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 30
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then selected the daughter of Mr. Purnel Coverdill, a well known and respectable farmer of that neighborhood, and was married. Miss Cover- dill having become a Mann they have not been blessed with any little Manns of their own to be the prop and stay of declining years, but he has raised three orphans and proved himself "a father to the fatherless," and that " Mann's a man for a' that."
Mr. Mann was engaged in the family grocery business on Virginia avenue for several years, and seems to think that a grocer should not be without profits in his own country.
He is a member of the First Baptist church, and a zealous worker in the Sunday-school of the Mission church at the corner of Noble and South streets. There is no person more respected by his neighbors than James B. Mann.
ELDER WILLIAM F. BLACK
Was born in the village of Moorfield, Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 15th of November, 1841. After emigrating to Indiana he was for some time a student at the Asbury University, Greencastle. During his collegiate course he was married, on the Ioth of November, 1860, to Miss E. T. Webster, daughter of the late T. W. Webster, of Ladoga, Indiana.
He was pastor of the Christian church in Terre Haute during the years 1861 and 1862. He was then called by the church at Chicago, where he preached acceptably to the congregation for three years, after which he returned to the university at Greencastle to finish his collegiate course, which he did, graduating in 1868, having commenced in the same college at the age of fourteen. He came to Indianapolis in 1869 as pastor of the Central Christian church. In 1870 he became president of the Northwestern Christian University, which duties he performed for three years, in connection with his pastorial duties. Since he has been pastor of the Central church he has also had charge of five or six missions, which have grown into flourishing churches ; all these duties and labors he has performed in connection with other business. By this great amount of labor he has performed it will at once be seen that Elder Black is by no means slothful, but is of an active and industrious temperament, as he has proved by marrying, as well as other duties. It will be seen that he was a benedict five days before he had reached his twentieth year.
Elder Black is of a cheerful and hopeful disposition; willing to take
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JAMES FRANK.
the world as he finds it and make the most of life. I think if there are any who should enjoy life 'tis the true Christian. Mr. Black is a young man, scarcely in the prime of his mental powers, yet his words fall upon the ears of his hearers as coming from one with a feeling and logical intellect, with which he is greatly gifted. His feelings and thoughts for one so young have become systematized. We consider Elder Black's course as just begun. He aspires to that ascending metamorphosis which in the normal development of our life is not accomplished ; still the light of his life will be like the morning, and one that will shine through the mist. As his years increase his life will brighten more and more.
With a warm, generous heart and popular address 't is very natural that he should be a great favorite both in and outside his own congre- gation. Mr. Black's parents being in only moderate circumstances, he had to carve out his own fortune. He is about five feet nine inches in height, rotund form, would weigh about one hundred and eighty pounds, round, regular features, dark hair and eyes, with a moderately fair com- plexion ; he is what is called by the men fine-looking, by the ladies handsome. "Talent is a cistern, genius a fountain," from which flows in eloquent language the goodness of God and beauties of nature.
JAMES FRANK.
Mr. Frank has been a prominent and successful real estate dealer of Indianapolis for the last twelve years, selling and buying on commis- sion, as well as on his own account. Shakespeare says: " There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." Mr. Frank must have struck this tide when he came to Indianapolis in the year 1858.
He is a native of Germany, born in the city of Worms on the 15th of October, 1837. When but six years of age he came to the United States, and for several years lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and was there educated. After which he taught school for ten years, until he went into the real estate business.
In 1860 he was married to Miss Julia M., second daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine Laux, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Laux were natives of France. They came to Indianapolis about the year 1837.
Mr. Laux for some years carried on the brewery business on Mary- land street, west of the canal. He then purchased ground on the
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corner of Noble and Washington streets, where he erected a brewery, and for several years successfully followed the business.
Mr. and Mrs. Laux have both been dead for several years. He was an energetic and industrious man. She will be remembered by the old citizen ladies as a hospitable and charitable lady, contributing freely for all benevolent purposes. They were among the members of the first Catholic church established in this city. I remember their punctual at- tendance, when the whole congregation would scarcely number one hundred persons. They have other children yet living in the city be- sides Mrs. Frank.
GEORGE W. PICKERILL, M. D.
Dr. Pickerill was born in Cicero, Hamilton county, Indiana, on the 3Ist of August, 1837. His father, Samuel J. Pickerill, was one of the incorporators and proprietors of the town. When the doctor was ten years of age his father removed to Lafayette, Indiana ; here George at- tended school until he was seventeen years old. He was then sent to the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis, where he remained four years and then graduated. He then taught school in his native State and Illinois five years, during which time he was preparing him- self by hard study to attend the medical college. He first attended the Medical University of Michigan; he then commenced the practice in Indianapolis and continued one year. He then attended a course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, and there graduated and returned to Indianapolis in 1866, and has practiced all the time except one year he was engaged in the drug business.
During the last ten years the doctor has corresponded for several medical journals and some literary papers. His articles were well re- ceived by the public. We understand he is about to enter upon the journalistic field as editor and proprietor of a quarterly devoted to the interests of eclectic medicine, and he says "while it will be liberal, there will be no compromise of principle to dogmas; free thought, but no lawless thinking." We predict that if ability and vim can make it it will take rank among the journals of the west.
It was the wish of the doctor's parents that he should prepare him- self for the ministry, but he tells me his mind did not incline that way. Nor has he sought very hard to make a benedict of himself, yet he is open to the fascination of the gentle sex and liable at any time to sur- render to the conqueror Cupid. Dr. Pickerill is a jovial, clever and agreeable man, and has many personal friends wherever he has lived.
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PATRICK H. JAMESON, M. D.
PATRICK H. JAMESON, M. D.
Dr. Jameson was born in Jefferson county. Indiana, on the 18th of April, 1824. He received the most of his education at the hands of his parents by the family fireside. His parents were intelligent Vir- ginians, and took pride in teaching their son the rudiments of an En- glish education. The doctor tells me he never went to a regular school but twelve or fifteen months.
He came to Indianapolis in 1843, and four years taught school. In 1846 he entered the office of Doctors Sanders & Parry as a student of medicine. In 1849 he graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, then located in practice of his profession in this city in partner- ship with Doctor John H. Sanders. This partnership was of short dura- tion, as Doctor Sanders died on the 4th of April, 1850.
On the 20th of June, 1850, Doctor Jameson was married to Miss Maria Butler, daughter of Ovid Butler, Esq., of this city.
After the death of Doctor Sanders, Doctor Jameson practiced alone until 1858. He then formed a partnership with Doctor David Funk- houser, of this city. This last partnership lasted seventeen years, and was eminently satisfactory and beneficial to both its members.
On the 17th of April, 1861, he was appointed by Governor O. P. Morton, and in connection with Doctor J. M. Kitchen, to the surgical charge of the Indiana State troops and unassigned volunteers quar- tered and in hospital in and near Indianapolis. In this position he con- tinued until the close of the war,
On the Ist of April, 1861, he entered upon the duties of Commis- sioner of the Hospital for the Insane, having been previously elected by the Legislature; he was re-elected in 1865 for another term of four years. In 1863 was elected a member of the common council of the ; city, re-elected several times, and continued to serve until 1869; a greater portion of the time he was chairman of the finance committee. He was chairman of the committee for the revision of .ordinances from 1863 to 1865, and as such supervised the getting up a revised edition of the ordinances of the city; he was also chairman of the committee on printing. In 1869 was elected by the Legislature president of the boards of State benevolent institutions, which position he now holds, having been since twice re-elected without opposition.
He has been for some years connected with the management of the Northwestern Christian University. For five years past has been president of its board of trustees. As building agent he erected the new college building at Irvington. Doctor Jameson is one of the prin-
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cipal stockholders and a director in the old Indianapolis Insurance Com- pany, now known as the Bank of Commerce.
In the winter of 1875 Dr. Jameson was appointed by the Legislature a member of the provisional board for the construction of the depart- ment of the Insane Asylum intended for women ; this board has six members, of which Governor Hendricks is, ex-officio, president. On the organization of this board Dr. Jameson was elected its treasurer.
Although the doctor has so many laborious and responsible posi- tions, he still is actively engaged in the practice of medicine in connec- tion with his nephew and former student, Dr. Henry Jameson of this city. In view of all the positions of honor or emolument which have been conferred upon Dr. Jameson, it would be supererogation in me to speak of the estimation in which he is held by his many friends in this city. Suffice it to say that no man stands higher as a benefactor of the public.
JOHN CAVEN,
The present mayor of the city of Indianapolis, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of April, 1824. He came to this city September 10, 1845, and commenced reading law in 1847. After finishing the study of his profession he commenced practice, and con- tinued it until May, 1863, when he was elected mayor of the city with- out opposition ; was renominated by acclamation and elected in 1865.
In October 1868 he was elected to the State Senate, and served the term for which he was elected. In 1875 he again received the Repub- lican nomination, and was elected to the office of mayor, which posi- tion he now fills.
Although Mr. Caven is an American by birth, I infer that he is of Scotch descent, not only by his name, but from the fact that I see by the reports that he is a member of the Burns Club of this city, and is . nearly always in attendance upon their annual birthday celebrations.
As he is a bachelor, he would probably not acknowledge that he is growing old, still he must begin to feel the mellowing influence of the autumnal season of life, as he is on the shady side of fifty.
Mr. Caven did much in allaying the excitement during the great railroad strike of 1877, and but for the cool foresight of himself and Governor Williams, Indianapolis would have probably been the scene of a bloody and unnecessary riot, and for this alone he deserves the gratitude of every citizen of the country. Mayor Caven was for several
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WILLIAM. A. LOWE.
years an inmate of the house of the mother of the writer, and was al- ways an agreeable and companionable man, though retiring in disposi- tion and manners.
WILLIAM A. LOWE,
The subject of this sketch, is a native of the State of Indiana, born October 30, 1837, in Boone county, fifteen miles north of Indianapolis, and has been an eye-witness to many of the most important changes in the growth of our city, and from the small village then numbering a few hundred inhabitants to the great city now governed by a charter.
His ancestors were pioneers of Indiana and settled on Sugar creek in 1821, and were active in getting the machinery of government started and were prominent agents in the organization of society in this part of the country. His grandfather on his mother's side, Austin Davenport, was the first member of the Legislature from Boone county, and Fred- erick Lowe, on his father's side, was one of the first men to assist in the organization of the county, and lived a long and useful life in the home of his adoption. His ancestors were chiefly from North Carolina, and they and he lived to realize many of their most cherished hopes in seeing the wigwam of the Indian and the wilderness and the forest yield and give place to the industry and enterprise of the white man.
When still young Mr. Lowe was placed by his father in Oberlin Col- lege, in Ohio, where he remained until he obtained a fair education, so as to enable him to enter the arena of life, which he did on his return from college, and became a teacher in the public schools, thus laying a solid foundation for the higher branches of science.
Having studied law in his leisure hours he determined to enter the law school at the Northwestern Christian University, then under the charge of the Hon. Samuel E. Perkins, and under this eminent jurist, graduated with honor in the class of 1861.
In 1864 he married Mary E. Johnson, the only daughter of Oliver Johnson, Esq., a highly respectable farmer, whose farm lies a few miles north of the city, and one of the first settlers of Marion county.
In 1866 he was appointed U. S. Pension Agent for the Indianapolis agency of Indiana, which position he held until 1867, when the tenure of office act, governing pension agencies, in the fight between President Johnson and Congress, was passed, and he, not being of the then Con- gressional school of politics, was left out.
Soon afterward he formed a partnership with Joseph W. Nichol, Esq., one of the most promient lawyers of this city, and continned in
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business with him for some two years, doing a handsome and lucrative practice, and of which profession he continues a highly respected mem- ber.
In politics Mr. Lowe may be considered as belonging to the old school, attending its meetings and advocating its principles ; foremost in the fight for his friends and, perhaps, in the attack on the enemy. Of course, as a consequence, he has made many warm friends and ruthless enemies, as all positive men will do. In all these campaigns he has en- deavored to act the gentleman, yielding to every one the free right to his honest opinion and free action at the ballot box as he may think right. At present he is the law partner of the Hon. John S. Reid, late of Connersville, and for the last few years he has been actively engaged in his profession to the exclusion of almost everything else, and, as he is yet a young man, he bids fair to survive many years and become one of the leading members of the bar of Indianapolis and an honor to his native State.
In stature Mr. Lowe is about the medium height, with dark com- plexion and a constitution that seems equal to stand the wear and tear of life, and the time will come when he and such men as he will be · compelled to assume the affairs of this government, and maintain the honor and dignity of this great Republic, second to none in the history of the world.
REV. CHARLES HARVEY RAYMOND.
Mr. Raymond is a native of the Empire State, born at Sandy Hill, Washington county, on the 11th of November, 1818; was educated and studied law in the same State.
In 1838, when but twenty years of age, he took charge of the Morris Academy, near Woodville, Mississippi. In 1839 he removed to the then Republic of Texas, and entered upon the practice of law, and remained there three years; during which time, in addition to the duties of his profession, he served as an officer in several military expeditions against hostile Indians and Mexicans, and served two sessions as a member of the Texan Congress.
In July, 1842, he was appointed Secretary of Legation, and in 1844 Charge d'Affairs ad Interim of the Republic of Texas to the govern- ment of the United States, and continued as such until after the joint- resolution of Congress for the annexation of Texas to the Union of the United States. In 1844, while holding this position, he was married by
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JEREMIAH H. BAYLISS, D. D.
the Rev. Doctor Sproule, pastor of the First Presbyterian church and chaplain to Congress, to Miss Mary Jane Underwood, of Washington City. In 1845 he returned to Texas, and after settling up his affairs in that country came to Indiana and settled in Cambridge City, where for several years he conducted a lucrative mercantile business. In the mean time, having given some attention to theology, and being impressed with the duty to preach the gospel, he in 1860 became a candidate for the ministry. In 1862 he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry at Connersville, by the Presbytery of Whitewater.
Up to 1871 he supplied for a time the churches of Connersville, Liberty and Union, of Indiana; the Cohockink church, of the city of Philadelphia, and Harmony, Reily and Bethel churches, of Ohio. In May, 1871, he became the pastor of the Seventh Presbyterian church of Indianapolis, which position he still holds. When Mr. Raymond came to this church it numbered about eighty members; it now num- bers upwards of three hundred, with the largest Sunday-school in the city. Mr. Raymond's labors in behalf of the church and spread of the gospel are prompted wholly from a sense of duty to his God and fellow- man, and in no way for personal gain, as his circumstances are such as to preclude any necessity from pecuniary motives.
He is ever found at the bedside of the lowly peasant as well as the more opulent citizen when sick, or in the sacred desk at their funeral ; the one receives his attention as much as the other. Of this fact the writer has had personal knowledge upon several occasions. It may well be said of him that he is one of the shepherds who never refuses to minister to the congregation of " the little church around the corner."
Mr. Raymond's family consists of seven children, five sons and two daughters. Two sons and one daughter are married ; three sons and one daughter reside under the paternal roof. His present residence is at No. 26 School street.
JEREMIAH H. BAYLISS, D. D.
Dr. Bayliss is a native of England, born in December, 1835, and came to this country when quite young. He was converted in western New York in 1852, and educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and Genesee College, Lima, New York. He entered the Genesee Confer- ence in 1857, and soon took a high position. In 1866 he was transferred to Rock River Conference and stationed in Chicago, at Park Avenue
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and Trinity churches, successively. In 1871 he was transferred to the Southeastern Indiana Conference and stationed at Roberts Park church in Indianapolis ; he was then appointed to Trinity church. The Confer- ·of this year returned him to Roberts Park where he is now stationed.
The character of his appointments at Chicago and Indianapolis would indicate his standing as a minister, as those churches are first class, with intelligent congregations. Possessed as he is of fine pulpit talent and eloquence, he has been adjudged worthy to occupy the best churches. His sermons are prepared with much care and there is a finish about them that indicates that fact; coupled with this preparation his style is attractive, and his discourses are uttered with a voice of much pathos. He has the reputation of being a diligent worker, and every part of a station feels the touch of his labors. Not only in the pulpit or on the platform has he given evidence of scholarly culture, but his fre- quent contributions to church periodicals show that he is a gifted writer. Recognizing his scholarship and as a theologian the Ohio Wesleyan University honored him in 1873 with the degree of doctor of divinity. His name was used for the editorship of the Western Christian Advocate, and the respectable vote he received showed a high appreciation of him as a writer and scholar. Though but a few years in the Conference his election to be chairman of the delegation was an evidence of his high moral worth and of their personal regard for him.
In person Doctor Bayliss is rather below the medium height, a ro- tund form, quite heavy, smooth, regular features, dark hair and eyes, an active temperament and quite sociable.
For the above, with the exception of a few immaterial alterations, I am indebted to a sketch of the doctor by the Rev. Mr. Kincaid, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
At the close of Doctor Bayliss's second year in the ministry, he was married on the 28th of September, 1859, to Miss Sarah A. Britton, of Western New York.
The writer will ever remember the first time he met the doctor. He was then carrying out the injunctions and obeying the commands of our Savior, "I was in prison and ye came unto me." It was in the cells of a poor condemned felon under sentence of death. Nor can I forget the gloom depicted on the doctor's countenance when he in- formed the poor criminal that executive clemency had been positively denied him, and the only hope was to prepare to meet a just and mer- ciful God.
By arrangement we had agreed to meet the poor man next day, but
Hammerstein Bros.& Co. Indianapohs Lithographic Institute
George Bruce
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GEORGE BRUCE.
before the hour arrived he had taken morphine with suicidal intent, and his soul was before that God of whom the doctor had spoken to him in such a feeling manner. But his mission of what he conceived to be his duty did not stop here. He, together with the Rev. Mr. As- bury and other Methodist ministers, attended and preached the unfor- tunate man's funeral sermon, and never have I heard for the length of it a more impressive exhortation than he delivered.
Doctor Bayliss is beloved by both congregations of which he has had charge in this city. His dignity of manner and efficient and poet- ical talent secure him the respect and confidence of his hearers, and have attracted many who are without the pale of his or any other church to hear him.
Since the above was written Doctor Bayliss has been assigned by the South Eastern Indiana conference to his old charge, Roberts Park Church.
GEORGE BRUCE.
Among the many enterprising young men who sought a home, a fortune and a wife in the wilds of the New Purchase in Indiana, was the person whose name stands at the head of this sketch, in all of which he has been eminently successful.
Mr. Bruce was born in Butler county, Ohio, on the 27th of July, 1802, and there received an education such only as could be obtained in the log school houses of the country. After this he learned the fulling business, but did not follow it long after he arrived at his majority. He passed through Indianapolis in 1824, in the capacity of a drover, being the first person to drive cattle through this place from the prairies of the Wabash, leading his cattle at night on horseback. This was neces- sary to protect themselves from the danger of rattlesnakes, with which the country abounded at that time.
It was during one of those trips through the country that he formed the acquaintance of Miss Dovy, second daughter of William Reagan. A mutual admiration sprang up between them, which resulted in a mat- rimonial alliance, which was consummated on the 15th of November, 1827 .. About the time he was married he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land on the north side of Fall creek, adjoining his father-in-law, for which he paid $462.50. In 1874 he sold one hundred and forty acres of the same land for $1,000 per acre, and donating thirty-five acres to the city as a public park, which is to be called the
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Northern Park. In gratitude for his liberality it should be called Bruce Park.
After the death of Mr. Reagan it became necessary for Mr. Bruce to remove to the parental homestead of his wife, where he yet remains. Of her father's land, eighty acres, Mrs. Bruce has refused $4,000 per acre. With this amount tendered her, she has, however, donated two acres for a Friends' meeting house.
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