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 38
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Having but little else to do, he put in his time in the spring of 1855 in managing the Atheneum Theater, at the corner of Meridian and Maryland streets, in connection with John M. Commons. In the fall of that year he was elected auditor of Marion county, on the Democratic ticket, by over one thousand majority. In this office he served the peo- ple four years, retiring November, 1, 1859.
Mr. Valentine Butsch having erected the Metropolitan Theater in 1858, and having been a loser by the failure of the first lessee, he em- ployed Mr. Brown to superintend the letting of the same, which he did for one year, and then Mr. Butsch opened it as a regular theater, with Mr. Brown as his treasurer and acting manager, which position he held until May, 1861, when he entered the office of the Adjutant General of Indiana, as an assistant to General Laz. Noble. Here he continued until September, 1866, except that he left the office for a year and a half in 1862 and 1863, to take a position on the Daily Journal as local editor.
On the Ist of September, 1866, having been appointed collector of internal revenue for the Indianapolis district, by President Johnson, he entered on the discharge of the duties of that responsible position, and continued in office until removed by General Grant, May 1, 1869.
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The same year he took charge of the Capital Tobacco Works, first as receiver and afterwards as part owner with Captain Thomas Madden, to whom he sold out during the following year. On the Ist of Febru- ary, 1870, Mr. Brown accepted the position of cashier in the banking house of Woollen, Webb & Co., and continued in that bank until June, 1873, when he left to engage in the business of an insurance agency, in partnership with William W. Caldwell. This business was continued for two years, during which time Mr. Brown was elected clerk of Marion county, the duties of which office he assumed October 25, 1874, and which position he now holds.
In addition to holding the several offices and carrying on the differ- ent kinds of business before named, Mr. Brown served the public in other ways. In 1861 he was elected councilman from the Sixth ward, and continued in that position, with the exception of one year, until May, 1875. While serving as a " city father" he held the chairmanship of the committees on streets and alleys and finance, and president of the boards of public improvements and police. Upon the reorganization of the school board, under a law applicable to Indianapolis only, he was elected a member of the same from the Sixth district, in 1871, and twice re-elected, in 1872 and 1875, and while serving in this position has held the chairmanships respectively of the committees on appointment of teachers, high school, and public library.
On the 17th of December, 1851, Mr. Brown was married to Marga- ret, eldest daughter of the late Colonel A. W. Russell, who was the second sheriff of Marion county, and one of the pioneers of the New Purchase.
I remember Mr. Brown from his earliest boyhood ; he was ever ac- tive and energetic, and, like his father, is considered one of the most skillful politicians of the city, and a sound, reliable business man.
RYLAND T. BROWN, A. M., M. D.,
Was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, on the 5th day of October, 1807, but removed with his parents to Clermont county, Ohio, in 1808. He received a common school education, chiefly under the 'tuition of a Yankee teacher from Maine. In the spring of 1821 he came to the almost unbroken wilderness of Indiana, his parents locating in the south- eastern part of Rush county. In 1825 he had the misfortune to lose his father by death, which event devolved on him the labor of com- pleting and managing the farm, already well-advanced by his father.
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RYLAND T. BROWN, A. M., M. D.,
In the winter of. 1826 he commenced the study of medicine, the pri- mary course of which he completed at the Ohio Medical College in the spring of 1829. In 1832 he entered the practice of his profession in Connersville, Indiana, having in the fall of 1829 married Miss Mary Reeder, of Rush county. With the practice of his profession in Con- nersville, he prosecuted literary studies to supply the defect of his early education, and began an earnest study of the physical sciences, espe- cially chemistry and geology. In 1844 he changed his location to Craw- fordsville, where that excellent institution of learning, Wabash College, gave him better opportunities to prosecute both his literary and scien- tific studies. Entering his profession in this new field, he soon con- trolled a heavy practice, but he did not suffer this to interrupt his course of study. In 1850 he received from Wabash College the honorary degree of Master of Arts, and in 1854 was appointed State Geologist by Governor Joseph A. Wright, in which field his labors were termi- nated at the end of one year by the Legislature failing to make the necessary appropriations to carry on the work. In June, 1858, he was tendered the chair of Natural Science in the Northwestern Christian University, at Indianapolis, which position he accepted and removed his residence to the city. He held this position till 1871, and in the last two years of that period he did double duty, filling the chair of chemistry in the Indiana Medical College. In 1872 he received the appointment of chemist-in-chief in the Department of Agriculture at Washington, which position he resigned in 1873, in consequence of impaired health. Returning to Indianapolis, he served the city as gas inspector in 1873-4, in which last year he accepted the chair of Physi- ology in the Indiana Medical College, which he occupies at present. In 1871 he prepared for publication an elementary work on physiology and hygiene, which is now extensively used in common schools and academies. In 1876, at the Centennial Exhibition, he served as presi- dent of the fourth group of judges having in charge the examination of "animal and vegetable substances used for food." He is a man of active habits, devoted more to the study of nature and men than of books. He is an earnest life-long advocate of temperance, and from early life has been a believer and teacher of the Christianity of the Bible. In 1865 he met with a sad bereavement in the loss of his wife. In the autumn of 1866 he married Mrs. Nannie Tomlinson, of Shelby county, Indiana, with whom he now resides in Indianapolis.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
GOVERNOR THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.
Mr. Hendricks was the thirteenth governor elect of Indiana. He was born on the 7th of September, 1819, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and is consequently just past the age of fifty-eight years. When he was but three years old his father emigrated to Indiana, and settled near Shelbyville, Shelby county, where the subject of this sketch received a primary education. He was then sent to South Hanover college, Jef- ferson county, where he graduated at the age of twenty-two. In 1843 ·completed his legal studies at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; and re- turned to Indiana and commenced the practice of law. In 1848 he was elected to represent Shelby county in the State Legislature, and declined a re-election. In 1850 he was an active and industrious mem- ber of the convention to amend and revise the constitution of the State. In 1851 he was elected to represent the Capital District in Congress, where he made quite a national record. After serving in Congress un- til 1855 he was appointed by President Pierce, and retained by President Buchanan commissioner of the general land office.
In 1860 he was the nominee of the Douglas Democrats for Gover- nor of Indiana, and defeated by the Hon. Henry S. Lane, of Montgom- ery county. In 1863 he was elected to the United State Senate to fill the place of the late Jesse D. Bright. In 1868 he was again a candidate for Governor and defeated by Governor Conrad Baker. His term of service having expired in the United States Senate, he resumed the practice of law in connection with his former partner, Mr. Hord, and A. H. Hendricks, the Governor's cousin.
In the convention that met in New York in 1868 he was supported for the nomination for President. In 1872 he was again put in nomina- tion by the Democracy and elected Governor of Indiana, defeating Gen- eral Thomas M. Browne, one of the ablest lawyers and politicians of the Republican party. This position he held until January, 1877. In the meantime his claims were urged before the St. Louis convention that met in 1876 for the Presidency, and for some days it was a matter of doubt which would receive the nomination, he or Governor Samuel J. Tilden, Governor of New York. It finally fell upon Mr. Tilden, Gov- ernor Hendricks receiving the nomination for Vice President. This he took under advisement, and did not accept for several days after the convention had adjourned, and then only at the earnest solicitation of his many personal and political friends.
Since Governor Hendricks' retirement from the Gubernatorial chair
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HERMANN ALTMAN.
he has made a visit to California. During the present summer, with his wife and a lady friend, they have visited Europe, where they are at this writing.
To say that Governor Hendricks has been a successful politician would only reiterate what I have already said in this sketch of the many positions he has held. But his highest and cherished ambition has not been gratified. He is, no doubt, looking, and so are his friends, to the action of the Democratic convention that will probably meet in 1880, to have their fondest hopes consummated.
Governor Hendricks is a very affable and pleasant man, a sound lawyer, an eloquent speaker, a ready debater, and, in political matters, weighs well the effect any movement of his may have before he takes even an initiatory step. He is a careful politician, and generally knows what he is doing.
Governor Hendricks has no family except his wife, and is possessed of quite a large fortune.
DOCTOR HENRY PLOWMAN.
Doctor Plowman is a native of the city of London, England. His father was a nobleman and his uncle a magistrate. The doctor has been a resident of Indianapolis since 1868, and is well known in the part of the city in which he resides, on Tinker street. He has acquired fine abili- ties, speaks the French, German, Italian and Spanish languages fluently. He is a great admirer of fine horses, and is generally found in possession of them. In 1876 he, with his wife, returned to his native country on a visit.
He is a large, portly man, just in the prime of life, and of a cheerful disposition, disposed to take the world as he finds it. "May his shadow never grow less."
HERMANN ALTMAN
Was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 22d of February, 1835. He came to the United States and landed in 1853. He lived some time in Toledo, Ohio, then in St. Louis, and came to Indianapolis in 1859. Was engaged in the grain, produce and grocery business seven years on the northwest corner of Meridian and Ray streets. He then built a large
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
store and warehouse on the northwest corner of Meridian and Kansas streets, where he is now engaged in the same business.
He was married in 1859 to Miss Minnie Langenburg, of St. Louis, by whom he has two children.
Mr. Altman is a fine specimen of the liberal and industrious portion of our German population. He never knew but one mode of life, and. that to toil faithfully for an honest living.
EDWARD T. JOHNSON.
Mr. Johnson was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on the 7th of June, 1842; received a primary education at Wilbur's academy, Frankfort,. Kentucky, and finished his education at the Hartsville University, In- diana.
In 1861 Mr. Johnson enlisted as a private in Company A, 16th Indiana regiment. The last year of the war he served as adjutant of the 140th regiment Indiana volunteers. On the 7th of June, 1865, he. came to Indianapolis, and commenced the practice of law, and has pur- sued his profession since that time. He was a member of the House of Representatives from Marion county in the session of 1873. Mr. Johnson is not without a literary record. He is the author of the Her- ald's review of General Lew Wallace's work "Fair God."
He was married to Miss Marietta Griffith, daughter of Dr. Edward Griffith, of Louisville, Kentucky, on the 8th of May, 1866.
Mr. Johnson stands very high as a lawyer at the Indianapolis bar, where perhaps the most of the legal talent of the State often congregate ..
JAMES M. HUFFER.
Mr. Huffer is a native of the Buckeye State; born on Mad river,. Greene county, February 7, 1826. When he was one year old his pa- rents moved to Fountain county, Indiana, and he there lived until 1843, at which time he returned to Ohio, and learned the saddle and harness making business in Dayton. In 1843, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Landis, of the latter place. In 1860 he removed to this city, where he still resides.
Mr. Huffer, in 1865, was a contractor, and improved several streets in the southeast part of the city. He built himself a handsome residence on Fletcher avenue, where he now resides, also several other buildings.
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JOSEPH M. TILFORD.
in his immediate neighborhood. Like most other persons, he has had misfortunes and reverses in business, but never despaired, but was al- ways ready to "pick his flint and try it again."
Mrs. Huffer is an active worker in the interest of the Ladies' Relief Society, and seems to not forget that "we have the poor always with us," and is always ready to help them when in her power, or as oc- casion requires. She has five children - two sons and three daugh- ters. One son and also one daughter are married. Mr. Huffer is for- tunate in having a wife who, when he is overtaken by the trials and ills of life, can always comfort and cheer him on his way.
ANDREW TURNER
Was born in Union county, Indiana, on the 3d of December, 1828, and with his father's family removed to Clay county, in 1837. At the time the Turners settled at the latter place the howl of the wolf could be heard nightly in the vicinity of their cabin. At the age of sixteen young Turner was thrown upon his own resources for a living and edu- cation ; the facilities at that time for obtaining the latter were very lim- ited and confined to the old-fashioned log school-house, so common in Indiana at that day. These houses were erected with an eye to econ- omy, greased paper was used for glass. Webster's spelling book was the principal school book; occasionally Murray's grammar and Wood- bridge's geography were introduced.
In 1851 Mr. Turner was married to Miss Starlin Peyton, daughter of Wesley Peyton, of Owen county. From that time until March, 1863, he worked at the carpenter trade and farmed. At the latter date he took up his residence in Indianapolis. For the last few years, and at the present time, he has been a successful dealer in cigars and tobacco.
JOSEPH M. TILFORD.
Mr. Tilford was born in Scott county, Kentucky, on the 11th of Feb- ruary, 1811. In 1816 his parents removed to Jefferson county, Indiana, and settled on a farm three miles west of South Hanover. Having re- ceived what was considered a common school education, in 1827 his father placed him in charge of the Rev. Mr. Crow, at the opening ses- sion of Hanover College, which was kept in the president's resi- dence. The institution was opened with Noble Butler, David Smock, Samuel and James Latimore and Mr. Tilford and a few others as students.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
At the close of one year Mr. Tilford concluded to learn the cabinet- making business and served three years with Captain J. G. Henderson, of Salem, Washington county. In 1832 he commenced the cabinet bus- iness in Madison, Indiana, and there continued until the fall of 1850, then removed to a farm three miles west of Hanover, where he remained until the fall of 1853 and then removed to Indianapolis.
In 1854, in connection with Ovid Butler and J. M. Mathes bought the Indianapolis Journal from John D. Defrees, for which they paid twenty thousand dollars, and formed a joint-stock company called The Indianapolis Journal Company. The Free Democrat was merged into the corporation. In 1856 Mr. Tilford was elected president of the com- pany and remained as such until 1864, when the company sold the Journal to W. R. Holloway for thirty thousand dollars, reserving the real estate, valued at thirty thousand dollars. Since that time Mr. Tilford has been engaged in the Indianapolis Publishing House. In 1833 and while living in Madison, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of Samuel C. Maxwell, of Jefferson county. To them were born. eight children, six of whom are still living: four daughters, Eliza E., Emma J., Julia V. and Alice T .; two sons, John H., a practicing physician at Irvington and Samuel E., now in the Indianapolis Pub- lishing House, where this work was printed.
ALEXANDER C. CARR.
Mr. Carr is'one of the prosperous farmers of Warren township, liv- ing nine miles east of the city on the Rushville State road. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1808. When he was but nine months old his parents removed to Union county, Indiana, where he remained until 1831, when he came to his present residence. .
His first wife was Miss Sarah Williams ; after her death he married Miss Mary Sample, of Hancock county ; he has ten children living.
During the rebellion Mr. Carr was a strong Union man, and acted with the Republican party, although he had been a thorough and un- compromising Democrat up to that time. Although verging on the time generally allotted to man, three score and ten years, he is quite active, and may be seen upon the streets of the city nearly every week. Mr. Carr has often been selected to serve on juries, both grand and petit, and is generally governed by his own convictions of the law and evidence, without regard to the opinions of others.
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425
ROSWELL RANDALL ROUSE.
THOMAS SURBER.
Mr. Surber was born in Union county, Indiana, about four miles from Liberty, on the 11th of April, 1831. At the age of four years removed with the family to Morril township, Shelby county. It 1846 removed to Marion county and settled two miles north of the city on Fall creek, near the Michigan road. In 1849 was married to Miss Francis E. Moore, by whom he has seven children, six daughters and one son, one of the former being married. In 1854 he removed to Keokuk, Iowa, and there farmed for ten years, and then returned to Marion county, and for two years farmed on the Scofield farm north of the city. He then engaged in the dairy business on the old Jerry John- son farm. In 1874 he purchased ten lots in S. K. Fletcher's South Brookside addition, and erected a dwelling and dairy buildings, where he is now engaged in the business. On the 19th of November, 1876, he lost his wife. Mr. Surber is one of the nearest neighbors of the writer, and I have found him a neighbor in the true sense of the term ; always pleasant and accommodating, with a family equally so. Such neighbor's are so scarce that they should always have a remembrance.
ROSWELL RANDALL ROUSE.
Mr. Rouse is a native of the Empire State; born in Otsego county, on the 28th of September, 1838. His parents were of English and Scotch descent, although they were born in New York. The mother of Mr. Rouse died when he was but five years old, since which time he has been a waif in the wide world. His father married again, and moved to Philadelphia, where he now resides, and is engaged in the manufacture of edge tools. His work took the first premium at the world's fair, New York, a few years since. The old gentleman is now seventy years of age, and is yet an active, energetic business man.
R. R. Rouse tells me he has always worked for a living, beginning, as it were, an orphan, without means, and with but a limited education ; he has not had a day's schooling since he was ten years old, save that which is acquired by the daily conflicts of life. He acted in the capacity of store boy and clerk; has traveled extensively through the eastern, western, southern and middle States. During the rebellion he was cap- tain of a steamer plying on the Mississippi, White and Arkansas rivers. Indeed, since his seventeenth year he has been a busy and active trader and operator in whatever business presented itself.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
He was married in Clinton, New York, to Miss Helen M. Robinson. He became a citizen of Indianapolis in 1869, as agent for N. W. Green's patent for the American driven well, but owing to various reasons, over which he had no control, his mission proved unsuccessful.
Being by nature of a mechanical turn of mind, he set about to rem- edy the defects in this well. After spending years of labor and its hard earnings, he was finally rewarded by success, and has now an apparatus for obtaining water from the dark regions of the earth that stands unri- valed in all the tests that have been made. From his single labor in driven wells since he came to Indianapolis his business has grown until he now employs thirty horses and as many men constantly in the busi- ness.
Mr. Rouse possesses a great deal of the true Yankee pluck and enterprise which never fails to meet the reward so fully due; indeed, with such men " there is no such word as fail," for they triumph over obstacles that would seem to thwart human possibility. I take great pleasure in recording biographies of such men. It certainly is an incen- tive to other poor young men to go and do likewise. Mr. Rouse's very appearance is indicative of enterprise and industry.
EDWARD T. SINKER.
I can not give the reader a better appreciation of the life of Mr. Sinker, and the many fine qualities that marked him as a man and a Christian in every sense of the term, than by giving an extract from the remarks of the Rev. N. A. Hyde, at his funeral on the 9th of April, 1871. The obsequies were characterized throughout by the most solemn and impressive ceremonies, and were conducted by several distinguished clergymen of the city. After a most eloquent discourse by the Rev. J. L. Bennett, Mr. Hyde gave a brief sketch of the deceased's life :
" Edward T. Sinker was born at Ranavon, Wales, on the 22d of December, 1820. He was the only son, and left his aged parents and seven sisters in his native land. He belonged to and was ever proud to be ranked as a working man. When a boy, but eleven years of age, he went to work in a large shop at Howarden, Wales, and there learned the trade of a machinist. There he continued several years, acquiring the skill and practical knowledge that prepared him for the large opera- tions which he has conducted in this country.
"After learning his trade Mr. Sinker labored at different points in Wales and England, always holding some position of trust. At Liver-
Hammer, Fein bros& It > >rapi
E . J. Sinker
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EDWARD T. SINKER.
pool he superintended the iron works in the construction of steamers. His skill and integrity were such that the government desired him to go to Portugal to take charge of the repairs of government vessels in the ports of that country. He labored two years as foreman on that wonder of engineering and mechanics, the iron bridge over the Straits of Menai. While engaged on this work there was a necessity for reduc- ing the force of laborers. With characteristic generosity he left his place for others who had larger families and greater need than himself. It was at this time that he turned his thoughts to this country as his future home ; he loved our free institutions, and was attracted especially to the great valley of the Mississippi. In his purpose to remove to America he was seconded by his devoted wife.
"In 1849 the young family, bringing one child with them, came to our shores, landing strangers in New Orleans, thence journeyed to Madison. Tarrying there but a few weeks they came to this city in November, 1849, twenty-eight years ago. This was Mr. Sinker's home till his death. Here was the scenes of his labors, when from small beginnings he steadily advanced to become at last the chief in one of the largest manufacturing establishments in the west. It is not needed on this occasion that I should speak of his business history ; it is known to us all, and has been appropriately advertised in the public press. Suffice it to say his history is a noble example of what industry and integrity will accomplish. But Mr. Sinker has also filled a very large place in all the public enterprises, benevolent and religious institutions of our city. Every movement for the relief of the poor, the reforma- tion of the vicious, the education of the young, the salvation of his fellow man, found him a warm sympathizer and helper. He abounded in good works. Our city, which he loved, has suffered a great calamity in his death.
"For some years after his arrival in this city he was connected with the Fourth Presbyterian church. In 1857 he united with others in form- ing the Plymouth Congregational church, and remained until his death one of its honored and useful members. From the beginning he has held the responsible offices of trustee and deacon, and much of the time has served as superintendent of the Sabbath school. He has been so identified with the history of this church, has shared so largely in the burdens of responsibility and sacrifice, that we are cast into the deepest gloom by his sudden removal from us."
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