The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. II, Part 42

Author: Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : Robert O. Law Co.
Number of Pages: 792


USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. II > Part 42


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1853 and as a skilled artisan became a pioneer exponent of his trade in Allen county, both he and his wife having passed the remainder of their lives in Fort Wayne. No children were born of the second marriage of Mr. Huguenard. He was a splendid type of the loyal American citizen and his influence as a man and as a citizen was helpful and uplifting in the community. He had a host of staunch friends in and about Allen county and his passing was mourned by all who knew him.


Elwin M. Hulse, one of the younger members of the Fort Wayne legal fraternity, was twenty-five years old when he was admitted to the bar, in 1900, and he has been engaged in active practice here down to the present time (1917). He was fortunate in becoming the associate of his uncle, Judge R. S. Taylor, when he was ready to identify himself with his profession as a practitioner, and this firm has gained a con- siderable prominence in the patent field, their activities being devoted largely to that phase of legal practice. Born January 1, 1875, in Fort Wayne, Elwin M. Hulse is the son of William L. and Sophia (Taylor) Hulse. The father was born in New Jersey on November 4, 1835, and the mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 1845. Mr. Hulse came to Fort Wayne as early as 1857 and was engaged in that city for the remainder of his life as a mechanic, barring only a period of four years which he spent in service during the Civil war. He enlisted in the Fifth Indiana Battery during the first months of the war and was active in the service until peace was declared. He participated in many of the most hotly contested battles of the war and was with Sherman on his March to the Sea. Mr. Hulse died in Fort Wayne in 1905 and his widow survives him. They were the parents of three children. Luretta, the first born, is the wife of William H. Crighton. William S. was the second child and Elwin M. of this review is the third and youngest. Young Hulse attended the public schools of Fort Wayne and when he had finished his high school training entered Purdue University, following that period of study with a law course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. His subsequent activities down to date have been touched upon in a pre- ceding paragraph. It is sufficient to say here that his professional career thus far has been attended by a pleasing measure of success, and it is generally conceded by his associates that he has not yet reached the summit of his achievements. Mr. Hulse is prominent as a member of the Masonic order, in which he is well advanced, and he is a member of the Rotary and Commercial Clubs. He was married November 26, 1902, to Miss Grace Harding, daughter of Daniel L. and Mary (Fleming) Harding. Both were born in Ireland. Mr. Harding died in 1912, but Mrs. Harding still lives and has her home in Fort Wayne, where their daughter, Mrs. Hulse, was born and reared. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulse-Stewart H. and Edward L .- both students in the local schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hulse are members of the First Presbyterian church of Fort Wayne and have an active part in the work of that body. . They are Republicans in their political faith.


Rev. Chrysostom Hummer, pastor of the Church of the Most Precious Blood, in Fort Wayne, was born March 9, 1866, at Luxemburg, Stearns county, Minnesota. He pursued his studies at St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, Ohio, and was ordained priest by the Most Rev. W. H. Elder, D. D., June 21, 1893. He taught one year at St. Joseph's Indian and Normal School. From June, 1894, to Sepetmber, 1896, he was pastor of St. Michael's church, at Kalida, Ohio, and from 1896 to January, 1903, was professor at St. Joseph's College, Collegeville, Indiana, from which


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position he was transferred to his present charge, the pastorate of the Church of the Most Precious Blood, at Fort Wayne.


Fred S. Hunting .- A more likeable man than Fred Stanley Hunting or one more worthy of real friends is not enrolled among the citizenship of Fort Wayne. A type of man whose success is due entirely to his own strength of character and tireless energy, he has won an enviable place in the commercial life of Fort Wayne and a recognized position of honor in the higher circles of manufacturing and electrical engineering in America. A brief review of his life should prove an inspiration to him who feels handicapped by the lack of financial means to "land" in a desirable place in the modern scheme of things. Mr. Hunting was born in East Templeton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, September 30, 1867, the son of William and Martha D. Hunting, both natives of the old Bay state and descendants of English stock. It is worthy of note that conditions rendered it necessary that the son spend his vacation period and the Saturdays, which are usually passed in play, in working beside his father in one of the chair factories which have given that section of Massachusetts a name as a chair-manufacturing center of im- portance. Today Mr. Hunting looks back upon those preparatory years as a character-forming and habit-building period in which he learned the value of a dollar and the true worth of time. He adheres firmly to the belief that the years from twelve to twenty are virtually important in the laying of the foundation of a life of active worth. From factory conditions he learned much that in later years has aided him to under- stand clearly the problems of the thousands of men employed in the Fort Wayne works of the General Electric Company, of which he is the general manager, and to deal with these problems in a just and intelligent manner. In the course of time, after his graduation in the Templeton high school, Mr. Hunting entered the Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Worcester, Massachusetts, an institution founded by John Boynton, a resident of Templeton, and there he developed his latent talent along the lines of engineering and applied electricity. So well did he apply himself at the institute that upon graduating, in 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, he was awarded, on account of scholarship, one of the six seventy-five dollar prizes from the graduate-aid fund. Small as the amount may seem to the man of today, it was a godsend to the youth of 1888, and it is probable that the granting of the award gave to Fort Wayne one of its most aggressive men, for it provided the necessary means whereby he was able to accept a position in a city far distant from his native locality, when the opportunity came. Fortunately, he found a waiting position in the drafting department of the Fort Wayne "Jenney" Electric Light Company, which has since developed into one of the plants of the General Electric Company. Mr. Hunting came to Fort Wayne in October, 1888. In 1890 he was given the place of assistant to M. M. M. Slattery, then chief electrician of the works. Two years later he was advanced by appointment to the position of assistant to C. S. Bradley, who was then experimenting with multiphase apparatus. In the following year Mr. Hunting was elevated to the position of chief engineer of the engineering department of the Fort Wayne Electric Company, and he continued the incumbent of the same when the institution became the Fort Wayne Electrical Corporation. In January, 1899, he was made vice-president and sales manager of the corporation. In May of the same year, when the business was re- organized, he assumed the important duties of treasurer and sales man-


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ager of the Fort Wayne Electric Works. During these years, through Mr. Hunting's keen knowledge of men and of the times, as well as his thorough acquaintanceship with the productive phase of the electrical business, the high-class products of the Fort Wayne works were dis- tributed to all parts of the United States and the name of Fort Wayne became synonymous with the finest grade of electrical machinery and apparatus. When the plant was made a part of the great General Elec- tric Company's properties Mr. Hunting became the general manager of the Fort Wayne works, which are now by far the largest manufacturing industry in Fort Wayne. Mr. Hunting is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Fort Wayne Country Club, of the Fort Wayne Com- mercial Club, and of the Fortnightly Club. In politics he is a Republican. He is an active member of the Plymouth Congregational church. In banking circles his abilities are recognized in his membership on the board of directors of the First National Bank and of the Tri-State Loan & Trust Company. Mr. Hunting's position among the leading manu- facturing and electrical men of the country is suggested by his mem- bership in the Electrical Manufacturers' Club of New York, his connec- tion as a Fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, which maintains its headquarters in New York city and of which he served as a vice-president in 1914 and 1915, and by his being a member of the board of governors of the Electric Power Club, a national association of electrical manufacturers. He is also a member of the Mohawk Club of Schenectady, New York, in which city is maintained the main office of the General Electric Company. Mr. Hunting has been twice married. A few months after coming to Fort Wayne he returned to the east and wedded Miss Harriet Alzina Sawyer, of East Templeton, Massachusetts. Three children were born of this union-Ralph W., of Los Angeles, California : Lawrence S., of the same city, and Harold Stanley, of Fort Wayne. Mrs. Hunting passed away on June 26, 1904. On June 10, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hunting to Miss Elma Pearl Balthis, of Chicago, and the one child of this union is a son, William Fred. The family home is on Washington boulevard west, corner of Nelson street.


George W. Husted was one of the native sons of Allen county who gave to the world assurance of strong and worthy manhood and who marked the passing years with productive energy. As a citizen he held to the things that are good and true and though he never sought the great white light of publicity and was content to pursue the even tenor of his way with a high sense of personal stewardship, he represented the best in the communal life, instinctively exemplified the Golden Rule and gained and retained the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He was one of the representative farmers of Maumee township for many years prior to his death, which occurred January 26, 1907, and his character and accomplishment were such as to make specially consistent the memorial tribute here paid to him. He was a representative of one of the old and honored families of Allen county and was born on a farm in Maumee township, January 4, 1862, the eldest in a family of ten children, namely: George W., James M., Solomon L., William, Charles L., Frank L., Grosvenor, Frederick A., Alvin R. (deceased) and Dora Margaret. The parents, Louis B. and Margaret Jane (Swisher) Husted, were both natives of the state of New York and became early settlers in Allen county, Indiana, where the father reelaimed and im- proved one of the productive farms of Maumee township, and there both passed the residne of their lives, their religious faith having been that


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of the Lutheran church. The subject of this memoir found the period of his childhood and youth compassed by the invigorating and benignant influences of the home farm, so that he early learned the lessons of prac- tical industry and gained an enduring appreciation of the dignity of honest toil and endeavor, the while he did not fail to make good use of the advantages of the public schools of the locality and period. He gave his entire active life to agricultural pursuits and was one of the sub- stantial farmers and influential citizens of his native township at the time of his death, his energy and ability having enabled him to ac- cumulate a fine farm of 150 acres and his progressiveness having been manifested in both the agricultural and live-stock departments of the farm enterprise. Though he had no ambition for public office he was at all times ready to lend his co-operation in support of measures and enter- prises projected for the general good of the community, was a Re- publican in politics and served four years as assessor of Maumee town- ship. The old homestead farm is still in the possession of his widow and children and is under the active management of his younger son. Mr. Husted was a communicant and earnest supporter of the Lutheran church, as is also his widow, and his life was thoroughly in harmony with the Christian faith which he thus held. On October 10, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Husted to Miss Pamelia Horner, who likewise was born and reared in Maumee township, the date of her nativity having been February 14, 1864. Mrs. Husted is a daughter of James and Sarah Ellen (Mackey) Horner, and the other two children are Sabina E. and William E. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he went to Kentucky, in which state his marriage was solemnized. Upon coming to Allen county, more than half a century ago, he settled in Maumee township, where he became a prosperous exponent of agricul- tural industry, both he and his wife having passed the remainder of their lives on their old homestead firm. Mr. Horner's first wife died prior to his removal to Kentucky, and of this union were born seven children, of whom only three are living-Missouri Ann, Doreas J., and Viola Bella. The sixth child died in infancy and the others who are now deceased were Darias E., Frances and Artemas. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Husted the eldest is Alva G., who is now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Donald has charge of the old home farm; and Vada Pearl and Bessie Opal remain with their widowed mother, who now has an ac- tractive home in the village of Woodburn and whose circle of friends in her native county is limited only by that of her acquaintances.


Clifford J. Hutchinson .- Efficiency and progressiveness have marked the regime of Mr. Hutchinson in the important office of manager of the advertising department of the Perfection Biscuit Company, of Fort Wayne, and he has shown much versatility and initiative in his chosen field of activity. He was born in Fort Wayne on March 8, 1890, and is a son of Frank and Blanche (Hood) Hutchinson, his paternal ancestors having come to America from London, England, about 1810, and having settled in Pennsylvania, and the maternal ancestors having likewise come from England in an early day. George Hood, maternal grandfather of Mr. Hutchinson, established his home on a pioneer farm in Allen county, Indiana, about the year 1850, and it was his to represent this county as a valiant soldier in the Civil war. The paternal grandfather likewise came to Allen county in the early '50s, and he became a prosperous farmer as well as a successful buyer and shipper of grain and live stock. Frank Hutchinson was reared and educated in Allen county, and for


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the past forty years has conducted in Fort Wayne a successful business as a contractor in interior decoration of houses. He whose name in- troduces this article was afforded the advantages of the admirable public schools of Fort Wayne, including the high school, and he perfected through his own application and varied experience his ability as an expert accountant, it having been his to give close study to the business or profession during his association with several important business institutions. For seven years he effectively handled the affairs of the cost-accounting department of the Perfection Biscuit Company, and he was then, in 1916, promoted to his present responsible position, that of manager of the company's advertising department. He is one of the . alert and popular young business men of his native city, is a Republican in his political allegiance, is affiliated with both the York and Scottish Rite divisions of the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in the first Baptist church of Fort Wayne. He is president of the Associated Christian Workers, composed of all of the young people's societies of the Protestant churches of Fort Wayne, and he is also an active worker in the local Young Men's Christian Association, is a member of the executive committee of the Men's Christian League, is treasurer of the Fort Wayne Sunday School Association, is scout master for Troop 7 of the Indiana Boy Scouts, and is one of the two delegates from Indiana to the Northern Baptist Convention. These statements show conclusively the enthusiasm and earnest zeal of Mr. Hutchinson in connection with religious service and his high civic and social ideals are shown in his general attitude as one of the loyal and progressive young men of Allen county, his circle of friends being coincident with that of his acquaint- ances.


Max Irmscher .- More than thirty years ago a German youth of seventeen years left his native land, came to the United States and established his home in Fort Wayne. In Germany he had served an apprenticeship to the trade of blacksmith and thus, equipped with energy, ambition and resolute purpose, as well as with sterling character and a thorough knowledge of his trade, he found little difficulty in obtaining employment in the city of his adoption. That young man was Max Irmscher, whose ability and progressiveness have enabled him to make for himself secure vantage ground as one of the representative con- tractors and builders of the metropolis of Allen county, and in this important domain of constructive enterprise he has shown as great facility as he manifested in the earlier work of his original trade. Mr. Irmscher was born in Saxony, Germany, and is a son of Gottfried and Augusta Irmscher, his father having been a farmer by vocation and having passed his entire life in Germany, where the venerable wife and mother still lives. Of the children the eldest is Emma, who remains in the German fatherland and is the wife of Carl Kretchmer; Anton came to the United States and was a resident of Fort Wayne at the time of his death; Ida is the wife of Professor Fred Graffe, of Leipsic, Germany; Alma is the wife of Robert Wolf and they reside in Germany; Max, of this review, was the next in order of birth; Gustav is deceased; and Hulda and Arthur remain at the old home in Germany. Max Irmscher acquired his early education in the excellent schools of his native land and was but fourteen years old when he left the parental home and entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. Within the ensuing period of about two and one-nalf years he had become a skillful workman, and soon afterward, in 1883, he severed the home ties and set


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forth to seek his fortunes in America, where he felt assured of better opportunities for winning independence and prosperity through his own efforts. Soon after his arrival in the port of New York city he came to Fort Wayne, and after here following his trade about six months began acquiring the trade of brickmason. In this line of work he soon became skilled and finally engaged in contracting in an independent way, in the construction of brick buildings and in other general mason con- tracting. Ile became also one of the organizers of the Fort Wayne Brick & Tile Company, but this incidental enterprise did not reach successful issue until he became associated with others in buying the stock and establishing the business on a firm foundation. The original corporate name is retained and Mr. Irmscher is vice-president of the company, which now controls a substantial business in the manufacturing of brick and tile. He gives the major part of his time and attention to general contracting and building, and in this section of the state are to be found many fine structures that have been erected by him, among them being the Jefferson school, the Harmar school and the Concordia and Third Presbyterian churches, all in Fort Wayne. He assisted in the erection also of the Rudisill school, erected the Regal building and, in 1916, com- pleted the contract for the erection of the Freiburger builiing, a modern four-story brick and cement structure, sixty by one hundred and fifty feet in lateral dimensions and with deep basement. Fidelity to the terms of all contracts has marked his course at all times and has combined with skilled workmanship and business acumen to gain to him an un- assailable reputation and the confidence and good will of all with whom he has had dealings. It is much that he has so worthily achieved within the years of his residence at Fort Wayne, and he has identified himself fully and loyally with the interests of this fine little Indiana city. He owns and occupies a fine two-story brick residence at 2103 Forest Park boulevard, and this attractive home is known for its cordial and un- assuming hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Irmscher is independent in political affairs and both he and his wife are earnest communicants of St. Paul's Lutheran church. On December 19, 1889, Mr. Irmscher wedded Miss Sophia Heger, who was born and reared in Fort Wayne; and they have seven children-George, Arthur, Max, Jr., Hilda, Malinda, Martha and Sophia. Arthur is a graduate of Purdue University and the other children also have received excellent educational advantages.


George Jacobs was a lad of about sixteen years when he came with his parents from Germany to the United States and the family home was established in the city of Fort Wayne, where he has since continued his residence and where he has been prominent in musical circles, both as a talented musician and also as the owner and conductor of a well equipped music store, to the management of which he now gives his attention as one of the leaders in this line of enterprise in the Allen county metropolis. Mr. Jacobs was born in Hohnhousen, Germany, on May 6, 1857, and is a son of George and Hannah (Sauer) Jacobs, who were born and reared in that same section of the great German empire, where the father continued to be identified with the brewing business until 1872, when he came with his family to the United States and estab- lished his residence in Fort Wayne. He entered the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, with the service of which he continued to be identified until his death, which occurred March 10, 1887, his widow passing to the life eternal in 1889, and both having been earnest com- municants of the Lutheran church. Of their nine children the eldest is


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Andrew, who still resides in Fort Wayne; Mary is the wife of William Bittler, of this city; Dorothy is deceased; George, Jr., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Barbara is the wife of John Sauertig, of Fort Wayne; Mary resides with her sister Barbara; Carrie is the wife of George Hill, of Fort Wayne; and the next two children were twin sons who died in infancy. He to whom this sketch is dedicated gained his early education in the excellent schools of his native land and was about sixteen years old at the time of the family immigration to America, as previously noted. He furthered his education by attending for a time the public schools of Fort Wayne and in early youth manifested marked musical talent, his love for music having been reinforced by the ambi- tious purpose that caused him to apply himself and become skilled in orchestral and band interpretations. In earlier years he was a member of leading organizations of this order in Fort Wayne and, since 1890, he has conducted his representative music store on Calhoun street, where he displays the best standard types of pianos and other musical instruments, talking machines, musical merchandise, etc. The excellent and reliable service which this popular music house has given at all times has gained to it a large and appreciative patronage of representative order, and the proprietor has thus gained place as one of the substantial business men of the city that has long been his home and in which his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. Though essentially loyal and progressive as a citizen and independent in his political views, Mr. Jacobs has manifested naught of desire for public office of any kind. He and his wife are zealous communicants of St. John's Lutheran church, of whose board of trustees he has been treasurer since 1910. May 6, 1883, recorded the marriage of Mr. Jacobs to Miss Mary Rapp, who was born and reared in Fort Wayne and who is a daughter of the late George Rapp. Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs the eldest is George W., who is associated with his father's music store; Mamie and Edith remain at the parental home, as do also Esther and Helen, the former of whom is a popular teacher in the public schools and the latter is one of the talented young musicians of the city.


William E. James, editor and publisher of the Harlan Herald, has gained prestige as one of the able representatives of the newspaper fra- ternity in the county that has been his home from the time of his birth, he having been born at Harlan, Springfield township, May 14, 1875, the place having then been known as Maysville. He is a son of George T. and Arretta (Dorsey) James, the former of whom was born in Harford county, Maryland, December 11, 1851, and the latter was born and rearcd in Scipio township, Allen county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Martha (Tanner) Dorsey, early settlers of that township, Mr. Dorsey having been a native of England and his wife of the state of Ohio. George T. James is a son of William and Mary H. (Lilly) James, both of whom were born and reared in Maryland, where their marriage was solemnized and they continued to reside until 1863, when they came to Indiana and settled in Springfield township, Allen county, their home having been established in the little hamlet of Maysville, from which was evolved the now thriving and attractive village of Harlan. William James was a skilled carpenter and became a successful contractor and builder in Allen county, his entire active life having been marked by his close association with the work of his trade, besides which he was a licensed exhorter or local clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church and




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