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 14
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Since January 1, 1885, Gustave L. Hackius has occupied a position with the Kerr Murray manufacturing company, and on January 1, 1888, he was promoted treasurer and head bookkeeper of that establishment, a responsible position which he at present fills to the entire satisfaction of
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the company. He was born in this city February 19, 1867, and was educated in the Lutheran schools, attending also the commercial college, taking a night course during the fall, winter and spring of 1882-3. He was engaged with A. Kalbacher, in the flour and feed trade, as book- keeper and clerk, in 1881-2, and then became a clerk in the shop-clerk's office of the Pennsylvania company from 1883 to 1885. He is the son of Andrew and Mary Hackius, natives of Germany, who came to Fort Wayne in 1854. The father being a copper and tinsmith by trade, was engaged at his trade with the Pennsylvania company at Fort Wayne. He died December 28, 1885, but his widow survives and is living in the city. To them eight children were born, of whom Gustave is the fifth, and all but two are living.
Herman J. Remmert, prominent in the manufacturing interests of the city of Fort Wayne, was born in Prussia, August 5, 1841. When fifteen years of age, in September, 1857, he landed at New Orleans, and after a few months' stay at St. Louis, he reached Fort Wayne in Febru- ary, 1858. Here he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he followed for a year and a half. In the fall of 1861 he made a visit to his native country and was absent six months. Upon his return he became engaged with the Bass foundry and machine works, and re- mained there until the fall of 1863, when he entered the employment of Murray & Bennigan, in their machine shops. In the fall of 1864 he en- gaged in the retail grocery trade, and though out of the shops not more than three months, continued that business for three years. He has been connected with the same works ever since, through its various changes of proprietorship, a period of twenty-six years. Previous to the or- ganization of the Kerr Murray manufacturing company he acted as gen- eral foreman for four or five years, and since the organization of that company in which he is a stockholder, he has been superintendent of the works. Mr. Remmert was married on June 26, 1866, to Mary C., daughter of John J. Koester, of this city, and to their union ten children have been born, six of whom survive. He and wife are members of the St. Paul's Catholic church.
Among the popular foremen of the Kerr Murray establishment should be named Carl Bohne, a skillful pattern-maker. He was born in Han- over, Germany, May 13, 1857, the son of Henry. and Engel (Meyer) Bohne. They emigrated to America in 1857, and came directly to Fort Wayne, making their home five miles south of Fort Wayne, where the father followed farming until his death in 1866. The widow then removed to the city, where she still resides. Carl Bohne was educated in the German Lutheran schools, and at the age of thirteen years entered the drug house of his uncle, William Meyer, where he remained two years, and then began an apprenticeship of four years with J. C. Boser & Co., at the trade of pattern-maker. He remained with the above house twelve years altogether, and then entered the employ of the Kerr Mur- ray manufacturing company in 1885. In 1886 was engaged at Kendal- ville, Ind., with the Flint & Walling manufacturing company, as pattern-
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maker, for nine months. He then returned to the Kerr Murray manu- facturing company as foreman of the pattern department of that establishment, and has continued in that position. Mr. Bohne was mar- ried at Kendallville in 1887 to Dora Wehmeyer, who was born at that place in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Bohne are members of Emanuel Lutheran church.
The foremanship of the boiler and blacksmith department of the Kerr Murray works is in the hands of Adolph F. Schulz, who came to this city in 1883, and having learned the trade of blacksmith and boiler- maker in his native land, immediately engaged with this company. He was made foreman in 1884, but in 1885 removed to Decatur, and was for a short time engaged with a machine shop and foundry at that place, going then to Alleghany, Penn., taking charge of a department in a machine factory. In 1886 he returned to this city, and again took the foremanship he now holds. Mr. Schulz was born in Germany, February 28, 1854, and immigrated in 1882, having previously been married, 1877, to Sophia Seidensticker, by whom he has three sons and one daughter. Mr. Schulz is a member of the Reform church, and a worthy citizen.
Fort Wayne Organ Company .- Of this prominent industry, of which mention has already been made, Stephen B. Bond is president, Charles E. Bond, secretary, and A. S. Bond, treasurer and superin- tendent.
The position of designer and superintendent of case manufacturing in the Fort Wayne organ factory, is held by Thomas Hill, a native of Halifax, Yorkshire, England. He was born January 9, 1839, the son of Richard and Ann (Lockwood) Hill. At thirteen he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade and after a seven years' apprenticeship, followed his trade at various places in England until 1872. In that year he emigrated to America, locating in Boston; he remained there two years and then had charge of a cabinet shop at Worchester, Mass., three years and a half. After a few months at Boston, he went to Appleton, Wis., and took charge of a factory in which chairs and bed room suits were made. There he was occupied as designer five years and a half. He then went to Chicago, and was with the firm of Story & Clark, organ manufacturers, as designer, five or six years. Prior to this he had spent one year with the firm of A. H. Andrews & Co. In February, ISS8, he came to Fort Wayne and accepted his present position. Mr. Hill was married July 9, 1861, to Ellen Stott, a native of Hebden Bridge, England. They have one son, Richard, born July 4, 1871. Mr. Hill is a member of the A. O. U. W., and the White Rose lodge, Sons of St. George.
Brooks French is a native of Wilton, N. H., born November 1, 1845, son of Samuel and Elvira (Grey) French, both natives of the same town. He lived until eighteen on a farm and then removed to Michigan, and became employed in a furniture factory at Battle Creek. Later he held the position of foreman in a table factory, and subsequently worked two years in an organ factory which had developed out of the table factory.
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In the fall of 1871, he accepted a position in the Burdett organ factory at Chicago, but the establishment was destroyed by the great fire before he took his situation. He spent the winter of 1871-2 in Gratiot county, Mich., with relatives and afterward came to Fort Wayne, and has ever since been employed in the factory of the Fort Wayne organ com- pany. He has aided in the construction of every organ that has been turned out by the institution, and since June, 1872, has been foreman of the stop action department. During the summer of 1878, he served four months as acting superintendent. He is the inventor of French's stop action, upon which he received a patent March 14, 1882, and of French's grand organ action, patented June 12, 1883. Both patents have been assigned to the Fort Wayne organ company. From 1876 to 1884, in connection with his other duties, he had charge of the fly finishing department, and since 1884 has managed the pedal base double bank department, all the mechanism of which is of his own invention, as well as the labor of draughting and manufacture. Mr. French was married September 14, 1873, to Miss Roberta C. Kent, who was born in DeKalb county, Ind., but was reared at Coldwater, Mich. Mrs. French is a tele- graph operator and had worked at her profession two years prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. French have both completed the Chautauqua course, graduating in 1886, and since then Mrs. French has completed a course in the Hailman kindergarten school of La Porte, Ind. She is the founder of the Fræbel kindergarten school of Fort Wayne, established in 1886. She is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. French is a member of the Apollo club and the Morton club. In politics he is an ardent republican.
.The foremanship of the finishing department of the Fort Wayne organ company has been for seventeen years in the hands of Capt. John H. Rohan. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 24, 1839, son of John and Bridget Rohan, with whom he came to America in 1845. The family first located at Burlington, Vt., but three years later, removed to Milwaukee, Wis. In early manhood Capt. Rohan learned the trade of a finisher of wood, and followed it in Milwaukee until 1859, and afterward at Buffalo, N. Y. In July, IS62, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Sixteenth New York volunteer infantry and served until the close of the war. He was successively promoted from private to sergeant, first sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and in April, 1864, he was promoted captain and served as such with. company G, of the same regiment, until the close of the war. He commanded his company in the battles of Port Hudson, Pleasant Hill, Sabine Cross Roads, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and numerous skir- mishes of less importance. He received a flesh wound in the left side at the battle of Pleasant Hill, and a scalp wound in the battle of Cedar Creek, but fortunately neither proved serious. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 25, 1865. Returning to Milwaukee he engaged in the grocery business. Two years later he removed to Chi- cago and until the great fire in 1871 worked at his trade in the factory
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of the Burdett organ company. After the fire he came to Fort Wayne and has ever since held his present position. Captain Rohan was mar- ried May 28, 1868, to Miss Mary Ann Theresa O'Brien, a native of Rochester, N. Y., and daughter of Lawrence and Mary O'Brien. They have had nine children, of whom Lottie J., William H., John F., Edwin G. and Agnes are living, and Mida, Theresa, Maggie and Walter are deceased. Mr. Rohan and wife are members of the Catholic church. He is a member of the uniformed rank of the Catholic Legion, the National Union, and G. A. R. In politics he is a democrat. Captain Rohan was formerly captain of the Veteran organization of the state militia and was promoted to the rank of major and finally lieutenant- colonel, and still serves in the latter rank.
Fort Wayne Jenney Electric Light Company .- Of this very im- portant corporation Henry G. Olds is president, P. A. Randall, vice president, R. T. McDonald, treasurer and general manager, and M. W. Simons, secretary. Ronald T. McDonald, general manager and treas- urer of the Fort Wayne Jenney electric light company, is a native of Pennsylvania, born June 24, 1849, at Alleghany City, the eldest of four children now living of James B. and Margaret (Morrison) McDonald. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and died at Fort Wayne in IS86 at the age of seventy-six years. The subject of this mention came to Fort Wayne in 1860, and here has since resided. In 1864 he enlisted in company C, One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana in- fantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged as sergeant major. On his return to this city he was en- gaged first in the dry goods business as a clerk, afterward as a member of the firm of Evans, McDonald & Co., leaving that business in 1881 to engage in the electric light industry. To that he brought all the energy and enterprise which had already distinguished him as a business man, and he has greatly advanced the interests of the company of which he was one of the incorporators in 1882, and which promises to become one of the leading industries of the city. During the few years he has been identified with this industry he has gained a wide repute as one of the prominent men of the country in the electric light manufacture. Mr. McDonald was married in 1876 to Lillie Morse, of Angola, Ind., daughter of Marquis and Elizabeth Morse, and they have one child, Esther. He is a member of Sol D. Bayless lodge, No. 129, 1870, of Fort Wayne commandery, 1872, and of the Indianapolis consistory, ISS2. In politics he is an ardent republican.
The master mechanic, with his scientific knowledge of the forces and materials of nature, with careful training and natural ingenuity, is one of the prime movers in the prosperity of Fort Wayne. Such a man is the master mechanic of the Fort Wayne Jenney electric light company, Charles S. Hilton. He began work as a machinist in the employ of the Franklin machine company at Lewiston, Me., in the fall of 1865. He remained there three years, and was then for nine years employed by the manufacturers of the Cottrell & Babcock printing presses in Rhode
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Island. During five years of the latter period he held the position of foreman. Removing to Kentucky, he· acted two years as master me- chanic of the Bowling Green woolen company. In 1882 he came to Fort Wayne, and was in the employment of the Wabash railroad company in their shops, after which he entered the service of the electric light com- pany, first as superintendent of the arc department, and then for two years past as master mechanic. Mr. Hilton was born at South Boston, Mass., July 28, 1846, son of Leonard Hilton and his wife Susan Farnsworth, both natives of Massachusetts, who passed their lives there. Leonard was the son of Daniel Hilton, who was born at Fitchburg, Mass., about 1790, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in his native state at about seventy-six years of age. His wife was Julia Sautell, who died in Massachusetts at about eighty-six years of age. Charles S. enlisted in 1863, in Company B, Fifty-sixth Massachusetts infantry, and served in all the engagements of the army of the Potomac after the battle of Gettysburg until the close of the war, being wounded at the battle of Petersburg. He was married in 1882, to Mrs. Mary E. Sands, of Wa- bash, and have two children, Donna M. and Charles W. He has one child, Hattie, by a former marriage, and his wife one child, May Sands, by her previous marriage. Mr. Hilton is a republican, a comrade of the G. A. R., and a Scottish Rite Mason.
The assistant master mechanic of the Fort Wayne electric light company, Charles F. Knothe, is a native of this city, born February II, 1851, to J. A. and Louisa ( Krochman ) Knothe, natives of Germany, who immigrated in 1846, and made their residence in this city in 1848. The mother passed away in 1882, but the father is still living, and engaged in business as a member of the lumber firm of Beaver, Miller & Co. Charles F. Knothe was educated in the public and Lutheran schools of the city, and in 1869 began an apprenticeship as machinist with Louis Rastet- ter, at which he continued three years. He then worked at various places, and in 1874 became engaged in the railroad shops at East Sag- inaw, Mich. In 1883 he returned to Fort Wayne, and entered the em- ployment of the Jenney electric light company, as a machinist, and in 1886 was appointed assistant master mechanic. Mr. Knothe was mar- ried in 1874 to Elizabeth Billing, who died in 1878, leaving two chil- dren, and in 1884 he was united to Polly Frohmuth, by whom he has had two children.
The position of purchasing agent and superintendent of shipping of the Fort Wayne Jenney electric light company is efficiently filled by Charles B. Fitch, one of the most popular young men in the city. He possesses winning social qualities as well as business acumen, and is prominent in Masonry, being a Knight Templar of Fort Wayne com- mandery, and high in the Scottish Rite. Mr. Fitch was born at Medina, Ohio, May 23, 1859, the youngest of seven children (six now living), of William and Aurelia (Brintnall) Fitch. The father was born in Con- necticut in 1817, was a farmer by occupation, and owned one of the best farms in the Western Reserve. He died in 1867, at Medina, and his
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widow, who was born in 1819, in New York, died at Fort Wayne in 1881. Her family were pioneers in New York and Vermont. The father of William W. Fitch, who had the same name, was born in Con- necticut in 1780, settled in Ohio with his family as early as 1825, and died about 1865. His ancestors came from England prior to 1660, and were pioneers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Mr. Fitch received a good education in the schools at Medina and Fort Wayne high school. He came to this city in 1872, and in 1875 began teaching, at which he was engaged in this county for several terms. From 1879 to 1882 con- ducted a mercantile and grain business at Avilla, but in the latter year returned to Fort Wayne, and became engaged with the electric light company, with which he has since been prominently connected. He was married in 18SI to Elizabeth Fryer, of Noble county, daughter of Henry Fryer, a prominent farmer.
John C. Peters,'as a prominent manufacturer and owner of the famous Wayne hotel, has by his various enterprises contributed in a large measure to the advancement of the city. Mr. Peters was born in this city June II, 1848, son of Claus and Caroline (Eberlein) Peters, who came to Fort Wayne in 1841, from Germany, their native land. The father, who was born in 1813, followed in this city the occupation of builder and contractor until his death in 1849. His widow still survives. John C. Peters received his early education in this city, and then, in 1862, began learning the trade of piano and cabinet-maker at which he was occupied for four years, from 1865 to 1869, in New York city. In 1873 he was married to Mary Myers, of Fort Wayne, who was born in 1853, the daughter of Frederick Myers. To this union has been born seven children: Frederick, William, Otto, Arthur, Paul, Flora and Bertha. Mr. Peters is a member of the Emanuel Lutheran church; and in politics he takes an active interest in the welfare of the demo- cratic party. He has risen to an honorable place among the foremost citizens of Fort Wayne, by his character as a man, his unfailing reliabil- ity as a business man, and his energy and enterprise as a manufacturer. He conducts an extensive business solely his own in hardwood lumber, which he established in 1872. The large building devoted to this man- ufacture, on Osage and Main streets, is equipped with one band-saw mill, operated by steam, with an average capacity of 7,000 feet per day. Ash, oak and whitewood lumber are principal features of the product, which is to some extent disposed of to local manufactories using a fine grade of lumber, but mainly to eastern factories. Dealing only in per- fect stock, the house is popular and the business is constantly increasing. Mr. Peters is also manager of the Horton manufacturing company, in- corporated in 1883, with a capital stock of $30,000, whose works give employment to seventy skilled workmen. This establishment manufac- tures the improved Western washer, hand corn planters, and various wooden novelties, and has a heavy trade throughout Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, throughout the union, and even to Australia. Mr. Peters was also a partner prior to 1873 with Charles Pape and Joseph Schaf-
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fer in the Peters' box and lumber company, another extensive enterprise elsewhere mentioned. He is also president of the Indiana machine works, a company organized and incorporated in 1887, with a capital of $75,000. This establishment manufactures patented specialties in wood- working machinery, etc. Mr. Peters built in 1887, the Wayne hotel, described elsewhere, which is already widely known as one of the finest places of accommodation in the country. This brief mention of the en- terprises in which Mr. Peters is engaged is sufficient, though but a meagre outline, to give an idea of the activity of his busy life, devoted to the upbuilding of the city of his birth.
The Peters box and lumber company, manufacturers of furniture and hand-sawed lumber, was established and incorporated in 1871, by J. C. Peters, Charles Pape and Joseph Schaffer, with a capital stock of $55,000. The factory is situated at Nos. 79 and 102 High street, and the salesrooms at Nos. 15 and 17 Court streeet. The factory occupies four floors, 50x100, two floors, 40x70, one 50x80, and one 40x60, and the best productions of modern invention are employed in the manufac- ture. From sixty to seventy-five men here find employment. This product is also shipped extensively over the state and into Ohio, and the hardwood lumber produced is shipped to the cities of the east and to London. A special feature is quartered oak, of which the finest grades are handled. Two band-saws are run with a capacity of 20,000 feet per day, and one venner saw, with a capacity of 10,000 feet per day. Of this institution Charles Pape is president, and Wilson McQuiston secretary.
Charles Pape, prominent among the enterprising men who have established the greatness of the city of Fort Wayne, by establishing manufactories that employ hundreds of men and carry the fame of the city wherever their products are sold, first saw this city in 1850, then being a German lad of thirteen years, fresh from his native land. He worked for several months at such labor as he could find. He then went to Elkhart and remained there two years. Returning to Fort Wayne in 1861, he engaged in contracting, and continued to be thus employed until 1873, when he became connected with the Peters' box factory. In 1878 he purchased a controlling interest in the Peters' box and lumber company, and has since then been president of the company. In 1882 he purchased an interest in the Jonathan Fleming road machine, and established a business which has since become known as the Fleming manufacturing company, of which he is sole owner and one of the most extensive producers of road machines and snow scrapers in the United States. His career has been a remarkable one, and his success is all the more notable as he has been wholly dependent upon his energy and talent for affairs, being entirely without assistance at the outset. Mr. Pape was born at Minden, Germany, December 18, 1837, son of William and Wilhelmina Pape, who emigrated to the United States in 1850, and settled at Fort Wayne, where they both died. He is the eldest of their five children. He was married in 1859, to Wilhelmina
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Bierman, a native of Germany. She died in 1871, and in 1872 Mr. Pape was married to Caroline Schroeder. He has eight children. He is a democrat in politics, and was for two terms a member of the city council. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church.
The responsible position of secretary of the Peters box and lumber company is in charge of Wilson McQuiston, who has a thorough knowl- edge of the business, and performs his portion of it in a way that leaves nothing to be desired. Though a native of this county, his first essay in business was as bookkeeper in the bank of Sigourney, Iowa, in May, 1868. His efficiency won for him in the course of a year, the position of cashier. After six years of experience in that function he turned his attention to newspaper management, and removing to the national capital, became one of the publishers of the Washington Daily Chronicle. For four years he held the position of secretary and treasurer of the Chronicle publishing company. In 1878 he returned to Fort Wayne, and has since that year, been associated with the lumber manufacturing of the city. He became secretary of the Peters box and lumber com- pany in 1884. Mr. McQuiston was born in Allen, county, March 21, 1844, the son of John and Eliza McQuiston, residents of the county, and he received his education in the schools of the city. In the fall of 1870 he was married to Lydia A. Bean, of Delaware, Ohio. He has been a member of Summit City lodge, F. & A. M., since 1865, and is in politics a republican.
The Anthony Wayne manufacturing company, of which John Rhinesmith is president, and Albert C. F. Wichman superintendent, is one of the prosperous concerns of the city. Its product is the improved Anthony Wayne washing machine, the invention of Mr. Wichman, which is one of the most popular contrivances of that kind. Mr. Wichman was born in Prussia in 1835, and came to America in 1849. He first made his home at Cincinnati, but in 1851 came to Fort Wayne, where he resided until 1864. He then removed to Kendallville, and during his residence there served as city clerk from 1869 to 1873. Returning to Fort Wayne in 1880, he for several years held the position of bookkeeper for William Moellering, contractor and builder. In 1886 he entered the Anthony Wayne manufacturing company, and became the superinten- dent of the works in June, 1887. Mr. Wichman was married in 1857, to Elizabeth Eberlein, who is a native of Bavaria, though reared in Fort Wayne. They have nine children.
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