USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume II > Part 12
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volley from the Union lines on that bloody field. Lieut. Boltz com- manded his company during the Tullahoma campaign, and in August, 1863, again assumed the adjutantcy of the regiment, serving in that position during the Chickamauga campaign and siege of Chattanooga. Lieut. Boltz was injured at the battle of Stone River by the falling of his horse, and after being promoted captain of his company to succeed Isaac Lefevre, killed at Chickamauga, he was not able to assume com- mand until the Atlanta campaign. In this he served bravely until wounded August 7, 1864, at the battle of Eutaw Springs. Rejoining his command October 1, 1864, he participated in the pursuit of Hood as far as the Tennessee line, and then returned to Atlanta, whence he moved with his regiment with Sherman to the sea, and from Savannah to Golds- boro, N. C. The regiment took a prominent part in the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville. The latter engagement, it was the for- tune of Capt. Boltz to open, and being unexpectedly thrown into a situa- tion of great responsibility, he displayed qualities of the best soldiership. On the morning of the battle he had been specially detailed by orders from division headquarters to select a picked detail and take the advance, and go to Goldsboro if he could, Gen. Sherman not believing that Gen. Johnston was near. Capt. Boltz had no hopes of getting through, but declaring that he would try, he moved out on the morning of March 19, with seventy good men. Six miles out they found several hundred fora- gers gathered, who revealed the presence of the " Johnnies." Deploy- ing as skirmishers, Capt. Boltz's men advanced and were immediately under fire; but drove back the enemy's advance and discovered heavy columns moving up to attack the army of Sherman. Boltz fell back to a narrow belt of timber, and continuing firing, sent a messenger back to warn Gen. Hobart to prepare for battle. In a short time the first divi- sion came up, and the battle was begun. Capt. Boltz's courage and promptness in attacking the enemy, gave the Fourteenth corps time to prepare for action, and he received the personal thanks of Gen. Hobart for saving the corps. The military career of Capt. Boltz, so full of honorable deeds, came to a close June 7, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out. He then engaged in the retail grocery business, at Fort Wayne, in which, however, he did not succed, and in April, 1875, he became cashier of the Empire line. Since February, 1880, he has been timber purchasing agent of the firm of N. G. Olds & Sons. Capt. Boltz is a past commander of Sion S. Bass post, G. A. R. He was made a Mason in Perseverance military lodge, No. I, at Sharpsburg, Va., in 1862, and is now pastmaster of Home lodge, 342, is a member of Fort Wayne chapter, No. 19, is past eminent commander of Fort Wayne commandery No. 4, K. T., is a member of Fort Wayne council, No. 4, lodge of Perfection, No. 2, and Indiana consistory, and of the Murat Temple, No. I, Indianapolis. He was married September 4, 1864, to Cornelia A. Sowers, daughter of Samuel and Mercy J. Sowers. Mr. Sowers was one of the pioneers of this county in 1834. Capt. Boltz is a republican in politics, and a leading citizen of the city.
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For twenty-three years Charles Cartwright has held the position of lumber agent for N. G. Olds & Sons. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, April 24, 1825, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Paxton) Cart- wright, who were born and married in Rockbridge county, Va. About 1819 they emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, and later to Miami county, where the father who was a farmer lived until 1832; his wife survived him until 1846, when she died in Mercer county, Ohio. At sixteen Mr. Cartwright began to learn the tailor's trade, which he fol- lowed about twenty-six years, excepting from June 2, to August 7, 1846, during which time he served in the Mexican war, in Company B, First Ohio regiment. His service was cut short by sickness. Prior to this he had worked at Piqua, Dayton, Union, Ohio, Malden, W. Va., and then in Xenia, Ohio. From the war he returned to Ohio, and until 1853 resided at Union and Covington, and in March, 1866, he came to Fort Wayne, and has ever since been employed as lumber agent with the firm of N. G. Olds & Sons. His long engagement is evidence of . his steadiness of character and of the value of his services to the prom- inent firm which he represents. Mr. Cartwright was married Novem- ber 10, 1848, to Mary, daughter of John Sinks, then of Union, Ohio. Mrs. Cartwright was born in Miami county, Ohio, May 22, 1831. They have had seven children: John C., Jeremiah L., Frank P., Edward A., Burty E., Maud M. and Charles, all of whom are living except John C., who was a conductor on the Pittsburgh railway and was killed on duty, July 12, 1876, at the age of nearly twenty-seven years. Politically Mr. Cartwright has been a life long democrat. He has led a strictly tem- perate life, having entirely abstained from intoxicants and tobacco.
The superintendency of the N. G. Olds & Sons' wheel works has been entrusted since 1884 with Victor A. Sallot, a careful and accurate business man, who thoroughly fills that position. He was born in France, August 27, 1844. His father, born in France, in 1809, married Josephine Julian, who was born in 18II, and in 1841 they came direct to this city. The father is by occupation a carpenter and cooper, and he purchased the first lots in what is now known as " Frenchtown." Vic- tor A. is the youngest of two children. In 1868 he engaged in the manufacture of sash and doors, and in 1870 the factory was converted to the manufacture of furniture. This business was continued until 1872, when the factory was destroyed by fire. In 1873 Mr. Sallot became associated with Barney. O'Connor in cutting out dimensions stuff and shipping the same, which business Mr. Sallot subsequently became sole proprietor of and continued until 1878. He then entered the employment of Boseker & White, in their wheel works, and remained with that firm nearly six years, three years of the time as superintend- ent, until January, 1884. Mr. Sallot is in politics a democrat, and is a member of the Catholic church. He was married in 1881 to Agnes Baker, who was born in Fort Wayne in 1854, and they have five sons : Remedius, Joachim, Hubert, Stephen and Barnard.
The foreman of the rimming department of the Olds wheel works,
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Hiram B. Woolsey, was born in Jordan, N. Y., December 25, 1840. His father, Luther L. Woolsey, born in New York in 1799, the son of Luther L. Woolsey, who lived in New York to the age of ninety-nine years. Luther L. Woolsey died in his native state in 1841, and his wife, whose maiden name was Keturah Bloomer, died in Fort Wayne in 1882, at the age of eighty. Ten of their childeen are living, Hiram being the youngest. When he was twelve years old he went to Sandusky, Ohio, and lived there some time with his brother John, receiving his education at that city. When seventeen years old he returned to New York and enlisted at Syracuse, in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-second New York regiment. He served for three years, was wounded at Gettysburg and Petersburg, and was honoralby discharged in July, 1864. In the following month he came to Fort Wayne, and began his engage- ment with N. G. Olds & Sons, which has ever since continued, with the „.exception of three years he has served during that long period as fore- man, a fact which speaks eloquently of his faithfulness and worth as a man and as a mechanic. He was married in 1873, to Ella A. Dresser, who was born at Hillsdale, Mich., in 1849. They have two children, Jay and May. In politics Mr. Woolsey is a republican; he is a Mason, a comrade of the G. A. R., and a member of the Baptist church.
In the month of February, 1865, Washington McNamara, now a popular and worthy citizen of Fort Wayne, entered the employment of N. G. Olds & Sons, and with the exception of two years, he has been connected with the wheel works ever since. For eleven years he has been a foreman, now having in charge the yards and drying department, and he has the good will of all with whom he is associated. Mr. Mc- Namara was born at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, April 12, 1849. His parents, William and Susan (Porter) McNamara, were born in Maryland, the father in 1805, the mother in 18II. The family removed to Indiana in 1855, settled first in Huntington .county, and came to Fort Wayne in 1864. The father died in this city in 1868. Seven of their children are living, Washington McNamara being the fifth born of these. He was married October 28, 1885, to Laura Lindsley, who was born Sep- tember 28, 1864, at Attica, Ind. Mr. McNamara is a member of the I. O. O. F., Fort Wayne lodge, and politically is a democrat.
The foreman of the polishing department at the establishment of N. G. Olds & Sons is Matthias Cramer. He was born in Germany, December 4, 1844, son of Matthias and Barbara (Doppen) Cramer, natives of Germany. The mother died in her native land in 1846, and the father died in Fort Wayne in 1869. Their son Matthias came to Fort Wayne from Germany in 1856. When the war broke out, though only a boy in years, he gallantly enlisted in the cause of his adopted coun- try, August 18, 1861, in Company E., Thirtieth regiment Indiana volun- teers, and participated in the battle of Shiloh where he was shot through the head, and on account of his injury was discharged in July, 1862. But he re-enlisted in the following September in Company K, One Hundredth Indiana and served until the close of the war, being commis-
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sioned first lieutenant. He was honorably discharged June 29, 1865. During his second enlistment he participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Black River, Jackson, Chattanooga, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mount, Atlanta, and others, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. On his return to Fort Wayne he entered the employment of Olds & Sons, and has been with them ever since excepting nine years spent in slate roofing. He is a member of the G. A. R., George Humphrey post, of the Catholic church, and is highly esteemed. Mr. Cramer was married in 1868 to Augusta Miller, a native of France, and they have eight children: Mary, Maggie, Rosa, Elizabeth, Anna, Tracy, Mathia and Cecilia.
One of the boy soldiers of the war of the rebellion, Robert G. Renfrew, enlisted at the age of fifteen, in Company B, Twenty-first Pennsylvania cavalry, and served faithfully during the various severe battles of the army of the Potomac which followed until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge, July 17, 1865. In the same month he came to Fort Wayne, and for two years engaged in farming. In 1868 he entered the employment of N. G. Olds & Sons, and has been connected with the works of that firm until the present, with the excep- tion of one year. Twelve years ago he was appointed foreman of the fitting department, the position he now holds. Mr. Renfrew was born at Fayetteville, Penn., March 9, 1848, son of Rea K. and Maria (Bohn) Renfrew, of whose children three others are living. He was married in 1872 to Sarah A. Fox, who was born in Lancaster, Penn., in 1847. She is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Renfrew is a republican in politics, is a member of Fort Wayne lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F., a comrade of George Humphrey post, No. 530, and is honored and esteemed as a citizen.
Since 1880 Frank W. Dunham has filled with credit to his skilfulness and business ability, the active and important place of foreman of the spoke turning department of the N. G. Olds & Sons wheel works. He was born at Lucas, Richland county, Ohio, January 28, 1856, the son of James and Frances Dunham. His father, a native of Delaware, was a soldier in the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio regiment, and died in hospital at St. Louis in 1863. Seven children of these parents are liv- ing, of whom Frank W. was the fourth born. A few years after the death of his father his mother died. Mr. Dunham remained on the farm for five years afterward, and then, in 1873, came to Fort Wayne, and found employment in White's wheel works, where he remained four years. He entered the employment of the Olds company in 1879, and his marked ability soon caused his promotion to the foremanship he now holds. Mr. Dunham is well known and popular in the community. He and wife are members of the Berry Street Methodist Episcopal church; he is a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 101, K. of P., and politically he ranks with the republican party. Mr. Dunham was married in 1880, to Jennie Dunfee, who was born at Columbia City, in 1862. They have three children: Charles H., Albert E., and an infant child unnamed.
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James A. Graham, general foreman of the car shops of the western di- vision of the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad, at Fort Wayne, was born in Alleghany county, Penn., December 25, 1856. His father, John Gra- ham, was born in the north of Ireland in 1825; emigrated to the United States in 1847, and settled in Alleghany county, where he died Febru- ary 3, 1889. By occupation he was an engineer in the P., Ft. W. & C. shops, at Alleghany City. The mother of Mr. Graham was Martha (McAleer) Graham, who was born in Ireland in 1827; immigrated in 1847, and now lives in Alleghany city. James A. was reared in Alle- ghany City, and received his education at the public schools of that place. At thirteen years of age he extered the employ of Elliott & Burges, nurserymen of Alleghany City, where he remained about two years, and then entered the employ of James Calwell; becoming an er- rand boy, he was promoted to a clerkship. But he became dissatisfied with the life and prospects of dry goods salesman, and determined to learn a trade, and accordingly he entered the car shops of the P., Ft. W. & C. railway at Alleghany City as an apprentice, April 2, 1872. He attended drawing-school during evenings, and faithfully applying him- self, advanced until 1884, he was given charge of all passenger car re- pairs in the Alleghany City shops, and continued in that capacity until September, 1886, when he was transferred to Fort Wayne and given the general foremanship of the car shops in this city. All the different departments, including the east yard shops, are under Mr. Graham's supervision, and the extent of his responsibility and the scope of his du- ties, will be readily understood when it is known that he has under him no less than half a dozen assistant foremen. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Graham realized the necessity of his company having a different draw gear or draft rigging for freight cars, and at once began experi- menting in that direction. In July following he succeeded in inventing a device, of which he made a full-size model, and submitted it to Messrs. J. Wood, then superintendent of motive power, F. D. Cassanave, then master mechanic, and G. L. Potter, then assistant master mechanic, who examined the invention, approved it, and gave Mr. Graham permis- sion to equip ten new freight cars with his draw rigging, and the same proving successful, it was adapted for all cars on the Pennsylvania lines. On September 8, 1888, Mr. Graham filed an application for a patent of his device, and on May 7, 1889, was awarded a patent for the same in the United States. It is no doubt the most valuable draw gear ever invented for durability and cheapness. Mr. Graham is a member of the Fort Wayne lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., and of the royal arcanum. He was married in November, 1875, at Alleghany City, Penn., to Miss Ella McNurtney, of Little Washington, Penn., and to them two daugh- ters have been born: Martha B. and Minnie A. Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the Methodist church.
Bernard Fitzpatrick, general foreman of the machine and erecting shops of the western division of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. company, was born at Lancaster City, Penn., August 7, 1850, the son of Bernard
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and Margaret (Dougherty) Fitzpatrick, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter at Philadelphia. The parents removed to Lan- caster City in 1845, where they resided the rest of their lives. The father became a prominent citizen and held numerous municipal posi- tions, including that of alderman, for several years. His death occurred in 1872, at the age of fifty-five years, his wife having died in 1857 at the age of thirty-five years. They were both members of the Catholic church. Four sons and one daughter were born, four of whom survive. Bernard Fitzpatrick was reared in Lancaster City and educated in the common schools. In 1867 he began an apprenticeship as machinist in E. S. Norris & Co.'s locomotive works, and after serving four years, in 1871 he entered the Baldwin locomotive works in Philadelphia, where he remained one year, and then went to Altoona. After working at the latter place, he returned to Lancaster on account of the illness of his father, and remained there until after his father's death. In 1872 he worked at Scranton in the D., L. & W. R'y shops. Six months later at Wilksbarre, in the Lehigh & Susquehanna R. R. shops, where he was promoted to gang boss in the above shops under L. C. Braston, master mechanic. He was next with the Lehigh Valley company as machinist, then returned to Altoona, and next went to Zelinople, Penn., on the Pittsburgh & Western, being foreman of the shops at that point for one year. In January, 1882, Mr. Fitzpatrick came to Fort Wayne and entered the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. shops as a machinist, but a month later was appointed assistant foreman of the round-house, in which capa- city he served five months, and on June 1, 1882, he was promoted to his present position. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a member of the Catholic Cathe- dral and of St. John's Commandery Catholic Legion. Mr. Fitzpatrick was married December 23, 1873, to Louisa Miller, of Baltimore, Md., who was born in that city in 1853. To this union three children have been born: Harry, Willie and May.
Abel Fisher, lumber inspector and foreman of the lumber yards of the P., Ft. W. & C. Ry. at Fort Wayne, was born in Lawrence county, . Penn., on March 29, 1844. He is the son of Abel Fisher, born in the same county, whose father was John Fisher, an officer in the war of ISI2, and one of the pioneers of Lawrence county, Penn. His wife was a sister to Bishop Roberts, the pioneer Methodist who was bishop of what was then known as the Erie conference, numbering all the Methodist Episcopal churches west of the Alleghany mountains. The mother of the subject of this mention was Polly Gibson, whose father was a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Lawrence county. Abel Fisher, sr., now over seventy years of age, is a resident of Iola, Kan., where he owns and manages a hotel. He also conducts a hotel at Victoria, Kan. His wife died in 1858. Abel Fisher, jr., was reared on a farm in Law- rence county, Penn., and after obtaining a common school education, he learned the miller's trade, and worked at the same until at the age of seventeen years and three months. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany G, of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiment of volunteer infantry,
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as a private. He served three years, and was discharged at the expira- tion of his time at Pittsburgh, July 4, 1864. He was wounded in the right wrist at the battle of Gaines' Mill on the Peninsula. Returning to Pennsylvania, he finished his trade and worked at it in Lawrence county until 1869, when he came to Fort Wayne. He was engaged with the railroad company as foreman of the lumber yards, and three months later was made inspector. Mr. Fisher was married in 1869 to Jennie Waddington, of Fort Wayne, who was born in Crestline, Ohio. To them three children have been born: Maude M., wife of E. J. Pirson, of Columbus, Ohio, Walter B. and William.
Andrew Weber, a well-known and valued citizen of Fort Wayne, has been chief pattern maker on the western division of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad company, since May 2, 1860. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, July 23, 1828, and in his native land learned cabinet and pattern making. In May, 1851, he left his native country and came to New York city, where he worked four years, and then came to Fort Wayne, where he was engaged by Bowser & Story as pattern maker. He began his engagement with the Pittsburgh rail- road company as above stated, as foreman of the pattern department, and is the second oldest foreman in the Fort Wayne shops. While at New York Mr. Weber learned mechanical drawing with Commissioner Albert Fink, who is also a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. Mr. Weber was married August 2, 1853, to Anna Guentzer, who was born on the river Rhine, Germany, in 1835. To them one son has been born, Carl Weber, druggist, of Fort Wayne. Mr. Weber is a member of the Cath- olic church, and for thirty-four years has been the leader of the Cathe- dral choir. His voice is one of rare compass, two and a fourth octaves, and there are few voices of that range in the country.
William Stephan, chief draftsman of the Pennsylvania company, was born at Saxonia town, Mittweida, Germany, August 4, 1848. He was educated in his native town and attended the Technicum, learning mechanical engineering, in which he graduated in 1868. He followed his profession for one year, and then entered the army and served in the infantry from 1869 to the fall of 1871, participating in the Franco- Prussian campaigns. July 20, 1872, he reached the United States, and coming directly to Fort Wayne, entered Bass foundry as pattern maker, where he remained a year and a half. He then spent about one year at New Haven, and afterward returned to Fort Wayne and entered the employment of the Kerr Murray manufacturing company, in the pattern department, where he remained four years. In 1878 he was engaged by the Pennsylvania company as mechanical draftsman, and worked in that capacity for six years. In 1883 he was appointed chief draftsman for the Pennsylvania company. Mr. Stephan is a member of Home lodge, F. & A. M. He was married in Germany in 1871, to Emeline Baatz, and six children have been born, of whom five are living: Emeline, William, Lina, Charles and Adolph.
Robert H. Harrison, a well known citizen of Fort Wayne, and fore -.
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man of the car machine shops of the P., Ft. W. & Chicago railway, was born in Ireland, January 1, 1834. He is the son of Richard Harrison, a native of Ireland, who was the son of John Harrison, who was born in Lancashire, England, but removed to Ireland and spent the remainder of his life. He was an extensive manufacturer of linen and was pos- sessed of large capital. Richard Harrison married Eliza Hamilton, who was the daughter of Glover Hamilton, a titled Scotchman, and her mother was the daughter of George Laird, also a member of the Scotch nobility. These parents immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where they lived until death. Their son, Robert H., was given a good education in the public schools of Toronto, and at the age of seventeen years, he set in to become a machinest in the Toronto locomotive works. In 1854 he removed to Philadelphia, Penn., and about 1858, to Pittsburgh, coming in 1859 to Fort Wayne. He was in the employment of the Pennsylvania railroad company, at Pittsburgh, and he came here in that service. In April, 1861, Mr. Harrison answered the call for ninety days volunteers, and enlisted in Company E, of the Ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, as first sergeant. He also served one year in an Illinois regi- ment, and was then forced to leave the service by sickness. Returning to Fort Wayne he re-entered the Pennsylvania machine shops, where he has since continued. He was made foreman of the car machine shops in 1872. Mr. Harrison is a member, and has been for twenty years, of Harmony lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Home lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Harrison was married in 1865 to Louisa Wittie, of Fort Wayne, who was born in Boston, Mass., in 1839, of German parents. To their union six children have been born: Grace Hamilton, Glover Benjamin, Viola Louisa, George Arthur, Ida May, and Bertha Eliza. In March, 1888, Mr. Harrison received a handsome legacy from the estate of his brother, who died at Toronto.
William Knight, foreman of the east yard car shops of the west di- vision of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. company, at Fort Wayne, was born at Croydon, Surry county, England, November 4, 1832, and came to America in April, 1854. Landing at New York city, he remained in that state for a while, and in 1856 came west and located in Fort Wayne. He learned the trade of cabinet making in England, but on coming to Fort Wayne he spent six months in bridge building on P., Ft. W. & C. road. In the winter of 1856 he entered the employ of Jones, Bass & Co. as car builder, and in 1857 he entered the service of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., in the same capacity. In 1879 he went to work in the shops of the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville R. R. Co., as fore- man, and remained there nearly five years. Returning to the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., on July 1, 1885, he was appointed foreman of the east yard car shops, a position he has since held. He was married in Feb- ruary, 1854, to Eliza Jenner, of Leatherhead, England, and to their union eight children have been born, five of whom survive, and four of whom are married. Mr. Knight is a Mason, member of Summit City
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