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 44
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NOAH WRIGHT was born in Randolph County, N. C., August 30, 1784, and in 1808 became a resident of Indiana, at which time there were only three counties organized in the State. He first located at Jeffersonville, where he manufactured brick the first year of his residence, then farmed awhile for a man named Holman, and then served one year on the frontier against the Indians, for which service he received a land warrant for 160 acres, which, however, lie did not receive until nearly forty years later-a short time prior to his death. After the close of the Indian war he returned to his former home in North Carolina, but only remained one year, then returned to Indiana. He located in Washington County, Ind., where he was employed in clearing land, and here he was married July 28, 1814, to Susanna, daughter of Arthur Parr, a native of Rowan County, N. C. He remained in that county until 1831, then came to Marion County, where he purchased at different times 640 acres of land, and at that time also owned in Hamilton County 420 acres. He settled on a tract of 160 acres in Perry Township, not an acre of which had been cleared and there he lived until his death July 11, 1863. Seven children were born to his marriage: Betsey A., who died in 1860, was the wife of James J. Rooker, and left one son, Hiram W .; David, died July 2, 1883, at the age of twenty years; Hiram, born June 18, 1819, and died December 19, 1888, having married Ann Hoover who bore him three children, Winfield T., Missouri and Noah; Isaac, born January 7, 1824, died January 9, 1870, having married Helen Martin who bore him two children, Alfaretta and Hattie; Polly, born June 22, 1827, died December 21, 1882, the wife of John M. Wise; Susanna, born March 17, 1831, died November 29, 1862, the wife of Eli Haverstick (deceased), by whom she had two children, Mary E. and Chris- tina, and Jasper N., whose name follows this sketch. ' The father of these children was an old line Whig and afterward a Republican. He was a member of the first Legislature con- vened in Indiana and was sheriff of Washington County some five or six terms. He was not a church member but gave liberally to all denominations. His wife died October 9, 1842. His father, Philburd Wright, was born in Maryland in 1750 and became a settler of Indi- ana about 1813, taking up his residence in Union County, near Brownsville, where he died in 1833. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was afterward a justice of the peace for abont forty years in Randolph County, N. C. He was married to Elizabeth Reagan and to them children were born as follows: Joshua, who disappeared at New Orleans in 1815 and was never afterward heard from; Delilah, who married John Summey; Joel, who married a Miss Birely and became the father of two children, Ensley and Elizabeth; Sarah, who mar- ried John Fontz; Noah, the father of the subject of this sketch; Levi, married a Miss Wright by whom he had three daughters and four sons; Elizabeth; Eli, resides in Wayne County, Ind., is married and has a son, Elmer; Jesse, married Mary Brown and has four children,
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Sarah, Mary, Eli and Noah; Mary, married John Beard and has three children, Isaac, Mary and Malinda; Elizabeth, married James Rains and bas three children, Hiram, Levi and Martin; Aaron, married Ruhama Sellers and has five children, Isaac, Jesse, Philburd, Nancy and Elizabeth.
JASPER NEWTON WRIGHT. Among the thrifty farmers of Marion County, Ind., may be mentioned Jasper Newton Wright, who was born in the township in which he now resides December 5, 1834, on the farm belonging to his father, Noah Wright. There he lived until the age of twenty-seven, his education being obtained in the subscription schools of that period, continuing about five sessions, then his father gave him a farm of 160 acres, sixty acres of which were cleared and on which had been erected a house. He at once settled on this farm and made his home with the family of John Findley, to whom he rented it for three years. During this time he gave his attention to hauling wood off the farm to town. In 1866 he was married to Aunie, daughter of Muse G. and Jane Sanford, natives of Vir- ginia, and at that time residents of Hancock County, Ind., and to their union five children were given as follows: Elmer (who married Christina Gennaman), Susanna (who married George Kelgrice, by whom she lias one son, Ira), Newton, Harrison and Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and politically he has always been a Republican, his first vote having been cast for John C. Fremont. Owing to physical disa- bility he was not in the service of his country during the Civil War, but he was a strong Union sympathizer.
DR. DAVID H. HAROLD. There is always in the medical profession some individuals who become eminent and command a large patronage, and among those deserving special recog- nition is Dr. David H. Harold, whose face is a familiar one in the home of the sick and afflicted. He is a native of Hamilton County, Ind., born February 5, 1844, and the son of Nathan Harold who was born in the old North State. The latter came to Indiana when eighteen years of age, settled in Wayne County, and was there wedded to Miss Betsey Haw- kins, a native of that county. Nathan Harold was a self-made, self educated man. In 1833 he moved to Hamilton County, Ind., and was one of the pioneer physicians of that county, and carried on an active and general practice for nearly thirty years. Although the advantages for an education, medical and otherwise, were poor during his time, he was recognized as one of the most eminent physicians of that part of the State and had the rec- ord of never losing a patient stricken with typhoid fever. His death occurred April 1, 1885. His widow survives him and makes her home in Hamilton County. Dr. David H. Harold was reared in Hamilton County and educated iu the schools of the same. The early years of his life were spent in working on his father's farm and in 1872 he took up Evangelistic work and for a long time was recognized as the "young evangelist." He was an arduons worker and for about twelve years devoted his entire energy and time to this work, which extended over the States of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. During a period of about ten years he averaged about 200 converts per year. The best part of his life was spent in this good work but the intense strain on the system was too much for him and he was com- pelled to abandon it. The study of medicine then attracted his attention but as he liad studied and read medicine more or less all his life and as it seemed to be second nature to him, he graduated from the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis in 1889, two years after entering. He immediately began a general practice and this he still continues success- fully. He bas steadily risen in the channels of medical life and is a physician of established reputation. He is a member of the State Medical Association and the Indianapolis Medical Society. Dr. Harold was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah J. Carey, a native of Hamilton County, Ind. Her death occurred in the spring of 1874, and in September, 1875, he was wedded to Miss Tacy Brown, a native of Boone County, Ind., and the daughter of Isaac and Phoebe (Childre) Brown, natives respectively of North Carolina and Belmont County, Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Harold became the parents of four children, as follows: Roscoe C., died Janu- ary 23, 1893; Albert H., Anna W. and Clifford B. By his first marriage the Doctor became the father of three children: Frank A .. Ora J. and Rosetta. Ora J., who married Dr. A. T. Hunt, and now resides at Charlotteville, Ind., is the only one now living. Dr. Harold is a prohibitionist in principle and has been a candidate for mayor of Indianapolis on that ticket. He and Mrs. Harold are members of the Friend's Church.
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JOSEPH K. ENGLISH. There is no class of business men who more surely rear up visible. monuments to their industry and their enterprise than the painters of the sightly structures which become a landmark not only locally but in the historical sense in all our great cities. Among those who have for years devoted their attention to this line of work may be mentioned Joseph K. English, who was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1824, his father being King English, a native of the district of Columbia. The latter was reared in his native place and in Maryland and after reaching the age of sixteen years he made a permanent location in Maryland and turned his attention to tilling the soil, in pursuing
which he met with reasonable success. He was a member of the militia and assisted in the defense of Baltimore when it was attacked by the British during the War of 1812. In 1830 he came west and located on an eighty-acre tract of land now bounded on the south by Seventh Street, and on the west by the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and all of which forms a part of the city of Indianapolis, and which at that time was covered with quite a heavy growth of timber. In the city of Indianapolis he died in 1864, when seventy-four He was married in Frederick
years of age, having been a successful pioneer farmer.
County, Md., to Miss Mary Brown who also died in Indianapolis in 1861, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were members of the English Lutheran Church and for many
years the father was an elder in the same. He was first a Whig and then became a Republican in politics, but never aspired to public position, being content to pursue the even tenor of his way independent of the strife and turmoil of political life. Of the children born to himself and wife, the subject of this sketch is the only one now living, two members of the family having died in infancy. Joseph K. English received his edu- cation in the Old Seminary and from the early days of his youth until he reached the age of twenty-four years worked on a farm. He learned his trade under G. D. Statts who was probably the oldest painter in the place, and after becoming familiar with every detail of the business he worked at it alone until 1852 when he formed a partnership with his old instructor and the firm of Statts & English continued until 1860. He was elected city treasurer in 1861, a position he held for four years during the war. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in Center township on Fall creek, on which he remained until 1871, when he returned to the city and engaged in the foundry and machine busi- ness as a member of the firm of Berner, English & Over and was associated with the last named gentleman until 1876 at which time he once more turned his attention to paint- ing, in which business he was associated with his son, H. K. English. Mr. English was married in 1852 to Elvira, daughter of Henry Colestock, an old pioneer of the section and a stair builder by trade, some of his most important work being done on the Deaf and Dumb, the Blind and the Insane Asylums. Mrs English was born in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1831, and has borne her husband five children: H. King and Frank C., who are painters by trade, and their daughters are Mrs. Frank Keegan, the wife of the druggist; Julia, a teacher in the public schools of the county, and Josie, who is still at home with her parents. Mr. English and his family are members of the Lutheran Church, and he has been an officer in aud is now a charter member of Capitol Lodge of the I. O. O. F., in which he passed all the chairs many years ago, and also belongs to the R. A. Politically he has, like his father, affiliated with the Republican party. While residing in the county in 1866 he was a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners, in which he held the position of president at the time the court-house plans were made and built. He was an active member of that body and was a moving spirit in the building of the Iron bridges in Marion County across the White River. In 1858 and 1859 he was a member of the city council, in fact, he has been a wide awake and pushing man of affairs, and is with reason ranked among the upright and useful citizens of the county in which he has so long made his home. For many years, in the earliest history of Indianapolis, Mr. English was a member of the volun- teer fire department and president of the Marion Fire Company and of the Fire Associa- tion. While a member of the city council he was chairman of the committee on fire department which disbanded the volunteer department, and drafted the ordinance replacing it with a paid steam department which has become one of the best in the country.
SIMEON FRAZIER. The gentlemen whose name heads this sketch, has always been a po- tential element in the civilization and development of Indiana, and in his veins flow sturdy
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English and Scotch blood which he inherited from his worthy father and mother, Absalom and Clarissa (Bundy) Frazier, who were born in North Carolina and New York respectively. The paternal grandfather came from the land of "thistles and oatmeal" to this country dur- ing colonial days and identified himself heart and soul with the interests of his adopted country and became one of its most substantial, law abiding and progressive citizens. His son, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a mechanic by trade and was a maker of the old fashioned spinning wheel, which was extensively used at that time. He came to Indiana about the time it was admitted into the Union as a State but died in the State of Illinois in 1865, leaving a large family of children.
Simeon Frazier, his son, was born in Clarke county, Ind., May 20, 1832 and there he received suchi education as could be obtained in the schools then in vogue and obtained a thorough and practical knowledge of the common branches. His vacations were spent in assisting in the tedious and laborious work incident to pioneer life and under these condi- tions he grew to honorable manhood, and during his long residence here lias seen a great deal of the development of the country, and witnessed its transformation from a sparsely populated region, rudely cultivated, into a thickly peopled section, dotted with magnificent and highly cultivated farms. He was brought up as a miller and lumberman but in 1852 he abandoned this occupation to become a clerk in a general store but finding his education some- what deficient, he decided to take a commercial course in 1854 and for this purpose entered an institution of Louisville, Ky., from which he graduated. Immediately thereafter he be- gan keeping books in a wholesale establishment but in 1856 took the agency for the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad which position he continued to hold until 1864, when he gave up the position to become first lieutenant of Company G. , of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regi- ment and was in the 100-days service, guarding Gen. Sherman's lines of transportation. After his term of enlistment had expired he returned to his former occupation at Columbus, Ind., and at the end of eighteen months was transferred to Madison, Ind., where he continued to act as agent for seven years, or until the fall of 1873, when he was transferred to Indianapolis, continu- ing in their employ until 1882. His next move was to Louisville, Ky., but after residing there for five years he resigned to go to Jacksonville, Fla., for the benefit of his wife's health, and while a resident of that State acted in the capacity of agent for the Florida Railway and Navigation Company for one year. Upon his return to the city of Indianapolis in the summer of 1888 he was elected secretary and director of Butler University which position he has since re- tained, and in the discharge of which he has been remarkably successful, and has won the respect and confidence of all interested. He was first elected a director of this institution in 1876, and served until 1885, with the exception of three years when he was absent from the city. He is a member of the George H. Thomas Post of the G. A. R .. and has been an Odd Fellow since 1858. In 1862 be was elected junior warden of the Grand Encampment of Indiana, and senior warden in 1863. He was married in 1856, leading to the altar Miss Lucy C. Vaughan, by whom he has five children: Mrs. Dill, Ella, Harry E., Charles L. and Alvin H. Mr. Frazier and his wife have long been members of the Christian Church, and his record as au honorable man of affairs has remained untarnished, and as a citizen he has always been public spirited and law abiding. They have reared their children to be an honor to them, and in the good graces of their acquaintances hold a prominent place, as they fully deserve to do.
WILLIAM H. FULTON. Insurance has come to be a necessity of modern times. One of the most destructive elements to life and property since the world began has been fire. By the match of the incendiary or the lack of care on the part of people in charge, millions of dollars are sacrificed annually. It is therefore essential that every precaution should be taken for the protection of both life and property. Insurance is the most effective means that has ever been devised to afford such protection, but it is a well established fact that all insurance does not insure; and in placing insurance not only the financial condition and rep- utation of insurance companies is to be considered, but the standing and character of those controlling the local agencies. The thoroughly reliable insurance agent is as necessary to a community as any one of his fellow citizens can possibly be, and Indianapolis has been especially fortunate in the character and integrity of its local insurance agents, and none of these are more popular than William H. Fulton, who is the State agent of the Fireman's
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Fund Insurance Company of California in the city of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana, where it has been established for many years. Mr. Fulton was born near West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio, November 5, 1842, a son of Henry and Catherine (McBeth) Fulton, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent, and grandson of Joseph Fulton, who was born in the north of Ireland, and came to America in 1768, settling in Pennsylvania. He was accompanied by two brothers, who were soldiers in the Revolution, serving almost continuously from its commencement until its close. He was also closely related to Robert Fulton, who invented the steamboat. He was a farmer throughout life, and followed this occupation in Licking and Logan Counties, Ohio, his death occurring in the last named county at the extreme old age of ninety-three years. Henry Fulton was quite small when his parents settled in Ohio, but there he was reared, educated and became a farmer. His eldest brother, Thomas Fulton, was a soldier in the War of 1812. After resid- ing in Ohio for many years, Henry Fulton removed with his family to Branch County, Mich., in 1854, where he made his home until his death, in 1863, bis widow surviving him two years. William H. Fulton resided in Ohio until he was twelve years old, attending the common schools there and in Michigan, and the high school of Fremont, Ind. After leaving school be engaged in contracting and building in Branch County, Mich., which occupation he carried on success- fully for about four years, after which, in June, 1865, he came to Indianapolis, continuing in that business eighteen years longer in this city, during which time he gave almost constant employment to from five to fifty men, and many of the city's finest residences and business blocks were erected by him. In 1882 he became a fire insurance agent, and for two years was an independent adjuster of losses for various companies. He then received a flattering offer from the Franklin Fire Insurance Company of Indianapolis, and for three and a half years was State agent and adjuster for this company, after which he spent one year in the same capacity with the Lancashire of England, having the agencies for four States. This work he found to be very laborious, and receiving an excellent offer from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company he took service with the same, with which he has since been connected. He has been a member of the Indianapolis Association of Underwriters for the past nine years, has been its vice-president and at present is chairman of the executive board. In 1869 Mr. Fulton led to the altar Miss Isabella Wallace, a native of the north of Ireland, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Walker) Wallace, and their union has resulted in the birth of five children: Bessie and Beatrice, deceased, and William W., Edwin J. and Bella D. Mr. Fulton is a member of the R. A., the K. of P. and the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.
THOMAS MORAN. Brightwood, the thriving suburban town of Indianapolis, can well be proud of the amount of brains and energy possessed by her representative business men, among whom is Thomas Moran, who has one of the most popular meat markets of that place. In all matters relating to his business Mr. Moran is thoroughly familiar, and being honest and reliable, fully merits the confidence that has been bestowed upon him. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 4, 1843, and no doubt inherits his push and energy from his Irish ancestors, his father and mother, Owen and Margaret (Curley) Moran, having been born on the Emerald Isle. In their native country the parents grew to mature years and were there married in 1837. Shortly afterward they crossed the ocean to America and located in the city of New York. There all their children, four in number, two daughters and two sons, were born. They were named as follows: Mary Ann is single and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Thomas, our subject; Elizabeth married James McCrary and makes her home in Troy, N. Y., and Michael died at the age of twenty years. The mother of these children died in 1854 and the father survived her until 1890. The youthful days of our subject were passed in his native State and he there learned the trade of spinner which he worked at in Seneca Falls, N. Y., for several years and at other places until 1875 when he embarked in business for himself. For the past twelve years he has been engaged in the meat business in Brightwood and gives this large enterprise his personal attention. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers for the last year of the war, and served until cessation of hostilities. He served with the army of the Potomac. Mr. Moran is one of the enterprising men who have built up the beautiful suburban town of Brightwood and made it one of the finest residence places around Indianapolis. Mr. Moran was married
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in 1871 to Miss Mary Ellen Watkins, daughter of Joel and Barbara (Burke) Watkins, who are natives of the Hoosier State and now residents of Martinville, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Moran are the parents of three children, two sons and a daughter, as follows: Thomas Eugene, Joel and Mary Agnes, all at home. Mr. Moran's history is an example of what industry, frugality and integrity will accomplish. The building in which he carries on his business is large, neatly fitted up, and well stocked with the choicest meats, poultry, game, fish, oysters, etc., and he enjoys a large trade.
PHILIP REICHWEIN. This gentleman is not only one of the leading real estate men of Indianapolis, but he is one of the most prosperous and successful German citizens as well, and it is worthy to note in the beginning of this all too brief account of his life that he is essentially a self-made man, having carved and worked out his own fortune. He was born January 12, 1841, in Mezingen, Urach, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, a son of John P. and Maria A. (Wetzel) Reichwein, also natives of Germany. He came to America with his parents, landing in New York city July 25, 1852. Thence he went to Ellensville, Ulster County, N. Y., where he remained until March, 1853, at which time he came to Indianapolis. He first obtained employment here with General Elliott, at the American hotel, opposite the Union depot on Louisiana Street, and remained with him until 1857. He was then employed at the German Turner Hall, at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and Tennessee Street. In 1859 he went to St. Louis, and after remaining one year returned to Indianapolis, where, in 1864, he was married to Miss Antonette Emmenegger. In 1868 he started in business on his own account, on the northwest corner of Market and Noble Streets. Here he remained until 1876. In the meantime he built the fine block on the southwest corner of Market and Noble Streets, known as "Reichwein Hall." Mr. Reichwein was elected M. N. G. A. of the U. A. O. of D. at Cincinnati in 1875, and installed in Philadelphia in 1876, and served with distinction. In 1882 he was elected supreme treasurer of the same order at Richmond and still serves in that capacity, it now being his sixth term. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., became a member of K. of P. in October, 1869, of which he has served as district deputy for several years, and is now president of the permanent board of trustees of the K. of P. Castle Hall Association. From 1855 to 1860 be was a member of the Indianapolis Turner Society. He became a member of the city council in 1881 and served until January, 1884. He was also elected as one of the commissioners of the fire department of Indianapolis, and served as secretary of that body. In September, 1890, he engaged in the real estate and loan business with Thomas F. Quill, under the firm name of Reichwein & Quill, and has done an extensive business. He is a member of the Commercial Club, and has been closely identified with the business enterprises of the city for many years and deservedly ranks among the substantial business men. He is a Republican and has taken an active part in politics for years. Mr. Reichwein's father, Jolın P. Reichwein, made his home with his son in this city until his death May 22, 1893, his wife having died December 26, 1870. Mr. Reichwein possesses social and agreeable qualities calculated to make him popular with all with whom he has intercourse, and these have had much to do with his great prosperity and success in business. He is a public-spirited citizen who has the best interests of Indianapolis at heart, and is ever ready to do all in his power to aid in their advancement. As a real estate man he is exceptionally well informed on values and upon all conditions affecting them either to advance or depress. He is a careful investor, and those who invest in real estate under his advice usually invest to gain.
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