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 85
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WOODS P. CANFIELD. One of the reliable business men of Haughville, Ind., is Woods P. Canfield, who was born in Morristown, N. J., August 15, 1847, of which State his father, Isaac Canfield, was also a native. The latter was one of the owners of the old Speedwell Iron Works, at Morristown, and was a well known and prominent Democrat of the northern portion of that State. The manufacturing business with which he was connected was very extensive and goods was shipped all over the world, and wherever used became popular, their trade being exceptionally extensive in Cuba. After retiring from the active duties of life Mr. Canfield removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he spent the last few years of his life in comfort. He was married to Mary E. Poineer, a native of Newark, but reared in Morris- town, who died at the early age of thirty-six years, leaving a family of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. He was reared in his native town and received a liberal education at Newark and New Canaan, Conn., where he was prepared for Princeton College. When seventeen years old he left school to learn the trade of a machinist at Newark, after which he entered and remained in his father's manufactory for several years. In December, 1872, he came to Indianapolis to accept a position with B. F. Haugh & Co. and six months later he was placed in charge of the machine department of the works. Nearly all the machine iron which went into the construction of the Marion County Court house was manufactured under the supervision of Mr. Canfield. During the winter of 1875-6 the works were removed to Haughville and at this time he became identified with the history of that place, at which time it consisted only of a few houses. Mr. Canfield remained in the employ of B. F. Haugh & Co. until January, 1886, when he was appointed postmaster of Haughville under President Cleveland, and served in this capacity until the spring of 1889, resigning his position just prior to the inauguration of President Harrison. He has been one of the prominent and influential workers of the Democratic party of Haughville and Wayne Township for years, and for the past three years has served as clerk and treas- urer of the town. He was at another time elected to these positions but could not serve on account of holding the post-mastership. He has at various times been a member of the school board and the board of trustees, and on January 1, 1892, was appointed baliff of the County Commissioners Court, a position he still holds. After his retirement from the post- office, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Haughville and at present is the most extensive insurance agent in the place, besides doing considerable business in this line in Indianapolis. He has always identified himself with the best interests of Haughville
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and ranks among its progressive and public-spirited citizens. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the K. of P. and the order of Red Men and in his political views has always been in sympathy with the Democrat party. In November, 1872, Mr. Canfield was married to Miss Sarah Wilkes, a native of Union County, N. J.
JACOB SIEG. Indianapolis' enormous and substantial development has created an active market for the superior grades of brick, and thus has been developed one of the greatest industries here. Other cities receive their brick, as a rule, from a distance. Indianapolis, on the other hand, has several of the finest yards in the State, within or near her boundaries. One of the active, thoroughgoing men engaged in this line of business is Jacob Sieg, who for ten years has been active as a brick manufacturer. He is a man of the soundest judgment and marked executive ability and is specially qualified to guide aright such important interests as these. Mr. Sieg owes his nativity to Ripley County, Ind., born February 25, 1856, and is a son of Godfred and Maggie (Wagner) Sieg, both natives of Germany. Before marriage both came to the United States, and were married in the Buckeye State, where they resided many years. The mother is now deceased, but the father resides in Ripley County, Ind., where he is engaged in farming. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Louisa, single and a resident of Indianapolis; Catherine married Andrew Ramsberger and now resides in this city; Frederick married Miss Susan Biel, and makes his home in Ripley County, Ind .; Maggie, now living in Greensburg, Ind., has been twice married, but both her husbands are deceased (she first married Peter Mack, and after his death, George Clark); Sarah, single, resides in Ripley County, Ind .; Henry, also a resident of Ripley County, is single; Jacob, subject; Sophia, single, and a resident of Ripley County; and John, single and a resident of Ripley County. Our subject, who is expert in all that concerns brick making, gives his undivided attention to this business, and has met with unusual success. He is single.
ROBERT E. WOODS. In this day and age of bustle and activity, very few people stop to consider what we eat and how to select it, but the skillful housewife is very careful in her purchase of groceries and meats, for she knows that on their purity and wholesomeness depend in a great measure the health and happiness of her family. Among the prominent grocerymen of Woodside, Ind., is Robert E. Woods, who carries a fine stock of goods in his line, and who is classed among the wide-awake, thorough-going business men of the county. All his life has been passed in the Hoosier State, his birth occurring in Ohio County, September 27, 1857, and his parents, William and Lyda (Downy) Woods, were natives of Indiana also. Mr. and Mrs. Woods were the parents of six children, as follows: Sylvester, died in infancy; George A., married Miss Nancy Conaway, and now resides in Ohio County, Ind. ; John Wesley, residing in the same county, married Miss Amanda Blue; William D., married Miss Fannie Lukins, and resides in New York city; Orpheus A., mar- ried Miss Ella Cofield and resides in Ohio County, Ind., and Robert E., our subject. The latter was reared in his native county and on his father's farm. When twenty-one years of age he began teaching school and so successful was he in this profession, that he was sub- sequently elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, holding that position one term in Ohio County. Later he attended college but on account of failing eyesight he was obliged to quit his books and take a much needed rest. Following this he was in the United States mail service for thirteen months and then embarked in merchandising which he has continued for the past six years, owning one of the best stores in his section. Indus- trious and enterprising he has made many friends and is highly esteemed in the community. Socially he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Chosen Friends. He is an exemplary citizen and he and his esteemed and worthy wife have a wide circle of friends. He was married in 1880, to Miss Ruth A. Armstrong, daughter of Robert and Rachel (Potter) Armstrong, both natives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are the parents of seven children, as follows: O. L., deceased; John N., single and now living in southern Indiana, Minnie, died in infancy; Walter S., died when nine years of age; Mary B .; married Adolphus W. Hyde, and resided in southern Indiana until her death ; Ruth, Mrs. Woods; and Catherine E., married George F. Simpson, and resides in Marble Hill, Ind. To our subject and wife have been born three children, Frank A., whose birth
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occurred in August, 1881; William D., born February 5, 1883, and Charles Edward, born May 26, 1888, all are living.
WILLIAM H. BELLEMORE. The thought which presents itself to the far seeing and con- servative mind when the question is propounded as to what essentials are necessary to a man's success in business is that they are industry, sobriety, economy and honesty, and this history of all well established firms will corroborate this. Among the prominent and success- ful business men of Indianapolis, engaged in that most important branch of industry-cooper- age-Mr. Bellemore holds a conspicuous place, for he has followed that calling all the active years of his life, having learned the trade from his father, who was a practical and skillful workman. He owes his nativity to Lockport, N. Y., where he was born, August 24, 1853, to Michael and Matilda (Blair) Bellemore, who were native Canadians, but were married in Lockport, and there resided until one year after the birth of the subject of this sketch, when they came to Indiana. They are both now dead, having become the parents of three children: William H .; Scott, who was born in 1856, is married to Miss Rhoda Cramer, and is in the employment of the United States Government, having charge of the mail at the Union depot in this city; and Charles L., who was born in 1859, is now engaged in the cooper's trade in this city, and is married to Mary Wilson. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. Wineman, and a comfortable home at 517 South West Street, Indianapolis, is theirs. They have three children: Charles Edward, born in 1859; Jolin M., born in 1880 and Harry F., born in 1882. Mr. Bellemore has been in business for himself for nine years and is now a member of the firm of W. H. Bellemore & Co., which is doing a thriving business at the corner of Morris and West Streets. When running in full force the firm employs fifteen men to make flour barrels alone. Mr. Bellemore is a member of the K. of P., Capitol Lodge, No. 97, of Indianapolis, of which order he has been a member for nine years.
HON. DAVID TURPIE. There is not a name of a living citizen of Indiana, with possibly one or two exceptions, which is more widely or more favorably known than that of the long- time jurist and legislator, Hon. David Turpie, who has been twice elected as United States Senator from this State and is a leading member of the Marion County bar, his experience as a law maker and judge in Indiana and as a legislator at Washington covering a period of nearly forty years, the intervals in which he has not been in public service having been given to the successful practice of his profession. Mr. Turpie was admitted to the bar after due preparation, at Logansport, Ind., in 1849, and at once began a career that early marked him as a man of uncommon ability. In 1854 he was appointed by Gov. Wright, whom he later succeeded in the Senate, as judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and two years later he became judge of the Circuit Court. He resigned both of these offices, however. Mean- time in 1853, he was a member of the Indiana Legislature, and in 1858 was again elected to that office. He was first elected United States senator in 1863, for the unexpired term of Hon. Jesse D. Bright and immediately succeeding Hon. Joseph A. Wright, who served by
appointment of the governor. In 1874-75 he was again in the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Indiana and was honored with the speakership of that body and was the last to preside as such in the old State House. In 1878, when a commission of three was appointed to revise the laws of Indiana, he was appointed as one of its members and served in that capacity during the succeeding three years. He was appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland, in August, 1886, United States District Attorney for the State of Indiana and filled that office most ably and acceptably until March 3, 1887, when he resigned, having on February 2 previous, been elected Unites States senator, and on the following day he again took up the honors and responsibilities of that exalted position. The career of Judge Tur- pie has been a most successful and most useful one. The laws of the State will ever bear the impress of his labor and his genius. He was an ideal speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives of Indiana. As a United States senator his course was one of dignity, integrity and devotion to his State and country and he served on such important committees as the committee on pensions, the committee on privileges and elections, the committee on trans- portation to the seaboard, etc. As a delegate-at-large to the national Democratic conven- tion at St. Louis, in 1888, he was wise and efficient in the counsels of his party. As a polit- ical organizer he has few superiors. As a public speaker he is forcible, convincing and pleasing. There are few statesmen in Indiana, who through a period equally long have met
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with such hearty and unswerving approval on the part of their constituents. In politics he is a Democrat because he believes that a prevalence of the practical results of Democratic doctrine will benefit the country. In his private life and in his intercourse with his fellow men he is thoroughly and consistently democratic, because he is in and through everything most thoroughly American, most truly democratic from the very instincts of his being.
W. H. H. MILLER. William Henry Harrison Miller, ex-Attorney General of the United States, was born at Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., September 6, 1840, of English and Scotch ancestry. His father was a farmer, and he grew up accustomed to the every day work of a farmer boy, attending the district schools, and later the seminary at Whitestown, where he prepared for Hamilton College, which graduated him in 1861. He taught school at Maumee City, Ohio, and he was thus employed until May, 1862, when he enlisted for the three months' service in the Eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry. He was mustered out with his regiment in September following, and immediately began to study law in the office of Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite. Financial demands upon him, however, compelled him to seek som'e remunerative employment, and he accepted the superintendency of the schools of Peru, Ind., and while attending to the duties of that position read law as opportunity offered, so that he was admitted to the bar of Peru in 1865, and began the practice of his profession there, holding meantime the office of county school examiner. Mr. Miller removed to Ft. Wayne in 1866, and there formed a law partnership with William H. Coombs. Their busi- ness increased so rapidly that a third partner was soon admitted. Mr. Miller practiced often before the Federal Court, and there he attracted the attention and formed the acquaint- ance of Gen. Harrison, who upon the retirement of A. G. Porter from the firm of Porter, Harrison & Hines, invited Mr. Miller to become a member of it. This he did, and as such was engaged in active practice down to the time of his appointment by President Harrison as attorney-general. His choice to this exalted position was most fitting. He was and had
long been one of the leaders at the bar. His integrity was unquestioned, his ability was very marked, his industry was untiring. These facts are acknowledged by all, and President Harrison was in a position to be better aware of them than almost any one else. Mr. Miller had, at that time, been engaged in some of the most important litigations before the Supreme Court of the State, and that of the United States. Mention may be made, by way of illus- tration, of the legal contest concerning the adoption of the amendment to the State consti- tution in 1878, and the lieutenant-governorship contest in 1886. For years, and particu- larly during the campaign of 1888 he had been Gen. Harrison's confidential adviser and chosen friend. As attorney-general Mr. Miller enhanced his professional reputation very greatly by his action in directing the United States marshal to protect Supreme Court Justice Field from a threatened attack by the notorious Judge Terry, of California, who was killed by a deputy United States marshal while attempting said assault, and by his protect- ing said deputy marshal on the high ground that it was, independently of all statutes, the plain duty of the executive to protect the judiciary, arguing on this ground and being sus- tained in the United States Circuit and Supreme Courts. He appeared in numerous impor- tant and very difficult cases, notably the Behring Sea litigation, the contest over the constitu- tional validity of the Mckinley bill, and cases growing out of the Inter- State Tariff bill and the anti-lottery laws. It is doubtful if another attorney-general ever acquitted himself more creditably in office, all things considered, or ever retired from office with a greater measure of the respect of the people, irrespective of party affiliation. At the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Miller returned to Indianapolis, and resumed the practice of law as the head of the firm of Miller, Winter & Elam.
JUDGE ALEXANDER C. AYRES. The philosophy of success in life is an interesting study, and affords a lesson from which others can profit. In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to labor, should be considered, if any young man who has a disposition to become a respectable and useful citizen desires to succeed therein. On November 9, 1846, a boy was born in Franklin County, Ind., who grew up to sturdy manhood, ambitious to excel, and possessing much energy and determi- nation, attributes which are essential to success in any calling. This boy was Judge Alexander C. Ayres, whose father, Hon. Levi Ayres, was a native of New Jersey. The elder Ayres moved to Indiana at an early date and served in the Indiana Legislature. He
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also served several terms as commissioner of Franklin County. His deatlı occurred in December, 1888. The scholastic training of our subject was received in the Northwestern Christian (now Butler) University. from which he graduated in 1868. Subsequently he began the study of law with Hendricks, Hord & Hendricks, at Indianapolis, and also graduated in the law school at Butler University, after he had entered the above mentioned law office. In 1872 Judge Ayres was admitted to the Marion County bar, and in 1873 formed a partnership with B. K. Elliott, the same continuing until Mr. Elliott went on the bench. Later, Judge Ayres formed a partnership with Edgar A. Brown, now (1893) judge of the Circuit Court, and this continued until our subject was elected judge of the Cir- cuit Court. This was in 1884, and he served three years, only about half his time, when he resigned. After this he formed a partnership with C. A. Brown and L. N. Harvey. Mr. Brown went on the bench in 1890, and this dissolved the partnership, our subject practicing alone until January, 1892, when the present partnership, Ayres & Jones, was formed. Judge Ayres was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, in 1892, and has ever been active in political affairs, serving as president of the Hendricks Club for some time. He takes pride in assisting all public enterprises and is public spirited, liberal and bigh-minded. His entire career has been upright and honorable and he is in every way worthy of the respect in which he is held.
ALBERT GALL. Among the noted and representative men of the flourishing city of Indianapolis, Ind., stands the name of Albert Gall, whose high reputation and material prosperity came as the rewards of unusual natural abilities, industriously applied. He is a man who has maintained a high character for integrity and fidelity to the trust bestowed npon him, whether of a public or a private nature, and it is acknowledged by all that he is one of the most efficient and popular State treasurers. He owes his nativity to Wisconsin, born in Green Bay, November 23, 1842, and came to Indianapolis with his parents in 1847. As he was but five years of age at that time, as a natural consequence most of his recollec- tions are of this State. He attended the public schools of Indianapolis until 1853, when his father, Alvis Gall, was appointed Consul to Antwerp, and our subject finished his education in that city. There he remained until 1859, when he returned to Indianapolis and entered the dry goods store of A. G. Williard. Shortly afterward he went to California and located in San Francisco, where he remained four years. Returning to Indianapolis he entered the employ of G. & T. Krauss, dealers in wall paper, carpets, etc., and was in their employ for three months. Mr. G. Krauss then retiring the father of our subject bought his interest and the firm was then known as Krauss & Gall, continuing as such for three years. After this it was changed to Gall & Rush and three years later became Albert Gall, under which title it has since remained. Mr. Gall was elected State treasurer in 1890 and so creditably and satisfactorily did he discharge the duties of this important position, that he was re-elected in 1892. He is an ardent Democrat in politics and has ever been interested in the welfare of his party. Socially he is a member of the Elks, Mystic Shrine, Scottish Rite and is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the governors of the Indianapolis Board of Trade; is a member of the Commercial Club, German-American Club, honorary member of Cleveland Club, Society, Sons of Veterans and Loyal Legion. Mr. Gall was married in 1864 to Miss Louisa Ruschhaupt, a native of Indianapolis. In our sub- ject the community has a faithful and unswerving friend, ever alert to serve its best interests, and generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advance- ment. His father was born in Weil-de-Stadt, Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America in 1840. His home was principally in Indianapolis where he practiced medicine until his death in 1867. He was surgeon of the Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers during a portion of the war and was connected with the medical service the remainder of the time. During Presi- dent Pierce's administration he was appointed Consul to Antwerp, and served through that administration and two years of President Buchanan's term. He was a man of intelligence and sound understanding.
HON. JOHN C. NEW, known prominently over the State through his connection with the daily and weekly Journal of Indianapolis, the present United States Consul to London, England, and the Government's ex-treasurer, was born July 6, 1831, at Vernon, Jennings County, this State, being the son of John B. and Maria (Chalfant) New. Graduating at 30
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the age of twenty years from Bethany College (Virginia), he began the study of law at Indianapolis. was admitted to the bar in 1852, and four years later was appointed circuit court clerk of Marion County to fill out the unexpired term caused by the death of the incumbent. Upon the expiration of the term he accepted the Republican nomination for the office, and although confronted by a Democratic majority, was elected by a decisive majority. Under the appointment of Gov. Morton, he became quartermaster general of the State during the Civil War, and consequently the governor's financial secretary- a very responsible posi- tion because of the enormous amount pledged by Gov. Morton for the prosecution of the war and for which a disloyal legislature made no provision. In 1862 he was nominated and elected State senator from the Indianapolis district, and in 1865 became an official of the First National Bank of the city, and as such continued ten years. The year 1875, unsolicited on his part, witnessed his appointment to the responsible position of treasurer of the United States by President Grant. A year later he resigned his office. Having purchased the Journal of Indianapolis in 1880, he gave it his personal attention for years and caused it to be recognized as one of the foremost Republican State newspapers in the land. In 1880 he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, displaying superior ability in his management of State affairs. Under President Harrison's appointment he acceptably filled the consulship of the United States to the city of London. Mr. New has been twice mar- ried, and is blessed with a fine family.
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