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 4
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Henry Rudisill, a pioneer in manufacturing in northern Indiana, was born at Lancaster, Penn., in ISO1. His father subsequently moved to Franklin county, Penn., and at the age of fourteen, Henry was placed in a mercantile establishment at Shippinsburg, Penn. Three years afterward he removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, as an employe of Barr and Campbell, who were then engaged in merchandise at that and other points, east and west. He remained with this firm till 1824, when he moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where he engaged in business on his own account, and was subsequently married to Elizabeth Johns. In 1829 he came to Fort Wayne, and, as the agent of Barr and McCorkle, the original proprietors of Fort Wayne, had charge of their interests here .
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until 1837; and while acting in that capacity, cleared and cultivated a large portion of the " old plat" and " Hanna's addition" to Fort Wayne. Mr. Rudisill was of active and energetic temperament, and a true rep- resentative of the men, who, under Providence, have made the western country what it now is. As early as 1830, he, in connection with his father-in-law, Henry Johns, commenced the improvement of the water power of the St. Joseph river, at the point where the St. Joe mills are now located, one mile north of Fort Wayne, and built there a saw-mill and the first flouring-mill capable of manufacturing merchantable flour in northern Indiana. A few years later, he put in operation the first machine for carding wool that was ever used in Allen county; and, several years subsequent, in company with Mr. L. Wolkie, he started the first mill for making oil from flax-seed; and also established the first woolen factory of northeastern Indiana. In church and educational matters also, and in such public improvements as tended to develop the resources of the county, he was always ready and willing to aid. Being of German descent, and for a number of years the only one in the city who could speak both languages, he became the counsellor of many who came from the old world, and there are many in the county who can date their first steps in prosperity to his assistance. He was a prom- inent supporter of the democratic party, and served as postmaster at Fort Wayne eight years under Jackson's administration, and a term of three years as commissioner of Allen county; and probably did more than any other man, through his personal influence with the Germans, to make the democratic party the ruling power in the county. While superintending some work at one of his mills, he fell in such a way that his spine became affected, causing partial paralysis and subsequent death in February, 1858. His uprightness, kindness, and affability, won for him a host of friends among the early settlers, the survivors among whom cherish his memory.
Hon. Franklin P. Randall, an old citizen, and prominent in the his- tory of Fort Wayne, was born in Madison county, N. Y., June 2, 1812. His ancestors emigrated from England and Mayor Randall is of the seventh generation in descent of the family in America. His grand- father was an officer in the army of the revolution, and commanded a regiment at the battle of Saratoga, and witnessed the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. His father was an officer in the American army during the war of 1812, and after peace was declared, he resumed his occupation as a farmer in Madison county, where the early youth of the subject of · this mention was passed, attending school meanwhile during the leisure of winter. He also was a student in the Cortland and Hamilton academies, and obtained a good education, especially in mathematics and classics. He taught a select school in Oneida county, two years, and then in October, 1835, went to Williamsport, Penn., where he read law in the office of Judge Ellis Lewis, who was for fourteen years chief justice of the supreme court of that state. In February, 1838, he was admitted to practice, and in April of the same year, he removed to Fort
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Wayne, and began the practice of law. Soon, however, he entered upon an official career, which has been long and honorable. In 1840 he was elected school commissioner of Allen county, and for four years had the control and management of the school lands and funds of the county. In 1847 he was elected state senator for the district composed of the counties of Allen, Adams, Huntington and Wells. He was commis- sioned by Gov. Wright as colonel of the state militia for Allen county, and in 1855 was promoted by Gov. Hammond to brigadier-general of the tenth division. In 1856 he was appointed director of the state prison south, by Gov. Willard, and in the same year he was chosen one of the presidential electors who voted for James Buchanan for president. Be- sides these higher offices, he has from the early years of his residence been closely identified officially with the progress of the city. He pre- pared the first city charter, which was made a law in 1840, and since then he has thrice been employed to revise the ordinances of the city, and publish them in book form, the edition which he published in 1874, forming an octavo volume of 300 pages. He was city recorder in 1840 and 1841; city attorney for three terms, beginning in 1840, 1853 and 1865, and alderman in 1843 and 1855. He was elected to the office of mayor in 1859, and re-elected at the following dates, 1861, 1863, 1869 and 1871, serving in all ten years. Taking an active interest in the projects for the development of the city, he was for about ten years a director, representing the city, of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad company; and for many years, was either president or prominently con- nected with the county agricultural society during the flourishing days of that organization, to the success of which he contributed in no slight degree. In horticulture and floriculture he is a standard authority, and his handsome residence and grounds on Berry street are filled with rare exotics, a delightful resort for all as enthusiastic as he in the study of the beauties of nature. His interest in the collection and preservation of the remains of the past, have saved to the student many interesting relics of by-gone days, and his memory is stored with a seemingly inex- haustible treasure of anecdotes and reminiscenses of the early history of Indiana and especially of Fort Wayne. His antiquarian collections, Indian antiquities, old and rare books, and cabinet of coins, are among the most valuable in existence. Mayor Randall in social life is genial and hospitable, preserving to this latter day the fine qualities of the gentleman of the old school, and is still remarkably active and vigorous both in mind and body.
One of the pioneer families of the county was that of Peter F. Bar- rand, who was born in France in 1804. He received a good education and became a teacher in his native land. In 1836 he emigrated and came directly to Allen county. The trip from Toledo to this place he made in a pirogue upon the river as far as the rapids. At the date of his coming the population was small, and there was little but a trading sta- tion at the site of the present city. Mr. Barrand's first employment here was with the Indian chief, J. B. Richardville, and he afterward worked on
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the construction of the canal. November 22, 1838, he was married to Ann J. Poirson, who was born in France, in 1820, and immigrated with her parents in 1834. The family spent a few years at Tandawanda, N. Y., about eighteen miles from Niagara Falls, and then settled on the old plank road four and a half miles from Fort Wayne, where they farmed and kept the "French Mary's Tavern," so-called by the early settlers. Peter and Ann Barrand began farming on the Penn farm, about one and a half miles north of Fort Wayne, and three years later purchased a farm in Washington township, where they have since resided. In 1888, they celebrated their " golden wedding." They have reared nine children out of eleven born to them. Their son, John B. Barrand, born in Washington township, April 23, 1849, is now super- intendent of the sash, door and blind factory of Louis Deither & Bro., and an esteemed citizen. Before he left the farm he learned the carpen- ter's trade, and in 1869, began working at .that occupation at Wallen, where he remained ten years. Since 1879 he has been a resident of the city. For the first two years he was engaged in the grocery business, but afterward resumed his trade. In February, 1887, he entered the manufactory referred to, and in the following June was made superin- tendent. He was married May 24, 1871, to Catharine L. Cremer, of Washington township.
William H. Brown, a popular citizen of Fort Wayne, is one of an honored family of the city's pioneers. He was born here, March 3, 1839. His father, John Brown, was born at Dayton, Ohio, September IO, ISII, by birth, indeed, a western pioneer. He is a blacksmith by occupation, and in 1825 came to Fort Wayne, where he was married in 1833, to Dorcas Rodgers, who was born in Ohio in 1814. They are both living in the city, esteemed and venerated by all. Her father, John Rodgers, born December 9, 1785, died September, 1877. He voted first for Madison, and was afterward on the winning side for Monroe, Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Grant and Hayes. William H. is the oldest of their living children, the others being Benjamin H., John C., Alex- ander M., and Susie. The paternal grandfather was Samuel Brown, a native of Ireland, who was one of the early settlers of Allen county, and died here at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, Collins by name, was a Frenchman who came to the United States and fought for the independence of his adopted country in the war of the revolu- tion. Early in life Mr. Brown learned the blacksmith's craft, and was so occupied until 1866, since which date he has been engaged in team- ing and heavy transfer business. His career has been an honorable and successful one, and he and his family have won the respect and esteem of the community. He is well-known to have a great regard for thorough-bred horses, and among his valued possessions are some of the most handsome of those valued co-workers with man. Mr. Brown was married in 1870 to Cassander Yost, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1833. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of Isaac Yost, who was born in Virginia and died in Cincinnati in 1850, while returning from a
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trip to California. Her mother was Susanna (Collingsworth) Yost, a native of Ohio, who died there in 1851. Mrs. Brown is one of six children living. Mr. Brown is a staunch republican having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and his father's first vote was cast for Henry Clay. The residence of the family is at No. 73 Holman street. Mr. Brown has by his first wife, one daughter, Mary, born in 1866.
John B. Becquett, a pioneer citizen of Fort Wayne, was born in Detroit, Mich., January 13, 1824. He is the son of John B. and Theresa (Durett) Becquett, the former a native of the province of Quebec, and the latter of Detroit, Mich. In 1826, their son John B., being two years. old, they removed to Fort Wayne and located on the corner of Colum- bia and Clinton streets. Here the father followed the trade of an Indian jeweler until his death, September 17, 1846. His wife survived him until March, 1884, when she died, aged eighty-four. At eighteen years of age, John B. Becquett began an apprenticeship of three years as brick layer; this trade has been the occupation of his life, and he has pursued it in this city for nearly half a century. Mr. Becquett was married November 16, 1855, to Elizabeth, daughter of George and Catharine Baker, with whom she immigrated from Germany "when she was five years old. They located at Fort Wayne where Mr. Baker followed the trade of wagon-maker. He-and his wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Becquett have four sons and four daughters, all of whom are grown to maturity. Their names are: John A., Jacob, Henry, George F., Catharine, Mary, Elizabeth and Theresa. Mr. Becquett and family are members of the Catholich church. In politics he has been a life long democrat. He is one of Fort Wayne's earliest residents now living, having been here for sixty-three years. His memory is good and his recollections of early times are many and varied. He possesses an extensive acquaintance and is highly respected.
. Zenas Henderson, who has been referred to in this work as one of the pioneers of the city of Fort Wayne, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and came to Fort Wayne early in the thirties. He was an interpreter for the Indians and was also in business as an Indian trader. This he subsequently abandoned to engage in hotel keeping, on the corner of Calhoun and Columbia streets. He married Rosina McKee, who was born in Wheeling, W. Va., and died in 1855. His death followed two years later. To these parents seven children were born, five of whom are living. Samuel C. Henderson, one of these, was born December 17, 1841, on the corner of Main and Barr streets, and is now foreman of the tin, copper and flue department of the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad company. He attended the school at the corner of Clay and Washington streets on the first day that it was opened, and gained a good education in the city schools. At the age of eighteen years he set in to learn the trade of copper-smith, and entered the shops of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad company for that purpose September 20, 1859, and since that date has been one of the trusted employes of that corporation. Three years after begin-
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ning work he was appointed assistant foreman of the copper department, and in 1877 he became foreman. He is a member of the First Presby- terian church, and of Home lodge, No. 342, F. & A. M., and of the National Union. He was married in September, 1876, to Mary Kin- nard, who was born at Sidney, Ohio, but reared in Fort Wayne.
Frederick Dalman, a well known and esteemed citizen of Fort Wayne, has had the rare privilege of becoming acquainted when a boy with the tangled forests then covering Allen county, and has enjoyed the pleasure of observing the growth of a beautiful and prosperous city. He was born near Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, England, May 30, 1824. His father, John Dalman, who was born in April, 1774, married Anna Burcher, who was born in 1790. They had eight children, of whom Frederick is the youngest, and three of whom survive. The father, a carpenter and joiner, became dissatisfied with life in the old country, and in 1833, to seek a field where his energy and industry would yield better rewards, sailed for America, landing at New York in June, with his family. After stopping two weeks in Madison county, N. Y., they sailed from Buffalo' to Maumee City. Being transported by wagon to the head of the rapids, they there embarked in pirogues, and reached Fort Wayne after a week's journey. They located at Barnett's Springs, now within the city limits, but in December removed to land they had purchased in section 33, in Wayne township, a tract of 120 acres on Little river. On this land Mr. Dalman had built a cabin in the dense woods, and there was not to the south of him another habitation of white men for twenty miles. Here the parents lived the life of pioneers, self-sacrificing, patient and persevering. At a ripe old age, they passed away, the father in 1864, the mother in 1868. Frederick remained on the farm, managing it until, July, 1884, when he divided the land amount -. ing to 301 acres among his three children, and removed to town. He still was the owner at the time of dividing the farm of 140 acres, sixty of which is still in his possession. His property in the city includes seven houses and lots, among them his residence at 116 Williamson street, and three vacant lots. The superintendence of his property occupies his time mainly, though he is also superintendent and treasurer of the Bluffton gravel road, in which he was one of the original stock- holders, and superintendent of the construction of a portion of it. Mr. Dalman was married in 1846 to Mary M. F., daughter of David Hill, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1870, leaving the following chil- dren : David, and Jesse, farmers in Wayne township; America E., wife of Thomas King, a prosperous farmer of Pleasant township. In July 1884, Mr. Dalman was married to Louisa Flinn.
Among the early settlers of Fort Wayne, Edward Stapleford will be remembered as one widely known and generally esteemed. He came to this city in 1833, and for many years was a prominent merchant. He was born in Delaware in 1809, and at an early age he accompanied his father and mother and brothers and sisters to Piqua, Ohio, where his father died, and he thence came to this city. He was eminently social
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in his relations to the public, affectionate to his family, and strictly hon- orable as a business man. He married Susan E. Powers, and to them was born October 15, 1838, Lucien P., now a resident of this city. The latter gained his education at the Methodist college, in which he com- · pleted a full course. He afterward entered the Fort Wayne commercial college, of which C. J. Diedrich was principal, and attended it some two or three years, graduating at the age of nineteen. He acquired mean- while a high proficiency in penmanship, and has the credit of being one of the best penmen in the city. Up to the time of his father's death, January 1, 1861, he clerked in his store, and after that date became his successor, and successfully managed the business until 1872. Soon after that date he purchased the Comparet mills and warehouse on the corner of Columbia and Lafayette streets, but after remodeling the property and making extensive improvements, Mr. Stapleford suffered the crushing loss of the whole property by fire, a loss of $40,000. For several years past he has given his attention to the livery, coal and wood business and the management of the Herdic coach line, of which he is proprietor. For more than thirty years he has also acted as auctioneer, and in this manner has an extensive acquaintance throughout the whole county. He was married in January, 1871, to Caroline E., daughter of Peter Heller, the founder of Heller's corners, of Eel River township. They have had two children: Leonidas P. and Norris E., the latter of whom died in the ninth year of his age. Mr. Stapleford was reared in the Methodist faith and takes much interest in the Sunday-school work, having been secretary of the Wayne Street Sabbath school five years. He was formerly a Good Templar, and is an ardent temperance man. He is secretary of the Liverymen and Hackmen's protective association, and formerly was secretary of the Audubon club. In politics he is a republican.
Michael Hedekin, frequently referred to as an early settler, was a native of County Westmeath, Ireland. Emigrating to America he was married to Rebecca Pau, a native of Ohio. They came to Fort Wayne in 1834. In 1843 and 1844 he built a three-story brick hotel building on the east side of Barr street south of Columbia, and on May 15, 1846, Calvin Anderson opened it as a tavern. Under various proprietors it was maintained until 1876, since when it has been conducted by Jacob Swaidner. The Hedekin House is a notable monument of early days, and was, when built, excelled in its size and appointments by none in the northwest. Thomas B. Hedekin, son of Michael, who was not a year old when his father came, established a grocery in 1848, which he man- aged for twenty years.
Maurice Cody, well-known among the early settlers of Fort Wayne, was born in County Cork, Ireland, September 15, 1818, the son of John and Mary (Bolland) Cody. His parents were both born in County Cork, the father in 1790, and the mother in 1804. They emigrated to America in 1825, and settled at Oswego, N. Y., where the mother died in 1829. In the following year the father died at Horseheads, Chemung county,
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N. Y. In 1832, Mr. Cody removed to Penn Yan, and from there to Maryland, in the fall of 1833, and in December, 1834, he came to Fort Wayne. His route thither was over the Alleghany mountains to Wheel- ing, W Va., thence to Columbus, Ohio, and then to Troy and Piqua, and up to St. Mary's, and then overland to Fort Wayne through what was then called the Black swamp country, the difficulties of which may be imagined from the fact that it required three weeks to make the trip, and one six miles of the way required three days to traverse. In com- pany with him were his uncle, Patrick Cody, and Patrick and Garrett, his brothers. On reaching Fort Wayne Mr. Cody engaged in cutting stove wood and other odd jobs, until 1839, when he became a clerk in the pioneer store of Michael Hedekin, with whom he was associated for four years. In 1841 he was interested with Mr. Hedekin in a store one mile east of Antwerp, Ohio, where he lived eleven months, but subse- quently he returned to Fort Wayne, was married, and purchased a farm in St. Joseph township. He had occupied this but six months, when he went to Paulding county, Ohio, and was there engaged in merchandise for two years. Returning to Fort Wayne, in October, 1845, he went to Chicago, and became engaged in merchandise at Blue Island. In May, 1847, he resumed business at Fort Wayne, and was in merchandise until 1862, when he went into the milling business on the St. Mary's river, ten miles south of the city, and was so engaged for twenty years. Previously he had been engaged in the ice business for four years, in the city. Since 1882 he has been living in the city, on the same lot, on the corner of Barr and Superior streets, that he rented in 1835, and bought in 1847, and is retired from business, but busies himself in man- aging his farm. Mr. Cody is a democrat and cast his first vote for Mar- tin VanBuren. For ten years he was councilman for the second ward, and in 1852 was elected marshal of Fort Wayne, and street commis- sioner at the first election by the people. He is a member of the con- gregation of the Cathedral. Mr. Cody had the following brothers and sisters: Ellen, John, James, Bridget, Mary, Patrick and Garrett, of whom Mary Bonfield alone survives. February 1, 1843, he was mar- ried to Mary Daugherty, a native of Ireland, who died in December, 1859, leaving six children, John H., Margaret, Ellen, Thomas G., Ann E. and Mary R. May 14, 1861, he was married to Mrs. Bridget Muldoon, a native of St. Lawrence county, N. Y.
Among the pioneers who came here at a time when Fort Wayne was a village and Allen county was almost a wilderness, was Anthony Lintz (deceased). Mr. Lintz was born in France, of German parents, in 1806, and emigrated to the United States in about 1832. He spent about two months in New York city, then went to Rochester, N. Y., where he remained almost a year, and then to Detroit. In 1834 he re- moved to Fort Wayne, and about two months later went to Rochester, N. Y., and was married to Delia Klem, who was born in Baden, Ger- many, in 1814. When two years old she came to America with her parents, who settled in Rochester, N. Y. In coming to Fort Wayne,
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Mr. and Mrs. Lintz went from Rochester to Buffalo by canal, thence to Toledo by lake, and from Toledo came to the head of the rapids by wagon, and then in a pirogue on the Maumee to Fort Wayne. Four weeks were spent in making the trip, which to-day can be made in less than eighteen hours. To Anthony Lintz and wife eleven children were born, eight of whom survive: Delia, the widow of Casper Schæripp, of Marion, Ind .; Mary Wirley, of Rochester, N. Y .; Catherine Bauer, of St. Louis, Mo .; Josephine Martin, of Socorro, New Mexico; Anthony, of Fort Wayne; Carrie Sigl, of Rochester, N. Y., and Theodore L., in business in Fort Wayne. Anthony Lintz was for years in the boot and shoe business in Fort Wayne. In about 1865 he went to Europe on a tour for pleasure and health, and remained nine months. Upon his re- turn, and while in New York city, he met with an accident in which his leg was broken, and his death occurred in that city on February 6, 1866. His remains were interred at Indianapolis. For five weeks be- fore his death his wife was with him in New York city. He was a member of the Cathedral Catholic church of Fort Wayne. In about 1859 the family removed from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis, and contin- ued to live there until 1867, when they returned to Fort Wayne. Mrs. Lintz is among the oldest citizens in point of residence at Fort Wayne, and in December, 1889, she will have been here for fifty-five years. She is a member of the Cathedral congregation. She and husband gave all the black walnut lumber for the pews of the first church, and he was one of ten who bought and donated the land upon which the Cathedral now stands. Before the erection of a Catholic church in Fort Wayne, services were held in Mr. Lintz's residence. In the fall of 1884 Theodore L. Lintz established the China Bazar at No. 12 E. Columbia street.
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