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 28
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bility. Returning to his home, he resumed the carpenter's trade in the fall of 1863, and in 1864 he entered the employment of J. D. Silver and was his foreman in the construction of the DeKalb county court-house. He embarked in the business of contracting in 1865, forming a partner- ship with Jacob Forbing, which continued until 1868. The executive ability and genius for construction manifested by Mr. Boseker in these early years of his career made him prominent as a builder, and he soon began to engage in the construction of public buildings involving the ex- penditure of large sums of money. In 1868-9 he engaged in the remod- eling of the Allen county circuit court room. He subsequently built the court-houses of Defiance county, Ohio, and Adams county, Ind., and the Allen county jail. Leaving this business for a season he embarked with J. B. White, in the fall of 1875, in the manufacture of wheels, in which he continued for eight years. His next work was the completion of the Masonic temple, which had been commenced in 1881, but for lack of funds was not completed. This work was finished by Mr. Boseker in" the fall of 1884. During this year he also took the contract for the erection of the First Presbyterian church, which he completed in 1885. In September of the latter year he was appointed by President Cleve- land superintendent of the erection of the government building at Fort Wayne, which was completed in April, 1889. In 1889 Mr. Boseker took the contract for building the Wells county court-house, which is to be completed in the fall of 1890. In politics, Mr. Boseker has always been a democrat, casting his first vote for Gen. McClellan. In 1881 he was elected water-works trustee for one year, and in 1882 was elected for three years. In 1888 he was elected to fill the unexpired term of J. F. W. Meyer, and in 1889 he was again elected for three years. He has taken an active part in political affairs and in the improvement of the city. In 1888 he purchased the Fort Wayne fournal, the proprie- torship of which he held for eighteen months, then disposing of it on account of his other business. Mr. Boseker was married September 28, 1863, to Cornelia Hinton, who was born in Fort Wayne in 1843. To them two children have been born, Lida E. and Harry C.
Frank B. Kendrick, a well-known and popular architect, took up the study of architecture in Philadelphia, in 1869, under the direction of B. D. Price. In the fall of 1871 he began the practice of his profession at Lancaster, Penn., and continued there until May, 1874. He then spent three years at Salem, Ohio, and one year at Springfield, and in February, 1879, came to Fort Wayne, where he has since resided and successfully pursued his profession, being also engaged for eight years in contracting, in partnership with Alfred Shrimpton. During that period they built the residence of H. J. Trentman, in ISSo, the Catholic library in 1881, the addition to St. Augustine Academy, the " Nickel Plate " depots, the Wayne Hotel, St. Vincent's asylum, and many other conspicuous residences and public structures. In 1888, Mr. Kendrick withdrew from the business of contractor. He is a valued citizen, and is in politics a republican. He was born at Lancaster, Penn., August
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13, 1850, son of W. G. and Louisa Kendrick, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father, who was born in 1815, for ten years subsequent to 1837, followed the life of a sailor. For three years he served as a captain in the Union army, under Gen. George H. Thomas, and was honorably discharged after the battle of Chickamauga. The mother, whose maiden name was Stoddard, was born in Philadelphia about 1830. Frank B. is the oldest of seven children, and received his early education in the schools of Lancaster. He was married in 1874, to Miss L. Souders, who was born in Pennsylvania, and they have one child, Sallie.
William Geake, senior member of the firm of William & J. J. Geake, the well known cut stone contractors of Fort Wayne, was born at Bristol, England, June 26, 1849, the son of Martin T. and Sarah (Hill) Geake, both natives of England. The family emigrated to Canada, in August, 1854, and returned to England in 1858, where they remained. William returned to America on May 2, 1868, and after making a stay at Oswego, N. Y., in the following November came west to Toledo, Ohio, where he learned the stone cutting trade. He then spent the time between 1868 to 1873 following his trade in Boston, Chicago, and various other cities, and in the latter year settled at Toledo and began contracting in cut stone work in partnership with J. J. Geake, his present partner. From Toledo he went to Petoskey, Mich., where he took up a homestead of 160 acres of land, and was one of the first white settlers of that region. After spending six years there, he located permanently at Fort Wayne. Before bringing his family here, however, he had come to Fort Wayne and was foreman of the work of erecting the Masonic temple. The firm of William & J. J. Geake was re-es- tablished here in 1882, and the business has grown remarkably, now giving employment to thirty to forty skilled workmen. Evidences of their skill are to be seen in the Hall block, Toledo, the finished stone work of the Masonic temple, the First Presbyterian church, the Y. M. C. A. building, and the lodge entrance at Lindenwood cemetery, the St. Paul's Cathedral church, Pixley and Long block and the Nathan and Rothschild residence, Fort Wayne, the court-house and the Michigan Central railway depot at Kalamazoo, Mich., the large stone residence of C. C. Bloomfield, Jackson, Mich., stone residences of A. B. Robinson, Jackson, Mich., and C. H. Brownell, Peru, Ind., National bank, Peru, Ind., and the court-house at Columbia City, Ind., now building. Mr. Geake is a member of the Summit City lodge, F. & A. M., No. 170. He was made a Mason in 1871, passed through the chapter in 1872, Knight Templar commandery in 1882, Scottish Rite in 1882, the chair of Worshipful Master of Summit City lodge, and has filled all the chairs. of subordinate lodge. He was for three years H. P. of Fort Wayne chapter, No. 19, and Eminent Commander of Fort Wayne comman- dery for nearly three years, and T. P. G. M. of Fort Wayne lodge of Perfection, and A. & A. S. R., northern Masonic jurisdiction of Fort Wayne. He received the thirty-third degree on the 17th of September,
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1889, at New York city. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and Sons of St. George, of which he was first president. Mr. Geake was married November 5, 1874, to Alice E. Clayton, of Toledo, Ohio. To them seven children have been born - three boys, four girls, all of whom are living.
J. J. Geake, member of the firm of Wm. & J. J. Geake, proprietors of extensive stone works at Fort Wayne, learned the craft of stone cut- ter with his father, while his family were residents of Canada. After being engaged in the business about six months they removed to Toledo, in 1865, and he then began taking contracts for stone work of all kinds, which business he has subsequently pursued. The first firm of which he was a member was that of Kilt & Geake, the next Simmons & Geake, and in 1873 he formed a partnership with a cousin, William Geake. This was afterward dissolved by the removal of William to Michigan, but in July, 1879, J. J. removed to Fort Wayne, and his cousin having also made his home here, the old firm was re-estab- lished in 1882. Their firm is very prominent in the trade, the field of operations extending throughout Indiana, Ohio and Mich- igan. The works employ twenty to thirty skilled masons, are supplied with all the best appliances, and much of the work is done by steam power. All forms of ornamental as well as plain stone work is produced, and such buildings as the Y. M. C. A., Masonic temple, First Presbyterian church, and many others, show the quality of the work of the firm. Mr. Geake was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., February 6, 1836, the son of Edward and Susanna (Jenkins) Geake, who were natives of Devonshire, England, and emigrated to this country in 1832. In 1842 they removed to Canada, and in 1865 to Toledo, where the father died in 1871 and the mother in 1870. Mr. Geake was mar- ried March 8, 1861, to Rebecca H. McClear, of Ireland, who was born in 184I, came to Canada with her parents when a child, and died Janu- ary 4, 1888, leaving seven children living, out of nine born.
William H. Kendrick, a prominent stone, brick and pressed brick contractor at Fort Wayne, began learning the trade of brick and stone mason in Lancaster, Penn., and finished it at Springfield, Ohio. In the latter city he began the business of a contractor in 1881, taking all kinds of brick construction. He came to Fort Wayne in 1886, and here engaged in the same business making a specialty of construction in pressed brick. He also began contracting in stone work in 18SS. His business is extensive and he does all the pressed brick work in the city. Among the handsome buildings he has constructed are Trentman's on Calhoun street, and Fox's building, which he is also rebuilding. Mr. Kendrick is a member of the International bricklayers' association, and and at its meetings in 1888 and 1889 at Boston and Cleveland, he was the representative of northern Indiana. Mr. Kendrick was born in Lancas- ter, Penn., July 14, 1857, and his childhood and youth were spent there ยท until 1875, when he removed to Springfield, Ohio. He was married in
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1881, to Susie Kulp, daughter of Levi Kulp, a contractor of Springfield, Ohio, and they have had one daughter, who is deceased.
One of the successful and practical contractors of Fort Wayne is Alfred Shrimpton. He is a native of London, England, born October 2, 1836, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Smith) Shrimpton, natives of that city. The parents, who were both born in ISII, immigrated in 1837, and first settled in New York city, afterward removing to Hamilton county, Ohio, where they now reside. The father is a cabinet-maker by trade, but has been carrying on farming for twenty years. The mother is a daughter of Capt. Smith, of the East India company's ser- vice. Mr. Shrimpton attended school in New York, and at the age of fourteen, began an apprenticeship of seven years in carpentry and stair building. In 1857, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked at his trade until 1861, when he enlisted in the Second Kentucky regiment, and was honorably discharged, and on account of physical disability, was unable to re-enlist. On his return from the service, he was engaged in build- ing and re-fitting opera-houses. In the spring of 1880, he came to Fort Wayne, and shortly afterward engaged in contracting and building, in partnership with F. B. Kendrick, which association continued until Feb- ruary, ISSS. Since then he has been doing business alone. He is a worthy citizen, and is one of the leading contractors of the city. In politics he is a republican.
James M. Henry, prominent among the contractors and builders of Fort Wayne, was born in Parkersburg, W. Va., March 5, 1856. His father, Gabriel Henry, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1837, and when quite young was taken by his parents to West Virginia, where they farmed near Parkersburg. He followed steamboating on the Ohio river about fourteen years, as an assistant pilot. Afterward he learned the carpenter's trade and was for a number of years engaged for a Pittsburgh company in erecting derricks, putting up machinery and opening oil wells in the oil region. In 1865 he removed to Noble county, Ind., and purchased a farm, to which he has since given his attention. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia McKinzie, was born in Will- iamstown, W. Va., in 1837, her parents being natives of Glasgow, Scotland. James M. Henry passed his early years on the farm, and attended the country schools, then the schools at Marietta, Ohio. He began the trade of a carpenter at Kendallville, and was there engaged until July 3, 1882, when he came to Fort Wayne and entered the employ- ment of Kendrick & Shrimpton. He was foreman of the establishment of that firm until 1887, when he formed a partnership with E. T. Liburn, in general contracting and building. They have a large and increasing business. Mr. Henry is a member of Summit City lodge, F. & A. M., Fort Wayne chapter, being at present high priest: Fort Wayne council, No. 4, the grand lodge of Perfection, and the Royal Arcanum. He was married April 7, 1886, to Laura Hoover, of Wabash, Ind., and they have two children.
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A prominent contractor and builder, Ernest F. Liebman, senior mem- ber of the firm of Liebman & Henry, became a resident of this city in 1865. He then learned the trade of a carpenter, and subsequently for several years had charge of the erection of public buildings for various contractors, being so engaged at Decatur, Defiance, Wabash, LaGrange, and elsewhere, gaining during that time much valuable information and experience, so that he is to-day one of the most competent men in his profession. In I88I he formed a partnership with Charles Boseker, but a year later engaged in business on his own account and so continued four years. The present partnership, with James M. Henry, was formed April 1, 1887. Among the principal buildings he has erected are R. T. McDonald's residence, several houses for Mrs. M. Hamilton, Mrs. W. Williams, the Rothschild and Nathan residences. Mr. Liebman is a native of Saxony, born in 1845, the son of William and Emma Liebman, who immigrated to New York in 1850, and are still residents of that city. He received his education in the German and English schools of New York. He is a member of the Masonic order, Knight Templar and Scottish Rite, of the I. O. O. F., Royal Arcanum, and politically is a democrat. Mr. Liebman was married in 1874 to Catherine Try, of Circleville, Ohio, and they have two daughters.
The family of Caspar and Barbara (Hoffman) Krock is associated with the earliest German settlement in the Maumee valley. The par- ents came to America in 1837, and settled in Marion township the same year, upon a farm. The father enlisted in 1863 in the National army and being discharged in the fall of 1864, on account of illness returned home to die shortly afterward. The mother had died in 1849. The children were five in all; three sons and two daughters. One of the sons, John Krock, now a prominent contractor and builder at Fort Wayne, was born in Marion township, June 4, 1845. He remained on the farm until his nineteenth year, and attended the free schools and the Catholic school at Hessen Cassel. In 1863, he went to Springfield, Ohio, and remained about eighteen months, returning to Fort Wayne to begin the carpenter's trade. Eighteen months later he went again to Springfield, and resided there four years, and then returned to Fort Wayne, and engaged in carpentry. Nine years he spent in the employ of the Fort Wayne steel plow works. In 1882 he began contracting, at which he has continued. He was married at Springfield, Ohio, July 29, 1869, to Mary Dahman, of Fort Wayne. To their union twelve child- ren have been born, four of whom: Annie J., Mary, Emma and Matilda, are living. Mr. and Mrs. Krock are members of St. Mary's Catholic church.
Ernst Breimeier, one of the leading contractors and builders whose work has adorned Fort Wayne, is a native of Westphalia, Germany, born April 24, 1837. In 1855 he came to America alone and located at Chicago, and having completed his school studies, and learned his trade, in his native land, he immediately obtained work, and was engaged in that city four years. In 1860 he removed to Fort Wayne, and three
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years later began contracting, which has been his occupation to the pres- ent time. Among the buildings he has taken important building con- tracts upon, are: Emanuel Lutheran church, German Reformed church, Concordia college, new addition to St. Joseph's hospital, Orphan's home, Trentman's, De Wald's and Bursley's business buildings. Mr. Breimeier was married in 1861 to Sophia Eliza Fos, who died in 1863, leaving one son, Ernst, jr. In 1865 he again married to Julia Gerke, who was born in this city and died in 1881, leaving five sons: Louis, Gustave, Her- man, Frederick and Theodore. In 1884 Mr. Breimeier was married to Eliza, daughter of Capt. Koch, and they have had two daughters, Bertie and Julia. Mr. Breimeier and wife are members of the Emanuel Luth- eran church, and he is a director of the Concordia cemetery.
One of the early carpenters of Williamsport, Allen county, was James M. Griffith, a respected citizen, who came there from Adams county in 1857, and during his residence was the postmaster. He came to Fort Wayne in 1863, and resided here until about IS74, when he moved to near Decatur, Ind., but returned here in ISSS to reside with his son. His wife, Margaret Comfort, was born in 1814 and died in 1874. He was born in 1813, was a native, as was his wife, of York county, Penn., and after their marriage they moved to Ohio, and in I854 to Adams county, Ind. In Washington county, Penn., November 13, 1842, their son, Levi Griffith, now a prominent contractor and builder at Fort Wayne, was born. His childhood was spent in Ohio, where he received his education in the public schools. At sixteen years of age he began learning the carpenter's trade at Williamsport, and when about nineteen years old began work at Fort Wayne, which has ever since been his home. He began contracting with W. S. Patten in 1869, and was engaged with him about four years, and since then has been alone in the business of general contracting and building. Mr. Griffith is a prominent citizen, is a republican in politics, and in 1887-8 served on the city council for the sixth ward. He is a member of Summit City lodge, No. 170, F. & A. M., chapter No. 19, council No. 4, commandery No. 4, K. T., lodge of Perfection, Princes of Jerusalem, the consistory at Indianapolis, and Howard council, R. A. Mr. Griffith was married in the fall of 1865, to Sarah A. Morton, who was born in Adams county, and they have had five children, four of whom survive.
Fred H. Boester, carpenter, contractor and builder, with office at 164 Griffith street, Fort Wayne, is well known as an enterprising citizen. He was born in Hanover, Germany, September 9, 1841, son of August and Mary (Huge) Boester. June 1, 1860, he started from his native land for America, and came directly to Fort Wayne after landing. Here he set in to learn the carpenter's trade, and becoming a master of his craft, began contracting in 1873, and at this he has been quite success- ful. Mr. Boester is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics is a democrat. He was married in 1866, to Frederika Neuer, who was born in this city in 1847. Seven children have been born to them, of whom five are living.
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Frederick Miller, of the firm of Miller & Schele, contractors and builders, began to acquire a trade at the age of fifteen, when in his native land, Germany, commenced to learn the bricklayer's craft. This was his occupation for a considerable period, part of the time in this city, whither he came when he immigrated in 1866. For fifteen years his business has been that of a contractor, and he has been a member of the firm with which he is now connected for ten years. He has built some of the best residences in the city, and one of his most important under- takings is the erection of the new works of the Fort Wayne Jenney electric light company. He is an honorable and capable man, highly esteemed by the community, and is a practical builder, with a thorough knowledge of his work in all of its details. He is ranked as one of the leading contractors. Mr. Miller was born in Germany, October 3, 1841, son of Frederick Miller and Mollie Plenge, both natives of Germany. His father was born in 1806, and is living in his native land, where the mother, who was born in 1816, died about 1869. Six of their children are living, of whom Frederick is the oldest. He was married in 1869 to Louisa Menze, who was born in Germany in 1848, and they have nine children: Frederick, Lizzie, Mary, Herman, Sophia, Charles, Clara, William and Arthur. Mr. Miller is in politics a democrat, and he and family are members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church.
While in his native country, George Jaap, now one of the leading contractors in cut stone, learned his trade, and upon arriving at New York in 1873, he engaged in contracting in masonry. Two years later he removed to Allegheny, Penn., afterward spent fourteen months at Canton, Ohio, and then went further west, and was engaged for two years in the cattle business, making his home with an uncle, Andrew Ritchie, a wealthy cattle raiser at Fayette county, Iowa. In 1881 he became engaged with Pierce, Morgan & Co., contractors at Lafayette, Ind., in the erection of the county court-house. He was afterward fore- man in the construction of the court-house at Terre Haute, and then came to Fort Wayne in 1885. Going first upon a farm in this county for two years, he returned to the city, and in May, 1888, began contract- ing, purchasing the business of Henry Paul & Co., on Columbia street. He does a good business, contracting and dealing in lime and cement, with office and yards at Nos. 79 and 81 East Columbia street, and gives employment to an average force of four stone cutters and four laborers. Mr. Jaap was born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1855. He was married in July, 1884, to Mary Dignan, of this city, and they have had four children, three now living. He is a member of Fort Wayne Tem- ple, No. I, Patriotic Circle; Liberty Assembly, No. 2,315, Knights of Labor; No. 101, Pheonix lodge, K. P., and Caledonian Society, Fort Wayne branch.
In 1868 John McMullen came to Fort Wayne, having emigrated from his native land in the previous year. He began an apprenticeship as a carpenter at once, and advancing rapidly in his trade, began contracting in 1876. He also furnished designs and drawings for buildings, and in
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all branches of his business has been quite successful. He was born in county Antrim, Ireland, April 10, 1844, the son of Michael and Mary (Duncan) McMullen. The father died in I859, and in 1875 Mr. McMullen brought from Ireland his mother, two sisters and two brothers, who, with the exception of one brother who went to Australia, all reside in the city. Mr. McMullen was married in 1876, to Elizabeth Franks, of Fort Wayne, who died in 1878, leaving one child, who died a month later. He is a member of the congregation of the Catholic cathedral.
Particularly in his specialty of bridge abutment building, Herman W. Tapp ranks with the leading contractors and builders of Fort Wayne. He was born in Berlin, Germany, December 14, 1856, the son of Ferdi- nand and Wilhelmina (Siedschlag) Tapp. The family emigrated to the United States in 1860, and resided at Chicago until 1865, when they removed to Fort Wayne, their present home. The father is a bridge contractor, and is engaged with his son Robert W., under the firm name of F. Tapp & Son. Herman W. Tapp studied in childhood at the Luth- eran schools, the Clay street public school and the Fort Wayne com- mercial college. At the age of fifteen years he began work as a stone cutter, and pursued that trade about six years, then engaging in con- tracting. Mr. Tapp is a member of Wayne lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., Fort Wayne chapter, No. 19, R. A. M., and Fort Wayne commandery K. T. He is also a member of Harmony lodge I. O. O. F. Mr. Tapp was married in 1879 to Lizzie M. Winter, who was born in Allen county in 1857. To them three daughters and one son have been born: Ruth, Fred, Bessie and Elsie. Mrs. Tapp is a member of the Third Presby- terian church.
A well known contractor of Fort Wayne, Peter Hensel, is a native of the south of Germany, born January 15, 1845. In his native land he learned the trade of brick and stone mason, and in 1867 emigrated to America, and came to Fort Wayne in July of the same year, where his hopes of prosperity have been amply realized. He worked at his trade in this city until 1877, and then embarked in contracting for brick and stone construction, at which he has since been engaged, and a large number of first class buildings display his handiwork. Mr. Hensel was married in 1869, to Caroline Dissellhot, a native of Prussia, and to them six children have been born. Mr. Hensel is a member of the German Reformed church.
Among the prosperous contractors and builders should be named Fred. Bandt, who is a native of Prussia, born December II, 1850. He came to the new world in 1872, and reached Fort Wayne September IO, 1872. He had learned his trade in his native land, and this occupied him after reachiug Fort Wayne until 1879, when he began the business of contracting. Among the buildings which show evidence of his skill are Sidel's block, Fleming's block, part of the Kerr Murray shops, Olds' wheel works, etc., and a number of business houses, and numer- ous residences, such as the Dewald and William Dryer residences. Mr. Bandt was married in 1876 to Wilhelmina Bock, who was born in
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