Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 95

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

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Mr. Sheldon was born in New Jersey in !

1836, and grew to manhood in his native State, receiving his education in the com- mon schools. When a boy he entered the glass works of Whitehall, Tatum & Com- pany, of Millville, New Jersey, where he served an apprenticeship, remaining until 1871, when he went to Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania. In 1880 he established himself in the business on his own account, at Bel- laire, Ohio, where he made a specialty in manufacturing the same style of goods that he is now turning out. In 1885 he went to Chicago and became interested in the Chi- cago Glass Manufacturing Company, where he remained two years. In 1887 he moved to Marion, Indiana, where he became con- nected with the Marion Flint Glass Com- pany, with which, in 1892, his present plant was consolidated. In 1894 a division of the property was made, and the Gas City works were accepted by Mr. Sheldon as his por- tion. As a practical glass-man, he has no superior in knowledge of the art. From his boyhood to the present he has given to it all his time.

His marriage to Miss Rebecca Sutton took place in 1861. They have one child, -Laura W.,-now the wife of Charles Ashelman.

In religious sentiment, Mr. Sheldon is a Methodist, and he is a member of that church. Socially, he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he is a Republican.

APTAIN R. D. PATTERSON, of Decatur, one of the best known men of Adams county, is a native of Auglaize county, Ohio, born Oc- tober 31, 1838, and is a son of James B. and Eliza A. (Peterson) Patterson, the former a

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native of Pennsylvania, of Irish extraction, and the latter of Scotch origin. The elder Mr. Patterson, a carpenter by trade, settled in Wayne county, Ohio, when a young man. In 1839 he located in Adams county, having been among the first to settle in this region. He was an enterprising, industrious man, and he and his estimable wife were held in high esteem, as their many excellent traits of character endeared them to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. To them were born a family of seven children, -four sons and three daughters, -as follows: Robert D .; Emma J., who died at the age of sixteen years; George W .; Julia A., widow of W. WV. Moses; Samuel G., who was killed while doing wrecking work on the Pan Handle' Railroad; Margaret A., widow of Dr. W. H. Schrock; and James C.

Our subject was brought to this county an infant in his brother's arms. Here on a farm his childhood days were spent. He at- tended the common schools when old enough to go, which afforded him all the means he ever enjoyed for acquiring an education. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to P. S. Underhill, of Fort Wayne, to learn the stone-cutter's trade, which he finished in 1861 and for a short time thereafter worked as a journeyman.

The war feeling at this time was running high, and he resolved upon enlisting, carry- ing his design into effect August, 1862, and was mustered into the service of the govern- ment and assigned to Company H, of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war. He saw active service from the start, having been captured at Mumfordville, Kentucky, by the Rebel forces under General Bragg on the 16th of September. His parole immediately followed, and he returned home to await ex-

change, which was accomplished in six weeks, and he was then ordered to Tennessee to do garrison duty at Memphis, where he remained six months. His promotion from Sergeant to Captain followed rapidly, which last po- sition he very reluctantly accepted, as it was made over both lieutentants. It was the re- ward of meritorious conduct and gallantry which his colonel and superior officers would not allow to go unrewarded. He remained in the service until after the last gun had been fired, and during his three years of act- ive service was never on the sick list or re- ceived a wound.

On his return to civil life he settled in Decatur and engaged in the marble busi- ness for one year, when he sold out to B. Wemhoff and purchased an interest in J. S. Hart's milling business. In 1873, Mr. W. Pillars bought Mr. Hart's interest, the firm style becoming Patterson & Pillars. The mill is running under the same name and doing a good business.

Mr. Patterson was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket, in 1881, to the office of Coun- ty Treasurer, and became his own successor in 1883, serving the people of the county most efficiently for two terms. While a Democrat in politics, he is never offensively radical, having hosts of friends in all parties. He was one of the organizers of the Trenton Rock Mining Company, of which he has been one of the Board of Directors. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member and trustee of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Patterson was married in 1869 to Miss Sophia Beery, whose parents, John M. and Mary A. (Weldy) Beery, were among Adams county's earliest settlers, and who died in her early infancy, leaving Samuel, an older brother and now a well-known inventor

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of Chicago, and herself, fortunately, in the hands of kind and loving relatives. Mrs. Patterson is an earnest member of the Chris- tian Church and a kind and loving mother; and to her and Mr. Patterson seven children have been born, five of whom are living: Jennette, wife of Nelson K. Todd, an attor- ney of Bluffton, Indiana; Eva, wife of French Quinn, of Decatur, Indiana; and Harriet, Elizabeth, and Vera at home,-Harry J. and Glenn having died in their early child- hood. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have brought into their home to raise little Roy Beery.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are home-loving people, and their friends all know of their hospitality when they visit them in their beautiful home on North Second street, in Decatur.

0 AVID A. GOSHORN, M. D., a physician practicing at North Man- chester, Indiana, came from Penn- sylvania and commenced prac- ticing in Huntington county, this State, in the year 1857.

0 R. G. G. BRUDI, one of the prom- inent members of the medical pro- fession of Allen county, Indiana, and a leading practitioner of New Haven, is one to whose ancestral and life history the biographer now directs attention.

Christian F. Brudi, Dr. Brudi's father, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 17, 1835. He is a son of John George and Anna Barbara (Handi) Brudi, who were married in Germany, their native land. By this union eight sons and two daughters were born, namely: John, deceased; Carl L., now a resident of Adams township, Allen

county; Joseph, deceased; Gottlieb, of Adams township; Christian F., deceased, the Doctor's father; Joseph, of New Haven; Mary, wife of Gustav Gothe, New Haven; Johanna, wife of John H. Koehlinger, of Adams township; and William, deceased.

The father came to America in April, 1845, his settlement being in Allen county, Indiana. In November, 1846, his wife and children came to their new home, -all but Joseph, who died in Germany, and William, who died on the ocean. The father then purchased a farm in Jefferson township about two miles southeast of New Haven, to the clearing and cultivation of which he directed his attention. The mother died September 12, 1855. Some years later the father returned to Germany, where he died August 13, 1868.

Dr. Brudi's mother was born near Wentz- ler, Prussia, November 1, 1843, was by maiden name Elizabeth C. Koehlinger, and was a daughter of John Henry and Christina (Webber) Koehlinger, who came to Adams township, Allen county, Indiana, in July, 1849, where her father died in July, 1868, and where her mother is still living, having attained the advanced age of ninety years. The Koehlinger family is composed of the following members: Jacob, a resident of Marion township, Allen county; Phillip, Fort Wayne; Mary, wife of James L. Hun- ter, Fort Wayne; Peter, Fort Wayne; John H., Adams township, this county; Cather- ine, wife of Fred. Zollinger, Marion town- ship; Elizabeth C., New Haven; George, Marion township; and Frederick, Adams township.

Christian F. Brudi and Elizabeth C. Koehlinger were married in this county July 17, 1860, and after their marriage they set- tled on the Brudi estate in Jefferson town-

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MEMORIAL RECORD OF

ship, which continued their home until De- cember, 1863. At the time of his marriage he and his brother Joseph were operating this farm in partnership, they having pur- chased it in 1859. In December, 1863, Christian F. sold his interest in the farm to Joseph. He then engaged in contracting and building.

October 24. 1864, Christian F. Brudi enlisted as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volun - teer Infantry, was made Corporal, and served on guard duty near Nashville, Tennessee, and also helped to build fortifications there. He took part in the battle of Nashville De- cember 15 and 16, 1864. July 15, 1865, the war being practically over, he was mustered out of the service and returned to his home in Indiana. In the meantime he had removed his family to Fort Wayne, and on his return he again engaged in contracting and building in that city, but his active and use- ful career was soon cut short, his death occurring December 9, 1865. His widow still survives and makes her home with the subject of our sketch. She has three chil- dren. John Henry, the eldest, married Miss Emma Jacobs, has one child, Esther, and resides in New Haven. George Gustave, also a resident of New Haven; Christian F., the youngest, married Miss Mary Dixon and lives in Peru, Indiana. Mrs. Elizabeth Brudi is a member of the German Lutheran Church, as also was her husband, Christian F. Brudi, he having assisted in the organi- zation of this church in New Haven. Dr. Brudi was born April 24, 1863, on the farm above referred to, in Jefferson township, this county, and was reared to his fifteenth year in New Haven, his education up to that time being received in the German Lutheran and public schools. He was then sent to St.

Mary's, Ohio, where he attended high school and where he subsequently began the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. J. WV. Brewington. At the same time, from 1878 to 1882, he served as a drug clerk. In 1883 he entered the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, which he attended two years. In March, 1886, he graduated in the Toledo Medical College. July 7, that same year, he opened an office in New Haven and entered upon his professional career. At that time there were three established physi- cians in the town, and by his thorough qualifications for his profession and his gen- tlemanly bearing he gained a footing among them and now has a practice second to none in New Haven.

September 10, 1885, Dr. Brudi married Miss Louisa M. Kettler, a native of Auglaize county, Ohio, born February 21, 1864, daughter of Henry and Mary Kettler, early settlers of that county and both now de- ceased. In their family were eight children, all of whom are now living, -Anna Wessel, Harmon, Lizzie Swhear, Katie Norris, Min- nie Newman, William, Sophia Grunt, and Mrs. Brudi. Mrs. Brudi was educated at St. Mary's, Ohio, and it was there that she and the Doctor became acquainted. They have one child, Ethel Emma Mary, born Novem- ber 3, 1890.

Fraternally, the Doctor is identified with the Allen County Medical Society.

C. McDONALD, M. D., of War- saw, Indiana, has been a resident of the city but three years, but in . that time has made many friends and has built up an extensive practice, which is increasing year by year.

He is the son of Alexander and Christine

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(Cameron) McDonald, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Prince Edward's Island, Canada. When but eight years of age his father was taken by his parents to Prince Edward's Island, where he grew to manhood, and on attaining his majority en- gaged in farming. He there married Cath- arine Cameron, who is of Scotch descent. Both are still living in Canada and in the - enjoyment of good health. Alexander Mc- Donald has been twice married, and by his first wife had one child, a daughter, who is still living. By his last marriage, to Chris- tine Cameron, there were nine children born, -- six sons and three daughters, -and all are yet living.

The subject of this sketch was the first born of the nine children, his birth occurring January 20, 1865. At the age of three years he went to live with his grandfather, who also was engaged in farming on Prince Ed- ward's Island. He was adopted by his grandfather, it being understood that when he grew to manhood he would inherit all his grandfather's property and money. When old enough he was sent to the district school, in which he continued until his fifteenth year. He then attended the graded school in Belfast for two years. At this time he made up his mind to be a physician. This was against his grandfather's wishes, but he was determined to prepare himself for the medical profession and make that his life calling. At the age of seventeen he entered the Prince of Wales College in Canada, where he remained three years, and then re- turned home to live with his grandfather. Securing a position as teacher of the dristict school which he had attended as a child, he taught school for about five and a half years, and during this time had saved money enough to pay his way through the univer-

sity of Pennsylvania, the medical depart- ment of which he entered in 1889, and in which he graduated with the class of 1892, receiving his degree of M. D. A short time before graduating, with a class of sixty-five students who were all candidates for the po- sition of resident physicians at the Philadel- phia, he was duly examined. Only twelve appointments were to be made and our sub- ject stood fifth in the class.

While waiting to receive his appointment to the Philadelphia Hospital, he was sent to Warsaw, Indiana, to assist Dr. White of that place. He was so well impressed with the city that he decided to remain, and has since been engaged here in the practice of his profession. He has been quite success- ful in the treatment of disease and is recog- nized as one of the most skillful physicians in Warsaw. He is a close student and en- deavors to keep posted in the various changes made in his profession and in its latest dis- coveries. As all true physicians should do he is willing to learn and believes there is yet much to learn in regard to disease and its treatment. He is a member of the Ash- hurst Medical Society, of the Kosciusko County Medical Society and of the State Medical Society. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

Fraternally, he is a member of the Order of Ben Hur and of the Improved Order of Red Men.

0 ANIEL NESTEL, retired, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is one of the worthiest of the old-time settlers of Allen county. The mantle of a well spent life hangs comfortably about him, and the evening of his earthly pilgrimage is passing calmly away, where, for fifty-five

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years he has been wont to mingle in the busy affairs of life, amid the ceaseless activities of business and social functions, in both of which he has borne prominent parts.

" Uncle Daniel," as he is sometimes famil- iarly called, was born in Carlsbronn, Prus- sia, January 31, 1818, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Klein) Nestel. Nothing of particular importance attaches to his boy- hood years. His school days were over at his fourteenth year, when it can be said young Daniel assumed the responsibilities of life and stout-heartedly faced the world to make a career for himself, which in the end should embody a good name and a fortune.

Leaving school he obtained employment in a grist mill, and after several years of strict attention to his duties his faithfulness was rewarded by promotion to the superin- tendency of the mill, in which capacity he was engaged for two years. He had now turned into his majority by a year or more, and believing America offered better advan- tages to young men than the Fatherland he decided to come hither.

On the first of June, 1840, he boarded the sailing vessel Cotton Planter. com- manded by Captain Harley, and on August 7, forty-seven days after setting sail, was landed in New York. His purse was not plethoric when he started, and on reaching our shores it was so depleted that Mr. Nes- tel scarcely stood on a cash basis, as its contents amounted to just eight cents, and the first meal he ate in America was earned before it was eaten. His objective point was Fort Wayne, and although without means he started boldly on a journey of some 800 miles, a great portion of which he walked, reaching Fort Wayne just twenty days after landing in New York. Fred Foellinger, a boyhood friend, came with him from Ger-

many and was his companion on the journey to Indiana. A laughable incident happened one night about thirty miles from Fort Wayne, though at the time it was serious enough to those concerned. These two young men had tramped about thirty miles that day, without food other than that obtained from the bushes and trees. Night coming on they camped in the woods. Wolves were numerous, and as darkness settled down over the earth these pests of the forest came prowling around making the night hideous with their howls. Mr. Nestel, not knowing

what might happen, decided that if he and his friend should be killed they were entitled to an obituary, and with his knife he carved upon a tree this inscription: " D. Nestel and Fred Foellinger, died from hunger and eaten up by wolves."

On arrival at his destination Mr. Nestel at first obtained work as a day laborer, and, subsequently, began learning the blacksmith trade, which, when completed, he turned to account by establishing himself in a shop of his own. For twenty-six years his anvil rang out its peals in response to his sturdy blows, and for more than fifteen years of that time he worked sixteen hours a day!

Mr. Nestel was married June 4, 1844, to Miss Henrietta, daughter of Adam Goebel, who located in Preble township about 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Nestel have had six chil- dren: Henrietta, Charles W., Daniel, Char- lotte, Eliza S., Oscar W., of whom Charles W. and Eliza S. are familiarly known to the world as "Commodore Foote and Fairy Queen." Both are of perfect physical and mental development and weigh respectively forty and thirty-five pounds. They have the culture and refinement of classical edu- cation and are polished by years of travel throughout the civilized world, appearing be-

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fore all the royal personages of Europe. Mr. Nestel traveled with them for eighteen years, visiting all the larger cities of this country and Canada. Subsequently, for six years, he became engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness in Fort Wayne, and for many years he has owned and conducted the Broadway nursery. His palatial residence, situated on Creighton avenue, Fort Wayne, is with- out doubt the most beautifully located home in the city. The house stands in the center of one square acre of ground, elevated on a hill and is surrounded by magnificent gar- dens and other attractive features that sug- gest the refined and elegant taste of the occu- pants. In the upper part of the house several rooms are devoted to the keeping of curiosities that have been gathered from two continents by Commodore Foote and Fairy Queen. Among the many mementoes is an autograph letter from Queen Victoria to the Commodore.

Mr. Nestel has been active in the local affairs of his adopted home, taking an interest always in everything that has for its pur- pose the amelioration of the condition of the city and increasing the advantage and interests of its people. In his politics he is ardently Republican. Office-holding has had no charm for him, being too much ab- sorbed in his private affairs to do any more than to perform the duties of good citizen- ship by going regularly to the polls.

NTHONY W. HOFFMAN, EsQ., Justice of the Peace at Roann, Wabash county, was born in Stark county, Ohio, March 29, 1839.

His father, Jacob Hoffman, was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation,

who emigrated from Stark county, Ohio, to Indiana, in June, 1839, locating in Perry township, Miami county, where he pur- chased a tract of 400 acres, consisting of both timber and prairie, and resided there until his death, in February, 1846, when he was aged forty years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. He married Cath- erine Gregg, who probably was a native of Ohio, and they had four sons and three daughters. Of these only three are now living, namely: Jacob, in Fulton county, Indiana; Esther, now the wife of Henry Smith, of Warsaw, this State; and Anthony, the subject proper of this sketch. Mrs. Hoffman died in 1852, a member of the German Reformed Church, but in earlier life, while her husband was living, was a member of his church, the Lutheran.

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this notice was a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, a shoemaker by trade, was a Revolutionary soldier, had three children, and died at Lancaster, Penn- sylvania. Mr. Hoffman's maternal grand- father, Mr. Schneider, was a native of Ger- many, in which country he served seven years as a soldier, and after emigrating to this country followed farming in the State of Ohio, had a large family and died at an advanced age.

"'Squire" Hoffman, whose name intro- duces this brief account, was brought up principally in Miami county, this State, upon a farm, receiving the usual pioneer school- ing during the winter seasons. Leaving home at the age of seventeen years, he be- gan teaching school and followed that pro- fession for seventeen years, when he began clerking in a general store for L. Patterson in Roann, and continued with him for four years. Next, in partnership with S. W.

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Butterbaugh and William Wise, under the firm name of Butterbaugh, Wise & Com- pany, he opened a general store and con- tinued in connection with it until 1879, when he began clerking for J. C. Goch- enour, and remained with him eight years. He was Justice of the Peace from 1869 to 1878, and for the past four years he has been serving in the same capaci- ty, for which he is peculiarly well fitted. He is also a lawyer, for he was admitted to the bar in 1892; and he practices in the various courts, making a specialty of col- lections. For fifteen years he has been the commercial reporter of Roann for both Dun and Bradstreet; is also a writer for the Pern Republican. General words of praise from us in this connection would seem tame, after making the above state- ments.

October 14, 1861, is the date of "'Squire " Hoffman's marriage to Miss Eliza J. Wise, daughter of Peter and Chris- tina (Grove) Wise, and they have had five children,-Minnie, Effie, Dayton, Ella and Jennie. Minnie became the wife of Perry Fluke, of Ashland county, Ohio, and has three children, -Kelso, Florence and Helen. Effie married John Wertenberger, of Paw- paw township. Dayton married Miss Mol- lie Smith and has one child, Helen, and this family resides in Miami county. Ella is now Mrs. A. L. Grove, of Knightstown, Indiana.

Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Chris- tian Church, while Mrs. Hoffman belongs to the Methodist Church. He also is a Master Mason and a member of the O. E. S. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Hoffman is an even-tempered gentleman and of companionable disposition, well qualified for the position he holds. Of rural

tastes, he has a better physical foundation for contentment than almost any millionaire in the United States.

EORGE W. CRIST, a prosperous farmer of Wabash county, was born in Pawpaw township, this county, December 26, 1842. His father, John Crist, a native of Virginia, was a farmer who emigrated to Indiana about 1839, locating on the land where George W. was born. At that time there were but eleven houses in Wabash. The tract of land which he settled upon he cleared and developed into a productive farm. He died August 11, 1878, at the age of seventy-three years. He married Sarah Michael, a native of Ohio, and had three sons and two daugh- ters, of whom Leander M., George W. and Francis M. are living. Mrs. Crist died Janu- ary 4 , 1894, a sincere and zealous member of the Methodist Church. Jacob Crist, the father of John Crist, was of German descent, a farmer and distiller, had a large family and died in middle life. John Michael, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Ohio and of German ancestry, was a soldier in the war of 1812, emigrated to Indiana about 1855, and died in this State about 1859, aged about eighty years.

Mr. Crist, whose name heads this sketch, was brought up in his native township, re- ceiving his education there. When grown up he started out in the world for himself by renting a piece of land and proceeding to cul- tivate it. Later he inherited a farm of 100 acres, and since that time he has added to it by purchase eighty-four acres. He is an industrious and intelligent fariner, succeed- ing well with his undertakings and deserv-

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 95

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