The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-29
s. A. FLETCHER DEAD
ONE OF THE MEN IDENTIFIED WITH
GROWTH OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Prominent i'm Financial CircIes-Es-
tabIished Atlas Works-His Aid
to Charitable Works.

1 leading citizens of Indianapolis, whose life
| has been closely related with the growth
and prosperity of the city, died at his home,
on Clifford avenue, yesterday morning at
| $50 o'clock, in his sixty-fourth year. Al
| though Mr.. Fletcher has been in failing
| health for a number of years and an invalid
! for six months his death was sudden and
| surprise to his friends and relatives. Late
last fall he was stricken with apoplexy
| and at that time his recovery not
! expected He continued to improve, how
| ever, and the past few weeks has been
| able to walk out some and take occas sion
| al drives. So improved has been his health
| that hope was entertained that he might
| live many years Wednesday night, how
| ever, he was again stricken with the NAL
| ady which threatened his life months ago.
| His condition became alarming and his
children and relatives were summoned to
| his bedside They were present yesterday
morning when he passed away.
Mr.. Fletcher was born and raised in this
! city. He grew with the town and the town
| grew with him. Early in life he became
| identified with the material interests of
| the city and not until his failing health de-
manded it did he lose any of his active
| interest. MIR. Fletcher was a good citizen.
He was at all times interested in things
other than personal business and took an
| active interest in the growth of the city,
| it's advancement and it's condition He gave
| freely to charities and was one of the or
| ganizers of the State Board of Charities.
| For years he was a member of that board,
| in the affairs of which he worked energet-
| ically. Mr.. Fletcher came from a family
probably as well known as any family in
Indiana. His father and his uncle were
early settlers here and the children of
each have stood prominently in the citys
history. MIR. Fletcher was born Oct %
1881, in the frame house which still stands
at the northeast corner of Alabama and
Ohio streets. He was the fifth son of
eleven children of Calvin Fletcher, who
came to indianapolis in 1921 Calvin Fletcher
was one of the leading lawyers of the
State, a politician and business man, who
| is remembered by early citizens for his
generosity, integrity and manhood. Slough
ton A. inherited the qualities of his father.
The son was taught to honor work, as were
all the sons of Calvin Fletcher. The lat
ter had way of combining labor with
intellectual pursuits He taught each to
care for himself. Stoughton A. was sent
to Brown University, where he took
partial course. He learned telegraphy and
in 1850 worked an instrument in the old
telegraph Office the first established here
In 1850 there was d great deal of talk in
This section of the State regarding the
construction of the Bellefontane railroad.
Mr.; Fletcher took liking 81 to the business
tor on the first train which left the city
over the road. Like everything. else
became familiar with the entire work of
conducting train. He knew how to run
an engine and he learned how the engine
was constructed, all because of the healthy
and sturdy education he had received and
the qualities which he possessed Members
of his family were Interested in the road
and story is told of how Mr.. Fletcher
took them on an excursion once, running
the engine himself While connected with
the railroad he saved money, which he
invested to advantage.
In 1858 he entered the bank of his uncle,
S. A. Fletcher. He, entered as a clerk.
but soon became teller and afterwards a
eonee hmsef merely Mih the oh figures
with which he had to deal, but familiarized
himself with the banking business. He re-
manned with the bank for ten years. when
he accepted the presidency of the gas COM
pany. Ten years he remained there, when
which, under his direction, has grown to
be one of the largest establishments of
the Atlas works he became interested in
the Fletcher & Sharpe Bank. Early in
pressed for funds and failure was threat
ened. Mr.. Fletcher at that time was worth
nearly 100000. He became a partner, think
ing his support would add strength to its
credit and tide the concern over the threat
ened disruption. For. time his name TO
the firm did strengthen it, but reversals
came and the bank failed. Thousands of
residents of this city will remember the
excitement incident to that failure and the
creditors will also remember how literally
Mr. Fletcher came to their aid He turned
over nearly everything to them, except
his wife. He is reported to have lost 100000
because of his connection with the bank.
of Woodruff Place was sold, with the ex-
ception of his home. place; -
Fletcher owned many acres of ground east
of the city along Pogues run. He had
laid out drives and cleaned the stream,
trees and improved the ground, intending
to donate it some time for park purposes.
While a member of the City Council he
made proposition to the city which was
not accepted. Had it been the city would
now have of the finest park sites pos,
his plans and the intended park was
plated and sold for lots and most of it is
now covered with houses. Mr.. Fletcher
was a lover of beautiful things, his
home on Clifford avenue will tell. He al
lawns and also interested himself in any
movement to beautify the city. The failure
him. 'i but TIT It did i1 not decrease his energy.
He continued his management of the Atlas
works, It was always said by the men who
about the details Of the business as did
they. He was familiar with every depart
recent years he gave the business less at
tention, leaving its affairs to his two sons.
Jesse and Charles.
Since 1874 Mr. Fletcher has been president
of the Crown Hill Cemetery Association. 1t
is said that the success of that associa-
ton and beauty Of the grounds is largely
due to the work of Mr.. Fletcher. He took
an active interest in the laying out of the
grounds, the planting of the trees and
flowers and the regulation of the place. He
spent months in helping to select the site,
for he, with James Blake, James NJ. Ray,
Calvin Fletcher and others, We're the
ganiZerS of the association.
In the affairs of the State Board of Chart
ties. of which he was a member, he always
took an interest. He gave the work great
deal of his attention and time, and its sue
cess is largely attributed to his earnest
efforts. He advocated the establishment of
the board, and then aided in the success of
1T. He was a warm personal friend of the
late Oscar c. Mccullocn, and aided the
latter in his charitable deeds, both by work
and financial support. He attended Plym-
outh Church, in the establishment of which
he was Interested.
Mr.. Fletcher's first marriage was with
Miss Elizabeth Burroughs, OF Augusta, Me-,
in November, 1856. Four children, the re-
suit of that marriage, are still living
Charles and Jesse, Mrs. Z. +. Hodges of
this city, and Mrs Mcfarland, of Pitts
burg. His first wife died many years ago,
and in 1891 he was married to Miss Marie
Louise Bright. with whom he lived happily,
and who cared for him in his last sick