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 26
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Peter A. Moran, the well-known ice dealer and prominent young citizen of Fort Wayne, is a native of this city, born April 13, 1855. His father, Peter Moran, came to America from Ireland, his native land, in early manhood, and was married to Miss Rachel A. Neusbaum, in
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Maryland, April 23, 1846. In 1849 they located at Fort Wayne. The father was a tanner by trade, but from 1859 was engaged in the ice business until his death, November 17, 1880. 'T'he mother is still living, and now makes her home with her son Peter A. The latter was occu- pied with his father, and when he died succeeded him in the ice busi- ness. It is the oldest enterprise of the kind in the city. Mr. Moran was married May 24, 1881, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John and Mary (Faut) Baker, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Balti- more, Md. Mrs. Moran was born at Fort Wayne. They have had five children: Peter J., Bernard E., Mary M., Gertrude E. and Alphonsus H., of whom Gertrude E. died in childhood. Mr. Moran and wife are members of the Catholic church.
A life of persevering industry has given to Frank H. Meyer, a respected citizen of Fort Wayne, a well-earned leisure in his later years, and a comfortable competency. Mr. Meyer is a native of north- ern Prussia, born January 11, 1836. When he was three years old his mother died, and two years later he was bereft of his father, August. Meyer. Finding a home in the family of a relative, he attended school, and then at the age of fifteen began work at the trade of blacksmith. After six and a half years at this employment, he left his native land and reached New York about October 1, 1857, with $2.50 in his pocket. He found a friend to advance the fare to Fort Wayne, but the short stop at New York so exhausted his capital that he could afford to take but one meal while coming overland, a trip which occupied four days. He worked five months in the shop of Daniel Nestel, was occupied a. short time on the farm of Frederick Meyer, and then began an engage- ment with John Brown which lasted until 1863. In that year he rented a shop and began business on his own account. Three years later he built his blacksmith, carriage and wagon shop on the corner of Calhoun and Superior streets, in which he did business for twenty-two years. In the spring of 1.888 he retired from business, having prospered remark- ably, and gained a reputation as a reliable and honest man. Probably no man who started here as he did, pays a larger tax than he. He expects soon to make an extended visit to his native land. He was married September 16, 1860, to Louise Stegman, with whom he first became acquainted on shipboard, though they had lived within a mile of each other in the old country. She was born October 18, 1834. They have six children: Fred H., William H., Charles, Henry, Lizzie and John.
Gottlieb Niemann, grocer at No. 148 Calhoun street, Fort Wayne, is a native of Germany, born in the kingdom of Hanover, March 24, 1843, the son of Gottlieb and Sophia Niemann. His youth was spent in his native country, and he was chiefly employed as steward in hotels. At seventeen he emigrated 'to America, reaching New York, June 8, IS62. He came directly to Fort Wayne and went to Wabash, and there was employed in a stone quarry three months. In the spring of 1863 he took a position as clerk in the bakery and store of John B.
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Krudop, of Fort Wayne, but after a few months he became a clerk in the grocery store of Heitkamp and Hambrock. Ever since that time he has been in the grocery business. For the past thirteen years he has been engaged in the business at No. 148 Calhoun street, and he possesses a good trade. He is the owner of the building occupied by his store, which from its location, is very valuable property. Mr. Niemann was married October 18, 1866, to Louisa Rodenbeck, also a native of Germany. She is the daughter of Frederick and Maria Rodenbeck, with whom she came to America when she was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Niemann have had five children: Henry Gottlieb Frederick, Louisa Sophia, Henry Diederich Richard, Frederick William, and John Henry, the last of whom died aged two years. All are members of Emanuel's German Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Niemann is a democrat.
One of the best known cigar manufacturers of Fort Wayne, George Reiter, was born in Reading, Berks county, Penn., August 21, 1827, son of John and Catherine (Kuntzmann) Reiter, both natives of Berks county. The mother died in 1835 and the father in 1836. In 1840 George Reiter went to Hamburg, Penn., and learned the cigar maker's trade. After 1844 he was for several years in various cities, but in 1848 located at Albany, N. Y. He subsequently resided at New York city, Suffield, Conn., Peekskill, Baltimore and Philadelphia, where he was married. In 1854 he left Baltimore for Cincinnati, Ohio, and six months later went to St. Louis, Mo. After a sojourn at Baltimore and Suffield, Conn., he went to Westfield, Mass., in 1857, where he remained until 1864, and while there his wife died. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and on May 7, 1866, arrived at Fort Wayne, where he opened a cigar manufactory and began making the celebrated "Pony" cigar, which is the oldest brand made in the city. He has continued the man- ufacture of the "Pony" cigar for twenty-three years. His establish- ment is at No. 30 Calhoun street, where he carries on his manufacturing business, and also deals at wholesale and retail in a general line of cigars of his own manufacture. Mr. Reiter became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1852 in Baltimore. He is a member of the Fort Wayne chapter, No. 19, Fort Wayne council, No. 4, and Fort Wayne com- mandery, No. 4, K. T. He is also a member of Fort Wayne lodge, No. 1,547, K. of H., and of Howard council, No. 246, Royal Arcanum. Mr. Reiter was married in 1850 to Mary C. Von Camp, who was born in New Jersey in 1828, and died in Westfield, Mass., in 1863, leaving four children, of whom George W., Henry H., and Winfield S., survive. Mr. Reiter was married in 1874, to Mary A. Payne, of Chicago, Ill.
Henry A. Rose, an esteemed and worthy citizen, well known as a leading blacksmith of Fort Wayne, is a native of this county, born in Adams township, January 27, 1858. His parents, Anthony and Louisa Rose, were natives of Germany, and came to America. His mother's parents, Christian and Louisa Meising, located in Adams county, Ind., at a very early day. At sixteen years of age, Henry A. took up the
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blacksmith's trade, which he has worked at ever since. He has followed his trade in Fort Wayne since July, 1878. He was married April 16, 1882, to Miss Minnie Hartmann, a native of Adams township, and daughter of Henry and Kate Hartmann. Mr. Rose and wife have had four chil- dren: Henry W., Adolph, Minnie and Herman, of whom Adolph died, aged about sixteen months. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church.
Charles Rose a prominent young grocer of Fort Wayne, was born in Adams township, Allen county, November 18, 1863. He is the son of Anthony and Louise (Miesing) Rose, both natives of Germany. The father came to America and settled in Allen county in a very early day, and the mother immigrated with her parents and located in Adams county, Ind., about 1837. They were married in Fort Wayne, in about 1849. The father who was a farmer, by occupation, was accidentally killed by a hay fork while unloading hay, July 15, 1876. The mother now lives at No. 28 Lavina street, Fort Wayne. Charles Rose left the farm at fifteen, and clerked in a grocery store one year, after which he worked four years at the blacksmith's trade. He then en- gaged in the grocery trade at Nos. 75 and 77 East Wayne street, where he has ever since done a large business. He also deals in flour and feed. Mr. Rose was married February 25, 1886, to Dora, daughter of county commissioner, Henry Hartmann. They have two children: Martha and Ervin. They are members of Emanuel's German Luth- eran church.
A prosperous business man and hotel proprietor at Fort Wayne, James P. Ross, was born in St. Joseph county, Ind., March 5, 1836, the son of Benjamin and Rachel (Helmick) Ross. In youth he worked upon a farm in his native county and attended the common schools, and in early manhood attended the old Methodist college of Valparaiso, Ind., six months. He continued upon the farm until his marriage, 'April I, 1862, to Marietta Kingdon. She was born in Allen county, March 22, 1842, daughter of William and Mary Kingdon. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Ross located in Eel River township. He removed to Washington township in 1870, where his attention was divided between farming, saw-milling and merchandise, until 1880. He also served as postmaster about seven years in the village of Wallen. In 1880 he re- moved to Kansas City, Mo., where, on the 15th day of April, 1881, his wife died. In IS82 he returned to Indiana and located at Fort Wayne. Here he has conducted a meat market ever since, and for the past three years he has also been the proprietor of the Columbia House. He is now also conducting a grocery and bakery. He was married April 9, 1885, to Mrs. Mary E. Ayres, who was born near Syracuse, N. Y., March 17, 1836. Mr. Ross by his first wife became the father of ten children: Wilbert A., Judson K., Millie Ann, Charles L., Eva Estella, James P., Frank S., Jessie R., Benjamin M. and Marietta E., of whom Charles, James, Frank and Benjamin are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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Among the leading market proprietors of Fort Wayne should be named Nicholas B. Rowe, whose establishment is at No. 189 Broadway. He was born in Utica, N. Y., February 12, 1838, the son of Nicholas S. and Nancy E. (Smith) Rowe, the former a native of Utica, N. Y., and the latter of Johnstown, N. Y. His father died when he was but seven years old. He received a common school education, and during his youth when not in school he clerked in a grocery store. In 1856 he went to Lawton, Van Buren county, Mich., where he clerked for three years, after which he engaged in the grocery business for himself. In 1868, he became superintendent of the Michigan Central iron com- pany, and continued in that capacity five years. In 1875 he removed to Garrett, Ind., where he did a grocery business and conducted a meat market until 1880. In July, 1880, he came to Fort Wayne, where he has ever since been the proprietor of a meat market. He was married in Lawton, Mich., December 24, 1860, to Miss Mary M. Waldo, who was born in Erie county, Penn., March 2, 1842, daughter of George W. and Susan M. (Prescott) Waldo. They have two children: Mary J. and Herbert G. Mr. Rowe and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church; he is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is a republican.
A worthy citizen of Fort Wayne, Samuel H. Sauvain, came to this city when eight years old, from his native county of Wayne, Ohio. He was born April 4, 1846, son of Abraham and Mary Ann Sauvain, who were natives of Ashart, Switzerland. At the age of fifteen he entered upon an apprenticeship at the confectioner's trade, and served three years and a half. He then in March, 1864, entered the Union army in Com- pany K, Twenty-fifth New York cavalry, under Gen. Custer, and served till the close of the war. He was discharged at Hart's Island, N. Y., in July, 1865. Returning home he learned the blacksmith's trade, and has pursued it with but little interruption ever since. He is the inventor of a fire pot upon which he received a patent in 1882, and since that time he has spent two years traveling throughout the country introducing it. Mr. Sauvain was married in September, 1870, to Amanda L., daughter of John Line. Mr. Sauvain and wife have had five chil- dren: Mertie, Clarence, Minnie, Charles R., and HuburtS., the three oldest of whom are deceased. He and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he is a comrade of the G. A. R. In politics he is a republican.
A worthy and industrious citizen of Fort Wayne, Matthias Schnei- der, was born at Wolfurt, Austria, May 26, 1849. He is the son of Jacob and Juditha Schneider, by whom he was brought to America when two years old. They made their home at Findlay, Ohio, but in 1853, returned to Wolfurt, Austria, where the mother died in 1860. Matthias remained at Wolfurt and between the ages of eight and twenty worked in a brick yard, and afterward for two years at the tin- ner's trade. In the meantime the father had returned to America in 1862, and settled in Minnesota, but in 1873 he once more returned to
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his native place in Austria, where he now lives in his seventy-seventh year. At the age of twenty-two Matthias started out for America again. He reached New York, February 2, 1872, and went directly to Minnesota where he worked at farming in Brown county two years. In 1874 he removed to Findlay Ohio, where he clerked in a grocery for an uncle twenty months. After four months in Minnesota he worked fifteen months at the butcher's trade at Fremont. In September, 1877, he went to Sacramento, Cal., being engaged there and at Woodland, Cal., ten months. He came to Fort Wayne in August, 1878, and since then he has pursued the occupation of a truckman. For five years he did all the truck work for Morgan & Beach. Mr. Schneider was mar- ried November, 1882, to Mary, daughter of John McCarty. She came from Ireland in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are members of the Catholic church. In politics he is a democrat.
Henry Charles Schweir, an estimable citizen of German birth, was born in Lade Kreismenden, Westphalia, December 20, 1833, son of William and Christina Schweir. In his native country he attended the regular school until he was fourteen and spent his youth on a farm. In 1855 he entered the German army, and in 1856, appointed corporal until 1858, served four years. Upon receiving his discharge, he at once started to America and arrived at Fort Wayne, August 26, 1859. Here he learned the trade of a boiler-maker, and from 1859 to 1883, was in the employ of J. H. Bass, working all the time at his trade. For the past six years he has been engaged in the grocery business at No. 176 Montgomery street, having opened his store at that place May 28, 1883. Mr. Schweir was married October 6, 1866, to Catharine E. Barnhardt, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, January 25, 1846, the daughter of Thomas Barnhardt. She came to America with her father and mother when she was seven years old. Mr. and Mrs. Schweir have three chil- dren: William Gottfried Charles, Catharine Sophia Christina Mary and Sarah Charlotte. Mrs. Schweir is a member of St. Paul's German Lutheran church.
In 1853, John Smaltz, having reached his twenty-first year on Feb- ruary 20th, left his native county of Hancock, Ohio, and settled in Aboit township, Allen county, and engaged in farming and carpentry. He is the son of Henry and Christina Smaltz, both natives of Fairfield county, Ohio. His paternal grandfather was John Smaltz, and his maternal grandfather, Philip Kramer, a native of Fairfield county. In February, 1865, Mr. Smaltz entered the Union army in Company, G, One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana regiment, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Charleston, W. Va., August, 1865. In 1872, Mr. Smaltz removed to Fort Wayne, and was occupied at his trade several years. He was married May 24, 1854, to Martha, daugh- ter of Hamilton Scott, of Hardin county, Ohio. She was born May 9, 1830. Their only child is Francis M. Smaltz, proprietor of a well-known grocery and dry goods store at 307 West Main street, where the father has been engaged since 1877.
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Francis M. Smaltz was born in Aboit township, April 13, 1855. At seventeen years of age he came to Fort Wayne and for five years worked at the tinner's trade. In 1877 he engaged in the grocery busi- ness, and his whole attention has since been given to the retail trade. Since the spring of 1879 he has done a successful business at his present location, and for the past five years he has also carried a line of dry goods. Mr. Smaltz was married April 22, 1877, to Miss Libbie Man- chester, of Elkhart, Ind. She is a native of Mahoning county, Ohio. They have had two children, Florence M. and Hugh M., the former of whom died in childhood. Mr. Smaltz is a successful business man and socially stands very high.
Frank K. Smead, manager of the Union Pacific Tea company, at Fort Wayne, was born in Florence, Switzerland county, Ind., February 14, 1861. He is the son of Charles and Charlotte (Krutz) Smead, both natives of Vevay, Ind. At the early age of fourteen, Mr. Smead made his way to Denver, Col. He spent eighteen months there, six months in Wyoming Territory, and a year in Kansas. During this time he was engaged at mining, herding cattle and hunting. Returning home he spent one year on the farm, but set out again in 1879, going to Kansas City, and there completed a course in the commercial college, graduating in 1880. For six months after this he was in the employ of W. D. Faunce & Co., of Boston, jobbers in teas and coffees as sales- man at Kansas City. Early in 1882 he went to Cincinnati, and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Tea company, with which he has since been engaged in the capacity of manager. He has been the manager of tea stores in Cincinnati, Richmond, Cleveland and Peoria. In the spring of 1889, he came to Fort Wayne, and has ably and successfully managed the business here. Mr. Smead was married at Cincinnati, October 8, 1885, to Mamie A., daughter of Michael Sheridan, a boot and shoe dealer of that city. Mrs. Smead was born in Cincinnati, May I, 1865. They have had fone child, Stella F., born July 5, 1887, who died September 26, 1888. Mr. Smead is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Since 1856 Jacob Alexander Spereisen has been one of the worthy citizens and mechanics of Fort Wayne. He was born in Switzerland, November 2, 1833, son of Ursus Joseph and Mary Anna Ida (von Arx) Spereisen. In his native country he attended school and served a three years' apprenticeship as a blacksmith with his brother. He worked at his trade as a journeyman in different places in Switzerland until he was twenty-two, at which age he accompanied his father and mother to America. The family landed at New York on May 1, 1856, and at once proceded to Fort Wayne, where the father and mother spent the rest of their lives, the latter dying January 2, 1860, and the former July 22, 1869. For many years after coming to Fort Wayne our sub- ject worked at his trade as a journeyman. In May, 1870, he set up a blacksmith shop of his own, which he has conducted ever since. His present establishment is at No. 156 Fairfield avenue. Mr. Spereisen was married May 24, 1864, to Elizabeth Baker, who is a native of Fort
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Wayne, born July 15, 1843, daughter of John and Mary (Faut) Baker, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Spereisen are members of the Catholic church. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and also of the St. Paul school and Pius benevolent societies.
For nearly a quarter of a century Gottfried Ernst Spiegel, one of Fort Wayne's popular grocers, has been doing business at the rooms he now occupies. He first engaged in the grocery business as a clerk at the age of fourteen, and on August 1, 1866, became a proprietor at his present stand. Mr. Spiegel was born January 4, 1845, in the village of Juedendorf, province of Saxony, Germany. He is the son of August and Sophia (Wehr) Spiegel, with whom he came to America in 1857. The family landed at New York August 17, after having spent seventy days on the ocean. They at once proceeded to Detroit, but about four months later came to Fort Wayne, arriving on December 15. The en- tire family still resides in this city. Mr. Spiegel was married May 23, 1867, to Miss Christina Wolf, who was born February 22, 1846, in the village of Leutenbach, Wurtemburg, Germany, the daughter of Chris- tian and Dora Wolf. She accompanied her mother to America in 1852, her father having died in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Spiegel have five living children: Anna, Minna, August, Tenea and Christian. They are mem- bers of the St. John's German Lutheran church.
John George Strodel, a popular Fort Wayne business man, was born in Bavaria, September 4, 1845. His father, John George Strodel, born in Bavaria in 1802, was a butcher by trade, who immigrated and settled at Huntington, Ind., in 1855, and there resided until his death, May 6, 1877. He was the father of thirty-two children, of whom seventeen are living, an interesting fact, for which few if any parallels can be found in modern life. The mother of the subject of this mention bore seventeen of these children, he being the second. Eight of these are living. She was born in Bavaria in 1825, and now resides at Huntington. Mr. Strodel was given a common school education, but throughout his sub- sequent career has been wholly dependent upon his own exertions. At the age of twelve years he came to Fort Wayne, and found work with his brother in the butchering business for ten years. In 1866 he engaged in the saloon and restaurant business, and has been so occupied ever since, being notably successful, and being generally known as an enter- prising and popular citizen. In politics he is a democrat. For twenty- one years he was connected with the fire department of the city, a long and honorable service, from which he withdrew as assistant chief. He was married April 8, 1866, to Christina Wuersten, who was born in this city July 3, 1847, to Jacob and Catherine Miller Wuersten, who immi- grated from Germany and settled here at an early day. He was the founder of Bloomingdale, and died in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Strodel have six children living of eight born: Martha, Pauline, Herman, Otto, Frank and Emma. The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Himerius Leopold Studer, a manufacturer and dealer in mineral waters and other popular and refreshing beverages, engaged in the busi-
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ness here in 1871, having emigrated from Switzerland the previous year. He has been quite successful, and in 1888 erected the business building in which he is now located at a cost, including the lots, of more than $7,000. This is on West Main street, Nos. 228, 230 and 232. He was born in Switzerland, November 14, 1842, son of Anton and Anna Mary (Meyer) Studer. The parents were born in that land, his father in IS04 and the mother in 1813. The father died in 1864 and the mother in 1884, both in their native country. The subject of this mention was the youngest of three sons, and received his education in Switzerland. He was married February 7, 1875, to Anna Mary Steinhauser, who was born in Germany October 13, 1851, and came to Fort Wayne in 1872, and they have four children: Anna J., born in 1876; Rosamond, 1880; Alma, 1884; and Bertha, IS86. Mrs. Studer is a member of the Lutheran church.
One of the leading dealers of coal and wood at Fort Wayne, An- drew Sullivan, was born in New York state, May 7, 1852. Coming to Fort Wayne in 1869, he soon afterward was occupied in railroading on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago. In 1877 he went to Lawrence county, Penn., and was there engaged in the saw-mill business for sev- eral years. He returned to Fort Wayne in April, 1884, and then en- gaged in the wood and coal business at the corner of Grant and Oliver streets, an occupation in which he has been successful. He was mar- ried October 26, 1875, to Mary D. Cole, a native of the state of New York. To this union five children have been born, of whom one is de- ceased. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Cathedral congregation, of the Catholic Knights, St. Julian council, No. 9, and Catholic benevolent legion. In politics he is a democrat.
One of the successful business men of Fort Wayne, James Summers, was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, August 8, 1835, the second and only survivor of six children of Michael Summers. The latter was born in Ireland, and there married Ann Delaney, who died in her native land. The father came to America and died at Fort Wayne at eighty years of age. James Summers came to the United States in IS53, and settled first in Vermont, where he resided one year. In IS54 he came to Fort Wayne, and for five years acted as clerk at the Rockhill house. In 1861, he engaged in business in this city, and at this has since been occupied. Mr. Summers was married in 1863, to Catherine Nelligan, who was born in Ireland, and they have five children living out of twelve born: Mary, Ella, Anna, Lizzie and Frank. In politics Mr. Summers is a democrat. He is a prominent member of the Catholic church, and is active in the Catholic Legion and the Catholic Knights of America.
John P. Tinkham, a prominent dealer in wood and coal at Fort Wayne, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, January 13, 1832. His father, Isaac Tinkham, a native of Vermont, married Sarah Mapes, a native of New York, and about 1820 they became pioneer settlers in Delaware county, Ohio. In 1837, they joined the advance guard of civilization in Indiana, settling in Adams county, where the father died
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