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 33
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Henry Hilbrecht, chief of the the Fort Wayne fire department, was born in this city, August 26, 1849. His father is Henry Hilbrecht, now a resident of this city, who was born in Germany in 1828, and married Sophia Mesing, a native of the same country who died in 1878. The senior Hilbrecht came to this city in 1848, and was by occupation a blacksmith, but is now retired. The subject of this mention is the elder of two children now living. He was educated in the Lutheran schools, and then for sometime worked at the blacksmith's trade, after which he was engaged as a machinist about nine years. In 1873 he became a member of the fire department, and since 1875 has been in continuous service. He soon became distinguished for bravery and efficiency, and was elected chief of the department. He was married in 1876 to Christina Dreibelbiss, of this city, born in 1854, and they have two children, Clara and Flora. The family are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church, and he is in politics a democrat.
The position of inspector of the Fort Wayne water-works has been held since their establishment by Frank Iten, who has in that capacity rendered the city valuable service. He had previous experience, having been appointed to a similar position for the city of Dayton, Ohio, at the age of twenty-eight, holding the same for five years. Subsequently, he was engaged in business at Ada, Ohio, for over two years, and then for three years at Tiffin, returning to Fort Wayne, which is his birth-place, in 1879. Mr. Iten was born December 14, IS41, son of Scott and Cath- erine (Wagner) Iten. The father, who was a native of Switzerland, emigrated to the United States in 1827, and soon afterward became one of the pioneers of Fort Wayne. He was engaged in the flouring busi- ness some time, and died in 1848. His widow now resides in the city, in her eighty-sixth year. They had seven children, of whom four sur- vive. Frank Iten was educated in the Catholic schools, and at twenty- one years of age learned the steam and gas fitting trade with A. Hatter- sley & Co., with whom he remained until he removed to Dayton, excepting his service in the war of the rebellion. He enlisted in 1861 in the Thirtieth regiment, and went through three years' faithful and patriotic service. In 1865 he was married to Sophia Young, of this county, who was born in 1845, and died at Tiffin, November 25, 1879, leaving three children who are yet living. He was married November 24, 1881, to Mary A. Daly, of Sanpierre, and they have had three chil- dren, one of whom survives. Mr. Iten and wife are members of the Catholic church, and he of the Catholic Legion.
As deputy in the city clerk's office for eight years, from 1875 to 1883, and as secretary of the city water-works, which position he has held since Jaduary 1, 1888, P. J. McDonald has rendered the city care-
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ful and efficient service. He is a native of the city, born December 22, 1858, son of Philip and Catherine (Summers) McDonald, who were natives of Ireland and immigrated and settled at Fort Wayne at an early date. They were married in this city, and had two children, both of whom are living. Philip McDonald conducted a grocery store in the city a number of years, and served one term as deputy for Sheriff Mc- Donald. He died in 1862 at the age of thirty-six, and his wife died in 1873 at the age of forty-one. P. J. McDonald was married in August, 1885, to Gertrude E. Donally, of Wooster, Ohio, and they have two . children. Mr. McDonald is a member of the Catholic church, and of the Catholic Knights of America. He received his education in the Brothers' schools and at Notre Dame university, attending that institu- tion in 1873-4. After serving eight years as deputy city clerk he spent a short time in the west, and on his return was for a short time again employed in that office.
J. Sion Smith, one of the trustees of the water-works of Fort Wayne, is a native of Salem, Livingston county, Ky. He was born August 3, IS49, the son of W. B. and Emily J. (Bass) Smith, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1815, and the latter, a sister of J. H. Bass, of Fort Wayne, was born in Kentucky in 1832. The family came to Fort Wayne in August, 1865, and two years later, Mr. Smith, who had by this time obtained a good common school education, engaged in the coal and iron business under the firm name of Bass & Smith. He was thus occupied until 1876, after which, for two years, he conducted a flouring- mill at Van Wert, Ohio. Returning to Fort Wayne, he took his present position at the Bass foundry and machine works, which he has since held. Mr. Smith is influential as a citizen and is interested in the advancement of the city. In politics he is a pronounced democrat, and he was elected by his party as councilman for the sixth ward, a position he held from 1883 to 1885. Upon the death of the late Henry Monning Mr. Smith was elected to fill out the unexpired term of the former in the important office of trustee of the water-works of Fort Wayne. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic order. He was married in 1870 to Alice Shoaff, who was born in this city in 1853, and they have two chil- dren: Claude S. and Maude M.
The post of engineer at the water-works is occupied by Warren Carpenter, who is a thorough master of his calling. He was born at Lafayette, Ind., October 20, 1852, and after receiving his education in the city schools, entered a carriage shop in 1871 to learn the trade of a painter, but in the early winter of the next year he took a position as fireman on the Wabash railroad. This he held for five years, then being promoted engineer, and assigned a locomotive. He remained with the Wabash until the great strike of 1876, in which he was prominently engaged. He afterward accepted a position as locomotive engineer with the Chicago & Atlantic railroad, and was next employed as engin- eer of a planing-mill in this city. In 1883 he was appointed assistant engineer of the water-works, and in June, 1886, appointed first engineer
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for the period of three years. He was married in 1877 to Catherine Hinton, who was born in Fort Wayne in 1855. They have one son, Wilbur Garfield, born in 1879. Mr. Carpenter is the son of Augustus and Caroline (Williams) Carpenter, natives of New York, who came to Indiana in the thirties and settled in Lafayette, removing thence to Delphi, Logansport, and Chicago, successively, returning afterward to Lafayette, and thence coming to Fort Wayne in 1872, where the mother died in 1875. The father removed and now resides at Butler, Ind., an · invalid, having been paralyzed by a sunstroke in 1884.
An assistant engineer of the city water works, A. H. Franke has done efficient service for several years. He is a native of this county, born in Madison township, April 6, 1853, son of Henry and Mary Berg Franke, natives of the same village of Prussia, where they were mar- ried. They came to America in 1840, and settled on a farm in Madison township. The mother still lives there, but the father died December 24, 1879. They are reckoned among the worthy early settlers, to whom the present advancement is so much indebted. Their son, A. H., received his education in the German free schools, and at the age of fif- teen came to Fort Wayne and worked at the shoe business for thirteen years. He then became engaged in the water-works, first as fireman for five years and then was promoted to his present position in 1885. Mr. Franke was married June 9, 1881, to Miss Scherer, who was born in this city April 12, 1857, and died September 30, 1882, leaving one child. January 6, 1884, he married Louisa Schafe Schaper, of this county, born September 30, 1856, and they have two children, one of whom is living. Mr. and Mrs. Franke are members of the Lutheran church.
Since July, 1883, Thomas Baxter has faithfully served the city as one of the skilled employes at the water-works. He was born in Eng- land, January 16, 1859, son of Joseph and Phœbe (Foster) Baxter, both natives of England, who brought their families to America in 1861, and came directly to Fort Wayne. Joseph Baxter was an engineer, and fol- lowed that calling until his death, which occurred in 1887, he being then sixty-two years old. The mother is still living at the age of fifty-nine years, and resides in Fort Wayne, on Spy Run avenue. To these parents thirteen children were born, of whom three sons and three daughters survive, and reside in Fort Wayue. Thomas Baxter was married in Fort Wayne, and was educated in the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he entered the plow factory of J. K. Edgerton, where he remained five years. He was next in the employ of T. R. Pickard & Sons, three years. In July, 1883, he entered the city water-works as night fireman, and after three years was promoted to day fireman, and holds that position at present. He was married February 5, 1885, to Emma, daughter of John Smith, born in Fort Wayne in 1860, and they have one daughter: Edith M., who was born March 19, 1886. Mrs. Baxter is a member of Emanuel Lutheran church.
George A. Schust, night foreman at the Fort Wayne water-works,
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was born in Fort Wayne, December 19, 1854, the son of George A. and Mary (Betzler) Schust. His parents were both born in Germany, the father in IS27 and the mother in 1830. The father emigrated to Amer- ica in 1849, and coming directly to Fort Wayne, has since made this city his home. He has been engaged as a carpenter, and for thirteen years was steward of Concordia college. His wife came to America about 1852. To them eleven children were born, of whom eight are living. George A. Schust was reared in this city, and received his edu- cation in the Lutheran and public schools. In 1872 he entered the carpenter shops of the Wabash railroad, and was engaged there until ISS6, when he took his present position. Mr. Schust was married November 30, ISS5, to Minnie Krannichfeld, a native of Buffalo, N. Y. They have had two children, of whom a daughter, Hedwig, is living. Mr. Schust and wife are members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church.
Hugh M. Diehl, ex-chief of police of Fort Wayne, was born at Philadelphia, October 21, 1844. His father, Charles H. Diehl, was born in Northampton county, Penn., in 1819, and now resides in Phila- delphia, where he was in business many years as a contractor and builder. He married Mary C. Martin, who was born in Ireland in ISI9, came to America at the age of nineteen years, and died in 1865. Hugh M. was the second of their eight children, all of whom are living. He received his education in the schools of his native city, and in 1860 went to Scranton to learn the trade of a machinist. His work was, however, interrupted in 1861 by the war of the rebellion. His father enlisted in Company C, Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, and served three and a half years. The son also enlisted in the same month of the outbreak of war, in Company C, Eighth regiment, and served three months, the time of enlistment. He then came home and worked at his trade until July, 1863, when he again enlisted, as a ninety-day man, in Company H, Thirtieth Pennsylvania, being honorably discharged at the close of his term of enlistment. After a short time spent at Scranton he went to Philadelphia, and in 1865 removed to Chicago, and in January, 1866, to Fort Wayne, where he has since resided. Until 1876 he was employed in the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad company. In the latter year he was appointed chief of police of Fort Wayne, and in 1878 elected marshal on the independent ticket. In ISSI he was again chosen chief of police and held the position until 1889. His serv- ice in this important capacity was marked by fidelity and efficiency, and he has become one of the most popular men in the city. He is prom- inent as a Mason, which order he joined in 1874, entering the Scottish Rite in 1886, and becoming a Knight Templar in 1887. Mr. Diehl was married in 1867 to Ada Jones, a native of New York, and they have three children, Lillie, Alice and Fred.
Frank Wilkinson, chief of police of Fort Wayne, was born in Troy, N. Y., May 1, 1836. His father, William, was born in Ireland, of Eng- lish parents, and married Joanna Quinlin, a native of the same county (Cork). They immigrated in 1830, and settled at Troy, N. Y., where
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they remained until 1838, coming then to the village of Fort Wayne. Here the father died in 1848 and the mother in 1878. Five of their children are living, the oldest being Frank. At this city, which has been his residence more than half a century, his first occupation was as fireman for the Pennsylvania railroad company. He then engaged in business for nine years, and on June 8, 1876, was appointed lieutenant of the police force, a position which he held until appointed chief upon the resignation of Hugh M. Diehl, in June, 1889. He has been a pop- ular man in his social, business, and official relations, and will doubtless fill his present position with credit. He was married in July, 1878, to Margaret H. Gordon, a native of Scotland, and they have four children : Josie, Ella, Edith and Frank. He is a prominent democrat, a member of the Catholic church and of the Catholic Knights of America.
From 1871 to 1875, the position of chief of the Fort Wayne police force was held by Michael T. Singleton. He was born in county Cork, Ireland, November 1, 1841, the son of John and Ellen (Dannahy) Singleton. In 1854 he came with his mother to America, and his father and the younger children followed two years later and joined them at Fort Wayne whither they had come from New York city in 1855. The father and mother spent the remainder of their lives in this city, the lat- ter dying in February, 1881, and the former January 29, 1883. Their son Michael, during his youth attended school, worked as a driver of a canal boat, and also as the driver of a cart on the Pittsburgh railway. During three years he was employed as an assistant at gas fitting. For three years and a half following this he served in the capacity of jailor. In 1865 he became a member of the city police force. He was elected chief of the force in 1871, and served as such four years. From 1876 to 1882, he operated a truck line. On the roth of May, 1883, he resumed his position on the police force, which he has since held. Mr. Singleton was married October 26, 1862, to Catharine, daughter of Michael and Catharine Myers. She is a native of Kentucky. They have three children: Michael, John P. and Michael T., the first of whom died in infancy. The others are both grown and are promising young men. Mr. Singleton and family are members of the Catholic church.
One of the oldest and most trusty members of the Fort Wayne police force, Patrick O'Ryan, is a native of Ireland, born January 17, 1837. He is the son of Patrick and Anna (Eagan) O'Ryan, both natives of Ireland, the father born in 1814, the mother in 1819. The family immigrated in 1840, and lived for eleven years at Philadelphia, remov- ing then to Covington, Ky. The father died in Fort Wayne in 1882, and the mother now resides in Cincinnati. Of their thirteen children Patrick O'Ryan is the eldest, and only two others are living. In 1859 he came to Fort Wayne, and here followed the carpenter's trade which he learned with his father, until 1876, when he accepted a position on the police force. For eleven years he has served on the night division and three years on the day division, and he is regarded as one of the XVIII
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best men who are serving the city in that capacity. He was married in 1861 to Mary Maddigan, who was born in Ireland in 1844, and they have eight children living: John, James, Anna, Mary, Katie, Frank, Flora and Genevieve. Mr. O'Ryan and wife are members of the Cath- olic church. He is a charter member of the Catholic Knights, and was the first vice president of the order in this city.
John Trautman, an old and valued member of the Fort Wayne police force, was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 23, 1835. He is the son of George and Mary M. (Lehrman) Trautman, who were natives of Germany, but came to America in 1833 and were married soon after- ward. In 1836 they came to Allen county and settled in Marion town- ship, the father also conducting a blacksmith shop, and in this John Trautman received a partial knowledge of that trade as well as farming. He worked at the trade in 1858 in Menominee, Wis., and after- ward at St. Louis, Mo. In the spring of 1859 he returned home, and after two years on the farm, came to Fort Wayne, where he has resided since 1862. He worked in the Pittsburgh shops six years, followed teaming seven years, and on June II, 1876, took a position on the Fort Wayne police force, a place he has honorably filled ever since. He was married October 8, 1864, to Mary Guttermuth, a native of Adams county, Ind. They have had eleven children: George, Emma, Henry, Louisa, Rebecca, Jacob, Gertie, John, Sarah, Mary, and Samuel, all living except Rebecca, who died, aged three days. Mr. and Mrs. Trautman are members of St. John's German Lutheran church.
Since March, 1881, Frederick Wahrenburg has been one of the efficient, brave and honorable members of the Fort Wayne police force. He is a native of Prussia, born January 21, 1852. His parents, Henry and Sophia (Martin) Wahrenburg, were born in the same country, and there the father died when his son Frederick was about five years old. The mother is now a resident of this city. Mr. Wahrenburg has been a citizen of Fort Wayne since 1866. He took up the trade of carpenter, and was for nine and a half years in the employment of Koch & Hum- phreys, subsequently carrying on his trade by himself. He was mar- ried in 1875, to Mary Summers, a native of Fort Wayne, and they have six children living: Sophie, Fredrick, Maria, Henry, Ernst and Christina. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics he is a demo- crat. Subsequent to the death of his father, his mother was married to Diedrich Martin, who for many years has been janitor of Emanuel's Lutheran church. Previous to this engagement he was employed by the Wabash railway company for over thirteen years. His married life has now been thirty years, and he has had four children, the three sur- vivors of whom are residents of the city.
John Slater, of Fort Wayne, assessor of Wayne township, was born in Litchfield, Staffordshire, England, June 28, 1837, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wood) Slater, both natives of England. The father died in 1866, in his fifty-sixth year, but the mother is still living, resid- ing in England, and is now in her seventy-sixth year. John Slater was
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reared in England, and after attending the common schools, began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade. In 1857 he emigrated to the United States, and came direct to Fort Wayne, reaching this city on June 15. James Baxter, with whom he began an apprenticeship in England, had preceded him to Fort Wayne, and had located at Heller's Corners, and Mr. Slater at once joined him and after working for him the two formed a partnership at blacksmithing, and continued in business together for two years, when Mr. Baxter retired, and Mr. Slater con- tinued for two years for hinself. In 1862 he removed to the city and entered the service of the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad company, in the blacksmith department. In 1868 he went into the employ of J. H. Bass, where he remained until 1872, and then entered the Wabash shops. In 1873, while in the employ of the Wabash shops, he returned to his old home in Litchfield, England, on a visit, taking with him his son Willie, then only twelve years of age. After a visit of four months in England, Mr. Slater returned to Fort Wayne, and was in the Wabash shops, until 1886, and then returned to the Pittsburgh shops, where he is employed at present. In 1886, Mr. Slater was nominated by the republicans for the assessorship of Wayne township, and was elected by a majority of between 600 and 700, notwithstanding the democrats had a majority of 2,000 in the township. He was the first republican elected in the town- ship in a straight out fight, which speaks volumes for his popularity. During the strike on the Wabash railroad in 1885, Mr. Slater was quite conspicuous and was chairman of the local grievance committee. While the strike was in progress, he was sent west to Moberly, St. Louis, Springfield, and other points as a delegate of the Knights of Labor, to to confer with Master Workman Powderly, and others. Mr. Slater emerged from the fight with credit, having always worked for law and order as well as justice. He is a member of Summit city lodge, No. 170, F. & A. M., of Robin Hood lodge of Sons of St. George, No. 216, Kekionga Council of the National Union. He is a member of the First Baptist church, and was instrumental in erecting the present church building of that congregation, he collecting over $800 in contributions for the same. Mr. Slater was married at Heller's Corners, April 20, 1859, to Jane E. Dafforn, who was born in Staffordshire, England, March 20, 1837, and came with her parents to America in 1855. To this union thirteen children have been born, four of whom survive: William M., born September 20, 1861, now married and residing in Kansas City, Mo., Rosetta M., born October 15, 1864; Ada, born Octo- ber 20, 1873, and Herbert G., born April 6, 1876. Mrs. Slater is a member of the First Baptist church.
Louis Hazzard, inspector of oils for the Twelfth Indiana congres- sional district, and a member of the common council of Fort Wayne, was born in Newburg, on the river Rhine, Germany, August 12, 1844. He is the son of Bernhard Hazzard, who emigrated to America with his family in 1849. His wife, daughter, and infant child, died at Indianapolis in three days' time while en route from New York to Fort
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Wayne. Bernhard Hazzard while living in Germany was a wholesale and retail wine and provision merchant, but on reaching Allen county settled on a farm in Washington township, and followed farming until his death, which occurred February 26, 1874, at the age of sixty-two years and six months. Louis Hazzard was reared on the farm, and secured such education as was possible in the country schools. February 29, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth United States infantry, and served until February 29, 1865. He was with the Army of the Cum- berland, and among the important engagements he participated in were Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, Franklin, Stone River, Buz- zard's Roost, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, siege of Atlanta and Mar- rietta, Ga., from which latter point he was sent back to Lookout Moun- tain, where he remained until discharged. Returning to Fort Wayne, in 1865, he went to work for the firm of Clark & Rhinesmith, lumber dealers, and a few months later entered the employment of N. G. Olds & Son. While with that firm, in June, 1865, he met with an accident which caused the loss of his right arm. In the spring of 1870, he re- moved to Sheldon, Allen county, where for six years he dealt in grocer- ies and provisions, then in boots and shoes and groceries, during which time he also acted as ticket agent for the Muncie railway, was postmas- ter of the town, and supervisor of the district in which Sheldon is lo- cated. In 1876 he returned to Fort Wayne, and soon afterward was appointed bailiff for the superior court of Allen county, a position he held about four years. In 1882 he was appointed oil inspector for the Twelfth congressional district, by Governor Gray, and is holding that position at present, having been re-appointed and commissioned March I, 1889. In 1887 he was elected a member of the city council from the Ninth ward for a term of two years: re-elected to serve two years more, time expires 1891. Mr. Hazzard is a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 10I, K. of P., of Summit City division, No. 12, U. R. K. of P., of Sion S. Bass post, No. 40, G. A. R., and of the Patriotic Circle. He was married December 20, 1865, to Anna Sargent, of Allen county, and they have one son, William Ellsworth, born October 22, 1866.
Federal Offices .- The "federal relations" of Fort Wayne have been a prominent part of its history from the very inception of the settlement. Before the earliest settlers under the present regime had thought of mi- grating hither, the United States flag floated from the old fort, and the soldiers of the garrison were for some time the main part of the popu- lation. Here treaties were made with the Indians and land offices estab- lished by the United States. In later days, here was the site of a federal camp for the enlistment and drilling of troops from the "Old Tenth" district, and following the war of the rebellion a pension agency was established here, at which a large volume of business was transacted until the consolidation of Indiana agencies at Indianapolis, which agency was during the Cleveland administration, in charge of Col. C. A. Zol- linger, of Fort Wayne. Now, Fort Wayne is a seat of the United States circuit court for Indiana, presided over by Hon. W. A. Woods,
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