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 26
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birth, but was of the old Connecticut Bushnell stock, which bas become historic through successive generations. Henry Coe was reared in his native State and educated at public and private schools. Later he entered a military academy at Fulton, Ill. During the last year of the war he served in the quartermaster's department at Camp Stoneman, near Washington, D. C. Returning to Watertown he was for a time associated with his father in the lumber trade. In 1870 he entered the law department of the Wisconsin State University at Madison, Wis., and was only graduated in law. Locating at Whitewater, Wis., he entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1873 Mr. Coe came to Indianapolis and was tendered and elected to the office of secretary of the Indianapolis Fire Insurance Associa- tion, a position which he filled with much credit for four years. At the expiration of that time he became interested as a partner in the local fire insurance and real estate business of M. R. Barnard & Co. In 1879 he established his present real estate and fire insurance office, and has built up a patronage that makes him conspicuous above most other real estate and insurance men in the city. He is a member of the Columbia and Commercial clubs, and was formerly prominently connected with the Board of Trade. He is also iden- tified with the K. of P. and the R. A. In politics he is a Republican. He was married September 20, 1869, to Miss Ora C. Orton, a native of Milwaukee and daughter of Hon. Harlow S. Orton, for fifteen years associate justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
PHILANDER H. FITZGERALD was born in Greensburg, Decatur County, Ind., in the month of February, the 14th day, 1847. He removed with his parents to Dearborn County when young. His paternal ancestors came from Ireland and on his mother's side he came of good Connecticut stock. His father is Joseph Fitzgerald, of Acton, Marion County. His mother was Laura (Northrope) Fitzgerald, who died at Acton February 15, 1891, aged seventy- seven years. His common-school education was supplemented by a commercial course at Manchester College. Mr. Fitzgerald was married at the age of twenty-five to the daughter of Bernard Mullin, Esq., of Greensburg. In 1864 he came to Marion County and located on a farm in Franklin Township, and also studied law for two terms. This, however, was given up for a clerkship in the United States Claim Agency in 1868. The clerkship was re- signed in 1872 by Mr. Fitzgerald, who decided wisely to branch ont for himself. He was admitted to practice before all the departments, in November, 1872, after which he be- gan his extensive practice in prosecuting all classes of claims growing out of the late war. By careful study and continned practice he soon gained a national reputation as an expert claims attorney. He has often been called in consultation by counsel in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and in California, and has handled and collected many cases. Mr. Fitzgerald's business has so increased that at times the services of thirty-five clerks are necessary in answering his correspondence. In 1887 he conceived the idea of conducting a soldier's paper in connection with his business, and accordingly bought the Veteran's Review, a small paper with less than 300 circulation. The name was at once changed to the Ameri- can Tribune. As the results of Mr. Fitzgerald's good judgment and energy, the circulation at the end of a twelve-month reached 5,000. Since then it has grown rapidly and steadily and now it aggregates 28,000 a week and is still growing. Mr. Fitzgerald has invested bis means, from time to time, in Indianapolis real estate. His last purchase was the handsome building at the corner of Market and Circle Streets, known as the Journal Block, for $85,000. The building has been lately overhauled and modernized in every respect at a cost of $40,000 and it is one of the largest and finest in the city, being contrally located and in every way desirable. He has also built some thirty-five first-class pieces of property and recently gave $4,000 to the new church of North Meridian. Mr. Fitzgerald was one of the founders of the Indiana Mutual Building and Loan Association, one of the largest in the city, is one of its directors, and was elected treasurer of same in July, 1893. He is a member of the K. of P., with which order he has been identified since 1872. He is a member of the Columbia Club, the Commercial Club and the Board of Trade. In politics he is a Repub- lican.
JAMES GREENE. In every community some men are known for their npright lives, strong common sense and moral worth rather than for their wealth or political standing. Their neighbors respect them, the young generations heed their example, and when they go to the grave posterity listens with reverence to the story of their quiet and useful lives.
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Among such men is James Greene, a man of modest and unassuming demeanor, well edu- cated, a friend to the poor, charitable to the faults of his neighbors and ready to unite with them in every good word and work, and active in the support of laudable public enterprises. He is the State agent at Indianapolis for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of Pitts- field, Mass., a position he has filled for about twenty- five years. He is among the oldest and best known citizens of Indianapolis, having become a resident in 1853, and has seen the city's population increase from 18,000 to 140,000 souls. Mr. Greene was born at Scitu- ate, R. I., December 6, 1810, a son of Rowland and Susanna (Harris) Greene, who were also natives of that State, where they resided until their respective deaths. Rowland Greene was a physician of considerable renown and was an active member and earnest worker of the Society of Friends, in the interests of which he traveled extensively throughout the then United States, his journeys being made on horseback and extending as far south as North Carolina, throughout which section he became well known to the Quakers. James Greene remained a resident of Rhode Island until he was sixteen years of age; the major part of his education being acquired at Providence nnder Quaker supervision. In 1826 he went to Baltimore, Md., where he spent two years in a wholesale auction and commission house, after which he went to Albany, N. Y., and entered the employ of a brother as clerk in a wholesale oil and leather establishment. During the time that he remained in Albany he made preparations to take a collegiate course and in 1833 entered Amherst College from which he was graduated in 1837. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., and after pursuing his studies there for three years, he entered the ministry in Ten- nessee, where he remained about two years. In 1844 he came to Indiana and located at Madison, which at that time was the metropolis of the State, and there be established a private classical school which he conducted with gratifying success for about eight years. The public school system then came into vogue and he closed his institution at Madison and went to Evansville, Ind., where he established a classical school for boys which he conducted until August, 1853, at which time he became secretary and treasurer of the Evansville & Indianapolis (straight line) Railroad Company and removed to Indianapolis, being associated with Willard Carpenter, of Evansville, Hon. Oliver H. Smith, and Gen. John Love, of Indianapolis, together with other persons of the State. This undertaking did not prove successful; the road was not built and after resigning his position about the time of the out- break of the Civil War, he was appointed, in April, 1861, assistant quartermaster-general of the State, a position lie filled creditably for about four years, when he was transferred to the department of commissary of subsistence. In 1867 Mr. Greene engaged in the general insurance business, which he has since continued to follow. To Mr. Greene's marriage with Miss Mary B., daughter of William V. and Sidney (Phipps) Mccullough (natives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee) seven children have been born, only one of whom is now living: Davies M., born at Madison, Ind. Of the others Norvell Scott and Thomas C. lived to the years of manhood, the others dying in infancy. Mr. Greene is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Odd Fellow's fraternity and has been prominently connected with the First Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis since becoming a resident of the city.
JOHN W. FOUTZ. The necessary and important calling of the undertaker and funeral director has of late years made such rapid progress in its methods that it is to-day more of a profession than a trade. In few others is there such a demand on the part of its practi- tioners of the most delicate tact and discretion, while to follow it with a certainty of success an individual or firm must combine high business qualifications with exceptional scientific attainments. Among the leading representative establishments of this kind in Indianapolis must be mentioned that of Foutz & Fitzhugh, the senior member of which is John W. Foutz. He was born at Newcastle, Henry County, Ind., February 21, 1848, a son of Louis and Elizabeth (Conway) Foutz, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Kentucky. Louis Foutz was a man of intelligence, and throughout the active years of his life successfully followed the calling of a farmer and is now living in retirement at New- castle. At this place John W. Foutz was reared and educated, graduating from an academy at that place after having acquired an excellent education in the public schools. Shortly after finishing his education he began learning telegraphy, and for seventeen years was man- ager of the Western Union at Newcastle, and while there served eight years as secretary of
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the Building and Loan Association and the same length of time as trustee of his township. Following this he engaged in the undertaking business, continuing it there successfully for five years, then came to Indianapolis and continued the same business, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. His establishment is continually growing in popularity, for the seemly and sympathetic manner in which he conducts the sad rites that his business calls him to perform has become known, and those who meet with the loss of loved ones are anxious to engage his services. In 1869 hewas united in marriage with Miss Angeline Mul- len, by whom he has one child, Gracie. He was left a widower in November, 1884, and in December, 1886, he wedded Miss Clara B. Collingsworth, of St. Louis. Mr. Foutz has shown his approval of secret organizations by becoming a member of the A. F. & A. M., . the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the K. of H. and the I. O. R. M., in each of which he has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodges. He is a member in good standing of the Meridian Street Methodist Episcopal Church and has always supported the men and measures of the Republican party, although he has never aspired to political honors. He is a man of whom any community might well be proud, for in his daily walk through life he has endeavored to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule, and that he has succeeded is attested in the fact that his friends are legion.
JOSEPH F. FITZHUGH. The well-known gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a mem- ber of the firm of Foutz & Fitzhugh, funeral directors at 187 Indiana Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind. To attain success in this most delicate line of work, it is essential that a man shall possess special attributes, as well as to keep a select line of goods constantly on hand, and these essential qualifications, chief among which may be mentioned a sympathetic nature, are possessed by Mr. Fitzhugh in an eminent degree, and as a natural consequence the firm of which he is a member is in demand. March 20, 1869, he was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, his parents being Frank and Mary (Riddell) Fitzhugh, the former of whom was a leading attorney of Cincinnati for many years and died when the subject of this sketch was quite small. After that event Joseph F. made his home with his maternal grandparents, his grandfather, Dr. G. W. Riddell, being one of the best known physicians and surgeons of Indiana for years, and a prominent member of the old Tippecanoe Club. During the Civil War he served his country in the capacity of surgeon and was also prominent, in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was an earnest member. He was a successful medical practitioner for over fifty years, and at the time of his death had reached the patriarchal age of ninety-two years. Under his wise guidance the subject of this sketch was reared, during which time he imbibed a large store of knowledge pertain- ing to medicine, anatomy and chemistry, receiving valuable information also from his uncle, Dr. J. C. Riddell, a very successful physician and a prolific and valued correspondent to leading Eastern journals, and at one time editor and proprietor of the Knightstown Chron- icle. When a youth he served in the Union army as drummer boy. He eventually became an eminent physician of Kansas City, Mo., and acquired an enviable reputation through his successful treatment of the morphine and opium habit, of which he made a specialty. He died in Kansas City about 1883. In 1885 Joseph F. Fitzhugh embarked in the under- taking business with Adams & Emrich, successors to the old Ripley & Hedges firm, and remained in their employ until the firm retired from business, when he entered the service of George Herrmann, a leading German undertaker, with whom he remained a short time. He then accepted a position as general manager of the undertaking business of Charles Girton, in which capacity he successfully continued until July 1, 1893, when he purchased his present business in connection with John W. Foutz, and has conducted it with satisfac- tory results up to the present time. Mr. Fitzhugh holds three diplomas, one an honorary degree conferred upon him by the Indiana College of Embalming, the others being from Cincinnati and New York schools. He is demonstrator and secretary of the Indiana College of Embalming, having been for two years a professor in that institution. Fitzhugh & Foutz do an extensive business and conduct on an average about 350 funerals annually. They make embalming a special feature of their work, and employ three men in their estab- lishment as trimmers and embalmers, meeting all obligations in a prompt and business-like manner. Mr. Fitzhugh is a general correspondent of the Casket, which is published at Rochester, N. Y., and is one of the leading undertaking papers of the country. He is also
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a correspondent of the Western Undertaker, published at Chicago, and has contributed many scientific articles on practical embalming published in the leading journals of trade. Mr. Fitzhugh is probably one of the best known undertakers of the country and is very widely known. He is a leading member of the secret orders: K. of P., K. of H., P. O. S. of A. and the Red Men, and has been officially connected with the latter in various capaci- ties. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, and he has for some time been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. His moral character is above reproach, his friends are legion, and in him is the stuff of which noble, useful and influential citizens are made.
E. J. BRENNAN, M. D. One of the noblest professions, one of the most beneficial to mankind, the profession of all professions, which, while it is prosecuted for gain is in its very nature nearest to beneficent charity, is that of medicine. At the same time it is one of the most exacting upon its devotees. Indianapolis is very fortunate in the number and character of its physicians and surgeons and one of the most prominent of them all is Dr. E. J. Bren- man who was born in the famous city of Kilkenny, Ireland, in June, 1849, a son of Michael and Honora (Walsh) Brennan. His father was a cooper by trade and his family and also that of his wife are among the oldest and best known in Ireland. The Doctor was brought to Buffalo, New York when he was but six months old and at a proper age was placed in the school of the Christian Brothers where he pursued his studies until he was between fifteen and sixteen years of age. Thus, early in life, he entered upon the acquisition of a knowl- edge of medicine and surgery in the hospital of the Sisters of Charity, and during the ensuing five years attended lectures at the Buffalo University of Medicine and was graduated from that institution in 1871 with the degree of M. D. He almost immediately began the practice of his profession at Lockport, N. Y., and remained there two years, meeting with much success, and during that time he was the health officer of the city. He then took up his residence in Rochester, N. Y., and pursued a general practice there with flattering appro- bation until 1876. In October of that year le removed to Indianapolis where he at once identified himself with the medical and surgical profession and with local interest generally, and where he has since built up a large and influential practice. He became a member of the faculty of the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1882, by election to the chair of diseases of children, and in 1884 he was promoted to the chair of obstetrics and clinical midwifery, which he still fills. Dr. Brennan is a member of the staff of the City Hospital, of that of St. Vincent's Infirmary, and of that of the City Dispensary, and he is a physician to the House of Good Shepherd. While practicing his profession in the State of New York, Dr. Brennan was a member of the Niagara and Monroe County Medical Societies and at this time is a member of the Indiana State Medical Society. He was for two years a member of the Indianapolis Board of Health and for four years Supreme Medical Examiner for the Catholic Knights of America. He is a frequent and valuable contributor to medical literature on subjects relating to the special branches of the profession. The most substantial success has attended his efforts, both as a practitioner and as a professor and lecturer, and his list of patrons is made up largely of some of the best families in the city. Of a generous disposition, kind and unassuming in his intercourse with his fellow men, he is popular with the public and has made many warm and steadfast friends both in and out of the line of his daily duty. His residence and office are at 240 N. Tennessee Street. While living in Lockport, N. Y., he married Miss Susan Graham, daughter of John Graham, Esq., a prominent merchant of Rochester, N. Y. They have two bright and promising sons, now students at Notre Dame University, and two charming daughters.
WILLIAM McGREGOR. The original of this notice is a Hoosier by birth, and one of Marion County's most successful, thorough-going agriculturists. He was born in Jefferson County, thirteen miles east of Madison, June 14, 1828, on a farm belonging to his father at the head-waters of Bushy Fork. There he made his home until about seventeen years of age, but never attended school until after he was fourteen. He then went to a pay school taught by Donald Cameron, but not very steadily, for the school-house was five miles distant from his father's house. School always commenced at daylight, and lasted until dark. Cameron was considered a good teacher, but a very strict disciplinarian, keeping two sizes of switches, the small ones for the little folks, and the large one for unruly big boys. He had from fifteen to, twenty scholars, and the principal branches taught were the three R's,
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viz. : " Reading, Riting and Rithmetic." Our subject only attended two terms of three months each, during the winter. He was left motherless when only seven years of age, and the father kept his four children together, although the youngest was but three months old at the time of the mother's death. On the old homestead the father received his final sum- mons in February, 1846. As soon as the property was sold our subject and his two brothers, Moses and Lewis, went to Madison, Ind., where Moses and our subject entered the em- ployment of Charles Richardson, to learn the blacksmith's trade. Lewis at the same time entered Henry Davidson's tin shop to learn the tinner's trade. For five years our subject remained with Richardson, three years as an apprentice and two years as a journeyman. From May to September of the second year of his apprenticeship, our subject put in his time making spikes to spike down the old strap bars used for track on the old Madison rail- road from Greenwood to Indianapolis. In May, 1851, he concluded to leave Madison, though he wasthen making $24 per week on plow work, but he had too many acquaintances, so he thought, for his own good, as they prevented him from saving his money. He went to Greenwood, Ind., rented a shop and tools, and in the fall he bought a set of tools of a blacksmith in Indianapolis. He paid $45 for the tools, getting long credit. This was in the fall of 1851, and from May 20 until July 7, he made but 25 cents, selling a butcher knife for that amount. He had but $1. 75 when he got to Greenwood, but he made an ar- rangement with Thomas Howard, from whom he rented the shop and tools, that he should board him and his apprentice and take his pay in work. This was all that made it possible for Mr. McGregor to stay there. On July 7 he got his first work from Henry Birely, to iron a wagon, and so well did he do this that Mr. Birely interested himself in his behalf, and before he had finished his first work he had two other wagons to treat in like manner. For this he received $25 for each wagon. During the winter of 1851 he added another fire, still another in 1852, and a wagon shop shortly afterward. Here he remained for seven years, clearing $7.000 in that time, and then sold out his entire plant, receiving $3,400 for it. Mr. McGregor then went west to southern Missouri, and in the spring of 1858 he purchased 250 acres in Polk County, Mo. This he was compelled to give up on account of liis daugh- ter's health, and in September of that year he moved to Acton, Ind., where he bought a house and lot, and built a shop in which he had five fires. He made plows, buggies, wag- ons, etc., working five blacksmiths, seven woodworkmen, two painters and a trimmer. He carried on the shop until 1866, making money all the time, and then bought eighty eight acres of Joseph Fitzgerald, paying $84 per acre. In 1869 he bought eighty acres of Joseph Kennedy's heirs for $50 per acre, but previous to that, in 1866, he bought forty acres of George Whitaker, paying $2,100 in cash. At the present time he is the owner of 215 acres on Sections 16 and 21, Range 5 East. Of this 150 acres are cleared. Mr. McGregor has raised 1,600 bushels of wheat in one year, and averages about thirty-five acres of corn per season. In 1893 he also raised 600 bushels of oats. At the present time (summer 1893) lie has three crops of wheat on hand, over 3,000 bushels. He is one of the most progressive, wide awake farmers in the county, and is highly esteemed by all. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and has never missed voting a Democratic ticket since casting his first vote for James Buchanan. He has manifested his appreciation of secret organizations by joining Pleasant Lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M., of which he was treasurer for about fifteen years. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. For many years he has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is one of the trustees. Mr. McGregor was mar- ried July 2, 1852, to Miss Frances M. Peggs, daughter of Joseph A. Peggs, a native of Ken- tucky, but who now resides in Indiana. To this marriage have been born nine children, two of whom, Sarah E. and William L., died in infancy. The others reached mature years, and are named as follows: Joseph A., born in 1852, was married in 1875 to Miss Ida, daughter of James Eads, of Marion County. Ind. ; Joseph A. died in March, 1893, leaving six children: Maud, Edna, Gertrude, Adeline, Samuel and . Kennedy, the last two being twins; Cyrena A. married B. F. Beal in 1878, and they have two living children (Howard O. and Chester); Charles R. resides in Marion County, Ind., married Miss Carrie Anderson in 1883, daughter of Hayden Anderson, and they have two sons (William H. and Frederick E.); Mary L. married Cornelius Belton in 1879, and they had one son (Lewis S.), the mother dying in 1883; Martha E. married Oliver Means, of London, Ind., in 1881; Naomi married
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D. H. Snepp in 1884, and Minnie, who is at home. The father of our subject, Alexander McGregor, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, about 1786, and came to America in 1815, locat- ing in Jefferson County, Ind. He was a weaver by trade, and worked at this for the sur- rounding country until his death February 11, 1846. He was a Presbyterian in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He was married in 1826 to Miss Martha Rogers, daughter of Moses Rogers, a native of Ireland, and these children were born to them: William; Mary, widow of Henry Voorhees, of Polk County, Mo., has eight children (William, Moses, Lewis, Martha, Sallie, Jane, Indiana and Charles); Moses died in 1883, married Miss Louisa Peggs, who died in 1865, leaving one child, Belle, who married Judd Fitzpatrick, and Louis, died in 1884, entered the Confederate service in Arkansas at the outbreak of the Rebellion, served two years, and was then captured. The mother of these children died in 1833. Our sub- ject's father-in-law, Joseph Peggs, was born in Trimble County, Ky., in 1806, and there he was reared. He was married in Mason County, Ky., in 1835, to Miss Mary A. McCready, daughter of Alexander McCready, a soldier of the War of 1812, and at once emigrated to Palmyra, Mo., where he lived about three years. After that he returned to Kentucky, and in 1844 came to Johnson County, Ind., where he located in Pleasant township. There be and his worthy wife reside at the present time. Seven children were born to their marriage, six of whom grew to mature years: William A. married Miss Nancy Wiley, and they now reside in Marion County; Margaret F. married our subject; John H. served in the Civil War, married Miss Mary Sheets, and resides at Columbus; Mary A. married Peter Myers, and resides in Marion County; Louisa A. married Moses McGregor, and died in 1865, and Charles E., who married Miss Clara Hester, who bore him five children, and died in 1889. Joseph Peggs, the grandfather of Mrs. McGregor, was born in Ireland, emigrated to America at an early date, saw the "Royal Ship George" sink, and located in Kentucky. He married there, but later came to Indiana, where he afterward died.
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