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 66
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and removal from the old Keystone state to Ohio having oceurred a num- ber of years later. The parents of Mr. Richard married in Ohio and thence came to Allen county, Indiana, and numbered themselves among the pioneers of Jefferson township. The father obtained a traet of heavily timbered land and reclaimed the same into one of the productive farms of the county. The passing years brought to him independence and prosperity and on his old homestead he erected an attractive farm house, in which he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives. He signalized his loyalty and patriotism by serving as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war. He enlisted as a member of an Indiana regiment and his arduous service as a soldier left him broken in health, with the result that after the war he continued a virtual invalid until his death, which oceurred in 1870, at the age of forty-eight years, his wife having been about sixty-eight years old at the time of her death. Of their ten children Hannah and Henry are deceased; Eli is a resident of Mon- roeville, and Caroline of New Haven; William, of this review, was the next in order of birth; Mandy, Susan, Mary and Lydia are still living; and Adeline died in infancy. William Richard was afforded the ad- vantages of the publie schools of Maples, Jefferson township, and eon- tinued to assist in the work and management of the home farm until he initiated his independent operations as a farmer. He became the owner of a farm northeast of Maples, and reclaimed much of the land that had not been improved, besides which he erected substantial build- ings and finally developed the place into one of the model farms of Jefferson township, the same being still in his possession and comprising eighty acres. He continued his aetive operations as a farmer for thirty years and then removed with his wife to New Haven, where he has since lived practically retired, a sterling citizen who has gained pros- perity through his own efforts and commands unqualified popular esteem. His political support is given to the Republican party, but he has never desired or held public office. On March 1, 1883, was recorded the mar- riage of Mr. Richard to Miss Caroline Hannah Dünger, daughter of Robert and Sophia (Alspaugh) Dünger, who were born in Germany and who were young at the time of the immigration of their parents to America, their marriage having been solemnized in Pennsylvania. From the old Keystone state Mr. and Mrs. Dünger came to Allen county, Indiana, and established their home on a farm in Madison township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Dünger became the parents of eight children, of whom the first, fifth and sixth, John, Robert and Edward, are deceased. The surviving children are Frederick, Conrad, Caroline, Henry Phillip and. Sophia. To Mr. and Mrs. Richard were born seven children: Aday May, deceased; Elmer, married Alice Turnet; William and Lottie Sophia died in infancy ; Viola Belle married Alton Yarian, of Fort Wayne; Lodemma married Clark David, of Fort Wayne; and Maud Esther married Paul Augspurger, of Woodburn, Ind.
Henry Riebersal, who is now one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Maumee township, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on February 5, 1865, but has been a resident of the United States since he was a lad of five years, his mother having died when he was virtually an infant. He is a son of Frederick Riebersal, who was born and reared in Hanover and there continued his alliance with agricultural industry until 1872, when he came with his motherless
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children to America and established, his home on a farm in Defiance county, Ohio, where he remained until his death, about five years later, in 1877. Of his three children the first born, Heinrich, is deceased; Herman is the second born ; and the subject of this review is the youngest of the number. Henry Riebersal acquired his early education in the public schools of Defiance county, Ohio, and was but twelve years old when he was doubly orphaned by the death of his honored father. Thus he early became largely dependent on his own resources and has proved himself well equipped for the responsibilities that thus devolved upon him, for he was won definite success and prosperity through his con- tinued association with the great fundamental industries of agriculture and stock-growing. His first independent operations as a farmer were prosecuted in Henry county, Ohio, where he remained thus engaged for seven years. He then, in 1903, came to Allen county, Indiana, and purchased his present farm of eighty acres, in Section 27, Maumee town- ship. Virtually the entire tract was covered with timber and under- brush when it came into his possession, and through his energy and good management he has reclaimed the greater portions to cultivation, has properly fenced the property, has installed an excellent system of tile drainage, and has erected modern farm buildings-all of which stand in evidence of his indomitable perseverence, his vigorous and well defined purpose and his progressive policies. Mr. Riebersal is a Re- publican in politics, is loyal and liberal as a citizen, and he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church. In the year 1898 was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Riebersal to Miss Sophia Marden, daughter of Henry and Sophia Marden, both natives of Germany and well known and honored old-time citizens of Allen county. Mr. and Mrs. Riebersal have a fine family of eight children, namely: Frederick, Henry, Jr., Emma, Sophia, Amelia, Carl, Martin, Hattie.
John M. E. Riedel has developed most effectively a native talent and has become an able and successful representative of a profession that touches most closely the physical attractiveness and civic progress and prosperity of the community. As a skilled architect he is one of the leading exponents of this profession in northern Indiana, with residence and office headquarters in the city of Fort Wayne, and besides being licensed as an architect in Indiana has gained the same recognition also in the states of Michigan, Illinois and New York. Mr. Riedel was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on December 2, 1865, a son of. John and Margaret (Beyer) Riedel, both natives of Germany. In the year following that of the birth of the subject of this review his parents came to Fort Wayne and his father, a man of fine intellectual attain- ments and noble character, became a teacher in the parochial schools of St. Paul's Lutheran church. He continued his earnest and effective services in the pedagogic profession, and in connection with the parochial schools mentioned, for the long period of forty-seven years, and there is no need for uncertainty or conjecture in defining the enduring value of his faithful services, his name being held in lasting honor and reverent affection in the city that was so long his home and in which his death occurred in March, 1916, after he had attained to the venerable age of eighty-two years. His aged widow resides in Detroit and is loved by all who have come within the compass of her gracious influence. She is a devout communicant of the Lutheran church, as was also her husband, and he gave his political allegiance to the Democratic party. Of the
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children, John M. E., of this review, is the eldest; Catherine is the wife of Rev. B. Henry Succop, who is, in 1917, the pastor of the Lutheran church at Ionia, Michigan; Rev. J. Paul is a resident of Brooklyn, New York; and Rev. Christian G. and William P. maintain their home in the city of Detroit, Michigan. John M. E. Riedel was an infant at the time of the family removal to Fort Wayne and here gained his prelimi- nary education in the parochial schools of St. Paul's Lutheran church and largely under the direct and careful preceptorship of his father. Later he pursued a high course of study in Concordia College, and then entered the offices of the firm of T. J. Tolan & Sons, of Fort Wayne, for the purpose of studying architecture. Under these conditions he applied himself with diligence and appreciation for a period of about three years and made good use of the opportunities afforded him for the study of and practical work in the profession that represents hoth an art and a science. He continued his experience and study for three and one-half years in the offices of H. W. Matson, another representative architect in Fort Wayne, and by this time had admirably fortified himself for his chosen profession. On January 2, 1889, Mr. Riedel established himself independently in business as an architect, and his unequivocal success affords the best evidence of his ability and of his unqualified loyalty to the vocation of his choice. He has designed and supervised the construction of many fine buildings of both public and private order, and among the number may be designated the buildings of Concordia College, the Centlivre Hotel, the Lyric theatre, the Trinity Lutheran church edifice, the parochial school of St. Paul's Lutheran church, and the fine residence of H. A. Duemling-all of these being in Fort Wayne. His professional service has been enlisted outside the borders of his home county and state and the buildings which he has designed mark him as an architect of much technical skill and artistic talent. He has continued a close student of architectural art and has developed a num- ber of original conceptions in his work as a designer. Mr. Riedel has thus contributed much to the physical attractiveness of his home city, and as a citizen is most loyal and public-spirited. In politics he holds himself aside from strict partisan lines, he and his wife are active com- municants of St. Paul's Lutheran church, and he is an appreciative and valued member of the Fort Wayne Commercial Club. In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Riedel to Miss Helen M. Achard, of New York City, and they have one son, Carl R., who remains at the parental home.
Sylvenus J. Roberts, who is conducting a prosperous retail lumber business at Woodburn, Maumee township, is a scion of one of the well known pioneer families whose name has been prominently and worthily linked with the development and progress of Allen county, he himself being of the fourth generation of the family in this county and his birth having occurred at Harlan, Springfield township, October 1, 1879. He is a son of William H. and Elmira (Taylor) Roberts, the former a native of Allen county and the latter of Huntington county, this state, their home at the present time being at Columbia City, the judicial center of Whitley county, where the father is engaged in the real estate business. William H. Roberts was reared to manhood in Allen county and is a son of Frank Roberts, who passed his entire life in this county, his parents having been pioneer settlers in Springfield township, and the family having been one of prominence in connection with agricultural enter-
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prise and loyal and worthy citizenship, as one generation has followed another on to the stage of life's activities. William H. Roberts con- tinued his successful activities as farmer near Harlan, this county, until 1904, when he removed to Columbia City, where he has since been sub- stantially established in the real estate business, his political support being given to the Republican party and both he and his wife being earnest members of the M. E. church. The subject of this sketch is the eldest in a family of ten children, all of whom are living, and the names of the other children are here entered in the respective order of their birth : Frank H., Elmira, Orville, Willis, Leona, Ralph, Elbridge, Frances and Ignota. He whose name introduces this article acquired his early education in the public schools of Springfield township and as a boy and youth gained a full quota of practical experience in connection with the work of the home farm. At the age of twenty-one years he began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade and became a skilled artisan and a successful contractor and builder. He continued to follow his trade until 1910, when he engaged in the lumber business at Woodburn, his prior experience specially qualifying him for this line of enterprise, in which his success has been unequivocal. In his well equipped yards are to be found the various grades of lumber and general building material, and his correct business methods and policies have gained to him a substantial trade. He is always ready to give support to those measures and enterprises that tend to advance the civic and material welfare of the community, is a Republican in politics and he and his wife hold membership in the Missionary church. On October 20, 1898, Mr. Roberts wedded Miss Salome Sprunger, who was born and reared in this county, adequate mention of the family being given on other pages, in the sketch of Alvin A. Sprunger, who is a brother of Mrs. Roberts and who is serving as postmaster at Woodburn. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have four children-Wilmer S., Glenn B., Ronald and Evans Lee, born April 10, 1917.
Col. Robert S. Robertson .- Fort Wayne and Allen county have been especially fortunate in the exceptionally high quality of their citizenship, and for this splendid prevailing condition much credit goes naturally to the leaders of thought and action among the people. One of the fore- most of these was the late Colonel Robert S. Robertson, whose substantial activities touched many phases of development throughout the state of Indiana. Robert Stoddart Robertson was born April 16, 1839, in North Argyle, New York, the son of Nicholas and Martha Hume (Stoddart) Robertson. The paternal grandfather, Robert Robertson, was born in October, 1755, in Kinross-shire, Scotland, on the estate of "Touchie Miln," which had been inherited by several generations of the family, from their ancestor, Robert Robertson, of 1470. In 1793, the year previous to the erection and establishment of old Fort Wayne, the grandfather of Colonel Robertson came to the United States and settled in Washington county, New York, where he resided until his death in November, 1840. Nicholas Robertson, father of Colonel Robertson, was born in North Argyle, May 12, 1803, and his death occurred there in 1896. He served as postmaster of the town and as a justice of the peace for many years. He was for a number of years engaged in business as a cabinet-maker: later he was a mill owner and operator. On May 27, 1831, Nicholas Robert- son was united in marriage with Miss Martha Hume Stoddart, a native of New York city, born in March, 1812, the daughter of Robert and Ann
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(Hume) Stoddart. Her lineage traces on both paternal and maternal lines to two prominent Scottish families, the Stoddarts and the Humes. Robert S. Robertson, after attending the common schools of Argyle, en- tered upon a course of study in Argyle Academy. He early developed a fondness for the choicest literature, and decided upon the law as a pro- fession, although, during his boyhood days, his time was passed between his school work and employment in his father's mill. In 1859, the way was opened for a course of study in the law office of Hon. James Gibson, in Salem, New York. In the following year, he went to New York City and entered the law office of Hon. Charles Crary, and in this same year he was admitted to the bar of New York. The active practice of his profession was opened at Whitehall, New York, in 1861, where he suc- ceeded to the professional place of Hon. John H. Boyd, member of con- gress, who was retiring from the practice. But before his affairs assumed definite shape, Lincoln's call for volunteers summoned him to the defense of the nation's colors and he devoted his efforts to the raising of a company, which was summoned to Albany and remained there until its members were called to unite with other bodies to fill out their ranks. Colonel Robertson gladly entered the service as a private of Company I, Ninety-third regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. Before leaving the state, he was appointed orderly sergeant. He participated in all of the campaigns, battles and skirmishes in which his regiment participated and won high honors because of "gallant and meritorious service in the field." He was promoted to a lieutenancy in April, 1862, to first lieuten- ant in May, 1863, and later he received two brevet commissions, one from President Lincoln conferring the rank of captain of United States volunteers, and another from the governor of New York, breveting him colonel of New York volunteers. He served as personal aide to General Nelson A. Miles while the latter was in command of the famous fighting First brigade, First division, Second Army corps, and while so serving was twice wounded, the first time at Spottsylvania Courthouse, May 12, 1864, where he was struck on the knee by a musket ball, and again on the 31st of the same month at Totopotomoy Creek, where he was shot from his horse in a charge, a minie ball passing through his abdomen from the front of the right hip to the back of the left. He continued his service, though for a period his death seemed a certainty, but because of the wounds, which gave fresh trouble during the siege of Petersburg, September 3, 1864, he was discharged "for disability from wounds re- ceived in action." Subsequently, Colonel Robertson received the "Con- gressional Medal of Honor" for services rendered at Corbin's Bridge, Virginia, May 8, 1864. Following his war service, Colonel Robertson located in Washington, D. C., where he became a member of the firm of Crocker, Robertson & Bramhall. During this time he made the close acquaintanceship of Vice-President Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, and be- came interested in that stateman's estimate of the advantage of citizen- ship in the Hoosier state. He came to Fort Wayne in 1866, where he resided continually until his death. Colonel Robertson's capabilities en- abled him to win immediate popularity because of his true worth as a public-spirited citizen. He was elected to serve as city attorney in 1867, 1868 and 1869. In 1868 he received the nomination to the office of state senator, but the normal Democratic majority could not be overcome. From 1871 to 1876 he served as United States commissioner and register in bankruptcy, and in the latter year he was nominated for lieutenant-
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governor of Indiana, with Godlove S. Orth as candidate for governor. Orth was compelled to resign from the ticket and Benjamin Harrison took the place. The ticket was defeated. In 1886, General M. D. Manson resigned the lieutenant-governorship, and, in the ensuing election, Colonel Robertson was chosen as his successor. He took the oath of office, but the Democrats, who had decided to regard the election as unauthorized by law, forbade him to assume the duties of presiding officer, a duty prescribed as a function of the office. The Democrats were in the ma- jority. Two injunction suits to prevent the action of the Democrats en- sued, and when Colonel Robertson sought a second time to take his office he was forcibly excluded from the senate chamber. But for the council of Colonel Robertson that his friends remain calm during the ensuing excitement, some regrettable act might have been done. Colonel Robert- son continued to exercise all the functions of his office except that of pre- siding officer of the senate. While holding this office, Colonel Robertson was for two successive years elected president of the state board of equali- zation, a place which had hitherto invariably been filled by the governor of the state. In 1889 President Harrison appointed Colonel Robertson a member of the Utah commission, and he served in this connection until 1894. Early in the period of his residence in Fort Wayne, Colonel Robert- son formed a professional connection with Judge Lindley M. Ninde and Judge Robert S. Taylor, under the name of Ninde, Taylor & Robertson. In 1868 this firm was dissolved, and Colonel Robertson formed a partner- ship with David P. Whedon, under the name of Whedon & Robertson; this relationship ceased in 1871, when Mr. Whedon removed to Utah. Soon afterward, the firm of Lowry, Robertson & O'Rourke (Robert Lowry, Colonel Robertson and Edward O'Rourke) was formed, and this continued until 1876, when Judge Lowry was elevated to the bench. Judge O'Rourke received similar preferment the following year. For a period of years thereafter, Colonel Robertson was associated in practice with James B. Harper, but, in 1894, he became associated with William S. O'Rourke. Always, Colonel Robertson was recognized as a lawyer of the highest, truest type. In July, 1865, at Whitehall, New York, Colonel Robertson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth H. Miller, whose grandfather came to New York in 1804. To this union were born Nicholas Alexander, of Eureka, Utah ; Louise, wife of William H. Shambaugh; Robert Strowan, of Paducah, Kentucky; Mabel, wife of Ernest F. Loyd, of Detroit, Michigan; Annie M., wife of William N. Whitely, of Springfield, Missouri. Mrs. Elizabeth Robertson died in May, . 1896. In August, 1898, Colonel Robertson was united in marriage with Mrs. Frances M. Haberly (nee Stinson). Mrs. Robertson has attained to a wide reputation as an authority on art. Her published works have found a place among the finest works in their line. As a student of the exhibits of the foreign galleries, Mrs. Robertson has taken many com- panies of travelers to all portions of Europe. As a lecturer on art, her grasp of the subject has given her popularity in many parts of America. Colonel Robertson was ever an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He became a member of the Masonic order in 1862, and attained to the Thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. In 1866 he joined the Grand Army of the Republic, and was ever an active leader in the affairs of the order in the state. In 1882 he joined the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and, subse- quently, in 1888, he became a charter member of the Indiana Com-
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mandery, and a member of the Medal of Honor Legion. He was ever an active member of the Fortnightly club of Fort Wayne. Colonel Robertson was long a member of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, the Indiana State Historical Society and the Con- gress Internationale des Americanistes, of Europe. Always an appreci- ative student of history, Colonel Robertson gave especial attention to the fascinating story of the development of the region of the Maumee and Wabash valleys, and much of the record of those who have gone before has been preserved through his efforts to place those records in perma- nent form. His contributions to the reports of the Smithsonian Institu- tion, the North American Review, the Magazine of History and other publications, are notable. The death of Colonel Robertson removed from Fort Wayne and Allen county a citizen through whose efforts much of the advancement of affairs along many lines of endeavor were brought to a high state of accomplishment.
Amasa S. Robinson .- In 1836 Jonathan Robinson, a native Ohioan, moved into Indiana and settled on land in Madison township. It was virgin territory, heavily timbered, and it was the work of many long and trying years to reclaim those acres. Jonathan Robinson, however, was the possessor of all the sturdy pioneer instincts that were so essential in the development of the country, and he was able, with the passing years, to transform the wilderness into a productive farm and made his home on those acres until the day of his death. His wife was Sarah J. Shafer, also of Ohio birth, and of their ten children, two are living at this writing. Amasa S. Robinson was born on the Madison township farm in Allen county on January 7, 1849, and was reared and educated in the county. He completed a course in the high school nearest to his home and when sixteen years old went to work as a teacher in the local schools. He spent some years in that profession, and, in 1900, engaged in the ice cream business in Monroeville, where he has since conducted a successful and constantly growing enterprise. He is well established and prosperous and has won and held the confidence of the public in a most gratifying manner. Mr. Robinson is a Scottish Rite Mason and has held many important offices in the various bodies with which he is affiliated as a Mason. A Democrat, he has been active in local politics and served his township eleven years as assessor and five years as trustee. To his duties in both these offices he brought a character of service that made for a commendable degree of efficiency, and, in 1915, was appointed to the office of postmaster in Monroeville, of which office he is still the occupant. Mr. Robinson has been twice married. In 1875 he married Miss Sarah Master, who died in 1880, leaving one son. In 1881 he married Miss Lillie Peckham. Seven children were born to them and of that number five are still living. Of the sons, Clyde L. is assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Ashland, Ohio; Ralph A. is em- ployed as a railway clerk and has been so engaged for the past nine years, and Harry A. is assistant postmaster under his father.
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