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 23
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the first set of books for both these corporations. He is now engaged in the pension, government claim and insurance business. His peculiar adaptation to details, acquired in the adjutant's department, makes him especially fitted for exécutive work, and in whatever position of life he is planted, he is sought out for this work. The captain has always been a republican. He took an active part in the election of Abraham Lin- coln, and in every campaign since. In 1872 he was a candidate for the legislature, running ahead of his ticket, he receiving more votes than the governor and congressman in the county. He has been, at differ- ent times, and is at the present time, secretary of the republi- can central committee. Although of a retiring disposition he is sought out and urged to fill these positions. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Morton club, and has held official position in that flourishing political organization. In Masonic circles he stands high, and is past master of Newman lodge of New Haven, Ind., past high priest of Fort Wayne chapter, and past illustrious master of Fort Wayne council, vice-presi- dent of the Fort Wayne Caledonian club. In August, 1862, he married Josephine Griffin who, with their two sons, John I. Dougall and Arthur H. Dougall, and their daughters, M. Inez Dougall and Winnie J. Dougall, are well known in Fort Wayne social circles. On coming to this country he brought with him his transfer from the old kirk of Scotland and affiliated with the First Presbyterian church of this city in 1858, and is still a worthy and honored member. Like his nationality he is a man of strong convictions, and when once convinced of the right, no power will induce him to turn. He is always known to fight for his principles to the last, and if need be, go down with them. His counsel is therefor eagerly sought after in whatever position in life he may be placed either in society, politics or elsewhere.
Conrad Neireiter, general insurance agent and notary public, has been for years one of the prominent men in business life in Fort Wayne. He came to the city in July, 1848, having then been but little over a year a resi- dent of the United States. After landing at Baltimore, May 18, 1847, he had settled in Pennsylvania, and there passed the intervening time. He was first occupied here as a clerk in the general store of I. Lauferty, which position he held for four years, resigning it to go into business for himself. For some time he conducted a grocery, then for seventeen years was in the harness and saddlery business, was four years a whole- sale leather merchant, and then for several years engaged in the manu- facture of trunks. In all these pursuits his correct business principles and upright dealing gained him the confidence of the public and the gen- eral esteem. For the past six years he has devoted his talents to insur- ance agency, managing the interests here of the German insurance company, of Freeport, Ill., the Williamsburg City fire insurance com- pany of New York, the Rochester German, of Rochester, N. Y., and the Concordia, of Milwaukee, all reputable and responsible organiza- tions. Socially Mr. Neireiter enjoys in a marked degree the good-will
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of the community, and has many warm friends among his wide acquain- tance. In politics, he is a democrat, and was at one time honored by that party with a membership in the city council. He was married October 27, 1852, to Harriet Lepper, who was born in Germany, March 5, 1834, and came to Allen county in 1845. They have three children : Kittie M., born October 1, 1858; Nettie F., July 11, 1862; Emma E., April 7, 1871. Mr. Neireiter and wife are members of the German Reformed church. Mr. Neireiter was born in Germany, June II, 1829, and is the eldest of five children living of Conrad and Mary Ann Nei- reiter. His father was born in 1804, and died at Fort Wayne in 1872; his mother born in 1808, died January 2, 1889. They came to Fort Wayne in 1860.
George K. Torrence, of the firm of George K. Torrence & Co., real estate and loans, was born in Fayette county, Penn., August II, 1835. His father, Robert Torrence, was a native of the county, born in 1800, by profession a civil engineer. He married Sophia Kemp, who was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1804. They resided in Dayton, Ohio, from 1850 until their deaths, which occurred, the father's in 1878, the mother's in 1879. They had four children, Emma R., George K., Mary A., who in 1867 married Edward Edmondson, who died in San Jose, Cal., in 1884, and Isaac M., now ticket agent at Denver, Col., of the Santa Fe railroad. In 1857 George K. went to New Orleans, and was engaged until 1867 in the sugar business, handling also sugar . making machinery. In the latter year he returned to Dayton, Ohio, and there resided until 1870, when he came to Fort Wayne and entered the employment of Hoffman Bros., with whom he remained four years. In 1874 he went to South America and for one year was occupied in shipping fine cabinet woods to New York. Upon his return to Fort Wayne he was in the lumber business for several years, and then engaged in his present occupation. In politics he is a democrat; is a Mason, having been Master of Sol D. Bayless lodge, No. 359; and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He was married July 10, 1867, to Alice Belknap, who was born at Frederick City, Md., in 1849.
Robert L. Romy, upon coming to Fort Wayne in 1866, found employment for the first few months as a day laborer, and for twelve years following was engaged in farm life. In 1882 he embarked in the real estate and loan agency in the city, and is now one of the most suc- cessful in that calling, and in good circumstances. He is a native of Switzerland, born near Bern, March 2, 1851, son of Fredrick and Bar- bara (Lutth) Romy, who were both born in Switzerland, of French- German descent. The family immigrated in 1854 and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1861. Robert is the third of eight children. He was married March 18, 1871, to Catherine Yerks, born in Canada in 1841, who came to Fort Wayne with her parents in 1851. They have five children: James L., Nora M., Viola, Catherine A., and Ida C. Mr. Romy's residence is three miles northwest of the court-
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house. He owns 920 acres of land, 390 of which lie in Allen county. He and wife are members of the Grace Reformed church, and he is an Odd Fellow, and in politics a democrat. At present, he is justice of the peace of Washington township.
The Dreibelbiss Abstract of Title Company, one of the success- ful business associations of Fort Wayne, is composed of, and under the exclusive management of, John and Robert B. Dreibelbiss, who are prominent as business men, and in addition to their abstract business, which has assumed large proportions, do an extensive real estate and loan business, and are associated in various manufacturing enterprises, being stockholders in the Indiana machine works, and the Old Fort manufacturing company. They have offices in the Pixley-Long build- ing, East Berry street. John and Robert Dreibelbiss are sons of John P. Dreibelbiss, born in Bavaria, November 28, 1829, who was three years later brought by his parents to America. The family came to Fort Wayne by ox-team from Buffalo, N. Y. In 1852, John P. Dreibelbiss was married to Anna Saurer, who was born in Switzerland, April 24, 1829, and seven children were born to them: John, Christian G., Christ- iana R., Conrad W., Mary L., Robert B., and Edward D. The father died December 31, 1886, aged fifty-seven years, and his widow is still living. John was born March 24, 1853, and was married to Kate M. Darrow, October II, 1877. He is in politics a republican. Robert, next to the youngest of the family, was born October 19, 1861, at Hunt- ington, Ind., is unmarried, and is politically a democrat. The brothers began in December, 1883, the laborious task of copying from the deed, mortgage and court records, all matters pertaining to the title of real estate in Allen county, and after completing this, incorporated, January I, 1887, the company above named.
Edward L. Craw, engaged in the real estate and loan business, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 7, 1846. His father, James A. Craw, was a native of New York, born in 1812, and was a stone mason and contractor. For sixteen years he was city sexton at Cleveland, for two years deputy provost marshal, and two years marshal of the city. He married Rhoda L. Lynde, born at Newark, Ohio, in 1819, who died June 26, 1846. He died November 1I, 1864. Of these parents the youngest of three living children, raised at Cleveland, is Edward L. After receiving a good business education at the Cleveland institute he came to Fort Wayne in 1862, and until 1869 was in the postal ser- vice of the city, under Postmaster Drake. During the next two years he served in the Cleveland postoffice under Postmaster Benedict. Re- turning to this city, he was for twelve years a traveling salesman with A. S. Evans & Co., then for two years in the real estate and loan office of D. C. Fisher. Shortly afterward he engaged in the business on his own account, and has been eminently successful. He was married in 1874 to Maria Rockhill, born in 1852, daughter of the late Hon. William and Elizabeth (Hill) Rockhill, and they have one child, George R., born in March, 1875. Mr. Craw and wife are members of the Episcopal
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church; he is a leading Mason, being a member of Sol D. Bayless lodge, No. 359, Fort Wayne chapter, No. 14, council No. 4, and grand lodge of perfection. In politics he is a republican.
August H. Carier, a resident of Fort Wayne during the past thirty- eight years, is a native of France, born December 30, 1827, the fourth of five children of Claude and Rosa (Melnotte) Carier. The father and mother were both born in 1796, and both died in France, their native land, he in 1876, she in 1856. Mr. Carier was educated in France, and was a student at the seminary of Pont a Mouson, department of the Meurthe. In 1851 he immigrated and settled at Fort Wayne, where for about three years he engaged in teaching the French language. He then embarked in the wholesale liquor trade, and was so occupied until 1859, when he entered the insurance, loan and real estate business, in which he has been successful in a notable degree. His religious affilia- tions are with the Catholic church; in politics he is a democrat, and for two terms, 1869 to 1873, he was a member of the city council. He was married in France, in 1847, to Clemence M. Bourdon, who was born in 1828. They have three children, Juliette, now the wife of Henry Lingenfelser, of Milwaukee, Helene, and Clemence.
Simpson Breidenstein, a well-known real estate and loan agent, made his debut in that occupation in June, 1872, when he entered the office of John Hough. He remained there until the death of his employer in 1875, when he accepted a similar position with Fisher & Tons, who took charge of Mr. Hough's business. He was with this firm until IS82, when he embarked in the real estate and loan business on his own account, and has built up a prosperous agency. In politics he is a repub- lican. Mr. Breidenstein was born in Fort Wayne October 16, 1854. His father, Mathias Breidenstein, was born in Columbia county, Ohio, in 1815, came to Allen county in 1840, and is by occupation a carpenter. He married Margaret Doctor, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1825, and died at this city in 1883. Of their two living children, Simp- son is the younger. He was educated in the public schools and attended Fort Wayne college about two years. October 4, ISSo, he married Margaret Rothefluoh, born in New York state in 1859, and they have one child, Jerome H., born in ISSI.
Benjamin L. Auger, one of the leading florists of Fort Wayne, was born in this city February 22, 1853, the son of Charles and Catherine (Trapp) Auger. The father was born near Versailles, France, in 1824. He was the son of a French florist and worked in the leading gardens of Europe, principally of France. He immigrated to America, and after spending some time in New York city, came to Indiana and located at Marion. In 1852, he came to Fort Wayne and engaged in market and flower gardening. Later, in 1869 when the city had sufficiently developed, he confined his business to that of a florist, exclusively, and is the pioneer florist of Allen county, and one of the oldest in the state. He is still a resident of Fort Wayne, being in his sixty-fifth year. His wife, who is now in her fifty-fifth year, was born near London, Eng.,
Christian Basein
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and came to America at about the same time as her husband, to whom she was married in New York city. Benjamin L. Auger was educated in the Fort Wayne public schools, and spent three years at Notre Dame. After leaving school, he came into the business with his father. About 1873, he went to Cincinnati and had charge of the establishment of Cooke & Co., the leading florists of that city. Returning home in 1876, he engaged in business with his father and succeeded the latter upon his retirement, in 1883. He conducts an extensive establishment and has probably the largest cut flower trade in the city. His place at No. 16 East Washington street, occupies 62x150 feet space, and in 1887, he started a growing house, 150x150 feet, at Creighton avenue. In 1879, Mr. Auger was married to Lilian, daughter of James Bird, of Fort Wayne, and they have three children. Mr. Auger is a member of the National and State Florists' associations, Sol D. Bayless lodge, F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., K. of P,. and Trinity church.
Samuel Bard, a well-known and respected citizen of Fort Wayne, was born in Montgomery county, Penn., June 10, 1825, the son of Samuel and Mary ( Yates) Bard. The former was a native of Mont- gomery county, Penn., and the latter of Philadelphia. The boyhood of Mr. Bard was spent in his native county, but in 1840 his parents removed to Stark county, Ohio, where he spent his youth and early manhood. He learned the carpenter's trade with his father, beginning at the age of sixteen. At twenty he became a teacher in the district school and alto- gether taught four winter terms. When not thus engaged he worked at the trade he had learned, and between his first and last terms of school he attended college at Meadville, Penn., two years. He was married in Stark county, Ohio, in 1850, to Mary, daughter of John and Mary Niesz, who was a native of Stark county. For a number of years after his marriage Mr. Bard gave his whole attention to the carpenter's trade. In 1864 he removed to Fort Wayne, and in 1865, in connection with N. B. Freeman, began the erection of a paper mill at Fort Wayne, which was completed and Mr. Bard continued to be one of its proprie- tors until 1869. In 1871 he removed to Logansport, where he was the proprietor of a paper mill for ten years. For two years thereafter he conducted a paper mill at Mansfield, Ohio. Mr. Bard returned to Fort Wayne in 1883, and here has since led the life of a retired citizen. He has had a career of activity and industry, and is now permitted to spend his declining years in comfortable circumstances. He is the owner of a valuable business block recently erected on Berry street, besides other property in the city. In politics Mr. Bard is a democrat. He and his wife have two children living, Frank I. and William A.
Though a young man, William J. Barr has spent all his business life in Fort Wayne, and has become well and favorably known in business circles and generally. He was born at Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, February 3, 1860, the son of Thomas and Mary Barr, who were born and married in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1854. When William J. was but eight years old his father died and soon afterward XIII
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he accompanied his widowed mother to Fort Wayne, their subsequent residence. As early as thirteen years of age he became engaged as clerk in a grocery store, and he has since been connected with a grocery store, either as clerk or proprietor, almost continuously. For a period of nearly fourteen years he was employed as clerk in the Yankee gro- cery, formerly one of the largest establishments of the kind in the city. In October, 1887, he engaged in the grocery business for himself, and he is now the proprietor of a large store at No. 25 West Main street, and enjoys a good trade. Mr. Barr was married April 5, 1883, to Cordelia, daughter of William and Susan Winget. They have two children: Walter A. and Jessie. Mr. Barr is a member of the K. of P., the F. & A. M., the Patriotic Circle and the A. O. U. W. In poli- tics he is an ardent republican.
Jacob Bastian, mail carrier under Postmaster Kaough, is one of the younger citizens of Fort Wayne, who has made his own way in life and achieved a noteworthy degree of success. He was born in Ger- many, August 23, 1853, to George and Catherine (Hans) Bastian, natives of that country. He came to Allen county with his parents in 1868, and here his father died in 1870, at the age of seventy-eight years. His mother, who was born in 1807, still lives in this county. Mr. Bastian received his education in the common schools and the Fort Wayne commercial college, and first worked for some time at common labor. From 1884 to 1886 he was in the bakery business for himself, and since 1887 has been connected with the postoffice. He is a demo- crat and influential in politics. In 1878 he was married to Maggie Scherer, a native of Allen county, born December 14, 1879, and they have one child, Ida E. C. Mr. and Mrs. Bastian are members of the Lutheran church; they reside at 205 Madison street.
A venerable citizen of Fort Wayne, Abraham G. Beaber, was one of the pioneers of Ohio, having removed to Tuscarawas county with his parents, Christian and Margaret (Gimmins) Beaber, in 1821. He was then thirteen years old, having been born in Westmoreland county, Penn., October 6, 1808. On October 20, 1831, he was married to Anna Mary, daughter of Isaac and Anna Mary (Flack) Thomas, of Tuscar- awas county. In 1848 he removed to Wells county, Ind., and farmed there for fourteen years, after which he came to Fort Wayne, where he has since resided, his home now being at No. 150 Broadway. During the greater part of his residence here he has been engaged as a car- penter. He is a member of the English Lutheran church, and in poli- tics a republican. During five years of his stay in Wells county, he has held the office of justice of the peace. During early life he taught eight terms of school. Mr. Beaber and wife lived happily together within four days of fifty-six years, when she passed away, October 16, 1887. They have had these children: Jemima, Elizabeth, Harriet (de- ceased), John T. (deceased), Isaac (deceased), Daniel D., Lafayette and Columbus C. Elizabeth, the second daughter, was born in Tuscar- awas county, Ohio, October 23, 1833, and was married September 10,
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I854, to Elijah W. Sink, a farmer and school teacher by occupation, who was born in Tuscarawas county, March 30, 1834. He died De- cember 8, 1860, leaving three children: Genoa Sebastian, Mary Alice,, and Florence Elizabeth, all of whom are living.
John Beighler, a prominent citizen of Allen county, was born in: Fairfield county, Ohio, February 16, 1833. His parents, Enoch and Mary C. (Buskirk) Beighler, were both natives of Ohio, the former the son: of a worthy German father, who settled in Fairfield county in an early- day, and died there in 1812. Both Enoch and Mary Beighler were' born in Fairfield county, in IS10 and 1812, respectively, and they both died there, the mother at the age of about forty-four years, the father in IS88. John Beighler is the oldest son among their eight living children. He was reared on a farm, and received a common school education, fitting himself for teaching, which he was engaged in for five years in Ohio. He then engaged in farming, an occupation in which he has been notably successful, and was so occupied for four years before he came to Indiana. Removing to Allen county in 1857, he settled on the farm in Lafayette township where he now resides. The land was then un- improved, and he took it covered with forests, and was compelled to cut a road to his land from five points in order to have an outlet to the world. This is all changed, however, through his intelligent industry, and he has a beautiful farm of 160 acres, well improved. He was married in 1853 to Nancy Nonamaker, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Nonamaker, who with his wife, was drowned in Walnut creek, Ohio, in 1849. Two children of this union are living: Dorothy Alice and Frances May. Mr. Beighler and wife are members of the Grace Reformed church of Fort Wayne, and he is a member of Harmony lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F. In politics Mr. Beighler has always been a steadfast friend of the democratic party, and ever active for the success of its tickets.
Worthy of mention among the enterprising cigar manufacturers of Fort Wayne is Louis Bender, a native of Germany, born June 24, 1845. He learned the cigar maker's trade in his native land, and came to America in 1869, proceeding directly to Allen county. He settled first at Maples, ten miles east of Fort Wayne, but in 1871 returned to the city, and in 1872 began the manufacture of cigars, at No. 30 W. Main street. In 1878 he built his present property, at No. 168 E. Washington street, where he has since resided and carried on his business. He- manufactures the following leading brands: "Polly," " Morning Star," " L. Bender's No. 4," "Boquet," and "Casino." He manufactures. extensively for the local trade and also does a retail business. Mr. Bender was married in 1869, to Christina Braun, of Maples, and to them. have been born ten children, six of whom are dead. Mr. Bender and. wife are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church.
Henry F. Beverforden, the well-known druggist, was born in Han- over, Germany, December 30, 1852, the son of August M. and Johanna E. (Reffelt) Beverforden, the former of whom now resides in Fort
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Wayne. The mother died March 22, 1889. At the age of fifteen Mr. Beverforden accompanied his father to America. They reached New York city July 25, 1868, and came directly to Fort Wayne. The mother and other children came in the following year. On September I, 1871, Mr. Beverforden took a position as apprentice in the drug store of the late H. G. Wagner, and remained with him until September I, 1876. A recommendation which Mr. Wagner gave him at the end of that time states that during three of the five years he had exclusive control of the prescription department, for which he is peculiarly adapted. He further recommends him as being thoroughly posted in all branches of pharmacy and as a sober and industrious young man. A few days after giving up his position with Mr. Wagner, he went to Kansas City, Mo., where he clerked in a drug store about fourteen months. Late 'in the fall of 1877 he returned to Fort Wayne and soon after engaged in the drug business in partnership with the late George B. Thorp. Six months later Mr. Thorp sold his interest to D. B. Strope, to whom Mr. Bever- forden sold his interest March 28, 1882. He then erected a building at 294 Calhoun street, and started a new drug store May 1, 1882. On November 25, 1885, he removed his stock to No. 286 Calhoun street, where he is doing a prosperous business. This, known as the Depot drug store, is well situated, and is in every respect a first-class store. He was married December 10, 1878, to Emma S., daughter of Freder- ick Kroemer, a pioneer of Washington township. She was born in Washington township, March 10, 1858. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of four children: Bertha, Laura, Ella and Otto, of whom Bertha and Laura are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Beverforden are mem- bers of the Emanuel's Lutheran church. He is one of the most com- petent druggists of the city, and is an honorable, upright man, one in whom the public has full confidence. His residence which he erected in 1882, is at No. 284 Harrison street. He also conducts a branch drug store, having erected and stocked a new building on the corner of Cal- houn and De Wald streets, in 1889.
The residence in Fort Wayne of John Brossard, who has since May, 1885, been doing a prosperous grocery business at 84 Wells street, began on December 28, 1854, when he arrived in this city from New York, having landed a few days previously from his native land. He was born in Bavaria, May 12, 1834, the son of Andrew and Apollonia Brossard. There he worked at farming and at his father's trade, blacksmithing, until his emigration. Soon after reaching here he was employed for five seasons on the Wabash & Erie canal between Toledo and Lafayette, and then resumed the blacksmith's trade and worked at it for twenty-eight years, all but the first three of which were spent in the Pittsburgh shops. Mr. Brossard was married November 13, 1861, to Carrie, daughter of Caspar and Elizabeth Heingardner, early settlers of Fort Wayne. They have had three children, John P., Clara T. and Frank E., the first of whom died at the age of thirteen years. Mr. Brossard and wife are members of the Catholic church. He is a demo- crat in politics.
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