Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead, Part 6

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead > Part 6
USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead > Part 6

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MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

Union and sent two sons to the war. He was called from life on the 13th of May, 1879, his death resulting from heart disease.

JOHN H. BRODRICK has successfully followed various occupations throughout life and is now one of the wealthy capitalists of Elkhart, with the interests of which city he has been identified from the commencement of his career, for here he first saw the light of day on November 9, 1835, his father being Nehemiah F. Brodrick, whose sketch appears above. John H. was educated in the public schools of Elkhart and being ambitions, he, at an early age, opened a furniture establishment which he conducted until the spring of 1860, when he sold out and removed to Shelby county, Ohio, where, for two years, he was engaged in farming in the vicinity of Sidney. In that year he returned to Elkhart and purchased property, and in the fall he joined Company D, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, with which he served until the war closed, acting in the capacity of commissary sergeant, with headquarters at Louisville, Ky., during the last winter of the war being on detached hospital duty with the Army of Tennessee. He witnessed many fiercely contested battles, among which were Missionary Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain and the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, being on those bloody battlefields issuing rations to the soldiers. He was mustered out of the service in 1865 and returned to his home to once more take up the peaceful pursuits of a civilian's life, and until 1878 was a successful mer- chant and manufacturer. He then decided to follow the advice of Horace Greeley and " go west," and in 1878 he found himself in Kansas, where he followed milling and was quite extensively engaged in dealing in real estate in Mitchell and Osborne counties. He built the largest hotel in the Northwest at Osborne, Kan., and named the house "Key West," but it is now known as the Lipton House. In Jan- nary, 1881, he returned to Elkhart, which city has since been his home. He helped to build the starch works at Elkhart, has been a valuable citizen of the city in numer- ous ways, and has expended large sums of money in building up and improving the place. For one year he did business in Goshen, but Elkhart has been the principal scene of his operations. He was married in January, 1860, to Miss Eleanora S. Maxwell, a native of Sidney, Ohio, by whom he has five children: Laura E., wife of C. W. Baldwin, of Osborne, Kan .; Alberta M., wife of S. E. Ruede; Carl J .; Harry M., and Ralph E. Mr. Brodrick is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Shiloh Post, of which he is an honored member. His experience in life has been a varied one, but at the same time one that reflects great credit upon him, and the reputation he has acquired as a shrewd man of business and a public spir- ited citizen has been gained through his own individual efforts and at the expense of hard, practical experience.

HON. RICHARD W. THOMPSON was a native of Culpeper county, Va., born in June, 1809, and was descended from one of " the first families of Virginia." When twenty-two years old he emigrated to Indiana, taught a private school at Bedford and later opened the Lawrence County Seminary. Subsequently he read law, was admitted to the bar in 1834 and the same year was elected to the State legislature, and reelected in 1838. In 1839 he was elected to the State Senate and during his career as a State legislator not only displayed great ability and foresight, but was instrumental in effecting very important legislation. Upon the resignation of Lient .- Gov. Wallace, Mr. Thompson was president of the Senate pro tempore, and held the office of acting governor during the administration of Hon. Noah Noble. As a Whig he was nominated and elected to Congress in 1841 from the Second dis- trict, and declining a renomination moved to Terre Haute in 1843, where for nearly half a century he was engaged in the practice of the law. In 1847 he was again nominated for Congress by the Whig party, and, accepting the nomination, was re- elected and became a national character because of his prominence in legislative matters. Although tendered the Austrian mission by President Taylor in 1849, he declined the appointment, preferring to remain in his native country. During the war of the Rebellion he rendered the union active and valnable services, was com-

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

mandant of Camp Dick Thompson, near Terre Haute, and also served as provost marshal of the district. In 1867 he was elected judge of the Eighteenth Judicial District, but declined the candidature of a second term. For a number of years he lived in retirement, steadily refusing political preferment, and turning his attention to literary and educational pursuits, his large and valuable library affording him an ample field for study. In March, 1877, President Hayes appointed him to his cabi- net as Secretary of the Navy, and so ably did he fill the duties of that position that he brought order out of chaos, simplified the duties of his subordinates, dismissed unnecessary employes, established his department on a sound basis and saved sev- eral million dollars to the Government that had previously been frittered away. Mr. Thompson is one of the men whose name bears an imperishable imprint on the page of Indiana history. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, hale and hearty; he has been a participant in sixteen presidential campaigns and on September 3, 1893, made one of the ablest political speeches of his life, comprising six columns of news- paper print.

HORACE S. HUBBARD, of the Hubbard Lumber Company, of Elkhart, Ind., is an en- terprising man of affairs and is engaged in a business that has always held an im- portant place in the commercial centers of the country. The successful conduct of the business employs large capital, and Mr. Hubbard has an extensive yard, well stocked with hard wood and pine lumber, in fact, all sorts of building material is kept constantly on hand. Mr. Hubbard was born in Minneapolis, Minn., June 13, 1859, a son of S. D. and Eliza (Sexton) Hubbard, who were born in Vermont and Hartford, Conn., respectively. The father was one of the early settlers of Minne- sota, and while in that State took part in a number of engagements with the Indians. After some time he removed to Pittsburg, Penn., and almost immediately engaged in the manufacture of axes, saws, shovels, etc., the establishment being now known as the American Ax & Tool Co. Five of the six children born to himself and wife are living: C. S., Nellie S., Horace S., Lucy K. and William H. In the public schools of Pittsburg Horace S. Hubbard was educated, graduating from the high school of that place. His early knowledge of business was acquired in his father's manufactory, but after some time he removed to Elkhart, Ind., about 1882, and later was engaged in merchandising in Chicago and Denver, Colo. In the latter city he was in the hardware business with George Switch Hardware Company, the largest house in its line in the West. Succeeding this he was with the Norman-Percheron Horse Company of Greeley, Colo., and for some time was engaged in ranching. In Jan- uary, 1891, he embarked in his present business in Elkhart, which he has conducted in a very successful manner. He is a very progressive man of business, is liberal with his patrons and as a result has already become the recipient of much favor and a liberal patronage. Mr. Hubbard was married in 1884 to Miss Nora J., daughter of A. J. Wolf, a prominent business man of Elkhart, and their union has resulted in the birth of one child, a danghter, Hazel O. Mr. Hubbard is quite extensively en- gaged in the real estate business, and is the very efficient manager of the A. J. Wolf estate. He has been a notary public since 1891, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He and his wife worship in the Presbyterian Church.

MARTIN G. SAGE (deceased). Among the noble men of Elkhart county, Ind., who fulfilled their destiny and are now no more, may be mentioned Martin G. Sage, whose walk through life was characterized by the most honorable business methods, by the keenness of his commercial instincts, by his devotion to his family and friends aud by the interest he took in the welfare of his fellow-men. In him Elkhart lost one of its most industrious and successful citizens, and when the final summons came on Sunday, September 11, 1892, there ended a busy, industrious life that bad done much to advance the commercial importance of the county and especially the city that had been his home for so many years. His natal connty was Chautauqua, N. Y., where he first saw the light of day July 24, 1817, and when still a youth numerous burdens were laid upon his slender shoulders and he was intrusted with

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

important duties. At the age of sixteen years he was sent by his father to Adams- ville, Cass Co., Mich., to represent him in his business relations with his father's partner, with whom he was engaged in general merchandising. The mill at Adams- ville was erected shortly after young Sage's arrival and he took an active part in superintending its building. His parents and only brother, Norman, followed him to Cass county in 1834, and when the latter had attained his majority the father in- formed his sons that his property was involved, but if they would join him in part- nership and wipe out this obligation, he would transfer the property to them. They accepted, and from that time were intimately associated in their business relations, and being unusually enterprising and energetic, their labors were crowned with success.

The father, Moses Sage, died in 1862, after which Martin and Norman continued the business of milling, merchandising and farming, which he had established there, and did all their business and owned everything in common. Abont 1872 Martin came to Elkhart, Ind., to reside, and joined Norman, who had come in 1869, in the milling business, and until about six years ago they were equal partners in all their enterprises. Then they began to divide up their extensive estate, and up to the death of Martin, the only property held in common was the Harvest Queen Flouring Mill and some land about their beantiful brick residences on Division street. The most of his time was devoted to the management of the mill, but he was also the sole owner of a mill at Adamsville, which property he inherited from his father's estate, held stock in the National Starch Company and stock in the Globe Tissue Paper Mill, besides considerable private property. Always practical and possessing methodical habits, these characteristics stood him in good stead in helping to liqui- date his father's indebtedness, and they soon found themselves out of deep water and floating on a prosperous tide. About two weeks prior to his death he was pros- trated with typhoid fever and, owing to his advanced age and enfeebled condition caused by frequent severe sicknesses, he was unable to withstand the resistless onslaughts of the terrible typhus, and he finally succumbed to the grim destroyer. He was surrounded by his family and that of his brother Norman when the end came. He left a widow and two children. Carleton Sage, a son of his first wife, Laura, a sister of Col. R. M. and Guy C. Johnson, of this city, whom he married in February, 1850, and who died in April, 1851. He next married Mrs. Jane Bird, a sister of John S. Merritt, of La Grange, who bore him three children: Ella, Norman Henry and Laura. Ella married George B. Merritt and died about twelve years ago. Norman H. was killed in the Harvest Queen Mill in October, 1886, leaving a little daughter who was adopted by Mr. Sage. Laura is married to Edward Bush- uell, of Chicago. The mother of these children was called from life some fifteen years ago, and in 1881 Mr. Sage wedded his third wife, Miss Mary Morrow, who survives him. Although his early educational advantages were quite limited, he was an intelligent and polished gentleman, both by instinct and training, and his personal appearance was decidedly pleasing. He possessed generous, true-hearted and hospitable instincts. and being kind and social in disposition he won numerous friends and rarely lost them. He kept thoroughly posted on the general topics of the day, and being a man of intellect, he used his wealth to a good advantage and materially aided in the upbuilding of mercantile enterprises which have and do now reflect credit upon the community. He was never so happy as when surrounded by his family, to whom he was very devoted, and his many friends, and the affection that always existed between himself and his brother Norman was always a very close and strong one. Undisturbed in the later years of his life by cares other than those he allowed to rest lightly upon him, he devoted much of his time to social pleasures of a quiet kind, and thus gracefully grew old and passed to his reward. He was postmaster at Adamsville, Mich., from about 1840 to 1870.

DR. PORTER TURNER, the above mentioned gentleman, is a gifted young physician who has seen fit to locate for the practice of his noble and useful calling in the

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

town where he first saw the light of day-Elkhart, Ind., and owing to a superior knowledge of his calling as well as to his natural kindness of heart and sympathetic nature. he has gathered about him a large number of.patrons. He has the happy faculty of inspiring his patients with courage and hope, which goes a long way to- ward their recovery, and his prospect for a brilliant future in the field of medical science is a very bright one. He was born in July, 1852, to Lyman and Tamar (Wilkinson) Turner, natives of New York and Ohio respectively, but in 1849 this worthy couple took up their residence in Elkhart county, Ind., where the father de- voted his attention to farming until his death, which occurred in 1889, his widow still surviving him. They became the parents of five children: Porter, and Perry L., the only ones now living. Dr. Porter Turner was by no means nursed on the lap of luxury in his youth, but he always had an abundance of everything necessary for his comfort, and he fortunately received the advantages of the excellent public schools of Elkhart, and with excellent judgment made the most of his opportunities. All his young life was spent in laboring on the farm, where the very air he breathed seemed to give him hope, pluck and courage, and when he started out in life for him- self at the age of twenty four years, although his inheritance was insufficient to en- able him to start in the race of life with flattering prospect of building up a large fortune, he did inherit industry, integrity, and that indomitable energy so charac- teristic of men who have become conspicuous in their callings. After deciding to devote his life to medicine, he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1886, after which he immediately opened an office in Elkhart and at once arose in popular favor until he now has a sufficient practice to keep him constantly employed. He pays special attention to general surgery, in which he has done some exceptionally skillful and delicate work, and he seems to have a natural aptitude for this branch of medicine. He is a member of Northern Indiana aud the Southern Michigan Homoeopathic Medical Society; also the Indiana State Medical Society, and he practices among the best people of the county. He belongs to that honorable order, the Knights of Pythias. He was married in 1872 to Miss Charlotte Titus, of Elkhart, by whom he has five children; Willie F., Nellie, Minnie, Lillian and Carrie. A thoroughly conscientious practitioner of medicine, he entertains the idea that the first and highest obligation of a physician is to his patients, and to discharge that obligation faithfully, requires that he should keep pace with the progress of medical science. This necessitates not only much hard study of the science of medicine itself, but kindred sciences as well. An esti- mable gentleman, as well as a successful physician, honest and conscientious, in his dealings with his patients, upright in all business transactions, and courteous in his intercourse with other members of the profession, he commands the respect of those with whom he is at all intimately associated, and their admiration for his many fine mental qualities.

GEORGE H. FISTER, city clerk of Elkhart, Ind., and a man of much intelligence, force of character and determination, was born in Adrian, Mich., on September 3, 1853, a son of George W. and Johanna R. (Pruden) Fister, who came from the State of New York and were among the early settlers of the State of Michigan in the vicinity of Adrian. The father was a machinist and engineer of much ability and intelligence, attained prominence in his calling, and while a resident of Michigan he held a number of official positions. He died in Toledo, Ohio, in January, 1892, he and his wife having become the parents of the following children: George H., Charles F. and Colonel P., and one daughter who died in childhood. George H. Fister was about nine years of age when his parents moved to Toledo, and there the principal part of his education was obtained. He possessed quite an artistic temper- ment. and during his youth devoted his attention to that calling and became a very skillful manipulator of the brush, especially in the way of sign and ornamental dec- oration, to which he devoted the most of his attention. So thoroughly did he become the master of this art that as a token of his proficiency he was awarded a medal by

MEMOIRS OF INDIANA.

his employers. He served one year as a wood engraver in the firm of French Bros., of Toledo, and one year was in the commission office of John Stevens & Co., but left this firm to take a course in a commercial college, and fitted himself for an act- ive business life in an institution of Toledo. Since 1877 he has been an honored resident of Elkhart, Ind., and soon after locating here accepted a position with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, as sign writer, in which employ he con- tinued to remain until 1890, at which time he severed his connection with this road and was made the recipient of testimonials from his employers of which he is justly prond. In May, 1890, he was honored with an election to the office of city clerk, and discharged his duties in so satisfactory a manner that he was re-elected in May, 1892, and is fully carrying out the good impression he made during his first term. Miss Nellie M. Aldrich, of Elkhart, became his wife April 16, 1879, and has presented Mr. Fister with three children, Arthur A. being the only one now living. One child died of diphtheria Angust 1, 1890, and the other of the same dread disease two weeks later. Mr. Fister is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in both of which worthy organizations he is an honored member. As an illustration of his popularity it is but necessary to state that upon his re-election to his present office he had the largest majority ever given to any man elected to official position in Elkhart. He is a gentleman in every worthy particular and stands very high, not only in political, but also business and social circles.

THOMAS A. HENDRICKS. No man in the State of Indiana ever attained the ideal citizenship, the affection of his neighbors or the lasting regard of the Democracy of the State in a higher degree than Thomas A. Hendricks. The purity of his private life, his simple, unassuming ways, his keen, analytical mind, his brilliancy as a de- bater and his shrewdness as a political manager forever place him among the most eminent men of the nation. John Hendricks, his father, was a farmer by occupa- tion, and the family was one of the pioneers of Westmoreland county, Penn. He married Miss Jane Thomson, and early in the year 1820 moved with his family to In- diana and settled at Madison, where a brother, William Hendricks, who served as Con- gressman, governor and United States Senator, had preceded him. John Hen- dricks was a deputy surveyor of public lands of Indiana, a position acquired under the administration of President Jackson. He moved to Shelby County in 1822, which was the family home for years. Thomas A. Hendricks was born on a farm near Zanesville, Muskingum Co, Ohio, September 7, 1819. He was reared in In- diana to manhood, and attended college at South Hanover. Early in youth he evinced a predilection for the study of law, and after pursuing the usnal course of in- struction was admitted to the bar at Shelbyville. His success as a lawyer was not rapid, as is usually the case of prominent men, but was gradual and fairly remuner- ative. The game of politics was always fascinating to him, and is so interwoven with his political career that in his case they are well nigh inseparable. In 1848 he was elected to the State legislature, declining a renomination, and in 1850 was unanimously chosen senatorial delegate to the convention empowered to amend the State constitution. In 1851 he was elected to Congress, was re-elected two years later, but in 1854 was defeated for the same position. Much to his surprise, and wholly unsolicited on his part. he was appointed commissioner of the general land office by President Pierce in 1855, and for a period of four years he faithfully discharged the duties of this of- tice. In 1860, when national, State and local politics were in a volcanic condition, he was the candidate of the Democratic party for governor, but was defeated by Col. Henry I. Lane, who resigned the position in favor of Oliver P. Morton, in order to ac- cept the election of United States senator. Through Mr. Hendricks' indefatigable efforts and personal popularity, the State elected a majority of Democratic legislators in 1862, and they, in turn for his faithful services, rewarded him by electing him United States senator. His career as senator was somewhat different from that of many of the prominent membersof his party in the North. He favored the earnest prosecution

PICTORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

of the war, voting for all measures to that end; he opposed conscription, and advo- cated all measures tending to the enlistment of troops and the payment of bounties. At the close of the war he maintained that, inasmuch as the States in rebellion had never been out of the Union, they were entitled to their full and usual representa- tion in Congress, and that these States should have entire control of their respect- ive State governments. He opposed the constitutional amendments on the grounds that the rebellious States were not represented, and because, in his opinion, suffi- cient time should elapse for passion to cool and prejudice abate before such action should be taken. After his term of six years as senator had expired he devoted his time to the exclusive practice of law, and having previously (1860) moved to Indian- apolis he found an extensive field for his talents. Against his protests he was nom- inated for governor in 1872 and was decisively elected, serving as chief executive officer of the State four years. He became the political idol of the Democrats of the State and their earnest support and his national popularity gained for him the vice- presidential nomination in 1876, but was defeated with Gov. Tilden. In 1884 he was again honored by a nomination for this exalted office, and was elected with President Cleveland. In the midst of his administration his career on earth ended.

HON. CYRUS F. MOSIER. The facility with which the American soldier laid down the implements of warfare, at the close of the great conflict between the Northern and Southern States, and adapted himself to the pursuits of civil life, has been the wonder of all nations, and scarcely less surprising than gratifying to the American people themselves. While not a few very profound citizens of the republic were speculating as to what was to become of the thousands of men mustered out of the armies of the United States, the question was solved by the ex-soldiers themselves, who quietly stepped into the ordinary walks of life, to become the very flower of American citizenship, and the chief promotors of a national progress which is with- ont a parallel in history. In ability, industry, integrity and morality, in respect for the rights of others, and everything that goes to make up a good citizen, the manhood of the nation suffered nothing as a result of the war, but on the contrary it has been demonstrated that the beardless boys who left the farm, the workshop. the storeroom and the college, to fight the battles which were to preserve the life of the nation, came out of the conflict as a rnle, better fitted for that kind of syste- matic, tireless and persistent effort which wins success, than the young Americans of any generation since the revolutionary period. This fact can not fail to impress itself upon either the writer of American history proper, or of that branch of his- tory which consists of the biographies of those who have achieved sufficient dis- tinction to make the record of their lives of interest to the public. Whenever we attempt to write the history of a great enterprise, we find among its chief promot- ers, men who were at Vicksburg. Donelson, Gettysburg, or Appomattox; we find the same class of men on the bench, at the bar, in the pulpit, in high official posi- tions, and in the field of medicine, and wherever we find them, with rare exceptions, they reflect the highest credit upou their respective callings. The subject of this sketch was one who donned the blne uniform and fought, bravely for the old flag, serving with distinction through the Rebellion. He comes of good old fighting stock, his paternal grandfather having fought and died for independence. Mr. Mosier was born on June 21, 1840, and is a descendant of English ancestors, in- heriting their thrift and enterprise. He is the son of Cyrus and Rebecca (Weeks) Mosier, natives of the Empire State, where the father, in connection with the mill- wright trade, carried ou a carriage manufactory. The Weeks family was related to the Mosier family on the mother's side, and several members of this family were killed in the noted Wyoming massacre. The parents of our subject had born to their union three children, as follows: Horace (deceased), Cyrus F., and Charles who was drowned in a spring. Cyrus F. was but two months old when his father lied, and his mother afterward removed to Corning, N. Y., where she resided for six years From there she moved toward the setting sun and settled in New Haven,

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Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of northern Indiana and of the whole state, both living and dead, Part 6

Author: Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers Number of Pages: 786

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Brothers
Number of Pages: 786