The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-27
DEATH OF L. w. HASSELMAN.
Aged and Prominent Citizen Passes
Away.

Lewis w. Hasselman died yesterday morn
ing, at sis o'clock, at the home of his son,
Watson j. Hasselman, corner of Central
avenue and Thirty-fourth street, aged sew
enty-seven years He had been confined
closely to his home for the last three years,
though at no time during this period was
he considered seriously i'll. Recently he
spent considerable time about the grounds
surrounding his sons home. When he was
compelled to go to bed few days ago his
relatives did not look upon his illness as
of great consequence, and his death was
somewhat of surprise.
Lewis w. Hasselman was the son of
Lewis and Matilda Hasselman. He was
born at Miamisburg, near Dayton, O.. Sept.
13, 1920. He married Miss Elizabeth Watson
and went to Cincinnati, where he was en-
gagged for several years as a successful mer-
chant While he and his wife were in Gin
cinnati his wife's father came to Indianapo-
lis and started the Washington foundry,
which was located on South Meridian street,
adjoining the Union tracks. Mr.. Watson
died. and Mr.. Hasselman came here in 1850
and formed a partnership with Almus f.
Vinton and bought the foundry which had
been his father-in-law's. Just after they
had fairly started in the manufacture of ag-
ricultural implements a. fire almost totally
destroyed the plant. This embarrassed the
firm slightly, but 1t had made good rep
utatlon and had established a good credit.
The plant was rebuilt. and the business con-
tinued successfully until the death of Mr..
Vinton in 1870. In that year Mr.. Hasselman
and w, +. Fishback purchased the interests
of A. H. Conner and the Douglass Brothers
in the indianapolis Journal Company, which
company then owned the Journal building
and conducted the newspaper and the job
department. They continued in control of
the paper two years. In 1872 Messrs.
Hasselman and Fishback purchased $100, 900
selling their interest in the Journal The
panic of 1878 came along soon after this
change and almost sWamped both financial
ly. The Democrat was absorbed by the St.
Louis Globe, under Mckee e. Houser. and
the st. Louis Globe Democrat was formed.
Mr. HasSelman lost heavily on the st. Louis
deal. In the meantime he had continued
his interest in the foundry, and when he re-
Eagle machine works, with which he was
connected until d few years ago. AT the
time of his death he still owned the plant
which the Eagle machine works formerly
occupied at West street and the Vandalia
Railroad
Mr.. Hasselman was one of the most
energetic business men Indianapolis ever
knew: He was public spirited, and was
| associated in some way with almost
every venture which was intended to ad-
vertise or improve the city. In his early
manhood he was fond of horses. and al
| ways kept few blooded animals, but when
| he became surrounded by many business
cares he gave up all pastimes and devoted
all his time to business
Mrs. HasSelman and two sons, Otto H. and
| Watson j., survive Mr.. Hasselman For
number of years Mr.. Hasselman made his
! home with Otto the older of the sons but
| he and Mrs. Hasselman recently went to
| live with the younger son. The funeral will
be held Saturday morning at the sons home,
| Central avenue and Thirty-fourth street