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 24
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HORACE F. WOOD. A livery stable is a most essential institution, both for pleasure and convenience. To be able to command at any moment a horse and rig for a drive in the country or for business or other purposes, is a privilege the value of which cannot be too highly estimated. Foremost among the liveries of Indianapolis, is the well known resort of Horace F. Wood. This stable, from the large business it does, not only exemplifies the importance of the city, but reflects credit upon its management. Mr. Wood engaged in the business in 1881 on the Circle, the business having been originally established on the same ground in 1834 by John Wood, the grandfather of the present proprietor. He was one of the early settlers of the place, having come to this section from Maysville, Ky., in 1834. He was the first person in the region to take horses and mules south to New Orleans overland for sale, before there were boat or railroad connections with that city. He was extensively engaged in this business and usually had from 300 to 500 head of animals on hand. Later he shipped by boat and as the country settled up and improved, by rail. He was a shrewd and successful man of business but his kind heart and loyalty to his friends often overcame his discretion and he at one time lost over $100,000 through endorsing another's note. How- ever, he retrieved his losses in a great measure and left a large estate to his heirs. His son, John M. Wood, the father of the subject of this sketch, often made trips south with his father when a boy, and may be said to have been reared to the livery business and to handling stock. He was born in Maysville, Ky., May 28, 1815, to which region his parents, John and Mary (West) Wood came at an early day. John Wood was a native of New York and his wife of Ohio, and their union was consummated in Kentucky in 1811, soon after which they came to Indianapolis, Ind., where the father at once engaged in the livery business. The male members of the Wood family have always been great lovers of the horse and two brothers of John Wood dealt extensively in those animals. John M. Wood was nineteen years old at the time of his parents' removal to Indiana aud had conducted his father's liv- ery business for five years prior to the latter's death, after which he succeeded him in the business, in 1840. Later, in 1849, the firm became Wood & Foudray, and this partnership continued harmoniously until the death of Mr. Foudray in 1878. During this time their rep- utation as first-class liverymen became widespread and while the war was in progress they were very active in the purchase of horses and succeeded in supplying the Government over 11,000 head. Mr. Wood continued in the business until 1881, when he was succeeded by his son, Horace F., who is the present proprietor. At the present time this establishment. is one of the largest and most successful, as well as the oldest in the city, if not in the State. Like his father before him he was reared in the business and thoroughly understands every- thing connected with it and has shown himself to be a "chip of the old block" in that he has ever been thorough going and enterprising. He keeps constantly on hand forty-seven head of horses for livery purposes, a large number of vehicles of all kinds, and which are always in good repair and ready for use and he does an extensive and paying boarding busi- ness, having about eighty head under his care. He has a sale department also and buys and sells about twenty-five head per month, having competent men in charge of the latter. The business averages about $6,000 or $7,000 per month, from which it can be seen that it is a very paying one: During 1888, when Willoughby Walling was United States Consul to
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Glasgow, Scotland, a partnership was formed for the importation of Shetland ponies and about 300 were brought over and sold at the Wood stables. Prior to 1840, John M. Wood, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a member of the Marion County Guards for a number of years. Originally a Whig he has supported the Republicans since the organiza- tion of that party, and although often solicited by his numerous friends to run for office he has invariably declined, much preferring to devote his entire attention to his business. August 20, 1840, he was married to Margaret A. Gresham, who was born near Frankfort, Ky., a daughter of Joseph Gresham. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Sarah B., Fannie, Charles H., Horace F., Frank G. and Harry N. Those deceased are Mary and John. Mr. Wood deserves great credit for the success which has attended his efforts for he started in business without help from anyone and has accumu- lated a great deal of valuable property. In 1864, in connection with a partner, he purchased 400 acres of land in Washington and Franklin townships, on which they, for many years, raised blooded horses. At the present time he still owns a large portion of this farm and carries on the same business with his usual success. Horace F. Wood first saw the light of day in Indianapolis, August 30, 1857, and in the public schools of that city lie was educated and graduated from the high school. November 8, 1882, he was married to Miss Rose Graham, a native of Spencer, Ind., and daughter of Benjamin M. and Margaret A. (Beach) Graham, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have one child, John G., who was born August 6, 1883. Mr. Wood is a member of the K. of P. and the F. & A. M., in which he has attained to the Scottish Rite degree, and he also belongs to the Oriental League, the Columbia Club and the Country Social Club. He is a wide-awake and enterprising young man and politically supports the men and measures of the Republican party.
DR. CONRADIN (JACOB) HOMBURG was born at Wachenheim in the Palatinate of Bavaria, November 16, 1798, as the elder son of an apothecary in that little town. He received the preparatory education for entering the university and in 1819 he went to Marburg to study medicine. As was customary in those days among students of means and ability, his study also comprehended different philosophical, even theological branches. He was a young man of liberal views and as a matter of course became a member of the "Tugendbund" which was a patriotic union of students and young professors who, inspired by the victories over Na- poleon, maintained the claim of the people to participate at the Legislature and at public affairs. Such an endeavor appeared unjustified and dangerous to the autocratic rulers of that time although nothing more was asked but what was promised at the time of need and dis- tress. He was a student at Wurzburg when he became a fugitive on account of his political convictions and fled to Switzerland. In 1826 he emigrated to Holland and thence to America. In the latter country he met with his old friend and classmate, Wesselhoeft, who was editing the Wellbote. Dr. Homburg began editing the paper in the eastern part of Pennsylvania but he never had much to say about this period of his career. As he had always been an outspoken character and not practical in financial affairs, it is safe to conclude that as an editor he was a failure. He had studied surgery under Textor and pathology and thera- peutics under Schoenlein with fairly good results, and he now began the study of medicine again under the influence of Dr. Herring of Philadelphia. In the middle of the thirties he settled in Shelbyville, Ind., to practice homeopathy. However he was never a true disciple of homeopathy but his excellent medical education and his good common sense kept him from the peculiarities and extravagances of the original teaching. He was rather a follower of Hempel with some inclination to Rademacher. In later years he studied Niemeyer, at least the practical parts and adopted the principles of the school of Vienna although it can- not be said with any certainty that he ever had based his diagnosis on pathological anatomy. Although he did not localize sickness with much perfectness, he had a sound judgment of the character of the disease and had that great gift of influencing the minds of his patients. Dr. Homburg practiced medicine in Shelbyville for seven years and all his fellow citizens had to share with him or to oppose him, but he was recognized by all to be sincere, honest and dutiful. Wood-chopping was his pastime and peach-eating his recreation. He never drank a drop of whisky. While a resident of Shelbyville a quack by the name of Jacob Townsend made his appearance and people made the joke-"who is the true Jacob ?" Dr. Homburg's given name was Jacob also. He applied to the Legislature to have hisname changed
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to Conradin and was successful. In 1843 Judge Morrison, of Indianapolis, came to Shelbyville to hold a trial on a poison case. A physician, with whom Dr. Homburg had had some trouble, was gravely involved and Dr. Homburg had to testify as an expert. He made such a clear and scientific exposition of the different actions of opium, belladonna and other nar- cotics and made such a deep impression on both the judge and the jury that his enemy was acquitted at once. The judge then approached Dr. Homburg and shaking hands with him said: "Doctor, come to us in Indianapolis, we need such a man." This he did in 1844 and became the physician and friend of the Morrison family for lifetime. His practice was limited at first to families of the English tongue, but on account of his many peculiarities mostly due to his German sentiment, his clientele changed slowly to German ncarly exclu- sively. He never associated with his English colleagues but treated them always as gentle- men. At the time the Republican party was formed he took a great interest in politics and came in nearest contact with all German families residing here. He gained a great influence before and during the war. Dr. Homburg was a quick thinker and a good judge of men and political affairs but in his actions he usually fell short. His sentiments were also pronounced but he was never able during his life to counterbalance reason and sentiments harmoniously. He was an enthusiast and thus he presided in 1852 at the German meeting in Wheeling, W. Va., where the motion was adopted that America should annex Europe. Then he started a lodge with a view of promulgating friendship, German literature and German social life. Originally there was no trace of selfishness in him, but his kindness was often misplaced or misunderstood or abused. All that caused lus occasional harshness, his inexplicable aversion and his irregularity in later life. During the last ten years of his life he was interested only in political gossip and German literature. He had a deep religious sentiment, although he never was a church member. He was never married. Friends cared for him during a long illness of bronchial and heart troubles and dropsy. In the fall of 1876 his friends celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of American life and donated him $1,000 in cash. From this time on he was mostly confined to his home but received many distinguished travelers, for instance, Jordan, Bodenstedt and others. It can be said that for two decades Dr. Homburg was the social and spiritual center of the German population in Indianapolis. He died February 11, 1881. and was cremated at Washington, Penn.
GUIDO BELL, M. D. The noble profession of medicine affords to the student in that science a never ending source of investigation and experiment. New remedies are constantly being discovered, steady progress is being made in surgery and new diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. Whatever may be said of the discoveries in other fields of knowledge, and certainly they are astonishing, it can be truthfully said of this science that not one can equal it in the great strides it is making toward a comprehensive grasp of the whole subject of man, in relation to health and disease and the prevention and cure of ills that flesh is heir to. In the noble army of workers in this great field may be found the name of Dr. Guido Bell who is classed among the prominent physicians of Indianapolis. He was born near Strasburg, Germany, September 4, 1839, and is a son of Leonard and Anna (Lengenberger) Bell, also natives of the old country. The father has devoted his life to the profession of veterinary surgery and is still a resident of Germany. For many years he was in the service of the Government in his professional capacity, but a few years ago he retired from the active duties of life on account of old age. The youth of our subject was passed in bis native country and he attended a regular course in the schools of his native town. In the fall of 1859 he entered the University Freiburg and in 1861 passed the first examination on general scientific topics. After this he became assistant of Prof. Spiegelburg's clinic in the university, in which capacity he served over a year, during a terrible siege of fever. He was taken sick with the same which interrupted his medical studies and for a long time his health was poor. Subsequently he went to Tubingen to hear Niemeyer and Bruns. In April, 1865, he graduated at Freiburg and on returning home he mat Mr. Wocher who requested him to correspond with Dr. Klein of Indianapolis, the latter having about decided to return to Ger- many. The outcome of this correspondence was that in December, 1865, Dr. Bell crossed the ocean to America, came direct to Indianapolis, and took up the practice left by Dr. Klein. This practice the Doctor has continued ever since and he is classed among the leading and successful practitioners of the healing art in the city. He is a member of the State Medical
A. DAhoodard
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Association, Marion County Medical Society and the Mississippi Valley Medical Association. He is associate editor of Memorabilien, a German medical journal published at Heilbronn, Germany. For a long time after coming to America Dr. Bell operated largely in surgery and was the originator of several difficult and commendable methods of operation. He was physician to one of the German orphan asylums of Indianapolis for seventeen years and has been physician to the Lutheran Orphan Asylum since its establishment. He is also consult- ing physician to the city dispensary. In the year 1866 the Doctor was nnited in marriage to Miss Catherine Miller who died a few months later. His second marriage occurred on March 11, 1869, and six children were born to this union. One son, Leonard, is a prom- ising young physician in the city hospital. Mrs. Bell died in May, 1890.
CHARLES E. REYNOLDS. No investment is surer of more enhancing value than one judicionsly made in real estate, and there are few men in business circles who show so much fitness for their avocation in that they are wide awake, experienced, reliable and energetic as Charles E. Reynolds, whose projects have been wholly within the sharply defined lines of honest motive, as a real estate agent. He came to Indianapolis in 1853 with his parents and was educated in the public schools, after which he served an apprenticeship at the railroad business. In 1887 he began dealing in real estate, which he has since carried on success- fully, as a leader in this branch of human endeavor. He has owned real estate in the various additions of the city, among which are Haughville, West Indianapolis, North Tuxedo and others. He has always been conservative in his method of conducting his affairs, has never favored "booms," but notwithstanding this is decidedly enterprising. He believes that in the long run the city's fortunes are best conserved by steady and honest growth, and that his views are respected is shown in the satisfactory patronage which he has drawn to him, and there are few, indeed, who so well merit success. His character has been molded after the patterns of honest intelligence and moral rectitude. He owes his nativity to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was born April 16, 1848, a son of Samuel and Hannah (Grisell) Reynolds, natives of Columbiana County, Ohio, and early residents of the city of Indianapolis. Mr. Reynolds was married in 1876 to Miss Mary E. Godey, a native of Ohio, and to their union the following children have been given: Ulela and Zella (twins), and Mary A. Politically Mr. Reynolds has been a supporter of Republicanism, but is by no means a partisan in local affairs, preferring to support the men whom he thinks will use their influence for the best interests of the city.
CALEB BELLES, son of "Major" John Belles, one of the original settlers of Marion County, Ind., was born in Scott County, Ky., July 29, 1811, on a farm occupied by his father, near Georgetown. Until ten years of age our subject lived and received his school- ing in Scott County, but at that age he accompanied his father and family to Indiana. They came direct to Marion County and located on Pleasant Run, where Major Belles rented eighty acres of James Bradley. On this was a good clearing and a log cabin and here they resided about a year, raising a crop of corn. In the fall of the same year they moved on to a tract of eighty acres in Franklin Township, lying along the Michigan road, and settled in the green timber. A log cabin was erected, and although they had nothing to help them- selves with except their own hands and sturdy independence, they entered npon the ardu- ous task of clearing the farm. Major Belles paid $1.25 an acre for this tract, and about four years later entered eighty acres more adjoining, at the same price. On this he passed the remainder of his days. He was married in Scott County, Ky .. to Miss Artemesia Tarleton, daughter of Caleb Tarleton, and ten children were the fruits of this union, one of whom, an infant. died in Kentucky. Nine grew to mature years and their names are as follows: John J., (deceased), was first married to Miss Margaret Ross, who bore him five children. His next nnion was with Miss Rachel Bodeman and they became the parents of four chil- dren. Henry T., resides near Paris, Mo. He married Miss Mary Belles, daughter of Henry Belles, but she is now deceased. Caleb (our subject), was married in 1836 to Miss Mary ('Neil, daughter of Lewis O'Neil, and they have had five children, four of whom are now living, as follows: John J., Lewis, William and Mary C. Harrison Belles. deceased, was married in Missouri to Miss Nancy Payne. He left several children. Richard, deceased, married Miss Elizabeth Glazier and they had a family of children. Mary Ann Belles, de- ceased, married John Tyner and became the mother of one child, who died in infancy; Dr.
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Joshua Belles, resides in Spencer, Ind. His first marriage resulted in the birth of one daughter. For his second wife the Doctor chose the widow of Thomas Tull, of Marion county. She died and left several children. Nancy married John Rudisil, and they have children, and Katherine, deceased, was the wife of Dr. John Johnson, and they lived in Iowa. "Major" John Belles, father of these children, was a Whig in politics and affiliated with that party up to the time of his death. Mrs. Belles, mother of the children, died in August following their arrival in Indiana, and in the fall of that year the Major moved on the Michigan road and opened a tavern, which acquired a great reputation. Caleb Belles, our subject, was cook, and acted as such for over two years, when the Major married again, his second wife being Dorcas Snell nee Sanders. One daughter, Artemesia, was born to this uniou. She married Thomas Ashbrook, who is now deceased. Caleb Belles lived on his father's farm until 1836, when he married Miss Mary O'Neil, as before stated, and shortly after moved to Franklin Township, where he settled on eighty acres of land he had purchased from his brother James, paying $1.50 per acre. He at once commenced to clear up a little place for a cabin, and on that tract he resided until about 1877, when he came to Acton to live. He is now retired from the active duties of life, and he and his most estima- ble companion are passing the remainder of their days in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor. No better citizens find their home in the county than Mr. Belles and his worthy wife. Both are exemplary members of the Missionary Baptist Church and for years he was deacon in the same. He has been a member since seventeen years of age. Our subject's eldest child, John J., resides in Indianapolis. He married Miss Martha A. Kemper, daugh- ter of H. M. Kemper, and they have three children, Julia, Otie A. and Harry. Lewis Belles, resides in Douglas County, Ill. He married Miss Mary B. Foncannon and they have four children, Charles, Mary, Arthur and Scott. William, deceased, married Miss Lizzie Manpin aud they had oue daughter, Willie Mary, and Mary C., of Lexington, Ky., is the wife of B. T. Buford. They have no children. Our subject became the owner of consider- able land but sold all but forty acres when he came to Acton, and gave the proceeds of the sale of forty acres to his children. Lewis O'Neil, father of Mrs. Belles, was born in Galla- tin County, Ky., and he was married in that State to Miss Catherine Orr, daughter of Will- iam Orr, a native of Virginia, Culpeper County and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. O' Neil came to Indiana in 1826 and settled in Marion County, where he made his home until his death in 1841. He was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but only Mrs. Belles is now living.
THOMAS E. SPAFFORD. Thelife of Mr. Spafford has been marked by deep conviction of duty, which has led him to conscientiously regard all trusts reposed in him. Possessed of praise- worthy ambition to succeed, he has applied himself with great diligence to business, seizing all opportunities for informing himself thoroughly as to minor details. This explains his ready grasp of the whole field of operations and the signal success that has attended his business career. Such a mau becomes a sure and safe trustee for others, who can be assured that he will act for them as for himself. Mr. Spafford has charge of the interests of the gas com- pany at Haughville, a position he has ably held for over four years, and that he is the right man in the right place cannot be denied. He was born near Picton, Prince Edward County, Canada, July 13, 1854, a son of Guy S. Spafford, who was a native of the same locality. Ira Spafford, the paternal grandfather, was born in the State of Massachusetts, and when a young man went to Prince Edward County, Canada, and settled on the farm upon which Guy S. Spafford now resides, and has resided for over seventy years, during which time he has tilled the soil with great success. Thomas E. Spafford attended the schools of his native county, but at the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a machinist at Belleville, where he remained four years with W. H. Walbridge, in the Victoria foundry. For some time after this he labored in the iron works at Oshawa, Godridge and the Lake on the Mountain. In 1878 he came to the States and located first at Cincinnati, Ohio. The same year he came to Indianapolis and for some time thereafter was in the employ of the Eagle Machine Works, after which he entered the service of the firm of Haugh & Co., which is now known as Brown, Ketcham & Co. While with them he acted in the capac- ity of foreman until 1881, at which time he established the first store in Haughville, in which the first postoffice of the place was located and of which he became postmaster dur-
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ing President Garfield's administration. His establishment comprised a stock of general merchandise, and he carried on a very successful business until July, 1892, when he gave it up to take charge of the interests of the gas company at Haughville, which were so extensive as to demand all his time and attention. Mr. Spafford is a man who never suffers his business to push him, but, on the contrary, is constantly on the lookout for means of extending the business. He has served as a member of the school board, of which he was secretary one term; is a friend to every enterprise which tends to extend the influence of Haughville, and by building up her business and mercantile interests he has proven him- self an excellent and useful citizen.
THOMAS R. MOUNT. Special adaptability to any particular calling in life is the one necessary adjunct to permanent success. No matter the vim and determination which char- acterizes a man's start in business, unless he is to the manor born, he will find to his sor- row that his line has been falsely cast, and the quicker he draws aside and takes up another calling the better it will be for him. The career of Thomas R. Mount has been one of suc- cess and he is to-day in the enjoyment of a competency which is the result of noble energies rightly applied. He was born in Shelby County, Ky., on October 5, sixty-five years ago, his parents being Atwell and Lucinda (Fullenwider) Mount, who were born in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, the birth of the former occurring on what many years later be- came the old Bull Run battlefield. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mount were taken to Kentucky dur- ing the pioneer days of that State, at which time he was a lad of eight years, and there they grew to maturity, married and resided until one year after the birth of the subject of this sketch, their arrival in Indiana dating from November 18, 1829. The remainder of their days were spent in Montgomery County, the father's death occurring in 1879 at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother's on November 1, 1868, when sixty-eight years of age. After coming to this State they settled on a woodland farm in a little log cabin, but this afterward gave place to a more pretentious dwelling when their means justified them in making this improvement. The old homestead is now owned by Hon. James A. Mount, a brother of the subject of this sketch. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church for many years, in which the father was ruling elder. They became the parents of a good old-fashioned family of twelve children, all of whom are living with the exception of two. Thomas R. Mount was the eldest of these children and received his first instruction in the old-time log school-house of his day. He remained with and assisted his father until he was twenty-two years of age, then commenced farming for himself and cleared up a farm of his own. He continued to reside on this place until about 1873, then moved to Boone County, Ind., and four years later to Madison County. In November, 1881, he came to Marion County and took up his residence in west Indianapolis and began devoting his atten- tion to carpentering, which occupation he has since continued. During this time he has erected many of the most substantial business houses and residences in west Indianapolis. Six years since his services were employed by Nordyke & Marmon, with which firm he has since had charge of the elevator department. In 1852 Mr. Mount led to the altar Miss Eliza J. Ward, who died on March 27, 1891, having become the mother of three sons and . two daughters. On March 22, 1893, he took for his second wife Mrs. Sarah D. Wood, a native of Ohio. Mr. Mount was a member of the Presbyterian Church for thirty years, but twenty years ago joined the Methodist Church, with which he has since been connected. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for fifteen years, and since 1856 has been a Re- publican in politics.
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