USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 23
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"As a business man he was prompt and methodical. As a lawyer he was assiduous, careful and critical, with a ready apprehension of the points of adversary or judge. But the diadem, the highest merit of his life, public, private, social and professional, was his unbending integrity and unfaltering conscientiousness. As a special judge on the bench, no suspicion of unjust partiality ever tainted his rulings; as a trial lawyer, no trickery or foul practice ever lowered his conduct.
"Another characteristic which marked his life was his unassuming and unostentatious disposition. He despised all shams, double-dealing and moral veneer ; avoided all vulgarity and buffoonery, as he would the fangs of a cobra. He was an admirer of candor and sincerity, of which he himself was a genuine exemplar, and when he found one of his own type the affinity sealed an enduring friendship. He sought membership in none of the popular fraternities of the day; not because he decried fraternity, but because he had no time or strength to share in the wayside conventionalisms of men and because he had no taste for anything bordering on garish and spectacular. He stood aloof from clubs and coteries, because the attractions of his own home circle, to which he was devoted, filled all the longings of his heart. . But let it not be thought that he was morose or misanthropic, for the grace of good cheer and genial fellowship shone out in all his intercourse with others.
"With this composition in his nature, he could scarcely be otherwise than a devout and unostentatious religionist. And so he was. His paternal stock were Presbyterians, but his mother was a Methodist, and with a mother's Bible, a mother's example and the depths of a mother's love, he was early receptive of a faith in the earnestness she had lived. In it he was consistent and steadfast.
"We have written nothing new. This estimate of the character of Albert W. Caldwell has already been written in the hearts of all who knew him. We would only perpetuate the writing, when time has bedimmed its lines. Conscious of its defects, your committee submits this testimonial for your consideration and action.
R. P. DAVIDSON, S. P. BAIRD,
JOHN D. GOUGAR, DEWITT WILSON, CHARLES E. THOMPSON, CHARLES H. HENDERSON,
Committee."
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James Lindsey Caldwell has been an honored member of the Lafayette bor since the year 1873. After finishing his literary education in Stockwell Collegiate Institute, he entered the same office in Indianapolis where his brother had previously studied, and after spending a year there returned to Lafayette, where, during the two following years, he continued his studies and researches in the office of G. O. & A. O. Behm, a well-known law firm of the city. Under the direction of these able lawyers, the young aspirant for professional honors made commendable progress, and at the expiration of the period indicated was duly admitted to the bar and began the practice in partnership with his brother, as noted in a preceding paragraph. In due time his ability won recognition, and, backed by the prestige of his partner, his advancement from the beginning was steady and continuous. After a short time in the general practice he was elected prosecutor of the criminal court of Lafayette, which position he held until the office was abolished, and later, in 1876, he was further honored by being elected prosecutor of the twenty- third circuit. Mr. Caldwell proved an able prosecutor, and during his in- cumbency was untiring in his efforts to enforce the law and bring offenders . to justice. Retiring from the office with an honorable record at the expiration of his term, he re-entered the practice of law with his brother, the firm thus constituted building up a large and lucrative business. Since the death of the senior partner of the firm, in 1907, the subject has conducted the busi- ness alone, and now has an extensive clientele which includes many of the best men of Lafayette and Tippecanoe county. During the period of his practice in Tippecanoe county, Mr. Caldwell has ever had the respect and esteem of his brother members of the bar and of the community at large.
Kate Baker, to whom Mr. Caldwell was married on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1884, is a daughter of Doctor Moses and Elizabeth (Skinner) Baker, the father for many years a prominent physician and surgeon, and in his day one of the most distinguished men of his profession (see sketch in following paragraph). William Skinner, father of Mrs. Baker, was one of the pioneer settlers of Tippecanoe county, and in an early day served as sheriff, being one of the first men to fill that office. Mrs. Caldwell was educated at Stock- well Collegiate Institute and Purdue University and is a lady of fine mind, rare intellectual endowments and beautiful character. She has borne her husband one child, a daughter, Mary Louise, who received her preliminary mental discipline in the schools of Lafayette and then entered Dana Hall, Massachusetts, an institution for the higher education of young women, from which she was graduated in due time.
In his political associations. Mr. Caldwell is a stalwart Republican, and for a number of years has been active and influential in party affairs. He
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was elected mayor of Lafayette in 1885 and served one term to the satis- faction of the public, proving an able and popular executive who during his incumbency made every other consideration subordinate to the interests of the municipality. In recognition of important political services he was ap- pointed in 1897 postmaster of Lafayette and held the office from October of that year to March 1, 1906, during which time the rural free delivery system was established throughout the county and many other improvements for the expeditious handling of the mails introduced. In the various public positions to which he has been called, Mr. Caldwell acquitted himself creditably, dis- charged his duty with conscientious fidelity, and his record as an official as well as a citizen is eminently honorable and above the suspicion of reproach. In matters religious he is a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which body his wife and daughter are also identified. .He is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, his daughter being enrolled among the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Dr. Moses Baker, father of Mrs. James L. Caldwell, was born at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, January 29, 1823, came with his parents to Stockwell, Indiana, when a child of eight years, and spent the remainder of his long and useful life as a practitioner of medicine and surgery within its boundaries. His education was obtained in the public schools of the time and, being a zealous student, he progressed rapidly. After choosing the medical profession as his life work he entered the medical college at LaPorte, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1848, and in 1852 he completed the prescribed course in medicine and surgery at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Doctor Baker was a skilled surgeon as well as physician and performed many critical operations, notable among which was one known to the profession as a case of Caesarian section, which went down in medical annals as most historic. It would hardly be appropriate in a work of this character to enter into minute details in explanation of this wonderful achievement in surgery; suffice it to say that the operation was undertaken and successfully performed by Doctor Baker, who assumed the entire responsibility though many other physicians were present. This miracle in surgical science was successfully performed, and both the mother and child survived for many years afterward, the latter a robust man living today. This operation was performed on the 3d of November, 1880, upon Mrs. Emma Lucas, wife of Luther Lucas, of Wild Cat Prairie, near Stockwell, in this county. Dr. Moses Baker died at his home in Stockwell, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, August 16, 1888, and was mourned as a benefactor to his race.
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SAMUEL BORN.
In an examination of the life record of the late Samuel Born, it will be found that he was the possessor of attributes that rendered him popular with all classes of citizens in Tippecanoe county, where the latter part of his useful and influential life was spent, and it is safe to say that no man in recent years left a more indelible imprint of his sterling personality upon those who associated with him here. He was born October 21, 1830, in Rhein-Hessen, Germany, his parents being Samuel and Sarah (Wolf) Born; they likewise were natives of Germany, and for many years the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits and in general merchandising in the town of Woerrstadt. He was a man of high standing in his community and one and all accorded him the sincere esteem which he justly deserved. His death occurred in 1882, when he had attained the ripe age of eighty-five years ; his devoted wife, who survived him but three years, was then in her eighty-seventh year. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Moses Born, whose entire life was spent in the Fatherland. He was a dealer in general merchandise and cattle and for some time managed a farm. His family comprised two sons and two daughters. Isaac Wolf, the maternal grandfather of the subject, was born and spent his entire life in Germany. He reared six daughters and two sons to lives of usefulness, and passed to his reward admired and respected by all who knew him.
Samuel Born, of this sketch, received a collegiate education in his native land and was of great assistance to his father in his various busi- ness enterprises. Having mastered the essential points of the successful busi- ness man, the subject concluded to try his fortunes in the United States, and, in 1854, he landed in New York city; thence he went to Philadelphia where he had friends, and a year later he came on west to Indiana. Settling in Waynetown, he kept a general store, dealt in grain and wool and packed pork and beef quite extensively. He worked very assiduously at whatever line of business he embarked upon, and the result was abundant success. In 1866 he visited his relatives in Europe, and during the year which he passed in the land of his nativity he made the acquaintance of the lady who be- came his wife. Accompanied by his bride, he returned to the United States in 1867, and in the following year he settled permanently in Lafayette. At that time he embarked in the grain business here and continued to manage the same until 1895, when he organized the Samuel Born Company, of which he was the president, his son Isaac secretary and treasurer, and his sons,
SamuelBorn
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Max. Edward and Alfred, were stockholders. The company exported grain and built up a very extensive and lucrative trade. They had two ware- houses and elevators in Lafayette and others at South Raub, Battle Ground, Crane, Stockwell, Colfax and Dayton, and employment was afforded to about seventy-five persons. In 1902 the grain business was disposed of and the present coal and ice business was established. It has grown to extensive proportions, both in coal and ice, a large, well-equipped and ably-managed plant being maintained in the manufacture of the latter.
The death of Samuel Born occurred on September 9, 1905, and the business has since been continued under the name Samuel Born Company, comprising Edward Born and his mother.
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On December 2, 1867, Samuel Born married Therese, daughter of Max and Minnie Julia (Wolf) Gottscho, and six children were born to this union, namely: Max, Isaac, Edward, Alfred, Jessie and Bertha; the last named was the youngest and she died when three years of age. Max mar- ried Caroline Dryfus, who is the mother of a daughter named Marion S. Isaac married Bertha Weil and they have two children, Theresa and Ferdi- nand. Alfred, the youngest son of Samuel Born and wife, died at the age of twenty-three. The home of the senior Born was built by him in 1868 at No. 516 North Sixth street. He and his wife belonged to the Reformed Hebrew congregation and he was one of the trustees of the synagogue. Politically he was a stanch Republican, and fraternally he belonged to the B'nai B'rith (the Sons of the Covenant), and he was a Mason of the Royal Arch degree.
In disposition Mr. Born was kindly, genial and generous, in addition to possessing the other qualities which wrought out for him the prosperity and prominence which he enjoyed. His example was one well worthy to be emulated by the younger generation ; but none of his fellow citizens regarded him in an envious manner, for he justly earned the affluence that was his portion. A due regard for the rights of others and a genuine desire to be of service to those whom fortune had frowned upon were the secrets of his popularity among his associates.
CHARLES MURDOCK.
Tippecanoe county is indebted, perhaps, more to the Murdock family than to any other for its wondrous transformation to one of the choicest
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sections of the Hoosier state, for members of this family have been leaders in industrial and civic affairs since the early days. Each, with a fidelity to duty and a persistency of purpose peculiar to that class of men who take the lead in large affairs, has performed well his duty in all the relations of life, and while advancing their own interests have not been unmindful of the general welfare of their fellow citizens. Thus they rightly deserve an honored place in the history of this locality.
Charles Murdock, to a brief review of whose interesting career the reader's attention is directed in the following paragraphs and whose name needs no introduction to the people of northern Indiana, was born in 1865 in the city of Lafayette, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Murdock, the former a leading man of affairs in this part of the state for many decades, a complete sketch of whom is to be found on another page of this work.
Charles Murdock's early life was spent much like that of other youths of his station in life, principally in preparing himself for a business career by the proper schooling and other early training. He was placed in St. Mary's parochial school, where he made a very commendable record and laid a broad and deep foundation for an education which in later years has been supplemented by general reading and by association in the business world. In 1879 he went with his parents to Michigan City, Indiana, where he re- sided while his father was warden of the penitentiary. He was not satisfied with his preliminary schooling and consequently took a course in Notre Dame University, from which he was graduated in 1885.
The domestic chapter in the life of Mr. Murdock dates from September 26, 1894, when he was united in marriage with Mary G. Lillis, a lady of culture and refinement, and the representative of a prominent family of Kan- sas City, Missouri. This union has been blessed by the birth of two chil- dren, Charles L. and Mary L.
When the Merchants National Bank of Lafayette was organized. Charles Murdock became its cashier, which position he very ably filled up to the time of his father's death, in November, 1908, when he became president of the institution, which is one of the soundest and most extensively patronized barks in this part of the stote, and he is at this writing conducting its affairs in a manner that stamps him as the possessor of business acumen and executive ability of a high order. He and his brother Samuel were always closely associated with their father in all his large and numerous business connections, and the careful and thorough training given them by that wizard of finance and captain of industry has placed them in the front rank of men who con- trol large affairs.
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TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
Charles Murdock is vice-president of the Chicago, South Bend & North- ern Indiana Railway Company; also vice-president of the Ft. Wayne & Wabash Valley Traction Company. Lie is treasurer of the Evansville & Southern Indiana Traction Company, and he is also vice-president of the Lafayette Loan & Trust Company, besides being interested in many other large affairs, to all of which he gives his time and energy in such a manner as to bring about the largest success.
Mr. Murdock is a member of the Catholic church, a liberal supporter of the same, and is interested in charities or whatever tends to the general good and the higher life. being broad in his sympathies and courteous in his de- meanor-in short, those who know him best declare him to be a worthy son of a worthy sire.
WILLIAM OTIS WEAVER.
The subject of this sketch, who is proprietor of the Weaver Granite Works, was born in Montpelier, Williams county, Ohio, November 17. 1860, the son of William and Lovina ( Steel) Weaver, both natives of Lancaster. Pennsylvania. The father, whose birth occurred on the 25th day of June, 1822, is by occupation a farmer, and the mother, who was born April 15. 1826, is descended from a long line of agriculturists who figured in the history of Lancaster county from a very remote period. William and Lovina Weaver have spent their married life in Williams county, Ohio, where he still re- sides, and where were born their ten children, with whom they constitute a family circle into which as yet the Angel of Death has made no invasion with the exception of the mother. The descendants of this venerable couple, in addition to their five sons and five daughters, consists of forty-five grand- children, fifty great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. a total of one hundred and six, a number seldom equaled in these late days when families are not so large.
William O. Weaver was educated in the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso, and began life in the mercantile business at Bryan, Ohio, where he sold dry goods for a period of four years. Ile was next engaged with a monument firm at Corning. New York, and after five years there as a salesman embarked in the same line of business for himself at Montpelier, Ohio, where he built up a lucrative trade and in due time became the leading dealer of the kind in the city. After about twelve years at Montpelier he sold out. and in 1902 came to Lafayette, Indiana, and again engaged in the granite and marble business, going into partnership
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with William W. Darby, whose interest he purchased two years later, since which time he has been sole proprietor of one of the largest and best equipped establishments of the kind in northern Indiana. His place of business is on the corner of Eighth and Main streets, where he carries a full line of monu- ments, both marble and granite, and is prepared to do all kinds of work in his line with neatness and dispatch.
Mr. Weaver does all his lettering and fine carving with pneumatic tools, operated by power, and to him belongs the credit of introducing this new and highly improved system of work in Lafayette, where it has gradually superseded the old hand process. He is also the only man in Tippecanoe county who builds mausoleums, his achievements in this line as well as in the general monument trade giving him a wide reputation and bringing to. him a steadily growing patronage not only in his own city and county, but in many parts of Indiana and neighboring states. He is a skillful artist and, being familiar with every detail of the business in which engaged, his suc- cess has been commensurate with his energy and judicious management, and he today ranks among the enterprising men and public-spirited citizens of the city which he has chosen for his permanent place of abode.
On November 13. 1884. Mr. Weaver was united in the bonds of wed- lock with Clara E. Kelso, of Walla Walla. Washington, daughter of John and Martha Kelso, the father a successful fruit grower of that state and a leading and well known citizen of the beautiful valley in which he lives. Mrs. Weaver bore her husband three children and departed this life March 4, 1892, and on November 10. 1897, the subject contracted a marriage with Anna M. Neff. the union being blessed with two offspring.
Paul Kelso Weaver. the subject's oldest child by his first wife, was born December 18. 1886, received his education in the public schools of Lafayette and Purdue University, standing among the first of his class in the electrical course. He is now connected with the signal service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company with headquarters at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Steel M., the second of the family, was born October 12. 1888. grad- uated from the high school of Walla Walla. Washington, in 1907. and for some time past has been in Phoenix, Arizona, on account of his health.
Carlton H., whose birth occurred on March 8, 1891, was educated in the schools of Lafayette and is now learning the drug business with the Hogan Drug Company of this city. The children born of Mr. Weaver's second marriage are Helen and Catherine, aged six and four years respectively. both bright and interesting and adding much to the happiness of the home circle.
On state and national issues Mr. Weaver is a Republican, but in matters local he is liberal, voting for the candidates best qualified for the offices to
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TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
which they aspire, regardless of party ties. He is a Methodist in his religious faith, and with his family belongs to the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, Lafayette, to the support of which he is a liberal contributor. A man of strong individuality and well endowed mentality, Mr. Weaver enjoys to a marked degree the esteem and confidence of the people of his city and as a citizen is in touch with all enterprises and movements having for their object the advancement of the community and the welfare of his fellowmen. Affable in manner, kind in word and deed, he has made many warm friends since coming to Lafayette and his popularity is bounded only by the limits of his acquaintance.
JEREMIAH PHILIP KOONSE, M. D.
The subject of this sketch hailed from the state concerning which Chaun- cey Depew in one of his after-dinner speeches paraphrased Shakespeare as follows : "Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some come from Ohio." He was born April 24, 1837, in the old city of Wellsville, which for a number of years previous had been the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Koonse, natives of Pennsylvania, being one of a family of five children. After laying the foundation of his intellectual training in the schools of his native town, young Koonse pursued his studies in other institutions of a higher grade and after reaching the years of manhood added still further to his scholastic knowledge by attending from time to time various colleges in his own and other states. With this excellent preparation, he engaged in educational work, teaching for some time in the schools of Wellsville, Ohio, and as principal of the high school in St. Louis, Missouri, later moving to Williamsport, Indiana, where he was afterward elected superintendent of the public schools of Warren county. The Doctor earned an enviable record as a teacher, but, not caring to devote his life to the work, he selected medicine as the profession best suited to his taste and inclination. Beginning his pro- fessional studies in Philadelphia, he was in due time graduated from a well- known medical college of that city, after which he located at Lafayette and soon built up a lucrative practice and acquired an honorable standing among the leading physicians of this part of the state.
After devoting some time to the general practice Doctor Koonse turned his attention to several special lines of treatment, in connection with which he also made a critical study of drugs and their effects upon the human system. his researches enabling him to discover specifics and remedies for certain
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chronic diseases and ruinous practices, notably the morphine habit, in the treat- ment of which he met with remarkable success. Doctor Koonse was always a student and his various discoveries resulted in untold good to suffering humanity. Indeed he was properly called a benefactor of his race, in view of the fact that hundreds of hopelessly afflicted mortals through the effect of his remedies were redeemed from body-polluting and soul-degrading habits and restored to their normal strength and vigor. He died April 17, 1906, and in his death the entire community suffered a distinct loss.
Virginia Fillinger, wife of Doctor Koonse, was born June 1, 1845, near Richmond, Virginia, being the third of eight children in the family of Henry and Nancy Fillinger, of whom two of her brothers and two sisters are still living. The marriage of Doctor and Mrs. Koonse, which was solemnized at Bowling Green, Indiana, on the 2d day of August, 1863, was blessed with three offspring, Emma, the oldest, whose birth occurred July 27, 1870, dying when two years of age. Harry E. Koonse, the second of the family, who was born June 12, 1872, received his education in Lafayette, and is now one of the city's most efficient decorators. Alice V., the youngest of the Doctor's children, now the wife of Dr. Edgar E. Quivey, a dentist of Fort Wayne, was born on the 7th day of August, 1874.
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