September 29, 1862. They are the parents of two chil- dren: Blanch Strain, born March 26, 1887; and Helen Margaret, born March 20, 1890. Dr. Good is a member of Artesian Lodge,
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No. 388, K. of P .; of Lodge No. 262, A. F. & A. M. ; and of Lodge, No. 392, I. O. O. F. He belongs to the M. E. Church, with which he united in 1889. He was treasurer of the Warren school for six years, during which time he put forth every effort to im- prove the educational facilities of the town. He is one of the original stockholders in the Warren Natural Gas Company, and he also holds stock in the Warren Hotel Company. The interests of Warren have always been his interests. Always desirous of her ad- vancement he has never allowed an oppor- tunity of developing her resources to go un- improved.
a OLUMBIA CITY POST is one of the leading papers of northeastern Indiana and has had a continuous existence since 1853. In the month of July of that year Joseph A. Berry, at the earnest solicitation of the Democracy of Whitley county, came to Columbia City with the necessary apparatus and began the publication of the Pioneer, a small . sheet with gigantic Democratic proclivities. The probability is that Mr. Berry was paid a sum of money for establishing his paper in this place, but at any rate he began its publica- tion as a strong Democratic journal and the circulation was increased to about 400, when it was sold, in August, 1856, to P. W. Hardesty. The paper advocated that phase of Democracy known as Free-Soilism. In 1858 another change occurred in the ownership, the purchase being made by I. B. McDonald, who gave T. L. and W. C. Graves the editorial management. For a while the former was alone, and in 1859 Mr. McDonald and W. C. Graves became editors and S. H. Hill publisher. The fol-
lowing year E. Zimmerman became pub- lisher and part proprietor, joining Mr. Mc- Donald in the ownership. When the latter gentleman bought the Jeffersonian in 1858, the two papers were merged into one under the name of the Columbia City News, which was retained for some time.
When the great Southern Rebellion broke forth upon the country Mr. McDon- ald enlisted, turning the paper over to his partner, though retaining an interest in the business. Thus the News was continued until 1864, when Engelbert Zimmerman's interest was transferred to Frank Zimmer- man. About this time McDonald, having resigned his office in the army, took editor- ial charge of the paper. In 1865 the News passed into the hands of Eli W. Brown and the name was changed to the Columbia City Post. The circulation had now in- creased to 500. In 1867 a power press was obtained and the paper was enlarged. In April, 1879, John W. Adams became a partner in the ownership of the Post and took control of the business, and so success- fully managed its interests that the circula- tion has increased to over 1,000. In April, 1881, Mr. Adams became sole proprietor of the paper and has since conducted it, mak- ing it one of the leading journals in this sec- tion of the State. It is well edited and well conducted, and its merits have won for it the largely increased circulation which it to- day enjoys and which has been secured since Mr. Adams took the management.
ICHARD KLEIN, artistic furrier, Fort Wayne, Indiana .- That men are born with perfect adaptation to a particular line of business is practically exemplified in the life of Mr.
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(Con. Harsmo uss in husmess has been phenomenal. Merit always brings its re- ward, and the public is not slow to appreci- ate the master of his art. In his line Mr. Klein is without a rival in the exquisiteness of design, beauty and finish that character- ize this work.
Mr. Klein is of German birth and educa- tion, born in the northern part of the Fath- erland, of German parents, in the year 1848. His father bore the commission of an officer in the German army. His death occurred in 1876, at the age of ninety-five years. Of the five children comprising the family but two survive, our subject being the youngest.
In his youth he obtained a fair education and was early in life apprenticed to a furrier, with whom he remained four years, acquir- ing that thoroughness in the ground work of the furrier business that is so characteristic and noticeable in all the trades and profes- sions of the German people. With them the rudiments must be mastered, and the better learned they are the greater the efficiency afterward. Upon his arrival in America he located in New York city and later went to California, where he became connected with the largest fur dealers in this country. His expertness in judging furs and skins was soon observed, and he was immediately engaged to purchase furs from the largest firm in San Francisco, known as the Commercial Company, operat- ing in Alaska and adjoining islands.
After a residence of six years upon the Western slope, he returned to New York city and opened a store on Broadway. and later he moved to Fifth avenue, where for a number of years he catered to the best trade of fashionable New York, numbering among his customers in former years Alexander II
of Russia and other numerous notables of France, Germany and all European courts. Mrs. Cleveland was a patron of his New York store and some exquisite garments were made for her by Mr. Klein. In short, the clite could, in Mr. Klein's establish- ment, find what suited their fastidious tastes. On account of a heavy misfortune, by which he lost $25,000 in two months, he was obliged to start anew; and little over a year ago he came to Fort Wayne, establishing himself in a store at No. 20 East Washing- ton street. His success was assured from the start, and he now has the liberal pat- ronage of over 300 of the first families of the city. He has the facilities of manufacture for garments of all degrees of fineness, and being a close student of la mode his work for style and finish find favor with all who like elegance in dress. His specialty is in fine seal garments to order, and a cape or sacque of Klein's design and finish possesses an individuality and gives a charm to the wearer that can only be imparted by an cx- pert in the business.
Mr. Klein is an affable, courteous gentle- man, pleasing in speech and manner, and has a pronounced personality that adds the grace of a great dignity to his social and business relations.
ARRY M. METZGER is the Coun- ty Clerk of Allen county, Indiana. The history of a country is after all only the record of the combined efforts of its individual members. Each community has its leading men to whom the locality owes its progress and prosperity, and among these in Fort Wayne is num- bered the gentleman whose name begins this review.
. . hile.
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His father was a native of Ohio, born in Piqua county, and from the Buckeye State he removed to Indiana in the year 1842, lo- cating in Springfield township, Allen county. He there engaged in farming and milling, following that dual occupation until his re- moval to the city of Fort Wayne. Here he engaged in journalistic work, becoming connected with the Fort Wayne Democrat and subsequently with the Fort Wayne Ban- ner. He was widely known in this locality and a prominent and influential citizen who took an active part in public affairs, giving his sup- port to all enterprises and interests which were calculated to advance the general wel- fare. He died in 1877, at the age of sixty- one years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Dresback, was also a native of Ohio. Six children were born of their marriage, of whom Harry M. is the youngest. Mrs. Metzger departed this life April 5, 1895, at the age of eighty-one years.
The well-known County Clerk is a native of Allen county, his birth having occurred on the old home farm in Springfield town- ship, on the 4th of January, 1859. The public schools afforded him his educational advantages, and on leaving school at the age of seventeen he accepted a position in the County Clerk's office, with which he has been connected continuously since with the exception of a short period that he spent in the employ of the Fort Wayne and Jackson Railroad Company. His continued service as Deputy Clerk made him familiar with the various duties connected with the of- fice and fitted him for his present position, to which he was elected in 1894, on the Democratic ticket.
On the 7th of October, 1890, occurred an important event in the life of Mr. Metz-
ger, for on that date was celebrated his marriage with Miss Julia B. Nelson, a daugh- ter of ex-Sheriff Nelson of Allen county. They now have one child, a daughter. Dur- ing his long experience in the office of Coun- ty Clerk, Mr. Metzger has won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had dealings. He has always lived in Allen county, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends, -a fact which indicates a well spent life. He'is very popular, for in manner he is pleasant and genial, and his large circle of acquaintances highly esteem him.
APTAIN JAMES B. WHITE. - Not all men order their lives to their liking; nor yet are all men true to themselves in living as nearly to their ideals as possible and attaining to snch heights as their talents and opportuni-
ties render accessible. We now turn to one who has done much and has done it well, - wherein all honor lies. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, -though one in which has been attained distinguished hon- ors,-but one that has been true to itself and its possibilities and one to which the bi- ographist may revert with a feeling of re- spect and satisfaction.
The Scotch type is one that has found many representatives in the New World, and is one that has ever been found foremost in giving impetus to the march of progress, in retaining a clear mental grasp and in direct- ing affairs along safe and conservative lines. America owes much to the Scotch stock and has honored and been honored by noble men and women of this extraction.
The subject of this review is one of the distinguished citizens and represen-
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MEMORIAL RECORD OF
tative business men of the city of Fort Wayne, where he has retained his resi- dence for the greater portion of the last half century. The much abused phrase " self-made man" applies with pecu- liar distinction to Captain White, who has been the architect of his own fortunes, who has builded upon sure foundations and who has not been narrowed into selfish confines by his application. A man of notable capac- ity for affairs of breadth, with a most dis- criminating judgment in regard to the con- duct of business, it has come in natural se- quence that our subject has attained distinc- tion as one of Fort Wayne's most honored pioneer residents and substantial and public- spirited capitalists.
James B. White is a native of Scotland, having been born in the town of Denny, Stirlingshire, twenty miles east of Glasgow, on the 26th of June, 1835. His parents were highly respectable and extremely religious. John White, the father, was manager of an extensive calico-printing establishment, in which were retained more than five hundred operators. He was a man of marked intel- ligence and utmost integrity, and his wife was a true helpmeet and companion, pos- sessed of strong individuality, intellectuality and earnest religious convictions. Under such environment it was but natural that the home discipline of our subject should have been such as to engender self-reliance, thorough appreciation of the higher ethics of life and a determination to be useful in the world. He was the fourth in order of birth of the five sons and two daughters born to his honored parents, and of this number six now survive. His educational opportunities were somewhat limited in extent, but he was enabled to secure a good English training, which has been admirably supplemented by
reading, study and contact with the world. At the early age of twelve years our subject began an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, which he followed for two years, after which he was employed in the calico-printing in- dustry until he had attained the age of nine- teen.
This was a period of emigration, and like many other young men he became im- bued with a desire to try his fortune in America. Accordingly, in the summer of 1854, he embarked on a sailing vessel at Glasgow and thirty-four days later arrived at the port of New York. He there obtained work at his trade until November, when, somewhat disheartened at the outlook, he determined to seek an uncle who had some years previous settled in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana, -which section then rep- resented a portion of the far West. He proceeded by rail to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Toledo, from which point he took the packet boat on the Wabash & Erie canal for Fort Wayne, reaching his destination in the latter part of November. His funds had by this time been completely exhausted, and he was compelled to deposit his trunk at the packet office, at the old Comparet basin in the east end of town, until he could make good the balance of three dollars, due on his packet fare. He discovered the whereabouts of his uncle and from him secured sufficient money to redeem his trunk, after which he was temporarily employed at his trade in the service of Wade C. Shoaff, continuing in that connection until January, after which he worked a few weeks in a machine shop at the corner of Barr and Water streets, and in' February entered the employ of John Brown, who operated a stone yard, receiving as compen- sation three dollars per week and board and
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being thus engaged for the period of three months. He was industrious, energetic and ambitious and put forth every effort to im- prove his financial condition. Not afraid of hard labor he did anything that would aid in giving him a start in life. He was sub- sequently employed by Mr. Shoaff and the firm of Nirdlinger & Oppenheimer, and in the summer of 1856 opened a tailor shop of his own on the second floor of the build- ing now occupied by Mayer & Graffee; but in this he did not meet with the success that he anticipated, and thereby becoming dis- satisfied he went to Cincinnati in the fall, and thence to St. Louis, where he was em- ployed first as shipping clerk, then in a wholesale dry-goods house; but as he only made $6 per week in that way he resumed his work at the tailor's trade. Later he re- turned to Fort Wayne, and again opened a tailoring establishment over the dry-goods store of S. C. Evans.
In 1857 Mr. White was united in mar- riage with Miss Maria Brown, a half sister of John Brown, and a most estimable lady, who has indeed been to him a faithful com- panion and helpmeet. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1836, and came to this country in company with her brother in 1853. She is a daughter of John and Jen- nie (Blair) Brown, who were also natives of Scotland. Her father was a man of excep- tional ability and was one of the most ex- tensive contractors and builders in Glasgow, where he died about 1840. His wife came to Fort Wayne in 1858, and her death here occurred in 1874. She was a faithful Chris- tian woman and lifelong member of the Pres- byterian Church. Her children were reared in that faith and Mrs. White is now a consist- ent and earnest member of that church. Our subject and his wife became the parents of 1
four sons and three daughters, namely: John W., Jessie, Anna B., Edward, Grace, James B. and Alex B.
After his marriage Captain White was for two years in the employ of Becker & Frank, who conducted a tailoring establish- ment at Warsaw, and after this he was en- abled to open a shop of his own and to pur- chase a home, his prospects for success be- ing excellent. But a higher duty came to him as the thundering of rebel guns against Fort Sumter struck a loyal and responsive protest in his heart. His courage was that of his convictions, and in August, 1861, he disposed of his little stock at a considerable loss and assisted in recruiting a company, of which he was elected Captain, and forth- with proceeded with his command to Camp Allen, Fort Wayne, where it was made Company I of the Thirteenth Indiana Infan- try. Securing their essential equipment at Indianapolis, they were sent to Camp Nevin, Kentucky, to join the command of General Wood. The Thirteenth Indiana was among the first regiments to reach Nashville after the battle of Fort Donelson, and arrived at Pittsburg Landing in time to participate in the second day's engagement at that place. In the battle of Shiloh, dur- ing the attack when Colonel Bass was killed, Captain White was wounded in the right side by a spent minie ball, but soon re- covered and participated in the siege of Corinth and the skirmishes incident to that campaign. Their next duty led them to Louisville in pursuit of Bragg, and they also followed the rebel forces back to Nashville. It was not long after that that Captain White resigned his commission, and in the spring of 1863, in association with Joseph A. Stellwagon, he became a sutler for the Eighty-eighth Regiment and was so en-
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