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 86
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
610
BIOGRAPIIICAL SKETCIIES
B. Burford & Company, another of the important printing concerns of the capital city. In Indianapolis he next became foreman in the com- posing room of the printing establishment of Levy Brothers & Company. Two years later he was made general superintendent of this establish- ment and this incumbency retained five years, at the expiration of which he came to Fort Wayne and identified himself with the Fort Wayne Printing Company, of which he is now treasurer and general manager, with an experience and an executive ability that well fortify him for the manifold duties that devolve upon him in the handling of a business of broad scope and importance. He is actively identified with the Fort Wayne Commercial Club, the Rotary and Quest Clubs, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and holds membership in the local ledge of the Benevo- lent & Protective Order of Elks, besides being a member of the Fort Wayne Country Club and the Knights of Pythias. In 1895 was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Wilding to Miss Clara Mellor, who was born and reared in England, a daughter of Joseph Mellor. The one child of this union is Lillian, who remains a member of the parental home circle.
The Wildwood Builders Company is an institution which by very virtue of its assigned functions and effective management has been destined to exercise large and important influence in connection with normal and progressive real estate development and improvement in the urban community of Fort Wayne, and it is proper that special men- tion of the same should be made in this history. The company was or- ganized on April 1, 1910, and was duly incorporated under the laws of Indiana, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. The interested principals in effecting the organization were Lee J. Ninde, Daniel B. Ninde, Frank K. Stafford, Samuel M. Foster, and Abe Ackerman, and all of these representative citizens of Allen county constituted the original directorate of the company. The personnel of the executive corps was as here noted : Lee J. Ninde, president ; Daniel B. Ninde, vice-president ; Frank K. Stafford, secretary and treasurer. The same officials still retain their respective offices, save that Mr. Safford is now serving as secretary only and Frederick B. Shoaff has been made treasurer. Besides these executives the board of directors includes also Clinton R. Willson, Joseph Slater and Victor V. Miller. The capital stock of the corporation has been increased to $625,000 and the company is giving its attention specifi- cally to the development of the beautiful Wildwood Park addition and other leading suburban districts of Fort Wayne. In the spring of 1917, the company removed from its rooms in the Shoaff building to a com- modious ground-floor suite in the Gauntt building, southwest corner of West Berry and Webster streets. The activities of the Wildwood com- panies mark a forward step in the methods of the extension of home building and the creation of outlying properties into beautiful and valu- able residence districts. Lee J. Ninde, the guiding spirit of the organi- zation, is a happy combination of the idealist and the business man. The same influence which he has exerted in elevating the plan of home making in Fort Wayne to a means of adding to the every-day happiness of the many, and taking out of it the sordid elements of mere house building, has extended to all portions of the state of Indiana, where Mr. Ninde, through his work as president of the Indiana Real Estate Exchange, has found ready acceptance of his modern ideas. It was he who inaugurated, in 1916, the plan of a state-wide automobile tour of the larger cities to
611
FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY
spread the gospel of city planning. His interest in the publication of the Wildwood Magazine, his deep concern in boy welfare and his varied activities along many wholesome avenues of endeavor mark him as one of Fort Wayne's most valuable citizens.
Lewis S. Williams .- The late Lewis S. Williams, for many years a resident of Fort Wayne, was connected in his capacity as a timber buyer with some of the leading piano houses of the United States during the best years of his life. He was a man who knew the timber markets thor- oughly, and was always a wise and careful buyer. His acquaintance with his field was wide and his knowledge of the subject in a large measure instinetive with him, for his father was in the lumber business all his life and operated in the virgin timber lands of Michigan for many years. He was Clark I. Williams, son of Dan Williams, who came to Ohio from Maryland. The family is descended directly from Roger Williams of early American fame and name. Clark Williams was born on January 31, 1823, and married Lucetta Helen Lane. Their children were eight in number and are here briefly mentioned as follows: Charles Reason was born on March 6, 1846, and died August 22, 1846. Milton Taylor was born April 26, 1847, and died in the service of his country on November 21, 1864, not yet turned eighteen. Thomas Rigdon was born February 18, 1850, and died January 14, 1911. Lewis S., the subject, was born March 20, 1852, and died Mareh 2, 1903. Dan Norton was born August 24, 1854, and died January 3, 1910.
Horatio Gates, born August 6, 1858, and died March 2, 1860. Ella Era, born February 6, 1861, died April 11, 1911. John William was born May 19, 1868, and is the only surviving member of the family. The father of this family died on August 1, 1878, and the mother survived her husband a number of years. Lewis S. Williams, after his marriage, went to Fort Wayne and there associated himself in business with the Mossman-Yarnelle Lumber Com- pany, with which firm he was active for three years. He then settled on an Allen county farm and for six years devoted himself to the pursuits of agriculture, after which he took a position with the Packard Piano Company as a buyer of raw materials for the firm. He was next asso- ciated in a similar eapaeity with Mason & Hamlin, a rival piano house of Boston, his headquarters continuing to be Fort Wayne. He was connected with that firm for some time and left them to take a position with the MeCraeken Company of Louisville, Kentucky, and while there on a business trip met with an injury that compelled him to return to Fort Wayne and give up his work. After he had recovered sufficiently to resume activities, he became a deputy organizer for the Maccabee lodge and was employed in that work at the time of his death. Mr. Williams was married on December 9, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Golden, daughter of Patriek and Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Golden. Mrs. Golden is of the royal Fitzgerald family of Ireland and is a lineal descendant of early kings and queens of the Emerald Isle. The father, Patrick Golden, was born in Ireland and came to America in 1849 and located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as foreman in a coal mine, coming to Fort Wayne, in 1850, to take charge of the grading of the Pennsylvania road. He built the aqueduet at Logansport, Indiana, and has other con- struction work of similar order to his eredit. In 1860 Mr. Golden bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Monroeville and spent the remainder of his days in making a habitable and productive place out of it. He died on May 29, 1876, and his widow survived him until December
612
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
8, 1892. They had six children. The eldest, Elizabeth, was buried in the Atlantic ocean when the family were on their way to America. Mary Ann, who was born on Christmas Day, 1849, is the wife of J. Nesbitt, of Allen county. John is a resident of Fort Wayne. The fourth child is Mrs. Williams, widow of the subject. She was born on July 8, 1853. Catherine, who married James O'Leary, was born July 4, 1855, and died on December 23, 1892, and Mr. O'Leary died October 17, 1916. Julia Clara, the youngest of the six, is the wife of John Cleary, of Fort Wayne. Lewis and Elizabeth Williams were the parents of four children. John Clark was born August 30, 1876. Harry and Herbert were twins, born May 6, 1880; they died on August 3d and 5th, respectively, of the same year. Charles Bernard was born on December 10, 1883, and is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, where he is employed as a foreman in steel construc- tion work.
Clinton R. Willson .- A native son of Fort Wayne who has here be- come a representative factor in connection with civic and material affairs, Mr. Willson is a member of one of the well known families of Fort Wayne, where his father has resided for more than forty years. Mr. Willson has held positions of responsibility and trust in connection with several financial institutions of the city and in his more individual and independ- ent activities his achievement has been noteworthy. Clinton Rusk Will- son was born in Fort Wayne on May 27, 1877, a son of Martin S. and Emma J. (Robinson) Willson, the former of whom was born in Pennsyl- vania, and the latter in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where her father was a pioneer business man and an influential citizen. Martin S. Willson was for many years in the employ of the Fort Wayne Electric Company and since its consolidation with the General Electric Company has here continued to hold a responsible executive position with the latter corpora- tion-his entire period of service with the local concern having covered more than thirty years. He and his wife have reason to be gratified in noting the success gained by their six sons, concerning whom the follow- ing brief data may consistently be given: Harry L. is the virtual owner and the executive head of the business of the Randall Printing Company, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Clinton R., of this review, was the next in order of birth ; Frederick M. is engaged in the advertising business at St. Paul, Minnesota ; James D. is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, ranking Lieutenant Commander, and is now in active service in the United States Navy ; Ralph holds a position as purchasing agent with the C. O. Bartlett & Snow Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, a concern engaged in the handling of elevators and heavy conveyors; and August is employed in the engineering sales department of the S. F. Bow- ser Company, of Fort Wayne. Clinton R. Willson made good use of the ad- vantages of the Fort Wayne public schools, including the high school, and at the age of seventeen years took a minor clerical position in the offices of the First National Bank of Fort Wayne. Through effective service he won consecutive advancement and remained with this institu- tion seven years. He then resigned his post to accept that of assistant secretary of the newly organized Citizens' Trust Company, and six years later was called to the office of cashier of the Commercial Bank. He con- tinued six years in this position and upon his resignation therefrom purchased the business of the Neireiter-Gumpper Insurance Agency, the second oldest institution of the kind in Fort Wayne. He assumed con- trol of this business in July, 1914, and wisely preserved the old-established title of the agency, but added to the same his own name also. The large
613
FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY
and representative general insurance business has since been continued, therefore, as the Neireiter-Gumpper-Willson Agency. Mr. Willson has not curbed his energy, and in connection with his insurance business is giving attention to the handling of high-grade securities. Ile is treasurer of the Morris Plan Company and the Lafayette Place Company, the latter of which has control of one of the most attractive residential subdivisions of Fort Wayne; he is treasurer of the Dreibelbiss Abstract Company ; and is a director in the Fort Wayne Concrete Tile Company, the Wild- wood Builders' Company, and the Home Supply Company. Aside from his business responsibilities Mr. Willson has found time to enjoy the best in the social life of the community and to make pleasing use of his musical talent. He has been a leader in the musical circles of Fort Wayne and for fully twenty years was a member of the choir of the Third Presby- terian church, besides which he has been identified with the musical affairs of the local Jewish synagogue for fourteen consecutive years. He is one of the valuable members of the Fort Wayne Commercial Club and the Rotary Club, holds membership in the Quest Club, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, his political allegianee is given to the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Third Presby- terian church. On June 13, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Willson to Miss Lillie Wilding, daughter of James and Ella Wilding, of Fort Wayne, and the four children of this union are Helen, Kathryn, James and Robert.
Edward M. Wilson now has sole ownership and control of the long established and representative insurance business that is conducted under the title of Schrader & Wilson, although the senior member of the firm retired from the alliance on January 1, 1913. This is one of the oldest insurance agencies in the city of Fort Wayne and its functions include virtually all phases of indemnity underwriting except life insurance. Mr. Wilson is local representative for a number of the staunchest and best known companies that extend policies of indemnity for losses by fire, cyclone, accidents of various orders, plate-glass, steam-boiler, burglar. employers' liability, sprinkler leakage, automobile use and occupancy in- surance, surety bonds and also the collection of rentals. In the well appointed offices, at the corner of East Main and Court streets, employ- ment is given to four efficient clerical and executive assistants and the high reputation of the agency constitutes its best asset. This agency had its inception in 1875, when H. C. Schrader opened an office on the second floor of the Odd Fellows' building, on West Berry street. There he continued in an individual way until 1889, when Edward M. Wilson was admitted to partnership and the present firm name of Schrader & Wilson was adopted. This fortuitous alliance continued until January 1, 1913, when Mr. Schrader retired, Mr. Wilson purchasing his interest and having successfully continued the enterprise in the original firm name, which has long stood as a voucher for the best of service and for fair methods in all transactions. Edward M. Wilson was born at Wabash, September 6, 1867. He is a son of Solomon Wilson, who was one of the pioneer citizens of Wabash, where he lived until his death. In the public schools of his native city Edward M. Wilson completed the curriculum of the high school, and later he entered the University of Michigan, in the class of 1891, but he withdrew prior to graduation, as he became associated with his present business in 1889. He is a recognized local authority in all matters pertaining to insurance save life insurance, of
614
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
which branch he has had no desire to become an exponent, as he has found ample field for successful activity in other forms of insurance.' He is a broad-gauged and loyal citizen who takes deep interest in all things tending to advance the welfare and progress of his home city, and is serving as treasurer of the Indiana School for Feebleminded Children, at Fort Wayne. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, besides being affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Commercial and Country clubs.
John C. Winte .- The late John C. Winte was one of the substantial self-made men who devoted his life to earnest manual toil but who, through the practice of industry and economy, earned much of the re- ward that is frequently denied to those more highly favored by fortune. Mr. Winte was born in Fort Wayne, April 24, 1861, a son of John D. and Wilhelmina (Homeyer) Winte, both natives of Germany. The parents were early settlers in Fort Wayne and here continued their residence until their death. They became the parents of four children: Sophia is the widow of William Hener, of Fort Wayne; John C., is the subject of this memoir; Minnie is the wife of Henry Bienz, of Fort Wayne; and Henry D. is a resident of Chesaning, Saginaw county, Michigan. John C. Winte became an expert in the work of the blacksmith trade, which he followed about two years while in the west. He returned to Indiana and located at Poe, Allen county, where he conducted a blacksmith shop about three years before returning to Fort Wayne. In his native city he established himself in business by opening a shop at 2206 Fairfield avenue, whence he later removed to No. 2139 on that thoroughfare. Mr. Winte was here engaged in the blacksmith business for a period of about twenty-four years and within this time accumulated property of considerable value. Mr. Winte was twice married. He first wedded Miss Minnie Meyer, of Poe, this county, and of this union were born four children-Herman F., who married Elizabeth Rank, of Detroit, and they reside in that city; Charles, who died in infancy ; Alma, who is the wife of Arthur W. Young, cashier of the Aetna Life Insurance Company's general agency in Fort Wayne; and Oscar W., who married Evelyn Lordier, of Fort Wayne, and is associated with the Corrugated Paper Mills in the city of Chicago. For his second wife Mr. Winte married Miss Laura 1. Hanker, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Charles F. and Wilhelmina (Walde) Hanker, who established their home in Fort Wayne nearly half a century ago, in 1871. Here Mr. Hanker engaged in the blacksmithing business and under his direction Mr. Winte, of this memoir, learned his trade. As sterling and honored citizens both Mr. Hanker and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in Fort Wayne, and besides Mrs. Winte four other children survive them-Hulda, who is a popular dancing instructor in the city of San Diego, California; William, deceased; Clara, who is the wife of Henry D. Winte, of Chesaning, Michigan; and Anna, who is the wife of Homer Hartman, of Fort Wayne. John C. Winte was a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, was affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees, and was an earnest communicant of the Luth- eran church, as is also his widow, who still maintains her home in Fort Wayne. Mr. Winte was strong of mental and physical powers, loyal and true in all of the relations of life and worthy of the high esteem uniformly accorded to him. He served for a considerable time as treasurer of the
615
FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY
local Horseshoers' Union in Fort Wayne. He was in the very prime of life at the time of his death, which occurred February 23, 1913.
Charles Winters .- One of the native sons of Allen county who has won a place for himself in his community and achieved material in- dependence as a result of his labors is Charles Winters, born in Allen county on March 15, 1853, son of Christian and Louisa Winters. The father eame from Germany in young manhood and settling in Allen county at a time when the Indian was not the least difficulty the early settlers had to contend with, established a home in the wilderness and gave the strength of his young manhood to the labors attendant upon such a task. Christian and Louisa Winters were people who possessed the true pioneer spirit, and no task was too great for their courage and hardihood. They reared a family of nine children, all of them living at this writing with the exception of Peter, the first born. The others are Charles, the immediate subject of this family sketch; Gustave, a resident of Allen county ; Emma, living in Pleasant township; Elizabeth ; Louisa ; Jane, of Fort Wayne; Lucy, living in St. Louis, Missouri; and Frank, of Pleasant township. Charles Winters had his education in the publie schools of Allen county and spent much of his time in boyhood and early manhood on the home farm. He has been a farmer all his life and today is the owner of one of the comfortable and productive farming properties of his township. He was married on August 24, 1904, to Miss Mary Burnell, and they have two children-Earl Wayne and Jennie Belle, both living at home. Mr. Winters is a Republican in politics, and a leader in his home community.
Joseph Witmer has been identified with farming and industrial ac- tivities of varied nature in Allen county practically all his life. Ile was born in Cedar Creek township, Allen county, January 31, 1848, and sinee he began to take an interest in the practical things of life has been a factor to be reckoned with in those circles with which he has been identi- fied. The son of Peter and Anna (Sanders) Witmer was born on the farm on which the family located in the early forties. Peter Witmer was of French birth and parentage, and his wife was a native daughter of Wayne county, Ohio. Peter Witmer was a farmer all his life. He was born on February 16, 1815, and died on his farm in Cedar Creek township on August 5, 1851. The wife and mother was born November 2, 1824, and died February 22, 1904. They were the parents of a family of six children. John B. was born, December 18, 1843, and died on August 5, 1862. Jacob was born December 29, 1846, and is now living in California. Joseph, the third born, is the subject of this brief family review. Elizabeth was born, April 8, 1849, and is the wife of IIenry Goldsmith. of Cedar Creek township. Annie was born, July 27, 1850, married Christian Klopfenstein and lives in Cedar Creek township. Barbara is the wife of Christian Sanders, of Cedar Creek township. Joseph Witmer had the usual training incident to life on a farm and has had a success that is rather better than average. For thirty-four seasons he did the community threshing, in conjunction with the operation of his own farm, and in later years has identified himself with the grain business. He operates a grain elevator and a grist mill and buys and sells grain, hay, flour, coal, eement, live stock and wool. In addition to this he still owns and operates a farm of one hundred aeres in Springfield township, and is able to hold his own with those farming men who devote their entire time to that industry. Mr. Witmer was married on February 26, 1878, to Miss Susanna Goldsmith, of Adams county, and six children
616
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
have been born to them. They are David, Henry, Rachel, Joseph S., Rosa, Caroline and Lilly. Rachel is the wife of Christian Shank, of Grabill, and Joseph is secretary-treasurer of the Witmer Grain Company, of which his father is the head. The two youngest children are still at home with the parents. A Republican in politics, Mr. Witmer has been more or less active in local matters of a political nature, though in no sense a politician. He is president of a local bank and of the Witmer Grain Company, which he organized and of which his son is also an official, as above stated. This grist mill has a capacity of fifty barrels per day and is equipped with Barnard and Lease rollers.
Herman Woebbeking .- Herman Woebbeking, born in Adams county, Indiana, November 15, 1875, is a son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Buuck) Woebbeking, one of the well known families of their section of the coun- try, concerning whom mention is made in a sketch devoted to the life of another of their sons, William Woebbeking, a successful Maumee town- ship farmer. Herman Woebbeking had his education in the common schools of Adams county and he might be said to have been meagerly educated in view of his five years of schooling. However, he was one who ever made the best of such opportunities as come his way and is today one of the well informed men of his community, despite his early disadvantages. Ile began farming in Maumee township when he was about ten years old and has been active in that township and occupa- tion from then to the present time. Today Mr. Woebbeking is the owner of a farm of 160 acres in Maumee township, on which place he has made all modern improvements consistent with progressive and successful farm- ing. Mr. Woebbeking was married on November 16, 1900, to Miss Minnie Lessenhop, daughter of William and Minnie Lessenhop, both native Ger- mans. Mrs. Woebbeking came to Fort Wayne in 1893 with her mother, following the death of the husband and father. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Woebbeking-Herman, Jr., Ililda, Arthur, Melinda, Laura, Herbert and Martin. Mr. Woebbeking has held no of- fices and is a member of no lodges. He is a Democrat in politics and with his family has membership in the German Lutheran church.
William E. Woebbeking has been a resident of Fort Wayne from the time of his birth, is a representative of one of the old and honored German families of this city, and from his youth has been closely identified with the business interests of Fort Wayne, with specially broad and effective experience in connection with the wholesale millinery business, of which he is now a prominent and successful exponent, as secretary of the C. T. Pidgeon Millinery Company, one of the large and important commercial concerns of his native city. Mr. Woebbeking was born in Fort Wayne, December 26, 1866, a member of a family of eleven children, all of whom are living except one brother and all have resided continuously in Fort Wayne with the exception of one sister, Mrs. Mary Kohlmeyer, who passed two years in the state of Montana and has since maintained her home in Fort Wayne. The parents, Conrad and Sophia (Piepenbrink) Woebbeking, were born in Germany and established their home in Fort Wayne more than half a century ago, their fiftieth wedding anniversary having been celebrated on Thanksgiving day prior to the death of the father, who was born in 1834 and was eighty years of age when he passed to the life eternal, his venerable widow being still a resident of Fort Wayne. Conrad Woebbeking was reared and educated in his native land and on his immigration to America made the voyage on an old-time sail-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.