Page 15
Mr. Featherston was born in Kentucky, and came to this city in 1840.
Owing to his advanced age he was among the first to engage in the auction
business in this city, in a day when that business was of great importance.
It began to decline soon after the beginning of the civil war, when Indianapolis
increased largely in population.
The auction business was at its best from 1845 to 1858. For several years
probably the best known business corner in the city was that occupied by the
auction house of Thomas Gott and William Featherston at the northeast corner of
Washington and Pennsylvania streets, then as now in the heart of the business
life of Indianapolis. This was an old-fashioned whitewashed, two-story brick. A
picture taken in 1858 shows this building and a view north in Pennsylvania
street when the corner of Market and Pennsylvania had been cleared to make ready
for the postoffice building, which is in its turn to be superceded by another
building in a few months.
Boyhood Enterprise
Mr. Featherston came to this State when a boy eight years old and lived at
Southport this county, until eighteen, when he came to this city. As a boy he
sold game, butter and eggs on the market and also collected ginseng of
diggers about Southport, which he sold to druggists here, who were then heavy
dealers in that root for which there was a great demand from China. Mr.
Featherston was not only an auctioneer, but was the first trustee of Center
township and was treasurer of the first building and loan association orgainized
in Indianapolis. He was a member of the old volunteer fire department, which
gave way to the present system nearly fifty years ago.
During the latter years of his business life he was engaged in the dry goods and
auction business in West Washington street, near Missouri street. In 1845 he
married Miss May Norwood of this city. She died in 1870 and
he married Mrs. Emily Billingsly, who survives him, in 1872. Mrs. Henry
Knippenberg and Mrs. C.B. Whitson are adopted daughters. He was noted for his
kindly disposition and his unswerving integrity.
Apr. 3, 1905 - obituary of William Eppes Featherston, son of Rev. Jeremiah and
Anna (Green) Featherston - see Branch #1, volume 1, p. 15; volume 8, p. 16
submitted by: Frank Merriman
Fryberger, Herschel Burroughs, Lawyer - When Herschel Burroughs Fryberger first
entered upon the practice of law at Duluth, Minnesota, during the closing decade
of the last century, he took the first step in a professional
career which brought him distinction and success. A member of a pioneer
Minnesota family, he was long a member of the Duluth bar and one of the best
known figures in the city's life.
cont...