USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, together with biographies of many prominent men of other portions of the state, both living and dead > Part 14
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ERNEST A. WEHRMAN, M. D. Whatever may be said of the laws of heredity it is an un- deniable fact that sons do frequently follow in the footsteps of their fathers and display re- markable talent in the same line that gave eminence to their sires. A case in point is that of the subject of this sketch, Dr. Ernest A. Wehrman, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio, April 11, 1848, being the son of Frederick Wehrman, a native of Germany, who was reared and educated in that country, graduating as a physician and becoming eminent in his profession. He studied at the famous university of Gottingen and was head physician and surgeon of the hospital at Gottingen for seven years. On coming to America in 1836 he located at Wheeling, then in Virginia, where he carried on a general practice for a period of eleven years. At the expiration of this time he settled with his family in Monroe County, Ohio, where he died of consumption in 1851. This worthy and distinguished man was mar- ried at Wheeling to Mary Zink, a native of Switzerland, who came to this country at the age of seven with her parents. She survived her husband for many years, her death finally occurring in Ohio in 1886. Our subject was reared in his native county and received instruction in the public schools until he was sixteen, when he began to teach in winter months and attend select schools of Ohio and Virginia in the summer, continuing until he had received an excellent education. In the fall of 1870 he entered the St. Louis Homeo- pathic College, but in the following summer attended the St. Louis Medical College and in the fall of 1871 entered the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of 1872. Returning to his Ohio home he entered upon the general practice, devoting his summers for the next three years to that work and giving the winters to clinics in the medical colleges of St. Louis and Philadelphia. He has also attended the post graduate school of New York for two sessions, and, in fact, has availed himself of every possible means for adding to his knowledge, being an earnest and honest student and inves- tigator. He has always been in full touch with the times, being an eager reader of the maga- zines and periodicals of the profession. In 1878, eager for more light and knowledge, the Doctor went abroad and for the next three years spent nearly his entire time in the general hospital of Vienna, where he was brought face to face with the various forms of disease and. enjoyed the advantage of association with some of the brightest minds of the profession. Re- turning to America in 1881 he practiced in Ohio until 1882, when he came to Indianapolis, where he has since acquired a very large and lucrative practice which has been remarkable for its success. Dr. Wehrman ranks among the leading physicians of the city and is recog- nized as a learned and most skilled practitioner. Since locating in this city he has twice visited the hospitals of Vienna, Berlin and London and has attended two post-graduate courses in New York. The Doctor confines his work exclusively to general practice in the office, and he has gained a wide reputation for his successful treatment of diseases. He is a firm believer in the principle that the physician in order to be successful must avail himself of every possible agency for gaining added knowledge and that new forms of disease present themselves and that new modes of treatment are being revealed from time to time that may be highly efficient. He is one who would never cease to study, to investigate and to learn, but would always be in fullest possession of the latest and the best knowledge concerning
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diseases and their cure. He is a man who is highly esteemed in the social circles of the city, and is admired by the educated for his erudition. Dr. Wehrman was married in 1882, in Illinois, to Elizabeth Eisenmeier, a native of Trenton, Ill., who has borne him three children.
REV. GEORGE E. SWAN. Experience has convinced the careful observer that there is a thousand times more goodness, wisdom and love in this world than men imagine. Goodness is generous and diffusive; it is largeness of mind and sweetness of temper-balsam in the blood and justice sublimated to a richer spirit. The greatest man is he who chooses right with the most invincible resolution; who resists the sorest temptation from within and with- out; who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully; who is calmest in storms and most fearless under menaces and frowns; whose reliance on truth, on virtue and on God is most unfalter- ing. Biography, especially the biography of the great and good, who have risen by their own exertions to eminence and usefulness, is an inspiring and ennobling study. Its direct tendency is to reproduce the excellence it records. In the life of Rev. George E. Swan we find that which should inspire the youths of this and coming generations to lives of useful- ness and greatness, and it is with pleasure that we note a few of the most important events of his career. He was born in Essex County, England, October 12, 1854, and he is one of the heirs in the celebrated case of Jennings vs. Jennings, described in Dickens' Bleak House as Jarndynce vs. Jarndynce. Our subject was educated in the schools of London, England, and came to America alone when he was but nineteen years of age. First he lo- cated in Duluth, where he worked in the custom house, and then went to Fairbault, Minn., where he studied five years, part of the time at Shattucks School, and at Seabury Divinity School, graduating from the latter in 1880 with the degree of B. D. From there he went to Fergus Falls, Minn., as missionary for one year, and then took charge of St. John's Church at Moorhead, Minn., where he remained until 1887. He then came to Indianapolis and took charge of Grace Cathedral, then located on the corner of Pennsylvania and St. Joseph Streets. At that time there was a very small congregation but under his ministry this largely increased and a new church built at Seventh and Central Avenue. Then in February, 1891 he took charge of the Mary's Hall, a select day and boarding school for young ladies, under the auspices of the Episcopal Church and now holds that position. He is a man of scholarly attainments and wide learning, and an able and forcible speaker. He impresses all with whom he comes in contact as being an earnest, efficient and faithful laborer in his Master's service. In November, 1888, our subject was married to Miss Marion C. Hawley, daughter of Rev. Dr. F. J. Hawley, dean of Minnesota, and later rector of St. John's Parish, West Indies. Mr. Swan has one son, John Fletcher, and a daughter, Marion Hart.
N. S. DRIGGS, who has been identified with the drug business of Indianapolis for many years, is now located at 850 East Washington Street where he has a neatly fitted np phar- macy. He carries a full and well assorted stock of everything usually found in a well regu- lated store of this character and is doing a fairly prosperous business.
JOHN R. PEARSON. If continuous elections to positions of trust and honor are a criterion by which a man's popularity is gauged, then John R. Pearson enjoys, to an unusual degree, the high esteem of his fellow man. A native of the Birmingham of America, Pittsburgh, Penn., his birth occurred March 27, 1849, his father being Richard Pearson, an English- man by birth. The elder Pearson was a man of more than usual force of character and dis- cernment, a shrewd financier, was one of the progenitors of the Allegheny Valley Railway with which he was identified for over a quarter of a century, and for a period of thirty-five years was connected with the old Pittsburgh Bank. The family is yet prominently con- nected with the political, financial and social conditions of Pittsburgh. To a large extent John R. Pearson has inherited his superior business qualifications from his father. Born at a time when Pittsburgh was just beginning to demonstrate to the world her admirable location as a manufacturing center, he grew to manhood with her development, imbibing the same spirit of enthusiasm and enterprise that permeated her veins. After following wholesale merchandising in his native city for a time he decided that somewhere in the great West his opportunities for bettering his condition would not be as much restricted as at Pittsburgh, and accordingly, in 1870, came to Indianapolis and became the head of the well known house of Pearson & Dickson. This firm became a benefactor of the city, in a manner, by insti-
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tuting many improvements among which was the erection of the Grand Opera House in sixty days' time. Mr. Pearson helped to organize the Citizen's Gas Company and was selected to superintend same until it was financially consolidated with the old gas company. After this event he continued as superintendent until the purchase of the plant, and of that of the Natural Gas plant by a New York corporation and since then has been general manager and assistant to the president. Not long after his location in Indianapolis Mr. Pearson was selected by his neighbors for political preferment and has served numerous terms in the City Council, has been president of the Police Board and chairman of the Committee on finance. Preferring active business pursuits to the uncertain game of politics, he has firmly declined to enter the political arena. Mr. Pearson has made life an undisputed success so far, and being but in the prime of life liis views of the future can have only a roseate hue. What he might have lacked in a social degree has been more than remedied by his marriage with Miss Hattie, the daughter of the late James Dickson. The poet has said, and truly, that:
" Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary."
This is true of Mr. and Mrs. Pearson. One son was born to them who lived long enough to give much promise of the future. Death dashed fond hopes and bright dreams to the earth when the youth was sixteen years old.
IRA HOLLINGSWORTH. From the biography of every man may be gleaned some lessons of genuine worth, for it is here that we discover the secret of his success or failure. If he has "passed to that bourne whence no traveler returns," it is all the more necessary that his name should be perpetuated for the benefit of his descendants and for future generations. Ira Hollingsworth's life was marked by all that goes to make up useful and noble manhood, and in him was the stuff of which noble citizens are made. He was born near Dayton, Ohio, April 22, 1808, a son of Joseph and Sarah J. (Cox) Hollingsworth, both of whom were born in South Carolina. Ira Hollingsworth resided in his native county until he was about eleven years of age, at which time the family removed to Randolph County, Ind., and settled on a farm, where the rest of his boyhood and early manhood were spent. He was educated in the old-time subscription schools which were in vogne in his day and which were held in rude log cabins. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming, as his father had done before him, and during the long winter months when he could do nothing else, he devoted his time to making shoes for his neighbors. He resided in Randolph County until 1837, then sold his farm, which he had improved, and came to Marion County, arriving in Pike Township April 19, 1837, where he bought a farm of 156 acres for $1, 200 cash, now valued at $15,000. This land was bnt little improved at that time, and the work of clearing and again establishing a home was gone over again. He continued to reside on this place until his death, which occurred May 24, 1874, and during this time he made a wide acquaintance and won universal esteem. He never interested himself in politics to any great extent, but served his township in official capacities, being one of the trus- tees for a number of years. He was very successful as a fariner, and a more charitable or benevolent man could not be found in all the country round. Mr. Hollingsworth was married in 1827 to Miss Deborah Bennett, a native of Guilford County, N. C., born May 16, 1808, a daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Mills) Bennett, who were also natives of the Old North State. The Bennett family were English, and all were adherents of the Quaker faith. Joseph Bennett died in North Carolina about the year 1814, and a few years after his death his widow and children removed to Indiana, coming the entire distance in a one- horse wagon. They settled in Randolph County in 1821 or 1822, where the mother made her home until 1848, when she removed to Hamilton County, and there was called from life in May, 1863, at the advanced age of about ninety years. Ira Hollingsworth and his wife
became the .parents of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls, thirteen of whom grew to manhood and womanhood: Joseph B .; Ruth A., married James M. Hume, and died May 25, 1865; Sarah J .; Eliza, married Charles Hanes, and died November 2, 1886; Eliz- abeth, died July 29, 1884; Job, died at the age of six months; Francis M., Martin L., resides near Arkansas City, Kan., and was married in 1858 to Martha E. Eudailey; William H. H. ; Sylrania, married J. W. Wright, and resides on a farm in Franklin County, Kan. ;
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Lieurania; John S .; Oliver H. P., and Victoria. The mother of these children died on May 14, 1892, she and her husband having been charter members of the North Liberty Christian Church in May, 1841, and were closely connected and identified with the same for many years, their home being commonly known as the preacher's home on all occasions. Mr. Hollingsworth was officially connected with the church as elder for many years. Polit- ically he was a Whig and Abolitionist, in fact he was always in sympathy with downtrod- den humanity. He and his brother Dan cast the first Abolitionist votes in Pike Township, and were designated at the time as fools, but Mr. Hollingsworth said at the time that he hoped to live to see the seed bear fruit, and afterward thanked God that his hopes were realized. He was a most kind and affectionate father, very generous toward his children, and in addition to giving each and every one of them good educational advantages, materi- ally assisted them in getting settled in homes of their own, and always provided them with comforts and conveniences so far as lay within his power. He was a strong temperance man, one of the original organizers and active workers in that cause in his township. He was a man whom to know was to honor, and his many kindly deeds will live through many years to come.
DANIEL HOLLINGSWORTH. This gentleman is one of the oldest representatives of that pioneer family now living in Marion County, Ind., and may be said to be one of its most worthy representatives, for his walk through life has been characterized by the most unde- viating energy, by a desire to do as he would be done by, and by the utmost public spirit. Mr. Hollingsworth was born in Randolph County, Ind., December 1, 1821, a son of Joseph Hollingsworth, who was born in South Carolina, in 1777, where he was reared to manhood and married Miss Sarah J. Cox, a native of the same State as himself. At an early period in the history of the State they removed to Ohio, but later settled in Randolph County, Ind., where Joseph Hollingsworth entered 240 acres of land, nearly all of which was heavily covered with timber. On this land he erected a cabin of poles and began to clear the land prepara- tory to the establishment of a home, and there after passing through the usual hardships and privations incident to the life of the pioneer, their efforts began to be rewarded and in due course of time they became possessed of an abundance of this world's goods. Mr. Holl- ingsworth was an adherent of the Quaker faith and was a devont member of that church the greater portion of his life. In 1837 the family first came to Marion County, and took up their residence in Pike Township, where Mr. Hollingsworth died about one year later, his wife following him to the grave about two weeks later. To this worthy couple a family of ten children were given. all of whom were residents of Pike County at one time, but only three of whom are now living: Eliza, Kuhn and Daniel. Those deceased are: Mary, George, Lydia, Jonathan, Ira, Asa and Jeremiah. The subject of this sketch, Daniel Holl- ingsworth, is the youngest of his father's family, and like the majority of the farmers' boys of his day, his time was spent in wielding the hoe on the home place, and in attending such district schools as were held in the vicinity of his rural home. In this manner his early life was spent and during this time he developed into a fine specimen of physical manhood. He never attended a free school, but in his day the three R's were taught in the typical log cabin of pioneer days, and all the schools were conducted on the subscription plan. Not- withstanding these adverse circumstances he made reasonable progress in his studies, and while laboring on the home farm he became well versed in all kinds of agricultural labor and was especially skillful as a rail splitter. He has followed the occupation of farming in Pike Township, Marion County, ever since his sixteenth year, and in this occupation has been prosperous, being also extensively and successfully engaged in buying and selling hogs. He has been retired from the active duties of life for some years, and is in the enjoyment of liberal means, the result of his own energy and forethought. He now resides at New Augusta. He was married in November, 1840, to Miss Emily Pollard, a native of Kentucky, born December 10, 1823, a daughter of Allison and Mary (Ashley) Pollard, also natives of that State, and to them three children have been given: Elizabeth A., Mary C., who married B. F. Abrams, and is now deceased, and Jolin who resides in Hendricks County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth have been active members of the Christian Church for over half a century, and they and four other persons are the only charter members of that churchi now living. This church is known as the North Liberty Christian Church and was organized by
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Rev. Thomas Lockhart in 1841. Mr. Hollingsworth was for many years an elder in this church. Politically he was originally a Whig, but since its organization he has voted the Republican ticket, although he is a prohibitionist in principle. He went in debt for his first forty-five acres of land but by thrift and industry prospered and eventually became the owner of a fine tract of land comprising 150 acres. During his early years of farming he cut many an acre of wheat with a reap-hook for 50 cents per day, but closed his active career in easy circumstances. He is still the owner of forty acres of valuable land in Pike Town- ship, besides his fine residence property in New Augusta, and also owns 100 acres in Heu- dricks County, Ind. June 30, 1893, a wheat reaping contest with reap-hooks was partici- pated in by ten old citizens of the county, witnessed by several hundred citizens and Mr. Hollingsworth secured the first premium of $5 for reaping the greatest amount in a given time. He was past seventy-one years of age when this occurred, which clearly demonstrates that father Time has touched him lightly and that many more years of usefulness are with- out doubt before him.
FRANCIS MARION HOLLINGSWORTH. A successful farmer of Marion County, Ind., is Francis M. Hollingsworth, who is a son of Ira and Deborah (Bennett) Hollingsworth, and was born in Pike Township, this county, January 30, 1837, being the first of a family born in Marion County. He was reared on a farm in his native township, and was an attendant of the district schools for about three months out of the year during his youthful days. He remained at home until he attained the age of about twenty years, then went to Kansas and cast his first vote against the Lecompton Constitution. He removed to that State for the purpose of locating a claim, and after an experience of nearly two years of frontier life, he gladly returned to Marion County and began farming in his native township, where he has continued to reside ever since, his attention being devoted to tilling the soil and to the raising of and dealing in stock, especially during the war, up to 1875, since which time the most of his attention has been given to farming and dairying. He became interested in politics about the organization of the Republican party, of which lie has since been a stanch supporter, and he has always taken an active interest in the political affairs of the times, and wields considerable influence in political circles. In October, 1872, he was elected to the position of justice of the peace of Pike Township, in which capacity he served nearly eight years. At the present time he is serving his fourth term as notary public, making a period of sixteen years that he has continuously held this office. Mr. Hollings- worth was married on February 27, 1862, to Miss Cynthia M. Highitshue, who was born August 14, 1839, a daughter of Nicholas and Jane (Runnells) Hightshue. Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth have three children: Albert, Fred and Frank. Mr. Hollingsworth has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the past twenty-three years, and in this order has filled most of the chairs. He and his wife have been active members of the Ebeneezer Christian Church, at Traders' Point, for the past fifteen years; he has served as one of the elders for ten years, and at the present time is senior acting elder. Of fifteen years of active membership, he is serving his thirteenth year as superintendent of the Sunday- school.
MRS. ELIZABETH KINSLEY. This intelligent and wide-awake lady is a product of the Buckeye State, where she was born June 22, 1818. At the age of thirteen years she was brought by her parents, John and Elsie (Oliphant) Parish, to Indiana, and here has made her home up to the present time. Her father and mother were married in Albion, Ohio, in 1807, but the former was a Kentuckian by birth and removed to Albion, Ohio, when a young man, and there met and married Miss Oliphant. He died when Elizabeth was a small girl, leaving his widow with four girls and three boys to care for, the names of the latter being Mary, Reuben, Sarah, William, Elizabeth, John and Sophia. John is now a resident of Marion County. Elizabeth grew to womanhood in the "Hoosier State" and received fair educational advantages in her girlhood, attending the common schools in the vicinity of her home and assisting her mother in the duties of the liome. She was first married to Isaac Whitinger, by whom she became the mother of eight children, only one, Jane, now living; her home is in Hamilton County, Ind., and she is the wife of Frank Creig. The second marriage of the subject of this sketch was to Isaac Jackson, by whom she had one son, Isaac, Jr., who is a prosperous citizen of Broad Ripple, Ind. Her third marriage was to
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Alexander Kinsley, to whom she was married in 1855. This marriage also resulted in the birth of one child, Mary, who was born June 29, 1857, who now with her husband, Perry M. Deford, lives on the old home farm with her mother. She was married to Mr. Deford in 1875, and their union has resulted in the birth of two children: Frederick B., born in June, 1884, and Clara, who was born in March, 1891. Perry M. Deford is a young man of high principles, intelligent, pushing and enterprising, and is doing well in a financial way. His parents, George W. and Ella (Williams) Deford, were married in Franklin County, Ind., in 1831, and their union resulted in the birth of ten children, who were named as follows: Sidrick C., John W., Martha J., Mary H., William H., Malinda, Margaret C., Francis A., Perry M. and Charles W. Of the Deford family John W. and William Henry were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil War, with which they served until the close of hostili- ties, being loyal and faithful to the cause they espoused. Alexander Kinsley was one of the pioneer settlers of Marion County, Ind., and at the time of his settlement here Indian- apolis consisted of only a few log huts. Mr. Kinsley was a man of genial and kindly dis- position, was a thrifty agriculturist, and was strictly honorable in every sense of the word.
HON. DANIEL W. VOORHEES, whom Indiana Democrats so delight to honor, is a native of Ohio, his birth occurring in Butler County, September 26, 1827, and is a son of Stephen Voorhees, a native of Kentucky, and a grandson of Peter Voorhees, of New Jersey nativity. When only two months old his parents moved to Fountain County, Ind., and this State has ever since been his home. Asbury University graduated him in 1849, and here he obtained a wide reputation as an orator of superior ability, and the high regard of the faculty. He studied law and in 1852 was solicited by Hon. E. A. Hannegan, formerly United States Senator, to become his partner, which he accepted. In 1853 he was appointed State at- torney of his circuit by the governor, and thus obtained the foundation of his justly earned reputation as a superior criminal lawyer. In 1856 he was the Democratic nominee for Congress, and although defeated, reduced the opposing majority nearly 1,800 votes. In 1857 he moved to Terre Haute, and the year following was appointed United States district attorney by President Buchanan. In 1860 and in 1862 he was elected to Congress, and in 1864, although declared elected, his election was successfully contested. In 1868 he was again elected to Congress, and re- elected in 1870. In November, 1877, he was appointed United States senator to succeed Governor Morton, and has ever since occupied this po- sition by election. During the special session of Congress called by Pres. Cleveland he was the leader of his party, and the advocate of the President in bringing about the re- peal of the so called Sherman act. Unquestionably Mr. Voorhees is one of the most brilliant men that has ever held office within the State's jurisdiction. Not only has he an established reputation as a great statesman, but his fame as a criminal lawyer is equally as brilliant. He has always been an unswerving, uncompromising Democrat. His great ability as a states- man and lawyer is respected and acknowledged by all, regardless of politics. Mr. Voorhees married Miss Jane Hardesty in 1850, and four children have blessed their union. "The Tall Scycamore of the Wabaslı," as he is known, occupies a prominent page in the volume devoted to America's greatest sons.
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