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 25
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MAJOR A. L. VARNEY, of the ordnance department of the United States army, command- ing the Government arsenal at Indianapolis, is a native of Maine and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of that State. He was born in 1839, in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine, was fitted for college at Westbrook Seminary and was graduated in 1862 from Bow- doin College, Brunswick, with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. He entered the service of the United States as a lieutenant in the Thirteenth Maine Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, which was a part of the Nineteenth Army Corps, serving in the early part of the war in the Department of the Gulf. He participated in the Texas campaign in 1863, in the Red River campaign in the summer of 1864, and in Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign in the fall of 1864. After the cessation of hostilities, he was transferred to the ordnance department (United
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States army) and his first duty afterward was to receive the arms of the Iowa volunteers at Clinton, Iowa, as they were relinquished to the Government at the close of the war. In No- vember, 1865, he was transferred to Watervliet arsenal at West Troy, N. Y., and thence, after a brief time, to the arsenal at Watertown, Mass. In 1870 he was ordered to the ordnance depot at Chayenne, Wyoming Territory, and was stationed there until 1872, when he was transferred to the arsenal at Leavenworth, Kas. In 1874 he was transferred to Rock Island Arsenal and was stationed there till, in the fall of the same year, he was returned to Fort Leavenworth, as chief of the ordnance officer department of the Missouri, and was attached to Gen. Pope's staff. In 1878 he was ordered to Watervliet arsenal at West Troy, N. Y., where he had been stationed a short time in 1865. In 1884 he was ordered back to the Rock Island arsenal and thence, in 1889, again to the arsenal at Watertown, Mass., where he remained until February, 1892, when he was placed in the command of the arsenal at Indianapolis. Major Varney joined the ordnance department as second lieutenant, Febru- ary 15, 1865, was promoted to first lieutenant June 23, 1874, to captain October 29, 1874, and to major November 31, 1891. He is a member of the L. L. May 9, 1866, he married Miss Hannah Josephine Gibsou, a native of Massachusetts, who has borne him two sons: Gordon E. and Theodore.
JOHN B. McGUFFIN. The success of men in business depends upon character as well as upon knowledge, it being a self-evident proposition that honesty is the best policy. Busi- ness demands confidence and where that is lacking business ends. The city of Indianapolis has as fine a body of men engaged in mercantile and industrial pursuits as can be found in the country and very prominent in the number, and one who has the respect and esteem of the whole community, is the subject of our sketch, alderman-at-large and superintendent of the Indianapolis Chair Manufacturing Co. He was born in Monterey, Highland County, Va., December 22, 1856, being the son of James N. and Sarah F. (Stuart) McGuffin, both natives of Virginia and of Scotch-Irish descent. The family settled in Virginia at an early day and both grandfathers of our subject took part in the early wars in this country; the paternal grandfather being in the War of 1812 and the maternal, in that war, and also in the Indian wars. The father of our subject was a stonemason by trade and settled at Goshen, Ind., in 1858, where he carried on that work, being a contractor on a large scale in stone. He died in September, 1891, aged eighty years; his wife surviving him and now living at Indianapolis. She is the mother of six children, all living, namely: Nancy, Margaret, Cornelia G., Mary E., Charles N., and John B., the youngest. The latter was reared at Goshen, Ind., where he was educated in the common and high schools, graduating from the latter in 1873. Afterward he went to work in a chairmaking factory at Goshen, but did not finish the learning of the trade in that place, coming to Indianapolis before he could do so. This was in 1876 and he entered at once the factory of Gen. A. D. Streight, re- maining three years, after which he superintended the farm of Gen. Streight, in Newton County, for a period of two years. Returning to Indianapolis, he entered the factory of the Indianapolis Chair Manufacturing Co., where he has been employed ever since. He began as a workman, a maker of chairs, and has worked his way up on his own merits, withont influence of any kind. He is general superintendent of this immense plant which employs more than 400 hands and is one of the most efficient men in bis line in the country. Mr. McGuffin was elected a councilman-at large in 1891 and his term expires in 1894. He was married in 1880 to Miss Amanda J. Fueal, of Muncie, Ind., his choice being a most happy one. Mr. McGuffin is a Democrat of the most pronounced type and is regarded as one of the most efficient workers in that party in the city. Our subject started out in life without a dollar and has worked his way up in the world by himself. His life affords a strong proof of what may be done by an honest purpose to make the best of one's opportunities.
BRAZILLAI M. BLOUNT. In the life of Brazillai M. Blount we find that which should inspire the youths of this and coming generations to lives of usefulness and greatness, and it is with pleasure that we note a few of the most important events of his career. Were bis good deeds faithfully recorded, they of themselves would furnish material for a volume. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 17, 1828, and was early trained to the arduous duties of the farm, remaining on the same until 1841, when he came with his parents to Indiana, settling in Hamilton (now Tipton County), then a wilderness of dense forest trees.
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He attended the district schools of Highland County, Ohio, and three terms in Indiana, to the last of which he walked eighty miles with a knapsack upon his back, paying for his board by working at intervals between school hours. He assisted in furnishing the fuel used for warming the log cabin in which the school was taught, by chopping wood at the noon hour and carrying it to the house upon his shoulder. This school was taught in Huntington County, about fifteen miles west of Fort Wayne, Ind. At that period in Indiana's history there were no public schools in this part of the State. Subsequently he began teaching school, continuing this for ten years, or until twenty-five years of age, principally in the winter. In the fall of 1853 he came to Indianapolis and bought a lot on the corner of Christian Avenue and Broadway, erected a house, and with his two brothers remained there and attended school for eighteen months. In the winter of 1855 he went to Bloomington, Ind., and attended the State University until April, 1859, when he returned to Indianapolis. There he entered the Northwestern Christian University (now Butler), and graduated from that institution the same year with the degree of A. B. Three years later he received the degree of A. M. from that university. After graduating he went on a farm and preached for the Christian Church in Tipton and the adjacent counties of Indiana, for five years. He had commenced preaching in 1853 and was regularly authorized in 1854 by Central Christ- ian Church of Indianapolis. In 1864 Mr. Blount went to Spencer, Ind., where he acted as pastor of the church one year, and then returned to Tipton, where he preached and taught school. He acted as county school examiner for Tipton County from 1861 to 1864. In the fall of 1867 he went to Kokomo, Ind., where in connection with his ministerial duties he taught school a part of the time during the year. In the fall of 1868 be returned to Tip- ton, Ind., and made his home there until 1879, acting most of the time as county superin- tendent and preaching as an itinerant minister. During 1872 and 1873, Mr. Blount filled the pulpit of the Christian Church at Sullivan, Iud. In 1879 he removed to Irvington, Marion County, Ind., and resides there at the present time. The same year he was elected presi- dent of the board of directors of Butler University, having been a member of the board since 1886, and served in that capacity for twelve years. In 1892 Mr. Blount was elected by the board as financial agent of the Butler University. Our subject still continues to preach and is a hale, well preserved man, who fills his responsible position with credit to himself and the university. While attending Bloomington University our subject preached for the Christian Church there two years. Mr. Blount's first marriage occurred February 25, 1850, to Miss Mary Jane Patterson, a schoolmate of his in Ohio, in which State she was born. She died in June, 1852, leaving one son, Robert S., who grew up, graduated at But- ler University in 1876, entered the Christian ministery, and died in October, 1883. The second marriage of our subject occurred in September, 1857, with Miss Hannah Cooper, a resident of Hamilton County, Ind., and six children have been born to this union: Mary J., widow of George W. Bowin; Friend C .; Rachel M., wife of Rev. Erastus Conner; Dora G., a teacher in the public schools at Irvington, Ind. ; Marven Eugene and Homer S. Silas Blount, the father of our subject, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in October, 1800. He mar- ried Miss Barbara Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, in September, 1827, and of the ten children born to this union, our subject is the eldest, and only six now survive, viz. : B. M., of Irvington; Jane, wife of R. W. Wright, of Tipton, Ind .; Mary, wife of A. P. Wright, of Irvington, Ind. ; Jacob B., a preacher in the Christian Church in Rush County, Ind. ; Barbara P., wife of Frank Cassel, of Rossville, Ind., and Alice T., wife of John Kennedy, of Anderson, Ind. The father of these children, who was a physician of considerable prominence, died in September, 1890, when ninety years of age. His widow still survives and is eighty-four years of age.
WILLIAM MOORE. Among the reliable and substantial farmers of Marion County, Ind., may be mentioned William Moore, who has done much to forward the agricultural interests of this section, for he was reared to the calling of a farmer, and this occupation has received his attention to a greater or less extent up to the present time. He is a public-spirited citizen, in harmony with advanced ideas, intelligent progress, and active in his support of all worthy enterprises. He is a native of this State, born in Marion County, August 5, 1837, and the second of twelve children born to John and Sarah (Bowser) Moore, natives respect- ively of Ireland and Pennsylvania, and the last named of German descent. The father
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emigrated to this country with his parents when fifteen years of age, and first settled with them in the Buckeye State. Later they moved to Marion County, Ind. (1831), and John assisted his father in clearing and improving a farm. All his life the father of our subject tilled the soil and accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He assisted in grading the "Old National Road," and was one of the pioneers of his locality. In politics he was an old line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he cast his vote with that. The children born to his marriage were named as follows: Thomas H .; William, our subject; Hannah; Retchison; Isabel, now Mrs. Jonathan Yoke; John O .; Catherine, wife of Melburn Moore; Mary E. H. ; Joseph A., and three who are deceased. The parents of these children celebrated their golden wedding September 19, 1883, but the father is now deceased, his death occurring in 1889. William Moore, the original of this notice, received his education in the common schools of Centre Township, Marion County, attending during the winter months and working on the farm during the summer season. He remained under the parental roof until 1869, when he married Miss Lucy A. Kitley, daughter of Richard and Martha (Davis) Kitley, and on March 29 of the same year he moved on a tract of 180 acres he had purchased about eighteen months previously of the Wilson heirs, paying for the same $50 per acre. Of this tract 80 acres were cleared when he bought it, and he has since cleared 20 acres. Mrs. Moore inherited 80 acres from her father's estate. They are very comfortably fixed, and are well liked in the community. Their marriage resulted in the birth of three children, as follows: Sarah E., died in 1871, when abont one month old; Isabella Aurelia, and William R. Mr. Moore holds membership in the Baptist Church and is trustee and deacon of the same. He is not very active in politics, but votes the Repub- lican ticket.
EPHRAIM COLLINS (deceased). The life narrative of the head of a family is interesting not only to his posterity but also to the citizens of the section in which he has resided, and this truth is doubly true when such a man has established for himself and. his children a reputation for integrity, character and ability, and has been of value in the development of + 0 200 that portion of the country which was his home. Such a narrative do we have in this sketch of Ephraim Collins, who was born in Marion County, Ind., July 24, 1846. When about thirty years of age this young man was united in marriage with the lady of his choice, Miss Katherine Tutewiler, daughter of Nathaniel Tutewiler who was a native of Ohio and an early resident of Indiana. 'By this marriage Mr. Collins became the father of two children, both daughters: Minnie Alice and Myla E. The latter died November 6, 1886, aged six years and three months. Before our subject's marriage his father, Isaac Collins, gave him 44 acres in Franklin township, this county, and later Ephraim bought 64 acres of George Richardson which he owned at the time of his death, August 26, 1886. His widow subse- quently married Adam Swarts, a prominent farmer of this section. Nathaniel Tutewiler, father of Mrs. Swarts, was a native Ohioan, born March 2, 1813, and made his home in that State until 1840, when he came to Marion County, Ind. He there purchased 140 acres and later he added to this twenty acres. He was married in his native state in 1838 to Miss Susan A. Murray, daughter of Joseph Murray and six children were the fruits of this union. One child, Susan V., died when about twenty-two years of age. She was single. The names of the other children are as follows: Lydia E., widow of James Hensley, has these children : Ola B., Harry F. (deceased), Ora M., Even S., Ann I., James E., and Howard N. . Jacob W. Tutewiler was first married to Miss Gabriella Tharp who bore him two children, Harry L., now living, and Addison (deceased). His second marriage was with Miss Katherine Harri- son and one son, Albert N., was born to this union. Mr. Tutewiler is now living with his third wife who was formerly Miss Rachel Miller. James G. Tutewiler married Malinda Phillips and five children were given them, all now deceased. He married for his second wife Miss Belle Carl and they have three children: Bertha E., Edith B., and Leander. Ida M. Tutewiler, is unmarried. William Tutewiler enlisted in the Seventy-Ninth Indiana In- fantry and served three years in the Civil War. The father of these children, Nathaniel Tutewiler, died July 15, 1892, but his widow is still living. His father, Jacob Tutewiler, was of German descent.
SAMUEL EVINGSTON EARP, M. S., M. D. Among professional men, and especially those of the medical profession, there is so much competition in every large city that the man who
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rises to a position of special prominence and distinction through his own efforts, may justly be accredited with the possession of more than average ability. Such a man is Dr. Samuel Evingston Earp, who is one of the foremost, as well as one of the most popular physi- cians of Indianapolis, who has in a comparatively few years such a place as many strive for a lifetime to obtain. Dr. Earp has been unusually successful as a physician and as a public officer, and has also gained an enviable reputation as a scientific writer and as an expert chem- ist. He has brought such tireless energy and such shining ability to his life work that it is not too much to expect from him greater achievements in the future. Dr. Earp was born in Lebanon, St. Clair County, Ill., December 19, 1858, a son of Joseph and Margaret Earp. His education was begun when he was five years old in a private school in his native town. Later he attended the high school at Alton, and upon leaving it entered Shurtleff College at Upper Alton and was a student there for two years, leaving to enter McKendree's College, Lebanon, from which institution he was graduated in 1879 when he was made the recipient of the degree of Master of Science. While still at college this diligent student read medi- cine at odd spells and during vacations and attended a series of lectures upon medical and surgical topics but not in the general medical course. In July, 1879, very soon after his graduation, he entered the office of Dr. G. C. Smythe at Greencastle, Ind., as a regular medical student, and attended the session of Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis in 1881 and 1882, and was graduated therefrom in March of the last mentioned year. Dr. Earp was valedictorian of his class, the highest honor that could have been bestowed upon him, and received the Water's gold medal as the prize for passing the best competitive examination on diseases of the chest, and a complete and valuable case of gyne- cological instruments, as a prize for passing the best examination in the department of obstetrics and diseases of women and children. During his college days the Doctor did some creditable special newspaper correspondence and he has since made good use of his litera- ry abilities in his fluent and finished professional and other writings. After receiving his degree from Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, he began the practice of medicine in Indianapolis with such success that the sick and suffering have learned to repose un- bounded confidence in his knowledge of the ills that the human body is heir to and his skill in dissipating them. He is an active member of the Marion County Medical Society and of the Indiana State Medical Society. In 1882 he was elected demonstrator of chemistry in his alma mater, later professor of chemistry, toxicology and clinical medicine and still later professor of materia medica, therapeutics and medical chemistry, which latter position he holds at this time. For three years he tilled the position of editor of the department of materia medica and therapeutics in the Indiana Medical Journal, in which as well as in other publications, his writings have attracted much attention, and they have been more widely quoted than have those of many of his brother practitioners of greater age and experience; and in the department of medical literature Dr. Earp has done his full share in sustaining the high standard attained in this line by Indiana. He is at this time and for some time past has been, consulting physician to the city hospital and the city dispensary and clinical lecturer in St. Vincent's Hospital. Notwithstanding the great pressure upon his time and energies, the Doctor has found leisure in which to pursue valuable researches in medicine, and he has been given due credit for his original work and discoveries in that direction, by authors of medical works and editors of medical journals. Dr. Earp was elected police sur- geon of Indianapolis by the metropolitan board, February 13, 1891, and served in that capac- ity until the new city charter went into effect when he was elected police and fire surgeon by the commissioners of public safety, a position which he still holds with great credit to himself and general satisfaction to the public. He was chemist of the Indianapolis board of health in 1885 and 1886 and a member of the same body and its secretary and executive officer during 1877 and 1878 and was elected by the unanimous vote of both Democrats and Republicans in the common council and board of aldermen as a member and secretary of the board of health of the city of Indianapolis in January, 1889, and served for two years. He is secretary and dean of the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons and is also one of the trustees and secretary of the board of trustees of that institution. He is also past chan- cellor and medical director of Capital City Lodge No. 97, K. of P., and has been represent- ative to the grand lodge in that order. He was married May 4, 1892, to Margaret E. 10
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MaGloughlin, a native of Champaign County, Ill., and of Scotch descent. As a man of high attainments, as an advocate and promoter of needed public reform and as a scholar whose scientific knowledge extends far beyond the limits of the medical profession, Dr. Earp occu- pies a high position in the respect and admiration of the people.
HENRY W. BULLOCK, who is engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, occupies a high place among the younger business men of Indianapolis, who by ability and energy have achieved success and occupy an honored position in the esteem of their fellow citizens. He was born in Clay County, Ind., September 10, 1866, on a farm, and obtained his elementary education in the common schools of his immediate vicinity. His father, Elder Absalom J. Bullock, is a well-known minister of the Christian Church, advocating the restoration of primitive christianity unfettered by creed or dogma. Elder Bullock was born in Randolph County, N. C., May 10, 1838, and was brought to Indiana in 1840 on pack- horses. His mother, Mary (Davenport) Bullock, died in Clay County at the advanced age of eighty- two years, respected by all who knew her. The mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, Mary (Helton) Bullock, is the daughter of Arthur and Margaret Helton, natives of Kentucky, who at an early day came to Indiana, because a slave State was not in accordance with his ideas of justice. He and his wife lived honored lives and died mourned by all, aged eighty-five and ninety years respectively. Ever since the colonial patriots' struggle for freedom in the days of the Revolution, the name of Bullock has been an honored one in the South, and numbers governors, congressmen, jurists and judges among its mem- bers. Henry W. Bullock began life for himself as a " Hoosier Schoolmaster" at the age of eighteen, and during the two terms that he followed this occupation he was practically successful in training the young minds under his care. He attended the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., for a number of terms, and studied law two years, being admitted to the bar October 21, 1887. Mr. Bullock is a hard student and is said' by those who know him to be the best informed man in the State on the various phases of the tem- perance question. He is broad and liberal in his views, takes a deep interest in all economic and social questions, and an active part in Civil Service and Municipal Reform. He is a forcible and polished writer and is well known as a speaker, having delivered temperance and political, religious and educational addresses in various parts of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, under lecture bureaus and the State and national committees of the Pro- hibitionists. Mr. Bullock is an active member of the Christian Church, commonly known as Disciples of Christ, and has devoted much time to home missions, giving his aid and en- couragement to those who need help. He works in the rauks as a private, delivers lectures, makes temperance and Sunday-school talks, and preaches sermons as occasions demand. His qualifications make him successful as a farmer, teacher, speaker, writer, lawyer and busi- ness man. His high sense of justice and moral convictions make him the friend of every honest reform for the betterment of mankind. He came to the city in 1890, and his vim and ability at once placed him in the front of business enterprises. He is now located at 77 East Market Street on the second floor, and is doing a large real estate, loan and insurance business. He handles the best residence and business property in the city and loans money on city and farm property. It is but just to say that his integrity has won him the confi- dence of the business community, and being in the very prime of life has before him very flattering prospects.
HENRY COE, president of the Board of Underwriters and one of the most prominent in- surance and real estate men in the State of Indiana, was born in Jefferson County, Wis., April 16, 1848, a son of Orris K. and Paulina (Bushnell) Coe. His father was a native of New York, and settled in Jefferson County, Wis., in 1836, and was one of the pioneers of that county. He early entered Government land and for about ten years after locating there carried on farming with considerable success. At the expiration of that time he opened a store at Beaver Dam and sold goods there for another decade, when he removed to Water- town, Wis., and entered the employ of the company which projected and constructed the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, as a general representative, and traveled along the proposed line purchasing right-of-way for the road. This was a business requiring much ability and no little degree of tact. Later he was engaged in the lumber trade at Water- town. His wife, the mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was of New York
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