USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Sketches of prominent citizens of 1876 : with a few of the pioneers of the city and county who have passed away > Part 29
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Mr. Thompson resigned the city editorship of the News the past spring to accept the office of Union Depot mail agent.
JONATHAN ELLIOTT.
Mr. Elliott is a native of Wayne county, Indiana; born on the 13th of February, 1826, and there received but a limited education. The early part of his life was spent on a farm. Subsequently he learned the tanning business, and followed it for ten successive years. Still later he engaged in the dry goods business, and followed it six years. He then was elected justice of the peace, and served as such two years.
On the 16th of October, 1845, he was married to Miss Mary A. Hatfield. On the Ist of October, 1862, he came to Indianapolis, and engaged in the flour and feed business, and continued until the spring of 1864, at which time he volunteered, and was in the army a short time. In December of the same year he was appointed deputy sheriff of Marion county by Colonel Robinson; two years later to the same position by Colonel G. W. Parker, and served four years-making six years in that office. In January, 1871, was elected manager of the In- dianapolis clearing house. On the Ist of February made the first clear- ance ; since which time the clearances have been made under his im- mediate supervision, passing and handling hundreds of millions of dol- lars safely and satisfactorily to those immediately interested.
The position now held by Mr. Elliott is one of the most responsible in the city. The fact that he has done the business over five years without loss to the banks or censure to himself, is the best eulogy that can be paid him as a man of integrity and business capacity. Mr. Elliott seems to think that man's true wealth hereafter is the good he does while on earth; he cheerfully responds to the calls of those less favored than himself.
He is a plain, unassuming man, polite and attentive to those with whom he has intercourse, either in a social or business point of view. Such is Jonathan Elliott, the first manager of the first clearance house established in Indiana.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
HON. JUSTUS C. ADAMS.
Justus C. Adams is the oldest son of the late Samuel C. Adams, and was born in Philadelphia, November 23, 1841, consequently is now thirty-six years of age. When eight years of age his parents moved to Poughkeepsie, New York, where they resided until 1856. His father being a sufferer by the panic then upon the country, concluded to move west, as thousands have before and since, where in a new country they could begin life anew. So, gathering up what of means he had left, the elder Adams located in Muscatine, Iowa, in the neighborhood of which were large settlements of Friends, of which society Mr. Adams' parents were members.
Justus, being a delicate boy of fifteen, went to work in his father's brick-yard, working in the yard in summer and hauling wood across the Mississippi river in winter. Thus he was engaged for the ensuing seven years. It was during those years of hard labor and outdoor exercise that he laid the foundation for his strong constitution and vigorous, healthy physique.
In 1862, the elder Adams being a representative to the Friends' yearly meeting, held at Richmond in this State, passed through Indi- anapolis, then beginning to show some signs of her since incomparable growth, and decided to move here and engage in his business of manu- facturing bricks, which he did in March, 1863, Justus remaining in Iowa, to settle up their business, until October of the same year, when he bid adieu to the friends and surroundings of his youth and followed his parents to this city.
Upon arriving here he engaged in business with his father on the grounds of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Lafayette railroad, east of Dillon street, the place where their yards were located being now entirely built up. In January, 1867, Mr. Adams married Samantha S., youngest daughter of E. Bliss, Esq. Feeling strength in the married tie, he con- cluded to go into business on his own account, and, purchasing nine acres of ground immediately east of Woodruff place, he commenced business, where he remained five years, when, using the clay off the same, he sold it and bought twenty acres of ground on Legrand avenue, southeast of the city, and proceeded to erect a model yard, which is acknowledged to be the most convenient and best adapted for manu- facturing brick in the west:
Mr. Adams has furnished brick for most of the public works erected during the last five years-among them the new Marion county court
313
PETER R. PERINE.
house, the female prison and the extension of the postoffice, and is pro- bably to-day the largest manufacturer of brick in the State of Indiana.
Mr. A. was elected to the city council in May, 1873, from the sec- ond ward, which at that time embraced the territory now in the second and tenth wards. Having no opposition he received nearly 1, 300 votes, being the largest vote ever received by a councilman in this city.
Mr. Adams is of fine physical appearance-probably above medium height. His hair is brown, and his whiskers, if he wore any, would be of a light color. His features are pleasant, although of that square cast which betokens determination and resolution of purpose. We should judge that he was naturally of a pleasant and contented disposition, but when once aroused to anger we should not care to be in his way. He was an excellent councilman, and seldom out of his seat. In debate he is quite ready, and speaks with force and logic, and with that power that comes from an earnestness of purpose. His words generally carry weight with them. He is a Republican, but not sufficiently party bound as to vote against the Democracy when he believes what they advocate to be right and for the best interests of the city.
We look upon Justus C. Adams, or "Jesse," as he is called for short, as among the very best of our Fathers-reflecting credit upon his constituency and honor to the city.
During the present year he was nominated by the Republican party, and elected one of four representatives in the Legislature from Marion county.
PETER R. PERINE
Was born in Dearborn county on the 6th of February, 1817, and there received a fair English education. His parents were from New York city, and settled in Indiana before the territory was admitted into the Union, early in 1816.
Mr. Perine removed to Indianapolis on the 14th of May, 1857, and immediately engaged in the coal and lime business at No. 24 West Maryland street, and continued in business there for about ten years. He then sold out to Messrs. Falkner & Connely. For the past eight years he has been engaged as deputy city assessor under W. S. Hadley.
He has never lived out of, or claimed residence anywhere else than in Indiana. He now resides in that beautiful and fashionable part of the city, No. 811 North Meridian street.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
EDWIN J. PECK.
Edwin J. Peck was born near New Haven, Connecticut, on the 16th of October, 1806, and there remained until he came to this place. It is not true, as was stated at the time of his death, that he had intended going further west. He was employed by Itheal Town, the contractor, to superintend the masonry of the State House, and for that purpose brought his apprentice boy with him, intending to return to his native State so soon as his work was completed, which was in the fall of 1836. But he became so much attached to the west and western manners that he concluded to make it his home. When he first came to this place it was the custom for the merchants to contract for the building of houses, paying the mechanic in goods. This wrong to the mechanic Mr. Peck was instrumental in reforming.
He contracted for and built the Branch Bank buildings at Madison, Terre Haute, Lafayette and South Bend. He was a director of the Madison and Indianapolis railroad when its stock advanced to twenty- five per cent. premium. He was prominent in getting up the Indiana- polis and Terre Haute railroad (now Vandalia line), and accompanied. the engineers along the route when it was being surveyed and located. He was its first treasurer, and remained as such for several years, and. then he became president of the company, being a large stockholder. He was connected with the management of the road for twenty years. He was for several years president of the Union Railway company. To him the citizens of Indiaapolis are mostly indebted for the Union Depot, most of the citizens thinking it would be an injury to the city by taking the traveler through without stopping. In this particular especially was his great judgment and foresight manifest.
He was one of the largest contributors for the erection of that beau- tiful temple of worship, the Second Presbyterian church, having become a member of that congregation when it was under the pastorate of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. He was for some time one of the directors of the insane asylum, a responsible but poor paying office.
In 1852, in connection with Messrs. Blake and James M. Ray, he laid out Greenlawn cemetery. He was for several years, and at the time of his death, which occurred the 6th of November, 1876, presi- dent of the Indianapolis gaslight and coke company. He has assisted many persons in starting manufacturing establishments, both in this. and other cities, where his name does not appear before the public. In.
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STOUGHTON A. FLETCHER, SENIOR.
his acts of charity and benevolence he was unostentatious. I know of many through the beneficiaries themselves.
Mr. Peck was of a hopeful and cheerful disposition, but a determined mind, and when he thought he was right nothing could change him from his convictions, and his success in business is sufficient evidence that he generally weighed matters well before he acted.
In his bequests Mr. Peck was liberal to the Wabash College, leav- ing that institution one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars ; to the Second Presbyterian church of this city a large amount ; to the Protes- tant orphan asylum of this city ten thousand dollars, and other bequests to individuals of a smaller amount.
In 1840 he was married to the daughter of the Rev. John Thomp- son, of Crawfordsville, whom he left bountifully supplied with this world's goods.
No man ever lived or died in Indianapolis who did more than Mr. Peck for the advancement of its interest, commercially, morally, or re- ligiously. No man ever lived more beloved, or died more regretted. In all the relations of life he performed its duties well.
STOUGHTON A. FLETCHER, SENIOR.
Mr. Fletcher is one of the citizens that came in the second decade of the settlement of the city. He came here in October, 1831, a young man, unencumbered with wife or any other valuables, but with a ro- bust and healthy constitution, an ambitious disposition, industrious and temperate habits, and a temperament that suited itself to the surround- ing circumstances. Such was Mr. F. when we first made his acquaint- ance.
He did not engage immediately in active business, but made his home with his brother, the late Calvin Fletcher.
In the meantime, June, 1832, a call was made by Governor Noble for three hundred good and trusty riflemen, who were willing to peril their lives, gird on their armor and march against the bloody "Injuns" in defense of the frontier settlements and the defenseless women and children.
Mr. Fletcher, was among the first to volunteer and arm himself with a long-range rifle, a tomahawk, scalping knife, a camp kettle, coffee pot, a wallet of hard tack, and went forth to meet the dusky Black Hawk, in that ever memorable campaign, as one of the "Bloody Three Hun-
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
dred," which lasted just three weeks. None distinguished themselves more, or returned with brighter laurels to the fireside of kindred and friends, than did Mr. Fletcher. This expedition was something like that of the king of France,
" Who with all his men
Marched up the hill, and then down again."
Soon after his return from the Black Hawk war, he engaged in merchandising in connection with the late Henry Bradley, and then with different partners, and alone, and was a successful and popular merchant for several years. Indeed he prospered in everything he undertook, which would lead a person to think that there was some- thing more than luck in success. I hardly know what it is, or what to call it, unless it is "true grit."
He was the first to start as a private banker in the city, and is now, and has been for years, one of the leading bankers of the place. I understand that he, as well as his brother Calvin, rendered material and substantial aid to the government during the rebellion, by advancing funds to pay bounties and encourage enlistments ; indeed more was to be done in this way than by shouldering the musket and enlisting themselves.
Mr. Fletcher owns some of the finest farms in White river valley, and has them worked and conducted in such a way as to make them remunerative to him as well as beneficial to the country, furnishing employment to a large number of laborers, and bread and comfortable homes for their families. Should I say that fifty families received their support from the farms of Mr. Fletcher, I do not think it would be an exaggeration.
That he is entirely free from the envy of others less fortunate than himself, I will not pretend to say, for there are many
" Men that make Envy and crooked malice nourishment, Dare bite the best."
In forty six years of an acquaintance with Mr. Fletcher, I have yet to hear the first person say that he violated any contract with them, either written or verbal, but lived up to it to the letter ; prompt in all his engagements, he expects others to be so with him.
He is a man of warm personal feelings, and if he becomes attached
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STOUGHTON A. FLETCHER, SENIOR.
to a person will go any length to serve or accommodate him. It was but recently a business man of this city told me had it not been for Mr. Fletcher's friendship for him during the war, his family would have been turned out of their home and he a bankrupt.
A prominent business man of the city, that has transacted business with him for several years, says he has often gone to him when in great need of money, but was never charged more than the regular rate of interest ; indeed, if he accommodates a person at all it will be at the regular rates ; he never takes advantage of the necessities of his cus- tomers.
He is a man of considerable vivacity and life, and now, as well as in his younger days, enjoys a joke, many of which we have heard pass between him and his old friend, Peck, when we were all inmates of the same house several years ago.
" Wi' merry songs an' friendly cracks I wat they did not weary, An' unco tales, an' funny jokes Their sports were cheap and cheery."
He is not ostentatious in his display of favors, and as far as he is concerned it is kept within his own bosom. He is a contributor to nearly all the benevolent and charitable institutions, although his name seldom stands conspicuous on the subscription list.
He is also a man of great firmness and decision, and after weighing the matter well in his mind, and coming to a conclusion, he is as im- movable as a mountain, and his conclusions are generally correct, which is one of the great secrets of his unprecedented success in business. He is well gersed in human nature, and it does not take him long to make up his mind in regard to those that circumstances or business brings him in contact with.
I know several young men that owe all they are and have to Mr. Fletcher's aid and liberality, and are now on the high road to wealth, if it has not already been attained. He has done, and is yet doing, a great deal for the country at large with the means God has placed in his hands.
A few years since he purchased his father's old homestead near Lud- low, Vermont, and has remodeled the family residence and there re- sides, although his business is still continued as when he resided here. He visits the city several times a year, and has lost none of his interest in the welfare of its citizens.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
GEORGE D. EMERY.
Prominent among the enterprising business men of Indianapolis will be found George D. Emery, who ranks as one of its best citizens. He is a native of Massachusetts, born in the town of Fall River, on the Ioth of September, 1833. He received his education at Buffalo, New York, and there engaged in business.
In 1858 he came to the west and located at Kendallville, Noble county, and there remained until his removal to this city, on the 17th of April, 1871. Mr. Emery has the largest saw mill in Indiana, where all kinds of walnut as well as hard lumber are manufactured ; he does the largest business in that line in the city. He has been engaged continu- ously in the business since 1850.
His six years residence in Indianapolis I understand has been a financial success, and he enjoys the confidence of the entire business community. On the 2d of June, 1859, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Gowne, of Batavia, New York, who is yet his helpmeet.
HILARY CLAY.
Mr. Clay is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Berks county, on the Ist day of January, 1820. He came to Indianapolis on the Ist of May, 1852, and for several years was engaged in mercantile pursuits.
On the 4th of February, 1857, he was married to Miss Ann Mary Ayres, of Owensboro, Kentucky. He was for some time a deputy clerk of the United States Court. In July, 1853, was elected a receiver of the State sinking fund, and served as such until the fall of 1865, when he was elected secretary of the Indianapolis, Madison and Jeffer- sonville railroad company.
Mr. Clay is now engaged in a general insurance and brokerage bus- iness in connection with D. E. Snyder. In all these positions Mr. Clay performed his duties to the satisfaction of the public and those most immediately interested in them. Mr. Clay is considered a first-class business man and as such has the confidence of the entire community. Although he is on the shady side of fifty he would scarcely be taken for one who had reached the meridian of life. - He is about five feet eight inches in height, a rotund form, dark hair and eyes. His contour throughout is indicative of an active, energetic business man.
321
BARNABAS COFFIN.
THOMAS VICK COOK.
Mr. Cook was born in the great city of London, England, on the 9th of May, 1836; when quite young came to New York city, and there learned the trade of sign painting.
On the 22d of April, 1865, he was married to Susan Cleaveland, and the 26th of the same month came to Indianapolis, and commenced working at his trade. His wife having died, he was married the second time on the 4th of September, 1872.
Mr. Cook is the leading sign painter of the city. He owns and resides in a beautiful suburban residence southeast of the city ; his beautiful Swiss cottage would remind the passer by of some of the beautiful villas at the foot of the Alps. He is a member of the Holy Innocents Episcopal church, and takes a lively interest in anything that pertains to the welfare of that congregation.
During Mr. Cook's twelve years residence in Indianapolis he has made himself many personal friends. His beautiful and tastefully painted advertising wagon may be seen upon our streets daily.
" His eyes make pictures e'en when shut." .
BARNABAS COFFIN.
Among the many prominent citizens of Indianapolis who died during the centennial year was the person whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Mr. Coffin was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the Ist of March, 1809. Was married to Miss Mariam Worth on the 17th of December, 1829. In 1840 he removed to Wayne county, Indiana, and for several years followed the mercantile business at Econ- omy, in the northern part of that county, and also did a large business in pork-packing and farming.
He came to Indianapolis in 1863, and engaged in the pork-packing business on a still more extensive scale, having built one of several of the fine packing establishments of the city, with railroad switch direct to it. Mr. Coffin was from a county in North Carolina that has furnished more good and substantial citizens to Indiana than any other ten coun- ties in the United States.
He belonged to the society of Friends, and was by his brothers and sisters of the church held in high esteem for his many Christian virtues and acts of charity. His widow and several children still reside in the
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
city. One son is an active partner in the wholesale grocery house of Wiles, Coffin & Smith, another attends to the interest of the estate in the pork house. Mr. Coffin died on the 5th of July, 1876, and had been engaged in the pork-packing business for thirty-seven years.
GENERAL ROBERT S. FOSTER.
General Foster was born in Jennings county, Indiana, on the 27th of January, 1834. He received a common English education in the schools of the county and of Vernon. He came to Indianapolis on the 14th of July, 1850, and engaged with his uncle, Andrew Wallace, in the grocery business. On the Ist of May, 1861, he was married to Miss Margaret A. Foust, daughter of the late Daniel P. Foust, who was connected with the business of the Union Depot for several years, beginning when that establishment was first opened.
A few days after Fort Sumpter was fired upon he volunteered as a private and was appointed and commissioned as captain of company A in the I Ith regiment Indiana zouaves. He was soon appointed major and assigned to the 13th Indiana regiment and was subsequently pro- moted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He was promoted to brigadier general on the 12th of June, 1863, and breveted major general on the 5th of June, 1865, for meritorious and gallant conduct on the field. During his term of service he was engaged in Western Virginia, the armies of the Shenandoah, Potomac and James river, in the depart- ment of the South, in South Carolina and Florida, and last with the army operating against Richmond. He was chief of staff of the tenth army corps, also the chief of staff of the twenty-fourth army corps in front of Petersburg. General Foster's last command and service was in the first division of the twenty-fourth army corps, "Army of the James." His last battle was at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, where Lee's army surrendered to the Union army, the twenty-fourth division of the army corps firing the last gun, both with artillery and infantry.
After Lee's surrender General Foster was ordered to Richmond, and subsequently to Washington, from thence he returned to his home, Ind- ianapolis, and entered into the wholesale grocery and commission busi- ness, in which he is still engaged. He has been twice elected city treas- urer, and served as such from 1868 to 1872.
Of the many war records I have written there are but one or two that can show a more active or continuous one perhaps. General Foster is president of the Indianapolis Board of Trade.
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JAMES B. MANN.
JOHNSON H. ROSS
Was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, March 17, 1820. His parents removed to Warren county, Ohio. He remained on the farm until 1844, when he commenced the pork packing and dry goods business in Frank- lin, Warren county, Ohio, accumulating quite a fortune. He invested heavily in pork and by a sudden decline he was left a bankrupt.
He removed to this city in 1849, and in 1852 commenced the mining and sale of Clay county coal. In 1854 Mr. Ross operated the first shaft for the mining of the famous block coal in Clay county, if not in the State of Indiana. He has remained in the coal business up to the pres- ent time ; having added, recently, lumber and building materials in connection with the coal trade.
Mr. Ross was one of the leading members of the company that started the Malleable Iron Works of this city. He has, in the last year, erected on the corner of Market and Circle streets, one of the most im- posing and substantial blocks in the city.
Mr. Ross is considered one of the reliable and substantial business men of this city, and is now doing an extensive trade in both lines of his business.
SAMUEL CANBY.
Mr. Canby came to this county from Boone county, Kentucky, in 1837. He purchased and lived on the fine fruit farm, one and a half miles southeast of the city, long known as the Aldridge farm. After living there about thirty-five years he sold it and moved to the city. A short time after he died, leaving his wife and her sister alone.
During Mr. Canby's residence in this vicinity no man was more re- spected for strict punctuality in all business engagements. He was uni- versally known as an honest man, with no faults and many virtues.
A few years since Mrs. Canby was seriously injured by a fall which will probably disable her for life, but she is fortunate in having in her household her sister, Miss Nancy DePew, who will partially fill the vacuum caused by the death of her husband.
JAMES B. MANN
Is a native of Kentucky, born in Kenton county in the year 1826, and when in his tenth year came to Marion county and resided in Frank- lin township until he had attained an age suitable to be married. He
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