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 76
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AUGUSTUS E. TRIESEY. This gentleman is justly deserving the recognition of being one of the progressive and successful tillers of the soil of Marion County, for in this occupation he has attained a degree of success that can only be accounted for in the fact that to it he has devoted the greater portion of his life. He was born in Marion County, December 25, 1836, and this, no doubt, has had something to do with the great interest he has ever taken in the welfare of his section. His parents, Lawrence Frederick and Caroline (BÅ“senberg) Triesey, were born, reared and married in Germany, but soon after became residents of the United States, and in 1830 of Marion County, Ind., at which time the father was a young man of twenty-nine years. Under the shadow of the "stars and stripes" all their children, three sons and four daughters, were born: Maggie, the eldest, has been married twice, but is now a widow, residing in Indianapolis; Catherine died in 1891, unmarried; Andrew Jacob died while serving his country in the Civil War (he was married to Elizabeth Junkins, who, with his three sons and one daughter, survives him); Frederick William died at the age of twenty-one years; Christina married Henry Miller, and resided in Kansas until her death, which occurred in 1891, having become the mother of eleven children; Caroline, who died in infancy; and Augustus E., who was next to the youngest of the family. The early days of Augustus E. Triesey were spent like the majority of farmers' boys, that is, he assisted on the home farm and received such educa- tion as the schools of his day afforded. April 1, 1867, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Margaret Bosderfer, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Bosderfer. She was born in the old country, but when a young woman came to this country alone, and here met and eventually married Mr. Triesey, the only fruit of which union is a daughter, Minnie, who was born September 15, 1876, and who still makes her home with her father and mother. Mr. Triesey is one of those grand old soldier citizens who was with his country, heart, soul and body, during the tronblons times of the Civil War. On June 12, 1861, he enlisted in the First United States Cavalry, with which he served until 1865, when he was mustered out of the service and returned to his "ain fireside." He was in forty-two battles, prominent among which were Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Cedar Creek, Winchester and others. While in the service he had two horses killed while he was riding them, but himself escaped with a few unimportant scratches, which were not severe enough to keep him from active duty. Since his return from the war his attention has been given to farming, in which he has been reasonably successful, being now possessed of a comfortable competence. He is highly regarded by all who know him, and has numer- ous friends.
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WILLIAM SIEGMUND. In the rich agricultural region of Marion County, Ind., William Siegmund has found an excellent opportunity to display his ability as a tiller of the soil, and in this branch of human endeavor he has been prosperous. He owes his nativity to Clermont County, Ohio, where he was born August 17, 1827, but in 1831 was brought by his parents, James and Elizabeth (Groves) Siegmund, to Marion County, Ind., and in this section has made his home ever since. James Siegmund lived with his parents in his native State of Pennsylvania until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Ohio, and there met and married Miss Groves and in 1831 came with her and his son, William, who was at that time four years of age, to Indiana. ' Their union eventually resulted in the birth of five sons and three daughters, four members of which are still living. The names of these children are as follows: Jacob, David, John, James, Esther, Susan and Levina, William being the eldest of the family, and with Esther, Susan and John, the survivors. They all reside in Marion County with the exception of John, who lives in Missouri, and all are married. Since 1831 William Siegmund has been a resident of this county and has been actively and successfully engaged in farming, an occupation for which he seems to have a decided aptitude. He has also manifested great interest in the public affairs of the county and has ever had the welfare and progress of his section warmly at heart, and so far as his means permitted and his influence extended, he has used them in behalf of his adopted county. August 7, 1851, he was married to Miss Jane Herron, a daughter of John and Sarah (Gorbet) Herron, who were married in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1831, Mrs. Siegmund being their first-born. John Herron was a Kentuckian by birth, while his wife was a native of New Jersey. They met in Ohio and were there married and at once came to Indiana, where their daughter Jane was born. To William and Jane Siegmund six children have been given, all of whom are married and settled in life with the exception of the youngest child, Ada. The others are: Eliza, Celestine, Albert, Ella, and Lory. Mr. Siegmund is a man of fine physique, is possessed of great physical endurance, and is one of the most industrious, thrifty and enterprising of men, and the wonderful development of the county's resources has been in a great measure due to his and like efforts.
LEW ROBINSON. There are few men in business circles who show as much fitness for their vocation, in that they are wide-awake, experienced, reliable and energetic, as Lew Robinson, and there are none who have a more thorough knowledge of the business of con- tracting and painting than he. He is a product of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he first saw the light of day February 15, 1851, his father being John Robinson, a native of Pennsylvania. The latter was a farmer and stockraiser of considerable note and was an extensive dealer in blooded horses, at Cumminsville, Ohio, now in the twenty-fifth ward of the city of Cincinnati. He was a shrewd and keen business man, was successful in his vent- ures, and in 1861, at the age of fifty-two years, his career was closed by death. His widow still survives him. Lew Robinson was the eldest of four children and was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati and in Farmer's College, at College Hill, Ohio, which is now a widely and favorably known military school. He finished his education at the age of eighteen years, after which he began learning the trade of a painter in Cincinnati and there remained until he attained the age of twenty-one years, when he came to Indianapolis and engaged in contracting. His business has rapidly and steadily increased and has become so extensive that he is compelled to employ a very large force of workmen, but he uses care in their selec- tion and none but those who are first-class painters are employed. He has filled some very extensive contracts and has just completed the Government work, the post-office, and has done a great deal of school-house painting. He has taken a great deal of interest in the political affairs of his day and has always been an active and influential worker for the success of the Democratic party, but has himself never aspired to official position. He was married in this city in June, 1887, to Miss Minnie Hall. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Master Painters Association. He is also interested in the sand and gravel business and is the owner of several very extensive and valuable bars on Fall Creek. This interest is even more exten- sive than that of his painting business and he deals extensively with street contractors, who use his product for the improvement of the streets.
ERNEST F. KOTTLOWSKI. The average citizen, interested as he may be in the progress of the city in which his interests lie, pursues the even tenor of his way with little thought of
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the wonderful improvements that are going on about him in the methods of constructing the many magnificent buildings so necessary to the growth of a metropolis, or to the men in whose brain the plans for these immense projects originate. Among the many men who bare erected the thousands of business buildings of Indianapolis may be mentioned Ernest F. Kottlowski, who is a notable carpenter and builder, and well known to contractors all over the city. He was born in Germany on April 26, 1863, a son of Ernest Kottlowski, also a native of that country, who was a druggist in that department of the German Govern- ment prior to his removal to the United States in 1879. Upon his arrival in this country he settled in Indianapolis, and here met a sudden death in 1891, at the age of sixty-one years. by being run over by a Big Four passenger train. In the public schools of his native land Ernest F. Kottlowski received his education, after which he served a two and a half years' apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade, during which time he acquired an excellent knowledge of the same. Upon coming to the United States with his father he turned his attention to his trade, first in St. Louis, but afterward pursued this calling in many other cities, among which may be mentioned Litchfield, Ill .; Louisville, Ky .: Danville, Ill., and Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1SS2 be came to Indianapolis, and has devoted the most of his atten- tion to his trade up to the present time, principally as a contractor. He has done some very extensive and important work since coming here, among which may be mentioned the resi- dence of Thomas T. Thompson, John R. Pearson, George W. Dickson and others. He also . built the Capital City Cloth Casket Company's building, and numerous others of note. He was married to Miss Anna Plath, a native of Germany, and they have long been earnest members of the German Lutheran Church, and in this faith are rearing the four sons that have been given them. He and his wife are highly esteemed by all who know them, and have made many friends since locating in Indianapolis. He is a member of the Builders and Traders Exchange, and the Contractors Association.
IRA C. WEBB. The calling of the contracting painter has become one of great impor- tance for no matter how handsome a building may be architecturally, the judicious and artistic application of paint will add to its beauty ten-fold, while the improvement it makes in an old and dilapidated building can hardly be estimated and cannot be too highly com- mended. Nor is this all; its preserving properties are great, and a building, when painted in proper manner, will last many years longer than it would do were it unpainted. In Ira C. Webb are combined all the qualities which go to make a successful painter and decorator for he has a keen eye for the beautiful, artistic and harmonious, does his work thoroughly and lives up to the letter of his contract. He is one of the pioneers of his line in the city for although he was born in Genesee County, N. Y., December 1, 1832, he has been a resi- dent of Indianapolis since about the close of the war and has ever since been one of ber pub- lic-spirited citizens. In his veins flow some of the best blood of which this country can boast for he comes of a good old New England family, the early members of which were soldiers of the Revolution, bis paternal grandfather. Charles Webb. baving won the title of colonel in that war. His father. Ira C. Webb, was born in West Brownfield, N. Y., and throughout his long life of seventy-two years, he was a practicing physician and a successful one. He was a soldier of the War of 1$12. and died in 1862, in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., which at the time of his location was inhabited principally by the British and Indians. He was a Democrat throughout life. He was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Laura Hurd, a native of New York State, who on January S. 1889, quietly breathed her last at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. Of seven children born to this worthy couple four are liv- ing at the present time, of whom Ira C. is one. His early education was obtained in the country schools of his native State and although limited to the ordinary branches of learning was of a practical and useful kind. He remained in the State of his birth until he attained his twenty-seventh year, having served an apprenticeship at the painter's trade in LeRoy, N. Y., and later worked at it in Rochester, Buffalo and many other cities, and in 1859 came west, in anticipation of the advice of Horace Greeley, and for some time was a resident of Hendricks County, Ind. In the month of August, 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Infantry, but was in the service only a short time. Since that time his attention has been given to contracting, being four years associated with Charles Pierce, who is one of the most extensive builders of court-houses and public buildings in the United States, acting for him
AND MARION COUNTY, INDIANA. 417
in the capacity of superintendent and paymaster during this time in numerous populons cities. Since he has been engaged in contracting for himself he has been called to various cities throughout the country among which may be mentioned Frankfort, Louisville, Ky., and Vincennes, Ind., and numerous others. He has filled many heavy contracts in Indi- anapolis and has always conducted his operations to a successful and satisfactory termina- tion. Starting in life for himself his capital was his energy and determination, and by a proper use of this capital he has prospered financially and his reputation in his line is of the very highest. Official positions have never had any attractions for him for his business has occupied all his attention, but he is none the less a stanch Democrat. He was married in July, 1862, to Miss Lorinda Shirley, of Hendricks County, Ind., by whom he has one son, Albert, who is a painter of Brownsburg, this State. In July, 1869, he married Miss Ella Shinners of this city, by whom he became the father of eight children, one of whom is deceased. Mr. Webb is a member of Raper Commandery, Knight Templar Mason, the I. O. R. M., K. of P., and the Uniformed Rank of Druids.
WILLIAM R. TALL. One of the most important branches of house building is the plastering, and it requires both skill and experience to become proficient in this art. He was born in Dorchester County, Md., March 14, 1836, the fifth son of William R. and Margaret (Phillips) Tall, also natives of that State. The Tall family first became known in this country in 1620, and the land on which the founder settled, in Maryland, remained in possession of the Tall family until the death of William R. Tall, the father of the subject of this sketch. Several members of the family participated in the early wars in which this country was involved at different times. They were also prominent in the political affairs of their day, especially the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Young Littleton Tall, who was also very extensively engaged in merchandising, and was quite an extensive builder of ocean vessels for the carriage of grain. He died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving two children, the father of the subject of this sketch being one and his sister the other. The father died in October, 1870, at the age of sixty-four years, having been a farmer throughout life. Politically he was a Whig, and for a period of thirty-five years held some office or other. The mother died when the subject of this sketch was a small child, from exposure caused by rescuing him from a well into which he had fallen. He was the youngest of nine children, and received his education in the schools in the neighbor- hood of his home. At the age of seventeen years he commenced to learn the trade of a plasterer in the city of Baltimore, Md., and served an apprenticeship of four years, working the entire time for $3 per week and boarding himself. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Dorchester County, where he remained one year, then went to Doniphan, eastern Kansas, and very shortly afterward to St. Joseph, Mo., where he worked as a contractor for three years. In 1859 he left that city and went to New Orleans, where he remained during the winter of 1859-60, then returned to his native county in Maryland, and was there at the opening of the Civil War. In the month of July, 1861, he assisted in raising Company C, of the First Regiment of Maryland Volunteers, and was in the service three years with the rank of first lieutenant. The company was made up in one neighborhood and all its mem- bers were acquaintances. It was in the battle of Gettysburg during the third day's fight, and guarded the river on the peninsula in lower Maryland. Mr. Tall was neither wounded nor taken prisoner during the war, and after the termination of hostilities he went to Rich- mond, Va., where he conducted a mercantile establishment. At the end of five years he moved back to Baltimore, Md., where he remained one winter, engaged in mercantile operations. He then turned his face westward, and although he had no particular objective point, he liked the appearance of Indianapolis and accordingly located here, and followed his trade as a contractor of plastering. In 1876 Mr. Tall cast his vote for Samuel J. Tilden, for the Presidency, and has ever since been a member of the Democrat party. November 13, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Vaughn Smith, of Maryland, by whom he became the father of nine children, four of whom, three sons and one daughter, are living.
STEPHEN A. SHILLING. This well-known plastering contractor was born in Ashford, England, forty-eight years ago, his father being Abraham Shilling, who was also a native of Ashford, and who was a highly educated Episcopalian minister. Soon after his arrival in the
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United States he died at Pottsville, Penn., having followed the calling of a minister all his life. His wife came to this country with him and survived him until 1891, at which time she was called from life in Kansas at the age of eighty-four years. After the death of her husband she removed with her family to Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio, and there the the subject of this sketch received his education. On April 17, 186], he left home and en- listed in the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry in the three months' service at President Lincoln's first call for troops, and after his term of enlistment had expired he joined the Second West Vir- ginia Cavalry for three years, under Gen. G. A. Custer. He was in the engagements in the valley of the Shenandoah, was at Bull Run, Gettysburg, Lynchburg, Five Forks, Peters- burg, and was on the charge when Gen. Lee surrendered. He was never wounded but slightly, and the two times that he was captured he both times managed to make his escape, and finally received his discharge at Wheeling, West Va., July 4, 1865. He then became steward on boats plying between Pittsburg and New Orleans, having been on the river from the time he was eleven years of age, as cook. He later became a plasterer of Pomeroy, where he remained until 1871, at which time he went to Ellswortb, Kan., and located on a soldier's claim near Ellenwood. Three years later he removed to Great Bend, Kan., but after the loss of his wife by death he returned to his old home in the East. At the end of one year he returned to Kansas and upon marrying a second time in Indianapolis decided to locate in this city and was engaged in the grocery business for one year. He once more went back to the Sunflower State at the end of that time, and during the one year that he was in that State was engaged in farming and plastering, and followed this occupation for twelve years thereafter in Sidney, Shelby, County, Ohio, whither he had moved. Since that time he has resided in Indianapolis where he has built up an extensive and highly satis- factory business financially. He is painstaking, industrious and strictly honorable, and as a natural consequence his services are in demand. His first wife was Miss Prusia Smith, who left him with a son and daughter, and his present wife was Elizabeth Leonard, by whom he has two sons and two daughters. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the G. A. R., Neill Post, at Sidney, Ohio, and the Builders and Traders Exchange. Politically he is a Republican.
JOSEPH A. DUNLAP. This gentleman is a contractor of twenty-five years' experience in Indianapolis, and as a plasterer has not his superior in the city. He was born in Johnson County, Ind., September 3, 1847, a son of Joseplı A. Dunlap, who was a native of Knox- ville, Tenn., where he made his home until 1831, at which time he came to Indiana and located in Johnson County, where he made his home up to the day of his death, which occurred in 1890 at about the age of eighty-one years. He was successfully engaged in till- ing the soil throughout life and found an able helpmate in his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Jones, and who was born in the State of Virginia. When a child she was brought by her parents to Indiana and was a resident of Johnson County until her demise, which occurred in 1880. They were earnest and faithful members of the Baptist Church, in which the father was for many years a deacon. In the Dunlaps flow Scotch and Irish blood and in all the members of the family the best traits of these people are to be found. Joseph A. Dunlap was one of twelve children born to the marriage of his parents, being the seventh in order of birth, the family consisting of seven daughters and five sons. At the age of sixteen, being ambitious and adventurous, he left home and friends to join the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Company A, and was in the service until Sep- tember, 1864, at which time he returned to Franklin. Ind., and began learning the plasterer's trade. After becoming thoroughly familiar with every detail of this line of work he com- menced contracting and soon after came to Indianapolis, but upon his arrival here turned his attention to the poultry business, an occupation which completely occupied his time and attention for several years. He then once more became a contractor and has followed this occupation with marked success up to the present time. He has all the work that he can properly look after and has filled some very important and extensive contracts in a manner that has won him the universal approval of contractors and builders, and from those who have any knowledge of his business. He is vice-president of the Builders Exchange and has been a director of that institution ever since its organization. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of H., and in the last mentioned order he is past dictator of Victoria Lodge, No. 22.
JOHN M. BUTLER.
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He also belongs to the G. A. R. In the year 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Sloan, of Johnson County, Ind., and to their happy union one son has been given, Charles H., who is a credit to his parents and gives every promise of becoming a useful and intelli- gent citizen.
LOUIS E. HOERGER. It is an indisputable fact that the United States stands alone in the pre-eminence of having an array of citizens, who, without adventitious aid or accident of birth, have attained to wealth and distinction in public affairs. This is the glory of the country, and every man who has it in him can prove himself a man. This suggestion natu- rally suggests itself in looking over the career of Louis E. Hoerger, for only a few years ago he was an employe of others, but is now established in business for himself with every prospect of acquiring a goodly amount of property. He was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1867, a son of Christopher Hoerger, who was born in Germany about sixty-one years ago, and came to the United States when a young man some forty-three or four years ago, and settled in Louisville, Ky. After locating in that city Christopher Hoerger turned his attention to gardening, and followed that calling successfully until coming to Indianapolis in 1875. He located in the north part of the city for a number of years, but in the meantime had pur- chased land at Brightwood, although he never lived on it. At a later period he purchased five acres of land in Haughville, and is now giving his time and attention to gardening, in which calling he may with truth said to be an expert. The most of the property of which he is now the possessor has been acquired by his own hard work and by the shrewd management of his affairs. He was married to Miss C. Eckart, who was born in the old country, and is still living in the enjoyment of good health, having borne her husband six children, of whom the immediate subject of this sketch is the fifth. His education was obtained in the public schools of Indianapolis, and when not pursuing the paths of learning he was assisting his father to cultivate his garden. He always had a natural liking for this business, and in time knew all that his father could teach him about the cultivation of vegetables, but he was also very fond of flowers and plants, and after quitting his father's services he entered the employ of the Ewart Manufacturing Company, with which he remained three years. At the end of that time he had saved sufficient means to enable him to purchase the land on which he is now living, and he immediately thereafter built his green-house and commenced to raise all kinds of flowers, the majority of which he disposes of at the market-house. He is doing well, with every promise of a rapid increase in patronage, and his future prospects are bright. Mr. Hoerger was married in 1890, to Miss Mary Grande, a daughter of August Grande, who is a prominent gardener near Haughville, and their union has resulted in the birth of one son. Mr. Hoerger and his wife, as are also his parents, are members of the Catholic Church, and are law-abiding and public-spirited citizens. The senior Hoerger is secretary of the Gardeners' Association of Indianapolis, and also of the Benevolent Association.
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