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 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
JASPER W. SCRIMSHER. An active and progressive system in any profession or line of business, when based upon principles of honor, is sure to bring success, and an illustration of prominence gained through these means is seen in the record of Jasper W. Scrimsher, builder and contractor, who has followed this line of work in Indianapolis for the past twelve years and is considered one of the city's most reliable and competent contractors. He was born in Oldham County, Ky., October 15, 1846, a son of Thomas J. Scrimsher, who was first a millwright and afterward became a farmer. In 1853 he came to Indiana with his family and located in Morgan County, but after some time returned to his native State where he remained until the day of his death. Jasper W. Scrimsher was educated in the public schools of Morgan County, Ind., and at the age of eighteen years commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter at which he worked for a few years, then entered a drug store at Hall, Ind., where he remained for ten years before coming to the city of Indianapolis. Soon after
228
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
his arrival here he once more turned his attention to his trade and since that time he has been successfully engaged in carpentering and contracting, making a specialty of residence work. He has built some of the most beautiful homes in the city, and his services are largely in demand from the fact that he is thorough, painstaking, understands every detail of his work, is prompt and lives to the letter of his contract. He has under his employ a large force of men, who are competent and skilled workmen, and their combined efforts may be seen in many portions of the city. Mr. Scrimsher was married in Morgan County, Ind. in 1868 to Miss Martha M. Stierwalt, by whom he has become the father of two sons and three daughters. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, in which he is a deacon, and are accounted among its most useful and active members. They are intelligent and worthy people and have the high esteem of all who know them. As a man of business Mr. Scrimsher is highly esteemed and to illustrate the excellent line of his work it is but necessary to mention the following buildings which he has erected: The residence of George Van Camp, the residence of Frank Wood, the residence of John Reagan, that of Dr. Kim- berlin and many others.
GUIDO R. PRESSLER. Of the many things which contribute to make up the beauty of our homes and cities that of paint and decoration takes no inconsiderable part. How much of their handsome and imposing appearance do the many buildings which we so much admire, both as to exterior and interior, owe to this agent. Strip them of their decorations and they look bare and uninviting indeed. No person can deny that the asthetic movement started in the States in 1880 by Oscar Wilde, and now being continued by Edmund Russell under the name of Delsartianismn, has had a vast amount to do with the refining of the home circle, and adding another feature to house decorating. Indianapolis has made a marked advance in this respect, a fact largely due to Guido R. Pressler, painter and decorator, who has gained an enviable reputation in his line all over the country. He was born in Saxony, Germany, July 20, 1853, a son of Franc R. Pressler, who was a weaver by trade. The early educa- tion of Guido R. Pressler was conducted in the land of his birth according to the laws of that country, but before he had attained the age of fourteen years he began serving an appren- ticeship at his trade, and thoroughly mastered its every detail before his three years' term was ended, although he was to have remained four years. He immediately came to the United States, and soon after took up his residence in Indianapolis, and although this place has been his headquarters up to the present time his services have been in demand all over the United States, and he has done some of the most artistic work in his line that has ever been executed. However he has labored principally in the city of his adoption, and his work may be seen on the court house, the state house, the Odd Fellows Hall, the First Baptist Church, St. Joseph's Church, St. Mary's Church, the Second Presbyterian Zion Church and other buildings to numerous to mention, in this city. He has made many designs, among which may be mentioned the beautiful English Opera House, a building ideally artistic in every sense of the word. In recent years he has been principally engaged in church work, and his services have been called into requisition in Columbus, Edinburg and Greensburg, Ind., the State Library Building in Bloomington, Ind., the Opera House at Hot Springs, Ark., the Muncie (Ind. ) Court House, and many other pieces of work of noteworthy excel- lence. Upon his arrival in the United States he had no means with the exception of a per- fect knowledge of his trade, and although he was unacquainted with the English language and American customs, he soon adapted himself to the ways of this country, and by his in- dustry, business ability and puslı has made a name for himself, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he has business dealings. In November, 1883, he led to the altar Miss Agnes Miller, of Louisville, Ky., and to their union a son and daughter have been given, who are promising and intelligent children. Mr. Pressler is a member of the I. O. O. F., is a Scottish Rite Mason, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W.
E. GROVE ANTHONY, M. D. Although young in years, Dr. Grove Anthony has made rapid strides in his profession and is classed among the popular members of the healing art in Indianapolis. He has gained a flattering reputation as a physician and has already built up a patronage complimentary to his ability in the medical profession. He owes his nativity to Guysville, Ohio, born May 12, 1868, and is a son of Dr. Emanuel and Elvira M. (Calvert) Anthony. When twelve years of age he came with his parents to Indianapolis and finished
229
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA.
his literary education in the schools of that city. When seventeen years of age he began the study of medicine with his father, and later entered the Physio-Medical College of Indiana, from which he was graduated in March, 1889. He was engaged in general prac- tice for one year after this and was then appointed to the chair of ophthalmology and otology in the above-mentioned college, a position he still holds. He is also demonstrator of practi- cal anatomy in that institution. In the fall of 1890 he took his first course in the Philadel- phia Polyclinic and College for Graduates in Medicine, and the following year took a second course. Since the spring of 1890 the Doctor has devoted his time and attention to the eye, ear, nose and throat, and as a specialist has met with great success. He is a member of the American Association and of the Indiana State Physio-Medical Association and the Indian- apolis Physio-Medical Society, having been chairman and secretary of the latter. Socially he is a member of the Golden Cross. He is a member of the Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics always voted the Prohibition ticket.
WILLIAM F. NORRIS. The material progress manifest throughout the United States during the past quarter of a century has never had its counterpart elsewhere, and has in- cluded in its wide field of activity the business of the painter and contractor as one of the most important branches of industry. In this connection William F. Norris may be referred to for he has followed the calling of a paint contractor for seven years in the city of Indian- apolis and has made a reputation for himself in this branch of human endeavor. He was born in Louisville, Ky., October 18, 1848, a son of Thomas J. Norris, who was born in North Carolina, but who removed to Tennessee when a young man and settled in the vicinity of Knoxville where he resided for some time. He then removed to Louisville, at which time it was a small and unimportant town, where he for some time followed the calling of a gar- dener and afterward that of a cabinet maker. Later he removed to Clarke County, Ind., where he followed the calling of a farmer in which he became an expert. William F. Norris was one of four sons in a family of ten children and received his education in Louisville. After serving an apprenticeship of three years at the painter's trade in Louisville he began working at his trade in that city, afterward in Clarke County, Ind., and at a still later period in Indian- apolis. Having come to this city in March, 1875, he commenced contracting but at the end of two years turned his attention to other matters. About seven years ago he resumed the occupation of contracting and to this occupation his attention has since been given with the best results financially and otherwise. He has pursued his calling in connection with resi- dence work principally and in this he has made a name for himself. He had but little money when starting out for himself but he had what was just as good-a perfect knowledge of his calling and a good constitution as well as unbounded energy, and these have been the step- ping stones to his present prosperity. On the April 1, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy E. Beckett, of Clarke County, Ind., and to them four daughters and a son have been given. Mr. Norris is a member of Meridian Lodge, of the I. O. O. F., and politically is a Democrat.
ISAAC MONTREVILLE TODD is a public-spirited citizen in harmony with advanced ideas. intelligent progress and the best methods of improving agricultural pursuits, and the good of his country generally. He first saw the light of day in Franklin County, Ind., Septem- ber 5, 1828, on his father's farm, and when abont four years of age moved with his parents to Marion County, Ind. The parents settled in Wayne township, on the west side of the White River, and there our subject remained until fifteen years of age, receiving a limited education in the early schools of that county. He then came to Perry township, this county, and made his home with an elder brother, Henry P. Todd, for about five years. On October 2, 1848, Mr. Todd was married to Miss Rachel C. Brewer, daughter of Samuel Brewer, deceased, and soon after his marriage he returned to Wayne township. There he made his home on a tract given him by his father for about eighteen months, after which he returned to Perry township and bought 160 acres of the executors of Daniel Brewer. paying $10 an acre. At that time there was about sixty acres cleared so as to be tillable, but the farm was in bad condition, having been rented for years. Mr. Todd immediately began making improvements. He erected a frame house in 1853 and resided in that nntil about 1870 when he built a brick house which was subsequently destroyed by fire. About 1885 he built the handsome brick house in which which he now resides, and has made numerous other improve-
230
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
ments. He has cleared about eighty-five acres of the 160 he bought and annually raises wheat, corn and hay, and of late years sweet corn and tomatoes. He raises on an average twenty- five to thirty bushels of wheat to the acre, and about the same in corn. His marriage was blessed by the birth of eleven children, one of whom, Elizabeth C., died in infancy. The remainder are named as follows: Ella; Clara I. ; John E .; Emma D. ; Elmer E., deceased; Harry L., Frank L., Samuel B., William H. and Norah H. The last three are unmarried. The first child living, Ella, married A. J. Snider and they have two children : Ada, who Alva Hamilton, and Charles E. Mr. Todd's second child, Clara, married Calvin Hanson and they have one daughter, Ruth. John E. married Emma Herron, and they have four chil- dren : Alma, Omer, Frank and Ralph. Emma D. married George Porter and they have one child, James A. Harry L. married Bertha Lyons, and Frank L. married Kate Rose. In his political views Mr. Todd is a Republican and his first vote was cast in 1852. He is a public- spirited citizen and has served as assessor of Perry township for two years. During the Civil War he organized a company of home gnards at the time of the Morgan raid, and was elected captain and commissioned as such by Gov. Morton. This company was kept up until the war closed. For many years Mr. Todd has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is now one of the trustees of the church at Southport. Henry Todd, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania July 4, 1779, and after reaching mature years was married there to Miss Nancy Martin. Later he and wife removed to Indiana and located in Franklin County, near Brookville, where they remained until 1832. They then came to Marion County, where the father's death occurred in 1842. Thirteen children were born to this worthy couple, eleven of whom grew up, but our subject is the only one now living. After the mother's death the father took for his second wife, Sarah McIlvain, and they had six children, two now surviving : Amanda, who married and lives in Texas, and Marion, who resides in Calhoun County, Ill. The latter served in an Ohio regiment during the war. Mr. Todd's grandfather, Henry Todd, was a native of the Keystone State, and there passed his entire life.
JOHN LEWIS MCCORMICK. This able and successful contractor has been a resident of Indianapolis, Ind., since 1849, but was born in Rush County, of this State, March 24, 1825, a son of James McCormick, whose birth occurred in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, in 1797. He came to Indiana many years ago and located at Connorsville, where his son, John, erected the first house. It is also said that the McCormick family built the first honse in Indianapolis, the site being between the old wooden bridge across White River and the Washington Street bridge. James McCormick was a millwright and put up many of the old-time water-mills in Indiana. He built a mill on what is now known as the Pitts farm on the Michigan road, besides numerous others in all portions of the State. He died in Hen- dricks County in 1858, but about the close of the War of 1812 the family lived in Fayette County. The wife of James McCormick was born in South Carolina in 1812, but was brought by her parents to Indiana when a child, and in the town of Frankfort she passed from life in 1880, a member of the Methodist Church, although her husband had always been a Baptist. The McCormicks originally came from Scotland. John McCormick, one of the early members of the family, was a soldier in Washington's army during the Revolu- tion. He died in Connorsville when very aged. John Lewis McCormick attended the pub- lic schools of Shelby and Marion Counties, and when still a mere lad commenced learning the millwright's trade of his father, and afterward branched out into general carpentering, at which he worked for some time in connection with farming. In 1849 he commenced con- tracting in Indianapolis, and, although he has followed a general line of work, he has rather made a specialty of building ice houses for large ice companies, and has pursued this occu- pation not only in Indiana but also in Michigan. In 1882 the farm where Crown Hill Ceme- tery is located fell into the hands of the McCormick family, and this land Mr. McCormick tilled for several years. His business career has been a successful one, for when he started out in life for himself he had a cash capital of $3 and a team of horses. On August 9, 1848, he led to the altar Miss Julia A. Pitts, who was born in Pendleton, Ind., March 2, 1826, and a family of three daughters have been born to them.
GEORGE N. DUZAN, M. D. The calamities of the late war have never been adequately weighed, for there was scarcely a home in all the broad land in which there failed to be a
George A Luzann M.D.
231
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA.
Rachel mourning for her child that did not return. Still, the greatest disaster brings its compensation in some measure, and to the blessing of a Union saved there was afforded the sublime spectacle of patriotic zeal all over the land, men freely offering their lives upon the altars of their country, or unmurmeringly bearing all toil and privation. Another inestima- ble boon was the impulse that was given to advanced medicine and surgery, through the innumerable opportunities for practice on the field of battle and in the hospital. To-day all over the land are physicians and surgeons of the ripest judgment and skill, who served their country in its hour of peril and who gained valuable stores of practice, which has been of incalculable value to them ever since. One of this number, a man loyal to the core, and a physician of eminence, is Dr. George N. Duzan, of Indianapolis. This worthy gentle- man was born in Boone County, Ind., July 8. 1842, being the son of John Duzan, a native of Tennessee, who carried on farming in that State, and who emigrated to Indiana in 1832, settling near Zionsville, in Boone County, being one of the pioneers of that county. He was married in Tennessee to Catherine Cox, a native of that State, and daughter of Jacob Cox. John Duzan represented his county-Boone-in the Legislature of Indiana, having been elected in 1842, on the Democratic ticket, and was one of the first representatives from that county. He resided there for many years, was a successful farmer and accumu- lated considerable property, and finally died in 1878, his wife having passed away in 1872. The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm in his native county until he was sixteen years old, first attending the common schools of the country and afterward the academy at Zionsville, and then he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. W. N. Duzan, who was a pioneer of Boone County and a physician of many years' successful practice. Onr subject studied three years, in compliance with the rules enforced by medical colleges at that time, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, attending one course of lectures. He then began the practice of medicine at Zionsville, in the spring of 1861, which he continued until the month of July, 1864, when he entered the army as acting assistant surgeon in the United States army, being with the Thirteenth Regiment of regulars. Most of the time was spent on detached duty, in Hospital No. 8, at Nashville. While there Dr. Duzan attended lectures and graduated from the University of Nashville, receiving the degree of doctor of medicine from that institution, bearing date of March 25, 1865. Return- ing from Nashville he located at Zionsville, where he enjoyed an extensive practice which extended over a period of nearly twenty-five years. He was there recognized, not only by the people of the county, but by those of that portion of the State, as the leading physician of that region of country. In the fall of 1888 the Doctor came to Indianapolis and here he has grown into a very large practice and rauks among the leading physicians of the city. While residing at Zionsville Dr. Duzan held the chair of physiology and clinical medicine in Central College of Physicians and Surgeons for a period of four years, resigning the same al the expiration of that time. He has been a member of the American Medical Association, of the Indiana State Medical Society, and of the Boone County Medical Society, but on account of poor health has been compelled to sever his connection with them. Dr. Duzan was married August 31, 1865, to Nellie Crutchfield, a native of Indianapolis, and a daughter of Wesley and Nancy (Brock) Crutchfield. Dr. and Mrs. Duzan have two children: George N. and Belva. In politics Dr. Duzan is a Democrat, the principles of that party being in harmony with his own views concerning national and State questions. Dr. Duzan writes with great fluency and with remarkably clear diction and has been a contributor for a great many years to medical and other journals, although professional questions have engaged him most. A number of medical works refer in most flattering terms to the work, the services and the writings of Dr. Duzan, who is recognized by the profession as a physi- cian of distinguished ability. Some of his articles in medical journals appeared as early as 1865 and have continued until quite recently, most of them touching subjects of interest to the profession. He has also read a number of valuable papers before the State and the Boone County medical societies. His health has been somewhat impaired of late, the result of great study, reading, and the demand made upon his professional services.
HON. TIMOTHY E. HOWARD. To become distinguished at the bar requires not only capacity, but also sound judgment and persevering industry. These qualifications are com- bined in no gentleman at the St. Joseph County bar to a greater extent than in Timothy E.
.
232
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
Howard. A careful and accurate adviser, and an earnest and conscientious advocate, his success at the bar has been achieved by the improvement of opportunities, by untiring diligence, and by close study and correct judgment of men and motives. Like so many of the eminent men of the present day his early career was a humble one, for he was reared on his native farm in the vicinity of Ann Arbor, Mich., where he was born January 27, 1837, and there he soon came to know the meaning of hard work. His parents, Martin and Julia (Beahan) Howard, were both natives of the Isle of Erin, and came to this country in their early days, the former first setting foot on American soil about the year 1832. After a short stay in the Green Mountain State he came to Ann Arbor, Mich., a few miles from where he eventually entered some Government land, then in a very wild state. There, in the midst of the forest, and far from any other human habitation, he erected a little log cabin, where he lived until his means permitted better improvements, and where the subject of this sketch was born. The elder Howard resided on this farm until he paid the last debt of nature in 1851. At the time of his demise he was township clerk, and had held other minor township and district offices. His widow survived him until March, 1892. There are now only three surviving members of their family of seven children: Timothy E., Michael F. and Julia A. Timothy E. Howard was the eldest of the family, and, although but fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death, he took upon his slender and youthful shoulders the manage- ment of the home farm, and with the intelligent counsel and advice of his worthy mother, he inade a success of his undertakings. His early education was obtained in the common schools of the rural districts, but he was later fortunate enough to be sent to the "Old Seminary" at Ypsilanti, and to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, enjoying in the former institu- tion the instructions of that model teacher, Prof. Joseph Estabrook, and in the latter that of the genial scholar, Dr. Erastus O. Haven. He taught in the district schools near Ann
Arbor for two years. About this time he secured a chance to teach and attend school in the University of Notre Dame, Ind., and at once gladly closed with the offer, and from that noted institution of learning he graduated in 1862. In February of that year he forsook his alma mater in order to fight his country's battles, and enlisted in Company I, of the Twelfth Michigan Infantry, the fortunes of which he followed until the battle of Shiloh, where he received a gunshot wound in the neck and left shoulder, and was sent to Evans- ville on a hospital boat and placed in the Marine Hospital, where he remained about two months. Upon recovering le came home on a furlough, and being honorably discharged as unfit for further duty, he returned to teaching at Notre Dame, graduating therefrom that year. He held his position of instructor in that institution for about twenty years altogether. In 1878 he was elected to the position of county clerk, and served four years, during which time he was also a member of the city council. While at Notre Dame he studied law and received his diploma, but did not practice until the expiration of his term as county clerk. Since then he has been an active practitioner, and his knowledge of law and his intelligence in all matters of public interest were recognized by his being elected to the office of State senator in 1886, and by being honored with a re-election in 1890. He is the the author of the Momence bill for the drainage of the Kankakee Valley, and was chairman of the special senate committee in charge of the school text-book law. He secured the extension of tlie new election law to township and city elections, and drafted the new revenue law. He also introduced and pressed to passage the bill for the establishment of the Appellate Court. He had charge in the Senate of Indianapolis' city charter, also of the suburban street rail- way bill, both of which became laws. For several years Mr. Howard served as city attor- ney of South Bend, and also as county attorney of St. Joseph County. Since 1880 he has been an active member of the G. A. R. In November, 1892, he was elected one of the judges of the supreme court of the State, and took his seat upon the bench January. 2, 1893. The following character sketch is taken from the Evansville Journal, and was written while the present supreme judge was a member of the Senate in 1891: "Senator Timothy E. Howard of St. Joseph County, is without question the most influential member of the upper house of the Legislature. He is tall, spare, with a mild and rather sad mien. His strength lies in his great fairness and liberality, coupled with a keen discernment of motives behind actions. He himself never hesitates to explain fully his reasons for any line of action, and when he has explained there is always a large following of senators who find that they may
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.