Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 4

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

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1 to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Mrs. Bass died, on the 26th of August, 1874, while his death occurred on the 7th of August, 1888. Their eldest son, Sion S. Bass, was born in January, 1827, and was the pioneer of the family in Indiana, taking up his residence in Fort Wayne, in 1848.

and through the columns. The sacrifice of men appeared necessary, and it was made. The Thirtieth Infantry of Indiana sped on, led by its Colonel, but it was a dash to death; the gallant soldier and patriot who led the regiment fell, mortally wounded, and the pioneer of the Bass family in In- diana died among his fallen soldiers.

John H. Bass spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in the State of his nativity and there acquired an academic and com- mercial education. His residence in Fort Wayne, Indiana, dates from 1852. He en- tered the employ of Jones, Bass & Company and served as bookkeeper from 1854 until 1857, when the firm dissolved partnership. He had applied himself diligently to the work in hand, completely mastering the business in all its details, and in 1859 began business for himself in partnership with Edward L. Force, under the firm name of Bass & Force. They established the Fort Wayne Machine Works, and the products of the works for the ensuing year amounted in value to $20, - 000. The indirect value of this industry to 1 the little community at that time cannot be calculated, for out of it grew those influences which have built up a great manufacturing city in northern Indiana. From 1860 until 1863 the business was owned and operated by Judge Samuel Hanna and Mr. Bass, and at the latter date the senior partner transferred his interest to H. H. Hanna, who continued a member of the firm until his death in 1869, when Mr. Bass purchased the stock and became the sole owner and manager of this establishment, which under

When the tocsin of war sounded the alarm in 1861, he cast business interests and cares aside and assisted in the organiza- tion of the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, fa- mous in the annals of war, and at once en- tered the field, taking part in all affairs leading to the battle of Shiloh. Reaching that field early on the second day of the battle every effort was put forth by Federal and Confederate to win the day, and the | his able supervision has had a marvelous Thirtieth Indiana Infantry had but little growth and has furnished employment to time for rest when the order to advance was thousands of men, at the same time aiding greatly in the upbuilding of Fort Wayne. Indeed this establishment seemed the nu- given. The order was obeyed with alacrity though a torrent of iron and lead poured on

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA. 1139023

cleus of the present enterprising and pro- gressive city, drawing to it various classes of workmen to become good citizens, de- voted to the welfare of their adopted home. This enterprise now being on a firm finan- cial basis with every indication of continued prosperity before it, Mr. Bass turned his at- tention to other business.

Our subject is a man of broad capabili- ties who carries forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes. In 1869 he extended his operations by founding the St. Louis Car Wheel Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, of which he has since owned a controlling interest and served as president. During the financial panic of 1873 when men of more conservative methods were de- terred from new ventures, he boldly launched out in another enterprise and established an extensive foundry in Chicago. Mr. Bass is never daring in business, but seems to pos- sess wonderful foresight and sagacity as well as sound judgment and business ability. This led him to realize in a measure what the future of Chicago would be, and he be- lieved it a safe place for investment. Time has shown that he was not mistaken, and the extensive foundries both in St. Louis and Chicago, where are manufactured car wheels and general railroad supplies, are now very profitable investments and have netted their founder a handsome fortune. Since 1880 Mr. Bass has owned a plant for the manufacture of pig iron in northeastern Alabama, whence that commodity is shipped to his establishments in Fort Wayne, Chi- cago and St. Louis. They have also an ex- tensive foundry at Lenoir, Tenn. Several States are thus benefited by the industrious and progressive efforts of one man.

Aside from his manufacturing interests, Mr. Bass has been connected with various

other lines of business which greatly pro- moted the welfare of Fort Wayne. In con- nection with Stephen Bond he was largely instrumental in building the street railway of this city, of which they yet own a con- trolling interest. For many years he has been a stockholder and director in the First National Bank, and also in the Old National Bank, and at this writing is president of the first named institution. Brookside farm, which has attained a national reputation and which adjoins the city of Fort Wayne, is the outgrowth of his almost limitless enter- prise, and is devoted to the importing and breeding of Clydesdale horses and Galloway cattle. Upon the place is found some of the finest live stock in the world, and at the Co- lumbian Exposition he had a superior ex- hibit. He also owns a large amount of land elsewhere in Allen county and in other sec- tions of this and adjoining States, much of it being very valuable for farming purposes, together with no less than 18,000 acres of valuable mineral land in Alabama.

The political affiliations of Mr. Bass are Democratic, and he is a stanch advocate of the principle of tariff reform. In 1888 he was a delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention, and was the same year nominated one of the Presidential Electors. While well informed on the subjects of American politics, political interests are with him naturally subordinate to his business, yet his duties of citizenship are never slighted. Socially he is a member of the Knight Tem- plar commandery and of other bodies in the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been connected for many years, and he is also a thirty-third degree Mason.

In 1865 Mr. Bass was happily married to Miss Laura H. Lightfoot, daughter of Judge Lightfoot, of Falmouth, Kentucky.

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

They now have two children, -Laura Grace and John H. The family is one of promi- cial circles. Geake, both of whom were born in Eng- land. In August, 1854, the parents bade nence, occupying a leading position in so- adieu to their native land and set sail for Canada, remaining in the Dominion for a Personally Mr. Bass is a courteous, com- panionable gentleman, highly esteemed by all who know him. To no one is the growth and prosperity of Fort Wayne more greatly due than to him. Both his public and pri- vate life are alike blameless. Tireless en - ergy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, joined to every-day common sense, guided by resistless will power, are the chief characteristics of the man. period of four years, after which they re- I turned to their old home in Great Britain, where they passed the residue of their days. Our subject shared the lot of his parents upon their emigration to the New World, and also ac- companied them on their subsequent return to England, but he had imbibed of the spirit of independence and progressiveness which is characteristic of America, and was irre- sistably attracted to the United States by the superior advantages and opportunities offered for individual effort and accomplish- ment. Accordingly on the 16th of April, 1 868, he started out on his own responsibility and ILLIAM GEAKE .- The career of him whose name heads this re- view illustrates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to a young man who possesses sterling business qualifications. It proves that neither wealth nor social position, nor the assistance of in- fluential friends at the outset of his career are necessary to place him on the road to suc- cess. It also proves that ambitious per- severance, steadfast purpose and indefatiga- ble industry, combined with sound business principles, will be rewarded, and that true success follows individual efforts only. Mr. Geake has gained recognition and prestige as one of the influential and representative business men of Fort Wayne, and has ad- vanced to high and honorable distinction in the noble fraternal order of Freemasonry, being a man of unflinching integrity and progressive spirit. embarked for the United States, where he arrived in due course of time. His first lo- cation was made at Oswego, New York, and in the following November he came West- ward to Toledo, Ohio. He had learned the trade of stone cutting, which vocation he had followed in Boston, Chicago and various other cities, and upon taking up his abode in Toledo he began operations in contracting for cut-stone work, being associated in this enterprise with his cousin, John J. Geake. They conducted a successful business for some time, and then our subject became de- sirous of entering the field of agriculture, removing to Petoskey, Michigan, where he took up a homestead of 160 acres, and be- coming one of the pioneer settlers of that section. He remained in that now popular locality for a period of six years, and then came to Indiana and made a permanent lo- cation at Fort Wayne, with whose business A native of Bristol, England, William Geake was born on the 26th of June, 1849, being the son of Martin T. and Sarah (Hill) industries he has ever since been intimately concerned. He had, prior to locating here, visited the city and secured a position as

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foreman on the construction of the Masonic Temple.

In 1882 Mr. Geake once more entered into partnership with his cousin and they were continuously associated until the death of J. J. Geake, in 1892, since which time our subject has conducted operations alone. The firm engaged in contracting for cut- stone work, and in this line Mr. Geake has since been concerned, being at the present time one of the most extensive operators in the State, and having established his business upon a solid basis and having gained an un- qualified success. He soon established a high reputation for superior workmanship and for absolute fidelity to the terms of his contracts. His enterprise has shown a con- secutive and rapid growth, and he now re- tains in his employ from thirty to forty skilled workmen. In northern Indiana may be found many permanent monuments to the skill and handiwork of Mr. Geake. He fur- nished the stone for the Hall Block at To- ledo, executed the finishing-stone work of the Masonic Temple in Fort Wayne, and also for the First and Second Presbyterian churches, the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation building, the lodge entrance of Lin- denwood cemetery, St. Paul's church, St. Patrick's church, the Pixley & Long block, and the Nathan, Rothschild, R. C. Bell and J. H. Bass residences. He also furnished the cut stone for the courthouse and Michi- gan Central passenger station at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and for the elaborate and spacious stone residences of C. C. Bloomfield and A. B. Robinson, both of Jackson, that State. The fine residence of C. H. Brownell, of Peru, Indiana, and the courthouse at Colum- bia City, this State, also stand as specimens of his effective work. Mr. Geake has marked executive ability and conducts his business

according to the highest principles of com- mercial honor, being progressive and enter- prising in his methods and keeping fully abreast of the advances and improvements made along the line of his undertakings.

In the Masonic order Mr. Geake has risen to a position of unmistakable eminence. He was initiated into the prime mysteries of the order in 1871, and is now a member of Summit City Lodge, No. 170, Free and Accepted Masons. He passed the chapter degrees in 1872, became a Knight Templar in 1882, and within the same year advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He has filled all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and was for three years High Priest of Fort Wayne Chapter, No. 19, Royal Arch Masons. For nearly an equal length of time he served as Eminent Com- mander of Fort Wayne Commandery, and also held the high preferment as Thrice Potent Grand Master of Fort Wayne Lodge of Perfection, A. and A. Scottish Rite, of the Northern Masonic jurisdiction. On the 17th of September, 1889, in New York city, he took the thirty-third degree in the A. and A. Scottish Rite, and thus rose to the highest degree possible of attainment in American Masonry. He is also at the pres- ent time Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He is also fraternally identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Sons of St. George, in which latter he was the first President of the Fort Wayne organ- ization. His standing in fraternal circles is one of marked distinction, and he is held in the highest confidence and esteem in this regard, as is he also as a man among men.

The marriage of our subject was solemn- ized on the 5th of November, 1874, when he wedded Miss Alice E. Clayton, of Toledo, Ohio. They are the parents of nine chil-

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

dren, namely: William C., Charles H., Sarah A., Charlotte E., Martin T., Edith B., Ella G., George Pixley and Samuel Sweet.

In his political affiliations Mr. Geake renders support to the Republican party and its principles, but he has never desired or been an aspirant for political preferment or public office. He stands as a genuine type of the self-made man. In his career he has encountered many obstacles and disadvan- tages which would have caused many a man of less resolute spirit to falter and perhaps to fail, but through all he has pressed steadily forward to the goal and has gained the com- petence which he sought. Through all he has been honorable and upright, never swerving from the strict path of duty and rectitude, and by his systematic business methods and attention to all details he has gained a position among the influential busi- ness men of the city of Fort Wayne.

p HILIP MARTIN, a retired farmer of Liberty township, Wabash coun- ty, Indiana, is the oldest living set- tler in the township, and has resided here a period of sixty-one years. On his arrival there was but one family then residing in the township, and there was not a house between his farm and what is now the city of Wabash. The whole country was an unbroken wilderness, and was just as it came from the hand of its Creator. The difference between then and now can scarcely be realized, even by those who were active participants in the development of the country. The present generation can have no conception of what was required by the pioneers of the county and those imme- diately following, in transforming the wilder-

ness into the well settled and highly culti- vated country. Philip Martin, who has done as much as any other one man to bring about this great change, is a native of But- ler county, Ohio, born January 11, 1813, and is a son of Llewellyn and Elizabeth (Painter) Martin, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. Llewellyn Martin was of Welsh descent, his grandfather being a native of Wales, who there grew to manhood, married and started the same year of his marriage to America, and was six months on the water, the vessel being lost and drifting south. On his ar- rival he located on a farm about twenty miles from Philadelphia. During the Revo- lutionary war which shortly followed, he enlisted in the service of his adopted coun- try and gave his life that this country might be free.

When eighteen years of age Llewellyn Martin accompanied his parents to Ken- tucky, where he remained some years, and then moved to Butler county, Ohio, While residing in this county he married Elizabeth Painter, a native of Virginia, but of German descent. Her father was born in Germany, and in early childhood was left an orphan, and learning of the New World he decided to emigrate here, and accordingly, when six- teen years of age, took passage on one of the slow-sailing vessels of that early day, and in due time reached this country. Not hav- ing the means with which to pay for his passage, he was sold by the captain of the ship and had to serve until twenty-one years of age.

Shortly after their marriage the parents of our subject removed to Lexington, Ken- tucky, and later returned to Ohio, locating in Preble county, from which place they came to Wabash county, Indiana, in 1834,

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where they subsequently died. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity, our subject being the only one now living. He came with his parents to Wabash county, and with them located in Liberty township, September 11, 1834. In April, of that year, he entered a tract of land in this township to which he removed on the date here given. The tract was wild timber land, which it was necessary to clear before it could be cultivated. On his ar- rival he built a log-cabin without a floor, and at first without a door. In this cabin he lived about twelve years, when he erected a frame house which is still stand- ing on the old homestead. In 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Bane, a native of Virginia, born September 6, 1822, and a daughter of William and Anna Smith Bane, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Martin is the ninth in the family of ten children born to her parents, and was reared in Preble county, Ohio, from her seventh year. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin nine children have been born: Elizabeth, now the wife of Christian Hettler; Isabel, now the wife of John Rober- son; Jerome B., of La Fontaine; Nancy, now the wife of Llewellyn Martin; William, of Liberty township; Frank, also of Liberty township; Joel, now engaged in farming in Liberty township; Sarah J., now the wife Holmes Cretsinger; and J. C. F., a mer- chant of La Fontaine.

In politics Mr. Martin was originally an old-line Whig, and was a great admirer of Henry Clay. Being in principal an anti- slavery man, on the formation of the Re- publican party he became an adherent of that organization, and has since in all na- tional elections voted that party ticket. He was never an office-seeker, and never had

any taste for official position. However, in an early day he served his township as a member of the board of Supervisors. He is a member of the Church of Christ, with which he has been connected a period of fifty-one years. His wife is also a member of that body: both are earnest and sincere Christians, and have ever taken an active interest in the Lord's work. Both have long since passed their three and four score years, and while yet in the enjoyment of good health they fear not the summons for them to come up. higher, believing that they have lived close to the Master and havedone their duty as well as they could. In temi- poral affairs Mr. Martin has been fairly suc- cessful, and at one time was the owner of over 600 acres of land. His children have been well provided for and to each is given a home.

ON. CHARLES A. O. McCLEL- LAN has been for many years a prominent citizen of Auburn, De Kalb county, Indiana, and is to- day ranked among the eminent members of the bar in the northern part of the State. He is the senior member of the firm of McClellan, Garwood & McClellan, and is enjoying a large and lucrative practice which well indicates his skill as a jurist. In studying the lives and characters of prominent men we are naturally led to in- quire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. A study of the life work of those whom the world acknowledges as successful, shows us that success is not the result of genius, however bright, or of a fortunate combina- tion of circumstances, but is a matter of | experience and sound judgment, combined

MEMORIAL RECORD OF

with thorough preparation for a life work. Those that have won prominence are in almost every case the ones who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their dili- gence and perseverance. These qualities are undoubtedly possessed in a large meas- ure by the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, and added to them, is a devotion to principle that may well be termed the keynote of his character. It is this which commands the confidence and re- spect so universally given him; it is this that has secured him his liberal clientage as a member of the Indiana bar.

Mr. McClellan is a native of Ohio. He was born in Ashland, May 25, 1835, and is a son of William and Eliza (Wiggins) Mc- Clellan, natives of New Jersey, the former of Scotch-Irish extraction, and the latter of German descent. The father was a mechanic and followed that business during the greater part of his life, but during his last ten years he was engaged in publishing county maps in Ohio and Indiana.

In his youth our subject enjoyed only such educational advantages as were fur- nished by the common schools of that day, and at the age of sixteen he entered the shop to learn the trade of his father. During the time of his apprenticeship he attended eve- ning school, became an expert penman, and for two years gave instruction in penmanship during the winter, while in the summer he worked on a farm.

The Judge's residence in Auburn dates from the Ist of April, 1856. He had an uncle who at that time was serving as Au- ditor of De Kalb county, and who at once appointed him to the position of deputy, in which capacity he served for four years. During this time he determined to engage in the practice of law, and spent his evenings

and leisure hours in the study of text books bearing on that subject. The choice of this profession has proved a wise one, for he has attained an enviable position at the bar of northeastern Indiana, and his reputation as a jurist is second to none in this section of the State. In 1860 he was appointed United States Deputy Marshal to take the census of De Kalb county, which was satisfactorily performed.

In the meantime Judge Mcclellan was married, the wedding being celebrated in the autumn of 1859, when Miss Elizabeth A. Long became his wife. The lady is a daughter of Samuel D. Long, one of the honored pioneers of De Kalb county. Their union was blessed with three children-Jen- nie A., now the wife of Don A. Garwood, an attorney of Auburn; Della, wife of Dr. E. L. Siver, of Fort Wayne; and Charles, who is living in Auburn, Indiana, and is as- sociated with his father and Mr. Garwood in law practice.

In the spring of 1861 Mr. McClellan re- moved with his family to Waterloo, Indiana, where he engaged in the real-estate business, at the same time pursuing his law studies. He also published a map of De Kalb county, and made an abstract of the records of the county during that time. In 1862 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1863 entered into partnership with Judge James I. Best, a well known legal practitioner, thus forming the firm of Best & McClellan, who became one of the most noted law firms in the State. For ability and conscientious fidelity, as well as for successful effort and magni- tude of business, they were excelled by few. Mr. McClellan has always been a close stu- dent of his profession, and his argument of a case at once shows that he is master of the situation, and indicates careful and painstak-

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

ing preparation. He is quick to notice the weak points in an opponent's argument and quickly notes every detail and its probable weight in the case, at the same time never losing sight for an instant of the important point upon which the decision of every case finally turns. In 1872 he was appointed Judge of the Fortieth Judicial Circuit of Indi- ana, and to the close of his term discharged the varied and important duties of his office in such a manner as to win the respect and esteem of the bar as well as the confidence and commendation of the public. Judge McClellan as a lawyer occupies a dis- tinguished position and in the trial of cases has been nnusually successful.

The Judge is a public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the county's welfare and has always been a leader in the work of public improvement, having done much to advance those enter- prises on which the growth of a community depends. He was a stockholder and director of the Fort Wayne & Jackson Railroad Com- pany, and in 1868, in connection with James I. Best, built the Star flouring-mills at Waterloo, which, however, were destroyed by fire after being in operation only a short time. In 1873 he established the De Kalb Bank of Waterloo, which has always had and still commands the confidence of the people. In 1880 he removed his family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the purpose of educating his children, but in 1885 returned to Auburn, and in the same year became a stockholder and president of the First National Bank of this city, which position he is yet fill- ing. He has, however, never given his per- sonal attention to the banking business, but has devoted his energies almost exclusively to his profession. He has been the builder of his own fortune, and his position is assured.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 4

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