Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 88

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

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The second marriage occurred February 19, 1844, when Mr. Strodel was united to Anna Barbara Schalk. Mrs. Strodel was born May 12, 1825, in the town of Arles- ried, Bayern, Germany, a daughter of Ulrich and Mary (Huit) Schalk. Ulrich Schalk was born October 10, 1794, and died April 10, 1849. His wife died in 1871, having attained her three-score years and ten. They had one son and four daughters, namely: John George, who died at the age of fifty-four years; Anna, who died at the age of forty; Anna Barbara, and Ursula and ' Anna Maria, twins, living in Germany. Mr. Strodel and his wife, Anna Barbara, were the parents of fifteen children: John George, born September 11, 1844, died March 11, 1845; John George, born September 4, 1845, was married April 8, 1866, to Chris- tina Wuersten, and has six children-

Martha, Pauline, Herman, Otto, Frank and Emma; Anna Barbara, born January 13, 1847, died March 2, 1847; Anna Barbara, born February 6, 1848, died May 26, 1852; Anna, born April 10, 1849, died June 25, 1849; John, born March 29, 1850; Andreas, born May 21, 1851; Egidius, born Septem- ber 1, 1852; Maria, born February 2, 1854; the three last named died at sea in 1854; Andrew, born June 19, 1857, died in Sep- tember, 1857; Ludwig Christian Frederick is the subject of a separate sketch on another page in this volume; he was born Septem- ber II, 1858; Anna Barbara, born January 9, 1860; makes her home with her mother, is a tailoress by trade and has worked her way up to an independent financial point ; Andrew, born February 2, 1862, died May 20, 1883. He was a young man of much more than ordinary promise. He started as clerk in 1879 in the drug store of Henry F. Drover and in 1880 went to Vincennes, Indiana, where he was a diligent pupil in the night school, and during the day was employed in a drug store in that place; afterward he went to Danville, Illinois, in 1881, and was there employed as head clerk in the drug store of J. R. France. In the fall of 1882 he went to Monon, Indiana, and engaged in the drug business for himself, gaining pros- perity and building up a prosperous business. In February, 1883, a fire broke out in an adjoining store, and in lifting a barrel he ruptured a blood vessel, from the effects of which hemorrhage he died. William Stro- del, born October 26, 1865, is the subject of a separate sketch, found elsewhere in this history; and Maria Margaretha, born May 28, 1869, was married November 29, 1894, to Edward Schoepper, who holds a position as fireman of the Chicago & Erie Rail- road. Before her marriage to Mr. Schoep-

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per she held a position as saleslady in her brother's (John Strodel's) dry-goods house, from 1886 to 1894.

J OHN STRODEL, SR., one of the most prosperous and reliable mer- chants of Huntington, Indiana, is a citizen of the United States by adop- tion, being a native of Bavaria, Germany. He was born March 29, 1850, and at the age of four years was brought across the sea to America. After landing upon these shores the family continued their journey to Indiana, and settled in Huntington, where they arrived in April, 1855. John Strodel inherited those traits of thrift and industry which so strongly characterize the best ele- ment of the German race. As a mere lad he was busy in his father's butcher shop, and at the age of fourteen years he entered the dry-goods house of Townley, DeWald, Bond & Company, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he remained six years. At the end of that time he had acquired a knowledge of the business in all its details, and had saved from his wages $350, a very substan- tial evidence of his frugality, and had also bought a lot for his father, which had cost $180. Ready to try his sails on his own account, he returned to Huntington and embarked in trade with his father. After a few months, however, the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Strodel secured a position as clerk with the firm of Allison, Gibford & Company, of Huntington, resigning the place to become a member of the firm of Crabbs, Strodel & Company. This part- nership proved most satisfactory and a suc- cessful business was conducted for two years, when the failure of Mr. Crabbs' commission business in Toledo necessitated an assign-

ment of the firm in Huntington. The en- tire stock was sold and the creditors were paid dollar for dollar. Mr. Strodel again had recourse to his training as a clerk, and sought a situation in this city as German clerk in the fall of 1874. His efforts in this direction failed, but in October he secured employment with A. S. Purviance, and with- in a month had the satisfaction of being made clerk for the firm of A. S. Purivance & Brother. After four years in which his fidelity and ability were thoroughly tested, he was promoted to the position of foreman of the establishment, which he retained after the business was sold to H. H. Arnold. In February, 1881, Mr. Strodel was granted leave of absence for the purpose of entering into business in Huntington, for himself, and did not resign his position until a later date. The middle of the following month he opened a stock of goods, and has since carried on a profitable trade. He has occupied his present store room since 1895. He is a man of the strictest integrity, employing only the most honorable business methods, and therefore has the confidence of all with whom he has dealings.

He was married July 15, 1870, to Sophia Wilhelmina Wuersten, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa Catharine (Miller) Wuersten, natives of Prussia and Wurtemberg, Ger- many, respectively. Mrs. Strodel was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 3, 1853. Our subject and wife are the parents of four children: John Carl, born June 23, 1871; the next child was a son, born September 18, 1873, and died in infancy, unnamed; Julius Henry, born July 22, 1875, died November 15, 1879; and Martin Frederick, born December 4, 1877. The family are worthy members of the German Lutheran Church, Unaltered Augsburg Confession, of

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which our subject has been an officer for eighteen years. In politics Mr. Strodel gives his support to the Democratic party. He has been Councilman in this city two and one half terms, and has been a member of the Board of Health three terms. Un- wavering in his loyalty to the city of Hunt- ington he has materially aided in her devel- opment and prosperity.

EWIS CHRISTOPHER FRED- ERICK STRODEL, one of the reliable business men of Hunting- ton, was born in this city, Septem- ber II, 1858, a son of John G. and Anna Barbara (Schalk) Strodel. A further his- tory of his ancestry will be found in the sketch of John George Strodel, upon another page of this volume. Our subject received his education in the German school, and also attended the English school for two terms. His father was a butcher by trade, and, until he was twenty-one years of age, our subject was employed in his father's shop; it was a long apprenticeship to serve without wages, but he was none the less faithful in the dis- charge of his duties. Having reached his majority, he was then employed by Nicholas Bayruther, on Market street, and at the end of four years took a position with M. W. Milligan, which he held for two years. In November, 1882, he embarked in business on his own account, opening a shop, formerly owned by Nicholas Bayruther, on East Market street. He occupied this stand two years, and then removed to Franklin street, where he had a market for three years. April 1, 1888, he removed to his present quarters, where he does a general butchering business.

Mr. Strodel was married January 10,

1884, to Miss Mollie Bullerman, a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Smeather) Bullerman. Mrs. Strodel was born at Fort Wayne, Indi- ana, September 15, 1859. They are the parents of two children: Edward John, born November 10, 1885; and Amelia Barbara, born January 8, 1888. In politics Mr. Strodel supports the Democratic party. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.

ILLIAM STRODEL, the efficient manager of the dry-goods estab- lishment of his brother, John Strodel, is one of the enterprising business men of Huntington. He was born at the old home residence, corner of Oak and Zahn streets, Huntington, Indiana, Oc- tober 26, 1865, a son of John George Strodel, one of the pioneers of this county, whose history is recorded upon another page of this volume. Our subject received a limited education in the private schools of this sec- tion, and at the age of fifteen years started out in life for himself. He was employed in the flax-mill of James Niblock for a year and a half, and at the end of that time went into his brother John's store as clerk, April 2, 1881, a position he holds at the present time.

He was married October 2, 1890, to Miss Carrie Barbara Hauenstein, a daughter of John and Minnie (Brandt) Hauenstein, born October 20, 1866, in the city of Hunt- ington. John Hauenstein is a resident of Huntington, coming from Canton Aran, Switzerland, in 1845, and is one of the re- tired farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Strodel are the parents of one child, a daugh- ter, Hilda Minnie, born March 3, 1895.

In 1890, Mr. Strodel took charge of a

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sand-pit owned by the German Lutheran Church, and in 1894 assumed control of the Sutton sand-pit south of the city in his own interest. In December of that year he formed a partnership with his nephew, John Carl Strodel, and under the firm name of Strodel & Strodel they have done a large business, furnishing sand for paving in cities, also for large sewers. Mr. Strodel has some inventive genius, and in company with John C. Strodel patented the Ledorts twine-rack, which he will manufacture here and place upon the market.

In politics he is an uncompromising Re- publican. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and was one of its trustees in 1890, when a debt of $8,000 for improve- ments was lifted: this money was raised chiefly by his exertion. In making his way to his present position he has had many ob- stacles to overcome, and the odds have often seemed against him; but energy, pluck and perseverance have placed him in the front rank of Huntington county's most suc- cessful and highly respected citizens.

J OHN CHARLES STRODEL, one of the most enterprising and most prom- ising young business men of Hunt- ington, Indiana, is a native of this city, born January 23, 1871, a son of John and Sophia (Wuersten) Strodel. He attended the parochial German Lutheran school from seven until thirteen years of age. He then went into his father's store, where he began his training in the commercial world. In addition to his mercantile interests he has the agency for the Teutonia Fire Insurance Company of Dayton, Ohio, which he se- cured in 1891; in 1894 he added the Royal Fire, of Liverpool, England. He keeps

his office in the store, and does an import- ant business representing these two com- panies.

He was united in marriage September 20, 1893, to Edith Maria Carolina Hilgen- berg, a daughter of Henry and Emma (Berg- holdz) Hilgenberg. Mrs. Strodel was born October 1, 1871. They are the parents of one child, Emma Wilhelmina, born October 11, 1894. Until twenty-one years of age Mr. Strodel remained a member of his father's household. Arriving at maturity he pur- chased an improved lot at 150 North La Fountain street, where he now resides. He is a consistent member of the German Lu- theran Church, and from 1889 to 1893 served as treasurer of the Young Men's Con- cordia Society. In politics he supports the issues of the Democratic party.

Our subject it also associated with his uncle, William Strodel, in the Ledorts patent twine rack, which was granted by the United States Government September 3, 1895, and which proved to be a valua- ble invention to them.

Extended mention is made of the ances- try of our subject in the biographical sketch of John George Strodel, found elsewhere in this volume.

EORGE KREIDER, a self-made man and enterprising farmer, and one of the leading citizens of his community, pleasantly situated on a fine farm on section 33, Cleveland town- ship, Whitley county, was born in the neigh- boring State of Ohio.

His father, Jacob Kreider, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1809, and is a son of David and Barbara Kreider. The former moved with his family

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from the Keystone State to Montgomery county, Ohio, when his son Jacob was a boy, and on a farm in that county the rest of his life was passed. There Jacob grew up and was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Brenner, daughter of George Brenner, who died in Montgomery county, where he had made his home for years. The subject of this sketch has a powder-horn which was made by him as early as 1825. For five years after their marriage, Jacob Kreider and his wife continued to reside in Montgomery county, after which they re- moved to Darke county, Ohio, in 1833, lo- cating on a tract of wood land. As the years passed by, with the aid of his son, the father developed a fine farm, which he sold some years later, and in 1855 he removed to Indiana, taking up his abode in Whitley county. His location here was on section 13, Cleveland township, the farm now occu- pied by David Arnott. His wife died in February, 1856. Both were active members of the German Baptist Church, in which for many years he served as Deacon.

George Kreider, the eldest son and second born in a family of eight children, first saw the light of day in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 4, 1832. He was reared in Darke county, and received a dis- trict-school education there. As soon as he was old enough he aided his father in the clearing and cultivation of the farm, thus spending his time until twenty years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He at first worked by the month as a farm hand, and later learned and followed the cooper's trade. Since his marriage he has been engaged in farming in Whitley county, his first purchase comprising eighty acres of land in Cleveland township. This he cleared and otherwise improved, making his home

thereon until 1862, when he removed to his present farm of 170 acres on section 33 of the same township. Of this farm 140 acres is under cultivation. Besides clearing these properties, he has improved fifty-two acres on section 28. His present farm was all a dense forest at the time he settled on it thirty-seven years ago, and for some years a log cabin served as his home.

Mr. Kreider was married in 1855 to Lydia Gable, a native of Darke county, Ohio, and a daughter of George Gable, de- ceased. They have had thirteen children, seven of whom are now living, as follows: David, Tobias, Mrs. Harriet Bolinger, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Caroline, Ira and Perry. Like his worthy parents, Mr. Kreider and his family are members of the German Baptist Church, in which he is now serving as Dea- con. His political views are those advocated by the Democratic party.

J IV. BAKER, editor and proprietor of the Columbia City Commercial, came to Columbia City in January, 1869, since which time he has been identified with the newspaper interests of northeastern Indiana. He purchased the plant of the old Whitley County Republi- can, then defunct, and established what has since become one of the leading journals in this part of the State and one of the most important organs of the Republican party. At first the paper was published weekly, but he now edits a daily edition, and from the public receives a liberal patronage. The Commercial is devoted to the interests of Republicanism in national politics and locally to the interests of Whitley county. The Journal is filled with instructive, entertain- ing editorials and accounts of events which

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have happened in this vicinity, and of foreign affairs, which will prove of interest to the general public; and the editorials and presentation of news items show that a clear head and acute thinker is at the head. Journalism is truly an art, and it is one which Mr. Baker has mastered in an emi- nent degree. The average man would suc- ceed no better as an editor than he would as a minister, lawyer or physician, and Mr. Baker's marked success indicates his merit.

A native of Ohio, he was born in Han- cock county, on the 7th of March, 1845. His father died when the subject of this sketch was eleven years of age, after which he was compelled to depend upon his own exertions for a livelihood. He availed him- self of such educational privileges as the common schools of that day afforded, work- ing on a farm through the summer and at- tending school in the winter season. On the 7th of June, 1860, he removed with his mother to Warsaw, Indiana, where as an apprentice he entered the office of the War- saw Experiment, owned and published by the late Charles G. Mugg. After a few months' service, however, he left this office in order to continue his education in the Cowen Seminary. Later he accepted serv- ice with the late Dr. Theodore Davenport as "chore boy" for his board, and thus was enabled to attend school for a few terms in the above mentioned seminary. In the fall of 1862 he entered the office of the North- ern Indianian, then owned by the late Judge James H. Carpenter, and now the property of General Reuben Williams & Sons. Here he served a full apprenticeship, remaining almost continuously with that office until 1868. He served as foreman during the ownership of Fleming T. Lense and Henry C. Rippey and also after General Williams

repurchased the office. When the last named was elected county clerk Mr. Baker leased the printing office and was publisher of the paper for one year. During the sum- mer of 1863 he served as compositor for a few months in the office of the Whitley County Republican, published by the late Hon. A. Y. Hooper; and the Marshall County Republican, at Plymouth, then owned and edited by the venerable Ignatius Mattingly, now editor and proprietor of the Bourbon Mirror. In 1869, as before stated, he established the paper with which he is now connected. In 1877 he was elected by the State Legislature as a director of the Northern Prison and served for two and a half years.

In the fall of 1884, without any solicita- tion upon his part, in fact entirely without his knowledge, he was appointed Postmaster of Columbia City by the late President Arthur, just one week before the election of President Cleveland, serving as such until July, 1885, when he was removed as an " offensive partisan."

On the 26th of July, 1864, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Sarah E. Thornburg, who with one son and two daughters, all grown, now constitute a " happy family."

ON. AUGUSTUS N. MARTIN, at- torney and ex-member of Con- gress, is classed among the most distinguished of the adopted sons of Indiana. He is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born at Whitestown, Butler county, March 23, 1847, and is a son of John and Eveline W. Martin, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a man of deep re- ligious convictions and for fifty years was a

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Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He died at his home in Butler county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1894, at the age of seventy-eight years. In the family were four children, the subject of this sketch being the first born. Elizabeth J., the sec- ond born, is a widow of Samuel S. Ross, a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, who came to Bluffton, Indiana, in 1875, and re- sided there until his death in 1883, during which time he was editor of the Bluffton · Banner and Superintendent of the Public Schools of the county. Homer L., the next in order of birth, who was associated with our subject in the practice of law, and who was the first mayor of Bluffton after its in- corporation as a city, is now residing on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Mary E., the fourth born, has always resided on the old Pennsylvania homestead.

The subject of this sketch remained upon his father's farm until twelve years of age, in the meantime attending the common schools of the neighborhood. He then went to Butler, Pennsylvania, and entered the Witherspoon Institute, which he at- tended several terms. While at this insti- tute the war for the Union commenced, and while yet in his 'teens the patriotic impulse was strong within him, and on the third day of July, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, and assisted in the capture of General John Morgan and his command, near Salineville, Ohio. He re-enlisted February 22, 1865, in Company E, Seventy-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, and served until August 30, 1865, when he was discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, the war having happily ended in the restoration of the Union.

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Martin

returned to his home in Whitestown, Penn- sylvania, and shortly afterward entered Eastman's Business College, at Pough- keepsie, New York, at which place he grad- uated in February, 1867. Like thousands of others of the best men of the country, he began his career as a teacher in the pub- lic schools, but only with the thought of continuing that calling until such a time as something better should be offered him. On reaching his twenty-first birthday, he left his parental home and came to Wells county, Indiana, where he secured employ- ment as a day laborer on farm and railroad. He continued in that occupation until No- vember 3, 1869, when he commenced read- ing law in the office of Todd & Shinn, of Bluffton, Indiana, and in September, 1870, was admitted to the bar. He then became junior member of the firm of Todd & Mar- tin and its successors Burwell & Martin, until 1874, when the partnership was dis- solved and he continued alone in the prac- tice.

In common with others Mr. Martin has always taken an active interest in the polit- ical affairs of the State and the nation. From his youth he has been a Democrat, and in 1874 was nominated as a candidate for the Legislature on the Democratic ticket from the counties of Adams and Wells. He was triumphantly elected, and served as chairman of the committee on corporations and second on the committees on judiciary and the organization of courts. On April 19, 1876, he was nominated for Reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana on the Democratic State ticket. This was the year in which " Blue Jeans" Williams was first nominated for governor, and the whole Democratic ticket was elected, in- cluding our subject. In 1880, Mr. Martin

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was renominated by acclamation, and al- though the whole Democratic ticket was defeated he ran greatly ahead of the other nominees of his party, thus showing his great popularity in the State. While serv- ing as State Reporter he edited and pub- lished seventeen volumes of Indiana Re- ports, - from volume LIV to LXX inclu- sive.

In May, 1881, Mr. Martin removed to Austin, Texas, where he engaged in the practice of law with his brother, Homer L. Martin, and there remained until July 19, 1883, when the brothers returned to Bluff- ton, Indiana, and resumed the practice of their profession at this place. This part- nership continued until the return of Homer to Pennsylvania. In February, 1889, our subject formed a partnership with Hon. E. C. Vaughn, which continued until the elec- tion of Mr. Vaughn as Circuit Judge in 1893. He then admitted to partnership W. H. Eichhorn, and under the firm name of Martin & Eichhorn it still continues to exist. The firm is one of the most noted and has a more extensive practice than any other law firm in the county. Both members of the firm are well read in the law and prac- tice in all the courts in the State. Among the most noted cases in which our subject has been counsel was that of William Walk- er for the murder of George Shaw, the trial occupying the whole of the April term, 1884, of the Wells Circuit Court, resulting in a judgment sentencing Walker to twenty-one years in the State's prison. He was also engaged in the celebrated case of William A. Davis vs. Dr. John C. Fulton, for mal- practice, which lasted two weeks in March, 1887, resulting in the acquittal of Dr. Ful- ton.

On the 28th day of June, 1888, Mr.

Martin was placed in nomination as a representative in the Fifty-fifth Congress and was elected in November following. During that session Thomas B. Reed was Speaker of the House, and he appointed Mr. Martin a member of the committee on printing. Our subject was the first Demo- crat ever elected to represent the Eleventh Congressional District. He made his can- vass with a horse and buggy, visiting every township in each of the eight counties that comprised the district. He was renominated August 14, 1890, without opposition and was re-elected. In the Democratic caucus for Speaker of the House he voted to the last ballot for Hon. William M. Springer, of Illinois, but the nomination and the election went to Mr. Crisp, of Georgia. When the committees were announced Mr. Crisp had selected Mr. Martin as chairman of the committee on invalid pensions. In June, 1892, Mr. Martin was renominated and re- elected to the Fifty-third Congress, and was again appointed, by Speaker Crisp, chair- man of the invalid pension committee.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 88

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