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

Among the list of men of Terre Haute who have displayed both energy and good financiering ability in their business we would mention Mr. J.J. CRONIN. He is a genuine Yankee, being a native of Hamden county, Massachusetts. At the age of eleven years he was put to work in a cotton factory, where he remained a number of years, but realizing the importance of his learning some other business at which he might look forward to making more progress financially, he left the factory and learned the trade of a manufacturer of carriages, which he worked at for a time, or until 1862, when he entered the Union army in the war of the rebellion of 1861-5. He enlisted in the 12th Conn. regiment, where he remained in service about eighteen months. After returning from the army he continued carriage-making until 1869, when, through the influence of a friend, he was induced to take a trip west. Not caring particularly just where he went, he was again induced by his friend to go to Terre Haute, where, after looking around for some time, he finally engaged in the grocery trade in a small way, by buying the establishment of a party dealing in that line. From beginning then in the business in a somewhat unsettled way he has continued to engage in it most of the time since, until now he is doing an extensive business. His store is located corner of Thirteenth and Main streets, where he devotes to the grocery trade a space 32x50 feet, and to the dry-goods business the corner room, which is 18x50 feet. He has been wholly dependent upon his own resources in the building up of his trade. Though he began ten years ago in a small way to do business in Terre Haute, he now has an establishment and a trade established of which he may well feel proud.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 326

M.P. CUMMINGS, grocer, Terre Haute, one of the old settlers and a native of Vigo county, may be found at No. 1335 South Third street. He is now about fifty-seven years old, and was born in Pierson township. His parents were among the early pioneers of Vigo county. During his early life he had but little chance of getting an education, he sometimes being obliged to go from two or three miles to attend the daily schools. He continued agricultural pursuits until about 1870, the last five years of his life at farming being spent in Edgar county, Illinois. On account of his own ill health and that of his wife, he gave up farming and removed to Terre Haute, where shortly after his arrival he began in the grocery trade, which he has since continued. He is now located in one of the most pleasant and healthy suburban portions of the city, where he is carrying on a quiet but steady business in groceries, provisions, fresh meats, etc. His personal recollections date back through nearly the whole history of Vigo county. He has seen and helped to make many of the changes in the improvement and development of the county. While he has not become rich, on account of many misfortunes, he has made for himself a record of honesty which is sometimes a legacy to be prized more than riches.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 169

N. DAILEY, superintendent of poor-house, Terre Haute, is a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1864, first locating in Indianapolis, Indiana, and engaging in the wholesale grocery business for some time. He afterward took a situation as ward pastor in the insane asylum, which he faithfully filled for five years. He then accepted a situation as steward at the county poor-house of Marion county, which positions he honorably filled for four years, and at the request of the county commissioners of Vigo county, in 1874 took charge of the county poor-house of Vigo county.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 348

DAVID S. DANALDSON, claim agent, Terre Haute, was born in Clark county, Kentucky, March 2, 1809. His education was received principally through what was known as the old subscription system. At the age of sixteen years he left his father's farm and engaged in the dry-goods business in Winchester, Kentucky. In 1829 he removed to Flemingsburg, Kentucky, where he remained till 1833, when he moved to Parke county, Indiana, and resided at Rockville until July, 1835, when he located permanently in Terre Haute and embarked in the dry-goods business. In 1849 he lost most of his property by fire, but again embarked in the dry-goods business in 1840 with an elder brother, John. They did business together for about three years, when his brother returned to Kentucky. In 1845 he bought of Col. Thomas DOWLING the "Wabash Express" printing establishment, and conducted the paper as editor and proprietor until November 9, 1853, when he sold out to J.B.L. SOULE. During his editorial life, May 12, 1851, he started the first daily paper ever printed in Terre Haute. This, however, he continued only until October 31, 1851. In 1849 Mr. DANALDSON largely increased the size of the "Express," making it about the largest weekly paper in the state. Soon after leaving the editorial chair Mr. DANALDSON again entered the dry-goods trade under the firm name of Ripley & Danaldson, in which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, when he quit merchandising and began the prosecution of claims against the government. He had, however, previously done some business in this line in claims growing out of the Mexican war. He is now exclusively in the claim business. He is one of the self-made men of Terre Hatue, and one of her old and honored citizens. He was married September 18, 1838, to Miss Eveline W. CLARK, of Jefferson county, Virginia. He has four children, three of whom are living. F.C. DANALDSON, his son, has an office with him at No. 228½ Main street. He is a graduate of the State University of Bloomington, and was admitted to practice at the Indiana bar in 1872. He is one of the younger class of attorneys now practicing at the Vigo county bar who is recognized as being possessed of talent and legal ability.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 185

HARVEY DAY, Terre Haute, was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, January 14, 1834, and came to Terre Haute in 1854, and has lived here ever since. He was married in December, 1861, to Miss Mary SMITH, of Terre Haute, a daughter of Merritt SMITH of the same city. They have two children, Cordelia Susanna and Charles Miles. He has been a member of the Masonic order for twenty years, and his wife is a member of the A.M.E. church. He was in the army during the war for the Union one year, in the 28th Ind., and was at Fort Harrison, Virginia, at the close of the war, and was also through the south, particularly through the State of Texas. His parents were born in North Carolina and went from there to Lawrence county, Illinois. His father died in 1848, and his mother died in 1868. He has four brothers, one in Terre Haute, two in Clinton, Indiana, and one in California.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 368

A.H. DePUY, physician and surgeon, Terre Haute, though a resident of Terre Haute but for about five years, has already become recognized as one of the more prominent class of physicians of the city. He is a native of Vermilion County, Indiana, and is a man now of about forty-nine years of age. His people were among the early pioneers of the Wabash Valley, where most of the doctor’s life has been spent. He began the practice of medicine as early as 1856. During the winter of 1855-6 he attended the Rush Medical College in Chicago, and in the winter of 1856-7 he attended, and in January graduated at, the Electric Medical Institute of Cincinnati. The doctor has since given the subject of electricity, as a healing agent, much study, and has now at No. 117 North Sixth street a very elegant bath house, which is fitted up to give Turkish, Electro-Thermal, and all varieties of baths. His is the pioneer and only establishment of this kind in the city, and is daily growing more popular among the better class of the people. This probably is owing to the doctor’s standing as a physician, as he has now been in constant practice for about twenty-five years, most of which time he has been in Vermilion county, Indiana. The doctor’s son, Dr. Ozias DePUY, also has his office at the bath institute, No. 117 North Sixth street. In 1878 he became a graduate of the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and the same year graduated at the Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary of that city. He is now making a specialty of the treatment of injured and diseased eyes. He is also a member of the profession in good standing.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 346

V.G. DICKHOUT, manufacturer of trunks, valises, etc., Terre Haute, is another of the well established merchants of the city of Terre Haute, and the only one engaged in the manufacture of trunks, valises, traveling-bags, etc. He is a native of Germany, though he has been a resident of the United States since he was a child, his people locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. When ten years of age he began learning to manufacture his present line of goods. He remained in Cincinnati engaged in this business for seventeen years, and in 1869 removed to Terre Haute, where he has since resided, and built up a very flourishing trade, both retail and jobbing. His place of business is No. 642 Main street, where he keeps five men employed at manufacturing. Besides supplying a large part of the trade of the city of Terre Haute, he is kept quite busy filling orders for heavy sample trunks used by traveling salesmen and theatrical troupes. During the rebellion of 1861-5 he entered the Union army, enlisting in Co. I. 137th Ohio Vol. Inf., one year's service, under Col. L. HARRIS. Though he enlisted for but one year, he remained in the service for two years. August 28, 1878, he was elected to the office of chief of the fire department of Terre Haute, and he is now filling that office. In 1879 he accepted the position of chairman of the democratic central committee. He is one of the board of directors of the Vigo Agricultural Society, and for the past two years he has been color-bearer of the governor's guards of Terre Haute. He has been entirely dependent upon his own resources in accumulating his property and establishing one of the substantial business houses of Terre Haute.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 326-327

South Second street may boast of some of the enterprising business men of Terre Haute. Of those who may claim a fair share of the honors of building up the grocery business in that part of the city, is Mr. JOHN G. DOBBS, No. 1335. Though he has only been in the business there for about three years, he has already established a good trade and made many friends by his pleasant and courteous treatment of customers. His principal business is staple and fancy groceries, flour and feed, and fresh meats. Mr. DOBBS is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. There the early part of his life was spent. He also spent about two years in Ohio, and in 1862 he entered the army, enlisting in Co. B, 6th Ohio Vol. Cav., Col. STEDMAN and Capt. DICKINSON. He enlisted for a three years' term of serice, and served about two years and eight months. He was then discharged on account of the close of the war. Among other engagements he was at the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded, though not so severely as to leave him crippled. After leaving the army he located at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a time, and about 1866 he removed to Terre Haute, where he learned the trade of a machinist, which he continued to work at until he began in the grocery business. The last year of his time spent as a machinist he was foreman in the machine shops of J.A. Parker & Co. He is now devoting his time and energy to the grocery business, and as before stated he has already built up a good trade.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 309

L. DREUSICKE, locksmith, Terre Haute, is the only thoroughly practical locksmith in Terre Haute. This, like some of the other lines of business now done in the city, was left untouched until such men as Mr. DREUSICKE, finding the city growing and their line of business unrepresented, were led to invest, and have since been tributary to the building up of the business industries. Mr. DREUSICKE is a native of Prussia, where he was born March 11, 1849. At the age of five and a half years he was brought to the United States by his people. His father, during the voyage, sickened and died, which calamity left his mother in care of six small children, and on her way to a strange and foreign land. Mr. DREUSICKE was the second youngest of this family. Instead of coming west his mother made her home in New York city, where at the age of fourteen years he began learning the trade of a locksmith. He continued working in that city at his trade until 1874, when he came to Terre Haute and established himself in trade. He has been wholly dependent upon his own resources, and at present is doing business at No. 428 Ohio street, where, in addition to his business as a locksmith, he has added stencil cutting and bell hanging. His specialty has been the study of opening combination locks, at which he has established quite a reputation. July 3, 1874, he opened the safe lock for the proprietors of the First National Bank of Terre Haute, this being only one of several such jobs. Mr. DREUSICKE is a member of Francis Lodge, No. 60, A.O.U.W., and has held the office of recorder in that lodge. January 1, 1875, he was married to Miss J. HAUSER, who is a native of Philadelphia, though of German parentage.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 351

EUGENE DUENWEG, Terre Haute, has been agent for the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company for about one year, and by his enterprise and good management this branch has been brought to an important stand as one of the industries of the city. Since he engaged in the business he has built, near the Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad depot, an icehouse with a capacity of about ninety-six tons, which is also used as a store-house. To operate this business, which is gradually increasing, Mr. DUENWEG gives employment to from two to four men. Mr. DUENWEG is a native of the province of Rhine, Germany. He has now been a resident of Terre Haute for the past thirteen years, to which place he came direct from Europe. He first began work in this city by accepting a position in the Vandalia railroad shops. Leaving the shops he began work for the wholesale firm of Hulman & Cox, as receiving clerk. He held this position a little over one year, and resigned to open and operate the Easter brewery. He did not remain in the brewery quite one year, when, in 1877, he accepted the position as deputy city treasurer, under his brother Hugo, a position that he is still holding, and discharging his duties in a proper and satisfactory manner, though he also does an extensive outside business, as explained.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 315

HUGO DUENWEG, city treasurer, Terre Haute, is a native of Prussia, Germany, where he was born in the year 1841, and at the age of seventeen years, or in 1858, he emigrated to the United States, and located at Terre Haute, where he shortly after entered the employ of Mr. BROKAW, carpet dealer, in the capacity of clerk, and remained with him until April, 1861. He then entered the army under Col. Lew WALLACE, in Co. C, 11th Ind. Vol Inf., three months' service. At the expiration of this term of enlistment he again enlisted in Co. E, 32d reg. Ind. Vol. Inf., three years' service, under Col. A. WILLICH. He was made orderly sergeant, promoted to second lieutenant and again promoted to first lieutenant, and at the death of the captain he took command of the company. During his service he participated in many of the heavy battles that were fought during the rebellion, among which may be mentioned: the battles of Munfordsville, Shiloh, Corinth, Liberty Gap, Murfreesboro and afterward the succession of battles of the Atlanta campaign. In September of 1864 he was mustered out of the service and returned to Terre Haute. The same year he was appointed deputy revenue collector of the seventh Indiana district and continued in that capacity until October, 1866, when he engaged in private business, but in April, 1869, he again assumed the duties of deputy collector, continuing in the service of the government until May 20, 1873, when he again resumed private business. In May, 1877, he was elected to the office of city treasurer and reelected again in May, 1879, and is now discharging the duties of his second term. He has been faithful in the discharge of his duties as a public officer, and has, as yet, given the people no cause to regret their choice in placing him in the position he now occupies.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 273

Mr. RICHARD DUNNIGAN is a well known member of the Vigo county bar, who is a native of Vigo county. His people were among the early settlers of Vigo county, his grandparents (DUNNIGAN) having became residents of it as early as 1828 or 1829. His life was spent on a farm until the age of twenty-five years. In 1866 he began the study of law with Messrs. VOORHEES and KEY, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. He continued the practice of law alone, until 1878, when Mr. S.C. STIMSON became his partner in the practice. His business has always been a general practice of law since he was admitted to the bar. He has not, like many of the young attorneys usually do, given much of his time to the business of insurance and collecting, but has given his time fully to the study of his chosed profession. By adopting his method of doing business he has been enabled to thoroughly study the cases of his clients. The result has been success, as today, though he is one of the younger members of the Vigo county bar, he is one who has already won distinction.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 199

JNO. K. DURKAN, county clerk, Terre Haute, the present clerk of Vigo county, was born October 31, 1842, in Swinford, county Mayo, Ireland. He was educated at Taum College, and in 1862 emigrated to the United States, and in 1867 became a resident of Terre Haute. He was in the employ of T.B. JOHNS until 1877, when he was elected to the office of clerk of Vigo county. He gives employment to four clerks in the office; and is usually to be found in the office himself seeing that everything is kept straight, so that none may accuse him of betraying the confidence placed in him by the people. He was married June 21, 1864, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, his wife also being a native of Ireland.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 318

S.S. EARLY, pork packer, Terre Haute, is the son of Jacob D. EARLY, who was among the early settlers of Vigo county, and prominently identified with the early building up of Terre Haute. He was a native of Kentucky, but left that state and settled in Vincennes as early as 1817. Later he came to Terre Haute, where he remained a resident until his death, which occurred January 6, 1869. He was born January 1, 1799. For many years he was engaged in merchandising in Terre Haute. He left the mercantile business to engage in pork packing, which he continued until his death. It was he that made the first sugar-cured meats ever produced in any of the packing-houses of Terre Haute. Mr. S.S. EARLY in 1841 entered the Asbury College, from which he graduated in 1844. He has, since his father's death, been interested in the packing trade. He is now, and has been for years, well known as one of the first citizens of Terre Haute, his position being that of a gentleman of wealth, education and recognized literary ability. He has taken a deep interest in all educational movements of a higher order that have been made in the city, and is at present secretary of the board of trustees of the Rose Polytechnic Institute.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 203-204

JOHN ECKHOFF, grocer, Terre Haute, though still a young man, has had greater, or rather more varied, experience than many of the old settlers of Terre Haute. He is a native of Germany, where he remained until he was a young man, and for five years previous to his emigrating to the United States he had spent his life on the water as a sailor, and for two years after coming to the United States, in 1867, he continued his old calling of sailing, a part of which time he was in the revenue service. In 1869, in traveling through the western states, he stopped for a time in Terre Haute, where by chance he became acquainted with an uncle who years before had emigrated from Germany to the United States, though he had no idea in what part of the United States this uncle was residing. Through this circumstance he prolonged his stay in Terre Haute, and in a short time began as a clerk in a grocery store. In 1874 he engaged in the grocery trade in company with his cousin, Mr. J. ZIMMERMAN, son of the uncle spoken of. They continued together until 1877, when he embarked in the trade on his own account. His place is now located at No. 16 North Fourth street, where he has established a good trade and is doing well. He is a member of the order of A.F. and A.M., Humboldt Lodge, No. 42. From the beginning as a clerk in Terre Haute, in 1869, he, by his own efforts has succeeded in building up a good business.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 327

WILLIAM EGGLESTON, a prominent member of the Vigo county bar, is a native of Vermilion county, Indiana, his people being among the early pioneers of that county, they having located there as early as the year 1821. There the early life of our subject was spent, receiving such advantages as the county afforded at that time. He subsequently went to school for two years, after which he began the study of law, which he continued for two years, and then engaged in teaching school for one year; after which, in 1861, he settled down at Newport, in his native county, and began the practice of law. Since then he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He was, probably, the first man in Vermilion county to advocate the abolition of slavery. This was so much against the principles of the people at that time, that a written notice was tacked up on the door of his office, and similar ones in different parts of the town, warning him to leave the place within ten days. He was not molested, however, when they found he would not be frightened away. During the war of the rebellion of 1861-5 he made several attempts to enter the army, but was in every instance rejected. During his practice he has found time to compile three different books, treating upon as many different questions of law. These are known as, Eggleston on Commissioners, Eggleston on Trustees, and Eggleston on Damages. On November 5, 1873, he became a resident of Terre Haute, and has since been connected with the Vigo county bar.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - pp. 344-345

AUGUST F. EISER, confectioner and baker, Terre Haute, is one of the older class of business men of the city. He is a native of Baden, Germany, where he was born November 7, 1821. He spent the early part of his life in the old country, and for seven years was in the army of Gen. SIGEL, with whom he used to go to school. His father, John A. EISER, was for nineteen years a soldier under Napeleon Bonaparte. After he left the army he engaged in business, and it was during this time that August F. learned the trade of a baker while in the employ of his father. In 1849 Mr. EISER came to the United States and became a resident of Terre Haute, where he at once engaged in the bakery business. He has been a good business man and a good financier. His place of business is now on the southwest corner of Main and Ninth streets, where he is at present erecting a new building, designed for business purposes. In addition to merchandising Mr. EISER has become quite extensively engaged in dealing in real estate. This branch of his business now is receiving much of his attention, while his son, August E., attends to merchandising. Mr. EISER was married in 1853 to Miss Catharine BEHRINGER, who is a native of Wurtemburg, Germany. He is one of the self-made men of the city; one, too, who in the accumulation of property has always done business in an honorable and straightforward manner.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 222

The medical profession of Terre Haute is well represented, and includes among its number gentlemen of recognized ability and merit. Included in this list is Dr. WILLIAM R. ELDER, who is a native of Hamden county, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became a graduate of medicine at Berkshire Medical College, after which he began the practice of his profession in Hampshire county, remaining there until 1850, when he moved so far west as Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued to reside and practice until 1870, excepting the time spent in the army. In 1864 he entered the Union army, during the war of 1861-5, as assistant surgeon. He was afterward promoted to surgeon, and remained in the service until the close of the war. In 1860 he became convinced that the science of medicine as taught by the homœopathic school was the true or more perfect system of the science. Since then he has continued his practice according to the teachings of this school. In 1870 he removed from Youngstown, Ohio, to Terre Haute, where he has since resided. During his residence in Terre Haute, he has by a close attention to his business, built up an extensive and lucrative practice. This alone is evidence of his success in the treatment of his patients.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute - p. 333

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