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 54
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CARL VON HAKE. To her noble, pushing, hardworking business men is due the great prosperity, wealth and advancement of Indianapolis. To their zeal, energy and integrity will its future greatness be indebted, as it has been in the past, and among those names prominent in the promotion of successful business enterprises in this city, none will stand higher or occupy the position more justly than does that of the subject of this sketch. Carl von Hake was born in Canada December 8, 1855, and when but a child was taken to Kala- mazoo, Mich., by his parents. There he received his education and completed the high school course in 1866. Later he took a position with a whip socket factory in Westfield, Mass., as superintendent of the factory, and held that position for three years. Leaving that city he came to Marion County, Ind., in 1873, and bought a farm, which he tilled suc- cessfully for ten years. After this for three years he was out of business, but from 1888 to 1890 he was in the retail shoe business, the firm name being Camplin & Von Hake. In the fall of 1890, the Indianapolis Coffin Company was organized and our subject was made president, which position he holds at the present time. The capital stock is $45,000 and they do an annual business of about $120,000. Mr. Von Hake has always been one of the most public spirited men of Indianapolis and is an excellent business man, prompt, ener- getic and strictly upright. In politics he supports the measures and principles of the Demo- cratic party. In the year 1873 he was married to Miss Sarah Richardson, daughter of William Richardson of New York. Three children have been born to this marriage and are named in the order of their births as follows: Carlesta, Alberta and Norma. Our subject's father, Oscar Von Hake, was a native of Papitz, Germany. but growing restive he bade adieu to friends aud scenes long loved and when a young man came to Canada. Later he came to Kalamazoo, Mich., and there his death occurred in 1869. He saw service in the army in the old country. His marriage to Miss Johanna Wilson resulted in the birth of one child besides our subject, Pauline, who became the wife of Frank Vonnegut, of Indianapolis, Ind. The mother passed away in 1872.
G. B. MARTIN, D. D. S., was born in Chiawassee County, Mich., May 20, 1850, a son of M. B. and Mary A. (Beach) Martin, the former of whom was born in Johnstown, N. Y., and the latter in Hartford, Conn. They were early settlers of Chiawassee County, Mich., where they located in 1836. The father was a farmer but for many years lived in retirement from the work-a-day world. The Martin and Beach families became prominent in political affairs. E. T. Throop, uncle of M. B. Martin, was at at one time Governor of the State of New York and held several very important foreign official positions. Dr. G. B. Martin was reared in his native county and received the advantages of the public schools and the train- ing to be derived from life on a farm. After starting out in life for himself he devoted some time to agricultural pursuits, then engaged in business in New York and later at several dif- ferent points in the South. After giving his attention to the study of dentistry for some time he practiced successfully for several years at Lansing, Mich. In 1887 he came to Indi- anapolis and entered the Indiana Dental College, from which he graduated in 1889, having
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taught dentistry for several years, and he was afterward elected to the chair of prosthetic dentistry. At the present time the Doctor has charge of the mechanical laboratory and gives instruction in crown, bridge and continuous gum work. He was the originator and promi- nent in the organization of the Indianapolis Post. Graduate School of Prosthetic Dentistry, which was incorporated in 1890, and has been president of the same since its organization He has been decidedly successful in bis practice and ranks among the leading dentists. Dr. Martin was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Case, a native of Indiana, but who was reared and educated in Michigan, where they met and eventually married.
JAMES CARTER, M. D. However well compensated a physician may be for his services, and the cases are very numerous in which he neither asks nor receives compensation, his profession must ever be regarded as the noblest and most beneficial to mankind. Dr. Carter is a dignified but kindly gentleman, of pleasing manners, with a very large circle of friends, who, hold him in high esteem. Of a cheerful disposition himself, he has the faculty of imparting courage to those who are despondent from illness, and his skill in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases is the canse of the success he has won in his profession. He is a product of Union County, Ind., where he was born February 14, 1843, his father, Benjamin F. Carter, being a native of Rockingham County, N. C., where he was born in 1812, and reared to manhood. About the year 1841 he came to Indiana and settled in Fayette County, where he resided some two years. In 1842 he removed to Union County, Ind., where he married Susannah Chenault, a native of that county, born in 1812, and a daughter of Abner and Mary Chenault, who were natives of North Carolina and early pioneers of Union County, where they settled in 1811, then the country was a wilderness, infested by Indians, and for a long time were compelled to reside in a fort for protection. Benjamin F. Carter was a resident of Union County for about seven years, at the end of which time he removed with his family to Fayette County, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1858. He was a prosperous farmer by occupation, and some four or five years previous to his death he was ordained as a minister to the Baptist Church. His widow survives him at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Dr. James Carter was the eldest of their eight children, and is now the only surviving member of the family. He was about six years of
age when his parents removed to Fayette County, Ind., and there he attained to man's estate. On account of the ill health of his father and from the fact that he was the only son and the eldest of the family, he was deprived of the advantages of an education, for all the cares and work of the farm fell upon his shoulders. He was very industrious and faithful to his parents' interests, labored early and late, and was the mainstay of the family for a number of years. He continued life as a farmer until the spring of 1875, when he engaged in the drug business at Fayetteville, Ind., which he continued to follow with reasonably satisfactory results until the spring of 1880, when he sold the same and removed to Freeport, Shelby County, Ind., and turned his attention to the practice of medicine. During the years that he was engaged in the drug business he took up the study of medicine, and in the fall of 1878 he entered the Medical College of Indiana, where he pursued his medical researches for some time. For a period of four years he practiced medicine in Freeport, Morristown and Gwynneville, but since the month of December, 1884, he came to Indianapolis aud followed his profession for nearly two years. At the end of that time he returned to Gwynneville, Shelby County, where he resided six years, but on November 21, 1892, once more came to Indian- apolis, and has taken up his permanent residence here, having purchased him a comfortable home. He has a practice which is in every way satisfactory, and a wide circle of friends, and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Naomi A. Morris, and whom he married in 1862, move in the best circles of society. She was born in Rush County, Ind., her parents, Houston and Melchi Morris, having been early pioneers of that section, where they entered considerable land and followed farming all their lives. The father was a native of the "Keystone State," was a man of much intelligence, was highly respected in his section, and through his good management and industry accumulated a goodly property, Dr. Carter is a member of the honorable order of F. & A. M., and in politics is a pronounced Democrat, bis efforts at all times being in behalf of this party, although he was at the October election, 1876 (while in the drug business), elected and served one term as township trustee, refusing a second term.
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FRANCIS J. BERGMANN. It has been said, and said truly, that "cleanliness is next to godliness," and this is true in every particular when soap can be had at such reasonable figures, made of the purest and best materials as is that manufactured by Francis J. Berg- mann. He learned the business of soap making from his father, who followed that line of human endeavor all his life, having learned it in his native land of Germany. Francis is a product of Logansport, Ind., where he first saw the light of day, March 11, 1862, his parents being Francis and Caroline (Boltz) Bergmann who, although native Germans, have long been residents of the "land of the free and the home of the brave." The father was born October 6, 1823, came to America about the year 1845 and in connective order resided in Pennsylvania, Cambridge City, Ind., Fort Wayne, Wabash, Logansport (three of his chil- dren having been born at this place) and Indianapolis. Mrs. Bergmann was born in Germany, August 2, 1837, and in 1863 came to Indianapolis with her parents who purchased the land on which now stands the establishment now operated by Francis J. Bergmann. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Bergmann was celebrated in Fort Wayne, Ind., August 6, 1857, result- ing in the birth of ten children, those living as follows: Clementine, born in 1858, who is a resident of Indianapolis and is the wife of Henry J. Kissel; Charles E., born in 1860, who is a resident of Chicago, Ill., and is married to Ada Leekly, and is following the calling of a commission merchant; Francis J., the subject of this sketch; Louisa, born in 1867, who is residing in Indianapolis and is the wife of Stephen Sharp; Emma, born in 1873, who also resides in this city, is the wife of Osborn Magill, and Henry, born in 1880, who is pursuing his studies in the public schools of Indianapolis. The father of these children opened an establishment in 1863 on the same ground where his son is now doing business. Soon after this he purchased two acres of land in a corn field, which is the same land that is still in possession of the family at the corner of West and Morris Streets. At this time all the land that was not seeded to corn was covered with a heavy growth of timber but during the progress of time he has seen it converted from this condition to beautifully paved streets of a great city. A short time after embarking in business for himself he became a member of the firm of Bergmann & Birk, who conducted a reudering establishment, in addition to which Mr. Bergmann was also conducting a like business in Pendleton, Ind., at the time of his deatlı. When he was called upon to pay the last debt of nature, in 1891, his son Francis J., the subject of this sketch, was managing the business in Pendleton. Soon after this, how- ever, the business at that place was closed and Francis J. has since been successfully carrying on a fairly lucrative business in Indianapolis. Not only does he manufacture a fine grade of soaps but also sal soda, and deals in alkalies and soap stocks. He manufactures an especially fine line of laundry soaps; in fact, all the goods he turns out are strictly first class and he is in every way deserving the patronage which he commands. He is honorable and upright in his business methods, is unmarried and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
SAMUEL C. EDEN. One of the most important industries carried on in the city of Indian- apolis is that of contracting and building, and among the representative citizens engaged in this line of business, and thoroughly familiar with it in its every detail is Samuel C. Eden. He is a product of the Blue-Grass soil of Kentucky, born in Scott County, November 30, 1841, and the son of Henry Eden, a brick-mason and manufacturer. The latter resided in Woodford County, Ky., many years, and the family. was a pioneer one of that State. He was an extensive contractor in his day, and an enterprising, thorough-going citizen. Samnel C. Eden, the youngest of ten children, received his scholastic training in Lexington, Ky., and at the Old Northwestern Christian University, Indianapolis. Then, after his marriage, he took a course at Purdy's Commercial College. Previous to this, when only fifteen years of age, he started to learn his trade under his brother, Charlton Eden, and after finishing the same, worked for his brother for several years. Later he became foreman in the Builders and Manufacturers Association and when that organization sold out he went back to work at his trade. One year later he formed a partnership with his brother Charlton and they erected some of the finest buildings in the city. Sometime afterward they dissolved partnership and he was superintendent for his brother for some time. After that he commenced contracting for himself and is now engaged in that business and is meeting with well deserved success. He has been a Republican since that party came into existence and is an active worker in the interests of the same. On October 3, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary A. Berry who was
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born in Marion County, Ind., and three sons and four daughters have been the result of this union. The whole family, with the exception of the two youngest children, are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Eden joined when a young man and recently assisted in estab- lishing the Hillside Christian Church. He is president of the board of trustees of that organization, is a teacher in the Sunday-school, and one of the city's most worthy and influ- eutial citizens, and his wife, Mary A. Eden, is one of the officers of the Ladies' Aid Society and a worker in the same church and visits the sick and distressed wherever she finds them.
PETER C. WEYENBERG. By a most thorough knowledge of his trade, gained step by step, Peter C. Weyenberg has built up a wide reputation as a contractor in all kinds of brick work and has a patronage of very satisfactory proportions. He is a native of Littleshute, Wis., where he was born on April 3, 1863, his father, Henry Weyenberg, being a resident of Glen- ville, Clay County, Neb. He is successfully engaged in tilling the soil there but was for- merly a contractor and made a specialty of bridge-work, erecting many bridges across the Fox River in Wisconsin. He has been a resident of Nebraska for the past sixteen years, having moved there when the country was sparsely settled, and is now a well-to-do citizen of sixty-three years. From the time lie first commenced voting he has been a Democrat, but has by no means been an office-seeker. The early education of Peter C. Weyenberg was received in his native county and in Clay County, Neb., whither he moved with his parents, and there be continued to make his home until his eighteenthi year, at which time he began learning the brick-mason's trade and that of a plasterer, also becoming familiar with cement work, in Denver, Colo., to which place he went during its " boom." He followed his trade all over the West and after a time arrived in Hastings, Neb., where he began contracting as a plasterer and brick-mason, during which time he made both money and a good reputation. For the past six years be has been a resident of Indianapolis and at once began doing con- fract work, in the fulfillment of which he won such hearty approval for the meritorious character of his work that he lias since had all the business he could properly attend to. He did the work on the Eaglefield Planing Mill, some fine residence work on Meridian Street, the work on the Van Camp Packing Company's building, the school-house on Ben Davis Street, and many other pieces of excellent work. Like so many of the prosperous business men of the day he started in life with nothing but a good constitution and a thorough knowledge of his trade, and these, combined with energy, perseverance and a wise and pru- dent economy, have placed him ou a sound financial footing. On November 17, 1888, he led to the hymeneal altar Miss Katie Schleicher, of Indianapolis, but a native of Lawrenceburg, and their union has resulted in the birth of one son. Mr. Weyenberg is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and politically is a Democrat.
GERHARD ITTENBACH. Since the tide of immigration first set toward America perhaps no class of people who have found homes upon hier shores has done more to build up her interests or contribute more to her commercial importance and national prosperity than the sturdy, honest hearted and industrious Germans, who have come here to enjoy the freedom of thought and independence of action denied them in the Fatherland, and no class in Indianapolis is more indebted for the present proud position and future promise than to that of which the subject of our sketch is a worthy and honored representative. Gerhard Ittenbach was born in Prussia, Germany, March 28, 1828, and was educated in the schools there. He learned the stone cutter's trade in that country, but love of adventure and a desire to try his fortune in the new world induced him to leave home and friends and in 1848 he landed in New York City with about $12 in his pocket. Meeting a friend in that city who was without, means our subject paid his fare to Philadelphia and went to that city him- self Two days later he went to Cinncinnati, and not being able to get work at his trade, he worked at any honorable employment he could find for about three months. From there be went to Wheeling, W. Va., where he secured work at his trade on the suspension bridge and worked there three months. The river getting low he returned to Cincinnati and obtained work on the House of Correction, then building, and remained there until the spring of 1849. From there he went to Madison, Ind., where he worked on the new jail and made his home there two years. In 1851 he went to Indianapolis to put up the steps for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, but after finishing that work he returned to Madison, where he remained for a month. Again he returned to Indianapolis and worked on the Bates House,
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the Blind Asylum and the old Masonic Hall. From there he went to Madison again, but find- ing no work there he went to Cincinnati, where he had employment for six weeks. About that time his old employer, James Muerson, of Indianapolis, came to Cincinnati and pre- vailed upon him to return to Indianapolis. He worked for Mr. Muerson until 1860, after which he bought him out and formed a partnership with his brother, Frank Ittenbach, and J. C. Schmid, the firm being. known as Schmid, Ittenbach & Co., cut stone contractors, with stone yard on South Delaware Street. After a two years' business of sawing stone by hand, and, owing to increase of business, they moved their yard to the corner of Pennsylvania Street and Madison Avenue in 1862, where they put in horse power for sawing stone. The following year they bought their engine, and after using it three years with success and increase of business, and with the idea of still further increasing their splendid business, they bought the present location in 1866 and put up a new six-gang mill, and engine, boilers, rubbing bed, derrick and railroad switch.
After a successful business of seventeen years this firm dissolved partnership, Mr. J. C. Schmid retiring, and Gerhard and Frank Itten- bach assuming control. They continued together under the name of G. Ittenbach & Co. until 1886, when the brother, Frank, died. After that Gerhard Ittenbach assumed sole con- trol and carried on the business under the same name, G. Ittenbach & Co. Since then, from time to time, he has added the latest and most improved stone working machinery, until to day it is the most complete stone yard in the State. Not only is it known in Indi- ana but all through the United States, and Mr. Ittenbach may well feel proud of a business that has been the result of much hard work on his part. Satisfied that he had done his share of toiling and labor, he retired from this gigantic business enterprise in 1893, his three sons, John, Frank and Gerhard, carrying on the business under the same title. Ow- ing to his ill health of late years he has traveled a great deal through the United States and Europe. Mr. Ittenbach is a man of sterling integrity and solid social qualities, a devoted husband and a kind father, and a citizen who enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has put up nearly all the stone work in the city of Indianapolis, notably Fletcher's Bank, Vance Block, Martindale Block, Clifford's Block, Eastman, Schleicher & Lee Block, Commercial Club Building, the Public Library, the new jail, the Ingall's Block, Roberts Park Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and numerous other churches in other parts of the city, as well as St. Mary's Church near Terre Haute, Ind. He has also erected some elegant private residences, including Judge E. B. Martindale's, Harvey Bates', John W. Schmidt's two buildings in Indianapolis, besides the First National Bank and De Pauw University at Greencastle, Ind., as well as the First National Bank and jail at Connorsville, and the Wolf & Wilson Bank Building at Marion, Ind. In his political principles Mr. Itten- bach is a Democrat, but never sought office. Once when nominated for councilman he positively declined. He holds membership in the Roman Catholic Church, and takes a deep interest in its work. He was married in Indianapolis in 1853 to Miss Frances Schumacher, a native of Germany, where her father, Michael Schumacher, was also born. The latter passed his entire life in his native country, but the daughter, Frances, came to America about five years after our subject, whom she had known there. To this marriage were born six children, as follows: Mary, wife of Jacob Dux, of Indianapolis; Josephine, wife of George Wilf, who is now (1893) township assessor; Frank; Gerhard L., John, and Frances, who is the wife of Joseph Bauer, who is deputy sheriff of Indianapolis. All the children are married, the sons as follows: Frank married Miss Bertha Monninger, Gerhard married Miss Lena Rickenbach, and John married Miss Mary Siersdorfer. The father of these chil- dren has twenty grandchildren. His father, Gotfried Ittenbach, spent his entire life in the old country. He was a soldier in the French War, and died in 1841. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Fleichsman. They were the parents of six children, five of whom grew to mature years, but only two survive at the present time, Gertrude, wife of Jacob Nickoli, and our subject, who was the youngest of the children. The mother died in 1858.
JAMES HYLAND, contractor with premises at 882 North Mississippi Street, was born in Ireland December 12, 1834, and there received a common-school education. He also par- tially learned the mason trade. In 1850 he came to the United States and located in New York city where he learned the details of his trade. On November 17, 1853, he went to
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Amherstburg, Canada, to cut stone for the Sault Ste. Marie Canal Company, and after a short stay there he went to Marblehead, Ohio, to work for the same company. In April, 1854, he left there for Chicago, where he worked at brick-laying for some time, and then went to St. Louis, thence to New Orleans, from there to Vicksburg, then to Jackson, Miss., then Mem- phis, Tenn., and from there to Louisville, Ky., where he worked until July, 1855. After that he went to Nazareth, Nelson County, Ky., where he built an addition to the academy under the superintendence of William Keely, architect. In February, 1856, he came to Indianapolis and began working with his brother Michael. Business being dull he went to work for Robert Taylor, George Durham, and then for Robert Tarkington. In 1857 he built the Protestant Episcopal Church in partnership with his brother, and in 1859 he worked as foreman for Contractor Costigan during the building of the United States postoffice. In 1860 he and his brother worked on a residence for Henry Probases at Clifton (a suburb of Cincinnati), also built the pastor's residence and a sister's school at St. Vincents, Shelby County, Ind., in 1861, and since then he has built St. John's Church and school-house, St. Patrick's Church and brother's Residence, St. Mary's School-house, Academy of Music, Sec- ond Ward School-house, First Baptist Church, Second Presbyterian Church, Meridian, Methodist Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, church at Franklin, Ind., church at Greenwood, Ind., church at St. Vincent, Ind., and church at Washington, Ind. He also built the Cham- ber of Commerce, Cleveland Block, Kingan & Company Packing House, St. Charles Block, the Ryan Block, etc. Mr. Hyland's two sons are associated with him in business. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange. In religion he is a Catholic.
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