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
THOMAS WAHLER, butcher and dealer in meats, No. 1835 South Third street, Terre Haute, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, December 21, 1814. He spent his youth in Germany and worked at the butcher business. He came to America, landing at New York April 17, 1935, on the sailing vessel St. Louie, there being no ocean steamers in those days. He was in the military service in Germany eleven months in 1834. After coming to America he traveled for about four years, when he settled in Terre Haute, where he has since resided. He was married in Terre Haute in 1841 to Miss Ann APKINS, who died April, 1854. They lost their only child (a girl) in infancy. He was united in marriage a second time, in November, 1854, to Miss Caroline LAYHER, of Wittenberg Germany, who was born February 19, 1834, and came to America, and direct to Terre Haute, in November, 1853. He has raised no children of his own, yet has adopted and raised six, two boys and four girls. He is a member of the Druids and the Deutscher Unterst�tzung Verein. He is one of those persevering men who came to the country with nothing, and have by industry laid up a competency.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 194
DAVID M. WALLACE, deputy county treasurer, Terre Haute, is a native of Carroll county, Ohio, where he was born in 1843, and is the son of John and Margaret (WILEY) WALLACE, who were natives of Scotland. In 1853 his parents moved to Owen county, Indiana, where the early part of his life was spent, and where at the age of eighteen years he began teaching school, which he continued for nine winters in succession, and during the summer spent his time working on the farm. He has now been a resident of Terre Haute for nine years. In August, 1873, he accepted the position of deputy treasurer under Mr. SANKEY. In 1877, when Mr. SANKEY was succeeded by Mr. WALLACE, he still retained his position as deputy, which he has since held. He is a member of the order of A.F. and A.M., of Riley Lodge, of Lockport, Indiana, and of Chapter No. 11, of Terre Haute. During his position as deputy county treasurer, both under Mr. SANKEY and Mr. ROGERS, neither ever required him to give a bond, although at times the entire charge of the large amounts of money was left with him. He has never yet betrayed a trust, and with the good name he has already established in Vigo county there is but little doubt but the people will soon call upon him to fill some office of trust and honor.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 333
W.B. WARREN, Terre Haute, president Gas Light Company, who for so many years has been one of the prominent citizens of Terre Haute, is a native of Jefferson county, New York. His ancestors were formerly from England, and were among the early settlers of the eastern states. His parents moved west as early as 1820, and settled first in Lost Creek township, Vigo county, he being at the time about three years old. They remained in Vigo county for about one year, and then removed to Parke county. They were there but a few years when his father died, after which they returned to Vigo county, which has since been his home. In the winter of 1850-51 he began packing pork in Terre Haute, and at the same time was interested in the dry-goods business. He continued the dry-goods trade in connection with the pork packing for about three years, and then gave up the dry-goods business, but continued in the packing trade until about 1870, when he retired from that business also. For the past twelve years he has been president of the Terre Haute Gas Light Company. During his early life Mr. WARREN had but little chance of attaining an education, he having never attended school for more than one and a half years during his life. He is one of a certain few men of the city of Terre Haute who, during early life, were left almost wholly dependent upon their own resources, and who, to-day, are the most wealthy and influential citizens of the city. Mr. WARREN has never taken an active part in political affairs, at least not so much so as to have been an office seeker, but instead he has been one of the best financiers of the city, and is now recognized by all as one of the most wealthy citizens of Terre Haute.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 165
M.H. WATERS, physician and surgeon, Terre Haute, is probably the most important physician of the hom�opathic school that has ever engaged in the practice of medicine in Terre Haute. He is a native of Lewis county, New York, and is now a man about forty-two years of age. He began the study of medicine in 1858 in his native county. In 1861, after he had taken one course of lectures at the Hom�opathic Medical College of Philadelphia, he entered the army, enlisting for a three years' term of service, in Co. K, 59th N.Y. Inf. He remained in the service as first sergeant of Co. K until during 1863, when at the reorganization of some of the regiments and the appointing of new officers, he was given his choice to go or stay. Preferring to resign, he was mustered out of the service at Uniontown, Maryland, June 30, 1863. While in the service he participated in the battle of Antietam and both the battles of Fredericksburg. After his discharge from the army he came west and located in Miami county, Indiana, where for a time he was engaged in teaching. He returned to New York and graduated at the New York Hom�opathic College. After graduating he returned to Peru, Indiana, where he remained until 1868, when he removed to Terre Haute. In 1878 he was president of the board of health in the city of Terre Haute. He has also held the position of surgeon since 1872 at Terre Haute, for the Travelers' Accident Insurance Company of Hartford. He is a member of the American Institute of Hom�opathy, and also of the Hom�opathic Medical Society of the Wabash valley. He is a member of the Terre Haute Commandery, A.F. and A.M., No. 16.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 324
At No. 1027-9 South Second street may be found one of the neat and tastily arranged grocery houses of Terre Haute. There are found not only groceries, but fresh meats, flour, feed, wines and liquors, and provisions of all kinds. Mr. FRANK WEY, the proprietor, is one of the young, energetic business men of the city. He has now been engaged in the grocery business on his own account for about four years, though previous to this he had spent several years in the capacity of clerk. He is a native of Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. At the age of eight years he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, to live with an uncle, with whom he remained for about eight years. He then returned to Pennsylvania, and in 1863 came to Terre Haute, where for a time he was employed as clerk in a grocery. He then learned the trade of decorating and paper hanging, which he continued to work at for about five years. He then engaged in the grocery trade in a small way, being obliged to borrow some money in starting. Now in four years' time he has built up a good business, and established a good trade and a good credit among the wholesale merchants. Should he continue to increase his business in the future as rapidly as he has in the past, he will soon rank among the large dealers of the city.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 291
ROBERT WHARRY, moulder, pattern maker and machinist, 408 South First street, Terre Haute. The father and mother of Mr. James WHARRY and wife were born in Ireland, and came to this country before their marriage and lived In Tuscarors Valley at the time of their marriage. Subsequently they went to Kentucky and staid (sic) a short time, and then removed to Butler county, Ohio, and staid (sic) one year. From there they removed to Columbus, Ohio, and lived till their son Robert was twenty-one years old. Robert was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 23, 1811; went to Columbus, Ohio, with his parents, and remained there till twenty-one years of age. He there learned the trade of moulding under Joseph RIDGWAY, and removed to Richmond, Indiana, in October, 1832, where he remained two years. In 1834 he came to Terre Haute, where he worked for seventeen years in the foundry as a moulder, after which time he turned his attention to woodwork, doing such work as stocking plows, pattern making, etc. He took and finished a contract of stocking 300 plows. He also worked as a machinst for some time, and is now engaged as a pattern maker at Barnards & Co's foundry and machine shops on North Sixth street. He was a member of the city council some five or six years, and has held the office of justice of the peace for four years. He was never in the military or naval service. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1846, and has occupied every position in the order up to grand master of the council. He is said to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, member of the fraternity in Terre Haute. He was married in 1833 to Miss Nancy PEGG, of Wayne county, Indiana, by whom he has had a family of three children, two sons and one daughter, all living,--James, George and Ann. His wife died in 1874.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 182-183
JACOB WHITE, wholesale confectioner, Terre Haute, who ranks as one among Terre Haute's most enterprising business men is now doing an exclusive wholesale business in foreign and domestic fruits, confectionery and fancy groceries. His place of business is No. 28 North Sixth street. His establishment is 20x148 feet, of which he is using the first floor and basement. One prominent feature of his business is the manufacture of confectionery, in which he has entered in a practical and scientific way. He gives employment to about eighteen hands, and keeps from two to three traveling men on the road. Mr. WHITE has now been a resident of Terre Haute since 1866. He began business first in a small way in the retail grocery trade, which he followed for about seven years. He then engaged in the sale of fruits and confectionery, to which he afterward added the jobbing department. The retail department, which is located at No. 525 Main street, he recently sold to his younger brother, and taking a partner in the jobbing trade (Mr. WRIGHT), he has since devoted his time to wholesaling. In May, 1878, Mr. WHITE was made a member of the city council from the fourth ward, which is about the extent of his political career, as he has preferred to devote his time and energies to his business affairs rather than to politics. During the war of the rebellion he served his country by enlisting to Co. B, 71st Ind. Vol. Inf., for a three years' term of service. He, however, remained in the army but about two years, when he was discharged on account of disability. In the building up of his extensive business Mr. WHITE has been wholly dependent upon his own resources, as whatever he may have accomplished or accumulated 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. 309-310
JOSEPH M. WILDY, carriage-maker, Terre Haute, who for years has been identified with the carriage trade of Terre Haute, is a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He served an apprenticeship of five years in learning his trade, and in 1867 became a member of the firm of Harper, Wildy & Co., since which time he has been engaged in the business on his own account. He has been a resident of Terre Haute since 1862. During his business career he has been associated with different parties in his line of business. He is at present connected with Mr. POTHS, the firm name being Wildy & Poths. Their business house is Nos. 121-5 South Third street, where they are occupying the first floor of N. 121 and the upper floors of Nos. 121-3-5. During the war of the rebellion Mr. WILDY entered the army, enlisting in 1864 in Co. D, 133d Ind. Vol. Inf., one-hundred-days service, under Col. R.N. HUDSON. After serving this term of enlistment he again enlisted the second time as second lieutenant of Co. E, 156th Ind. Vol. Inf., one year's service, Col. Chas. SMITH. Returning from the army he again engaged in business. In 1878 Mr. WILDY was chosen to fill an unexpired term of the office of mayor of the city, in which office he gave general satisfaction.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 286-287
J.H. WILLIAMS, of the firm of Clift & Williams, is a native of Wellingford, Vermont. He has now been a resident of Terre Haute for twenty-three years. Before leaving the east he had learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He served an apprenticeship of four years, beginning when he was sixteen years old. For about nine years previous to forming a partnership with Mr. CLIFT, he had been engaged in contracting and building in Terre Haute. He is also a fine draughtsman, and during the nine years of his contracting he designed and superintended the construction of many of the prominent buildings of the city, among which may be mentioned the residence of John S. BEACH and that of Alex. McGREGOR. In 1865 he became interested with Mr. CLIFT in the planing-mill business, and in dealing in lumber, in connection with which they are handling builders' hardware. A more complete description of their business being found in connection with the sketch of Mr. W.S. CLIFT. Mr. WILLIAMS is a quiet unassuming man, yet he has won for himself a good name and reputation by his having pursued an honorable course in his business transactions and associations with his fellow citizens.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 258-259
M.W. WILLIAMS, secretary Terre Haute Gas Light and Coke Company, Terre Haute, is one of the old and well knows residents of Terre Haute. He has now been a resident of the city for a little over thirty-five years. His native place is Hartford county, Connecticut, where his early life was spent and his education obtained. In 1848, a short time after his arrival in Terre Hatue, he began in a general merchandising business, which gradually merged into the dry-goods business, which he continued for several years. In 1867 he was made treasurer of the Vandalia railroad, which office he held until 1872. In February of 1878 he was elected by the stockholders to his present office, in which he has given general satisfaction to all parties interested. He has for twenty years been one of the stockholders in the Gas Light Company. During his residence in Terre Haute he has taken an active part in the forwarding of any enterprise pertaining to the public good.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 214-217
L.J. WILLIEN, physician, Terre Haute, though a resident of Terre Haute but about seven years, has already established a reputation and practice that is only equaled by the oldest and most reputable physicians of the county. The doctor is a native of Alsace, France (now a providence of Germany). He began the study of medicine, and in 1863 the title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the Strasburg Medical Faculty. His first practice in the United States was in Jasper county, Illinois, where he was in regular practice for about one and a half years. He then came to Terre Haute for a short time, but soon removed to Effingham, Illinois, where he resided and practiced for about seven years. In 1872 he again became a resident of Terre Haute, where he has since resided engaged in the practice of his profession. He has held the office of secretary of the board of health of the city for about three years. In the practice of medicine the doctor has given the whole force of his more than ordinary energetic nature, and the result has been a large and lucrative practice and an honorable name and reputation among the very best of Terre Haute's citizens.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 339
JNO. D. WILSON, proprietor Telegraph Mills, Terre Haute, who is the only representative of his line of business in Terre Haute, is a native of Roxburyshire, Scotland. In 1850, when he was eighteen years of age, he emigrated to the United States. After his arrival he spent his time in different cities until 1855, when he located permanently in Terre Haute. From 1855 until about 1870 he was employed by Mr. R.L. THOMPSON and other millers of Terre Haute. At the latter date he bought the Telegraph Mills, located at No. 300 LaFayette street, and began the manufacture of kiln-dried cornmeal, in which he had built up an extensive trade, Canada being his principal market. But the revenue demanded by the Canadian government in 1879 very materially injured his business. He has a manufacturing capacity of 200 barrels daily, and, as before stated, the building up of this branch of the business industries of Terre Haute is wholly owing to his efforts in that direction. Mr. WILSON is a member of Terre Haute Lodge, No. 51, I.O.O.F., and also of Encampment No. 17 of that order. He is an enterprising, energetic gentleman, and one who stands well among the best citizens of Terre Haute.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 245
JNO. V. WILSON, car inspector at the Vandalia shops, Terre Haute, though not so long as some others in the employ of the Vandalia Railroad Company, is still well known as one of the few who are classed as the best workmen. He has now been in the employ of that company for about twenty years. He began at oiling, which he continued to do for about two years, and then began inspecting cars, which position he still holds. In 1864 he enlisted in the 143d reg. Ind. Vol. Inf., one-hundred-days service. At the expiration of his time he again enlisted, the second time being in the well known 183d reg. Ind. Vol. Inf., Col. R.N. HUDSON commanding. Returning from the army at the close of the war, he again took his position with the Vandalia company. His residence in Terre Haute dates back to 1858. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and is a man now of fifty-one years of age. A great deal depends upon his judgment and carefulness in the discharge of his duties as car inspector. The long term of years which he has held his position is proof of his good character, carefulness and sobriety.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 273-274
J.P. WORRELL, physician, Terre Haute, is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1844. He was educated at West Chester College, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. In 1862 he entered the army, enlisting in Co. F, 175th Penn. Militia. In 1864 he began the study of medicine under Dr. R.V. WILSON, of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and in 1867 he became a graduate of the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, of Philadelphia. In 1868 he entered the Sanitarium, and in 1869 began a regular practice. He became a resident of Terre Haute in 1872, and pursued the regular practice of medicine until 1876, when he began devoting much of his time to the study of the eye and the ear, the practice of which is now his specialty. His office is 521 Ohio street. Though a resident of Terre Haute but since 1872, the doctor has already established a name and reputation that place him among the ranks of the older and more prominent members of his medical profession of Vigo county.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 341-342
N.B. YEAKLE, painter, Terre Haute, junior member of the firm of Magwire & Yeakle, has been a resident of Terre Haute since 1864. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1833, and at the age of nineteen years began learning the trade of a painter. This trade seems to have been almost hereditary in the family, as most of his male ancestry for a number of generations were artists in this line. In the fall of 1838 he left Cincinnati, and until 1864 spent most of his time in travel through the south and west. Yet during this time he was also engaged in business at different places. In 1864 he came to Terre Haute, where he has since resided. He has at different times been associated with different parties in carrying on his business and at other times he has presented it alone. In September, 1877 he formed a partnership with Mr. MAGWIRE which event brought together two of the best workmen in the city in their line. They are now doing about three-fifths of the fine painting and fancy sign writing of the city, in which, during the busy season, they give employment to from five to seven men. Mr. YEAKLE, as a citizen of Terre Haute since 1864, has helped to make many of the changes and improvements which have been made during that time. He is one of the sober, industrious and respected citizens of the city.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 292
GEORGE S. ZIMMERMAN, dealer in stoves and tinware, Terre Haute, has now been a resident of Terre Haute about nine years. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in 1851. He was educated in his native country and resided there until 1869, when he emigrated to the United States. He first came to Terre Haute, where he remained but about one year, and then went to St. Louis, Missouri. There he resided for about three years, during which time he learned the trade of a tinner. Returning to Terre Haute, he began at "jour." work, which he continued till the fall of 1877, when he engaged in the stove and tinware trade on his own account at No. 208 South Fourth street. Recently, however, he has changed his place of business to No. 648 Main street, where he is occupying a building 19x65 feet, and gives employment to two workmen. He is careful to select the best lines of goods for his trade. This, in addition to the first-class work turned out of his own shop, has aided him in establishing a good business. He also does an extensive trade in roofing, spouting, and other tinwork of a general nature. Mr. ZIMMERMAN was married in 1876 to Miss Salome NAGEL. She is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. They are both members of the German Lutheran church.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 324-325
C. ZIMMERMANN, No. 30 North Sixth street, while engaged in a business that has probably proved to be of benefit to himself financially, has also proven himself a benefactor of the poor but industrious class of women who are dependent upon the needle for the support of themselves and families. He is a native of Austria, Germany, though he has been a resident of the United States since 1865, as at that date he emigrated to the United States, and a year later became a resident of Terre Haute. He is now a man of about fifty-six years of age, and since he was fourteen years old has been familiar with the manufacture of woolen goods. With a knowledge of this business when he arrived in Terre Haute, in 1866, he began work in the Vigo Woolen Mills. These mills burned shortly after he began work, and he then bought a hand loom and for a time was dependent upon that for a business. This he ran for about one year, and in September of 1867 went to Tuscola, Illinois, and fitted up a store of woolen goods, but this business gradually becoming unprofitable, and thinking to help his daughter Rosa, he provided her with some material for the manufacture of overalls. He now gives her credit for his present extensive business, as her work was so well done, and the sale of the goods so easy and rapid, that in a short time he gave that branch of the business more attention, and two years previous to locating at Terre Haute he had made the manufacture of this class of goods his exclusive business. He has now been a resident of Terre Haute four years, and his trade is gradually increasing. The aggregate sales for the year 1879 will probably amount to about $80,000, this amount being more than double the amount of business of four years ago. He now gives employment to about ninety women on an average, they being able to earn, at the prices he pays for work, from $5 to $8 per week. This certainly is one of the branches of manufacture of which the people, and more especially the poor people, of Terre Haute must look upon with satisfaction and good wishes for the prosperity of the proprietor. Mr. ZIMMERMANN was married November 28, 1850, to Miss Johanna SCHIESS, who is also a native of Austria. They have but two children: Anna and Rosa.
HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 305
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