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 5
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Samuel C. Freeman (deceased), one of the early settlers of Fort Wayne, was born at Williamstown, N. Y., December 6, 1812, son of Samuel and Sarah (Hoffman) Freeman. At his native place he was married in 1831, to Mary A. Taylor, born in Connecticut in 1810, to William and Electa Hale Taylor. In IS36 Mr. Freeman and wife, and her brother, Royal W. Taylor, came to Fort Wayne, where Messrs. Tay- lor and Freeman became known as successful and enterprising business men. Mr. Freeman was engaged at different times in milling, merchandise, and the foundry business. His first wife died in 1838, leaving two children. One, M. Frances, who became the wife of Seth R. Green, now deceased, is a practicing physician of the city. The other, Samuel P. Freeman, died in 1873, at the age of thirty. In 1840 Mr. Freeman married Sarah Bigelow, a native of Massachusetts, who formerly had charge of a suc- cessful school for young ladies in this city. He died March 7, 1888, his loss being deplored by the many citizens who had for so long had with him pleasant associations. « His widow survives in her eighty-first year. Mrs. Green, daughter of Mr. Freeman, graduated from the Women's Homeopathy college of Cleveland, in 1871, and has since then been enjoying a very successful medical practice in Fort Wayne. She
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is the mother of four children: Freeman R., Malcolm A., M. Gertrude and Seth F. Green.
One prominent among the pioneers of Fort Wayne is Jacob Foel- linger, who settled here in the latter part of IS36. He was born in Prussia, December 19, 1817, son of Jacob and Sophia (Goebel) Foel- linger, the former of whom died when his son Jacob was fourteen years old. The son found a home in the family of his uncle, George Foellinger, for two years, engaged in farming and worked at the shoemaker's trade. The latter vocation he followed in France, and at eighteen years of age, April 2, 1836, he sailed for America on the sailing vessel " Majestic," and was seventy-eight days at sea, landing at New York August 19. Arriving at Fort Wayne he worked three years as a
journeyman and then set up a shop of his own and conducted it many years, finally becoming a dealer in boots and shoes, to which he gave his attention until 1880. Subsequently, owing to impaired hearing, he has been leading a retired life. In 1872 he removed his family to the beautiful home they now occupy on Fairfield avenue. His residence is a large and handsome brick situated on a tract of ten acres which, owing to its nearness to the city, is very valuable property. He is also the owner of two valuable business blocks on Calhoun street, from the rent of which he realizes a handsome income. He also has a residence property on Harrison street. He possessed nothing whatever when he came to America and his present prosperity speaks creditably of his business ability. Mr. Foellinger was married May 30, 1840, to Margaret Kiefer, a native of Prussia, born March 17, 1818, the daughter of Chris- tian and Barbara Kiefer, with whom she came to America in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Foellinger have had ten children: Elizabeth, Frederick, Jacob, Christian, Martin, Augusta, Julia, Adolph, Louis and Margarita, of whom Jacob, Martin, Adolph and Louis are living. Mr. and Mrs. Foellinger are members of Emanuel's German Lutheran church. He has been a life-long democrat, and has served as a member of the city council two years.
Kilian Baker, a prominent manufacturer of lumber, is one of a fam- ily which were among the pioneers of Fort Wayne. He was born to George and Catherine (Baschinger) Baker, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, December 15, 1830, and five years later the family, including eight children, emigrated, and after landing at New York went to Pitts- burgh. In the following year, 1836, the father came to Allen county and entered a piece of land in Cedar Creek township, and removed his family in the spring of 1838 to Fort Wayne, then a town of about 400 inhabitants. He worked at the wagon-maker's trade until 1848, when he erected a saw-mill and began the manufacture of lumber. In this he was associated with his sons, John, Jacob, Henry and Kilian. Two years later the father and John sold the mill to the other brothers. Henry retired in 1867 and Jacob in 1878, leaving Kilian the sole proprietor. This mill, founded by his father, he continues to operate. The mother died in IS50, and the father in IS70. Kilian Baker was educated in the
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Catholic schools. He has grown up with the city, and is possessed of many valuable historical reminiscences. His life has been devoted to business, and in it he has achieved a high standing in the community. Mr. Baker was married in 1859, to Annie Daugherty, who was born at Arcola, Allen county, in 1840, of Irish parents, and they have had eleven children, of whom nine survive. He and wife are members of the Catholic church.
John Baker, an old citizen of Fort Wayne, was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, in 1817, and came to America in 1835 and to Fort Wayne in 1838. He is the son of George and Catherine (Baschinger) Baker, both natives of Germany. The father was one of the early blacksmiths of Fort Wayne, and his son worked with him, the latter doing the wood-work. Later he was engaged in a saw-mill enterprise with his father and brothers, Jacob, Henry and Kilian, but after two years at that business he sold out and began the manufacture of trucks and delivery wagons. He was very successful and built up a large busi- ness which he conducted until 1883, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, B. H. Baker. In November, 1841, he was married to Mary Fauth, who was born in Baltimore in 1826, and came to Fort Wayne in November, 1840. To their union, five daughters and three sons have been born. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Catholic church, and are among the most highly respected of Fort Wayne's old citizens.
B. H. Baker, son of the above, is a prominent young manufacturer, being extensively engaged in the production of carriages, trucks and express wagons at Nos. 16 and 18, Lafayette street. He was born in this city in 1856. Mr. Baker was given a liberal education in the Catho- lic schools, and then entered the factory with his father, and succeeded in 1883, to the business which he is now successfully conducting. He is a member of the Catholic church.
James H. Robinson, born near Morristown, N. J., January 31, 1802, died at Fort Wayne, May 2, 1878, was one of the conspicuous figures in that period of the history of Fort Wayne covered by his residence here. He was a lineal descendant of Rev. John Robinson, the pastor of the pilgrims, and his family had resided in New Jersey for more than a century. At sixteen years of age he went to Newark, and when still a young man became a partner of Caleb B. Shipman in the whole- sale boot, shoe and leather trade. The firm of Shipman, Robinson & Co., was one of the most important in the country, and its very large south- ern trade was attended to in person by Mr. Robinson. He retired from business at the age of thirty-five, with a handsome fortune, and built him a residence at Newark afterward occupied by Gov. Marcus L. Ward. In the panic of 1837, however, he lost most of his possessions, and then he engaged in the wholesale dry goods trade at New York. Removing to Fort Wayne in 1843, he purchased the tan-yards at the head of Columbia street, at the site of the Robinson house. After man- aging that property for several years he engaged in the boot and shoe
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trade, erecting the large buildings for that purpose which have subse- quently been converted into a hotel. He was the pioneer wholesale merchant of Fort Wayne and carried on a large and profitable trade until 1868, when he retired from business. In 1872 the buildings were refitted for hotel use, becoming the most popular hotel in the city, and of this establishment Mr. Robinson had personal charge two years be- fore his death. Mr. Robinson took an active interest in politics, first as a whig and then as a republican. He represented Newark in the New Jersey legislature in 1840 and 1842, and was the whig leader, enjoying the personal frienship of such men as Governor Pennington and Theo- dore Frelinghuysen. Further political honors he never sought, though repeatedly asked to become a candidate for mayor of Fort Wayne. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian church, and was a member of the First church, then during the pastorate of Rev. Charles Brechen, of the Second church, subsequently returning to the First church. He was in bearing a dignified gentleman of the old school, in character upright, pure and strong but unobtrusive. He was married in 1822, to Mary Crane, of Newark, who died in 1835, in Georgia. Their four children all died in childhood. In the spring of 1837 he was married to Mary C., daughter of Hon. Obadiah Meeker, of New Jersey, and they had two children: James H., jr., of Chicago, and Henry H., of this city.
Among the old residents should be mentioned Claude F. Eme. He came to Allen county with his parents, who settled in St. Joseph town- ship in June, 1844, and has been a resident ever since. He was born in France, July 8, 1831, son of John H. and Claude Frances (Cotes) Eme, who were born in France, the father in 1808, the mother in 1813, and now live in Fort Wayne. Two of their children are living, Claude F. being the elder. He spent his youth on the farm, receiving a com- mon school education, and in 1851-2 was employed for two seasons on the " state boat," on the canal. He was then employed for a year and a half with A. H. Carier, and afterward for fourteen years with H. R. Schwegman in the dry goods business. In January, 1870, he formed a partnership with Henry Rohs and Frederick Reinking in the dry goods trade, and this firm continued until 1882, when the death of Mr. Rein- king occurred, when it was succeeded by the firm of Rohs & Emne, which did business until 1888, when Mr. Eme permanently retired from mercantile pursuits, in which he was successful and prosperous. He was married in 1856 to Adele Duval, a native of France, born in 1836, daughter of Nicholas and Catherine (Bastien) Duval. Her father came to this county in 1844 and died in 1849. They have three chil- dren: Julius J., Josephine and Joseph F. Mr. and Mrs. Eme are mem- bers of the Catholic church, and he is in politics a democrat.
Calvin Anderson, a venerable and honored citizen of the city, has been a witness of its growth and a participant in its commercial enter- prises for the past forty-three years. He was born at Manchester, Ben- nington county, Vt., July 3, 1803, son of Andrew and Sarah (Sexton) Anderson, natives of the Green Mountain state. The father was born
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in 1760, and died in 1816; the mother was born in 1769, and died in Ohio in 1837. Of their six children, Mr. Anderson is the only one living now. At the age of twelve he came to Ohio with his parents, and remained on the farm until he was twenty-one, when he embarked in the hotel business, which he followed for thirty years. Nine years of that period was spent in Fort Wayne, whither he came in 1846. In 1855 he opened a grocery and provision store, which he conducted successfully for twelve years, and then retired from business life. He was a pioneer in the settlement of Ohio, and also one of the early settlers of this city. He was married April 13, 1828, to Rebecca Lybarger, born in Penn- sylvania, June 26, 1803, still the faithful companion of his life. They are the oldest couple in the city, and are highly honored and esteemed. They have six children: Laura Ann Lydia, Sarah Ann, Mary Eliza, Theresa, Calvin A. and Eli G. Mr. Anderson is a member of the First Presbyterian church. He cast his first presidential vote for John Quincy Adams in 1824, voted for Gen. W. H. Harrison in 1836 and 1840, and has been a republican since the organization of the party.
Christian Tresselt, proprietor of the City Mills, was born in Thurin- gia, Germany, September 3, 1823. His father, August Ludwig Tresselt, an artist by profession, was born in 1776, and died in Germany in IS38. His wife, Hannah Machold, died in her native land about 1828. Of the eight children of these parents, three survive: Doretha, Benjamin Will- iam and Christian. Mr. Tresselt was educated in Germany at the com- mon schools, and in 1838 engaged in mercantile pursuits at Gross Brietenbach, at which he was engaged for seven years. In 1845 he emigrated to the United States, and after his arrival at New York, re- maining there fifteen months, clerked in a dry goods store. His resi- dence at Fort Wayne began in 1846, and for four years he was employed as a clerk in the store of Hill, Wilson & Company, afterward, for one season, running a freight boat on the canal. In the fall of 1850 he was a clerk in the City Mill, and from 1851 to 1854 was in the dry goods business with George Wilson as a partner. Then, after one year as a partner of his brother-in-law, H. R. Schwegman, he returned to the City Mills. In 1866 he was engaged with Siemon Brothers, and four years later became a member of the firm of Hoagland, Tresselt & Co., proprietors of the City Mills. Mr. Hoagland died in 1884, and since then Mr. Tresselt has been sole proprietor, the firm now being known as C. Tresselt & Sons. The mill which they operate was estab- lished in 1843. Mr. Tresselt was married in 1854 to Elizabeth Siemon, who was born in Prussia in 1829 and came to Fort Wayne in 1853. They have three children: Oscar W., born in 1858; Herman C., born in 1859, and Frederick G., born in 1866. Mr. Tresselt is in politics a democrat, and he is a member of the Lutheran church. His long resi- dence in the city, and worth as a man and honorable in business life, have made him a prominent and respected citizen. He was one of the city commissioners from 1872 to 1885, in which year he was elected to the city council and served for two years.
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A well known early business man of Fort Wayne, Christian Schiefer, is now at the head of a successful boot and shoe house of the city, that of Christian Schiefer & Son, of No. S East Columbia street. The senior member of this firm, Christian Schiefer, was born at Hamburg, Ger- many, in 1829. In 1846 he came to America, and going directly to. Toledo, came up the old canal to Fort Wayne. He had learned shoe -- making in the old country, and as soon as he reached Fort Wayne he: began work at his trade. In 1854, he formed a partnership with E. Vordermark, in the boot and shoe business, and they were associated for seven and a half years. After that he was in partnership with one Hood, for about one year, and since then managed the business alone until ISSI, when his son-in-law was admitted to the business. Mr. Schiefer was married in IS51, to Elizabeth Harbecker, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn. To them two children have been born, of whom two are living: William D. Schiefer, ex-sheriff of Allen county, now in the boot and shoe business on Calhoun street, and Lizzie, the wife of Herman H. Hartwig. Mr. Schiefer is a member of the Luth- eran church, and is a Master Mason. Mr. Hartwig, above named, was born in New York city, December 17, 1855. In that city he was reared and educated in the Lutheran and public schools, and also in commercial college. In 1875 he engaged in the window glass trade in New York city. In 1877, he was married to Lizzie Schiefer, and in 1881 he removed to Fort Wayne, and entered the firm of Schiefer & Co. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church, in which connection he is a trustee of the church and treasurer of the building committee. To his marriage four children have been born.
Moritz Axt, one of the prominent pioneers of Fort Wayne, came to the town when it was in its struggling infancy, and he has witnessed its magnificant growth, and not a little by his industry and good citizenship, aided in the growth of the city. Mr. Axt is a native of Germany, and was born January 29, 18II. In 1847 he immigrated to the new world, and in the same year made his home in this city, from which he has not removed. His life occupation has been the carpenter's trade in which he was a skillful and expert workman. He is an esteemed. member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. Mr. Axt was married July 12, 1848, to Christena Brackenridge, and their union has given them eight children: William, Henry, Catherine, Charles, Christena, August, Sophia and Moritz, the last two of whom are deceased.
Joseph Singmaster, a venerable citizen of Fort Wayne, was born in Bucks county, Penn., October 2, 1804. His parents, Jacob and Susan Singmaster, were both natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared to man- hood in his native county, and in youth learned the tanner's trade. About 1848 he came to Fort Wayne, and worked awhile at his trade, after which for twenty-five years he was employed in the Pittsburgh shops. For the past thirty years he has acted as agent for the Great American Tea Company of New York. Though now eighty-five years of age he still acts in that capacity, and transacts business with as
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much accuracy as he did twenty-five or thirty-years ago. Mr. Sing- master was married in early manhood to Catharine Stager, who died in September, 1880. He has living three children: Catharine E., Sarah M. and Joseph M. Six others all deceased. Mr. Singmaster is a member of the English Lutheran church, and in politics is a democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He was very fond of hunting in the early days and frequently indulged in that sport. His memory is still good and his recollections of early times are interesting and varied.
A member of the early German families of Fort Wayne, Frederick Becker, now a well-known citizen, is a native of Fort Wayne, born November 4, 1849, son of Frederick and Margaret Becker, both of whom were natives of Germany. They were married in that country in 1847, and coming to America in 1848, located at Fort Wayne, where the father, who by trade was a blacksmith, died in 1882. The mother is still living. Frederick Becker learned the blacksmith trade with his father very early in life, and the pursuit of it has, thus far, received his entire attention. He makes a specialty of shorseshoeing and for a great many years past has done an exclusive business of that kind. He erected his present shop in 1883. It is a splendid brick building at 13 East Washington street, and is an establishment which does credit to the city. Mr. Becker is a member of the German Lutheran church, and is a democrat in politics. The firm name now is Frederick Becker & Bro.
Henry Volland, one of the prominent millers of northern Indiana, has devoted more than forty years to that business, and has been a resident of Fort Wayne for the period named. In 1847 he came to America and settled in Ohio, coming thence to Fort Wayne on foot in 1849. The two previous years he had been alternating his time between work in a mill and labor upon the farm. Reaching this city he found employ- ment in the city mills for three years, after which he was for nine years engaged in Judge Hanna's flouring mill on the Maumee river. Prior to the war he purchased an interest in this property and held it for three years, subsequently to that period being for fourteen years connected with the mill of John Orff on West Main street. Then the firm of H. Volland & Sons was formed, and for the last four years they have been doing an extensive business at No. 14 West Columbia street. Their mill is equipped in the best manner for the production of an excellent grade of flour, etc., having the full roller process. Mr. Volland was born in Bavaria, January 21, 1827, son of John and Margaret ( Shoulty) Volland, who were born and passed their lives in that country. He was married in IS51 to Isabella Billman, born in Ohio, October 4, 1835, of parents who came from Pennsylvania. She died in 1885, leaving six children: Henry J., born 1857; Tillie, I859; John, 1861; William, 1863; Mary, 1865; Charles, 1871. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Volland is in politics a democrat.
One of the prominent early manufacturers and worthy citizens of Allen county, John C. Begue, now deceased, was born in Alsace, France, April II, 1827. When he was but three months old he lost his mother
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by death. In 1844, he accompanied his father and step-mother to America. They landed at New Orleans, and settled about twenty miles from Dayton, Ohio, on a farm. The son obtained employment with a tanner, and worked at that trade four years, and afterward came to Fort Wayne, in the fall of 1850. On November 23, 1851, he married Marie Beugnot, daughter of Francis and Collet Beugnot, natives of France. She was born at Hautsonne, France, March 24, 1830, and accompanied her parents to this country when she was thirteen years old. They stopped first in Stark county, Ohio, but in May, 1848, settled in Jefferson township, Allen county. For some time after their marriage Mr. Begue and wife resided in Fort Wayne, and then removed to Jefferson township, where he worked as a cooper. In May, 1854, they settled at New Haven, where they resided about twenty-one years, Mr. Begue giving his attention to coopering and the stave manufacture. He aided in the building of the Maumee Valley Mills, and was one of the owners of that property about two years. He helped build a stave . factory at Antwerp, Ohio, and was connected with it three years. He was also connected with the Indiana Stave campany, which had three factories at New Haven, and one in Fort Wayne. In the fall of 1875, he removed to Fort Wayne, and was engaged during the remainder of his life as a contractor. He was prominent in politics as a democrat, and served two terms as one of the commissioners of Allen county, from 1869 to 1874. In the fall of 1874 he made a visit to France for the benefit of his health, and remained several months. He died October 2, ISSo. Of the eight children of Mr. Begue, only two are living, Mrs. Alice Schoenbein and Mrs. Amelia Baker. The former, who is also a widow, resides with Mrs. Begue at 164 East Wayne street. Mrs. Begue is a member of the Catholic church, as was her husband.
Anthony Gocke, an old citizen of Fort Wayne, was born in Ger- many, November 3, 1815. In 1851 he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, January 25. He came directly to Fort Wayne where he has since resided. Before coming to America his occupation was chiefly that of a coal miner. During thirty years of his residence in Fort Wayne he occupied a position in the wholesale grocery establish- ment, formerly owned by Barney Trentman and now by his son A. C. Trentman. Mr. Gocke was married in February, 1856, to Elizabeth Rensman, a native of Germany, who came to America at seventeen years of age. They have had eight children: Frank, Anna, Henry, Bernard, Louis H., Theresa, August and Clara, two of whom, Bernard and Theresa, are dead. Mrs. Gocke died January 15, 1875. Mr. Gocke is a member of the Catholic church.
Louis H. Gocke, above named, is occupied as book-keeper for A. C. Trentman. He was born at Fort Wayne, July 20, 1863. November 8, 1887, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Grimme, by whom he is the father of one child, Edward H., born August 10, 1888. Mr. Gocke and wife are members of the Catholic church, and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America.
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Charles Auger, prominent among the citizens of Fort Wayne, of French nativity, has resided in the city since 1853. He has witnessed the great development of his adopted town, and throughout his life has been honored by his fellow citizens. He was one of the first to engage in business as a florist in this city, and has had an extensive business, owning as many as six green houses at one time. Having prosered in his affairs and grown advanced in years, he has retired and turned over his business to his son, Louis B. Auger, who continues it successfully. Charles Auger was born in France, March 4, 1822, the son of John B. and Marie C. Auger. He came to America in 1850, and at first spent two years in New York city. He was married November 25, 1850, to Catherine Thorpe, a native of England, daughter of William and Ann Thorpe, also of that country, but of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Auger have had two children, Louis B. and Charles W., who died at the age of eleven years and eight months. Mrs. Auger is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Auger has made three trips to his native country, and he and wife visited the Paris exposition in the summer of 1889.
John M. Riedmiller, a prominent citizen of Fort Wayne, now deceased, was born in Asbach, O. P., Crailsheim, Koenigreich, Würtemberg, Ger- many, on March 14, 1836. He emigrated to America in 1853, and came at once to Fort Wayne. He was a shoemaker by trade, and was a prominent and influential citizen until his death, which occurred August 19, 1885. For three terms he was a member of the common council. He was prosperous in business and left his family in good circumstances. Mr. Reidmiller was married May 5, 1857, to Catherine Wolf, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 24, 1839, and came with her parents to America in 1852. She is the daughter of William Wolf, an early citizen of Fort Wayne. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ried- miller three children were born, as follows: Julia Eliza, born May 15, 1859, now the wife of Fred Rippe, a liveryman of Fort Wayne; Charles John, born October 3, 1863, now in business in Fort Wayne; John M., jr., born August 7, 1866, engaged in the bottling business, and a well-known business man of the city. Mr. Riedmiller was, and all the family are, members of St. John's Lutheran church.
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