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 27
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JAMES S. CRUSE. The steady ratio of development observable in the Indianapolis real estate market and the universally high reputation that investments therein have attained, reflect the greatest credit upon the leading real estate agents and dealers. Among the more prominent and enterprising members of the profession in this city is James S. Cruse, who combines insurance with his real estate operations and in that department represents some of the stanchest companies before the public. Mr. Cruse was born at New Albany, Ind., July 16, 1858, a son of John P. and Anna M. (Dudley) Cruse. His father, who was a native of Philadelphia, Penn., located in New Albany while yet a young man and began business there as a stone and brick mason and contractor. In 1862 he removed to Indianapolis and not long afterward engaged in the manufacture of brick which he continued extensively and with success for twenty years. He retired with a competency and died in January, 1893, much regretted by a large circle of acquaintances and especially by the older business men whose associate he had been for so many years. His wife died January, 1877. Of their four children two died in infancy. James S. Cruse was about four years old when his parents came to Indianapolis, and this city has been his almost lifelong home. He was educated in the public schools, and later was connected with his father's brick making enter- prise as office clerk and foreman for about two years. He then accepted a position as clerk in the abstract office of John Batty, and after Mr. Batty's death managed the enterprise until it was sold to John R. Ruth. It was in this connection that he acquired a knowledge of the fundamental principles of the real estate business and a bent of mine which later led him to engage in it permanently. After a course at a prominent business college, he next entered the employ of Dain & Mccullough. After the dissolution of the partnership between Messrs. Dain and Mccullough, Mr. Cruse remained with Mr. Dain in the real estate and rental business and after the death of Mr. Dain, in 1883, succeeded to the business which he has since continued so successfully that he now ranks with the prominent business men of the city. He has been a member of the Commercial Club since its organization and is a prominent member of the Marion Club. He is also well known as an Odd Fellow and a Mason and is in all ways popular in business and social circles. He was married May 24, 1882, to Miss Anna H. Wands, a native of Indianapolis and a daughter of Alexander and Catherine (McOuat) Wands, natives of Scotland. The business methods of Mr. Cruse have always been conservative yet energetic. He has not taken many speculative risks, but has
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done a straight, legitimate business, being content with honest trade honestly worked up and honestly conducted. He combines in a remarkable degree all of the diverse qualities essential to success in his distinctive line, and is recognized by his associates as most truly and emphatically the "right man in the right place."
J. H. GEORGE, D. D. S. The dent'st when well up in his profession is a most valuable man in the community, and in Indianapolis there is none who ranks higher than Dr. J. H. George. Although he is still young in years he commands a thorough knowledge of his pro- fession and his ability and insight into bis calling, as well as his ability to express himself intelligently has been the means of winning for him the position of demonstrator of operative dentistry in the Indiana Dextal College, a position which was tendered him a very short time after his graduation from that institution in 1891. He owes his nativity to Jefferson County, Ind., where he first saw the light of day March 28, 1860, a son of W. J. and Edith M. (Spann) George, both of whom were born in the State of Kentucky but afterward located near Madi- son, Ind., in the public schools of which place Dr. J. H. George received his literary educa- tion. He possessed a bright, receptive and retentive mind, made rapid progress in his studies and upon leaving school was considered a well-informed young man, and capable of fighting the battle of life for himself. In 1889 he came to Indianapolis and graduated from the Indiana Dental College in 1891 with much credit to himself, his record in that insti- tution being greatly to his credit. He is filling his preasent position with great ability and is proving that he is the right man in the right place. Politically he has always been a Republican and for some time he has been a member of the Marion Club.
JOHN F. CRAIG. One of the most efficient and trustworthy servants of Uncle Sam is John F. Craig, who has charge of the postoffice at Haughville, Ind. In addition to looking after the duties of this position he is the proprietor of a hardware establishment which is netting him a satisfactory yearly income. The city of Glasgow, Scotland, gave him birth January 28, 1860, his father being James F. Craig, who was also born in the city of Glasgow. He learned the trade of a machinist in the land of his birth and became so expert that he was placed in charge of a large foundry in that country. The free soil of the United States, however, possessed great attractions for him and after reaching this country in 1872 he set- tled down in Wauregan, Conn., which place he made his home until four years since when he came to Haughville, which place has since been his home. Upon first reaching this city he worked in the Malleable Iron Works, and as he has been industrious and careful in his expenditures, though by no means niggardly, he has accumulated considerable property of value in Haughville. Mr. Craig is a Mason and Odd Fellow and he and his wife are strict members of the Presbyterian Church and pride themselves on their Scotch blood. The mother can trace her ancestry back 200 years. John F. Craig was the third of eight chil- dren. five of whom are now living, born to his parents, and in the bonny land of Scotland he was first led in the paths of learning. After the removal of his parents across the wide Atlantic to this country, and after their location in Connecticut, he attended the schools of that State for some time, but upon reaching the age of eleven or twelve years much of his time was devoted to learning the machinist's trade and his school days were few and far between. After becoming thoroughly familiar with this calling he came West, in 1885, and entered the works of Ketcham & Brown and afterward the Ewart Chain Works, leaving the employ of these gentlemen to take charge of the tool works of the Indianapolis, Decatur & Western Railroad, where lie remained a valued employe for two years. At the end of this time he opened a grocery store in Haughville but gave up the business after a short time to engage in the hardware business, which branch of human endeavor has since received his attention, and in which he has met with reasonable financial success. He has served in the capacity of town trustee, but resigned this position to take charge of the postoffice, the duties of which he has discharged in a successful and able manner and to the entire satisfaction of the residents of the place. He is a Republican and socially is a charter member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at this place, which he served in the capacity of secretary for a number of years, and he also belongs to the Calledonia Quotin Club. Mr. Craig has just been married to Miss Jennie Corbett, of Indianapolis. He will reside at 143 King Avenue.
E. J. SHERER. The subject of our sketch is one of the largest contractors in the city of Indianapolis, and a member of the council-at-large. He has made his way along through
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life alone and unaided, and his large accumulations represent the labor of his own hands, he starting out for himself with a trade, health and a clean conscience. Mr. Sherer was born in Dayton, Ohio, March 15, 1854; being the son of George W. and Christina (Shilling) Sherer, natives of Alsace, Germany, who emigrated to this country about the year 1836, settling in Dayton, where the father engaged in the linseed oil business, which he followed until his death. This industrious man was the father of eleven children, eight of whom are living, namely: Michael, Mary, George, Anna, John. Joseph, Edward J. and William. The father of this family died at Dayton in January, 1879, his wife still living in that city in the possession of good health and active for one of her years. Our subject was reared in his native county, where he attended the common schools, and later was apprenticed to the trade of a plasterer at Dayton, serving out his time and working at it until 1873, when he came to Indianapolis, resuming his labors at his trade here and continuing at that work until 1879. In the previous year he had done some contracting on his own account, which he made profitable, and was so well satisfied with this business that he now gave up his whole time and attention to it and has followed it ever since. E. J. Sherer is a man who never does anything by halves and he has pursued the contracting work with great energy, having done among other things the stone work for the State House, for the insane asylum, Tomlinson Hall, Circle Park (which is now torn out), the Columbus (Ind.) starch works, all the city breweries of Indianapolis, a large amount of work at. Franklin (Ind.), the custom house at New Albany, and has carried out many other large contracts. The firm in which
he is a partner bears the name of Laakman & Sherer, which was formed in 1878, and is the oldest and best known in the city, its business being that of artificial stone. Mr. Sherer was empty handed when he left his home but had a brave heart and he has never once faltered since. His manliness has always asserted itself and he has kept hands and head busy. He owns very valuable property on West First Street and in other portions of the city. The Builders' Exchange has in him a most active and useful member and he was one of the first to identify himself with that organization. Social by nature, he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances in whose company he always enjoys himself, and he is a member of the K. of P. and of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Sherer takes a most active interest in politics and in the affairs of the city and was elected to the city council from the fourth ward in 1890,
and a councilman-at-large in 1892, he being a very popular man among his fellow citizens,
and has proven himself a very energetic and most useful member of the council. Mr. Sherer was married in 1874 to Miss Ada Sullings. of Greencastle, Ind., who has borne hin two children, namely: Harry J. and Goldie E. Our subject was too young to take any part in the late war, but three brothers, George, Conrad and Michael, were brave and good soldiers in the army, and Conrad was killed in a skirmish at Battle Ridge, being struck by a shell. He was a lientenant and a young man of much promise. His remains lie in the cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn. The subject of our sketch is a man who has so deported himself as to gain the confidence and the respect of all who know him. Strictly honorable and possessed of excellent business sense, he is a most valuable member of the council and his future gives promise of still greater success and usefulness.
ANTON SCHMIDT. A close observer, in studying the history of the advancement and development of the city of Indianapolis, will find golden threads running through the web and woof of events of the past years. These are indicative of the lives of those men whose public spirit and energy have made her first among the cities, and give her a conspicuous place among the commercial marts of the world. A true representative of such men is found in one whose career inspires this brief notice, Mr. Anton Schmidt, now councilman for the fourteenth ward, was born in Germany, September 12, 1846, and his parents, Charles and Louise (Brunk) Schmidt, both of whom were natives of that country, received their final summons in that State. Anton grew to manhood in Geilnan, Germany, and like many of his countrymen decided to make his future home in the United States. In 1866 he took passage for this country, landed in New York City, and came direct to Indianapolis where he worked in the California House. Ambitious and persevering he worked at anything that would bring him in an honest living, and in this manner gained a solid footing. He has been a resident of Indianapolis for twenty-six years and in business for himself for twenty years. Success has crowned his efforts and he is to-day one of the prominent men of Indianapolis.
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He was elected a member of the city council in 1891 and it is safe to say that in the discharge of the duties of that position his course will redound to the credit of himself and the present city government. He is a stockholder in the Shelby Street Building and Loan Association of which he is president, and socially is a member of the K. of H. His first marriage was to Miss Minnie Brocksmith, and his second to Miss Lizzie Schaub. Five children have blessed these unions-Louis, Hattie, Carrie, Lydia and Louise. A Democrat in his political views, Mr. Schmidt has ever espoused the principles of that party.
DR. WILLIAM NILES WISHARD was born in Greenwood, Johnson County, Ind., October 10, 185], a son of Dr. William H. and Harriet N. (Moreland) Wishard, and was educated at the Southport High School and at Wabash College. After leaving school he turned his at- tention to the study of medicine and was graduated from the Indiana Medical College in February, 1874. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Southport, and after gaining some valuable experience in that way became a student in Miami Medical Col- . lege, Cincinnati, and was also graduated therefrom in March, 1876. Immediately there- after he resumed his practice at Southport, but in November, 1876. removed to Indianapolis, and was in active and successful practice there until July 1, 1879, when he assumed the duties of superintendent of the city hospital, to which he had recently been elected. Dur- ing the period of his practice in Indianapolis he served as deputy coroner of Marion County, and in that capacity made most of the post mortem examinations with which the coroner was credited. He gave great satisfaction as superintendent of the city hospital until Janu- ary 1, 1887, when he declined a re- election in order to devote himself to the active practice of his profession. It was during Dr. Wishard's superintendency that the present elegant and commodious hospital building was erected, and it was chiefly through his influence and untiring energy that this great work was accomplished. For years he devoted himself to it and it will stand as a memorial to his useful labors. Dr. Wishard was appointed assistant surgeon general of the State of Indiana by Gov. Hovey, and was appointed surgeon general by Gov. Chase, and served with much credit in both positions. He was one of the organ- izers and was elected the first president of the Indianapolis Surgical Society, and at this time he is first vice-president of the Mississippi Valley Medical Society, vice-president of the Marion County Medical Society and a member of the American Association of Genito-Urinary Surgery. He has been honored by the Medical College of Indiana by appointment as as- sistant to the chairs of principles and practice of medicine, lecturer on clinical medicine and professor of genito-urinary and venereal diseases, which last-mentioned position be now holds. On leaving the city hospital Dr. Wishard was appointed consulting surgeon in that institution on genito urinary and venereal diseases, and the same position was given him in the city dispensary. Soon after severing his connection with the hospital he took a course in the Post-Graduate Medical College and Polyclinic, New York, after which he returned to Indianapolis and resumed general practice, which he soon abandoned to devote his entire time to the practice of what had become his specialty, genito-urinary surgery. He has done some original work in prostatic surgery, having performed the first operation for removal of the lateral lobes of the prostate gland through a perineal opening. In 1890 Dr. Wishard went to Europe for the purpose of better qualifying himself to practice his specialty, and he attended the International Medical Congress held in Berlin, afterward visited the hospitals in Berlin, Paris and London, saw and conversed with most of the leading specialists in his line of practice in those cities, and returned home in the autumn of that year. He is well read outside of professional literature, and having mingled much with some of the brightest men of the day he is a most charming and entertaining companion. He was married in May, 1880, to Alice, daughter of Mr. William Wesley Woollen, of Indianapolis, a most brill- iant and fascinating lady, who died on December 9 following their marriage, and since then he has remained a widower. The Doctor has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1873, and, besides having served as ruling elder in the body with which he is identified, he has been influential in church councils aud liberally helpful to all church interests and good works. Being six feet, two inches in height, compactly built and without surplus flesh, the Doctor is of commanding and most pleasing presence. His complexion is fair, and he has blue eyes and brown hair, and, all in all, his appearance is striking, yet attractive, aud his manner is so hearty and cordial that a stranger upon entering his presence is put at once at his ease.
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GUSTAVE C. LANGE. Love of flowers is inborn in the majority of people, but it is to only a comparatively few that the art of cultivating them in their utmost perfection is given. Mr. Gustave C. Lange seems to possess a natural aptitude for this branch of human endeavor, and in the position of florist for the State Insane Asylum at Indianapolis he has shown the best of judgment, great skill and the utmost taste. He has been a florist of Indianapolis for the past twenty-five years, but was born in Prussia in 1839, his father being George Lange. Gustave C. received bis education in the land that gave him birth and while still residing there learned the art of gardening, for which he seemed to have a natural aptitude and a decided taste. In 1868 he left Prussia to come to the United States, and after spend- ing some time in St. Louis went to Cincinnati, but permanently located in Indianapolis shortly after, and turned his attention to floriculture exclusively and kept a well stocked and appointed establishment on East Washington Street, in the immediate vicinity of which he owned a nice tract of laud upon which he at once put up extensive green-houses which he liberally stocked with all kinds of plants from the choicest exotics to the simple violet. After . a time he sold out and removed to Peru, Ind., and later bought the place owned by B. A. Fobl. After selling this property he went to Dallas, Tex., where he was in business three years, then returned to Indianapolis and opened a store on North Illinois Street, but as the business was not a paying one he decided to give it up, and when asked to take charge of the grounds of the insane asylum he accepted, and the reputation of their great beauty has gone throughout the State. He has proven himself in every way competent to fill this responsible position and the directors of this institution have every reason to be satisfied with his services. He was married in Cincinnati in 1871 to Miss Johanna Dinnse, a native of Prussia, and to them a daughter and three sons were given. After the death of this wife he married her sister, Carrie, by whom he has one son and three daughters. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church and he is a member of the Indianapolis Florists Club, and socially belongs to the K. of H.
JOSEPH R. ADAMS. The business of house painting has become an art and one of the men who excels in this line of human endeavor is Joseph R. Adams, whose excellent taste and good judgment have brought him prominently before the notice of the most extensive builders and contractors, as well as property holders, in the city of Indianapolis. He owes his nativity to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was born on March 13, 1852, a son of John C. and Rhoda (Miller) Adams, the former a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the latter of the State of Pennsylvania. John C. Adams is now a successful painter and contractor of Cambridge City, Ind., a calling he has followed ever since starting out in life for himself and although in his sixty-second year is yet hale and hearty. He was a soldier in an Ohio regi- ment during the great Civil War and was loyal, brave and useful in espousing the cause of the Union. Joseph R. Adams is the eldest of his parent's children and in his youth was given the advantages of the excellent public schools of Cincinnati, which he did not fail to improve, and at the early age of sixteen years he turned his attention to learning tlie painter's trade with every branch of which he became thoroughly familiar under the intelli- gent direction of his father, with whom he remained until he attained his majority. He then left the shelter of the pareutal roof and came to Indianapolis, where he worked as a journeyman for quite a number years, after which he was engaged as foreman by William Muecke, which position he retained for thirteen years at No. 24 Virginia Avenue. At the end of this time he entered the employ of Salisbury & Stanley, as foreman, but only remained with them a few years, when he commenced the battle of life independently and since that time has done a very extensive business, in fact one of the most extensive in the city. Some of the most notable of the buildings which he has erected are the Lombard building, the City Hall, the Bates House, the Union Depot, the Grand Hotel, thie Spencer House and has done a great deal of theater work and erected many beautiful dwelling houses in different portions of Indianapolis, in which work he has had direction over from twenty-five to forty men, all of whom he chooses carefully. He is one of the best versed contractors of the city, having given his attention to this line of work for many years, and the buildings which he has erected have been conspicuously commented upon and noticed by all builders and contractors, as well as by those who expect to build. He is a man of unblem- .shed character and is loyal to his promises in all his undertakings. He is a member of the i
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Master Painter's Association, the Builders' Exchange, and socially belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of H. March 15, 1876, he was married to Miss Lucy Rueb, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and to their union a son and daughter have been given.
WILLIAM BRADLEY CLARKE, M. D. One of the leading homeopathic physicians of Indianapolis is Dr. William Bradley Clarke, who was born at Columbus, Ohio, November 8, 1848, and is consequently forty-five years old the World's Fair year. Dr. Clarke's father, who was a druggist at Columbus, was named Sumner Clarke, and was of the old Puritan stock, born at Northampton, Mass., where his father, Enos Clarke, was for years deacon in the famous Jonathan Edwards orthodox church. Dr. Clarke's mother, whose maiden name was Maria Haddock, died suddenly of cholera when the Doctor was less than a year old and, the family breaking up, he was sent to Massachusetts to be reared by his uncle and aunt, his uncle being Rev. T. J. Clarke, a congregational minister at Cummington, Hampshire Connty ; the historic little town was also the poet, William Cullen Bryant's home. Here he attended the common schools and for years was carefully educated by his uncle, Rev. Mr. Clarke, who was a graduate of Williams College and a man of the finest literary attainments, and who was as nearly a father to the boy as any uncle could have been. Then came a removal to Ashfield, the home of George William Curtis, for a few more years' residence. It would be interesting to trace just how much influence the literary labors of two such eminent men of letter, his neighbors, so to speak, had upon the mind of young Clarke, especially in inspiring in him the insatiable love for books and literary matter that has always been one of his chief characteristics. Another removal took him to Bernardston, Mass., where he was placed in the then noted Powers Institute, where he was to be fitted for Amherst College. His father was now operating a large flouring mill near Chicago, which took fire and was destroyed; its owner was taken sick some time afterward, it is supposed from the effects of exposure and over-exertion at the fire, his illness terminating fatally. The mill insurance could not be col- lected and young Clarke, thrown upon his own resources, reluctantly gave up his idea of entering college, left school and at the age of sixteen of his own volition entered a newspaper and printing office with the determination of entering the trade and business; making rapid advancement he was, by the time he had reached his majority, competent to hold any position in which he might be placed. Passionately fond of travel, he served in many journalistic capacities in most of the large cities of the country, principally St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York and Boston, and gradually acquired the nickname of "Walking Encyclopedia." Medical works early attracted his attention and in 1876, while a proofreader and editor, he began in earnest to read medicine with a view of entering a medical college, finally doing so, and three years thereafter graduating with honors from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, March 6, 1884, winning the college dispensary position and in the subsequent competi- tive examination, the eighteen months interneship in the great Cook County Hospital, Chicago. Finally settling in Indianapolis associated with Dr. O. S. Runnels, he at once identified him - self with the State Medical Society and was elected secretary thereof, a position to which he has been yearly re-elected five or six times. He is also a member of the National Society of Homeopathic Physicians, honorary member of the Missouri and Kentucky societies, member of the Indiana Academy of Science and (though not a theosophist) secretary of the Indian- apolis Theosophical Society. He was married at Indianapolis February 4, 1890, to Mrs. Alice P. Winings, their union being blessed with a beautiful boy, Clarence by name. Being of a literary turu of mind by nature and education, before receiving his medical diploma, it was impossible for him to afterward lay down his pen; indeed he has kept it phenomenally active ever since, all of his spare time being spent in preparing articles for medical societies in general and for newspapers. These articles cover a wide range of subjects and are always written with a view to entertain and instruct and for this reason are both eagerly welcomed by publisher and reader. One of the former thus speaks of him (Minneapolis Medical Argus, July, 1892): "To merely enumerate the titles of the topics touched upon by Dr. Clarke to the medical journals and newspapers would require all the space in this issue of the Argus. Suffice it to say that much of this work has been of a missionary character for homoeopathy. Dr. Clarke has done more to bring homoeopathy to the favorable attention of the laity than any member of the profession in America, and for this and for his untiring energy in all lines of professional work he deserves the hearty thanks of the profession." And
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