USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Some Fort Wayne phizes > Part 6
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His parents were French. After attending the coun- try schools and completing their course of study. he qualified as a teacher and spent some time-about tive years-presiding over schools in that part of the coun- try.
In 1800, he was appointed deputy clerk. by Daniel W. Souder, and he performed his duties so nicely that County Clerk Metzger, who succeeded to the head of the office, decided he couldn't keep official house with- out him. The people in general seem to have discovered his good qualities and he was. in 1898, chosen to suc- ceed Mr. Metzger.
During the time Mr. Belot was employed in the clerk's office-both as deputy and as head of the department- he devoted every spare moment of his time to the study of law. In his earlier years he had learned to economize the minutes and by the time he was ready to leave the office he had not only the satisfaction of feeling that his official duties had been well performed, but that he was fully fitted to practice his professiun. He was admitted to the bar at once, and is now the law partner of Judge John H. Aiken.
WILBUR WYNANT
THIS young man is away up in the oil business.
These are the steps by which he climbed the derrick: Mr. Wynant was born in a little log house in Jasper county thirty-four years ago. He attended school in Larwill and then taught in the country districts for seven terms. In the between times he managed to attend the Normal University at Ada, Ohio, using the earnings from his work as a teacher.
Then he became interested in the insurance business and started in to study human nature. During the time of the Chicago World's Fair, he added to his stock of experience as a railroad brakeman, running on both freight and passenger trains. Then returning to the insurance business he operated successfully in all the large cities between Washington and Chicago, and then. having framed the entire plan himself, set about to organize the Fraternal Assurance Society, of America, with headquarters in Fort Wayne. To this he gave his entire personal attention until the development of the Indiana oil fields succeeded in interesting him. He re- signed his position as manager of the Fraternal on Jan- uary 1. 1904, but retains the office of Supreme Recording Secretary, in order to give more attention to his oil in- terests.
Mr. Wynant is one of the best organizers in the state. He has successfully launched a large number of well- established concerns, and has put about $100,000 into the development of the Geneva, Alexandria, Fairmont and Johnesboro oil fields in the past year.
It may be of interest to know that Indiana leads all other states in the production of oil. It has has now 9.439 wells owned by 2,567 different concerns or individ- uals. The industry employs 1,462 wage earners at a cost of $1, 045,825 annually.
Mr. Wynant is president of the King Medical Insti- tute and holds the office of director in eight important business concerns.
JAMES C. PELTIER
1 IN this little sketch we get a good view of a jolly undertaker-a man whose life is necessarily sur- rounded by other people's sadness, yet who manages to keep smiling. Perhaps this is the result of the knowl- edge that his life is not a fractional part as sad as it might he. But why philosophize? It's sufficient to say that Mr. Peltier is always good-natured.
When we think of the burial of the dead most of us associate with it the Peltier name. This is because the Peltiers, father and son, have been engaged in the undertaking business in Fort Wayne since the early pioneer days, when the father, Louis Peltier, conducted the first undertaking establishment here. To this busi- ness the son, James C., succeeded, and for years he has been a leader in his business and is one of our repre- sentative citizens. Mr. Peltier was educated in the city schools and at Notre Dame University. He had been attending Notre Dame for two years when the smell of distant explosives in 1862 prompted him to give up his studies and enlist as a soldier in the Twelfth Indiana regiment. He was wounded fighting for the flag at Richmond, Kentucky, and his injuries were of such a serious nature that he was honorably discharged and returned home. On his recovery trom his wounds he entered the undertaking business with his father. The latter retired from the firm in 1882, and since then the son has been conducting the business alone. With the soldiers of the War of the Rebellion he has always been popular, and for two years he was commander of the Sion S. Bass Post, G. A. R., of this city. In business progressive and anxious to do the right thing hy every- body, and in social circles genial, he has made friends everywhere.
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EDWARD J. EHRMAN
F EW men in Fort Wayne are better known than Mr. Ehrman. We associate his name with the tele- graph and messenger service of the city, for he is the manager here of the Postal Telegraph Company and the Fort Wayne District Telegraph Company, two corpora- tions having much to do with our business and social life. He was born at Monroeville, Ohio, and, with his parents, when ten years old, came to this city. Here he was educated in the parochial schools and leaving them, entered busy life in which he has continuously remamed.
During the first administration of President Cleve- land he took government service in the Fort Wayne postoffice as distributing clerk and assistant superin- tendent of carriers under Postmaster Kaough. When Mr. Kaough retired from the postoffice and re-entered the agricultural implement business Mr. Ehrman fol- lowed him in his employ until 1807 when he took the position of deputy township assessor with .M. V. Walsh. When Mr. Rohan was elected county treasurer Mr. Ehrman accepted under him a deputy ship in the office. But his busmess alulties and worth had attracted the attention of others-the owners of the Postal Telegraph Company and the Fort Wayne District Telegraph Com- pany. They offered him the position of manager of these companies, and, refusing the place with County Treasurer Rohan, he accepted it For tive years, 1898, until 1902, he represented his ward in the city council. He gave municipal questions a close study and displayed marked ability in their adjustment in that body.
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CLEMENT W. EDGERTON
O NE day, twenty-five years ago, the quiet, peaceable inhabitants of the little city of Fort Wayne were thrown into a state of the wildest excitement and con- sternation. The cause of it all was the appearance of a strange being on the streets. One small boy who beheld it burst in the door of his home, where he sought refuge, exclaiming breathlessly: "Ma. ma! I've just seen the devil! He was riding on a wagon wheel with another littler wheel fastened to his tail!""
But it wasn't His Satanic Majesty at all. It was "Clem'' Edgerton astride a bicycle-the high kind-the first bicycle ever seen in Fort Wayne and perhaps the first to be brought to Indiana. Mr. Edgerton had read an article in Scribner's describing the new invention and decided to own one of the new-fangled contrivances of locomotion. He bought it in Boston. Later, as others purchased wheels, Mr. Edgerton organized our first bicy- cle club with seven members. During the nine years he rode his high wheel he never took a "header:" but as soon as he bought a safety he met with an accident which laid him up for several weeks. A street car motorman, while making goo-goos at a girl on the street, let his car run into a team ot mules, which in turn ran over Mr. Edgerton. Luckily, the judge of the superior court was a passenger on the car and wit- nessed the whole proceedings. The company paid the damages.
Mr. Edgerton also enjoys the distinction of being the original "kodaker." He was for twenty years engaged in the manufacture and sale of plows and agricultural implements and is the inventor of a successful plow. He was in the bicycle business for fifteen years.
Mr. Edgerton is a native of Fort Wayne. He has traveled extensively in our own and foreign lands.
1
W. OTTO GROSS
T "HE day that Virginia seceded from the Union in 1801 Wilham Otto Gross made things very lively at his home in Richmond. The cry was " On to Richmond." but Willam Otto was bawling there. He made as much trouble as 144 babies. He was a gross annoyance. Virginia had lost her statehood, but the new arrival made up for the loss While the North was throwing salt and pepper at Richmond, Otto was getting cream and sugar. In 1867 the Rev. Karl Gross moved to Buffalo. New York, and, of course, W. O. went along, taking a straight cut from Richmond. He entered the public schools and there joined the Buffaloes very early. Then he entered the University. Among other things, he studied medicine and for six years was in the drug business there.
In 1880 he came to Fort Wayne. In this city he first worked in the Meyer Brothers drug store. In 1884 he went to the New York College of Pharmacy, studying chenustry under Prof. C. F. Chandler. After returning to Fort Wayne in 1880 he purchased an interest in the T. F. Thieme drug store and the firm for sixteen years prospered. He disposed of his interests to enter busi- ness for himself and now has a fine pharmacy at the corner of Barr and Washington streets. Incidentally, to keep up with his profession, he was graduated from the Fort Wayne College of Medicine in 1893. Although Dr. Gross' distinguished father is a preacher, Dr. Gross does not practice.
When Mayor Oakley was at the head of the city government he looked about for a chemist to serve the city. Dr. Gross was the first official to act for Fort Wayne in that capacity. This was in June, 1894. Ten years later we have Dr. W. O. Gross as one of the public school trustees of Fort Wayne. He is the first Republi- can treasurer this board has had since this city was in swaddling clothes. It is an honor that Dr. Gross will wear well.
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CHARLES H. WORDEN
O NE day when he was a boy, Mr. Worden sat by the kitchen fire watching the tea kettle boil. You will remember that James Watt did the same thing and the lesson he learned was that steam has great power: the locomotive, the ocean liner and our great engines are the result of his boyish observations. But the boy Worden wasn't thinking about the power of the steam. He continued to watch the kettle for some time and then remarked:
'.If a common, ordinary tea kettle can keep up a lively song and dance even though it is in hot water up to its nose, I know that 1, even if troubles do come, can always keep smiling .**
And that's what he has continued to do whether the path of life ran smoothly or not, and we believe he has taught many others to do likewise.
Mr. Worden is purely a Fort Wayne product; born in September, 1859. He secured his schooling here and at the University of Michigan, and afterward studied law in the office of his father. In 1882, he entered the law office of Judge Robert S. Taylor. He was admitted to the bar in 1883. In 1886, he formed a partnership with John Morris, junior, which continued several years, after which Mr. Wurden continued to practice alone until December, 1894, when the partnership with Judge Allen Zollars was formed. Mr. Worden is a Democrat. and his voice in behalf of party success has been frequently heard.
On leaving the practice of law he became the manager of the First National Bank, of which he is the vice-pres- ident and acting president. He is actively interested in the success of the Winona Assembly and was one of the men who brought about its organization.
Mr. Worden is a member of the Haydn quartet-that celebrated organization of sweet singers which has de- lighted thousands for twenty-six years, without a change in its personnel.
Mr. Worden is a good man and we like him,
BLACKSTONE
ON NOTES:
BANK NOTES MUSICAL NOTES ETC., ETC.
FOLLOW THE FLAG
WABASH
R. G. THOMPSON
"F 'OLLOW the flag!" is "Colonel" Thompson's battle cry. There is no better railroad man in Indiana than .Dick," as he is called hy his friends, and he has a host of them. The newspaper boys always put "Colonel" in front of his name. And he would have been a colonel if he had not been wearing frocks during all the time that the War of the Rebellion was going on. He is the district passenger agent of the Wabash Railroad Company, with headquarters and offices in this city. He has been a resident of three states. Born in lowa, he moved when a lad, with his parents, to Reading, Michigan. There he was edu- cated, leaving the high schools well equipped mentally for life's duties. In 1880, at the age of twenty years, he began railroad work for the Fort Wayne & Jackson and was sent to Waterloo, Indrina, as ticket agent. It only took the company six months to find out that his abili- ties were too big and his services too valuable for a town of that size, and they transferred him to the agency at Fort Wayne. One road wasn't huig enough for him, and, in 1883, his road was merged with the Lake Shore, and he was made joint agent. His abilities to get business soon attracted the attention of the great Wabash, and they got after him. The result was he took service with them 11 1888 as passenger and ticket agent. He has been with them since. His jurisdiction now extends to towns east and west on the main line and also on the Detroit division. Everybody thinks there is no better fellow on earth than genial .. Dick" Thompson.
NEWTON D. DOUGHMAN
D ID you ever stop to think that the largest number of our foremost lawyers, like the prize pumpkins and blue ribbon Jerseys exhibited at the county fairs. come from the best farms ? Well, they do. Mr. Dough- man, for instance, did; and he is certainly a member of the profession to be proud of.
He is now the law partner of Judge Walter Olds, the firm being among the ablest practitioners at the bar in this city. Mr. Doughman was born in this county and, until he left his country home to attend college, did his share of the farm work. Acquiring the rudiments of his education in the country district schools, he attended the Methodist College in this city, from which he was graduated. As the stepping-stone of so many of our lawyers to their profession, he taught school for seven years, four of which were as principal of the graded schools at New Haven. He was thus well equipped for the study of the law, which he pursued under the tutelage of Hon. Henry Colerick. After his admission to the bar he established himself in practice in this city. His abilities as a speaker in the political campaign and his wide ac- quaintance in the county secured him the nomination and election as prosecuting attorney and this office he held for four years. On his retirement from this position he associated himself in practice with Senator R. C. Bell and remained his partner until that distinguished orator's death. Messrs. Olds & Doughman are attorneys for the Fort Wayne & Southwestern Railroad Com- pany. On the many complex questions arising out of the building of the interurban line and its entrance into this city Mr. Doughman was its spokesman in the city council and in the courts. He is the company's attorney nuw and alsu represents other railroads.
LETTER FROM HOME
.. ....
ALLAN H. DOUGALL
T THE subject of this sketch went to the Philippines to See if the constitution had really followed the flag. Captain Dougall writes home that he found a very strong constitution. Although born in Scotland and edu- cated in Glasgow, he has ever since maturity been follow- ing the American flag. When the Civil War broke out he followed Sherman's colors to the sea. At the battle of Resaca he was shot through the right arm and shoulder. Although never able to draw a Sword again, he remained with his regiment and was shot through the left leg at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. Later, at the battle of Ben- tonville, North Carolina, he was shot through the night leg while saving his regimental colors. His constitution was weaker than the flag when carried from the field. Congress decorated hun with a medal of honor for this act.
When President Harnson wanted to know what the flag was doing in Alaska he sent Captain Dougall up there to nail flags on totem poles It took him six months to get the constitution walking around after the flag. He labored for the Department of Justice. When Garza, the revolutionist. needed attention on the Mex- ican border Captain Dougall was sent there meog on Secret business for the State and Justice departments. He spent six months in Mexico and Texas, following Garza. President Diaz and President Harrison praised lum for his success. He has wonderful executive ability in gathering valuable information and statistics
A cablegram called him to Mamla about a year ago, His hrst duty was a trip to the remote corner of Luzon to confer with the Igorrotes, or head hunters of the Filipino tribes. Recently he has been issuing the new Philippine money and arranging to drive Spanish and Mexican money from the island. His most cheering task is read- ing a letter from home. He has traveled in every state, territorial and island possession of the United States except Cuba and Porto Rico.
DANIEL F. BASH
1 T isn't very often that Dan Bash gets scared. But there was once upon a time that he was nearly frightened out of his boots, and he didn't get over it for a long while.
It happened out in wild and woolly Wyoming while Dan held the job of paymaster's clerk of the United States army under his uncle, Major D. N. Bash. For a long period Mr. Bash was stationed at San Antonio. Texas, but the headquarters were transferred to Chey- enne, Wyoming. Upon one memorable occasion a troop of cowboys swooped down upon them, scooped up $7.350.90 worth of com belonging to Uncle Sam and dis- appeared with it in their sombreros. Then was when Dan got scared. He and his uncle didn't feel like diving into their jeans and making up the deficiency, so they told Congress about it, and a bill was passed appropriat- ing the needed amount. But Grover Cleveland refused to sign the hill, and things looked gloomy again until a new Congress convened. Mr. Harrison affixed his sig- nature to a new bill, and all was lovely again.
Mr. Bash commenced his varied career in Fort Wayne. After leaving school his health was not of the best, so he was sent to Denver, Colorado, where he continued his school work. For thirteen years he remamed in the west. For a year he studied law in Denver, but didn't take kindly to that brand of excitement. Then he busted himself for a year raising sheep. From this outdoor life he transferred his efforts to the conduct of a wholesale notion store, which he discontinued after one year's experience, and then for four years gave his attention to mining.
Then he returned to Fort Wayne, where he expects to sell turnip seed and otherwise promote the welfare of S. Bash & Company for decades to come.
TURNIP SEED
LUTHER H. KEIL
M R. KEIL Is a paper man. although not a newspaper man.
In social affairs there are wallflowers, but in business affairs Mr. Keil is not one of these. He believes in dec_ orating homes. He puts flowers on the walls in endless variety. He began his early business career as circu- lator on the Fort Wayne Gazette. He learned to draw huis salary artistically and later devoted much time to art. He learned the distinction between a tintype and a Rembrandt without the aid of glasses. He soon drifted into the general decorating business. He has never presided at a lynching bee, but can direct hus men just how to hang a curtain. He can and you in selecting beautiful designs for decorating the parlor walls. He can even help you out in the dining-room. Just invite him in and see.
Luther was born and reared in Fort Wayne, and he seems to be proud of the city. He has remained at home to help boom things. He has made many homes attract- ive. He has many beautiful pictures to put on the walls after the paper is up. There are landscapes in endless variety and some pictures not so well clothed with fohage or other decorations : but the frames are all modest and beautiful. Mr. Keil has artistic ideas, and his display suits all tastes. He knows a good thing when he sees it and keeps his many friends posted. He is a popular young business man in every sense of the word, and his customers are lus friends. He does not own an auto- mobile, but never misses a polo game or a baseball game except on Sunday. The fact that he likes Fort Wayne and remains in the city of his birth indicates that he has good taste in selecting a home as well as selecting beautiful pictures or blending colors to make the interior of a home attra.tive
WILLIAM H. SHAMBAUGH
S OME men were born great, and a few others were born in Cedar Creek township. City Attorney William Henry Shambaogh belongs to the latter class. All of the greatness he has acquired was accumulated through hard work. He was born on a farm and lingered there till he was graduated from the country schools. Then he went from the pasture lot to the Indiana Uni- versity at Bloomington. He concluded his law course at the Lebanon, Ohio, Normal School. He then came back to Allen county and entered the office of Judge Alden. He was adnutted to the bar in 1884 and opened a law office ot his own. He arose to fame by being elected to the Indiana legislature in 1887 and in 188Q. He was the father of the house appropriation bill which made it pos- sible for Fort Wayne to get the Indiana School for Feeble-Minded Youth. In 1891 he was appointed city attorney for this municipality by the Democratic mayor. and he has hung to this office with tenacity ever since, excepting the two years of Mayor Oakley's administra- tion. Shambaugh was nominated by the Democrats as a candidate for mayor, but the people wanted him as city attorney more than they wanted him as mayor, and he took a back seat in the rear gallery of municipal stars for two years. Again we find him running the legal end of the city and telling the erstwhile statesmen where to back into oblivion when he chooses to play a stellar engagement before the municipal footlights, William knows how to run his tongue to say things which are pleasant. witty and interesting. He is not as silent as some statesmen. He is an orator and is frequently heard at banquets. He has been toastmaster at Elk functions, and his eloquence is often heard at public gatherings. He has a silver tongue, bot is a little inclined toward golden thoughts.
HOW TO RUN A CITY
LOUIS A. CENTLIVRE
A NYONE who lives on Spy Run avenue is not in it. That is, he doesn't live in Fort Wayne. This is one reason that Lowse Centhyre has to have a horse and buggy to come to town. Louie is very much at home in town, however, and some day he may not have to move to be night in it. Louie won't sell his horse then, because he loves tine horses too well. He has had a hand in making Fort Wayne famous for fast horseflesh.
Louie ought to be called "Major"-not because he was ever a member of the Salvation Army, but because he was a member of Governor Matthews' official staff. Louie bought more gold buttons than a major-general ever wore, and he had enough gold braid to put a gilt lining on every cloud in the dome above on a sunless day. Lowie was born to command, but on the governor's staff a "major" is about as high as a tray in a soiled deck But Louie was the handsomest man on the staff. and on dress parade he was the cynosure of all eyes. He was the only man on the staff who knew how to pronounce the French on a bill of fare, and in consequence always had the place of honor next to the governor at all ban- quets. He always carned on his conversation with the governor in kitchen and parlor French. For some time. whenever he spoke of himself and the governor he said something which sounded like the editorial "we." Louie says he will never forget when his friends here gave him that Ssoo sword. He uses it to cut grass now. His children use the brass buttons for marbles, and the gold brand has been loaned to the Democratic party for a platform lining. Since retiring from "office " Mr Cent- bvre has been doing duty as the president of the C. L Centlivre Brewing Company His duties keep him busily engaged, but he also has spare time to devote his energies to other enterprises in which he is heavily interested.
CARL YAPLE
A MAN born in Michigan, as the old saving goes 15 Michigander, but Attorney Carl Yaple left the flock up north and came down to Fort Wayne to shed his feathers. He was born at Coldwater, and although a Michigander takes kindly to water. Carl left the pond to seek knowledge in dry books.
He came out of the Coldwater high school with honors and then went to Albion college. Later we find him taking the literary course at the Ann Arbor university After he got hterary he did not come to Indiana to write novels, but entered the law department of the Indiana University In 1899 he began the practice of law m the office of Vesey & Heaton. Two years ago he formed a partnership with Attorney Ben F. Heaton, and this law firm has been eminently su cessful.
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