USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 32
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In 1896 Mr. Sheltmire married Daisy, daughter of John E. West, of Lafayette, formerly superintendent of the Charles D. Robinson paper mill. They have three children, Harold, Helen and Edith. Mr. Sheltmire is a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
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and Wabash Encampment. He is also a member of Lodge No. 51, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He occupies a comfortable home erected before his marriage, and one of his main characteristics is his love of home and family. Conscientious in business, easily approached and accommodating to all, William Sheltmire is regarded by all who know him as a good neighbor and citizen.
SCHULTZ-BOSWELL DRUG COMPANY.
The Schultz-Boswell Drug Company is owner of one of the leading drug stores in Lafayette, located at No. 528 Main street. The business was originally started by Terry, Jennings & Harvey over fifty years ago, and was at that time located on the south side of Main street with the rear entrance on Fifth street. It was operated both as a retail and wholesale establishment. In time, O. C. Harvey became sole owner, and in the early eighties the wholesale department was dropped, the store being moved into rooms on the north side of Main street. In 1888, Mr. Harvey sold out to Longyear & Schultz, and the next year Edwin Boswell became an employe. In 1892, Mr. Longyear sold out his interest to Mr. Schultz, who remained sole owner until 1898, when Mr. Boswell became a partner. In 1904 the partnership name was changed as the result of organizing a corporation to conduct the business, with J. J. Schultz as president and Edwin Boswell as secretary and treasurer. Though the wholesale department was aban- doned, some lines of stock are still bought in jobber's quantities. They carry a large stock, well assorted and of great variety. The prescription department is so unique as to be worthy of especial remark. It is in the front part of the store, surrounded by clear glass to keep out the dust and prevent improper meddling, but every operation is in full view of the cus- tomer. The noticeable feature is the extreme cleanliness that character- izes everything connected with this work. The principal control and man- agement are in the hands of Messrs. Schultz and Boswell. With these pre- liminaries, a few biographical details of these popular business men will be in order.
Anton Schultz, founder of the family in America, was a native of Mauren, Bavaria, near Munich. In 1849 he served as a soldier in the Bavarian army and helped to put down the insurrection in Prussia. After coming to the United States in 1858 he married Gertrude Giess, of Strang, in Hessen-Cassel, Germany, who emigrated about the same time, both mak.
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ing their journeys on slow-moving sailing vessels of that day. He had not been in this country long until he had an opportunity to become a soldier and help suppress a larger rebellion, and he was sufficient of a patriot to enlist in a company of the One Hundred Fiftieth Indiana Regiment, to fight for the Union during our Civil war. His son, John J. Schultz, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, in 1862, and, after reaching suitable age, attended the Lutheran schools for six years, during which time he studied German and English. After completing this preliminary course he entered the eighth grade of the public schools, attended high school a year and a half and then laid aside his books to take his first business step. This was as a clerk in L. R. Brown's drug store, afterwards owned by Crane Broth- ers, and he remained with this establishment for two and a half years. He then entered the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, mastered the required course, and was graduated in 1884. It was then that he returned to Lafay- ette, and went to work in the store of which he subsequently became prin- cipal owner.
Mr. Schultz is a member of the Elks, the Eagles and the Democratic party, being an active worker in the ranks of the latter. In 1902 he was elected trustee of the water works for a three-year term and was re-elected for a similar period. Two weeks before his first term expired, the legislature abolished the office, thereby making his tenure more than three years shorter than the time for which he was elected. Thereupon Mayor Dugan appointed him a member of the board of public works, and though he offered his res- ignation in January, 1908, the Mayor insisted on his serving until June of that year. Mr. Schultz while in office gave to his official duties the same' conscientious attention he bestowed upon his private business and made a record so clean that the most captious critic could find no fault.
Edwin, son of George W. and Ann E. Boswell, was born in Morrow. Warren county, Ohio, and began earning his own way at a very early period in life. Almost continuously since his twelfth year he has been engaged in the drug business. Beginning first in Morrow, where he remained until fifteen years old, he was employed for fifteen years in a drug store in Cin- cinnati, after which he came to Lafayette and clerked for eight years for Longyear & Schultz in the store of which he was subsequently owner, and is now secretary and treasurer of the company which controls the business. December 12, 1883, he married Orpha A. Ward, of Morrow, Ohio. Few men have so long been in the drug business as Messrs. Schultz and Boswell. As the result of years of experience, united with natural ability, they have made a success and now own one of the most profitable and popular of Lafayette's drug stores.
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GEORGE W. BOHAN.
The life of George W. Bohan was exemplary and one that resulted in no small amount of good to those whom it touched. He was born in Lafay- ette, Indiana, January 14. 1855. the son of Dennis and Elizabeth Bohan, among the early settlers of Tippecanoe county, whose family consisted of six children, an equal number of boys and girls. George W. Bohan spent his youth at home and attended the local public schools. When he reached manhood he. decided to become a railroader and for many years he was a locomotive engineer on the Lake Erie railroad, being regarded as one of the most responsible employes of the company and he was popular with all the train men who knew him, for he was not only a very capable engineer but was a fine fellow personally. His death occurred in 1903.
George W. Bohan married Mary Fitzpatrick, January 28, 1880, in this city. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzpatrick, natives of Ire- land. Mary was born August 15, 1857, being the youngest child in a family of three children, and she is the only one now living. Mr. and Mrs. Bohan were the parents of eight children, as follows: Nellie M., born January 9, 1882, married Peter J. Lamb, September 12, 1906, and they have one son. William M. Lamb, born March 30, 1907. Peter J. Lamb was born. in Delphi, Indiana, and his parents were born in Ireland. His place of business is at No. 24 Main street, Lafayette. He is a very genial and whole-hearted gentleman and is an excellent provider for his family, to which he is very devoted. Mary A. Bohan was born in Lafayette November 2, 1884, and she is employed as bookkeeper for the Smith Brothers Lumber Company of this city. Catherine was born July 19, 1887. and she is now in the employ of one of the principal dry goods firms of this city. Sarah G., born October II. 1886, is now forelady at the Sterling Electric Works in Lafayette. Cecelia. born August 16, 1888, was educated in the local schools, is now in the employ of Hon. Robert Sample. George F., born July 28, 1890. is now collector for the Harrison Telephone Company of Lafayette. Stephen A., born July 3. 1892. is a cler1- in the McHarty hat store of Lafayette. Dennis H., born November 28, 1894. is employed by Bohler & Beal. All these children were educated in the St. Ann parochial school of this city under the direction of the Rev. Fathers Roach and Byrne. They are all industrious and have good starts on the road of life in a business way.
The Bohan home, which is a neatly kept one, is located at No. 608 South Fourth street on the hill and is pleasantly situated. This family
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supports the Catholic church, of which they are loyal members. Mrs. Bohan was left a widow when her children were small, but she has been a good manager and a faithful mother and has succeeded in rearing her children in a manner that reflects much credit upon her.
WILLIAM BENNETT.
Among the business men of Lafayette, Indiana, who for many years performed well their part in the business phase of the city's development the name of William Bennett should receive prominent position. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, June 2, 1822. the son of Isaac and Joanna (Cory) Bennett, both natives of Pennsylvania and descendants of distin- guished English ancestry. Joanna Cory's lineage can be traced to the noted Corey house on one side and to Sir Francis Drake, the famous English ad- miral, on the other. Mr. Bennett was reared in Warren county. Ohio, where he received his education in the primitive schools of those early times. By dint of hard work he established a good home and made a comfortable living. He married Anna V. Moore June 22, 1876. She was born in Lafayette. Indiana. September 21, 1837. Her parents were Strother and Harriet A. (Cowan) Moore, both born in Virginia, the former on December 16, 1812. and the latter on September 8. 1814; both were reared in the old Dominion state, both having been born in Hampshire county. They emigrated to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in an early day and were here several years before their marriage, which took place on October 11, 1836. Being pio- neers here, they did their share in establishing the early institutions of the community where they settled. Two children were born to them. One son, William H. Moore, whose date of birth was June 15. 1840, became a well known business man. Harriet A. Moore, mother of Mrs. Bennett. died January 14, 1847, in Lafayette. Mr. Moore married again, July 20, 1849. his second wife being Mrs. Eleanor Cory, and to this union one child was born, Winfield Scott Moore, born December 22, 1852. He is an architect, living at Indianapolis ; he is married and has a family of two daughters and one son. Eleanor MIcore Bennett, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Bennett, was born January 27, 1878. She was educated in the public schools of Lafayette, passed through the high school and attended a school of music, being a very talented musician: she also did some extra work in Purdue University. She has taught school with much success for a period
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of six years in this city in the various grades. In this line of work she re- ceived a great deal of encouragement from her mother, who is a well edu- cated woman, having attended Mrs. McKinster's private school, a seminary at Greencastle; she also studied art and afterwards taught the same.
William Bennett was first married to Elizabeth J. Robeson, who was born April 19, 1822, in Warren county, Ohio, and to this union two daughters and three sons were born, one of the sons dying in youth. Mrs. Bennett reared Elmer Bennett, who was educated in the schools of Lafayette, and who married Anna Snider. He is a carriage painter and lives in Terre Haute, Indiana. William Bennett was for many years a well known nursery- man of Lafayette, having located here in 1880. He died December 22, 1896. William Bennett was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Prohibitionist. Mrs. Bennett is also a Methodist, but was reared in the Presbyterian faith. Her home, at No. 635 North street, is a pleasant and nicely kept one and a place where her many friends delight to gather, for she is a pleasant mannered woman, an entertaining conversationalist, genial and hospitable. Her appearance is that of a much younger woman, for life's cares have weighed but lightly upon her.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS NEWMAN.
The record of an honorable, upright life is always read with interest, and it better perpetuates the name and fame of the subject than does a monu- ment, seen by few and soon crumbling into dust beneath the relentless hand of time. Those who have fought and suffered for the country in which their lot is cast are especially deserving of an honored place in its annals, and their posterity will turn with just pride to these records of the founders and preservers of a prosperous, united nation.
Christopher Columbus Newman is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born at Lafayette on April 25, 1844. His parents were John H. and Susan (Miller) Newman. John H. Newman was born in Mecklenburg, Prussia, and came to this country in young manhood. He first located in Ohio, where he was engaged in farming. He was a brewer by trade and in about 1838 he came to Tippecanoe county, driving over in wagons. He set- tled at Lafayette and engaged in the brewing business in partnership with a brother-in-law, Abraham Miller, who subsequently met death by drown- ing in the canal. The firm name was first Newman & Miller, but on the death
C. b. Newman
Baseléa newman
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of his partner Mr. Newman took over his interest and the firm style be- came the Newman Brewing Company. Mr. Newman was a successful man in his business affairs and was widely known over a large part of the state. He was public-spirited in his attitude towards affairs and took a large inter- est in politics. He served several terms efficiently as a member of the Lafay- ette city council and was offered the nomination for the mayoralty, but de- clined. His death occurred on September 1, 1888, when he was about sev- enty-two years old. His wife Susan was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio in young girlhood and was reared in that state, and here married. Their children, three boys and two girls, were all born after the parents set- tled in Lafayette, and were as follows: Christopher C., the immediate sub- ject of this sketch; Charles H., deceased; Carrie, who married a Mr. Quig- ley and is now deceased; Laura, who died at the age of seven years; Frank resides in Lafayette.
Christopher C. Newman attended the public schools of Lafayette and received a fair education. He remained at home until the dark cloud of .civil war hovered over the national horizon, and on the call for volunteers he promptly offered his services, enlisting for the three-months service in the capacity of a fifer, in the playing of which instrument he was an expert. At the close of his first period of enlistment he returned home, but at the expiration of thirty days, on September 19. 1861, he again enlisted. being assigned as a fifer to Company G, Tenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer In- fantry. He served with this command three years and was veteranized at Chattanooga. He was then transferred to the Fifty-eighth Indiana Regi- ment, called the "Pontoon Regiment." because of the fact that their duty consisted in throwing bridges across the rivers and streams. Mr. Newman took part in a number of the great battles of that conflict, including, among others, those at Rich Mountain, Miller Springs, Perryville, Mission Ridge. Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, on the march with Sherman to the sea, and subsequently took part in the Grand Review of the victorious armies at Washington. Mr. Newman was twice badly injured during his military service, once during the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, and again in front of Atlanta, being both times run over by ammunition wagons. He is still in possession of the fife and other musical instruments used by him during the service and prized as relics of those trying days. He was discharged at Louis- ville, Kentucky, and then returned to Lafayette. He went to work in his father's brewery and was so employed continuously until 1877, when he bought a tract of fine land in section 23, Wabash township, which he moved
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onto and afterwards gave his sole attention to its cultivation. He was fairly successful and brought his farm up to a high standard of cultivation. He now rents the most of his land, but is still an active man for his years. He has always been guided by a high code of ethics and has won and retains the highest regard of all who know him. In politics he is a Republican, but not a politician. He formerly was a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, but as his years advanced he found it inconvenient to attend the meet- ings at night and withdrew his membership.
In 1866 Mr. Newman was married, the lady of his choice being Zerelda Lewis. She was born five miles cost of Dayton, Indiana, on Wild Cat creek, September 18, 1842, and is the daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Lewis. Her father was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. December 20, 1816, and died December 1. 1879. Her mother was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, July 17, 1822, and died November 28. 1897. They were married in Tippe- canoe county, Indiana, on December 23. 1841, and became the parents of six children, namely: Zerelda: Louisa. A., deceased; Nathan H., deceased ; Florence Grace, who married a Mr. Coffman and resides at Montmorenci, Indiana: Austin and George W. are deceased. When Jonathan Lewis first came to Lafayette he engaged in the grain business, subsequently relinquish- ing that for the livery business, being successful in both lines. During 1854-55 he served as coroner of Tippecance county and also served as jailer, it being during the existence of the old log jail. In his day he was one of the most prominent men in the county. In 1850 he started overland for California, being ninety days on the way. He was possessed of the gold fever and remained in the West three years. He was engaged for a time as a stage driver, but was in poor health most of the time and finally was compelled to return East. On his return to Lafayette he again took up the livery business and during the war he was extensively engaged in buying horses for the government. He was a Democrat and took an active part in matters political, being considered a shrewd and successful politician.
To Mr. and Mrs. Newman have been born four children, as follows: Susan, born July 6, 1867. died at the age of fourteen months: George L .. born February 26, 1869. died January 30. 1909: Alice, born January 30. 1873, married, January 22, 1891, H. C. Myers, who is at present trustee of Wabash township, and they had two children, Grace L. Myers, born May 29. 1892, and John Leonard, born September 17, 1893. and died on Novem- ber 4. 1899: William, born September 25, 1870, died at the age of two years.
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GEORGE DANIEL PARKS.
New England has furnished many men of prominence and worth to the West, notably among those who have chosen Indiana as their place of resi- dence being George D. Parks, of Lafayette. A lawyer by profession and since 1902 county attorney, he has made his presence felt in the legal circles of his adopted city and, as a public-spirited citizen, interested in whatever tends to promote the material progress of the community and the social and moral advancement of his fellow men; his influence has been strong and salutary and his example worthy of imitation.
The family which Mr. Parks has the honor to represent is a very old one and for nearly one hundred and forty years has figured in the history of a certain locality in New England, where the subject's ancestors settled on their removal from Manchester, England, to Massachusetts in 1774. The place referred to was at the head of Swan island, in the Kennebec river, in what was then Massachusetts, but now the state of Maine, being the point where the British force, under the traitor Arnold, stopped on its pass- age to Quebec during the war of the Revolution. Since first coming to this country, in the year indicated above, the Parks family have been identified with that locality, five generations of them having been born in Richmond, opposite Swan island, and figured prominently in its history.
The first of the name to seek a home in the new world appears to have been John Parks, the subject's great-grandfather, who established the above mentioned settlement and took a leading part in the affairs of the same. Among his descendants were a number of strong, courageous men, who from time to time became identified with the development and growth of Sagada- hoc county, Maine, rose to positions of honor and trust in that jurisdiction and ever since the colonial period the name has been closely interwoven with the material improvements of the country and its rise and progress along other lines, including public life, social and moral advancements and edu- cational developments.
George W. Parks, the father of the subject, was born in the town of Richmond, Sagadahoc county, as was also the mother, who before her mar- riage bore the maiden name of Jane Raudlette, neither of whom ever left the state of Maine. Their son, George D. Parks, of this review, is a native of the county of Sagadahoc and dates his birth from the 29th day of Sep- tember, 1856, having first seen the light of day in Richmond, where he also spent his early life and received his preliminary education. Later he took
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a course of civil enginering in the University of Maine, where he was grad- uated in 1876, after which he devoted several years to his profession, finally discontinuing it to fit himself for a more agreeable calling. While engaged in civil engineering, he became imbued with a strong desire to make the practice of law his life work and to this end he bent all of his energies, taking up the study of the profession under competent instructors and availing him- self of every opportunity to facilitate his progress during the period of preparation.
Mr. Parks was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Maine in the latter part of 1879 and on January Ist of the following year opened an office in Brunswick, that state, where he practiced, with gratifying success, ten years, when, on account of health of the family, he removed to Alabama. He removed to Lafayette, Indiana, in the year 1893, and since locating in his present field of practice he has devoted himself very closely to his pro- fession, taking the office formerly occupied by Chase & Chase, which he has since retained, and in due time building up a large and lucrative business and forging to the front among the leading members of the local bar. In 1902 he was appointed county attorney, a position he has held, by successive reap- pointments, to the present time, his long continuance in the office affording ample evidence of his ability to fill it, also of his faithfulness to the interests of the public.
In point of scholarship and a critical knowledge of the law, Mr. Parks ranks among the oldest of his contemporaries of the Tippecanoe county bar, and his professional career, therefore, has been above reproach and in every respect honorable. He is recognized as a safe counsellor, judicious practi- tioner and his ability to cope with the strongest of his professional brethren in the field long noted for its high order of legal talent bears evidence of the close and careful consideration he gives to any matter entrusted to him and the ample preparations he makes to meet his adversaries in the trial of causes. His practice, already large, is steadily growing in volume and im- portance and he now commands an extensive clientele, not altogether in his own county, as is indicated by his frequent calls to other courts.
On June 8, 1881, Mr. Parks was united in marriage with Anna S. White, of Bowdoinham, Maine, a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, who came to America in the "Mayflower" and bore a conspicuous part in the affairs of the first English colony on the Western continent. Two sons have resulted from the union, both born in Brunswick, Maine: Roscoe W .. whose birth occurred May 25, 1882, was graduated in chemistry from Pur- due University with the class of 1902 and for some time past has held the
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responsible position of chemical engineer of the Cawley-Clarke Company, of Newark, New Jersey; Morris R., born December 20, 1885, was graduated in general science from Purdue University in 1907 and is also an alumnus of the Indiana Law School, Indianapolis, where he finished his course and received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in the year 1909, and is practicing in Lafayette as partner of his father under the firm name of Parks & Parks. Mr. Parks and his entire family are members of the First Baptist church of Lafayette, he being one of the trustees. Fraternally, he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, besides being honored from time to time with important official posi- tions in the encampment and canton of Patriarchs Militant. In his political affiliations he is a Republican.
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