Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 45

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

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The next thing was a store, at thirteen, down in the pine woods of New Jersey, in which situation he spent seven years. At about eighteen he was converted and joined the Methodist Church. He told his pastor he did not like to sell or measure out whisky, rum, etc., as a church member. The pastor replied, " Brother, the Lord found you here; do your duty to your em- ployer and to the Lord and He will find something better for you." That was liter- ally filled in due season, and the truth, " Do your duty, do your best wherever you are," is the sure road to promotion and success, and has always been an inspiration to him.

After Methodism had developed higher thoughts and aspirations than a clerkship in a country store, with surroundings not favorable to growth in the intellectual or spiritual life, books and study, starting with Watts' Improvement of the Mind and Watts' Method of Prayer, Pilgrim's Pro- gress, and these only with the Bible and the reading of the Methodist Church paper, the Christian Advocate and Journal, then so named, he began a life of self-improvement, which was soon aided by a greater variety of literary works and biographies, including the Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties, Life of Franklin and some of Dick's works. These opened a new world to the youthful mind, and after two years more of clerkship, in another locality, which the "Lord found for him" according to the good advice and prediction of his pastor, he began the study of Latin and other requirements for entering college, but, before he reached that

desirable position, broken health and small purse indicated a great deal of uncertainty in reaching that rank as a student. The next best thing was to leave clerical work and take a school, which seemed to be prov- identially opened in the line of progress and promotion that could follow "duty well done." These last two years were with a grand Quaker family in Camden county, rich in property and in liberality, who donated a neat and commodious school- room and grounds for a destitute neighbor- hood, including his own family and em- ployees, which was planned and fitted up ac- cording to the ideas and wishes of the young teacher. This was the first school, with its duties and responsibilities, for a young man who had not the ordinary advantages of instruction from competent teachers ex- cept as he could get it from his small sup- ply of books; but the work was boldly under- taken and vigorously pursued.

About this time, in the year 1846, Pit- man's Phonography was brought to this country from England, and through the New York Tribune was made known to thou- sands of young men, who did not want to "go West." This became a part of his studies and was soon mastered and practiced and a profit derived therefrom, until the re- porter's profession seemed to be the final outcome of this beautiful and useful system of writing. But teaching had its charms and held the young man close down to that work. A young and beautiful lady of more than ordinary mental qualities, of pure German stock, had charms also, that cap- tured the young teacher. A marriage was consummated and life's work seemed to be henceforth in the school-room, and was so until failing health, at the end of five years, broke up the plan for college graduation.

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

Returning to mercantile and clerical duties with bookkeeping (being also at that time acting superintendent of schools in Camden county) became a necessity for the preserva- tion of health and life; but with this the ap- plication to books and study continued until two more years of healthful employment in- dicated fitness again for educational work, which opened in a large academy or board- ing school for boys at West Chester, Penn- sylvania, under that very successful educator and author, Anthony Bolmar. Here another five years of study and work in the class- room gave the aspiring young man an op- portunity to push his studies in Latin and Greek and other branches; and here it was his good fortune to make some very valuable and helpful acquaintances, which have had a lasting and good effect, as they rightfully should, upon one desirous of growth,-of making the most of himself and doing the most for the upbuilding of others.

The five and a half years in Bolmar's Academy, West Chester, was a good prep- aration for the principalship of an academy in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, whither he was called and for which he was recom- mended by his former employer, Mr. Bol- mar, and the position taken in October, 1858; and he continued there during the war period of our history. This situation and also that at West Chester were two more of those providential openings which came ac- cording to the advice of his first pastor,- " Do your best wherever the Lord finds you, or places you, and He will take care of the rest." Every step was going up higher.

With the close of the war period, about the return of our soldier boys home, and some of his pupils with them, he closed his work as principal of the academy to seek health again in some other employment.

This time his health was so low as to make his best friends predict an early departure by the "consumption " route to the other side, where weary invalids are once and for- ever at rest. Not so, however, with this invalid. There never was consumption in his father's family, though the death of the invalid's second wife, which was of con- sumption at Lock Haven, during his prin- cipalship in the academy, turned the thoughts of others in that direction. The children of this second wife, except one daughter, died in their infancy. This one remains with him as helper and companion. The death of his oldest daughter, in 1889, in New York city, makes eight from his own family who have passed over to the "city beyond." The loss of his first wife in Camden county, New Jersey, while he was seeking health himself in mercantile work, was a terrible blow on his ambition and aspirations for study and literary attain- ment; but it left him in charge of two bright children, son and daughter, Thomas Eck- stein Rogers and Elizabeth Whitman Rog- ers, for whose welfare and education he there solemnly pledged himself, his life and for- tune, whatever it might be, to educate; and whose education, with the aid of a second wife, of purely German stock again, made those two children a grand " success " in the line of bookkeeping and clerical work. That itself has been an inspiration to others in their struggle for success.

The younger of these two children, the daughter, at the age of twenty-one years, after her literary and classical education in her father's school, and subsequently in a higher-grade academy in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and four years of practical bookkeeping with her father in that city, be- . came the first double-entry bookkeeper of

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

General Spinner in the Treasury at Wash- ington. Here in the room "Division of Accounts " and other places at times for over ten years, she was employed, and worked in an $1, 800 position on a $1, 600 salary. But a little lady, no matter how highly gifted and qualified by special training, could not ob- tain the same recognition that was given to the young man though less competent. Dur- ing her continuance in that position, her brother Thomas, who had served in the Reporters' corps under the Murphy Brothers in the Senate, was appointed, in July, 1874, by General Spinner, upon the recommenda- tion of his sister, to a clerkship in the Treas- ury, in the national-bank-note redemption department, where he has continued for over twenty years, being now and for the last ten years the superintendent in that department. These two children, the outcome of the first marriage, thoroughly educated and espe- cially fitted for clerical work, are the fruits of a determination on the part of a parent to edu- cate himself that he might educate his chil- dren better than himself, when there was no prospect of doing so with a limited income, and with fewer privileges in educational work in that day than is now the good fortune of every poor man whose ambition for himself or the ambition of his children leads in that way.

The second attempt to gain strength for life's work, after the second failure of health, consequent upon hard study and teaching, resulted successfully, being the product of active life in canvassing for liter- ary and biographical works growing out of the war record. This beat consumption back thirty years at least, promoting not only health but also the financial part of life wonderfully, and then and there opened a new field in the line of bookkeeping and

business, for which the literary and educa- tional work had very largely contributed in helpful influences, associations and require- ments.

Here follows a period of about nine years of business life with a good firm, Snyder Brothers, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in their large and prosperous business in their foundry and machine shops. This party built some of the finest and best sawmills in that great lumber-making city on the west branch of the Susquehanna. These nine years of service there, with its training in business life, was followed again, in June, 1874, by another promotion, unsought as this had been, to 'a position at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, as secretary and treasurer in the office of the largest lumbering com- pany then and yet in this country, owned by capitalists and lumbermen in Williams- port, Pennsylvania, with whom ex-Senator Wallace, of Pennsylvania, was connected; and there, one step more, with "duty well done," was followed by another to go up higher, where six and a half years of good work and good care of health and habits found him ready for a change to a warmer climate, which through the courtesy and kindness of Mr. R. J. Fisher, of the Brass Foundry and Machine Shop, brought him to the city of Fort Wayne in December, 1880. Here in the employment of N. G. Olds & Sons, were nine and one-fourth years well filled and well paid for in their service.

Since the retirement of this firm from the wheel business, Mr. Rogers has been realizing the good fruits of fidelity to duty and care of personal habits, which excluded wine, whisky and tobacco, but employed and utilized good, pure water internally and externally, with the result to-day of being one of the soundest of men,-perhaps the

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

youngest old man in this city of good health and happy people.

He has lived now with a third wife about thirty-four years, who has given him a daughter, Emma J. Rogers, and a son, Abraham Lincoln Rogers. The daughter is now the happy wife of Wilber M. Ruth, a mechanical engineer, connected with the E. P. Allis Company works in Milwaukee. The son, a graduate of the Fort Wayne high school, and afterward of the Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is also a mechanical engineer at the same works with his brother-in-law, Mr. Ruth. A. Lincoln Rogers takes his birth hour at the second inauguration of Abraham Lin- coln; hence the name and the honor. After his graduation at college, he was three years in the employ of the Thompson Electric Welding Company, at Lynn, Massachusetts, where he captured and married a lovely lady, Miss Emmelyn Chase.

The subject of this sketch has handled probably not less than twenty millions of money in the business he has represented for others. His books and clerical work have never been the subject of investigation, nor has an expert ever been called for to ex- plain irregular or questionable records. A clean record in a long life, in these days memorable for so much irregularity and fraudulent work, is an honor to any man and to any family.

Politically, Mr. Rogers comes from the old-line Whigs. His idea of politics came originally from the company which he met in the country store at Blue Anchor, Cam- den county, New Jersey, where he spent about seven years of the formative period of his life. This village was then a stopping place in the travel on the stage road from Camden to the Atlantic coast. It was com-

posed of one large hotel, the country store, blacksmith shop, shoe-shop, two private residences, one for the storekeeper and the other for the teamster, and numerous sheds and barns for the accommodation of the horses and cattle. The country store was the central point a little to the north, however, of a district of pine forests and cedar swamps and brush land, and in this territory were several small villages at various points, where glass factories, supplied with the wood of those parts, were located for the manufacture of window glass and hollow- ware of all kinds. The owners of these factories and the best skilled mechanics were almost without exception of the old-line Whig party. The unskilled and common laborer, of whom he saw the greater part in the community in that store, were known to be among the faithful in the Democratic par- ty. It struck the young man rather un- favorably to know that the poorer classes were with almost no exception the Demo- crats, who were very generally complaining of low wages and hard times; while the old Whigs and proprietors of these glass factor- ies were without any exception complaining that no protection to their manufactured goods and wares, against competition with foreign manufacturers, did not admit of pay- ing men liberally for the work they were re- quired to do; and when the time came for the young man to vote he made his selection of party very largely because of the fact that the best element in the community, socially and morally, were all among the old-line Whigs and progressive men, while the lower and less cultivated, less thrifty and less pro- gressive, were numbered among the faithful in the Democratic party; and very naturally, since that day of good beginnings, he has always been identified with the progressive

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

Republican party for protection of American manufactories. But he has never been an office-seeker, or office-holder, except as su- perintendent of schools, and at one time a Postmaster in a small village near the place of his birth.

One thing further, in a sketch of this character. Our subject was always of a generous and social nature, and very natur- ally sought good society, but only for the improvement of his mind and social condi- tion, and to help others in that way; no element of self-interest through politics or employment or business influenced him in that direction. Possibly it was either his misfortune or his fault, but perhaps neither, that he never became identified with any order or organization, as Mason, Odd Fel- low, or any of the lesser associations of men, largely used for political effect. His society has always been the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in that for over fifty years he has found friends and fellowships and genial spirits sufficient to attract him to the good and useful among men; and hence his interests were always with the home and the family, and his labors all tending to the improvement of his family and of himself. Few men, perhaps, of his years have spent less time in the social company of his fellow men than this party, and the good fruits of his home life are seen to-day, not only in all his children, but also seen and felt in his family and his comfortable home, at 64 East Jefferson street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. And all this the natural and legitimate re- sults from the love and devotion of three Christian women, each one in her turn, the faithful and true wife of the subject of this sketch. The Christian mother in the Christian home, is one of God's great bless- ings to humanity.

J OHN F. MOSSMAN devotes his time and energies to agricultural pursuits, and is one of the representative and respected farmers of Union township, Whitley county. The family is of Scotch origin, although the grandfather of our sub- ject, John Mossman, came from the Emerald Isle to America. He married Betsey Lewis, and among their children were Francis Moss- man, who became the father of our subject and who is yet living, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He married Rhue A. Con- nor, January 21, 1833, who was born June 21, 1817, a native of Virginia, belonging to an old Virginian family. She has reached the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.

Mr. and Mrs. Mossman were united in marriage in Muskingum county, Ohio, where the former had located in 1814. They set- tled on a farm there, and in October, 1842, removed to Whitley county, Indiana, mak- ing their home in Richland township until February, 1843, when they removed to sec- tion 15, Union township. At that time there was only one house between their home and Columbia City, and the town numbered but three buildings. Mr. Mossman had to cut the roads through to his farm. All was wild and unimproved, and there were many Indi- ans throughout the neighborhood, while wild game of all kinds, native to this region, abounded. Not more than six families lived in the township, and the work of progress and civilization had hardly begun. Mr. Mossman built a log cabin in the midst of the forest and with the aid of his sons cleared his place and transformed it into a good farm, upon which he reared his family. He is now living retired, enjoying the rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is a man of great force of character, inflexi- ble in support of what he believes to be right,

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

and he and his estimable wife in their relig- ious faith believe that God is too wise to err and too wise to do wrong. They are earnest people, worthy the high regard in which they are held. In his political views Mr. Moss- man is a Republican, has served as town Treasurer and was once a candidate for County Commissioner.

In the family were five sons and four daughters who grew to years of maturity, namely: John F., of this sketch; Mary Catherine, wife of Howard Pierce, a resi- dent of Chicago; Alcinda, wife of David W. Nickey, of Smith township; William E., who married Lois Douglas and is living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he is engaged in the wholesale heavy hardware business as the senior member of the firm of Mossman, Yarnell & Company; George S., deceased, who wedded Mary Clark; Francis M., who wedded Delia Briggs and is living in Smith township, Whitley county; Orpha, wife of Addison Nickey, who is living in Auburn, Indiana; James A., who married Lillie Briggs and is living on the old homestead; and Maxey, wife of Nathan Dougherty of La Gro, Indiana.

The gentleman whose name heads this record is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born on the 14th of February, 1837, in Muskingum county, and came with his father to Whitley county in an early day, so that he was reared among the wild scenes of the frontier. He early became familiar with the arduous task of clearing wild land, and in the log schoolhouse of the neighborhood his education was acquired. After he had arrived at years of maturity he chose as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Susan M. Youngs, a native of Greene county, New York, born August 28, 1845, a daughter of John I. and Rachel

(Hollenbeck) Youngs. The wedding was celebrated on January 24, 1864, and the young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home. He has himself cleared fifty acres of this, and the place in its neat and thrifty appearance in- dicates his careful supervision. He has al- together 192 acres in the home farm, of which 150 acres is under cultivation and yields to the owner a golden tribute in re- turn for the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it. He also has in addition to the home place 320 acres of good farm- ing land, and raises mostly grains adapted to this locality.

Mr. and Mrs. Mossman are the parents of six children, as follows: James F .; Orpha Odella, wife of Harmon Nabor, of Liberty Mills, Indiana, by whom she has one child, Hellen Ethel; Charles H .; Jessie E. ; Zella Zenetta; and Mazie R. The family is one of prominence in the community and the household is noted for its hospitality.

Mr. Mossman is a dimitted Mason. In his political sympathies he is a Republican, taking an active interest in local politics, and has been a delegate to various conven- tions in which he has taken a leading part. He has for four years served as Trustee of Union township, and is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, devoted to the best in- terests of the community to which he makes his home. His residence is handsomely lo- cated forty rods from the village of Coesse.

0 ANIEL ARNOLD, who is engaged in a real-estate and loan business at Montpelier, Indiana, is one of the enterprising and thorough-go- ing business men of this prosperous town. A resume of his life is herewith presented:

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

Daniel Arnold was born in Jackson town- ship. Wells county, Indiana, September 5, 1846, son of Samuel B. and Mary (Phillips) Arnold, he being next to the youngest in their large family of children, whose names are as follows: Lavinia, Eli, Mary, Cynthia, Elizabeth, Susanna, Samuel Fellows, Delila, Thomas Jefferson, Daniel and Emily. All of this number are living except two, Delila and Emily. Of Mr. Arnold's grandparents but little is known, save that his grandfather, Samuel Arnold, died in Summit county, Ohio, in 1846, at the age of about seventy years.

Daniel Arnold spent the first sixteen years of his life on a farm in his native coun- ty, his educational advantages being limited to the three-months winter terms at the dis- trict school. In the winter of 1863 he with his father's family removed to Warren, Hunt- ington county. At nineteen he came to Montpelier and began working at the car- penter's trade with E. H. Lancaster. During the Civil war, in March, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted for a term of six months, but was on duty nine months, with his command at Louisville, Knoxville, Stevenson, and other points in the South. After his return from the army he spent one year in farm work, then came to Montpelier turned his attention to the carpenter's trade again, and for twelve years worked at that trade, con- tracting for four years of the time. In No- vember, 1877, he moved to Arkansas and lo- cated in Faulkner county, where he was for three years engaged in agricultural pursuits, after which he came North and took up his abode in Shelbyville, Illinois, spending one year in work at his trade there. Then he again came to Montpelier, Indiana, and has since

maintained his residence here. One year he was engaged in the butcher business, the next two years, in partnership with John D. Jones, he ran the Hoosier livery stable, and in 1880 he was appointed Postmaster, and served as such nearly four years. The next seven years we find him employed as clerk in the hardware store of Thomas Shull, his con- nection with that establishment being sev- ered in 1891, when he engaged in his present business, - real estate, loan, insurance and building and loan. In the meantime, in 1888, he was elected township Trustee of Harrison Township and filled the office ac- ceptably for a period of seven and a half years.

Mr. Arnold was first married June 12, 1867, to Miss Henrietta Shull, who was born in 1843, daughter of Dr. William T. and Sarah A. (Putman) Shull. She died July 3, 1878, leaving three children, namely: Will- iam Tittlo, born September 3, 1869, mar- ried Miss Etta Sweeney, and is now a pro- fessional musician, his special instrument be- ing the B flat cornet; Minnie, born August 16, 1871, is the wife of Mr. John P. Boyd, a lawyer of Montpelier; and Herbert, born June 3, 1878, lives on a farm with his aunt, Mrs. Mary Turner. August 12, 1880, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage to Miss Hat- tie Devore, a native of Ohio, his present companion, who was born November 21, 1857, daughter of Stephen H. and Adeline Devore, of Montpelier, Indiana. Their only child is Mary Adeline, born September 21, 1891.

Mr. Arnold has been initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, and maintains a mem- bership in Montpelier Lodge, No. 600, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican, and in his religious belief a Baptist, having been a member of the Baptist Church for ten years.

------

R. B. White.

NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

R OBERT BUNKER WHITE, M.D., is a prominent and capable phy- sician of Montpelier, Indiana, and also one of the leading business men of that city. He has been the promoter of many leading enterprises which have materially advanced the interests of the town and is an important factor in the work of development. A statesman of the South- west once said, "If it is glory to organize and lead into battle a regiment of a thousand men, how much greater glory to pay, over your own counter, one thousand workmen at the end of every week, to provide suste- nance for a thousand families!" Although the names on Dr. White's pay-roll do not number as many as those of a regiment, his connection with various business under- takings has been the means of furnishing em- ployment to a large force. He is one of the honored and representative citizens of this community, and with pleasure we present his sketch to our readers.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 45

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