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 48
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
265
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA.
Marion County and bought forty acres of timber land. There they made their home until about 1848, when they moved to Hendricks County, Ind. and there the father died of cholera in 1851. He was the father of nine children, as follows: Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Mathew Smock; Mary, wife of H. M. Kemper; Eliza J., widow of John P. Childers; Thomas, deceased; Martha A., wife of William McFarland; John P .; Elizabeth A., deceased; Lucy, deceased, was the wife of Loring Reynolds, and Zarelda, wife of W. G. Wright. The mother of these children died April 9, 1839, aged fifty years. The father was a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religion. Mrs. Kempers grandfather, Thomas Chinn, came to Indiana when an old man and for some time kept tavern on the site of the Old Little Hotel, Indianapolis.
HENRY SPIELHOFF. Among the very many successful, experienced and competent contractors and builders of Indianapolis there are none who deserve more honorable men- tion than Henry Spielhoff, whose place of business is at 189 Coburn Street, for he has been actively following his trade in this city since 1865, and has pursued it with more than ordinary success. He is a native of Prussia, in which country his birth occurred in 1829, his father being William Spielhoff, who lived and died in that country. He was a man of much intelligence, was highly educated, and followed the calling of a school teacher, and it was under his able instruction that young Henry obtained his knowledge of the "world of books." He finished his education in the Polytechnic Institute, where he learned the theory of the carpenter's trade, and later the practice, while serving a three years' apprenticeship in his native land. He showed his intelligence in 1859 by coming to the United States, and almost immediately after locating in Indianapolis he commenced working at his trade and has followed it with satisfactory success up to the present time. While in the old country he served his allotted time in the German army, from 1848 to 1851, and from that time until his removal to this country he was engaged in contracting, so that upon his arrival in this country he was enabled to continue his work uninterruptedly. He continued it alone until 1865, at which time he formed a partnership with Fred Prange, of this city, but which partnership was later dissolved. In 1869 he removed to Tell City, Ind., where he was for some time engaged in the manufacture of furniture, and while there he was also president of the Cabinet Makers Union of that place. At the end of four and a half years, or in 1873, he returned to Indianapolis, and has since been in business here, a short time being associated with Christian Miller. He has for some time past been in business alone, and during this time he has erected some edifices which are greatly to his credit, among which may be mentioned the Loraine Block, Turners' Hall and various other large business buildings and numerous handsome residences. Mr. Spielhoff is a member of the Builders' Exchange, was president of the Liederkranz three terms, and is now an honorary member of that order, and socially belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. Polit- ically he has been associated with the Republicans, but for the last eight years with the Democrats. He was married in 1852 to Miss Fredericka Helle, a native of Prussia, and to their union ten children were given, of whom William who is the only surviving son and the eldest member of the family, is foreman for his father.
PROF. ARCHIBALD M. HALL, who has attained considerable prominence in his chosen profession-teaching-is a product of the Keystone State, born in Laughlintown, Westmore- land County. July 27, 1863. His early scholastic training was received in the common schools, and later he attended the normal school, then taught by Prof. I. M. Graham. After passing a county examination he commenced teaching at the age of seventeen and continued this for two years in his native county. During the year 1882 he acted as principal of the school in Laughlintown, but in the spring of the following year he came to Irvington, Ind., and graduated from Butler University in 1888, with the degree of A. B. From there he went to Winchester, Ind., as pastor of the Christian Church, but part of the time he was principal of the high school in that town. Resigning that position he returned to his alma mater and took a post-graduate course. During this time, he, with others of the alumni, created a theological department, with Prof. Garvin as the head and moving spirit. Prof. Hall began teaching in Butler University in the session of 1891, his department being Hebrew, and in 1893 he had full charge of that department. He received the degree of A. M. from Butler University in 1889 and Ph. D. from that institution in the spring of 1892, this
266
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
being the first degree of Ph. D. ever given by the university on work. The Professor is a member of the Delta Tau Deltas, and of Winchester Lodge, No. 91, K. of P. He is also a minister of the Christian Church, empowered to solemnize marriages. In his political views the Professor affiliates with the Republicans, although not an active partisan. His parents, Robert and Catherine. (Funk) Hall, were natives of Pennsylvania, and the latter was the daughter of Rev. Funk, a Dunkard minister. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall, six of whom are now living. One of the sons, Henry, served all through the Civil War. Our subject has proven himself worthy of the trust reposed in him and ranks among Marion County's ablest educators.
THOMAS J. MORSE. The difference in the appearance of the buildings of to-day and those of twenty-five years ago is very marked, for then a three or four-story building was considered a marvel in architecture, while to-day in all large cities it is a common occurrence to see a ten or twelve-story building while those of even greater height are by no means rare. In proportion to the advance made in this respect, the knowledge and skill of contractors and builders has increased in like proportion and among the most successful of these in the city of Indianapolis is Thomas J. Morse, who possesses a thorough knowledge of all styles of ancient and modern architecture and has applied his knowledge in a practical way as can at once be proven when any of the many buildings he has erected are pointed out. He is a native of the State of Ohio, born in 1838, a son of Learned Morse, who was born in New Jer- sey but who died in Ohio when his son, Thomas J., was a child. The latter continued to make his home with his widowed mother until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he began learning the carpenter's trade in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio. A few years later he went to that city and finished his trade, but when the alarms of war sounded he dropped his saw and plane and enlisted in his country's service in the United States navy, after which he was detailed for duty on the gun boat "Carondelet" which was for two years in the service of the Government on the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Vicksburg and on the Yazoo River. He was in the bombardment of Vicksburg, Johnson's Landing, Walnut Ridge, and others, and after two years of this active and dangerous service he returned to Cincinnati and a few years later came to Indianapolis. Very soon after this he engaged in contracting, since which he has been one of the most extensive and successful builders of Indianapolis, a city well known for its efficient contracts. He erected the grand stand at the State fair grounds; the residence of William Coffin and A. H. Gibson; the wholesale drug house of Stewart & Berry; the D. L. Ervin Dry Goods House; many public buildings throughout the State, including the school-houses. court-houses, among the latter the court-bouse at Wash- ington, Ind. ; besides numerous other buildings of note too numerous to mention. He has given employment, on an average, to about forty men, and he makes a point of employing none but the most skillful and experienced workmen, therefore his work is at all times satis- factory. Mr. Morse has served two terms in the city council, was chairman of the com- mittee on bridges and has served one term as a member of the police board, and has always taken an active part in supporting the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange and is one of the directors of the organization, is a member of the Contractors Association, and has ever been interested in and an active worker for the prog- ress of his calling. During the extensive strike of several years ago he arbitrated with the strikers and through his good judgment, fairness and honesty, the trouble was brought to a speedy termination and the matter was settled in a satisfactory manner to both the strikers and builders. Mr. Morse is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Raper Com- mandery. No. 1., Knights Templar, is also a thirty-second degree member of the Scottish Rite, of that order, is a member of the famous drill corps of this city that has captured so many prizes in the different conclaves held throughout the country, and is thoroughly posted on all matters pertaining to his order. In 1865 he was married to Miss May E. Pope, a daughter of Henry F. Pope, a native German and a pioneer of Indianapolis, and to their union two daughters and one son have been given: Robert P .. now attending the State University of Illinois and is preparing himself to become an architect; Carrie R., wife of William E. Clifford, of this city; Ellie J., who married Albert B. Bowen, of Indianapolis.
JOSEPH B. MANSFIELD. The calling of the merchant is one of the oldest as well as one of the most honorable of all lines of industry. Exchange and barter are two of the world's
4. Mars
267
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA.
most important factors, and without these the public would indeed find themselves in a sad plight. Above all it is necessary that the line of goods should be of the best and the mer- chant reliable, two features combined in the mercantile career of Joseph B. Mansfield, who has carried on this business, most of the time in Brightwood, since the war. He is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born October 12, 1837, and the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Payne) Mansfield, who were married in that county about 1836. Of the six children born to this estimable couple, our subject was the eldest. The others were named as follows: Phoebe (married Asa Sockman and resides on the old home farm in Darke County, Ohio), George (is now living in the same county, and with his second wife, who was formerly Miss Emily Lambert; his first wife was a Miss Loven), Mahala (married T. I. Sipe, and makes her home in Union City, Ind. ), and John (married Ellen Lambert, and resides in Glendower, Va.). In his native county our subject spent his youthful days, and in 1862 was married to Miss Mary Ann Blizzard, danghter of Jackson and Mary Ann Blizzard, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield and named as follows: Elizabeth (born in 1863, married Richard Lyman, and resides in Chicago, Ill.), Alice (born on the same day that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, married Edward Griffith and resides at home), Gilbert (two years younger than the latter, died at the age of fourteen), Charles (born in 1869, married Miss Rose Smith and lives at home), Edward (born about 1871, died when three years of age), Mollie (born in 1878, is a bright young Miss of tifteen), and the baby, Louise (born in 1881, is attending the home school). During the Civil War Mr. Mans- field donned his suit of blue, shouldered his musket and enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry and served until the close of the war. Returning from army life he moved to Union City and was employed as a bridge carpenter on the railroad, now the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis, assisting in the construction of that road from Union City to Logansport. After three years' service he was then employed on the "Bee Line" road, with which he remained fourteen years assisting in the building of all the shops at Brightwood. One of the remarkable features of Mr. Mansfield's career, and which speaks volumes in his favor, is that he never had a disagreement with his employers or with the employes. He quit railroading to embark in mercantile pursuits, and has continued this successfully up to the present time. He was elected marshall of Brightwood and served two terms in that capacity. For some time he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was made Master Mason the evening James A. Garfield died. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and now holds the office of district deputy, and is a member of Brightwood Lodge, No. 915. K. of H. He is an exemplary citizen and foremost in all matters which pertain to the welfare of the town of his adoption.
JOHN WOCHER. Among the most enterprising and successful of the representatives of great fire insurance companies in this city. Mr. John Wocher deserves prominent notice. He represents eight of the largest and leading insurance companies, and it is obvious that, the most implicit confidence can be placed in him, for his experience and technical knowledge of the business reaches that of an expert. This business, established many years ago, was one of the original insurance agencies, known as the Franklin Agency, which Mr. Wocher succeeded to in 1888. Since that time the business has increased in a wonderful manner, and is among the leading ones of the city at the present time. Mr. Wocher was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 23, 1856, and he is a son of John and Rejina (Feiner) Wocher, natives of Wurtemberg. Germany. The parents came to the United States about the year 1845, and in the year 1865 settled in Indianapolis where the father followed the trade of stone contractor. There his death occurred in 1886. His wife survives him. The original of this notice was about nine years of age when he came to Indianapolis and he was reared and educated in the public schools. After finishing his education he entered a bank as mes- senger and was connected with the same ten years, being teller of the same at the time of leaving to engage in his present business. Mi. Wocher has served as president of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company for three years. He is also engaged quite extensively in the real estate business, and having a wide acquaintance and being well known to capitalists and owners of property, has built up an excellent clientele in the city and vicinity. He is a man of much business acumen and is well and favorably known in financial and business circles. Mr. Wocher selected his wife in the person of Miss E. Bertha Bals, a native of
268
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis, Ind., and their nuptials were celebrated June 7, 1878. She is a daughter of Charles and Christina Bals. natives of Germany. Mr. and Mr. Wocher have one child living, Gertrude, whose birth occurred June 3, 1879. Mr. Wocher has shown his appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a member of the Masonic Fraternity, having attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he advocates the principles of the Republican party.
JAMES W. LANKTREE. Among the best-known representatives or the most successful life insurance organizations, James W. Lanktree, manager for Indiana for the United States Life Insurance Company of New York, holds a high place. He was made manager for Indiana in 1886, having previously been manager for Missouri and Kansas, with headquar- ters at Kansas City. The company has done business in Indiana for many years and is classed among the leading life insurance companies. Through the energy and perseverance of Mr. Lanktree the business has largely increased since he has been in charge at Indian- apolis. This gentleman is a native of Huntingdon County, Quebec, born August 27. 1841, son of Barnabas and Sarah (Willis) Lanktree, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to Canada, about the year 1819. There this worthy couple passed the remainder of their days. The father followed the occupation of a farmer and with substantial results, acquiring consider- able property. At the time of the Mckenzie trouble in 1837, he was a member of the militia and served on the froutier. He was among the pioneers of Quebec and settled on a farm in the forest, clearing the same and making a home. His death occurred in 1854, when sixty-four years of age. His wife survived him until 1871, being in her seventy-sec- ond year at the time of her death. Thirteen children were the fruits of this union, nine of whom are living, scattered from Maine to California. Our subject is the twelfth in order of birth. He was reared in his native country and educated in the academy at Malone, New York. When young he learned the carpenter's trade at Lowell, Mass., and for four- teen years was a successful contractor and builder at Ogdensburg, N. Y., and Chicago. four years of the time being spent at the latter place. In 1876 he came to Indianapolis and two years later engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Lanktree was married in the year 1862 to Miss Augusta A. Dailey, of Lisbon, N. Y. After the death of his wife he was married in 1872 to Miss Maggie A. Dixon, a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y., who bore him one child, Lu Edna, whose birth occurred February 24, 1874, and who died January 29, 1890. Mr. Lanktree is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is an ardent Democrat, having always taken a deep interest in political affairs. He owns a handsome residence property at 1028 N. Pennsylvania Street, and is one of the city's most stirring, energetic business men.
ASA N. SHINER. Among the many successful farmers of Warren Township, Marion County, Ind., who is as conspicuous for his outspoken views in sanctioning that which is just and right as in his denunciation of that which he considers unjust and wrong. is he whose name heads this sketch. He is an intelligent, able and progressive farmer, takes great pride in the cultivation of his fine farm of 100 acres, and it is so admirably tilled and every detail so carefully and intelligently looked after that it produces much more than many more preten- tious places. Mr. Shimer was ushered into existence August 2, 1832, on the old homestead of his parents in Warren Township, Marion County, Ind., was reared on that farm and became inured to toil and hardships, which is attendant on the lives of the early pioneers of any country. He became well versed in all the intricacies of farm life from the date of the old wooden mold-board plow and three cornered wood tooth drag and the laborious way to both man aud beast of using them, up to the present day of easy farming, compared with sixty years ago. His education was obtained in the primary schools and at the Northwestern University (then located in University Square, Indianapolis), and he continued to make his home with his father, Elias N. Shimer (a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work), until four years after his marriage, and assisted him in the duties of the farm which by this time had reached proportions of considerable magnitude, for their landed interests had increased many acres and necessitated much more labor and shrewd management. Mr. Shimer's marriage to Miss Margaret Smart has been a happy one. She is the daughter of Hezekiah and Margaret Smart, natives of Kentucky, from which State they came to Marion County, Ind., about 1823, and for that reason are classed among the early pioneers of the
269
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA.
county. Mrs. Shimer is one of the nine children born to her parents, all of whom lived to maturity. Their names in the order of their births are as follows: Humphrey, who died of cholera; William, who died of typhoid fever; David, a resident of California; Martha Ann, wife of Archibald Glenn of Marion County; Elizabeth, wife of William Denny of Indianapolis; Margaret (Mrs. Shimer); Hezekiah, of Lawrence Township, this county; Comfort, wife of Austin M. Glenn, of Perry Township; Caroline, wife of James Henry, M. D., of Illinois. Mrs. Shimer is a woman of unusual intellect and talent, extremely sociable, devoted to her friends, her husband and her children, of whom three have been born to them, the eldest being Elias N., who was born June 21, 1854; Florence L., born November 2, 1855, and Hezekiah, born December 14, 1857. The eldest is married to Dercie, daughter of Rev. James Mc Vey, of Dakota. Florence L. is the wife of William H. Bowser, a sketch of whom appears herein, and Hezekiah is married to Augusta Tweedenborg, by whom he has had three children: Asa L. (deceased), Florence M. and Frederick Nelson. Elias N. has two sons: Asa N. and James M., while Florence L. has two sons and two danghters. Mr. Shimer has recently erected a frame residence which is a model of neatness in architecture as well as of convenience in its interior. He is member of the K. of H., as is his son, Elias N., the latter being also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the two other cbil- dren being connected prominently with the Christian Church. So far as political affairs interest Mr. Shimer and his sons they are active, but for themselves they seek no political prominence or notoriety, and usually support Democratic principles, always exercising their right to exercise their own judgment, and especially so in local and municipal elections. Hezekiah Smart, the father of Mrs. Shimer, came to this State from Kentucky as a single man in 1823 and entered 160 acres of land in Perry Township, Marion County. He cleared a small portion and then planted corn and made a garden and built a log house. In 1824 he went back to Kentucky, married Miss Margaret Hinkston, a daughter of Capt. John Hinkston, who won his title in the War of 1812, their marriage being celebrated August 10, 1824. He brought his bride on horseback to his home in Indiana, and here they spent twenty-nine years, then sold the farm in 1853 and moved to Missouri, the father dying on Christmas Day, 1870, and the mother April 8, 1879, her birth having occurred on July 6, 1801. The Great-grandfather Smart, was born in London, England, while the grandfather was a native of the Keystone State. Mrs. Smart was a grand-daughter of Col. Jobn Hinkston, a soldier of the Revolution.
THOMAS H. NELSON. In a young and rapidly developing city like Haughville, sitnated as it is in the best grain and stock-raising section of Indiana, the business of dealing in real estate is necessarily a very important one, and especially so, because, in addition to town property, there is a very large amount of farm property continually changing hands, the greater part of which is handled by Mr. Thomas H. Nelson, who is well and favorably known throughout the county. He was born in Illinois, Bond County, August 25, 1845, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Bates) Nelson, natives of Tennessee. The father was a school teacher when young and at an early day settled in Illinois where he made his home for one year. From there he moved to Delaware County, Indiana, thence to Huntington County and there his death occurred when sixty-five years of age. The original of this notice was left an orphan when quite small and he was reared by relatives, in Delaware and Huntington Counties. His opportunities for getting an education were limited for as soon as old enough he was obliged to work to gain a livelihood. Until about twenty years of age he continued tilling the soil after which he began traveling, selling patent right territory which he continued successfully for two years. After this he engaged in the live stock business in Indiana for about five years and at the time gas was found at Muncie, he took five shares in the first well. Later he embarked in the real estate business there but in 1888 came to Haughville where he has since been engaged in the same, being unusually successful. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Red men. In the year 1874 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Indianapolis and the daughter of John and Julia (Marvel) Jones. Three children were the fruits of this union, Ada C., Julia T. and Mata E. Mr. Nelson and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are universally respected. He is deeply interested in his business and is an instrument for the building up of the country and making the wilderness to blossom as the rose, figuratively speaking. In his political predilections he is a stanch Republican.
270
MEMOIRS OF INDIANAPOLIS
PETER C. HANSEN. Among the numerous firms of real estate dealers whose combined operations have given such a wonderful impetus to the realty market of Haughville, a prom- inent place in the foremost rank is due that of Nelson & Hansen. Both are gentlemen of excellent business training, and bring to bear a perfect knowledge of values, present and prospective, of real estate not alone in Haughville and vicinity, but throughout the whole county. They carry on a general real estate business in all its branches, selling, exchanging, leasing and letting all kinds of property for business, residential, farming or purely specula- tive purposes, of which they have at all times long lists on their books. Mr. Hansen is a native of Denmark, born September 16, 1856, and his parents, Hans Peterson and Karen Cornelius, were natives of the same country where they reside at the present time. Peter C. Hansen grew to manhood and received his education in his native country. When twenty- five years of age he came to America and direct to Indianapolis, Ind., where he resided for a year. He then came to Hanghville and there he has since resided. He began his career in the latter place as an employe in the Malleable Iron Works, later engaged as painter and contractor. After this be owned and operated a meat market for four years when he sold the same and embarked in his present business. He has been carful, industrious and econom- ical and owns property in North Indianapolis and Haughville. He is keen and shrewd in business and is well and favorably known in the town. Mr. Hansen was married shortly after coming to this country to Miss Christina Görgenson who died four years later. His second marriage was to Miss Caroline Huber, a native of Ohio, but who was reared and edu- cated in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Danish Lutheran Church, and in politics he supports the principles of the Republican party. Mr. Hansen is a self-made man and deserves much credit for his perseverance and energy. He was obliged to begin the battle of life for himself at the tender age of thirteen, and before he came to America, worked for an extensive dairy which employed several hundred hands. Through faithful performance of duty he became an overseer of this extensive enterprise and continued in that capacity until coming to America. At the time of coming to this country he was unable to speak a word of English and when he landed in Haughville his entire possessions did not exceed more than $5. The industrious and energetic qualities were inherent in him and he soon secured a good situation and came to the front, educating himself in the English lan- guage. He lias been unusually successful and it is alone due to his persevering and indi- vidual efforts. In a comparatively few years he has accumulated property valued at about $8,000, and he stands well in the community in which he lives.
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.