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 62
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William D. Pequignot, who is one of the progressive and popular farmers of the younger generation in Aboite township, where he resides upon one hundred acres of land that is a part of his father's estate, is a scion of the third generation of one of the sterling pioneer families of Allen county, where his paternal grandfather settled in an early day, shortly after immigrating to America from France. Mr. Pequignot was born in Lake township, this county, on October 1, 1886, a son of Frank and Anna (Lauers) Pequignot, who now reside in the village of Roanoke, Huntington county, where the father is living retired. Frank Pequignot was born and reared in St. Joseph township, this county, as was also his wife, and was for many years one of the prominent and successful farmers of the county, where he still owns a valuable landed estate, both
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he and his wife being communicants of the Catholic church, and his politieal support being given to the Democratic party. Charles J., the eldest of their children, is the subject of an individual review on other pages of this work; Sarah is the wife of George Lumway, of Lake town- ship; Christina resides in Fort Wayne; John is another of the success- ful farmers of the county ; Elizabeth is the wife of Samuel Deal, of Fort Wayne; Agnes is the wife of Samuel Kelter, of that city; Nora is the wife of Louis Hines, of Jefferson township; William D., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and Harry remains at the parental home. William D. Pequignot acquired his early education in the public schools of his home township and from his youth to the present his activities have been in connection with the affairs of the fine farm properties owned by his father, from whom he now rents to well improved farm of one hundred acres, the same being by him utilized effectively for diver- sified agriculture and stock-growing. He is one of the loyal and public- spirited young men of his native county, pays his allegiance to the Demo- cratie party, and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church. September 26, 1909, recorded the marriage of Mr. Pequignot to Miss Celia Hines, daughter of Michael and Catherine Hines, the former of whom is deceased and the latter resides in the village of Roanoke. Mr. and Mrs. Pequignot have four children, Marietta, Harold, Paul and James.
Arthur H. Perfect .- In following out a unique policy of living, Arthur H. Perfect has developed a means of becoming naturally a citizen of exceptional value to his home city. That policy may be described as a devotion to his business affairs to such a degree that the material ยท gains therefrom have provided him with the means to do the largest amount of good to the greatest number. His plan is in marked variance with that of the man whose material success tends to the development of habits of selfishness and narrowness of view of true service to others. No one denies that Mr. Perfect has proven to be a marked success in the business world. Everyone admits, in the same thought, that his service to the people of his home city has been widely and wisely manifested. Mr. Perfeet is the president of A. H. Perfect & Company, one of the foremost wholesale grocery establishments of this portion of the middle west. He was born January 16, 1865, in Olive Green, Dela- ware county, Ohio, son of Emory and Lucy (Moyer) Perfect. Later, the family removed to Wilmington, Ohio, where Arthur H. Perfect was educated in the common schools. At the age of sixteen, however, he entered upon his commercial experiences, beginning with employment in a Wilmington dry goods store where he was employed for three years. Going then to Springfield, Ohio, he entered upon the study of stenog- raphy and typewriting, combined with business instruction, devoting his evenings to the work which proved of such essential value to him in later years. For seven years he was employed in the offices of The Thomas Manufacturing Company at Springfield. Opportunity then came to him to engage in the wholesale grocery business at Findlay, Ohio, with a partner, the firm name being Evans, Perfect & Company. When the occasion for advancement arose, Mr. Perfect sold his interests to his partner and established a wholesale grocery house at Madison, Wis- consin. While passing through Fort Wayne, at this time, Mr. Perfect learned of the closing of the wholesale grocery establishment of Mc- Donald & Watt, and he called at the place to ascertain whether or not
Auchunde Pertech
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a portion of the stock would be usable in connection with his Madison venturc. This visit of investigation revised all his plans. He became convinced that Fort Wayne was a more suitable center for a wholesale grocery than Madison and so the Summit City claimed him as one of her wide-awake and aggressive business men. The co-partnership of Arthur H. Perfect, Harry A. Perfect, T. Guy Perfect and H. H. Eavey, under the name of A. H. Perfect & Company, was formed in April, 1896, and this organization was continued until March, 1907, when the firm was incorporated under the same name, with Arthur H. Perfect, presi- dent; H. H. Eavey, first vice-president; T. Guy Perfect, second vice- president; Harry A. Perfect, secretary-treasurer. The original capitali- zation was for $200,000. For a considerable period the company occu- pied large quarters at the northeast corner of West Columbia and Harri- son streets. Later, the present building at the corner of Clay and East Columbia streets was erected for the special use of the Perfect concern, and recently the company purchased a large tract of ground on Old Fort Place, east of Lafayette street, where a modern building of im- mense proportions is soon to be erected. The company employs seventeen road salesmen and thirty-five men in the house. It is the center of dis- tribution of vast quantities of well-known brands of foodstuffs, promi- nent among which are the "Perfect" brands along many choice lines. This brief outline suggests the fact that Mr. Perfect has prospered, but an analysis of his methods brings the added knowledge that his success is firmly founded upon strictly honorable business methods, backed by a thorough knowledge of his field and the way in which its needs may best be met. Ever since he came to Fort Wayne Mr. Perfect has been identified strongly with all the forward movements which have marked the recent years. During the campaign of June, 1916, when the city of Fort Wayne drew to itself attention from all parts of America because of the success of the campaign to raise $300,000 to establish a Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. Perfect served as the general chairman of the organization, and it is needless to observe that the breaking of the world's record in a ten-day's canvass for funds was in no small degree dependent upon the policies and the activities of the executive head of the organization. In his capacity as president of the Associated Charities-the central "clearing house" of the city's benevolent organi- zations-Mr. Perfect has given splendid service. His connection as an elder in the First Presbyterian church affords wide opportunities for the kind of work which suits best his inclinations and his talents. In Masonic circles he is also active. In the Scottish Rite he holds the Thirty-second degree and he is deeply interested in the Shrine. He is a member of the Commercial club of Fort Wayne and the Columbia club of Indianapolis. No movement in the general interest of his city or state fails to receive the active support of Mr. Perfect. With no desire for leadership, he is ofttimes called to places of responsibility when difficult problems for the public welfare are to be solved. On January 31, 1889, Mr. Perfect was united in marriage with Miss Maude Eavey, daughter of H. H. Eavey, of Xenia, Ohio. Henry Eavey Perfect, a son, possessing traits which promised much for a future of usefulness, lived only to the age of twelve. A second son, Frederick Eugene Perfect, a student at Howe Military Academy, is of the type of young man to profit well by the training of home and school and to rise to a desirable place in society. The Perfect family home on West Wayne street is
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one of the newer substantial residence properties on that pretty thorough- fare. The family cottage on the shore of Sylvan Lake, Rome City, Indiana, which claims attention during the warmer months, is one of the delightful spots at this popular resort. Mr. Perfect spends much of his time at his summer home, where, in the place of passing the hours in restful ease, he finds a more pleasing diversion in the care of his flowers and a model vegetable garden.
Ely E. Perry is recognized as a lawyer of excellent attainments and has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Fort Wayne since 1902. He gives special attention to real estate law and is one of the prominent exponents of this branch of practice in the metropolis and judicial center of Allen county. In connection with his law business he has concerned himself vigorously with the improving of local realty, as a builder of high grade houses in the south side of the city. Ely Emerson Perry was born on a farm near Belle Plaine, Marshall county, Illinois, and the date of his nativity was August 12, 1876. He is a son of William John and Jennie (Moore) Perry, the former a native of Marshall county and the latter of Woodford county, Illinois. The father was one of the representative farmers of his native county at the time of his death, was a scion of one of the old and influential families of that section of Illinois, and his widow now resides in the city of Los Angeles, California, the subject of this review bieng the younger of their two children, and the daughter, Lillian, being the wife of Charles Ong, of Varna, Marshall county, Illinois. Ely E. Perry continued his studies in the public schools of his native state until he had completed a course in the high school at Washburn, Woodford county, after which he pursued higher academic studies in the Illinois State Normal School at Normal. For two years after leaving this institution he was a successful teacher in the public schools at Varna, Woodford county, and then entered the law department of Rock River University, at Dixon, Illinois, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902, and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. During two years of his law course he held the position of secretary to Judge Watts, the dean of the law school. In 1902 Mr. Perry established his residence in Fort Wayne and for six months was associated with the well known law firm of Ninde Brothers. Thereafter he was for two years associated in practice with Herman Brown, under the firm name of Brown & Perry, and since that time has conducted an individual practice, the same having grown to be one of successful and important order, especially in the domain of real estate law, to which he gives almost exclusive attention, though he has made for himself a reputation as a skilled trial lawyer and circumspect and well informed general counselor. Mr. Perry has been prominently identified with the material development of the south side of Fort Wayne, where he has erected and sold a number of high grade houses, his association with this line of enterprise being still con- tinned in an effective way. His political allegiance is given to the Demo- cratic party, he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, he is a loyal member of the Fort Wayne Commercial Club and the University Club, and in the Masonic fraternity has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, besides being- affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. On November 7, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Perry to Miss Robina A. Pierce, who was born in the state of Kansas, and whose
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parents, Alfred R. and Emma (Eason) Pierce, now reside on Kinnaird avenue, Fort Wayne, the father being a retired druggist. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have one daughter, Hester Lillian, who is attending the public schools.
Frank C. Pfeiffer, of Aboite township, is one of the prosperous and well known farmers of that section of Allen county. He was born July 2, 1866, in Washington township and is a son of Charles G. and Abigail (Williams) Pfeiffer. The father came from Wurtemburg, Germany, with his parents when eight years old. After a residence in Buffalo for five years the family came to Allen county, where land was bought, a home- stead of 160 acres. This was cleared and improved by the toil of all grown members of the family and subsequently another twenty-four acre tract was added. Charles and Abigail Pfeiffer were members of the Lutheran church, and reared a family of nine children, as named in the sketch of George L., following this. Of these, George L. and Ivory K. are elsewhere mentioned in nearby pages of this volume. Frank C. at- tended the schools of his neighborhood and assisted in the strenuous duties of farm life until he grew to manhood, and after renting for a time he bought eighty acres of his present farm. By application and industry he has greatly improved this with modern buildings, and it is one of the stock-raising places of Aboite township. June 17, 1891, he was married to Edith, daughter of Valentine and Emaline (Pettit) Mann, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer are parents of the following children : Evelyn and Lucile, in Fort Wayne; Walter, Laurine and Ralph at home.
George L. Pfeiffer .- Among the substantial citizens and farmers of Washington township, none are more worthy of mention in a publica- tion of the nature of this one than is George L. Pfeiffer, who has stood solidly for development and progress in his community through all his maturer years. He is a native son of Allen county, born on September 18, 1853, son of Charles and Abigail F. (Sutton) Pfeiffer, natives of Ger- many and Pennsylvania, respectively. Coming first to Ohio after his arrival on American shores, Charles Pfeiffer later came to Allen county, Indiana, where he met and married his wife, and there they made their home as long as they lived. They were parents of nine children. John, the eldest, is deceased; the second child was George L., of this review, aftr whom came Emma, Charles A., William H. and Clara, who were twins, Frank C., Ivory K. and Arthur W. George L., in common with his brothers and sisters, had his education in the district schools of his native community in Washington township, finishing in the schools of Fort Wayne. He turned his attention to farming when he had finished his studies, and from then to the present time has devoted his energies to farm life, with the exceptoin of a two-year period when he was engaged in the teaming business in Fort Wayne. Today Mr. Pfeiffer is the owner of ninety-one acres in Washington township, highly improved from every viewpoint, and is counted among the foremost farms of the community. He was married on March 24, 1887, to Miss Althea L. Cartwright, daugh- ter of James M. and Elizabeth M. (Ferris) Cartwright, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of New York state. She came to Allen county when she was thirteen years of age and he was a young man when he settled here, first locating in Aboite township and, in 1865, moving to Wayne township, where he spent five years, still later settling in Lake township. They were the parents of thirteen children, named as follows:
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Walton, Lavina, Jennie, Felicia, Adeline, Warren, Anna, Ida, Elizabeth, Althea, Jessie, Charles and Dora. Walton, Adeline and Elizabeth are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer are parents of nine children. They are Elmer, Howard, Charles, Earl, Raymond, Ross, Althea, Warren and Jessie. Mr. Pfeiffer has served his township in the office of assessor and is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the English Lutheran church at Fort Wayne, as are also the members of his family.
Ivory K. Pfeiffer is another of the prosperous and well-to-do sons of Charles G. and Abigail Pfeiffer, who are more extensively noticed in the memoir of Frank C. Pfeiffer on an earlier page of this volume. Ivory K. received his education in the schools of Washington township, Allen county, where he was born April 19, 1871. He grew to manhood in the active labors of the farm, than which there is none better for the physical and mental development. For several years he followed agricultural pur- suits as an independent operator on land rented from his father and father-in-law. In 1906 he purchased his present home farm in Aboite township, where he has erected modern house, barn, silo and other requi- site improvements, which go to make a first-class farming and stock- raising establishment. He advocates the principles of the Republican party and belongs to the Lutheran church and to the Redmen. September 3, 1896, he espoused Sophia, daughter of Edward and Marie Beckman, and they have these children : Edna, Frederick, Ervin, Florence, Melvin, Mildred and Verda, all at home.
Artemas W. Pickard has gained in his native city a position of dis- tinct prominence and influence in connection with industrial and commer- cial activities of important order, as shown in his tenure of the office of assistant treasurer and manager of the Fort Wayne Foundry and Machine Company, with which he identified himself in 1891, at which time the business was conducted under the title of the Fort Wayne Iron Works. The company maintains a well-equipped plant with the most approved modern facilities and controls a substantial and prosperous business, so that it stands representative in the industrial life of the city. In addition to this alliance Mr. Pickard also holds the office of secretary of the Pickard House Furnishing Company, which has developed a very successful retail business and is one of the leading concerns of its kind in northern Indiana. Mr. Pickard is emphatically progressive and lib- eral, both as a business man and as a citizen, and he is always ready to give his support to measures and enterprises tending to advance the well- being of his native city and county. On January 4, 1893, Mr. Pickard was united in marriage with Miss Adah Gray, of Fort Wayne, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James P. Gray, and they have one son, Artemas Gray, now (1917) a student in the University of Michigan. Mr. Pickard is an active member of the Fort Wayne Commercial Club and the local Rotary Club, as well as the Country Club, and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Pickard was born in Fort Wayne on September 7, 1869, a son of Thomas R. Pickard, who was identified with the Bass Foundry and Machine Company for over fifty years. He continued his studies in the public schools until he had duly profited by the advantages of the high school, and as a youth entered the employ of the Bass Foundry and Machine Company, with which concern he remained until he became identified, in 1891, with the Fort Wayne Foundry and Machine Company, a J. H. Bass corporation.
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Charles T. Pidgeon, who is president of the C. T. Pidgeon Millinery Company and treasurer of the C. T. Pidgeon Realty Company, is con- sistently to be designated as one of the influential and progressive busi- ness men of Fort Wayne and his ability and sterling character have been shown in his admirable achievement in connection with business interests of importance. Mr. Pidgeon was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 12, 1863, a son of Rev. John M. and Caroline P. (Thompson) Pidgeon, natives of Guilford county, North Caroline, where the former was born, February 2, 1833, and the latter in the year 1842, their home being now at Jamestown, Greene county, Ohio, where the father is living retired, after a quarter of a century of devoted service as a minister in that noble religious organization, the Society of Friends, of which both he and his wife are birthright members. He whose name introduces this article acquired his early education in the public schools of Ohio and supplemented the same by an effective course in Earlham college, an admirable institution maintained under the auspices of the Society of Friends, at Richmond, Indiana. He gave two years of effective service as a teacher in the public schools and thereafter was in the railway mail service for a period of four years. In January, 1888, he became associ- ated with the wholesale millinery house of Adams and Armstrong, whose establishment was then situated on Calhoun street, Fort Wayne. Three years later he established his residence in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, and from that point continued as a traveling salesman for the same firm for one year. On July 1, 1893, he was admitted to partnership in the business, the corporate title of the concern having been changed to James A. Armstrong & Company. He continued as vice-president of the company until January 1, 1901, when he purchased the interests of his associates, Messrs. Armstrong and Turner, changed the title to the C. T. Pidgeon Millinery Company and assumed the office of president of the corporation. Under his effective management as chief executive the trade of the house has been greatly expanded, making it a leader in lines of commercial business centered in Fort Wayne. The progressive- ness of Mr. Pidgeon has further been exemplified through his association with the C. T. Pidgeon Realty Company, of which he is treasurer and which has valuable holdings in the Allen county metropolis. He is a loyal and valued member of the Fort Wayne Commercial Club, is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are active members of the Congregational church. On November 21, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Pidgeon to Miss Maude B. Keplinger, who was born and reared in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Keplinger, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pidgeon have one daughter, Mervyn G.
Ogden Pierce .- The late Ogden Pierce was a resident of Fort Wayne for a quarter of a century prior to his death and was identified with the city in a business way during practically all that time. He came of a family that was established in Allen county as early as 1844, and his early years were passed in this section of the state, so that he was in no sense a stranger to Fort Wayne prior to the time when he settled there in business. Mr. Pierce was born on May 19, 1830, in Athens-on- the Hudson, New York state, and died on May 16, 1905, so that he lacked but three days of seeing his seventy-fifth birthday anniversary. He was the son of Dr. Eli and Sarah (Burgess) Pierce. The father was a native of the old Bay state and the mother was of English birth and parentage.
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They came to Allen county, in 1844, and Doctor Pierce was at one time the owner of about four thousand acres of land in the county. He farmed some, but devoted himself mainly to the practice of his profession, and was a man highly esteemed of all who knew him in the district in which he practiced. Doctor and Mrs. Pierce were the parents of seven children, all of whom are deceased. When the subject was about sixteen years of age he began to teach school in the winter seasons. He was educated by private tutors and in the John Greer School. When a young man he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and became a member of the Board of Trade in that city and there remained for some years. He then returned to Allen county and, locating in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, turned his attention to farming. After two or three years he gave up the simple life and went into the postal service, continuing in that work from 1871 to 1885. In that year he joined F. L. Jones in a business venture and they became the proprietors and owners of the Troy Laundry. They continued in that business successfully and Mr. Pierce was thus occupied at the time of his death. On July 3, 1871, Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Martha A. Jones, daughter of David W. Jones, and to Mr. and Mrs. Pierce five children were born. Ogden, the eldest, is train master for the Nickel Plate Railroad with headquarters at Fort Wayne. Ethel is the wife of Alexander S. Reid, of Richmond, Indiana. Robert Burgess lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is city manager for the Kelly-Spring- field Rubber Company. Howard H. is assistant ticket agent in the office of the Pennsylvania Lines in Fort Wayne. Martha Burgess lives at home. Mr. Pierce was a Mason and a lifelong member of the Episcopal church. He enjoyed the friendship of a wide circle of the representative people of Fort Wayne and his passing was mourned by all who had shared in his acquaintance.
George W. Pixley .- The contribution of George W. Pixley to the industrial, fraternal, mercantile and financial development of Fort Wayne includes a vast number of interests which can only be suggested in a brief sketch of his busy career. His keen perception of the value of opportunities, his consistent faith in Fort Wayne and his exemplification of the highest type of citizenship is best gained through a careful con- sideration of his accomplishments in many fields. George Whiting Pixley was born in Kirkland, Oneida county, New York, March 1, 1834. His parents were David and Charlotte (Mygatt) Pixley, natives of New York state, where they continued to reside throughout their lifetime. Mr. Pixley received the foundation of his education in the Clinton Liberal Institute at Clinton, New York, and from this institution entered upon his business career extending through many years. For a period of four years he served as a clerk in Utica, New York, in the State Canal Department, where his varied duties opened his vision to larger possi- bilities. For fifteen years thereafter, however, he devoted his attention to farm work. One year was then spent in Troy, New York, and from this city he came direct to Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1876, at a time when the town was blossoming into evidences of larger city opportunities. Here he engaged in the clothing business and continued for nine years under the firm name of Owen, Pixley and Company. Then he and his brother succeeded to the business of Owen, Pixley and Company, which was thereafter known as Pixley and Company. The firm occupied a building on Court street, until 1889, when the erection by Mr. Pixley of the Pixley-Long block on East Berry street, at the head of Court
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