Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 85

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

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

In his political views, Mr. Hughes was a Republican and warmly advocated the prin- ciples of his party. He was honored with a number of county offices of trust, serving as Recorder, as County Auditor, and for sev- eral years as County Treasurer. He for- merly carried the State funds across the country to Indianapolis on horseback. Dur- ing the time of the Civil war he also served as Provost Marshal for Whitley county. Every trust reposed in him was faithfully discharged and his life was a straightforward and honorable one. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a social gentleman, and popular, liberal and open-handed and was a warm advocate of the public-school system. He taught school here in an early day and was prominently identified with the growth and development of the community for a number of years.

In the family were five children, three of whom are living, namely: Martha Jane, wife of G. M. Bainbridge, of Marion, Indi- ana, by whom she has three children; Sarah Virginia, who is the wife of Samuel Graham, deceased, and makes her home in Columbia City; and our subject.

William H. Hughes has the honor of being a native of Whitley county, his birth having occurred in Columbia City, on the Ioth of February, 1850. The city schools afforded him educational privileges in his earlier years and later he pursued his studies in Fort Wayne and Oberlin University. He then came to the farm and has since devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. He owns 125 acres of land, all improved, and the well tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon them. He has remodeled the house, and the air of neat-

ness that pervades every corner of the place indicates his careful supervision and ranks him among the leading farmers of the county.

In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hughes and Miss Jennie C. Yontz, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Benja- min Yontz, of Thorn Creek township, Whit- ley county. Six children graced the union of our subject and his wife. but three have passed away. Those who still brighten the home by their presence are Charles W., Virginia and Mary.

EVI BRUNER has long been con- nected with the history of north- eastern Indiana and has been a recognized leader in business cir- cles. A native of the Buckeye State, he was born in Montgomery county, near Ger- mantown, on the 30th of October, 1820, and is a son of John Bruner, a Virginian by birth, who at an early day became a resi- dent of Ohio. By occupation he was a farmer and made that his chief vocation, but also did fine carpenter work. An in- dustrious, energetic man, his was a well spent life and he had the respect of all who knew him. In his family were four sons and a daughter, but the last named, Mrs. Joseph W. Shank, died in 1892. The sons are Levi, Jabez, John H. and Jacob R.

No event of special importance occurred during the childhood and youth of Levi Bruner. It was a period more of work and of play, during which he aided his father in clearing and developing two farms in Ohio, and then came to Indiana, where in his own interest he transformed a tract of wild land into rich and fertile fields. When he aban- doned agricultural pursuits he turned his at-

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tention to the grain business, which he fol- lowed for eleven years, meeting with good success in that undertaking, building up quite an extensive trade. When he aban- doned that pursuit he entered the manufac- turing field, making spokes and bent-wood articles. He has also been a stockholder in the Wabash Screen Door Company since its organization in 1886. This is the largest concern of the kind in the world, employing 175 hands, while its products are shipped throughout the country. The greater part of the mechanical work is carried on at Rhinelander, Wisconsin, to which place the establishment was removed in 1891. The original plant there is a building 60x250 feet, three stories in height, with a basement; but though this seemed extensive at the time of the erection, the facilities therein furnished soon proved entirely inadequate to meet the demand of the trade, and in 1895 another building was erected, 150x50 feet, while the third structure, of similar proportions, will soon be in process of construction. The capacity of this large plant is 1, 500 doors per day, that number being made and painted every ten hours. Twenty or more different styles are manufactured, -from a plain to a fine-finished mahogany. The plant at Wa- bash employs from fifty to sixty workmen and is one of the leading enterprises of the city. John A. Bruner, a son of our subject, is the president of the company, while Mr. Kemp, a brother-in-law of the president, purchases the supplies and attends to the sales.

One of the happy marriages of Indiana was celebrated February 5, 1848, when Levi Bruner, and Miss Susan Shafer, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Sterrett) Shafer, were made man and wife. Three children were born to them: John A., before men-

tioned; William H., who died at the age of fourteen years; and one who died in infancy. The parents have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have la- bored earnestly for its interests and upbuild- ing. Their well spent lives, full of kindness and charity, are worthy of emulation, and all who know them hold them in the highest regard.

For a number of years Mr. Bruner served as Councilman of the city, and has taken an active part in everything pertaining to the social, moral, educational and material wel- fare of Wabash. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in the world with nothing but his energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion and economy, associated with good judg- ment, he has raised himself to the promi- nent position he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all those who know him.

LEXANDER JOHNSON, present Superintendent of the Indiana School for Feeble-Minded Children, Fort Wayne, is a gentleman well equipped, naturally and otherwise, for the important duties of the position intrusted to his care.

That this is one of the State's most use- ful and beneficent charities none will doubt. The importance of the work in which Mr. Johnson is engaged has become well under- stood in the State, and much interest has been awakened and sympathy expressed for this most unfortunate class of the community, not only in Fort Wayne, but throughout the State generally. It is not an unreason- able claim for our State to say that this school is one of the best equipped and most

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

successfully conducted of all in the country. In all its departments is to be seen evidence of careful, intelligent management. The industrial department, particularly, deserves the highest praise. Here may be seen the highest and best results of studious care and guardianship of those poor unfortunates. It has been said that in every man there is a peculiar fitness of nature for some particular calling in life; and if this is not always true the force of its application cannot be denied to Mr. Johnson in this case.

In reverting to his personal history it is to be noted that Mr. Johnson was born the 2d of January, 1847, in Lancashire, Eng- land, the third in order of birth in a family of six children. His father, John Johnson, was by occupation a merchant tailor, in Ashton-under-Lyne, where he conducted one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the north of England. He was a highly prosperous man, possessed good business and executive ability, and his future previous to the great commercial depression that engulfed England, known as the "cot- ton famine,"-the result of our Civil war, -certainly appeared flattering. Those were dark days to the tradesman and working classes of England, and many of the former were hopelessly ruined and thousands of the latter were reduced to pitiable conditions. Young Alexander was at that time a lad just well turned into his 'teens. He had pre- viously attended a private school, and at the age of twelve years he entered his father's store, soon after becoming cashier, book- keeper and salesman. His education being early interrupted, he subsequently attended the evening classes at Owen's College, now the Victoria University, where under in- structors of the highest grade he soon ex- tended the scope of his education. This

school, to the young workingmen of Man- chester, was of the highest benefit, furnish- ing the means for obtaining an education and culture perhaps unequaled anywhere under similar circumstances.

At the age of seventeen, young Alexan- der spent a year in Paris, France, where he assiduously applied himself to a course of study in a prominent seminary, also taking lessons in cutting from a leading " professor " of the tailoring art. Before he had attained his twentieth year his father died, leaving his affairs in much confusion. Nothing daunted he at once undertook the manage- ment of affairs and conducted the business for two years, with some success, under try- ing and discouraging circumstances. Fore- seeing a continuation of this struggle and yearning for a field of wider opportunities, he closed up his affairs and set sail for Canada, expecting a situation in a wholesale establishment in the city of Quebec. Being disappointed in this he went to Hamilton, where he remained four years. Here he be- came acquainted with Miss Eliza Johnston, now his estimable and helpful wife. In 1873 he came to Chicago, where he found employ- ment in the manufacturing department of a wholesale clothing house, and subsequently he went to Cincinnati, where he was simi- larly employed until 1884.

In 1881 there had come to this country a tidal wave of reform in the administration of charitable relief which quickly spread over the entire northern portion of our land, this movement, known as the "organization of charity," was adopted in Cincinnati, soon after it began in the East, and the " Associ- ated Charities " was organized, Mr. Johnson being a member and one of the directors of the Mount Auburn district. He worked as a director until 1884, when he was chosen

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general secretary, taking charge of the cen- tral office of the society January 1, 1884. This happened to be the "tide in the affairs of men " which led Mr. Johnson-not to for- tune, however, for fortune and benevolence rarely go together-but rather to a place of honor and usefulness in which his fine tal- ents have wrought great good to the unfor- tunates of the race.

In 1884, occurred the great flood of the Ohio valley which in the city of Cincinnati alone rendered 20,000 people homeless and destitute, and cut off the means of support, for the time being, of 30,000 more. The Associated Charities undertook the work of relief, acting as the agent of the joint com- inittees of the city council and Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Johnson, as the chief ex- ecutive officer of the Associated Charities, was put to the severest test of his life; but he was equal to the emergency, and so satisfactory was the result that he received the warmest praise from his coadjutors and the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, who had se- cured the means of affording the reliel needed. In the printed report of the joint committees suitable acknowledgment was officially made of the work done by the As- sociated Charities, and the chairman of the committee said that the efficient organiza- tion of the Associated Charities had saved the joint committees not less than $25,000. This experience and the success that at- tended his work practically determined the future course of his life.

In 1886 Mr. Johnson was called to Chi- cago, where he accepted the office of gen- eral secretary of the Charity Organization Society of that city. In this position he was successful beyond his expectations. In 1888 the Charity Organization Society was amalgamated with the City Reliel and Aid

Society, Mr. Johnson becoming assistant superintendent, in special charge of the As- sociated Charities branch.

In 1889 he was honored by being invited to become the first Secretary of the Indiana Board of State Charities. The State was at the time ripe for this kind of work, the sen- timent of the people being for reform in the administration of the institutions of the State. To make the new board a success, to avoid dangers from secret foes and injudicious friends, it needed a secretary with a some- what uncommon combination of qualities. He must be firm and courageous, yet kindly and affable in manner. Calm and moderate in judgment, he must yet possess that " en- thusiasm for humanity " without which no re- form can be achieved. He must understand the work to be done and the principles that ought to guide the State in such affairs. That Mr. Johnson, coming a stranger from another State, without political or personal influence, succeeded in guiding the affairs of the State Board to unqualified success, in securing its recognition as an essential leat- ure of the government, is a record of which any man might well be proud.

In 1893 this faithful and always efficient servant was again given the reward that comes of faithfulness to public duty by being tendered his present responsible posi- tion, which, after some hesitation, he ac- cepted. Here as elsewhere he is winning golden opinions, and his record in this will, in the opinions of his friends, be as good as his records hitherto have been in places of trust. Many notable improvements have been made in the institution in the last two years. The number of inmates has increased, and a dairy farm has been purchased and is being im- proved. The educational system has been modified so as to meet the requirements of

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

more modern ideas. Especial attention is given to the industrial department, it being the constant effort of the management to bring the pupils as near to self-support as their condition will admit. These improve- ments and the advancement of the inmates is easier than it would otherwise be, from the fact that politics has never had any in- fluence in the management of the school. The board of trustees is absolutely non-par- tisan, and officers and employes are ap- pointed solely because of capacity and are retained and promoted for merit alone.

Mr. Johnson is an acceptable member of the Congregational Church, a zealous Odd Fellow and takes an active part in all the charitable matters of the city. For more than twelve years he has been a member of the National Conference of Charities, hav- ing served as secretary upon three occasions, and frequently has been chairman of im- portant committees. Politically he is an cate of the principles of "civil-service re- form."

independent Democrat and is a strong advo- | was a native of Pennsylvania, and was also a

Mr. Johnson is a gentleman of pleasing address, is a fluent and convincing speaker, being frequently called upon for addresses and lectures upon charitable subjects.

He has a family of six children, -three sons and three daughters, -whom he is en- deavoring to train in the practice of the guiding principles of their father's life. The motto of his life has been, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

J OHN A. BRUNER is the president of the Wabash Screen Door Com- pany, of Wabash, Indiana, one of the leading industries of the northeastern section of the State. It requires a master 40

mind to successfully guide and control such a concern, but the necessary ability is pos- sessed by Mr. Bruner, who is a typical Western business man of tireless energy, unfaltering perseverance, keen discrimina- tion and the utmost reliability.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Bruner was born near Germantown, Montgomery county, February 11, 1849, and is a son of Levi and Susan (Shafer) Bruner, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, born in Virginia, was of German lineage. At the age of eighteen he emigrated to the Buckeye State, where he died thirty years later, aged forty-eight. He was a carpenter and joiner, and by his well directed efforts acquired a considerable property and became a prominent man in the community. He had a family of four sons and a daughter, and his religious belief was that of the United Brethren Church.

The maternal grandfather, Daniel Shafer, representative of a family that had its origin in Germany. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and followed farming as a means of livelihood. He reared a family of eight children, and died at the advanced age of eighty-five years, in the faith of the Lu- . theran Church, with which he held men- bership. His parents also reached a ripe old age, his father departing this life at the age of eighty, while the mother was ninety- six years of age at the time of her death.

Levi Bruner was born in Ohio, and in that State followed farming until 1851, when he took up his residence upon a farm three miles south of Wabash, that continued to be his home until 1856. In that year he re- moved to the city of Wabash, where he engaged in the grain business, purchasing ing the interest of James Bruner in the

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warehouse, and continuing his operations in that line until 1864. He then formed a partnership with W. H. Hanna in the old hub, spoke and bending works, and under the firm name of Hanna & Bruner carried on that industry until 1886, when he retired from active business life to enjoy a well-earned rest. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and were the parents of two children; but William H., the younger, is now deceased.

John A. Bruner has, since his second year, been a resident of Wabash county, and in the public schools obtained his edn- cation. He remained at his parental home during his boyhood and of his father learned the manufacturing business, being thus em- ployed during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he attended school. At the age of nineteen he clerked in the hard- ware store of his uncle, John H. Bruner, and on attaining his majority his father gave him an equal interest in the manufacturing business with his partner, Mr. Hanna. They continued together until 1878, when Mr. Bruner bought out his partner's interest and was then associated with his father until 1886, when he organized the Wabash Screen Door Company, of which he has since been president, the other officers being James Mc- Crea, vice-president; and E. M. Kemp, secre- tary and treasurer. The business has contin- ued under its first name and management up to the present time. The main plant was re- moved to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in 1891, in order to be near the lumber supply, and employment is furnished to about one hun- dred skilled workmen. They do an extensive and constantly growing business and the in- vestment has proved a very profitable one.

Mr. Bruner is a broad-gauged, liberal-

minded business man, and his dealings with his fellow men have all been characterized by fairness and influenced by a strong sense of justice and high regard for the right. In politics he is a Republican and is of the sec- ond time serving as Alderman for the city, to whose interests and welfare he is stanchly devoted. A man of strong convictions, he is positive in his character and of incorruptible integrity. An intelligent, useful citizen, he justly takes rank among the leading and rep- resentative men of Wabash.

On the 21st of December, 1872, Mr. Bruner was happily married to Miss Lucinda Kemp, a daughter of Ezra and Lydia (Shank) Kemp, of Germantown, Ohio. They had two daughters, -Ada and Florence. The mother passed away August 12, 1894, and her loss was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Bruner also belongs, and to the support of which he contributes liberally.

J OHN HIPSKIND, a contractor and builder of Wabash, Indiana, and one of the prominent business men of the city, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 17th of November, 1850, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Miedreich) Hipskind, who also were natives of Bavaria. They had six sons and five daughters, ten of whom are now living, namely: Philip; John; Fred- ericka, now the wife of Michael Young; Margaret, wife of John P. Martin; Adam M .; Mary, wife of Peter Hipskind; Frances, wife of Cyrus Stone; Henry J., Joseph and Theodore. Elizabeth, who became the wife of John M. Lindner, is the eldest of the fam- ily, and is now deceased.

The father of this family, a stone-

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

mason by trade, in the fall of 1854 emigrated to America, locating in the city of Wabash, Indiana, where he continued to be employed at his trade for many years, until within a few years of his death, which took place on the 24th day of August, 1888, when he was about sixty-seven years of age. His wife survived him until March 16, 1895, her death occurring at the age of seventy years and four months. She was a member of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Hipskind be- longed to the German Reformed Church. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Philip Hipskind, spent his entire life in Ger- many and died at the age of sixty-six years. He also was a member of the German Re- formed Church. Henry Miedreich, the ma- ternal grandfather of Mr. Hipskind, also a native of Germany and a weaver by trade, served as a Bavarian soldier in the German army and was afterward called to public of- fice, in which he was serving at the time of his death. In his religious views he was a Catholic. His family numbered seven chil- children.

Mr. Hipskind, whose name introduces this sketch, was four years of age when his parents came to Wabash, where he has since resided. In 1870 he began to learn the carpenter's trade and has always followed it with the exception of six years,-from 1886 until 1892,-when he was superintendent of the Wabash Church & School Furniture Company. On retiring from that position he resumed his former occupation of con- tracting and building, which he had begun in 1874. He and his brothers, Henry and Joseph, erected in 1894 the fine new public- school building in Wabash, which is one of the finest educational structures in the State. It is of stone and contains eight rooms besides the large assembly room, and

is finished in modern style. Hipskind Broth- ers were awarded the contract for building this structure against eight competitors, their bids being the lowest. They have erected a large number of the substantial buildings of Wabash, including business blocks and residences, also the Miami or Central Ward school building, and the Third Ward school building.

In 1871 Mr. Hipskind helped to organize the first building and loan association in Wabash, known as the Wabash Building & Loan Association, and was a director of that body for eight years. At the expira- tion of eight years the association paid its stockholders in full and then ceased to exist. In 1879 Mr. Hipskind helped to organize two other building and loan associations, namely, the Rock City and the Enterprise, serving as a director of the Enterprise for four years and as a director of the Rock City Building & Loan Association during its existence, which was eight years. In 1887 he assisted in organizing the Wabash Savings Loan Fund & Building Association, with a capital stock of $500,000, divided into five series of $100,000 each. He was elected a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the association at its organization and has continually held these positions to the pres- ent writing. In 1891 he with Peter Hips- kind, his brother-in-law, embarked in the grocery business, under the firm name of P. & J. Hipskind, of which firm he is still a member. However, he does not give any of his time to the grocery business, but de- votes his entire attention to the contracting and building business.

On the 28th of May, 1873, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Hipskind to Miss Barbara S. Fleck, daughter of Christian and Margaret Elizabeth Fleck. Their family

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numbered eight children, five sons and three daughters, as follows: Charles C., Sarah E., Thomas F., deceased, Thomas Frederick, Mary M., John L., Josephine B. and James H. The parents are members of the Catho- lic Church, and Mr. Hipskind is also a mem- ber of the Catholic Knights of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workinen.

In his views of national questions he is a Democrat and was a member of the City Council from 1887 until 1889. He was made chief of the fire department in May, 1892, and served until September, 1894, discharg- ing the duties devolving upon him in a most acceptable manner.

Mr. Hipskind owns a fine home on the corner of Spring and Walnut streets. At the time of his coming to Wabash there was a wheat-field where his dwelling now stands, and a few blocks west was a sugar camp. Our subject has now been a resident of Wabash for forty-one years, and has there- fore witnessed almost the entire development of the city.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 85

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