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 31
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Mr. Bruce has but two children, both sons, who live in sight of him, and near where they were born. The elder, John W., has two child- ren ; the second, James A., has four-so Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have six grandchildren.
Mr. B. says he has arrived at that age that most persons call them- selves old, but that he feels as young as he did forty years ago. I am sure he looks to be good for and bids fair to live many years. He also says had he his life to begin and live over again, even with the experi- ence of the past, he does not know where he could better it.
In politics he was a Whig of the old school and original Henry Clay style; and, as his friend, Jerry Johnson, would say, of the true grit. He was one of the numerous citizens that journeyed to Tippecanoe in May, 1840, being called the Wild Oats of Indianapolis. He has been a constant and paying subscriber to the Indianapolis Journal since 1830.
In the forty-nine years of an acquaintance with Mr. B., I have ever found him to be a cheerful and hopeful man, disposed to take the world as he found it, with a smile and an encouraging word for all, especially such as were less fortunate than himself. In saying this much the writer knows whereof he speaks. He is emphatically what has been termed the noblest work of God-an honest man ; and when he is called hence will have as many warm personal friends as any man that ever lived or died in Marion county, and without an enemy known to him or the writer.
Although the frosts of seventy-four winters have given his locks the tinge of silver-gray, age sits lightly on his brow. He is about five feet ten inches in height, with a round, evenly turned frame. His hair was originally what might be called a dark chestnut, dark eyes and florid complexion. Such is George Bruce, a citizen of the county in the cen- tennial year.
CALVIN A. ELLIOTT
Was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, on the 2d of May, 1822. When twenty years of age he emigrated to Lincoln county, Missouri,
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STEPHEN K. FLETCHER.
and there remained. When the gold fever in California was raging in 1849 he was anxious to try his fortune in that Eldorado, and with others reached it by the overland route across the plains. It was eight months before the laborious and perilous journey was accomplished. He re- mained in California three years, and was quite successful in accumula- ting money.
In 1852 he returned and settled in Indianapolis, and bought out the wholesale liquor establishment of Smith & Hanna, then doing business on the northeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania streets ; he then purchased property on the northwest corner of Maryland and Meridian streets, where he did business for many years.
In March, 1855, he was married to Miss Martha Wright, of Louisi- ana, by whom he has one child, W. W. Elliott, who is a wholesale dealer in liquors at No. 23 South Tennessee street. Since Mr. Elliott's twenty-five years residence in Indianapolis he has made many warm personal friends.
STEPHEN K. FLETCHER.
Mr. Fletcher was born at the old homestead of his father, the late Calvin Fletcher, on Virginia avenue, now known as Fletcher Place, on the 30th of May, 1840. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and was his second year in the old High School when the free school system was pronounced unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States, which closed them for the time being, and, Mr. Fletcher tells me, closed his educational privileges.
The next year, 1858, Mr. Fletcher engaged with Dorsey & Jones, of Greencastle, as a clerk in their hardware store, where he remained two years and returned home on a visit.
In September, 1861, he entered the 33d regiment of Indiana vol- unteers under Colonel John Coburn, in Company E, as a private, but was detailed as ordnance sergeant and served as such sixteen months, during this time doing the duties of adjutant three months. He was twenty-two months in Kentucky, East and Central Tennessee.
During the summer of 1863 he was commissioned adjutant of the 115th regiment Indiana volunteers; returned home and entered upon his duties in that regiment. This regiment was then sent to East Ten- nessee, and served the next year at the taking of Cumberland Gap, the siege of Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, etc. Since the war Mr. Fletcher has devoted the most of his time to farming and manufacturing. He
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has also laid out and platted one of the most beautiful suburban addi- tions to the city, known as S. K. Fletcher's South Brookside Addition.
He was married on the 6th of December, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Malott, of this city.
It will be seen by reference to the time Mr. Fletcher entered the army and retired that he served very near the whole time. As he en- tered as a private he could have had no other motive than to serve his country for his country's good.
Mr. Fletcher inherits many of his father's traits of character-indus- try, perseverance and economy-all of which are peculiar, not to him alone, but to the whole Fletcher family.
He is rather below the medium height, light hair and complexion, genial and pleasant in manners. In my business transactions with him, and they were considerable in amount, I found him prompt and accom- modating.
Since the above was written, on the Ist of September, 1876, Mr. Fletcher lost his wife.
CASPER MAUS.
Mr. Maus is a native of Sunny France, born in the department of Mosel on the IIth day of February, 1816. In 1837 he bid adieu to his native land and sailed for the United States and landed in New Orleans, where he remained two years. In 1839 he went to Cincinnati and engaged in milling and the manufacture of flour. In 1842 he was mar- ried to Miss Magdalena M. Deitrich, who was also a native of France, born near Strasburg.
In 1846 he came to Indiana and settled at New Alsace, Dearborn county, and built a flouring and saw-mill, and for seventeen years suc- . cessfully carried on the milling business. During the war of the Rebel- lion he was commissioned an enrolling officer ; this position rendered him obnoxious to persons opposing the war, and his mills and stables were fired by incendiaries and together with their whole contents were destroyed. It was said at the time that an organization known as the Sons of Liberty, or Knights of the Golden Circle, instigated the crime, which was confirmed seven years afterwards by the deathbed confession of one of the parties. At that time it was very difficult to get insur- ance, especially on that class of property, hence he had to bear the entire loss, which amounted in the aggregate to eight thousand dollars.
In 1864, with his family, he came to Indianapolis. In 1870 he built the brewery on the corner of New York and Agnes streets, and was
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GEORGE W. GEISENDORFF.
successfully carrying on the brewing business at the time of his death, which occurred on the 26th of January, 1876, after a lingering and painful illness of several months. Mr. Maus left a family consisting of a wife and seven children, five sons and two daughters, Albert, Joseph H., Frank A., Mathias A., Casper J., Magdalena M. and Josephine M .; Martin B. and Louisa A. being dead.
The business in which he was engaged at the time of his death is carried on by his sons for the benefit of the family, in like manner as when he was alive.
During Mr. Maus' eleven years residence in Indianapolis he made many warm and valued friends, who will long remember his kind and generous disposition, his polite and gentlemanly bearing, so peculiar to the native Frenchman. When he left his native home he thought he was coming to the "land of the free and the home of the brave," but his experience in Dearborn county was a severe lesson to the contrary, but it is to be hoped that such a state of things will never again occur in our government. Since the above was written Joseph H. died, in September, 1876.
GEORGE W. GEISENDORFF.
Mr. Geisendorff is a native of Maryland, born in the city of Frederick, on the 4th of March, 1812. After receiving a good English education he went to Baltimore, and there learned the woolen manufacturing business; from Baltimore he went to Winchester, Virginia, thence to Martinsburg in the same State. At Martinsburg he was married to Miss Hannah Young.
In 1832 he came to the west and lived in Cincinnati until 1834; he then went to Dayton and there lived about three years ; he then returned to Cincinnati and remained until 1845. In April of the latter year he came to Indianapolis. His first wife was born March 20, 1818, died in Indianapolis, March 27, 1852; he was then married to Miss Lydia Snyder, who was born on December 14, 1819, and is yet living.
Mr. Geisendorff has followed his business in connection with his brother in this city, and they have manufactured more woolen goods and of a finer texture than any similar establishment in the State. Although Mr. Geisendorff is verging on sixty-six years of age he is yet in good health with lively and cheerful temperament.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
STOUGHTON A. FLETCHER, JUNIOR.
Stoughton A. Fletcher, Jun., son of the late Calvin Fletcher, was born in Indianapolis, on the 25th of October, 1831. He received the rudiments of an English education in the city of his birth. He spent one year at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. He was engaged with his father on the farm, except what time he was at school and college, until 1853.
From 1853 to 1855 he was a conductor on and superintendent of the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine railroad. In 1855 he engaged in banking, and continued until 1868, when he relinquished it to take the presidency of the Indianapolis Gas Light and Coke company which he yet holds. On the 18th of November, 1865, he was married to Miss R. E. Burrows, of Augusta, Maine, who is yet his helpmeet.
Mr. Fletcher owns and lives in a fine residence opposite Woodruff place, surrounded by large and beautiful grounds, elegantly ornamented with drives, walks, fountains and all the appurtenances of a first-class family residence. He is universally esteemed for his genial and social manner ; though wealthy he is unostentatious toward those less fortunate than himself; he possesses, in a high degree, the plain, frank manner of his father ; as a business man, prompt, industrious and energetic. In 1875, Mr. Fletcher, with his family, visited Europe for the benefit of his health.
NICHOLAS KLINE.
This worthy son of St. Crispin was born in Bavaria, and came to the United States when he was but nine years of age, and settled in Ohio in 1836; lived in Ohio and Kentucky eighteen years, and from Ohio he removed to Warren county, Indiana, where he remained a few years, thence to Indianapolis in the spring of 1853, when the city contained less than ten thousand souls. Mr. Kline has continued to follow his trade, that of boot and shoe manufacturing, on Massachusetts avenue for several years past, where I first formed his acquaintance. He has six children, all living, two in Chicago and four in this city. His second son is now connected with the fire department and is attached to Engine No. 2. Mr. Kline is a great reader and takes much interest in anything that pertains to the history of his adopted country. He is a plain, out- spoken man, without duplicity or deceit, always ready to accommodate those who may require his kind offices.
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WILLIAM H. SCHMITT.
JOHN GROSCH.
Prominent among the German citizens of Indianapolis in 1876 was Mr. John Grosch, proprietor and builder of Mozart Hall, one of the most fashionable resorts for German citizens in the city. This estab- lishment he commenced in 1865, and finished it in 1867. It is situated on South Delaware street, east side, between Washington and Maryland. This hall is large and commodious, and used for all kinds of society and political meetings, balls, etc., and is generally superintended by the proprietor himself; in the lower story are billiard parlors and all that is calculated to amuse and help pass away the lonely and tedious hours pleasantly.
Mr. Grosch is a native of Germany, born in the department of the Grand Duke of Co-Hessan, on the 3 Ist of October, 1823. He came to the United States in 1848, landing in Baltimore, thence direct to Indi- anapolis. For a while he was engaged in the Adams Express office, then engaged in putting up and bottling the XX Madison ale. He was married in 1849 in this city; his wife dying, he again married ; he has seven children living. Mr. Grosch's pleasant and agreeable manner makes his establishment a great resort for all classes of people seeking pleasure and recreation. He is rather below the medium height, with a keen black eye, broad forehead, just such a head as denotes thought and calculation, the true secret of his success.
WILLIAM H. SCHMITT.
Esquire Schmitt was born in the town of Romrot, Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, on the 28th of January, 1838; in the fall of 1852, when in his fourteenth year, came to the United States, having made the entire journey from his birth-place to Indianapolis alone ; he was forty-five days on the ocean, high winds raging continuously. He had just finished his education when he left his native country ; being an apt scholar and a ready thinker, he soon mastered the English language. It is said that after being in this country six months he spoke the English so fluently and correctly that no foreign accent could be discov- ered in his speech. Being a member of a family of prominent mechan- ics in the old country, it was the wish of his father that he should learn the cabinet-maker's trade, that being the branch of industry followed by a great number of his ancestors, and I have been told in that particular branch of business 'Squire Schmitt has no superior, and that is con-
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
firmed by many a piece of his handiwork now in this city. He is a rigid and energetic working member of the Republican party, although his father's family and all connection are Democratic to the core. He tells me that the first vote he ever gave he rode thirty miles on horse- back to cast for the party of his choice, the Democrats of Hancock county denying him the right to vote on his father's naturalization papers.
Mr. Schmitt was married in Hancock county in 1860 to a lady who was American by birth ; by her he had five children, four of whom are yet living. His wife died in July, 1869; he was married again in April, 1871, his second wife also being an American. In 1872, in consequence of failing health he was compelled to abandon his trade, and in obedi- ence to the solicitation of his numerous friends of the legal profession, he accepted the nomination of the Republican party for justice of the peace for Center township, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. As a magistrate Mr. Schmitt has been eminently successful, doing a very large portion of the immense business of the city. The records will show that but few of his decisions have been appealed to the higher courts and less reversed.
In stature Mr. Schmitt is about five feet seven inches, rather of a brunette complexion, light form, courteous and gentlemanly in manner, with a kind word for all, fluent and quick in conversation, with a ready use of language.
JAMES E. SHOVER.
Mr. Shover is a Hoosier "to the manor born," making his first appearance on these mundane shores at Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, on the 22d of January, 1841. He lived with his parents until he was fifteen years old; he then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there learned the carpenter's trade, and there remained until 1861. He then enlisted and served one year in the Union army, then returned to Cin- cinnati, and in 1863 came to Indianapolis and engaged in his business, which he has successfully followed for the past thirteen years. Before Mr. Shover took Mr. Christian as a partner he had contracted for and built several fine buildings which now adorn the city. Residences for B. F. Witt, Nicholas McCarty, three for William Braden, one for John Hasson, one for James Hasson, remodled dwelling for David Macy, built Miller's block on North Illinois street, did part of the work on Academy of Music, after which he went into partnership with Wilmer F. Christian on the Ist of January, 1866, since which they have done
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WILLIAM T. JONES.
an immense amount of work, a list of which will be found in the sketch of Mr. Christian. It will be seen that he is the partner in the Enter- prise Hotel on Massachusetts avenue.
Mr. Shover was married the 24th of October, 1867, to Miss Emma Tatham. His residence at this time is at No. 451 North Delaware street. Mr. Shover has the reputation of being an energetic, industrious and unobtrusive man, who attends strictly to his own business and willing that others should do the same.
GARRETT H. SHOVER.
Mr. Shover was born in Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, on the 22d of May, 1839; learned the business of carriage smithing by a four years apprenticeship with Peter Crocker of that city. He volunteered in the first call in 1861 for three months men, and served in the 8th Indiana regiment. Was connected with the hospital department of the 69th Indiana regiment, for one year, under Doctor Witt, surgeon of the regiment.
On the 3d of March, 1867, was married to Miss Ella Crull, of Dub- lin, Wayne county. On the 8th of July, 1870, he came to Indianapolis and engaged in the manufacture of all vehicles, from a three dollar wheelbarrow to a thousand dollar carriage, and has built up a business of about fifty thousand dollars a year. With the energy and industry of Mr. Shover, there is no such word as fail; he is a brother of Mr. Shover of the well known firm of Christian & Shover, carpenters and builders.
WILLIAM T. JONES.
Mr. Jones is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 18th of September, 1822. In 1837, with his father's family, he removed to Preble county, where he remained until after the death of his father.
In 1847 he was married to Miss Nancy Hayden, who bore him two children, a son and daughter. On the 3Ist of October, 1852, his wife died, also the daughter at the same time and place ; the remaining child, Thomas C. Jones, is married and a resident of Indianapolis. Mr. Jones came to the city in January, 1854, and in October, 1855, was married to Miss Elizabeth Garrett, daughter of the late John Madaris; the last wife had one daughter who is now the wife of Mr. George Wallace, late of the county clerk's office, who yet resides in the city. When Mr.
.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Jones first came to Indianapolis he engaged with J. R. Osgood in the peg and last factory, where he worked through all the changes of the establishment until 1873. Three years of the time he was employed in the shipping room. He was eight years in charge of the bending de- partment of the hub and spoke factory after the establishment went into that business.
Mr. Jones built the first house on Fletcher avenue in July, 1856. He now resides on a farm one and a fourth miles northeast of Cicero, in Hamilton county. The writer has known Mr. Jones and his worthy wife for several years, and for sometime they were my near neighbors, and can speak of them from personal knowledge, and regretted very much when the shifting scenes of this busy world caused them to leave the neighborhood and seek a home I hope more congenial to their feel- ings. Few equal and none were better neighbors.
ROBERT CONNELY,
The subject of this sketch, was born in Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, on the 26th of July, 1833. In 1835, with his parents, removed to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, where his parents yet reside. At the age of twenty years Mr. Connely, at the solicitation and on the recommenda- tion of Stephen A. Douglas to the Post Office department, was appointed to take charge of the mails in eastern Illinois. This duty he performed faithfully and acceptably to the department until 1856, at which time he was married and came to Brazil, Clay county, Indiana, and engaged in the mercantile, lumber and coal trade, and was quite successful. In 1862 he came to Indianapolis and engaged in the wholesale grocery and jobbing business, which was considered a hazardous undertaking at that time, but he had made up his mind that the capital city was to be a great commercial as well as railroad center and as such a desirable place to embark in business of most any kind. At that time the city contained only about twenty thousand inhabitants and but few jobbing houses of any kind. Mr. Connely's business prospered and grew larger with the increase of population every year. His health failing he aban- doned the grocery business and engaged in the coal and lime trade on Virginia avenue, which business had grown large and quite profitable, until recently, when the losses to most all who were engaged in a similar business have been large, and they suffered in a greater ratio than their neighbors who were engaged in other branches of business, chiefly owing to the prostration of the iron and other manufacturing and mining
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JAMES EPLEY HELLER.
interests throughout the entire land, which prostration, Mr. Connely thinks, was caused by the too great influence and power of the national banks over the manufacturing interest of the country. He thinks this system of banking the worst ever introduced into the country, the free- banking not excepted.
Mr. Connely is now devoting his entire time and most of his capital in developing gold and silver mining in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho and New Mexico, in all of which he has interests, and thinks the developments of the past few years show rich fields of the precious metals.
Mr. Connely is thoroughly conversant with the regions of country of which I speak, and thinks that the national debt will be eventually paid by the rich deposits of the mountain regions of the far west. Mr. Connely being a practical and first-class business man, his opinions are entitled to great trust, and I hope whatever may be his interest in the west that Indianapolis will not lose him as a citizen. In politics he is a Democrat of the old school, and does not believe in any deviation . from the old and time-honored landmarks and usages of the party
As a gentleman and business man he is popular with all classes, Although just in the meridian of life, his locks are of a silver gray that would indicate greater age than he has attained.
JAMES EPLEY HELLER
Was born in Solona, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of Janu- ary, 1844; in 1857 he removed to Freeport, Illinois. Commenced the study of law in 1863, in the law department of the University of Mich- igan, at Ann Arbor. From Ann Arbor he went to Laporte, Indiana, and located in 1864. Having been in the State but a few day, in re- sponse to a call from the Governor for volunteers, enlisted as a private in the 138th regiment of Indiana volunteers. After the expiration of the term of service in the army, he returned to Laporte and was there married in 1867 to Miss Anna, daughter of Asa Ridgway, one of the oldest settlers of that county.
In June, 1868, he came to Indianapolis, without either money, friends or property, and after some time spent in reading law, first commenced the practice and was admitted to the Indianapolis bar early in 1870, being entirely confined in the practice to the city.
Mr. Heller, by his practice, has accumulated a handsome library besides supporting his family ; being an entire stranger in the city and
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
without acquaintances, this was a very difficult undertaking, under which many with less perseverance and energy would have failed ; be- sides this, he now owns the property in which he resides, with a good and paying practice.
At the last Republican county convention he was chosen as its can- didate for prosecuting attorney of Marion county, and was elected at the October election in 1876. Mr. Heller is a man of pleasing address, and by his urbanity and general deportment has made many friends.
CAPTAIN MYRON NORTH.
Captain North is a native of the State of New York, and was born in Onondaga county on the 31st of August, 1812.
His father, Ashel North, moved to Ohio in 1813, passing through Buffalo the day after it was burned. He settled in the wilderness part of Geauga county. The facilities for education were very meager, ยท there being no schools nearer than two miles, and that kept in the com- mon log school house of that day.
It was customary at that time for the children to attend school but three months in the year, and that during the winter season ; other por- tions of the year were spent in labor on the farm and clearing land for cultivation. Mr. North remained with his father until he was eighteen years old. He then agreed to pay his father one hundred dollars for the remaining three years, until he should become of age.
He then engaged with his oldest brother to learn the trade of wagon making. When he left home his father gave him a cow and calf, which he sold for thirteen dollars, turning the amount over to his father in part pay for his time. After learning his trade he paid his father the balance of the hundred dollars. He then went to a night writing school, and took twenty-six lessons. In 1835 he went back to the place of his birth, and worked at his trade two or three months. He then procured a situation in a country dry goods store, and was a successful salesman and book-keeper.
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