Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 94

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

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Dr. Renner was first married in 1859, to Mary De Rumple, who died in 1866, leav- ing two children, Mala E. and Jennie. The eldest chose the profession of his father, en- tering the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 1881. For the following eight years he was engaged in practice with his father, but is now located at Urbana, In- diana, where, in addition to following the medical profession, he is proprietor of a drug store. In 1867 the Doctor was united in marriage with Jennie McVicker, a native of Wabash county, and a daughter of Samuel

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and Rachel (Sutton) McVicker, natives of the East. Dr. and Mrs. Renner have four children, -Charles W., Samuel, and Joseph and James (twins). Dr. Renner has ever been deeply interested in the advancement of his adopted State, feeling a special in- terest in educational work. In early life, being a feeble boy physically, and unequal to the battle of life, the love, courage and devotion of his mother during those trying years laid the foundation of his successful career, and to the memory of that dear de- parted one he owes the fact that he is to- day a respected, honored and valuable citizen.

J AMES F. RAMSAY, Trustee of La Gro township, Wabash county, In- diana, and for the past fifteen years a general merchant in La Gro, is a gentleman whose prominence in this vicinity entitles him to recognition among its leading citizens.

James F. Ramsay was born on the old Ramsay homestead on section 10, La Gro township, this county, October 17, 1852, one of the family of ten children of James and Mary (Welch) Ramsay, all of whom are living, viz .; Sarah A., wife of D. W. Mc- Donald, La Gro township; John T., La Gro; Lydia E., wife of John Fulton, La Gro town- ship; Mary C., wife of John C. Collins, Grant county, Indiana; William B., La Gro town- ship; Hannah, wife of S. A. Jackson, at the home place; Eliza, wife of Robert Scott, same township; James Frank, whose name appears at the head of this article; Phoebe J .; and Margaret, wife of R. J. Fultz, also of La Gro township. James Ramsay, the father, was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1811, and in his native State made his home

until 1839, when he came West and settled at Richmond, Indiana, remaining there some five years. His next move was in 1844, to Wabash county. In La Gro township he bought a canal claim of 160 acres, on which he settled and to the clearing and improve- ment of which he devoted his time and ener- gies, his first work here being the erection of a log cabin. He was one of the very ear- liest settlers in this section of the country, his neighbors were few and far apart, and many were the hardships and privations which he had to meet here on the frontier. But as the years passed by his earnest and honest efforts were attended with merited success, and he not only developed his original claim into a fine farm but he from time to time also ac- quired other lands until his holdings aggrega- ted 415 acres. He was a public-spirited man, always interested in the welfare of Wabash county, and, although never an officeholder, for years was one of the active politicians of his community, affiliating in early life with the Whigs and later becoming a Democrat of the Andrew Jackson type. For a number of years he acted as administrator for many estates. October 14, 1884, marked the close of his active and useful life, he being seven- ty-three years of age at the time of his death. Of his good wife, nec Mary Welch, we record that she, too, was a native of the Keystone State, and that she was a daugh- ter of John Welch, of that State. A consist- ent Christian and a devoted member of the Baptist Church, she passed to her reward in January, 1894.

James F. Ramsay, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district school. At the age of eight- een he began working at the carpenter's trade, which business he continued for a

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period of eleven years, making his home all the while on the farm. In 1880 he removed to La Gro and engaged in business as a gen- eral merchant, in which he has been fairly successful.

Mr. Ramsay was married July 8, 1880, to Miss Sarah A. Driscoll, a native of Indi- ana and a daughter of Michael and Mary Driscoll, for many years honored residents of this State and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay have one daughter, Mary C., a Miss of thirteen years.

Politically, Mr. Ramsay is following the footsteps of his honored father, being a Democrat of pronounced views and ever an active worker in the ranks of his party. At different times he has been a delegate to county, district and State conventions, and he was appointed Postmaster at La Gro during the first administration of President Cleveland, in which position he served most acceptably. In the spring of 1889 he was elected Trustee of La Gro township, receiv- ing a majority of 136 votes, which was very complimentary to him in this township, which has some 200 Republican majority. This office he now holds, discharging the varied duties of the same in a manner credit- able to himself and to the satisfaction of all.

Fraternally, Mr. Ramsay is an inter- ested and appreciative member of the F. & A. M., at this time being Junior Warden of Tuscon Lodge, No. 143, of La Gro, which he joined in 1886.

J OHN W. COOK .- Gas City, Indi- ana, is fortunate in having among her enterprising citizens a number of expert contractors and builders, men of brains, energy and means who know how to push forward with marvelous rapidity the 44

growth of a town, and by their own confi- dence in its future prosperity inspiring con- fidence in others. Such a man is found in the subject of this article, John W. Cook.

Mr. Cook is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born September 4, 1852, son of Peter and Margaret Cook, the former being now deceased. In his native State he was reared and educated, and on completing his academic course turned his attention to work at the carpenter's trade, in which he soon became proficient. Like many of the enterprising and ambitious young men of the East he was anxious to see something of the world beyond the limits of his own State, and in 1879 turned his face west- ward. For a number of years he was em- ployed in work at his trade in various por- tions of the West. His first location was in Colorado, where he spent two years, work- ing at his trade and also being engaged in merchandising. Next we find him in Medi- cine Lodge, Kansas. There he erected a number of buildings. In 1887 he went on to California, and at San Diego he was em- ployed as foreman of carpenter work, re- maining there a year; thence back to Colo- rado, spending a year in Manitou Springs, and after that eight months in the State of Arkansas. The next three years he spent in Liverpool, Ohio, working by the day at his trade. In the meantime, in 1889, he made a visit to Pennsylvania. Since 1892 he has been identified with Gas City, Indi- ana, carrying on contracting and building here, and in this time having erected as many buildings as any other man in the town. For a time also, he had charge of the Gas City Lumber Company.

Mr. Cook was married in 1886 to Miss Ada Pauling, a native of Wabash county, Indiana, and a daughter of Curtis Pauling,

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deceased, a well-known stockman of that county and a native of Pennsylvania. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cook are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church, he being Treas- urer of the Church. She is also an active worker in the Sabbath-school.

Politically, Mr. Cook is a stanch and ardent Republican and has for years ren- dered efficient service for his party. In local affairs especially does he take a deep interest. While in Missouri he served a short time as deputy sheriff of Bates county. Here in Gas City he has served the public in various capacities. He was president of the Town Board prior to its organization as a city, and at this writing he is president pro tem. of the City Council. He is a mem- ber of the police committee, chairman of the ordinance committee, and also chair- man of the committee on public buildings. Fraternally, he is connected with the K. O. T. M., Junior Order of American Mechanics, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

UGH D. WOOD, M. D., stands at the head of the medical profes- sion of the State of Indiana and also is well known throughout the adjoining States.

He was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, June 28, 1836, son of James Wheeler Wcod and Sarah nec Farn- ham, both natives of Connecticut, the former born in 1801 and the latter in 1804, he of English descent and she of Welsh. They were inarried in New York, and about 1843 moved to Williams county, Ohio, where they made their home until 1846, that year com- ing on west to Indiana and making perma- nent settlement in De Kalb county. Here

James Wheeler Wood died in 1851, and his wife in 1859.

Hugh D. was the sixth in line of birth in a family of nine children, was a mere boy at the time of their removal to Indiana, and when quite young was left an orphan. He attended the district schools in Williams county, Ohio, and De Kalb county, Indiana, and in 1856 entered the Northeastern In- diana Institute at Orland, Indiana, where he spent one year. From that time until 1859 he was a student at Hillsdale College, Michi- gan, where he completed his literary educa- tion. At intervals throughout his college life he taught several terms of school, in this way earning the funds with which to main- tain himself while a student, and worked his way unaided. During his vacations and odd moments he devoted his attention to the study of medicine, having for his preceptor his brother, Dr. W. A. Wood, at that time of Metz, Indiana. In 1860-1, after leaving college and while reading medicine under his brother's instructions, he attended a course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Buffalo, New York. Late in 1861 he began practice at Metz, in partnership with his brother, and the follow- ing year he opened an office of his own. Here he continued practice and from time to time improved every opportunity to fur- ther prepare himself for his life work, and soon took rank with the leading members of his profession. In the winter of 1863-4 he attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, New York city, and later re- turned and finished his course, graduating in that institution in 1867. In the meantime he has attended medical college in Philadel- phia. May 6, 1869, he removed to Angola to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his brother, W. A. Wood. In 1873-4 he

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attended a general course of lectures at three different medical schools in New York. In 1879 he received an honorary degree, that of A. M., from Hillsdale College, Michigan.

Dr. Wood was one of the organizers of the Medical College of Fort Wayne, of which he was a trustee. Also he was the originator of the reorganization of that col- lege, and was treasurer and dean of the faculty. Following are the medical organ- izations with which he is connected: The Steuben County Medical Society, of which he was president from 1866 to 1869, and its secretary several years; Northeastern Indi- ana Medical Society, of which he was presi- dent in 1872, and secretary from 1874 for a number of years; the Indiana State Medical Society; Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan Tri- State Medical Society, of which he was president in 1876; Allen County Medical Society; Michigan Southern Medical Society; American Medical Association; International Medical Congress; British Medical Society, of which he was made a member when he visited Europe, etc.

Dr. Wood's specialty is surgery. He is called in consultation and to perform diffi- cult surgical operations on frequent occa- sions, and at points both near and distant, and his success in this line has indeed been remarkable. He has been Professor of Sur- gery, Gynecology and Clinical Surgery in the Fort Wayne Medical College, and while serving as such lectured twice a week. For years he has kept a young doctor in his office to act as assistant and clerk, and each week he devotes two days to office practice, his rooms on these days always being crowded with suffering humanity, eager to secure his valued service. His practice extends into both Michigan and Ohio; and while he has such a large number of calls he responds as

readily to the poor as to the rich, his chief thought being to relieve the suffering with- out stopping to question their ability to re- munerate him for his service. He is indeed a friend to the poor and to all who call upon him for encouragement and advice, none ever being turned away unheard. He acts upon the belief that the world is large enough for all, never tries to crush out a rival or to discourage the aspirations of his younger brethren in the profession.

As a public-spirited citizen and useful member of society, the Doctor has few equals, and he is fearless in the expression of his opinions on all subjects. In educa- tional matters especially does he take a deep interest. He has, without exception, the largest library in northeastern Indiana. He was secretary of the Board of Education of Angola from 1888 to 1894, and it may be said of him that he is the father of the Tri- State Normal College of Angola. The meet- ing in which the college was organized was held in his office, he was its first president, and he drafted the by-laws of the organiza- tion. Politically, the Doctor is an ardent Republican.

B. WILLIAMS, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Angola, Steuben county, Indiana, has been identified with this place for more than thirty years.

Dr. Williams is a son of John R. Will- iams, who emigrated to this country from Europe in 1831, was a leading official in the society of the Sons of Temperance, and was one of the greatest temperance advocates in the United States, lecturing in all the large cities and being the means of accomplishing untold good. He died in 1872, at about the

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age of seventy years. The maiden name of the Doctor's mother was Annie J. Bourgess. She was born in Kent county, England, and when a child came to America with her par- ents, their location being in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, where she grew to womanhood, and where, in 1838, she was married to Mr. Williams. Her death occurred in 1870. In their family were thirteen children, sev- eral of whom died in infancy and five of whom survive at this writing.

T. B., the subject of this article, was their second born. His birth occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, September 18, 1838, and his education was received in the public schools and Hudson College, Hudson, Ohio. He began his medical studies under the in- struction of Dr. L. M. Brooks, of Cleveland, Ohio, and studied surgery with Dr. Proctor Thayer of that city for his preceptor. Sub- sequently he entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he graduated with the class of 1863. While in the college he was house surgeon of the United States Marine Hospi- tal, of Cleveland. A year after his gradua- tion he came to Angola, Indiana, to visit his brother-in-law, Robert Pow, and was so well pleased with the town and the sur- rounding country that he decided to locate here, which he did in 1864, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of his profession here. He early established an excellent practice, which he has in- creased and maintained throughout the years, and which extends into the country for a number of miles around the town.

Dr. Williams is a member of the Steuben County Medical Society, of which he was for years honored by being elected its presi- dent, and he is also a member of the Ameri- can Medical Society. He is a member of the Board of United States Pension Exam-

iners and has been its president since it was organized. Fraternally, he is a member in good standing of both the lodge and chapter, F. & A. M., has been Master of Angola Lodge and is Past High Priest of the Chap- ter. In politics, he is an ardent Democrat, and takes an active and commendable inter- est in all public affairs.

Dr. Williams married Miss Mary Cark- huss, a daughter of William Carkhuss, a prominent early pioneer of Angola, and they have one child, a son, William C., who is a resident of Ohio.

EWIS LONG, who resides on a farm on section 9, Washington township, Whitley county, and who is rated among the representative men of his vicinity, has spent nearly the whole of his life on the place where he now lives. He is a native of the neighboring State of Ohio, as also were his parents.

John Long, the father of our subject, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, son of Lewis Long, who died near Dayton, that State, and in his native county was mar- ried to Miss Mary Priddy. About 1848 or '9, he moved over into Indiana, and in the midst of the forest of Whitley county built a log cabin, and here he spent the rest of his days and died. By trade he was a car- penter, but after settling here he gave much of his attention to the clearing and cultiva- tion of his farm, in this being assisted by his sons. He came here a poor man, and by his industry and careful economy secured for himself and family a comfortable home. He was thrice married. His first wife died within a year of their marriage. By his second wife he had four children, three of whom are now living, viz .: Perry, a resident

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of Columbia City, Indiana; Lewis, with whose name we introduce this article; and Mrs. Catharine Geiselman. His third wife left no children. He was a member of the Dunkard Church, as also was the mother of our subject, and he occupied a position of some prominence in the community, at one time serving as Township Trustee.

Lewis Long first saw the light of day in Montgomery county, Ohio, in the fall of 1840, and when a small boy came with his parents to Indiana, settling on the farm on which he has ever since made his home. This farm comprises 100 acres, eighty of which are under cultivation. In partner- ship with his brother, he was for some years engaged in operating a sawmill here, but with this exception he has devoted his time and attention exclusively to agricultural pur- suits.

Mr. Long was married in 1865 to Sarah Long, a native of Ohio, who died a few years later, leaving him with two children, John and Delilah Catharine Baker. Decem- ber 31, 1883, he married for his second wife Mrs. Fannie E. Ellsworth, nee Brock, a native of Thorn Creek township, this coun- ty, born November 10, 1854. He. and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and the political views he advocates are those of the Democratic party.

Mrs. Long is a danghter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Ammon) Brock, both natives of Germany, but residents of America since early in life, he having come to this country at the age of seventeen and she at the age of ten years. They were married in Lick- ing county, Ohio, and about 1850 came to Whitley county, Indiana, settling on land in Jefferson township where they still reside. Five of their six children are living, namely: Benjamin, Marion, Indiana; Samuel, Jef-

ferson township, this county; Eliza Bentz, Jefferson township; Mrs. Long; and John, at home. Mrs. Long was reared on her father's farm, and was first married to Charles T. Ellsworth, a native of Fort Wayne, In- diana, and a wagonmaker by trade. He died January 5, 1881, leaving her with two children,-Della Frances Mullendore and Flora Louisa.

ARTIN MINDNICH, was born at Howellsville, Steuben county, New York, May 21, 1862, the son of John and Catharine (Kael- bach) Mindnich. The father died in 1870, at the age of forty-seven years; the mother died in 1877, aged fifty-five years. They were the parents of the following named children: Catharine, who died at the age of sixteen years; Mary, who died at the age of eighteen months; Helen, the wife of Augus- tus Rank, and living in Rochester, New York; Anna, who married Nathaniel Gans, and lives in Rochester New York; Martin, who is the subject of this biography; Eliza- beth, who is the wife of Joseph Mengus; and Frances, who died at the age of six months.

In his childhood Martin Mindnich went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until he was fourteen years old. He then started out to meet life on his own responsi- bility. He came to Indiana in 1883, arriv- ing at Huntington January 28. He secured employment with Frank Listman, with whom he continued three years. At the end of that time he undertook the cultivation of 100 acres of land, and continued farming for seven years. In 1893 he leased the Fergu- son lime quarries, which he operated two years. In February, 1895, he exchanged his farm land for quarries here and now owns

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eleven acres of lime land; he has four kilns, with a capacity of 3,000 bushels per week, and sells his product throughout the State, dealing directly with consumers.

He was united in marriage, May 10, 1883, to Mary Lisman, a daughter of Francis Jo- seph and Theresa (Hubric) Lisman. Mrs. Mindnich was born October 10, 1862. Her father, a native of Prussia, Germany, was born June 8, 1838, and now resides with his son-in-law, Mr. Kauff, near Huntington, Indiana. His wife died May 29, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Mindnich are the parents of five children: Mary, born February 8, 1884, died at the age of six weeks; Theresa, born March 25, 1885; Josephine, born January 18, 1887, died of diphtheria in November, 1894; the next child was a son, who died in infancy; Amelia, born March 9, 1893. In politics Mr. Mindnich adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. In his religious faith he is a Roman Catholic.

EORGE SNYDER, a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Whitley county, now residing on section 14, Columbia township, is a native of Stark county, Ohio. He was born on the 22d of January, 1842, and is a son of Samuel and Mollie (Eber- hart) Snyder, the former a native of the Buckeye State and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. The paternal grandfather, Michael Snyder, became one of the early settlers of Stark county, Ohio, and was of German lineage. The parents cleared and developed a farm in that county, and made it their home until called to their final rest. In their family were seven children, who still survive, namely: John, Mrs. Elizabeth Clat- ner, Mrs. Marie Werstler, Mrs. Nancy

Werstler, Mrs. Sarah Ann Bordner, Mrs. Hannah Madlen, and George, of this sketch.

In the county of his nativity, midst play and work, our subject spent the days of his childhood and in the public schools acquired his education. He first came to Whitley county, Indiana, in 1862, but after a time returned to Stark county, where on the 25th of February, 1866, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Ann Bair, a native of that county and a daughter of Jacob H. and Catherine (Miller) Bair, who were also na- tives of the Buckeye State, and died in Stark county. Four of their children are now living, as follows: Mrs. Lizzie Miller; Mrs. Snyder, who was born August 14, 1845, and was reared in Stark county; Frank and Jeff. There are two children by the marriage of our subject and his wife,- Minerva Alice and Jefferson J. The former married Simon Nolt and resides in Columbia township.

Mr. Snyder became a permanent resi- dent of Whitley county in 1870, at which time he located upon a rented farm. Sub- sequently he purchased a tract of land on section 23, Columbia township, and in July, 1875, located thereon, at once be- ginning the development of the land which was all in its primitive condition, not a fur- row having been turned or an improvement made. He to-day owns 137 acres, of which 100 acres are under a high state of cultiva- tion. He has cleared and improved it all himself, and the buildings upon the place- convenient and substantial-stand as monu- ments to his thrift and enterprise. He is a wide-awake and progressive farmer, and his own labors have brought to him a pleas- ant home and comfortable competence.

In his political views, Mr. Snyder is a supporter of the Democracy, and for four

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years served as Trustee of Columbia town- ship, but has held no other office, preferring to give his time and attention to his busi- ness interests, in which he has met with good success. He manages his affairs in a systematic and methodical manner, is straightforward in all dealings, and has won the confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact. Numbered among the early settlers of the county and among the valued citizens who are devoted to its best interests, he well deserves representa- tion in this volume.

K. SHELDON, president of the Sheldon-Foster Glass Company, Gas City, Ind., is associated in the management of the company with A. M. Foster, of Chicago, vice president, and Charles Ashelman, secretary and treas- urer. The organization of the plant under the present management was effected in July, 1894. It is an extensive concern, cov- ering four acres of ground in the southern limits of the city. It has what is known as a fourteen-pot furnace, each pot having a capacity for holding about 300 pounds of metal. Prescription and druggists' wares are manufactured, and a specialty is made of manufacturing lettered drug prescription ware, also private mold goods. This is one of the important plants of the Indiana gas belt, and it starts off giving abundant assur- ance of a prosperous career, having run steadily without scarcely any intermission since the fires were first lighted, more than a year ago. One hundred and sixty skilled artisans are employed, and the products of the factory are marketed in all parts of the country.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 94

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