Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
User Information
Historical and Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Cataloguing Information
Processed by
Chris Harter
20 February 1997
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 folder (22 items)
COLLECTION DATES: 1894-1963 (inclusive); 1894-1901 (bulk)
PROVENANCE: Arlene Dubecky, Indianapolis, IN
RESTRICTIONS: Items are fragile.
COPYRIGHT: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 1996.0766
NOTES:
W. H. Ballard (fl. 1878-1899) founded W. H. Ballard Ice Cream and Fruit Ices in 1878 at the corner of Delaware and Ohio streets in Indianapolis.
The Consumers' Gas Trust Company was organized in November 1887, largely through the efforts of Arthur A. McKain (b. 1851), a local monument manufacturer. The company serviced about 15,000 homes throughout Indianapolis and its suburbs.
The land on which Crown Hill Cemetery rests was purchased in 1863, and the cemetery was dedicated the following year. With over 500 acres, Crown Hill replaced the old City Cemetery, which had reached capacity. Crown Hill Cemetery includes a national cemetery in which Union soldiers who died in Indianapolis are buried, as well as the graves of Governor Oliver P. Morton and President Benjamin Harrison.
Frank M. Dell (1853-1921) was born in Lafayette, Indiana (Tippecanoe Co.) to William and Sophia (Kahr) Dell. Both of his parents were German immigrants. The Dell family moved to Indianapolis when Frank was 13 years old. He was educated in Lafayette public schools and in the German-English school in Indianapolis. Dell graduated from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana (Wayne Co.). He later took over his father's business, William Dell Coal and Lime, when William retired. The name of the company was changed to Frank M. Dell Coal, Lime and Cement. It was originally located at the intersection of Georgia and Pennsylvania streets in Indianapolis before moving to East Washington Street.
In 1901, Frank Dell married May Campbell of Indianapolis. They had one daughter, Dorothy. Dell was active in politics, and served one term as an Indianapolis city councilman.
R. W. Furnas (1848-1916), an early pioneer in the ice cream industry, was born in Hendricks County, Indiana. He attended Earlham College. Furnas married Hannah M. Wright (d. 1919), and had two daughters, Leila and Mary E.
In 1878, Furnas was asked to make ice cream for a church affair, which prompted his idea to found a company for the manufacture of ice cream. His business started on a small scale, but grew rapidly into a wholesale venture that marketed Furnas ice cream throughout the state of Indiana.
The Indianapolis Gas Company was incorporated in 1890 as a successor to the Indianapolis Gas Light and Coke Company and the Indianapolis National Gas Company. It combined the sale of natural gas for heating and artificial gas for illumination. The company's offices were located in the Majestic building on South Pennsylvania Street.
Sander and Recker Furniture was organized in 1878 as an outgrowth of the Western Furniture Company. The business sold office and household furniture of all descriptions.
Theodore Sander was born in Germany in 1844. He immigrated to the United States in 1864, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he served in the 165th Ohio Infantry Regiment, Company D. Sander later moved to Indianapolis.
Gottried Recker (b. 1834) was also a German immigrant, who came to the United States in 1854. He settled in Indianapolis, and was a cabinet-maker for a number of years until he began working for the Western Furniture Company in 1872.
John H. Wilde (fl. 1899) was a dealer in and builder of bicycles. His business was located on Massachusetts Avenue.
No information could be located in available resources for the following persons or businesses: Joyce Dostin (fl. 1942), Thomas M. Kingsbury (fl. 1894-1901), Heiman D. Sattinger, Taylor Carpet Company and Lucille Wycoff (fl. 1963).
Sources: Material in collection.
Encyclopedia of Biography of Indiana. vol. 2. p. 260-262.
Esarey, Logan. History of Indiana From Its Exploration to 1922. vol. IV. p. 716, 826-827.
Hyman, Max R. Journal Handbook of Indianapolis. p. 140.
Indianapolis Illustrated. p. 167.
Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of Indianapolis. p. 650.
Sulgrove, Berry. History of Indianapolis and Marion County. p. 386-387.
This collection consists of 19 business receipts kept by the Kingsbury family of Indianapolis, Indiana. The bulk of the items date from 1894 to 1901, and bear the name of Thomas M. Kingsbury. There is one receipt, dated 1963, for Lucille Wycoff.
Businesses for which receipts are present are: W. H. Ballard Ice Cream and Fruit Ices; Consumers' Gas Trust Company; Crown Hill Cemetery; Frank M. Dell Coal, Lime and Cement; R. W. Furnas; Indianapolis Gas Company; Metropolitan Oil Corporation; Taylor Carpet Company; Sander and Recker Furniture and John H. Wilde.
The collection also includes a petition to the Public Works of the City of Indianapolis, dated 1899; a United States War Savings Bonds stamp album (c. 1942) kept by Joyce Dostin of Indianapolis; and a notebook (n.d.) listing products, purchasers and manufacturers for kitchen and household appliances. The back cover features an advertisement for Heiman D. Sattinger, a clothing store.
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
MAIN ENTRY: Kingsbury, Thomas M.
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Invoices--Indiana--Indianapolis
Family--Economic aspects--Indiana--Indianapolis
Savings bonds--Indiana--Indianapolis
END