Harrison Township
View a history of Terre Haute.
Under this head we propose to give extended biographies or personal sketches of a large number of the leading citizens of Terre Haute and vicinity, not only of early settlers, but also of the more modern. The items have been obtained, as far as possible, from the parties themselves, or their intimate friends, and are believed to be perfectly reliable. Many of the subjects have already been mentioned in the preceding pages, but we believe it will add vastly to our work as a book of reference and as a basis for the future historian, to give to this department a most minute detail. As far as practicable, the sketches have been arranged in chronological order or rather than in the order of coming to the township or county.--[Ed.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 159
JOHN RANKIN, farmer, Terre Haute, was born in Ireland in 1820, his ancestry being of Scotch descent. They took an active part in the war of 1618 in favor of King William. Mr. RANKIN was born on the same farm where his great-grandfather lived. One of his brothers now resides on the farm. It is located within twelve miles of Londonderry. In 1850 Mr. RANKIN came to America and settled in Harrison township, Vigo county, Indiana, where he has resided ever since. In 1853 he married Miss Diadiama PERKINS, daughter of James PERKINS, who was one of the pioneers of Vigo county. He came to the county in 1817, and was a native of Vermont. He was one of the men that plowed the first farrow in Harrison township, where he resided until his death, in 1862.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 223
W.S. REA, wholesale grocer, Terre Haute, and a member of the firm of Bement, Rea & Co., was born in Vigo county in 1838. His parents settled in the country as early as 1835. The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent in Vigo county. Later, however, he attended Wabash College, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and spent about four years in the scientific department of that well known institution. In 1856 he went to Illinois and engaged in the stock trade, which he followed until 1870. From 1870 to 1873 he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and sold a general line of merchandise in Sigel, Illinois. From 1873 till 1875 he spent in travel, and at the latter date became interested in his present business, though the style of the firm was then Curtis, Rea & Co., but in February, 1879, was changed to Bement, Rea & Co. Theirs is an extensive business, and their house is one that ranks among the largest wholesale establishments of the city. Their location is Nos. 526 and 528 Main street, and the premises they occupy are a three-story brick, 40 feet frontage by 142 feet in depth. Their stock comprises a finely selected assortment of all lines, kinds and brands of goods pertaining to a well regulated and successful business house. While Bement, Rea & Co. are not the only successful business men of the city, they are nevertheless entitled to a fair share of the credit for building up the industries of a city that now ranks third in the State of Indiana.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 354-355
S.T. REESE, lumber dealer, Terre Haute, is a native of Vigo county, and a man now about fifty-five years old. He is another of the extensive lumber dealers of Terre Haute, having been engaged in the business in company with Mr. G. ESHAM since 1873. A sketch of their business may be found in this work in connection with the biography of Mr. ESHAM. The parents of Mr. REESE became residents of Vigo county as early as the year 1822. They settled in Sugar Creek township, and here S.T. was born, and remained a resident until the age of twenty-three. His chances of procuring an education were very meager, the most of his business education having been acquired by practical experience in business. At the age of twenty-three years, or in 1847, he became a resident of Terre Haute, where he has since resided. For some time after is arrival he was engaged in "jour." work in the carpenter's trade, but later he became actively engaged in contracting and building, which he carried on quite extensively for eighteen years, not quitting the business until 1873, when he began the lumber business with Mr. ESHAM. While engaged in the business of contracting and building he built many of the prominent business blocks and residences of Terre Haute, among which may be mentioned the Deming block, the residence of Col. R.W. HUDSON and that of R.G. HERVEY, the latter corner of Sixth and Poplar streets. These and other buildings will remain standing monuments of his workmanship for years after he, like many of the other old settlers, has passed away.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 176
A. REIF, gas fitter, Terre Haute, is well known in Terre Haute as one of the long established gas and steam fitters. His experience in this line dates back farther than any of the other dealers in the city in his line, as he has now spent about twenty-five years at it. In his native city, Cincinnati, he began at the bottom, by first learning the manufacture of the castings, then at pipe-fitting, until he became a thoroughly practical man in the business and a master of his trade. In 1867 he became a resident of Terre Haute, and began business in his line the same year; since which he has done some of the largest jobs of the city in his line, among which may be mentioned the state normal school and the opera house. His place of business is now located at No. 505 Ohio street, where he has been doing business for nine years. At the breaking out of the rebellion of 1861-5 he entered the Union army from Cincinnati, enlisting in Co. B, 6th Ohio Vol. Inf., three months� service; after this term of service he again enlisted in Co. I, 70th Ohio Vol. Inf., three years� service; and again, after serving the second term of three years he veteranized by reenlisting another three years in the same company and regiment. During his first term of enlistment he was wounded twice, and in the last term he received a severe wound that disabled him for service, and on account of which he was discharged. Upon his third enlistment he was placed upon detached duty and sent to headquarters. He has an honorable record as officer, private and scout. After his return from the army he removed from Cincinnati to Terre Haute, where he has since resided. He has taken quite an active part in political affairs and in the temperance movements which from time to time have been organized in the city. As a citizen he is well respected and bears an honorable reputation.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 359-360
E.L. REIMAN, dealer in building material, was born in Prussia, in 1821. He emigrated to the United States in 1850 and located at Terre Haute for a short time. He then went to Clay county, Indiana, remaining there about five years, when he again returned to Terre Haute, where he has since resided. He is now associated with his brother, A. REIMAN, who is his junior, in the sale of building material. This business Mr. A. REIMAN engaged in about 1850, and upon the return of E.L. from Clay county they became partners in the business. Their business house is located at nos. 813 and 815 Main street. Their rooms are each 25x80 feet, two floors and basement, most of which space they are occupying. In connection with a full line of building material, they are handling cured meats. During the season they buy dressed pork and cure it themselves for the summer trade. Mr. A. REIMAN was a captain in the volunteer service in the war of the rebellion. He was captain of Co. I, 133d Ind. Vol. Inf., under Col. R.N. HUDSON. Theirs is one of the old established houses of Terre Haute, and the firm of A. & E. Reiman is well and favorably known. They are the oldest established firm in the city in their line of business.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 226
H.F. REINERS, dyer and scourer, Terre Haute, is the only representative of this line of business in the city who has pushed it to success. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born January 25, 1833. He received a good business education and learned the trade of a dyer, which he followed for some time, and then engaged in clerking for a time and then again returned to his trade. In 1857 he emigrated to the United States, and in 1861 settled in Terre Haute where he has since resided and followed his trade, which he began at first in a small way and on a limited scale. He has by a close application to business and turning out the best of work, gradually increased his custom to a standard to compare favorably with the larger houses in the state in his line. His business house is at No. 655 Main street. He is now employing about six workmen, but designs putting in machinery and doing the business, so far as is practicable, by steam, which when done will enable him to give more attention to the dyeing of ladies' garments. In the building up of his business Mr. REINERS has been dependent upon his own resources. During the nineteen years in which he has followed the business in Terre Haute he has striven to please all parties in the execution of his work. In 1864 he was married to Miss Hodine DUENWEG. She also is a native of Germany.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 281-282
Many of the old residents of Terre Haute will remember Mr. G. REISS, who for many years was identified with the grocery trade of Terre Haute. He was a native of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1848, locating at Terre Haute the same year. He began life in Terre Haute with ten cents in his pocket, and at his death, which occurred in 1878, in the fifty-second year of his life, he had accumulated a fair property. At his death Mr. J.C. REISS continued the grocery business, in which his father, for about eleven years previous to his death, had been engaged. J.C. is still occupying the old stand, No. 907 Main street, where he is doing a good business in the grocery trade, and quite an extensive business both at jobbing and retailing foreign and domestic cheese. He is now about twenty-four years old, and having been familiar with the business since his father's connection with the trade, he is conducting it in a very able manner.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 255
Judge BASKIN E. RHOADS, attorney, Terre Haute, though a resident of Terre Haute but a short time, has already won distinction at the Vigo county bar. He was born May 1, 1834, in Philadelphia, and in 1839 was brought by his people to Indiana. His early education was obtained at the common schools of the period, after which he prosecuted his studies at the Wabash College, and later became a graduate of Harvard. In 1862 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Vermilion, Vermilion county, Indiana. He remained a resident of that place until 1869, and during this period, in 1865, he was elected a member of the state legislature of Indiana. In 1870 he accepted a professorship in the law department of the Indiana University of Bloomington, his department being the law of real estate, pleading and evidence. In 1877 he resigned his position and went to Europe, where he remained spending the time in travel until the latter part of 1878, when he returned to his native country and became a resident of Terre Haute. During his term of service as a member of the legislative body of the State of Indiana, Judge RHOADS took an active part in the reorganization of the public school system which resulted so beneficially. It was through his efforts also that the state normal school was located at Terre Haute, a favor duly appreciated by the citizens of that city, who have not forgotten by whose efforts it was obtained.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pP. 362-363
H.S. RICHARDSON, dealer in queensware, Terre Haute, who is the active member of the firm of H.S. Richardson & Co., has been connected with this branch of business industries of Terre Haute since 1871. When he commenced in the business he knew nothing of the queensware trade. Though laboring under this disadvantage when starting in business, by energy and a close attention to the peculiarities of the trade he soon became thoroughly conversant with the details, as well as the more important questions of financiering. Now, in a little over eight years' time, under his management the the house of H.S. Richardson & Co. has grown to be the representative house in the city in the queensware trade, embracing in its scope both an extensive wholesale and retail trade. The premises occupied are No. 307 Main street, two floors and basement, each of which is 25x120 feet. They give employment to about six men regularly, and have one traveling man. Mr. RICHARDSON is a native of Clark county, Illinois, and is the son of Buckley RICHARDSON, who first became a resident of Terre Haute in 1816, and who now resides at No. 24 North First street with his sister, Mrs. Sarah E., widow of the late Dr. E.B. BALL. In 1861 H.S. entered the army, enlisting in the 63d Ind. Vol. Inf. as drummer, and was promoted in 1863 to drum-major, and later held the position of sergeant-major till the close of the war. This was for a three years' term of service. When the regiment veteranized he remained with it, and remained in the service until the close of the war. His regiment was stationed for some time at Cairo, Illinois, where they were detailed to fatigue duty. They then went to Memphis, Chattanooga, and from there to Bridgeport, thence to Huntsville, Alabama, and then entered the Atlanta campaign. Their continued march led them to Savannah, through the Carolinas, thence to Goldsboro, Raleigh, Petersburg, Alexandria, and around to Washington to participate in the grand review. They then went to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there to Springfield, Illinois, where, in July, 1865, he was mustered out of the service, after having marched through all the southern states but Florida and Texas. Mr. RICHARDSON became a resident of Terre Haute in 1866, and for about five years thereafter he was engaged in the boot and shoe trade, which he gave up to prosecute his present business. In August, 1878, he organized the Terre Haute drum corps, which numbers seventeen members. Mr. RICHARDSON has been wholly dependent upon his own resources, and whatever he may have accomplished financially has been due to his own energy and good financiering.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 310-311
JOSEPH RICHARDSON, dentist, Terre Haute, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1824. His people settled in that county as early as 1800. He received a classical education during his early life, and chose the medical as his profession. He took a course at the Ohio Medical College, in 1847-48, after which he practiced for five or six years, and then began the study of dentistry. In 1853 he graduated at the Ohio Dental college, of Cincinnati, in which college he was appointed to fill the chair of mechanical dentistry, a position that he held for about six years, though during this time he also presented his study of medicine, and in 1854 became a graduate of the Miami Medical College. In 1858 he went back and graduated at the Ohio Medical College. During the time that he was occupying the chair of mechanical dentistry in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery he wrote Richardson's "Practical Treatise on Mechanical Dentistry," a work that is now used as a text-book in most of the United States and European dental colleges. It has also been translated into the German language. In 1869 it was the only text-book on the subject to be found in our dental colleges. The doctor was a member of the American Dental Association, and in 1859 he was one of a committee of three to draft a constitution for that society. He was a member of the Mississippi Valley Dental Association of Cincinnati, and also of the Indiana Dental Association. He is a honorary member of Odontographic, and also an honorary member of the Central Association of German Dentists of Germany. At the organization of the Indiana Dental College he was appointed to fill the chair on mechanical denistry. The doctor has now been practicing his profession in Terre Haute since 1862. His specialty is filling teeth, and his office is No. 314 1/2 Ohio street.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 287
S.C. RICHARDSON, dentist and physician, Terre Haute, of No. 111 North Fourth street, though a resident of Terre Haute for only ten years, is probably better and more favorably known than many citizens who have been residents of the city for twice that length of time. He was born near Columbus, Ohio, and is now a man nearly or about fifty-seven years old. At the age of sixteen years he went to Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained for about twelve years. From Lexington he removed to Coles county, Illinois, and for twenty years was a resident of that county. He removed from Coles county to Terre Haute in 1870. He has now had about twenty years' practice in dentistry, he having spent ten years in practice in Mattoon, Coles county, Illinois, and the time since becoming a resident of Terre Haute. He is also a regularly graduated physician, having attended and graduated from the Physio-Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is now doing some practice in medicine in connection with his practice of dentistry, his specialties being rheumatism, neuralgia and kindred diseases. Twenty years ago he gave up chewing tobacco, and has since used the money to buy books that he would have used to buy tobacco. With the money spent in this way he has bought nearly 200 volumes of standard works. He is still continuing his studies of the science of medicine, and is probably as active a student as any member of the profession in Terre Haute.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 331-332
R.W. RIPPETOE, grocer, Terre Haute, whose name is of French origin, is another of the self-made men of Terre Haute, and one of the principal retail-grocerymen of the city. He came to Vigo county with his people in 1837. He was at the time but a child, and is now about forty-two years old, and as perfect a picture of good health as is often met with, which is owing probably to the fact of his never having indulged even in a single glass of intoxicants, tea or coffee, or in the use of tobacco. He is from a long-lived race of people, and, judging from his appearance, he is likely to keep up the reputation of the family in this respect. When his father moved to Vigo county he settled upon a farm, where R.W. remained until sixteen years of age. He then went to Greencastle, Indiana, where he remained at school for about two years. After leaving school he returned to Terre Haute, and in 1859 began in the confectionery business in the same block where he is now doing a grocery business. He continued the confectionery business until 1863, when he began his present business. His establishment is located at No. 521 Main street, and is 20 feet front by 140 feet in depth; two floors and basement, all stocked with goods pertaining to the grocery trade. He employs six men and runs three delivery wagons. He has never been a politician, not liking the idea of standing behind the counter and "arguing politics" and letting customers go some place else to buy goods. In the building up of churches and schools, as well as in making other improvements in the city, he has always been very liberal in his donations. He is also quite extensively interested in real estate, and cannot be classed other than among the successful financiers of Terre Haute.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 192-193
W.H. ROBERTS, physician, Terre Haute, was born in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1839. In pursuing his literary and professional studies he has been dependant upon his own resources. For nineteen years he has been engaged in the practice of medicine, having become a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1861. His first practice after graduating was in the State of Kentucky. From there he went to Illinois, and in 1871 he became a resident of Terre Haute, where he has since resided, and has devoted his time fully and exclusively to the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Vigo County Medical Society, a charter member of the Esculapian Society of the Wabash valley, a member of the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. For the past four years he has been a member of the board of health of the city of Terre Haute. The first year he served as secretary and the three latter as president of the board. He is also a member of the order of A.F. and A.M., of Chapter No. 11, and Terre Haute Commandery, No. 19. During his practice of medicine, for eight years, in the city of Terre Haute, he has by a close attention to and a careful study of the ills of his patients established a reputation that now enables him to practice almost wholly among the best families of the city.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 338-339
N. ROGERS, the present county treasurer, was born in Vigo county, April 30, 1834. His people were among the early settlers of Vigo county, having become residents of it as early as 1827. His father was born in 1794 in the State of Virginia, and his mother was a native of the State of Kentucky. They were married in 1815 in Ohio, and became residents of Vigo county the year above mentioned. The subject of our sketch was brought up on a farm, receiving his early education at country schools. From 1862 until 1877 he was a resident of Otter Creek township, where in 1870, at a little village by the name of Atherton, he built a warehouse and engaged in the grain trade, which he continued until 1877, when he was elected to the office of treasurer of Vigo county. He is a member of Social Lodge, No. 86, A.F. and A.M., and is past chief patriarch of Lodge No. 356, I.O.O.F. He has thus far proven himself in every way worthy of the confidence placed in him by the people, and if the conduct of his past life be a criterion by which we may judge, he is not likely to betray the trust of the people of Vigo county.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 184
H.H. ROSEMAN, druggist, Terre Haute, former manager of the wholesale department of the firm of Gulick & Berry, druggists, has recently established himself in the drug trade at the old stand of Cook & Bell, No. 312 Ohio street. Mr. ROSEMAN is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and is a man now of about thirty years of age. When about six years old he became a resident of Terre Haute, where he has since resided. During his earlier life he had the advantages of the public schools of the city, and later took a fall course at the Terre Haute Commercial College. He then began clerking for Capt. G.B. SHELLEDY, who was engaged in the drug trade. He remained in the employ of Capt. SHELLEDY for about six years and then accepted a situation with the firm of Gulick & Berry, wholesale and retail druggists, and eventually became manager of the wholesale department of that firm. He remained with Messrs. GULICK & BERRY for about ten years, and then April 1, 1880, began business on his own account. In this new enterprise his extensive acquaintance and thorough knowledge of the drug trade must be conducive to his success. He has thus far been dependent upon his own resources, which has given him a greater practical knowledge of business than he would otherwise have had.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 258
FRED A. ROSS, real estate broker, Terre Haute, is one of the most active and enterprising real estate brokers of the city. He is a native of the State of Maine, and came to this city with his father, Jno. C. ROSS (now deceased), in the year 1848. He has grown up and therefore became thoroughly identified with the interestes of Terre Haute. He was engaged in the mercantile business until 1872, when he opened a real estate office, in which business he is still engaged. His business, though small at the beginning, has grown to be quit extensive, and embraces within its scope the negotiation of loans, as well as the buying, selling and trading of real estate, not only in Vigo and surrounding counties but in neighboring states.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 219-220
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