USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 39
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In March, 1906, Mrs. Murdock sold their Owen street home. having built a modern, beautiful and commodious residence at No. 726 South Ninth street where she now resides and which is frequently the mecca for Lafay- ette's best society, who always find here a hearty welcome of the old-time flavor and good will prevailing, Mrs. Murdock being a woman of culture and refinement, a good conversationalist, and she has hosts of friends.
William F. Murdock, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Murdock, was born in Wayne township on his father's farm, September II, 1872. He was married on April 26, 1899, to Grace Buschman, daughter of Augustus and Emma Buschman, and to this union one daughter, Jane Stewart Mur- dock, was born. In the fall of 1904 William F. Murdock built a handsome home on the northeast corner of Ninth and Elliott streets, where he now resides. He devotes his time to superintending the Murdock farms in Wayne township. He attended Wabash College, and is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He is a young man of pronounced business ability.
Maude Murdock married George B. Wallace, manager of the Wallace Brothers Plumbing Company, the son of the late James B. Wallace, a former prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Lafayette, a full sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Frederick Murdock is remembered as a man of strict integrity, fair and honorable in all his dealings with his fellowmen, his work having been
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considered as good as his bond. During his father's lifetime he made it a rule to consult with him regarding all important business transactions, thus winning the elder Murdock's confidence and naturally gaining much of his sagacity in business affairs. In his many business transactions with his father, he invariably endeavored to make his word good, just as though he was dealing with a stranger. He never contracted a debt unless he felt confident that he could pay it, and in thus meeting promptly all obligations he won the un- divided confidence of all who knew him. He always gave his aid and influence to enterprises for the public good. By his kindness and courtesy he won an abiding place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and by his intelligence energy and enterprising spirit made his influence felt among his friends and associates, and no man has lived in Tippecanoe county who was regarded with any higher respect and admiration for his well ordered lfe.
IV. E. DOOLITTLE.
The Sterling Electric Company is one of the largest and best institutions in Lafayette and is known as one of the largest and best electrical manu- facturing concerns. The company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois in the year 1898, and was located in Chicago, the original incorporators being W. E. Doolittle and Frank B. Cook. The growth of the company was rapid from the start. To escape labor troubles and to increase their capacity, the company was reorganized, enlarged and moved to Lafay- ette in the latter part of the year 1899, employing at that time seventy-five hands. Their original plant consisted of thirty thousand square feet of floor space, which they have increased to about one hundred and twenty-five thou- sand square feet, owing to the constant growth of the business. When work- ing to their full capacity, they employ something over five hundred hands. The company is capitalized at three hundred thousand dollars. It is prac- tically a Lafayette institution, the greater portion of the stock being owned locally. It is officered as follows: W. E. Doolittle, president and treasurer ; J. Berlovitz, vice-president ; H. T. Doolittle, secretary. The directory com- prises the officers, together with William Wallace, John B. Wagner. Brown Brockenbrough, Thomas Duncan, Thomas Bauer and R. B. Wallace.
The equipment of the Sterling Electric Company is strictly modern, all machinery being electrically driven and consists of standard and special ma- chinery necessary for working in metals, rubber and fibre; it is also equipped with a complete woodworking plant, enameling plant and plating plant. The
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line of goods manufactured by this corporation are telephones of all descrip- tions, protective devices for use in telephone service, complete exchange equipment for equipping of telephone central offices, police and fire alarm boxes, automatic fire protection devices, for use in connection with sprinkled insurance risk, special electrical devices for the United States signal corps, three-slot coin pay stations for telephone work, spark coils for use with gas engines, motor boats and automobiles and complete ignition systems consist- ing of magnetos, distributers and timers for automobile or gas engine work. The company is in a flourishing and prosperous condition and is recognized throughout the country as the leader in its own specific lines. It is an insti- tution of which the citizens of Lafayette may well be proud.
W. E. Doolittle, the president of the Sterling Electric Company, was one of the original incorporators and has been with the company since its inception. A great deal of its success is due to his untiring ability. He is a comparatively young man and was born and raised in Lafayette, commencing his work as a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company. His education was completed at Purdue University. He entered the services of the Western Union Telegraph Company as an operator in his earlier years, spending twelve years in the telegraph business in different parts of the country with the different operating companies and six years with the differ- ent telephone operating companies as manager, his experience particularly adapting him for the duties which he assumed later in life.
LEOPOLD DRYFUS.
The specific and distinctive office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave the perpetual record establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen. That great factor, the public, is a discriminating factor, and yet takes cognizance not only of objective exaltation nor yet ob- jective modesty, but delves deeper into the intrinsic essence of character, strikes the keynote of individuality, and pronounces judicially and unequivocal- ly upon the true worth of the man, invariably distinguishing the clear reson- ance of the true metal from the jarring dissonance of the baser. Thus in touching on the life history of Leopold Dryfus the biographist would aim to give utterance to no fulsome encomiums, to indulge in no extravagant praise; yet would he wish to hold up for consideration those points which have shown the distinction of a pure, true and useful life,-one characterized by indomit-
LEOPOLD DRYFUS
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able perseverance, broad charity, marked executive ability, high accomplish- ments and well-earned honors. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by his fellowmen.
Leopold Dryfus, one of the best kuown business men in the city of Lafayette or this section of the great Hoosier commonwealth, belongs to that large and thrifty class of Germans who have done so much for the upbuilding of this and other American communities. The place of his nativity is the Rhine country, Bavaria, where he first saw the light of day July 31, 1847. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Lippman Dryfus, an old and well-established family, who were the parents of ten children, of whom Leopold was the oldest. He attended the schools of his native country until he was twelve years old when he began his business career by buying and trafficking in calves, thus early in life becoming an expert judge of livestock and laying the foundation for a future business of great magnitude. He followed his first line of busi- ness until he was nineteen years old. An uncle, Jacob Mayer, had come to the United States and was established in the butcher business in Lafayette, In- diana : he sent Leopold money to defray his expenses to this country. The latter immediately embarked and came direct to Lafayette, landing here, after a long ocean voyage and weary trip from the eastern coast, on May I, 1867, a green gawk of a boy, wearing his trousers in his boot tops; but he had that innate business sagacity, shrewdness and perseverance that only needs oppor- tunity for development. This being furnished by Mr. Mayer, the lonely Ger- man youth was soon launched on his career, which has been a very strenuous and interesting one. He continued in the employ of Mr. Mayer until 1870 when he was given a butcher shop on the corner of Ninth and Union streets which he managed successfully for a time, then, having been economical and careful in his business affairs, he purchased the shop outright. However, his uncle assisted him in a financial way to secure the shop, the firm being known as Dryfus & Kurtz. In 1872 Mr. Dryfus purchased his partner's interest, then sold one-half to James Sharp, the firm being known as Dryfus & Sharp, which partnership continued until 1887, during which time a very thriving business was done. Sharp retired, worth a million, and his interest was taken by Ferdinand Dryfus, brother of Leopold, and the firm has since been known as the Dryfus Packing and Provision Company. Leopold Dryfus being the president and Ferdinand the general manager, the firm being incorporated for fifty thousand dollars, being one of the largest concerns of its kind in this part of the state. Its prestige has gradually and rapidly increased under care- ful and judicious management, until its products are sold all over the country
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and shipped in large quantities to Europe where it holds equal rank with the best exported meats from this country. The plant throughout is equipped with the most modern appliances for carrying on a business of this nature, everything is kept in a sanitary condition and under the most highly approved system, and the plant would be a credit to any city.
Aside from this extensive institution, Mr. Dryfus has two retail shops, each doing a thriving business. These were located down town in 1875 and were successful from the first, a large retail trade being enjoyed with the surrounding community. In 1876 Mr. Dryfus entered the provision business under the name of William Horn & Company and was connected with Mr. Horn until 1879, having enjoyed a liberal patronage in this line. Mr. Dryfus then bought out the packing house of H. T. Sample & Sons, having dissolved partnership with Horn, and he has been conducting his present business ever since.
Although the packing business takes the major part of Mr. Dryfus' time, he has other interests which are not inconsiderate, being a stockholder and director in the Merchants' National Bank, also the First National Bank at Boswell, a stockholder and director in the Lafayette Telephone Company. He also owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres, lying just west of Purdue University which is well adapted for general farming and stockraising, in each of which Mr. Dryfus manifests considerable interest, often driving out to his well-improved and tastefully-kept place where he finds rest and recreation amid the most wholesome rural environment. Mr. Dryfus is also the owner of much real estate in Lafayette, including the Dry- fus Theatre on Columbia street, one of the neatest, most modern and attract- ive play-houses in the West. This opera house was formerly known as the Grand, but in 1909 Mr. Dryfus remodeled and reconstructed the entire build- ing at an expenditure of fifty thousand dollars, the walls being all that re- main of the former building. The new structure which bears his name will stand as a monument to the enterprising methods and progressive spirit which have for many years been maintained by Mr. Dryfus to the great benefit of his adopted city. He also owns the Lahr House Annex, one of the best blocks in the city. The substantial block at the foot of Main street where the Jamison Brothers have their place of business belongs to Mr. Dryfus. He also owns the building known as the Jim Beard stables, also the Ewry block on Columbia street, and a large number of dwelling houses. His home, at Sixth and Cincinnati streets, is one of the finest and most attractive in the state, imposing in architectural design, thoroughly modern in all its appoint-
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ments, elegantly furnished and surrounded by attractive and well-kept grounds, and this home is known to the socially inclined of Lafayette as a place where hospitality and good cheer ever prevail.
The domestic chapter in the life of Mr. Dryfus dates from the year 1874 when he was united in marriage with Mary Schwartz, who was born and reared in New York city, the representative of an influential old family. She was a woman of rare culture and refinement, of gracious personality, a most genial hostess and a favorite in the social circles of Lafayette. Her beautiful life was brought to a close in 1899, after she had become the mother of four children, three of whom died in childhood. Carrie, the surviving daughter, is the wife of Max Born, a young business man of exemplary character and well worthy of his talented and affable wife. He is a son of Samuel Born, a well-known pioneer business man of Lafayette. To Mr. and Mrs. Max Born one winsome daughter, Marion Stella, was born in 1900. Mr. Born is head bookkeeper and business manager of the Dryfus plant.
In 1893 Mr. Dryfus returned to his old home in Europe, where he spent a very pleasant sojourn, remaining away from Lafayette forty-five days. This was indeed a triumphal return to his boyhood's roof-tree, which he left almost penniless and with a somewhat dark and uncertain future before him.
In politics, Mr. Dryfus is independent. Being a careful observer of the trend of events, he prefers to cast his ballot for the man rather than the party. Fraternally, he has been a consistent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1868. He is known as a man who is always ready to do his part in furthering those measures which have for their object the upbuilding of his city and county. He is idolized by his employes being familiarly known to them as well as the community at large as "Uncle." Everyone in his employ receives good wages and courteous treatment, con- sequently they all work to his interest and the utmost harmony prevails at his extensive plant. Mr. Dryfus is considerate of the poor and many acts of charity are attributed to him. Such acts are always prompted by a pure- ly humanitarian impulse and through no desire of public display.
The eminent business talent of Mr. Dryfus seems composed of high mental and moral attributes, combined with sound judgment, breadth of ca- pacity and rapidity of thought, justice and firmness, the foresight to perceive the drifting tides of business and the will and ability to control them. Ac- cording to those who know him best he affords a striking exemplification of this talent, in a very high order of development, of such character as to gain him worthy prestige in business circles and a position of commanding in- fluence.
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REV. SAMUEL WILSON ELLIOTT.
The writer of biography, dealing with the personal history of men engaged in the various affairs of every-day life, finds much pleasure in re- cording something of the life and work of the average minister of the gospel, a class of men who are doing so much in building up the moral and religious interests of our country, interests which must ever constitute the foundation of our national prosperity and perpetuity. In this class we are pleased to include the Rev. Samuel W. Elliott, a minister of the Presbyterian church, who for many years has thus served his country and the cause of the Master, doing faithful and successful work in the various fields of labor where he was located.
The Rev. S. W. Elliott was born near Dayton, Tippecanoe county, In- diana, in 1844, the son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Wilson) Elliott, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a descendant of Thomas Elliott, a native of Enniskillen, in the northern part of Ireland, a descendant of the famous Scotch Covenanters. When the Covenanters were driven out of Scotland to Ireland, a number of the members of the Elliott family became noted soldiers during those stormy times. Thomas Elliott came to America in 1737 and settled in eastern Pennsylania. Some of the forefathers of Rev. S. W. Elliott fought in the early wars during colonial times ; one of his great- uncles was killed in the Indian wars.
Samuel Elliott, father of the subject, came from Pennsylvania to Indiana in 1829 and settled six miles southeast of Lafayette where he entered land and lived near the close of his life, when he moved to Lafayette and spent the remainder of his days in his home on State street. The mother's family, the Wilsons, were also natives of Pennsylvania and were of Scotch-Irish de- scent. Mary Ann Wilson came to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, about 1840 and was here married to Samuel Elliott.
Rev. S. W. Elliott lived on his father's farm until he entered Hanover College, where he passed through the freshman and sophomore years. He then entered Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania from which he graduated with a very creditable record in 1867. While at Hanover he was a classmate of the noted Doctor Wiley, chief chemist of the national department of agriculture. During the war of the Rebellion both Reverend Elliott and Doctor Wiley were members of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and they were mess- mates and close companions during their service in the army. The Reverend
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Elliott's older brother was Capt. Charles Elliott of Company A, Fortieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, who fell leading his company in a desperate charge against the Confederates at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, in June, 1864.
Doctor Elliott attended the Western Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1870. Later he took a post-graduate course and received the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy in 1887, from the University of Wooster, Ohio. He was licensed and ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian church in 1870. From that year to 1874 he lived in the state of Iowa and preached at Russell. His ministry in Ohio was very successful, his pastorates at Wilmington, West Union and Kingston, in that state, covering nearly twenty years. In 1896 he came to Lafayette. His health declining, he gave up the full work of the ministry and since then has been doing supply work as opportunity offered and giving attention to the interests of his farm, living meanwhile in his pleasant home on State street.
Doctor Elliott was married in November, 1874, to Jennie Grand-Girard, of Hillsboro, Ohio. She was of French parentage; the family were promi- nent in the old country, a grandfather having been an officer in Napoleon's famous Old Guard. To them were born five children, namely : Minnie W., living at home; Charles is in Atlanta, Georgia; he graduated from Purdue University in 1899 and is now holding the position of superintendent of a steel plant ; Emile is managing a ranch in New Mexico; Georgiana mar- ried Arthur Gates, a graduate of Purdue University in the class of 1890, and they live in Salt Lake City, Utah; Elsie is still a member of the home circle.
Doctor Elliott is a member of the Crawfordsville presbytery, and his family are members of the Second Presbyterian church of Lafayette. Doctor Elliott belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the Grand Army of the Republic. The family is highly esteemed by all who know them and greatly beloved by all their friends.
JAMES L. REEVES.
William and Rebecca (Wells) Reeves were married in Ross county, Ohio, in 1831, and shortly afterward decided to leave their native place for residence in Indiana. John D. Reeves, father of William, had a few years previously gone to Fountain county with his wife and entered land on the edge of Shawnee Prairie. To this place William took his bride, traveling
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not as they do now in finely appointed palace cars, but in a rude wagon, which jolted them sorely as they proceeded over the rough roads and "traces" of Ohio and Indiana. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and served in the war of 1812. While he was away William, the oldest of the children, with the aid of a gentle horse raised a crop to sustain the family. In 1844, after a residence of over seven years in Fountain county, he removed to Tip- pecanoe county and located on rented land in the southern part of Wayne township. He learned the tanner's trade from Amos Welch, an uncle of Hon. Amos Welch of West Point, and followed it as a calling for many years. He remained in Wayne township until 1868, when he removed to Illinois, where he died in 1879. His wife survived him some eight years and died in 1888, aged seventy-three. They had twelve children; Nathan, who lives in Illinois ; Mary Ellen, who died in youth ; Susannah, wife of James Mulhollen, of Tip- pecanoe county ; John, deceased; James L .; Phoebe, widow of George Pan- cake. and resident of Illinois; Nancy Jane, now Mrs. Silvers, lives in the state of Washington ; Malinda, wife of George Stover, resides in Wayne town- ship: Ellen, now deceased, married Nathaniel Garber; Jarvis resides in Illi- nois ; Rebecca, wife of Asa Harness, lives in Illinois ; and William is also a resident of that state.
James L. Reeves, fifth of the family, was born in Fountain county, May 21, 1841. He remained at home until twenty years old, when, in October, 1861. he enlisted in Company G, Fortieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, at Lafayette, Indiana, and served with this command through the memorable campaigns in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River and Missionary Ridge, besides minor skirmishes. At the last mentioned battle he was wounded in the right foot by a musket ball, which compelled him to spend some time in a hospital. The ball was ex- tracted and is still in his possession. In May, 1864, he was honorably dis- charged and returned home. For a number of years he was engaged in farm- ing on rented places, but finally bought forty acres which he disposed of later and purchased two tracts, one of one hundred eighteen and a half and another of forty acres, which he has cultivated with success and greatly improved, by building a house and other necessary structures.
Mr. Reeves was married March 22, 1866, to Margaret A. Ray, who died May 6, 1871, aged little over twenty-eight years, and leaving two children; Rosella. deceased. and Warren, who married Letta Byers, resides in Jackson township and has one child, Ines. Mr. Reeves next married Mrs. Martha Hawk. nee Ray, by whom he has two children; Edward, the eldest, married Anna Caroline. daughter of Thomas M. Marks, resides in Wayne township
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and has seven sons : Thomas J., Mearl, Vennie, William Orville, Floyd, Charles D., and an infant. Mr. Reeves is an active Republican and served as trustee from 1888 to 1890. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at West Point while it was in existence, and served as quarter- master. He is a member of the Wea Plains Horse Association, with which he has been connected for many years, and is a self-made man and highly re- spected by the wide circle of acquaintances who have long known him.
JOSEPH NORRIS STEWART.
The family of this name in Wayne township is of Kentucky origin. In 1824, John and Mary ( Inlow) Stewart, born and reared and married in Ken- tucky, came to Indiana and located in Montgomery county. John, who was a son of Joseph Stewart, was in the war of 1812, serving as a private under Colonel Dudley, was taken prisoner at the River Raisin, in Canada, and had to run the gauntlet. Charity Smith, the subject's maternal grandmother, had two brothers who were hung by the Tories. John Stewart was the grandson of a Scotch nobleman, who left his country at the time of the persecution and settled in New Jersey. His son John lived in Pennsylvania for some years and Joseph, who was born in that state, eventually removed to Kentucky. Joseph Norris Stewart, son of John and Mary (Inlow) Stewart, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, April 15, 1829. His mother, who was a daugh- ter of Jesse Inlow, died in 1842 and his father in 1860. Mr. Stewart's boy- hood was spent in the rough pioneer days when Montgomery county was sparsely settled, schools few and far between, much hard work and few diver- sions. He had to go a long way to the nearest school and his attendance was so irregular that he obtained but a limited education in youth. This defi- ciency, however, he made up afterward by reading and observation, with the result that he became a well informed man. His father improved two farms, which involved an immense amount of labor, and his boys had little time to play during the arduous period of clearing, grubbing, log-rolling, seeding and harvesting. Of the fifteen children in the family, only two are now living. Joseph started life for himself at an early age, renting and working land in his native county after reaching his majority. In 1862 he removed to Tip- pecanoe county, renting land first in Jackson and later in Wayne township. At length he located on a small farm of thirty-one acres, which when bought by him was covered with timber and brush. So he was compelled to resume
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