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 21
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married in 1860 to Frederica Ohm, of Fort Wayne, and they have had six children, four of whom survive: Louisa, Frederica, Charles William, Frederica, Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Stellhorn are members of the Emanuel Lutheran church.
For a considerable number of years Gustave Spiegel, a worthy Ger- man citizen of Fort Wayne, has been engaged in the retail boot and shoe business, at No. 132 Broadway. He is a native of Prussia, born March 8, 1823. In July, 1846, he immigrated, and landing at New York, city, remained there until October, 1850, when he came to Fort Wayne. Having learned the trade of boot and shoemaker in Germany, he fol- lowed that as an occupation until about 1860, when he opened a shop of his own, carrying a small stock of ready-made goods. About 1870, he opened a regular boot and shoe store at his present place, and has since carried a full line of all kinds of boots and shoes, and also does general repairing. Mr. Spiegel was married in 1847, to Mary E. Baals, of New York city, who was born in Bavaria, and emigrated to America in 1846. To their union nine children have been born, six of whom survive. He is a member of the Lutheran church, is an elder and a member of the school board, of Emanuel's church.
Edward Gilmartin of Fort Wayne, an extensive dealer in tele- graph poles and lumber, is a native of Queens county, Ireland, where he was born January 13, 1840. He came to America in 1860, landing in New York city on July 4 of that year. He came directly to Colum- bus, Ohio, and engaged with the Western Union telegraph company at that place. In the winter of 1861 and 1862 he was sent south to build military telegraph lines after the army of the Potomac, and was en- gaged in that work for about two years. Returning to Columbus, Ohio, the Western Union telegraph company assigned him to work for the Pennsylvania railway company on the east end. In 1864 the company sent him to Fort Wayne, and he was given charge of the western divis- ion of the Pennsylvania line until 1870, and then transferred to the G. R. & I. He built all that railroad line, in all six or seven hundred miles. He was engaged with G. R. & I. until November, 1887, when he resigned to attend to his private business. During his service in the Western Union and Pennsylvania companies he never lost a day in twenty-seven years. He had previous to that time been dealing in telegraph poles and lumber, and his business having greatly increased, his resignation was necessary. He now supplies the Western Union electric light and telephone companies, and Pennsylvania and G. R. & I. companies, shipping as far as Texas. In 1862 while laying a cable from Cape Charles to Fortress Monroe he was ship wrecked losing all personal effects. He was married in May, 1867, to Katherine Lynch, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when a child. To their union eleven children have been born, nine of whom are living: Kate, now the wife of W. D. McDonald, superinten- dent of electric light works, Fort Wayne; Michael J., William P.,
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Mary A., Edward, Nellie, John F., Loretta and Alice. He is a mem- ber of the Cathedral congregation, and Catholic Knights.
Frank R. Barrows, one of the leading photographers of Indiana, was born at Sturgis, Mich., August 5, 1854, son of Julius M. and Eliza (Hammond) Barrows. His father, a native of Hartford, Conn., born in 1829, resides at Sturgis, and is well-known in that region as a skillful architect and builder. His mother was born near London, England, in 1830. There are three living children of these parents, of which Frank R. is the second in age. He was educated in the schools of Sturgis and Lansing, Mich., and spent about three years in the profession of architect. In 1876, however, he engaged in photography, an art for which he has shown the highest adaptability, and in which he has risen to the front rank, mastering all the remarkable advances which have been made by science, and combining with artistic skill such business methods as commend him to the public and at the same time assure his own prosperity. Three years after turning his attention to the art he came to Fort Wayne, and was until 1882, in partnership with Francis H. Clayton, under the firm name of Clayton & Barrows. At the latter date Mr. Barrows purchased the entire business and four years later, Mr. Clayton died at Chattanooga, Tenn. In October, 1888, he occupied his establishment at the corner of Berry and Calhoun streets. The patron- age of his gallery is not confined to the city, but embraces many of the neighboring towns of Indiana. It is noted that the largest direct photo- graph to be obtained in the city, bears the name of Barrows. Socially he is one of the most popular men of the city. He was married March 22, 1877, to Abbie Hanson, born in Massachusetts, and they have two children, Lulu G. and Ray H.
Maurice L. Jones, a leading photographer, and dealer in photographic supplies, was born at North Manchester, Wabash county, Ind., August II, 1848. His father, Rufus. T. Jones, is a native of New York, and now resides at Bunker Hill, Ind., engaged in farming. During the war he enlisted, in 1862, in Company A, Thirty-ninth regiment, and was placed on detail service. Maurice is the oldest child by the second mar- riage of his father, which was to Mary A. Burr, who was born in James- town, N. Y. In 1863 he enlisted .in Company H, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana infantry, and subsequently served in the Thirty-ninth regiment, and the Eighth cavalry, until the close of the war, marching with Sherman to the sea. Being honorably discharged in 1865, he came home and entered Bryant & Stratton's commercial college of Indianap- olis, from which he graduated in 1867. Until 1870 he was in the lumber business with his father at Bunker Hill, and then for four years in the employment of the Howe sewing machine company at Peru, Ind. There he engaged in photography, being a partner in the firm of Moore & Jones, and in 1876 came to Fort Wayne, where he is the second oldest photographer, and ranks among the best in this part of the state. In politics he is a republican; he wasa charter member of Mythra lodge, K. of P., at Peru, and is a member of Loyal lodge, of Fort Wayne, and is a
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comrade of the G. A. R .; was married in 1870, has a son and daughter. His son, Harry A., is now engaged in business with his father at 44 Calhoun street, Fort Wayne.
More than a half century ago John J. Jocquel became a resident of Indiana. Born in France in 1812, he immigrated in 1832, and settling first at Cincinnati, then at Milton, Ohio, in 1836, he came into Indiana, and made his home first at Logansport, then at Peru, and in 1854 came to Fort Wayne. For a year he was foreman for Derry & Maple, stove and tinware dealers, and then engaged in business for himself. In 187I he began dealing in oil and lamps, but in 1876 changed his business to books and stationery, at which he continued until December 1, 1887, when he retired from active life. While at Peru he was married to a daughter of Capt. Louis Drouillard, an Indian trader. She died in August, 1876. Mr. Jocquel, now in his seventy-seventh year, is one of the oldest members of the congregation of the Cathedral, for which building he furnished all the tin and galvanized iron work. He retains his mental faculties in a surprising degree, with an excellent memory of the early days. He was succeeded in business by his son, Louis Jocquel, who was born at Peru, in 1849. He was educated in the Catholic schools, and in 1871, engaged in the book and stationery business. From this he retired in 1876, to accept the appointment of deputy asses- sor of Fort Wayne. After holding this position for three years he was in 1880, elected by the council to fill an unexpired term as assessor, and in 1882 and 1884 was elected by the people. He conducts a first-class bookstore on Calhoun street, making a specialty of Catholic books. He was married November 5, 1872, to Philomena, daugther of Jacob Glutting, of Fort Wayne.
John C. Wagner, one of the foremost in the piano trade in this city, came to Fort Wayne in 1875, and soon became generally known as a skillful piano tuner. He has been busily engaged in this, and during the past five years has also dealt extensively in pianos, his present establish- ment being at 27 West Main street, where he has built up a successful business. He is unusually skillful in his profession and as a business man, and socially possesses the esteem and confidence of the community. He was born in Germany, October 4, 1851, son of Sebastian and Eliza- beth Wagner, and received his early education in his native country. At the age of seventeen he came to America, leaving his relatives in the old country, and from 1868 to 1875 made his home in New York city. Mr. Wagner was married June 3, 1873, to Maggie Schield, daughter of John and Margaret Schield. She died September 4, 1886, leaving three children: Bertha, Louise and Sophia.
Henry Pfeiffer, senior member of the hardware firm of Pfeiffer & Schlatter, had his introduction to the business in 1866 at Dillenburg, Germany, where he continued until the fall of 1868, when he immi- grated and settled at Fort Wayne. After attending the common schools some time he entered the employ of Morgan & Beach, and continued with them for more than thirteen years. In May, 1882, he formed his
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present partnership, and is now doing a handsome business, and is recognized as one of the leading young business men of the city. He was born in Prussia, April 17, 1851, son of Peter and Mary (Gick) Pfeiffer. The father was born in 1793, and died in his native land in 1858. He had nine children, of whom Henry is the youngest. Five are deceased. In 1873 he was married to Mary Meyer, who was born in New York city in 1850, and they have had four children: Henry, born 1874; Flora, born 1880; Albert, born 1882, and Bertha, born 1887. Mr. Pfeiffer and wife are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church, and he is in politics a democrat.
Christian C. Schlatter, of the hardware firm of Pfeiffer & Schlatter, was born in Cedar Creek township, Allen county, September 13, 1851. His father, Sebastian Schlatter, is a native of France, who came to the United States in 1838, and lived first six years in Wayne county, Ohio, settling then in Allen county, where he died in 1871, having devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He married Rebecca Conrad, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1821, and now resides in Cedar Creek township. They had eleven children, of whom eight are living, C. C. Schlatter being the fourth born. He was raised on a farm, and at eighteen years of age went to Wooster, Ohio, and for two years attended high school, at the expiration of that period entering the em- ployment of D. D. Miller, hardware dealer. A year later he came to Fort Wayne, and was for ten years in the employment of Morgan & Beach, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business, which enabled him, when he embarked in trade for himself in partnership with Henry Pfeiffer, at the expiration of the service referred to, to speedily gain a high rank among the enterprising and trustworthy business men of the city. He was married in 1876 to Addie Zimmerman, who was born in Cedar Creek township, May 6, 1856, and they have one child, Harry C., born October 26, 1885. Mrs. Schlatter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Theodore O. Gotsch, a prominent hardware dealer, of the firm of Smith & Gotsch, was born at Kendallville, Ind., June 25, 1860. His father, Julius H. Gotsch, was born at Leipsic, Saxony, in 1830, came with his parents to Ameriea when a young man, first settled in Fort Wayne, and in 1860 removed to Kendallville, where he died in 1872. He was a jeweler by trade. He married Lena Muessing, who was born in Frille in Kresse-Menden, Prussia, in 1835, by whom he had five children, three of whom are living, Theodore being the second. The latter received a common school education at his birth place, and in 1877 came to Fort Wayne, and the next year took a position with Prescott Bros. & Co., hardware merchants. In 1881 he began a six years' employment with Morgan & Beach. He embarked in business independently in 1888 in partneaship with Fred M. Smith. They pur- chased the store of T. J. Nolton, and are now doing a prosperous business. Mr. Gotsch made his own way in life since he was nine years of age, and is highly esteemed as a citizen. He was married
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November, 1884, to Carrie Johnson, who was born at Waterloo, N. Y., in 1860. She died April 18, 1886. Mr. Gotsch is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church.
Fred M. Smith, of the hardware firm of Smith & Gotsch, was born at Watertown, Jefferson county, N. Y., son of Willett and Zilpha (Baker) Smith, both natives of that state. His father, born in 1834, died in 1887, at Watertown, and his mother, born in 1834, died at the same place in 1880. Mr. Smith, the second of three living children, attended the schools of his town, and then, in 1880 entered the Potsdam Normal school, whence he graduated in 1886. He was for two years principal of the Parishville graded school, and then in 1888, came to Fort Wayne, and engaged in the hardware business, purchasing the stock of T. J. Nolton. He carries a general line of light hardware, and is doing a good business. Politically he is a democrat, and socially he is highly esteemed, being generally classed among the prominent young business men of the city.
Joseph A. M. Storm, who is a native of Germany, arrived in America with his parents in 1863, settling first at Philadelphia, where he resided until October, 1864, when he removed to Fort Wayne. In January, 1865, he entered the hardware store of Morgan & Beach, where he remained five years, then spending seven years in the same business with McCulloch & Richey. Subsequently, after three years' experience with Coombs & Co., as traveling salesman, he bought out the firm of McCulloch & Richey, and since has had that success in business that his twenty-three years' experience in his chosen line, and his natural ability in commerce have led his friends to expect. Mr. Storm was born in Germany on the river Weser, January 18, 1847, son of Conrad and Sophia (Reiking) Storm. His father was born in 1802, in the town of Oberkirchen in Hesse and when he emigrated to the United States, settled at Philadelphia, where he lived until his death in 1884. He was by occupation a glass engraver. The mother of Mr. Storm was born in 1808, at the village of Haevern on the river Weser, and now resides at Philadelphia. . Mr. Storm is the sixth in a family of eight children, of whom six survive, and received his education in Germany. He was married in 1873, to Caroline Paul, born in 1853, and they have one child, Matilda. They are members of the German Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Storm is a democrat, and as such from 1885 to 1887, represented the Fifth ward in the city council, serving as a member of the finance committee during his membership, one year as chairman.
In about the year 1855, John Spice, a native of County Kent, Eng- land, came to the United States, and settled at Buffalo. In IS61 he came to Allen county, and settled on a farm in Lake township. He was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm in 1869, and held that position until 1880, when he made his home at Fort Wayne, and engaged in business, dealing in pumps, pipe, and fittings, lightning rods, drive wells, water elevators, etc., and as agent for the Star wind mills. Established first on Broadway, the business was removed in IS85 to
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No. 48 West Main street. The business was founded in 1865 by A. P. Kyle, who was succeeded by J. Y. Keyser, and he in October, 1880, by John Spice & Son. In July, 1887, John Spice retired from business, and removed to Hudson, Steuben county, where he and wife, whose maiden name was Frances Craft, are living a retired life. They had five children : John W., born in England, in 1841, died in 1877: Charlotte, died in chilhood; Fanny, born in England in 1853; Herbert, born in New York in 1857, died in 1880, and Robert, born in New York, June 6, 1859. The latter succeeded to the business in which he had been a partner, in 1887, and has a large trade throughout a territory in- cluded in a radius of twenty miles. He was married in July, 1878, to Alice E. Richey, daughter of James Richey, of this city, and they have had five children, two of whom are deceased. Mr. Spice is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Louis J. Bobilya, one of the brightest and most active young busi- ness men of Fort Wayne, occupies the responsible position of general agent for J. F. Sieberling & Co., of Akron, Ohio, manufacturers of the Empire mowers, reapers and binders. He is a native of the county, born August 9, 1857. His father, August Bobilya, married Susan Buva, in their native country, France, and they then immigrated, settling first in Ohio, and removing to Allen county in 1851. The father died in the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the mother survived him until 1886, when she died in her fiftieth year. Louis was the third of five children, of whom four are living. After the death of his father he made his home with an uncle at Defiance until he was twelve years of age, when he entered the employment of Frank Alderman, in the agricultural im- plement business. Five years later he engaged with J. F. Sieberling & Co., as general agent for the state of Indiana. He is a Mason, and in politics a democrat. He has made his own way in life, and his success in business and good standing in all the relations of life, are highly grat- ifying to his many friends.
One deserving mention among the young business men of the city is Alexander H. Boerger, a prominent young druggist, a native of this city, born July 15, 1867. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Spring) Boergen, old and esteemed citizens of Fort Wayne. He received his early education in the public schools of the city, both English and German branches. At sixteen he took a position as clerk in a drug store, and a year later entered the Cincinnati college of pharmacy and attended two terms. Returning home, he spent a few months in the capacity of clerk, after which on August 1, 1887, he opened a drug store at No. 316 Hanna street, where he has since done a successful business. He is a member of the Salem Reformed church. Mr. Boer- ger is an upright young man, and a competent and reliable pharmacist.
In the year 1884 John J. Brink established himself in the drug busi- ness at 43 Wells street, and has since enjoyed a profitable custom. He is prominent in his business, an enterprising and popular young citizen. Mr. Brink was born in this city March 30, 1857, the son of Jacob and
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Catherine (Wismer) Brink. When he was eight years old he lost his father by death. In 1871, being then fourteen years old, he began his experience in business with his employment as a drug clerk, and he con- tinued to be engaged in that capacity until opening a store of his own.
Martin Detzer, one of the most trustworthy druggists of the city, began his study of pharmacy in 1867, when he accepted a clerkship in a drug store at Defiance, Ohio. A year later he was employed in the same capacity at Napoleon, and four months afterward came to Fort Wayne. He was subsequently compelled by sickness to give up his position, and he was then employed for a few months at Bryan, return- ing then to this city and taking a position with August L. Selle, drug- gist. In 1878 he and his brother, August J. Detzer, became the successors of Mr. Selle, purchasing the stock after his death, and the firm of Detzer & Brothers prospered for nearly eight years. December 14, 1885, Martin Detzer became the sole proprietor, by purchase of his brother's interest. His establishment at 260 Calhoun street, is one of the prominent drug stores of the city, and is enjoying a lucrative busi- ness. Mr. Detzer enjoys the confidence of the community as an honorable and upright man. He was born in Williams county, Ohio, May 23, 1851, the son of Rev. Adam J. and Charlotte (Neidhardt) Detzer, natives respectively of Bavaria and Alsace. When Martin was a small child the family removed to Defiance, Ohio. The mother died at Desplaines, Ill., September 26, 1873; the father, a minister of the Lutheran church, resides at Holgate, Ohio. Mr. Detzer first came to Fort Wayne at the age of eleven as a student in Concordia college, where he remained five years. He was married in December, 1874, to Lizzie, daughter of Rev. W. S. Stubnatzy, formerly a Lutheran minister at Fort Wayne. She was born in Illinois, in April, 1852. They have had four children: Phebe W., Charlotte E., Paul F. W. and Edith, the first and last being deceased. Mr. Detzer and wife are members of the Lutheran church.
One of the popular young men of the city, and well equipped by taste and education for his business as a druggist, Henry C. Granneman, was born in. Osage county, Mo., August 18, 1867. His parents are Charles H. and Minnie (Fisher) Granneman, natives of Germany, the father born in 1822 and the mother in 1826. They came to the United States about 1856, and subsequently removed to Missouri, but are now residents of the city. To them six children were born, of whom three are living, the youngest being Henry C. He came to Fort Wayne with his parents in 1873, and received his education at the Lutheran schools. He entered the drug business in 1883, in the employ of the well known firm of C. B. Woodworth & Co., with whom he still remains. He studied his profession in the Chicago college of pharmacy, of which he is a graduate, and he is a member of the Indiana state phamaceuti- cal association. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is one of the Fort Wayne light artillery, Company G, of the first regiment. He is a republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison.
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After a seven years' experience with the late Henry G. Wayne as a drug clerk, Charles O. Lepper, at present proprietor of the popular drug store at 66 West Jefferson street, embarked in business on his own account, September 27, 1886. Mr. Lepper possesses a thorough knowledge of pharmacy, is a conscientious and trustworthy young man, and possesses in a marked degree those desirable business qualifications which insure success. He was born in Washington township, Allen county, January 27, 1864, the son of Lewis and Margaret (Good) Lepper. The father was killed in 1870 by the explosion of a boiler in his grist-mill, at New Haven, and soon afterward the mother and children removed to this city. Mr. Lepper began his engagement with Mr. Wayne in the drug trade in 1879. He is a member of the Salem Reformed church, and also of the Salem literary society, being treas- urer of that organization.
George H. Loesch, the well known druggist at No. 96 Barr street, is a native Indianian, born in Marshall county, October 31, 1856. He is the son of Christian and Augusta L. ( Hamm) Loesch, both natives of .Germany. The father was born at Heidelberg, and is a graduate of the university at that place, and the mother was born forty of fifty miles from there, in the state of Baden. They were married at Pittsburgh, Penn., about 1851, and now reside at Plymouth, Ind. About ten years before their removal to the latter place, their son George H., was born, and his early education was received in the schools there. In November, 1870, he took a clerkship in a drug store there, and after two or three years' experience, went to Chicago, where he spent over three years, having employment as a drug clerk, and also taking one course in the Chicago medical college, and two in the college of pharmacy, graduating from the latter March II, 1876. In the latter part of the following month he came to Fort Wayne, and obtained a clerkship with the late George B. Thorp. A year and a half later he purchased the establish- ment, and has since conducted the business very successfully. He is quite prominent among the business men of Fort Wayne, is accomplished in his profession, and socially occupies a high standing. He was mar- ried October 29, 1878, to Mary M., daughter of John and Mary M. (Mahler) Hohan, who was born at Lake Maxinkuckee, April 17, 1857. Her father, an old settler of Marshall county, is living at Plymouth, but the mother died in November, 1875. Mr. Loesch is a Knight Templar and a member of the lodge of Perfection.
H. J. Seibold, superintendent of the Keller medicine company, of Fort Wayne, and a member of the Fort Wayne bill poster company, was born in Allen county, nine miles west from Fort Wayne, in 1856, the son of George and Dorothea (Seigel) Seibold, both of whom were natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in 1845 and coming directly to Allen county, located in Lafayette township, upon a farm. The mother died in 1875, at the age of fifty-seven, and the father has now passed his seventy-ninth year. Mr. Seibold was reared on the farm until fourteen years old and was educated in the country schools.
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