Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 89

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

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On the expiration of his term Mr. Mar- tin decided not to again make the race, but on the 28th day of June, 1894, he was nominated by his friends without opposi- tion, and at the election in November fol- lowing went down with the rest of the ticket in the Republican landslide. On the 30th of May, 1894, he was invited to deliver the memorial address at the famous Arlington cemetery, which he did to a large audience, among whom were the President of the United States, several members of the cabinet, and also the commander-in-chief of the United States Army, General Scofield.

Mr. Martin was united in marriage, Sep- tember 21, 1881, with Miss Ida L. Curd, eldest daughter of Owen T. and Lizzie

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Curd, of Charleston, Coles county, Illinois. They have one child, Mabel, born in Austin, Texas, June 30, 1882. Religiously Mr. Martin is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which body his wife is also a member. In Bluffton, where they have so long resided, they are held in the highest esteem. Mr. Martin, although a strong Democrat, has always had the good will of his Republican fellow citizens, and when a candidate for office receives the votes of many who are opposed to him in politics. In his profession, he is the peer of any man in the State.

0 WEN N. HEATON, attorney at law, is one of the prominent young members of the legal fraternity in northeastern Indiana, and is now successfully engaged in practice in Fort Wayne. The auspicious opening of his legal career indicates a natural aptitude for the profession and argues well for his future success and prosperity. He is a native of Allen county, born September 2, 1860, the son of Jesse and Samantha C. (Larcom) Heaton, the former a native of Dearborn county, Indiana, born September 6, 1829, while the latter's birth occurred in Tomp- kins county, New York, in May, 1834. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heaton eight are living, of whom Owen N. is fourth in order of birth. The death of the father occurred May 5, 1889.

The primary education of our subject was acquired in the common schools, and in 1882 he entered the Fort Wayne College, at which he graduated in 1885. The same year he began reading law in the office of William P. Breen, and on the 5th of Sep- tember of that year was admitted to the bar.

Thorough preparation well fitted him for the chosen calling, and his progress is steady and assured. As an advocate and coun- selor he has already won an enviable and deserved reputation and possesses the confi- dence of a large clientage and the esteem of a host of warm friends. At present he is a member of the law firm of Vessey & Heaton, which was organized in 1892, and is one of the leading law firms of the city. Mr. Heaton is a man of strong mentality and intellectuality, and that analytical turn of mind always possessed by the foremost law- yers is numbered among his sterling charac- teristics.

Mr. Heaton is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is the present Chancellor Commander of Fort Wayne Lodge, No. 116. In political pro- clivities he is a Republican and a close adherent to the principles of the party. He and his wife are acceptable members of the Baptist Church.

Mr. Heaton has been twice married. On the 12th of December, 1885, he wedded Rhoda Webb, who was born in Allen county July 29, 1862. Some years after her death he was again married.

A MOS L. CRAY, Justice of the Peace, Jonesboro, Indiana, is prominent in a local way as a politician, and through his fraternal associations has gained a prominence that is State wide.

Mr. Cray is descended from sturdy Ger- man and Scotch-Irish ancestry and in his make-up are found many of those sterling traits of character which distinguished his forefathers. David Cray, his grandfather, was a son of Scotch-Irish parents, fought in the war of 1812, and passed the greater part

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of his life and died in New Jersey. The par- ents of our subject, Amos and Magdalena (Amerman) Cray, were both born in New Jersey, in May, 1812, he on the 22d and she on the 12th. She was a daughter of John Amerman, who was of German origin and died in New Jersey. It was March 9, 1833, that they were married. In 1836 they left their native State and came west to Ohio, settling near Sims' Corners, where they made their home two years. In 1838 they came over into Indiana, walking all the way to Cambridge City. At Cambridge City he worked at his trade, that of carpenter, for three years for Mr. Harnley, after which he removed to a farm in Prairie township, Henry county, where he spent the remain- der of his life, dying there May 22, 1878. His wife died October 16, 1881. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: John H., Henry county, Indiana; Abraham B., de- ceased; James H., deceased; William, de- ceased; Richard A., Oakville, Indiana; George W., who died while in the Union army; Mary C., Muncie, Indiana; Daniel W., Memphis, Tennessee; Amos L., whose name graces this article; William H., Mun- cie, Indiana, and Sarah E., deceased. Two were born in New Jersey, three in Ohio and the rest in Indiana; and five of the sons, - Richard A., George W., James H., Daniel WV. and John H., were Union soldiers in the Civil war. Of the parents, we further record that they were in early life members of the Presbyterian Church, but later united with the Methodist Protestant Church.

Amos L. Cray was born on his father's farm in Henry county, Indiana, December 22, 1850, and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, his educational advantages being limited to the public schools of his native county. He learned the trade

of carpenter under his father's instructions. After the death of his father he took charge of his mother until her death. In April, 1879, he came to Jonesboro, Grant county, and here for sixteen years he has made his home. The first twelve years of his residence here he was in partnership with Robert F. Wiley in the produce business, and in the meantime he also engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Since 1885 he has been interested in insurance and real es- tate, carrying on this business under his own name. He has in various ways been instru- mental in advancing the growth and develop- ment of Jonesboro. It was he who formed the first company which drilled for gas here, and he is interested in the Jonesboro Mining Company and is a director of the same.

Mr. Cray was married March 1, 1883, to Miss Nora J. Haley, a native of Grant county, Indiana, and a daughter of Willis and Sarah (Bowers) Haley, respected farmers of this county. Mrs. Cray was born January 17, 1 864. They have had five children, of whom four are living, namely: Fred V., Charles C., Opal A., and Hampton R.

He and his family are identified with the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he is a Trustee. Politically, he is a Republican. For years he has taken an active part in local politics and has frequently been the choice of his party to serve officially. He has represented Jonesboro in various con- ventions and has served as Central Com- mitteeman. At this writing he is serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. Two years he was Clerk and Treasurer of Jonesboro.

It is, however, as a member of secret or- ganizations that he has probably attained the most prominence. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., subordinate lodge, encamp-

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ment and canton, in which he has passed all the chairs, now being Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch. Also he has been a repre- sentative to both the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment of Indiana. Another organization, with which he is more promi- nently connected and in which he is a State officer, is the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics. He was the first Past Councillor of Grand Council No. 7, Jones- boro, Indiana, and since December 4, 1891, has been Secretary of the State Council of Indiana. For four years he has represented the State Council in the National Council of America. Also he is a member of the aux- iliary societies of both these orders.

J OHN GROSS, ex-Treasurer of Whit- ley county, Indiana, is a gentleman well known in this county and one who has the respect and esteem of all who know him. He owns and occupies a fine farm in section 1, Washington town- ship. Both for the prominent part he has had in the affairs of the township and coun- ty, and as one of the representative farmers of the vicinity in which he lives, he is en- titled to some personal consideration in this work, and we take pleasure in here present- ing a sketch of his life.

John Gross is of German descent. His father, Henry Gross, was born in Wurtem- berg. Germany, in 1802, son of John Henry Gross, a native of the same plece. The for- mer served some time in the German army, and in 1832, at the age of thirty years, emi- grated to this country and settled in Colum- biana county, Ohio, being among the pioneer farmers of that county. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Miss Mary A. Shaffer, and she, too, was a native

of Wurtemberg, Germany, the date of her birth being 1805. Her father was a soldier in the German army and was killed in the war with France. Miss Shaffer came to this country the same year that Mr. Gross came, and they were married in the fall of that year. From 1832 until 1858 they re- sided in Columbiana county, Ohio, and in the latter year they removed to Crawford county, same State, where he died in 1859. In 1864 the widow and children moved to Whitley county, Indiana, and lo- cated on section 2, Washington township, where she resided until 1869, and since that year has made her home with her son John. She has reached the advanced age of ninety years and is in the enjoyment of fairly good health. In their family were nine children, only two of whom are living, Catharine and John. Catharine has been twice married. By her first husband, Frederick Wolford, she had three daughters. Her present hus- band is Joseph Bush, of Jefferson township, this county. The venerable mother is a de- voted member of the German Lutheran Church, as also was her worthy husband.

The immediate subject of this sketch, John Gross, was born June 1, 1844, in Co- lumbiana county, Ohio; was reared to farm life and also learned the carpenter trade, working at the latter six years. He came to Whitley county, Indiana, with his mother, as above recorded, their settlement here being when much of the land was unde- veloped. He himself has cleared no less than sixty or seventy acres. He bought his present farm of his mother, and is now the owner of 191 acres, 166 of which are under cultivation.

Mr. Gross was married January 14, 1869, to Miss Margaret Bennet, a native of Ohio, born in Columbiana county, March 17, 1848,

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daughter of Daniel and Mary (Huffer) Ben- net, Pennsylvania-Dutch people. Her father was one of the very earliest settlers of Wash- ington township, Whitley county. He pass- ed away some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Gross have had thirteen children, ten of whom are living, namely: John H., Fred- erick, Esther Rosetta, William Henry, Joseph, Grover, Eva, Estella and Della, twins, and Katie.

In the I. O. O. F. circles Mr. Gross is well known. He has passed all the chairs in the lodge at Forest, is a member of the Encampment, and has served as a repre- sentative to the Grand Lodge of the State. Politically, he has always cast his vote and influence with the Democratic party, and by this party he has on various occasions been honored by official preferment. From 1874 until 1878 he served as Assessor of Wash- ington township, from 1884 to 1888 as Town- ship Trustee, and in 1890 waselected Treas- urer of Whitley county, serving four years. In all of these positions his duty was per- formed promptly and faithfully and in a manner that was creditable alike to him and his constituents. On retiring from the Treasurer's office he returned to his farm, where he is now quietly engaged in agricul- tural pursuits.

e LIJAH L. AUKERMAN, president of the Hard Wood Lumber Com- pany, of Wabash, was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 19th of December, 1851, and is a son of Solo- mon and Elizabeth (Crumrine) Aukerman, also natives of the Buckeye State. The parents had a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom

six are now living, namely: Frederick; Jonas; Elijah L .; Harvey; Emeline, wife of Robert Early; and Elizabeth, wife of John Miller. The father followed agricultural pursuits during his entire life. He came to Indiana in February, 1869, locating in Wabash county, four miles south of the town of Wabash, where he purchased 1 58 acres of land. Fifteen years afterward he sold that place and removed to Roann, of the same county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres. In 1887 he moved to the town of Wabash, where he has since resided, retired from active business and enjoying the fruits of his former toil. Both he and his wife are members of the Dunkard Church. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Aukerman, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. By occupation he was a farmer and reared a family of eleven children. His death oc- curred at the age of eighty-four years. His religious belief was also that of the Dunkard Church. The Crumrine family was of German lineage, so that on both sides the ancestors of our subject came from the Fatherland.

Elijah L. Aukerman lived on a farm in Darke county, Ohio, until seventeen years of age, receiving the usual schooling, and then came with the family on their emigra- tion to Indiana. When he had attained his majority he left home but continued to fol- low agricultural pursuits for two years. He then purchased Mr. Coble's interest in the hotel business of Niccum & Coble. After remaining in partnership with Mr. Niccum for three years he sold out and re- moved to Wabash, where he was employed in lumbering for a year, and then bought Mr. Dickerson's half interest in the sawmill of Dickerson & Landford, at the western

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border of town, continuing his connection with Mr. Landford in the operation of that mill for a year. He then sold his interest to the gentleman of whom he had pur- chased, while he conducted a meat market for a time. In connection with Hiram Kendall he afterward bought back the old sawmill, which they carried on together until the autumn of 1893, when Mr. Auker- man sold his interest to Scott Dougherty and built a new mill near the river bridge, in partnership with Fred Aukerman, Jacob Hammond and J. H. Baker; and the com- pany is now known as the Hard Wood Lumber Company. Mr. Aukerman being an enterprising, energetic business man, en- joys success in life's affairs, and his capable management and perseverance have been the important factors in his prosperity. His reputation as a man of thorough relia- bility in business dealings is a most enviable one and he has the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

The date of Mr. Aukerman's marriage is October 2, 1873, when Miss Rebecca Nic- cum became . his wife. The lady, who is highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities, is a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Coble) Niccum, well known and prominent residents of this place. Our subject and his wife have a good residence in Wabash and the doors of their hospitable home are ever open for the reception of their many friends. They have had six children, four sons and two daughters, but Mary E. and Burtis E. are now deceased. Those who are still with their parents are Ertha E., Charles E., Homer E. and Lawrence E. The parents are members of the Christian Church, in which religious society Mr. Aukerman is a Deacon. In politics he is a |

Democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

ENERAL REUBEN WILLIAMS. -It is a recognized fact that the most powerful influence on public life is the press. It reaches the people in greater numbers and thus has been a most important factor in moulding public opinion and shaping the destiny of the nation. The gentleman whose name intro- duces this review is prominently connected with the journalism of Indiana and is now the publisher of the Northern Indianian. This section of the State recognizes him as one of its ablest representatives and his con- nection with the affairs which affect the general welfare has been of such a character that this section of the State has felt his beneficial support, while during the period of the Civil war the nation acknowledged its indebtedness to him for his most able service on the field of battle.

The Williams family has long been con- nected with the history of this country, hav- ing been established here during Colonial days. The grandfather of our subject was numbered among the heroes of the Revo- lution, serving as a volunteer in the Mary- land Continental Line. Again the family was represented in its country's service when the second war with England was in- augurated, the father of General Williams serving as Sergeant in command of the guard for the prisoners of war captured by Commodore Perry at the battle of Lake Erie, and was sent to Chillicothe, Ohio, then the capital of the State. Hostilities having ceased Sergeant Williams located in Tiffin,

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Ohio, where, in 1833, was born the subject of this memoir.

The last named when a lad of twelve years felt it incumbent upon him to earn his own livelihood. His parents were in limited circumstances, and he wished no longer to burden them with caring for him. After a three-months seminary course he entered the printing office of Andrew J. Bair, where he began to learn the trade that in one form or another was to be his life-work. Four years were spent as an apprentice; after which he for a short time published the Warsaw Democrat. He then traveled through the West, wishing to see something of the country and worked for some time in printing offices in Iowa, after which, in 1856, he returned, on the solicitation of many prominent citizens, to Warsaw, Indiana, to establish a paper there which should set forth the views of the new Republican party. The work from the beginning pros- pered. The editorials of the new paper, the Northern Indianian, upheld the princi- ples of abolition and supported with unfalter- ing allegiance the Union cause. Five years thus passed, and Mr. Williams then went to the defense of his country in the field.

The day that Fort Sumter surrendered he caused to be published a call for volun- teers, and April 19, 1861, the first company from Kosciusko county started for the field and became a part of the Twelfth Indiana regiment. Our subject was chosen Second Lieutenant of his company. After the first battle of Bull Run the order came for the regiment to proceed at once to Harper's Ferry. In the meantime the three-months term had expired, but with characteristic promptitude Mr. Williams at once began the task of re-organization and within a week almost all of the original force had re-en-

listed. He was afterward made Captain of his company, which he commanded in a number of minor engagements in Virginia. In the spring of 1862 the regiment composed the advance guard of the Union army when it occupied Winchester, Virginia. On the 11th of December, 1861, Captain Williams was captured by a Confederate force under Stonewall Jackson and were sent to Libby prison, where he remained until exchanged the following March. Upon the reorgani- zation of the regiinent our subject was com- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel and after the battle of Richmond became Colonel. After succeeding to the command of his regiment, he was frequently called upon to take com- mand of the brigade, by virtue of his being the ranking officer, and throughout the At- lanta campaign his service was in this capacity. After the fall of the city he was selected as one of the court-martial con- vened to try the Indiana conspirators or "Knights of the Golden Circle," a treason- able organization existing in Indiana and other States. In this capacity he strongly favored capital punishment for the offenders. This duty being ended Colonel Williams re- joined his regiment at Savannah and com- manded it on the march through the Caro- linas and on to Washington, where it had the special honor of leading in the grand re- view, by special order, and was the first to pass before the president and the thousands of visitors from all portions of the country. Its appearance, as it marched down Penn- sylvania avenue in column of companies, was so impressive as to draw forth storms of cheers from the spectators, while officers and men were almost covered with the bouquets and wreaths of flowers bestowed by the fair ladies of Washington.

During the advance through the Caro-

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linas it became necessary to destroy certain railroads, and the task, a most difficult and dangerous one, was assigned to Colonel Williams and his command. The work was so faithfully executed that he not only re- ceived the personal thanks of Generals Sherman and Howard, but upon his arrival in Washington he was appointed brevet Brigadier General, which article of appoint- ment the president requested General John A. Logan to deliver in person with his com- pliments. General Williams was an excellent disciplinarian and the troops which he had commanded had but few rivals in the field. His men were so well drilled, so soldierly in appearance, and so thoroughly understood the laws and demands of warfare, that they won the most favorable comment wherever seen, and for bravery. following the ex- ample of their leader, they were unexcelled.

Upon his return home General Williams engaged in the book and stationery business for a short ime, but journalism is the field in which he has become best known and in which he has achieved such high success. Many of his old friends solicited him to be- come the editor of the Northern Indianian, and almost continuously since he has been at the head of that journal. In 1867 he was chosen Circuit Court Clerk of Kosci- usko county and after a four-years term was re-elected. In 1875, upon the urgent solici- tation of prominent Republicans in the city of Fort Wayne, he consented to take charge of the Daily Gazette there, and edited that paper until the following December, when he received the appointment of Deputy Second Comptroller of the United States Treasury at Washington, which office he held for seven months, when repeated solicitations from old friends in Kosciusko county led him to return and resume the 42

control of the Northern Indianian, which he has edited since.

On the 5th of April, 1857, General Will- iams was united in marriage to Miss Jemi- ma Hubler, daughter of Major Henry Hubler, now deceased, a veteran soldier of the war with Mexico and the war of the Rebellion. In the family were five sons and one daughter.

OUIS ROSTETTER, proprietor of the Fort Wayne Buggy Bow Works, is a native of the Fatherland, his birth occurring at Baden, May 31, 1834, the son of Andrew and Anna Mary (Sutter) Rostetter, both of German nativity. His early educational advantages were good, superior in fact to that of the average Ger- man lad of the time.

His parents early conceived the idea of educating him for a teacher, and to that end his early training was directed. His natural bent, however, was in another direction, the inclination being to mechanics. His appren- ticeship to the machinist's trade followed, which he learned in all its details and with a thoroughness for which the Germans are justly noted. Having the intention of going to America where he believed conditions ex- isted that assured artisans and laborers greater remuneration and better advantages in every way, he was finally able to execute his plans and sailed, in 1854, for the land of his adoption, landing in New York and coming unaccompanied by relatives or friends.

In Rochester, New York, and Buffalo he was employed at his trade, working two years in the former and one in the latter place. In the fall of 1857 he determined upon coming farther West, and, setting out,

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he reached Fort Wayne September 27 of that year. Here he found remunerative work in the old Wabash shops, where for more than two years he steadily applied himself. He had prospered in this new land equal to his expectations, and desiring to visit his parents, who were becoming old, he sailed in November, 1859, for his old home. After spending the ensuing winter and spring with his aged father and mother and other relatives, he returned the following June and took his position in the shops.

His marriage took place soon afterward, August 4, 1860, when he wedded Elizabeth, daughter of John and Anna Mary Hauen- stein, natives of Switzerland. The Hauen- steins were early settlers in Fort Wayne, the birth of Mrs. Rostetter occurring here March 27, 1841.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 89

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