CLINTON RUSK WILLSON is one of Fort Wayne's most gifted and generous minded citizens. His talents in a business way have brought him success, and since early manhood he has been known for his public spirited cooperation with nearly every phase of the broader work of the community.

He is a native son of Fort Wayne, where he was born May 27, 1877, a son of Martin S. and Emma J. (Robinson) Willson. His father was for thirty-five years connected with the Fort Wayne works of the General Electric Company.

Clinton R. Willson gained his education in the public schools of Fort Wayne. When he was seventeen he became an employee of the First National Bank. He was with that institution seven years, and for six years was assistant secretary of the Citizens' Trust Company. With the knowledge and experience thus gained of financial work he became cashier of the Commercial Bank of Straus Brothers & Company, spending sixyears with that institution.

He withdrew from active banking to enter the insurance field by purchasing the old established general insurance business of the Neireiter-Gumpper Agency. He continued it under the name Clinton R. Willson, insurance, until 1928, when his son James became his partner, and since then the firm has been Clinton R. Willson & Son, at 236 West Washington Boulevard. He is a member of the Fort Wayne Insurance Club, the Indiana Association of Insurance Agents, the National Association of Insurance Agents. He is also vice president of the Fort Wayne Morris Plan Company, treasurer of the Lafayette Place Company, vice president of the Northern Finance Company and treasurer of the Better Homes Company.

Mr. Willson married, June 13, 1901, Miss Lillie Wilding, daughter of James Wilding. Their four children are Helen Wilding, Kathryn Wilding, James Wilding and Robert Lee. It willbe a matter of general interest to note some of Mr. Willson's connections with organizations and institutions that have expressed the civic, patriotic and social welfare impulses of Fort Wayne in recent years. Since the first fund raising campaign of the Council of Social Agencies he has been a leader in that work, and acted as treasurer of the Fort Wayne Community Chest, the Central Charity Fund, as general chairman of the Red Cross Christmas Seal campaign, as director for several years and president of the Fort Wayne Anti-Tuberculosis League, and secretary of the Fort Wayne Rescue Home Mission.

His interest has been especially keen in boy and young men welfare. This has brought him many duties in connection with the Y. M. C. A. organization. He helped raise the funds to give Fort Wayne its present Y. M. C. A. Building and participated in the building enlargement campaign of 1925. He was a director of six active teams of the Boys' Division in the 1926 membership campaign, and for some years has served as a member of the board of directors and is now chairman of the important boy's committee, whose responsibility includes the supervision of activities at the Association Boys' Camp at Blackman Lake. He also participated in the building campaign for the Young Women's Christian Association.

Mr. Willson was a member of the old Commercial Club and has been identified with the work of the Chamber of Commerce, particularly as a member of the Real Estate, Insurance and Housing Bureau, and was in the campaign for the new Chamber of Commerce Building. During the World war he was a team worker in the Liberty Loan campaign, was captain of teams in the War Savings Stamps and Certificate drives, and in the drives for the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A.

One of his interesting talents is music. He is a gifted singer, and has a highly cultivated tenor voice. For twenty years he was a member of the choir of the Third Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member, and for fourteen years was connected with the choir of Achduth Vesholom Synagogue. He is a director of the Rotary Club, member of the Quest Club, Fort Wayne Country Club, Fort Wayne-Allen County Historical Society, and is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


JAMES WILDING WILLSON, son of Clinton R. and Lillie (Wilding) Willson, is now a junior partner of the Fort Wayne insurance agency known as Clinton R. Willson & Son.

He was born at Fort Wayne, March 12, 1908, and completed his high school course in his native city in 1925. Even while in school he was spending some time in acquiring a knowledge of the Insurance business in his father's office. After high school he had two years at the University of Michigan, and since then has given his flilll time to the insurance business. In July, 1928, he was admitted to partnership. He is a member of the Rotary Club, Credit Men's Association, Fort Wayne Country Club and Y. M. C. A. His favorite athletic sport is tennis.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


ORVILLE A. PURSLEY, who gave two consecutive terms of service as prosecuting attorney for the Twenty-eighth Judicial District of Indiana, comprising Blackford and Wells counties, retired from this position in 1921 and has since continued in the active private practice of his profession at Hartford City, judicial center of Blackford County. He controls a practice of important and representative order, and has well won his prestige as one of the able and influential members of the bar of this section of the state.

Mr. Pursley was born in Fayette County, Ohio, November 6, 1885, and is a son of William H. and Amy (Sanderson) Pursley, whose children were nine in number. In 1887 William H. Pursley came with his family to Blackford County, Indiana, where he became a successful farmer and also a buyer and shipper of live stock, he having later established himself in the insurance and real estate business at Hartford City. He attended college at Lebanon, Ohio, and taught in the public schools.

Orville A. Pursley was a child not yet two years old at the time of the family removal to Blackford County, here he was reared to adult age and here he made good use of the advantages of the public schools. He thereafter completed a course in the Marion Normal College at Marion, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science and completed the Law Scientific Course as a member of the class of 1912. Mr. Pursley has in the meanwhile made a record of notably successful service in the pedagogic profession, his work as a teacher having covered a period of ten years and having included his service as principal of the North Ward School of Hartford City.

In the year 1913 Mr. Pursley engaged in the practice of law at Montpelier, Blackford County, where he was later elected city attorney. Upon his election to the office of prosecuting attorney of the Twenty-eighth Judicial Circuit, comprising Wells and Blackford counties, in 1917, he established his residence and administrative headquarters in Hartford City, subsequent reelections having retained him in this position one more term and his having been a remarkably resourceful and constructive record as a public prosecutor, while the reputation he thus gained has contributed definitely to the prestige he has since won in the private practice of his profession at Hartford City. His practice has been extended into the Indiana Supreme Court and also the Federal courts of the state. Mr. Pursley is a member of the Blackford County bar. He has been influential in the local councils and campaigns of the Democratic party. In Blackford County was solemnized his marriage to Miss Crystal Van Gordon, who was born and reared in this county, and they have four children: Thelma, June, Oletha and Robert. Thelma. and June were graduated in the Hartford City High School and the latter attended Manchester College, 1928-29, and is now completing her second year at St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis, as a graduate nurse.

Alexander N. Pursley, eldest brother of the subject of this review, was born at Washington Court House, Ohio, March 3, 1878, and received the advantages of the college at Lebanon, that state. He was a boy at the time of the family removal to Blackford County, Indiana, in 1887, and here he continued to be associated with farm enterprise until 1896, when he engaged in the meat-market business at Hartford City, later conducting in turn a restaurant and grocery, a variety store and a general merchandise business. He served as township trustee, was elected to the City Council in 1908, was chairman of the Democratic County committee during the period of 1912-16, and is now chairman of the Democratic committee of the Eleventh Congressional District. He is president of the Franklin Security Company of Hartford City, is a director of the Rural Loan & Savings Association, and is an active and influential member of the local Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president five years. He married Miss Mary J. Sloan, likewise born in Ohio, and they have seven children: Catherine and Evelyn (twins), Leo, Clara, William, Lawrence and John. Catherine is the wife of Matthias Scheidler, a business man at Hartford City, and her twin sister Miss Evelyn, still resides in this city. Leo was ordained to the priesthood of the Catholic Church in January, 1927. Clara is the wife of Carl Piguit, of Blackford County. Lawrence and John are high-school students at the time of this writing, in 1930.

Alexander N. Pursley was specially active and influential in furthering patriotic service in Blackford County in the World war period, he having served as chairman of the Associated War Activities of the county and also as deputy food administrator. He holds to the family political faith and is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


WENDELL W. AYRES, M. D., is one of the able and successful physicians and surgeons of the younger generation in Blackford County, is established in general practice at Hartford City, the county seat, and maintains office headquarters at 214 North High Street.

Doctor Ayres was born in Grant County, Indiana, June 22, 1902, and is one of the six children born to Prof. Bert W. and Mary Etta (Higgins) Ayres, both of whom were born and reared in Blackford County, this state, and the former of whom, now a member of the faculty of Taylor University, at Upland, Indiana, being a son of the late James Madison Ayres, who was born at Rising Sun, Ohio, about the year 1930. The original Aamerican representatives of the Ayres family came from England and made settlement in Virginia in the Colonial period of our national history.

Dr. Wendell W. Ayres was a child at the time of the family removal to Iowa, where he received the major part of his early public-school discipline. When the parents returned to Indiana, where the father became a professor at Taylor University, Doctor Ayres became a student in that institution, and later he continued his studies in the University of Indiana, from which he received in 1924 the degree of Bachelor of Science and in the medical department of which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1926. After receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine he further reinforced himself by valuable experience gained in one year of service as interne in the University Hospital, Indianapolis, the capital city being likewise the seat of the medical school of the state university. Thereafter the Doctor continued his interneship in the City Hospital of Buffalo, New York, where he gave special attention to work in surgery and obstetrics. In July, 1928, he opened an office at Hartford City, where he has since continued in active practice and where he has developed that practice to a scope that gives definite indication of his ability and of the high communal estimate placed upon him. Doctor Ayres is affiliated with the Nu Sigma Nu Medical fraternity, with the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical fraternity, and has membership in the Blackford County Medical Society, the Muncie Academy of Medicine, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His political convictions place him loyally in the ranks of the Democratic party, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their home city. He married Miss Helen Wing, who was born in the State of New York, and their one child is a daughter, Elizabeth Ann.

It may be noted that Arthur Ayres, eldest brother of the Doctor, was graduated, with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the University of California, his death having occurred in 1918. Kenneth D., next younger of the brothers, was graduated in the medical department of the University of Indiana, and is now engaged in the active practice of his profession. Gilbert H., next younger of the brothers was graduated in the University of Wisconsin as a member of the class of 1930 and received therefrom the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Doctor Ayres is engaged in general practice, he is giving priority to surgery, in which department of his professional service he has exceptional skill and has already gained high reputation.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


CLARENCE LOUIS SCHUST is executive head of one of the well ordered and important industrial enterprises in the City of Fort Wayne and the business is conducted under the title of C. L. Schust Company. The headquarters of the concern are maintained in its own modern building, at Taylor Street and Lake Erie Railroad, and the company specializes in contracting for industrial roofing, general sheet-metal work, heating and ventilating installations, etc., besides having the agency for the best type of revolving doors and fire doors. Mr. Schust is president of the Fort Wayne Sheet Metal Contractors Association and also of the Fort Wayne Roofing Contractors Association, these preferments indicating significantly his prominence and influence in business affairs in Fort Wayne, where he stands exponent of loyal and progressive citizenship.

Mr. Schust was born in Fort Wayne, August 13, 1895, and it is gratifying to note the prestige he has gained as one of the representative business men of the younger generation in his native city. He is a son of H. Louis and Addie (Lankenau) Schust, both now deceased, the former having been born in West Virginia and having been a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, where he was reared and educated and where he passed the remainder of his life, his wife having been born in Adams County, Indiana, and having been a daughter of Henry Lankenau, who was a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war. Of the two children who survive the honored parents Clarence L., of this review, is the younger, and his brother, Dr. John H., is a dentist and Oral Surgeon in Fort Wayne.

Clarence L. Schust profited by the advantages of the Lutheran parochial schools in Fort Wayne and also by those of the high school, his education having been further advanced by his attending Valparaiso University. His early business experience was acquired through his being employed four years in the collection department of the business of S.. F. Bowser & Company, Fort Wayne, and he then went to Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed two years as an inspector in the great manufactory of the Packard Motor Company. In the period of 1916-20 he was superintendent for the David Lupton's Sons Company, a leading concern of its kind in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one that did much Government work in the World war period.

Upon his return to Fort Wayne, in 1920, Mr. Schust engaged independently in the contracting business along construction lines, by establishing the C. L. Schust Company. The business had headquarters at 312 Greeley Street until 1924, in April of which year the company removed to 1751 Lindley Avenue, which had been purchased for the purpose and which afforded larger quarters and broader facilities for the handling of the now large and representative business. September 1, 1929, the expanding business caused another removal, to still larger quarters at Taylor Street and Lake Erie Railroad.

Mr. Schust has been an appreciative student of the history and teachings of the time- honored Masonic fraternity and in the same has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, besides being a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is affiliated also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, his political alignment is with the Republican party, he is a loyal member of the local Chamber of Commerce, and through his membership in the Orchard Ridge Country Club he finds opportunity to indulge his predilection for golf.

June 30, 1920, recorded the marriage of Mr. Schust to Miss Edith Baral, who was born in the City of Jackson, Michigan, and whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Baral, now reside in Fort Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Schust are popular figures in social activities in Fort Wayne and reside at 447 Englewood Court. They have no children.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


GARL GROVER BONEWITZ. The career of Garl Grover Bonewitz, city attorney of Huntington, has been typical of a certain class of men who have not needed to depend upon the assistance of others in the gaining of position and success. In the law, it is stated, there is no royal road to prosperity, for even in its most simple branches it is a difficult and perplexing profession. Some individuals, however, have their burdens supposedly lightened by friendly aid, influence and monetary assistance. With Mr. Bonewitz the gaining of an education fitting him for participation in his calling meant that while he was attending college he had to act as an instructor and teacher of others, but to a man of his character and determination this proved no serious labor. On the contrary it probably sharpened his wits and made him better fitted for his profession when he was ready to commence practice, and since 1913 he has enjoyed a constantly growing clientele.

Mr. Bonewitz was born on a farm in Rock Creek Township, Huntington County, Indiana, June 20, 1885, and is a son of Orlando and. Lydia (Pritchett) Bonewitz. The family was founded in Huntington County by the great-grandfather of Garl G. Bonewitz, Joseph Bonewitz, who was a pioneer of Ohio, whence he came to Huntington County in 1836, took up Government land, faced alone the hardships and privations of pioneer settlement, and entered courageously and cheerfully upon the difficult task of breaking the soil, clearing the land and preparing a rude home for his family, whom he had left in Ohio. It was a disheartening battle at first with the forces of Nature, but the fertile land of this region finally responded to Mr. Bonewitz' persevering efforts, and in 1842, six years after his own arrival, he was able to bring his family out to the new country. Here he passed the remainder of his life in sturdy work as an agriculturist and lived to be one of the substantial citizens of his community.

Peter Bonewitz, the grandfather of Garl G. Bonewitz, was born in Ohio, and was a young man when brought to Huntington County. He followed in his father's footsteps, devoting his entire fire to farming and raising stock, and, like the elder man, was known as one of high character and sterling traits. Orlando Bonewitz, his son, was born on the Rock Creek Township farm, July 10, 1862, and resided there until 1888, when he moved the home to Huntington, although he continued to carry on extensive farming operations and still is doing so. He maintains the family reputation for sound integrity and good citizenship and has the esteem of those with whom he has come into contact. Mr. Bonewitz married Lyida Pritchett, who was born in Rock Creek Township, a daughter of William Pritchett, one of the prominent pioneer farmers of Huntington County, and she died in 1917, leaving two sons: Garl Grover, of this review; and Charles, who is engaged in agricultural operations in Huntington County.

Garl G. Bonewitz was three years of age at the time his parents took up their residence at Huntington, and his early education was acquired in the grade and high schools. He was determined to secure a higher education that would equip him for the profession of law, but did not wish to impose such an expense upon his father and the other members of the family, and accordingly worked out his own problem to a satisfactory conclusion by teaching school for six years while he was attending college. For three years he taught a district school in Rock Creek Township, for one term was teacher of a school in Marshall County, and for two terms was principal at Lagro, Wabash County. Thus he secured his Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, class of 1910, and his Bachelor of Laws degree three years later, and in 1913 was admitted to the bar at Huntington, where he has been engaged in a successful growing practice to the present. Mr. Bonewitz is thoroughly equipped and grounded in every department of his profession, and it speaks much for his versatility that he has been successful not only as a private practitioner, but as county attorney and city attorney. From 1925 until 1930 he was the county attorney for Huntington County, and in 1930 was appointed city attorney, a position which he is filling with sound ability and conscientious performance of duty. He maintains commodious and well-appointed offices at 24 East Market Street, and is a valued member of the Huntington County Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association. A Democrat in his political allegiance, Mr. Bonewitz was for some years secretary of the Democratic central committee and still wields a strong influence in his party. He is a Blue Lodge Mason and member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church.

On June 3, 1919, Mr. Bonewitz was united in marriage at Huntington with Miss Maude Ramsey, a native of Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University, class of 1908, who taught school at Huntington for several years prior to her marriage. She is a daughter of William and Elsie (Dale) Ramsey, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter resides at Lagro. To this union there have come two sons: Gene Ramsey, born April 25, 1922; and Richard Dale, born March 23, 1929.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


HERBERT BROOKOVER SPENCER. The attorney has ever been accorded, by an unwritten custom, first place in securing the greatest liberty and the greatest justice to the society of mankind. The idea prevailing when the earliest laws were framed, that he was the best informed as to tne rights of man and the limitations of government, both of prescribed by law, exists today to an appreciable extent. No man in our form of civilization is given such privilege to guide the affairs of state as is vouchsafed by thinking minds to the lawyer. One familiar with the jurisprudence of Huntington, and particularly of its last three decades, will unhesitatingly place high on the list of its capable and reliable lawyers the name of Herbert B. Spencer, who, with the exception of nine years, has been engaged in the successful practice of his calling at Huntington since 1900.

Mr. Spencer was born at Huntington, Indiana, February 18, 1879, and is a son of Maurice L. and Blanche M. (Brookover) Spencer, the former of whom died in 1908, while the latter still lives at Huntington, at the age of seventy-five years. There were three children in the family: Herbert B., of this review; Mrs. Edith M. Malott, of Globe, Arizona; and William P., a farmer of Clear Creek Township, Huntington County.

The grade and high schools of Huntington furnished Herbert B. Spencer with his early educational training, and after his graduation from the latter, in 1897 he entered Indiana University. With the sinking of the battleship Maine and the subsequent outbreak of the Spanish-American war, Mr. Spencer was one of the thousands of patriotic young men who dropped their studies or put aside their other vocations or interests to hurry to volunteer for service against the Castilian. In the spring of 1898 he presented himself at the recruiting office, and for the remainder of the war was attached to Company K, 160th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, attaining the rank of second lieutenant, which he held at the time of his honorable discharge. He then returned to Indiana, where he completed his university course, and in 1900 received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In that year he was admitted to the bar and began practice at Huntington, where he carried on successful professional activities until 1905. In the course of his practice Mr. Spencer acquired a lumber business, located at Carrollton, Misouri, and as it was being mismanaged he resolved to try his own hand at conducting it. Accordingly, he disposed of his law practice and went to Carroll ton, where for nine years he remained, and when he left, in 1914, he sold out a vastly superior business than the one which he had found there. Since 1914 he has again practiced at Huntington, where he has a large and lucrative clientele, maintaining offices at 334 North Jefferson Street. He occupies a high position in his profession as a man of reliability and legal knowledge, and is a member of the Huntington County Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association. Mr. Spencer is a Republican in his political allegiance and served capably as city attorney from 1924 to 1926. He is state commander for Indiana of the Spanish-American War Veterans of America, and was active locally during all the World war drives, to which he gave of his time, ability and means. Mr. Spencer is the owner of a well-developed and valuable farm of 200 acres, located in Clear Creek Township, Huntington County. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of Pythias, the lmproved Order of Red Men and the LaFontaine Country Club. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church.

On November 21, 1898, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage with Miss Chloe B. Lininger, a native of Huntington County and a daughter of Joseph C. Lininger, a pioneer of the county, who passed his life here as an agriculturist and to this union there have been born three children: Herbert Donavon, of Jerome, Arizona, who served with a machine gun company in the Third United States Infantry in France during the World war; Margaret, the wife of Ernest C. Smith, Jr., of Cleveland. Ohio, who has one son, Spencer Ernest; and Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Herman Wasmuth, of Huntington, who has one son, James Robert.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


Deb Murray