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 49
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George F. Felts, the efficient superintendent of schools of Allen county, has devoted his life to the work of edudation, and has attained a familiarity with the best methods, which united with his natural energy, integrity and faithfulness to public trust, render him without a superior in the office he now fills. He was born at College Corner, Wells county, Ind., March 20, 1857. His father, Edmund W. Felts, was born in Rush county, Ind., in 1829, was by occupation a farmer, and married Lydia Harman, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1834. They settled in this county in 1860, where the father died in 1861, and the mother survives. George F. is the second of four children. He was raised on the farm, and studied in the country schools until the college session of 1879-80, which he spent in Purdue university. Designing to prepare himself for teaching, he attended during the next three years, the Michigan state normal school at Ypsilanti, at which he was graduated in 1883. He taught school in Allen county for five years, and became so well known as a teacher of more than usual ability that he was in June, 1885, elected superintendent. He rendered faithful service and was re-elected in 1887, without opposition and again elected in 1889. Super-
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intendent Felts was married July 7, 1886, to Aristine Noyes, born in Plymouth, Mich., in 1854, who graduated from the Michigan state nor- mal school in 1883, and for two years taught Latin and history in Fort Wayne college. In politics Mr. Felts is a democrat, and he is a member of the Summit City lodge, F. & A. M.
Hon. William H. Shambaugh was born in this county, December 24, 1858, son of Daniel and Sarah E. (Yeiser) Shambaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. His father was born in 1816, and his mother in 1830, and they are now residents of this county, whither they came about 1854, from Ohio, to which state they had emigrated from Pennsylvania. Of
their five children Mr. Shambaugh is the youngest. He spent his boy- hood on the farm, and gained his early education in the conntry schools. In 1877 he entered the Lebanon (Ohio) normal school, in which he was graduated in 1879. In the fall of the same year he took charge of the Fremont, Ind., School, and taught three years at that place. Com- ing to Fort Wayne in the fall of 1882, he read law in the office of S. R. Alden, and was admitted to the bar of Allen county in the follow- ing year. Since 1885 he has been carrying on the practice of law suc- cessfully and has achieved a creditable rank in a bar that is distinguished for able and experienced attorneys. Mr. Shambaugh is an earnest democrat, and he was the nominee of his party in 1886 for representa- tive in the general assembly. He was elected by a majority of 1,900, and in 1888 was re-elected by a majority of 4,233, and during the latter session was prominent among the leaders of his party in the house. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., a Mason, of the rank of Knight Temp- lar and Scottish Rite of the class of 1889.
Henry E. Fischer, surveyor of Allen county, in his youth received a common school education, and at thirteen years of age he entered the office of the Indiana Staats Zeitung to learn the printer's trade. In 1869 he took up civil engineering, and in the year 18So he returned from Colorado to Fort Wayne, and for four years was engaged as city editor of the Indiana Staats Zeitung, and then became manager of that journal, holding the position when elected to his present office in 1888. He is a democrat. Mr. Fischer was born at Ofenstadt, Prussia, March 5, 1848. His parents emigrated in 1853, and settled at Fort Wayne, where they died soon after.
The work in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in a county like Allen, is of great importance, and the successful performance of even a single department of its multifarious duties, requires a high degree of ability and special training. Under these circumstances no higher compliment can be paid Jacob J. Kern, who has for over ten years offi- ciated as deputy clerk, than to record that he has efficiently met all the demands of his position. Mr. Kern was born in Union county, Ohio, May 15, 1851. His father, Casper Kern, was a native of Bavaria, born in Neubreitenstein, September 24, 1821, and came to this country in boyhood with his parents, and settled in Union county, Ohio. He was married to Elizabeth Spindler, who was born at Bethlehem, Penn., May
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20, 1826, and in the fall of 1857, they removed to Allen county. He died here April 15, 1885, but his widow survives, living on the old home- stead. Seven of their children are living, of whom Mr. Kern is the oldest. He was reared on the farm, studied in the common schools and. two years in Concordia college, and in 1869, made his home in the city, engaging in the drug business with Meyer Bros., with whom he remained six years. In the fall of 1878 he was appointed deputy clerk. He is an earnest democrat. Mr. Kern was married May 20, 1874 to Char- lotte Paul, a native of Fort Wayne, and they have three children: Will- iam C., John H., and Ida. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church.
Hon. Nelson W. McLain, one of the prominent men in the history of Allen county, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, March 10, ISI0, and removed to this county in 1836. He assisted in organizing Marion township, and was one of the election board at the first election held in that township. His occupation for several years was surveying. Dur- ing seven years he was postmaster at Middletown. In 1840 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1845 was appointed county comniis- sioner. His ability and integrity was further recognized, subsequently, when upon the death of Hon. George Johnson, he was appointed by Governor Whitcomb, probate judge, to which office he was elected in 1850. In 1855 he was appointed swamp land commissioner, and in 1858. was elected a representative of Allen county, in the state house of rep- resentatives. His son, Charles J. W. McLain, deputy county auditor, was born October 17, 1855, in Marion township, of this county, where. he resided until 1873. He then removed to Wabash, and learned pho- tography, in which business he continued until March, 1879, when he came to Fort Wayne, and accepted his present position. He also has served as clerk of the board of turnpike directors since February, 1884. Mr. McLain is a prominent promoter of out-door sports, and was pro- jector and assisted in organizing the Fort Wayne bicycle club, a flourish- ing organization of about seventy-five members, of which he has served as secretary and captain and is now president. He is also captain of the. Fort Wayne canoe club. In his acquirements as bookkeeper, account- ant and designer, he has few equals; socially he occupies a high rank, and as an officer is one of the best the county has had. Mr. McLain was married December 24, 1879, to Dora E. Bruner, daughter of Jacob R. Bruner, of Wabash, and they have two children: Marie L. and Nel- son B.
That part of the duties of the county administration assigned to the. offices of the auditor and treasurer, require in a considerable degree the services of a skillful accountant, and by reason of his acquirements in. this direction Lewis C. Hunter has given valuable service both as dep -. uty auditor, which position he held two years, beginning in 1883, and as. deputy treasurer, at which he has acted since 1885. Mr. Hunter re- ceived a common school education in his native township of Perry, and for eleven years succeeding his twenty-first year he served the Grand
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Rapids & Indiana railroad company as telegraph operator and station agent. He is the inventor of Hunter's improved farm gate, a valuable contrivance, which was patented May 18, 1886, and a second patent granted him on an improvement October 23, 1888. October II, 1883, he was married to Cora M. Andrews, who was born in this county in 1863, and they have two children: Stella May and William T. Mr. Hunter is an influential democrat. He is the son of William T. Hunter, a prominent early settler, who was born in Cumberland, England, April 9, 1802. Immigrating, he landed at Boston, August 12, 1828. Four years later he returned to England from New York, but returned in IS33, with a party of countrymen. The next year he removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., and two years later married Mrs. Jane Buckingham, and moved to St. Joseph county, Mich. In 1837 he came to Perry town- ship, then, mainly in woods, and began clearing a farm. Shortly after- ward he established a hotel, and was successful. At the time of the bands of horse thieves and counterfeiters, he did valuable service as a member of the regulators. Three years, beginning in 1852, he spent in California, engaged in mining and other pursuits. He was an enter- prising and honorable citizen, and will always be remembered in the his-
tory of the county. He died in January, 1887. His wife was the daughter of Robert and Margaret Ranney, of Sheffield, Mass., and was born November 24, 1815. She was married in Monroe county, N. Y., in 1833, to John Buckingham, who died in 1835. She passed away November, 1886. There were seven children born to William T. Hun- ter and wife, of whom six are living, Lewis C. being the youngest.
Henry F. Bullerman who was elected county commissioner for the second district, in 1888, is a prominent member of the democratic party, and also well-known throughout the county as a leading and intelligent citizen. He was born March 26, 1850, at Fort Wayne, son of Frederick and Maria Bullerman, who came to this county from Germany. He received a good education in the Lutheran schools and attended Con- cordia college one year. In 1877, in company with his brother, he made a trip to the gold fields of California, and beginning there as a laborer in the mines his diligence and intelligent industry in two years won for him the position of superintendent of the Quaker Hill mines. After holding this position about a year and a half, he had the misfortune of losing his right arm in the machinery. He then resigned his position, and returning to Indiana, settled in St. Joseph township, which has since been his home. Soon attaining prominence, he was elected road super- intendent of the township in 1882. In IS84 he was elected trustee of St. Joseph, and during his efficient service for two terms, he gained a familiarity with the details of the business which is of great value to him in his present position: In the democratic county convention of 1888 he was nominated for commissioner on the first ballot over three worthy competitors, and his election followed by 3,611 majority. His service in this position has been faithful and commendable.
One of the leading men of the county, and one who has received a
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substantial expression of the public esteem by election to the office of county commissioner, is John H. Brannan. He was elected on the ticket of the democratic party to which he has long adhered, in 1884, and chosen again in 1888. He has honorably filled an office which peculiarly demands painstaking, prudence and integrity in its occupants. Mr. Brannan was born in Lake township, Allen county, November 19, 1840, son of Thomas and Julia (Brown) Brannan, who were born in Ireland, the father in 1803, and the mother in 1814. The latter came to this country with her parents in 1835, and in 1837 settled in this county. She is still living in the city, but the father died in 1855, Octo- ber 5. Of their eight children, seven are living, John H. being the second born. He received a common school education, and in 1860 came to the city, and for five years was employed in the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad shops. In 1865 and 1866 he was upon the police force of the city, and then removed to Columbia City, and for eight years was engaged in the grocery business at that city. He returned to this city in 1875 and carried on the same business until July, 1887. While a resident of Columbia City he was a member of the council of that city. He was married in 1864 to Bridget Stanton, who was born in 1840, in Illinois. They are members of the Catholic church.
Henry Hartmann, a leading citizen of Adams township, and a mem- ber of the board of county commissioners, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, June 13, 1829, son of John F. W. and Wilhelmina ( Harmening) Hartmann. He was reared to youth in his native country, and attended school between the ages of six and fourteen, and afterward worked on a farm. At seventeen years of age he accompanied his father and mother to America. They started on the 12th of May and landed at Quebec. They settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1855. He remained there until 1857, when he came to Adams township, and he has occupied the same farm ever since. His father came to Allen county in 1861, and settled in Wayne township. Some three or four years later he returned to Fairfield county on a visit, and while there he died. The sole occupation of Mr. Hartmann has been farming, and in this he has been successful. He was was married Oc- tober 24, 1854, to Anna Catharine Hermann, a native of Germany, the daughter of George Adolph Hermann. She came to America with her parents about IS51. Mr. and Mrs. Hartmann have had five sons and four daughters: William, John, Catharine, Wilhelmina, Dorothea, Pauline, Henry, August and Adolph, all of whom are living except Catharine who died in her twentieth year. Parents and children are members of the German Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Hartmann is a democrat of much prominence. He has served six years as asses- sor of Adams township, and he is now serving his second term as county commissioner, having been elected in the fall of 1882, and re-elected in the fall of 1886. He is one of the substantial farmers of the county and a worthy man in whom the public have full confidence, and has proved to be an excellent commissioner. He owns 160 acres of land in
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Adams township, besides 120 acres which he has given to his two sons, William and John.
David N. Gibson, a well known citizen of the county, now serving as trustee of Marion township, an office to which he was elected in the spring of 1888, was born March 12, 1839, in Lycoming county, Penn. His father, David Gibson, was a native of Pennsylvania, born January 4, ISII, and was married in that state to Mary Reichard, who was born in Maryland, February 21, ISII, but was raised in the Keystone state. These parents had eleven children. In 1864, they removed to Marion township and here they died, the father, March 21, 1885, and the mother May 26, 1880. David Gibson is one of the five children surviving. He was raised and educated in Pennsylvania, and in 1863, removed to Marion township, where he worked upon a farm five years, and then bought a tract of seventy acres, which he has since cultivated, and upon which he has a comfortable home. He was married February 14, 1865, to Lucy Farrell, daughter of Edward and Margaret (Denny) Farrell, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in this county in 1849. Mrs. Gibson was born in Ohio. To this union four children have been born, Agnes, Edward and Henry and Helena, twins. Mr. Gibson is in politics, democratic, and he is a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic church at Hesse Cassel. He is, as his official position indicates, prominent as a citizen, and he and his family are highly esteemed by all.
Hon. Samuel Brenton, notable both in the ministry of the Methodist church and in the political agitation against slavery, was born Novem- ber 22, 1810, in Gallatin county, Ky., son of Robert and Sarah Brenton. He entered the ministry of the Methodist church in 1830, and was con- nected with it throughout his life, though at various intervals he was otherwise engaged. In 1834, while at Danville, for the sake of his health he took up the study of law, and was engaged in a successful practice for six years. In 1841, returning to the ministry, he was sta- tioned at Crawfordsville, Perryville, Lafayette, and finally at Fort Wayne, where he labored until he lost the use of the right half of his body from paralysis. His political career was brilliant and useful. He served in the Indiana legislature in 1839 and 1841 as representative from Hendricks county. In 1850 he was nominated for congress by the whigs, and though the race was considered hopeless, went into the can- vass with such vigor that he was triumphantly elected to represent the district including Fort Wayne, and was re-elected in 1854 and 1856. The convention at which he was nominated for congress in 1854 was held at Albion, Ind., and was attended by four delegates from Allen county, Mr. Brenton, John W. Dawson, O. V. Lemon and John H. Rerick. He assisted in the organization of the republican party, but the arduous labors of his campaigns and his public duties deprived him of the enjoyment of that party's triumphs. He died before the expira- tion of his last term in congress, at his home in Fory Wayne, March 29, 1857.
Hon. William Rockhill, one of the early representatives of the tenth
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. district of Indiana, in the congress of the United States, was prominent among the people of Fort Wayne, from the time of the opening of land to settlement until the era of civil war. He was born at Burlington, N. J., February 10, 1793, the son of Joseph R. and Mary (Richardson ) Rockhill. Those parents were residents of Fort Wayne in their later years, and died here, the father in August, 1830, at the age of sixty-five years, the mother in June, 1838, at the age of seventy. Coming to Fort Wayne in 1823, William Rockhill purchased by entry from the government a large tract of land, the eastern limit of which is now known as Broadway. This land, which he partly cleared and cultivated in his day, has been added to the city at successive periods, and now the Rockhill additions are a considerable part of Fort Wayne, and present a scene wonderfully different from that which met the eye of their first owner. Mr. Rockhill was a leading citizen from the beginning of his residence, took an active part in politics, and was honored by the people with various important trusts. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners, with James Wyman and Francis Comparet, in IS24, and when the functions of that body were transferred to the board of justices of the county, he was one of three who composed that tribunal. In 1832 he was elected as representative of Allen and Huntington counties in the state legislature, and re-elected in 1834. He took an interest in educational matters, and was among the foremost in establishing the foundation for the school system of Fort Wayne, as a private citizen and member of the school board. He also rendered effi- cient aid in the organization and building of the Fort Wayne college, an institution by which his memory is cherished. When the city organiza- tion was made, Mr. Rockhill was elected as one of the first aldermen, serving with Thomas Hamilton, Madison Sweetzer, Samuel Edsall, W. S. Edsall'and W. M. Moon. In 1843 he was elected assessor of the city, and he was appointed to take the census of the city at a time when the total population was about 1,000. In 1844 Mr. Rockhill was elected to the state senate, and in 1846 was elected as representative to congress, in which he served one term with ability and honor to himself and his district. Mr. Rockhill was a man of integrity and notable strength of character. In his relations to the community he was enterprising and active for the public good, and aided greatly in the founding of the now prosperous city. In 1838 he began the erection of the Rockhill House, a considerable enterprise for that day, the interior of which was not finished until 1853. The hotel was opened to guests in 1854, and was a popular resort until 1867. At this hotel on July 4, 1860, a meeting of old settlers was held, which was generally attended by those notable in the settlement and founding of the city, and over which Mr. Rockhill presided as chairman. The hotel was closed in 1867, and the building is now known as St. Joseph's hospital. Mr. Rockhill passed away full of years and honors, January 15, 1865. Several of his children are now numbered among the most highly respected people of the city, in the early days of which this worthy pioneer had so conspicuous a part.
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Three daughters of his first wife, Theodosia, who died August 16, 1833, aged thirty-six years, are living: Mrs. I. D. G. Nelson, Mrs. Rebecca Rumsey, now residing at Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Mary, wife of Nelson Wheeler, of this city. Five children by a subsequent marriage to Elizabeth Hill, who died May 9, 1859, in her thirty-ninth year, are living: William W., proprietor of the fournal; Ann Maria, wife of E. L. Craw; Hugh McC., Jesse D. B., and Howell C.
Hon. Charles A. O. McClellan, representative in congress of the twelfth district of Indiana, composed of Allen, DeKalb, Noble, LaGrange, Steuben and Whitley counties, has been for many years a prominent citizen of Auburn, DeKalb county. He was born May 25, 1835, at Ashland, Ohio. His parents, William and Eliza (Wiggins) McClellan, were natives of New Jersey. His mother was of German descent, and his father of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father was a mechanic, and followed his trade during life, excepting the last ten years, during which time he was engaged in publishing county maps in Ohio and Indiana. In youth Judge Mcclellan enjoyed only such advantages of education as were furnished by the common schools of that day, and at the age of sixteen, entered the shop to learn the trade of his father. During the time of his apprenticeship, he became an expert penman by attending evening schools, and for two years, gave instruction in penmanship dur- ing the winter, and during the summer worked upon a farm. In 1856 he came to Indiana, arriving at Auburn the first day of April, where he had an uncle, who was then auditor of DeKalb county. He was at once appointed deputy auditor by his uncle, which position he held for four years; during this time he acquired a taste and felt an inclination for the profession of law, and during leisure hours and evenings, devoted his time to its study. He was married in the fall of 1859, to Elizabeth A., daughter of Samuel D. Long, one of the pioneers of DeKalb county. To this union three children have been born: Jennie L., now wife of Don A. Garwood, of Danville, Ill .; Della, now wife of Dr. E. L. Siver, of Fort Wayne, and Charles. In 1860 he was appointed United States deputy marshal to take the census of DeKalb county, which duty was performed to the satisfaction of the government. In the spring of 1861 he moved to Waterloo, and engaged in the real estate business, at the same time pursuing his law studies. He also published a map of DeKalb county, and made an abstract of the records of said county during that time. In 1862 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1863, entered into co-partnership with Judge James I. Best for the practice of law, and formed the firm of Best & McClellan, which became one of the most noted law firms of the state. For ability and conscientious fidelity as well as for successful effort and magnitude of business, they were excelled by few. In 1872 he was appointed judge of the fortieth judi- cial circuit of Indiana, and until the end of his term discharged the varied and important duties of that office, in such a manner as to win the respect and esteem of the bar, as well as the confidence and commendation of the public. Judge McClellan as a lawyer occupies a distinguished
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position, and in the trial of causes has been unusually successful.' He has always been a leader in public improvements; was a stockholder and director of the Fort Wayne & Jackson railroad company, and in 1868, in company with James I. Best, built the star flouring mills of Waterloo, which were in operation but a short time when they were destroyed by fire, without insurance. In 1873 he established the DeKalb bank of Waterloo, which has always commanded the confidence of the people. In 1880, he moved his family to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the purpose of educating his children, and in 1885, moved from there to Auburn, and in the same year became a stockholder and president of the first national bank of Auburn, which position he holds at the present time. He has, however, never given his personal attention to the banking business, but has applied himself almost exclusively to his profession. He has been the builder of his own fortune, and his position is assured. Judge McClellan is orthodox in sentiment, but is a member of no church. He is in no way a professional politician, although a pronounced democrat and always ready and earnest in his support of his political convictions. On the 9th day of August, 1888, at Kandallville, Ind., he was nominated on the fourteenth ballot, by the democratic party, as its candidate for congress in the twelfth congressional district. Hon. R. C. Bell, P. S. O'Rourke, M. V. B. Spencer, of Allen county, C. K. Green, of Noble, and William F. McNagny, of Whitley, were candidates in the convention. Judge McClellan was sucessful at the election, by a plurality of 1, 31I votes over Hon. J. B. White, the republican candidate. Judge McClellan is now in the prime of manhood, and well qualified to perform the duties of the office to which he has been elected.
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