MAIN  PAGE

Belgians in the Civil War

Emigrants arrival

links

Sources

BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

JOSS, Frederick Augustus one of the leading lawyers and Republicans of Indianapolis. was born at Centreville, Mich., May 5, 1867.

His father. John C. Joss, was born in Antwerp, Belgium, of German parents, living there for political reasons. He was a student at the university of Halle and Heidelberg. On arriving in this country, he immediately enlisted as private in Co. G. 2d Michigan volunteers in the war of the rebellion, and served four years. He lost his left leg at the battle of the Wilderness, which terminated his service, retiring as captain and acting major. After the war he located at Centreville, Mich., where he was clerk of St. Joe county for sixteen years, and interested in manufacturing enterprises in that locality. He had the assurance by the Garfield administration of consul generalship at Frankfort-on-the-Main, when he was killed in a railway accident February 2, 1881, at Niles. Mich., the same place where he first left the railway when he came to this country. He left a large estate.

Mr. Joss' mother, whose maiden name was Mary Moore Merrell, was born at Sinclairville, N. Y. She belonged to the well-known Beardsley and Norton families of New York state, and was a highly educated and cultured lady, whose special care and pride was the education of her two sons.

Mr. Joss received his early education and training at home, and when nine years old entered Centreville grammar school and graduated in Centreville high school in the year 1882 He immediately entered Ann Arbor high school, which is a preparatory department of the university of Michigan. He was president of the senior class of 1885, and entered the University of Michigan in the fall of the same year. He was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity.

Mr. Joss spent one year in a mining venture in Canada and at the expiration of that time began the study of law. He visited his college friend, Hon. Braden Clark, at Frankfort, Ind., and while there read law in the office of Samuel 0. Bayless. He devoted his time faithfully to the study of the law and was materially aided by Mr. Bayless, who is one of the leading attorneys of the state, and at present assistant general counsel of the Big Four railroad system. Mr. Joss was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with Mr. Clark, which continued until June 12, 1892, when Mr, Joss removed to Indianapolis.

Mr. Joss came to Indianapolis on offer of employment by his present partner, Hon. Ovid B. Jameson, and worked for him until January, 1895, when the present partnership of Jameson & Joss was formed.

Politically, Mr. Joss is and always has been a staunch and active worker in the Republican ranks. He is regarded as one of the leading Republicans of the state, and bas held many important positions in that organization. He is at present state senator from Marion and Morgan counties, and served in that capacity during the legislative session of 1899. He was considered one of the leading members of that body, and served his constituency with ability and distinction and en, tire satisfaction to all, regardless of politics.

Mr. Joss is one of those who think that good citizenship requires every man to take an interest in politics. So believing, he has taken an active part in political affairs in this state with marked success. An intimate personal friend of the Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, he was one of the first to realize the availability of fir. Beveridge for the United States Senate and was prominently connected with the recent successful movement to elect Mr. Beveridge to that position. He was untiring in his efforts and labors to that end and was the acknowledged leader of the Beveridge forces in the caucus. He also made the speech nominating Mr. Beveridge in the senate.

Mr. Joss is a prominent and leading member of different organizations and clubs of Indianapolis. He is chairman of the elections committee of the Columbia club, ex-secretor: of the -Marion club, a member of the University club, a 32d-degree Mason and a Shriner. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Arnerica.

He was married September x, 1891, to Miss Mary Q. Hubbard. They have two children. Mary Hubbard, and Lucianna Hubbard Joss.

 Mr. Joss is not old in years, but he possesses a degree of ability and superior knowledge of law which has already won for him a reputation the equal of many who have spent a lifetime in the legal profession. He has already been called upon to serve his constituency in many high and responsible positions, and so faithfully and well has he performed his duties, that the future will. no doubt, crown him with still greater success.

Source : (collective work) : Men of progress, Indiana : a selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life : together with brief notes on the history and character of Indiana; Indianapolis: Indianapolis Sentinel Co., 1899, 636  pgs.