Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.
PHIL ADLER Phil Adler was born in Weston, Platte county, Missouri,
September 1,
1858. His father, Morris Adler, was born at Frankfurt on the Main.
His mother, Zelia
Wise, was born at Wurzburg, Germany. They emigrated to the United
States and settled
in Missouri. Later Mr. Adler's father removed to Ohio, residing
for a time at Columbus
and Cincinnati.
Mr. Adler, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Cincinnati
and his education was
obtained in its city schools, which, however, was meager. After
passing the fifth grade,
he, by force of circumstance, was compelled to assist in earning
a livlihood and began
business as a newsboy, later securing a position as a clerk in
a wholesale house,
mastering the ins and outs of the mercantile business. For a number
of years he was a
raveling salesman; seeing the great advantages of Lebanon and
Boone county he engaged
in business in his adopted city, in March, 1884, and has continued
in the mercantile
business in Lebanon, with a short interruption ever since.
From the small beginning on South. Lebanon street he developed
the well known
Cincinnati Store. In 1904 he reorganized his commercial activities
and greatly enlarged
his business. His success has been constant; his business establishment
is one of the most
modern of the city and do credit to cities many times the size
of Lebanon. He carries a
large stock of up-to-date goods and enjoys the largest trade in
the drygoods line in his
home city. His customers are numerous and come from the remote
portions of the county.
Mr. Adler was married September 22, 1886, to Miss Minnie Valentine,
of Cincinnati,
Ohio, who was born in New York City and moved to Cincinnati where
she grew to
womanhood. She was a daughter of Mark and Hannah Valentine, both
being natives of
London, England, who emigrated to the United States in early life.
Mrs. Adler is a lady of
much refinement and possesses many admirable qualities.
Mr. and Mrs. Adler have three children, Mark, who resides in
Lebanon and is engaged in
business with his father and is a promising young business man
of capacity; Miss Cecil,
who is at home, as well as Mr. Philip Adler, Jr., who is now in
school.
Mr. Adler has been the architect of his own success; he is
truly a self-made man. During
his early years adverses made demands upon him, which would have
discouraged those
of less force and will power. His indomitable courage, large hope
and determined
purpose, brooked no opposition. He is a leader among men as man
of affairs, sound of
judgment, liberal in views and strong in purpose. He has been
a most useful citizen in the
upbuilding of Lebanon, being identified with all of its prominent
undertakings in the past
twenty-five years.
In all his business undertakings he has been most enthusiastically
supported by Miss
Hattie Adler, his sister, who has been associated with him in
business and upon whom
Mr. Adler relies for counsel and advice and to whom he gives great
credit for his own
success.
Mr. Adler has not held public office, but has been identified
with commercial
undertakings in the upbuilding of his home city.
ADLER VALENTINE WISE
Submitted by Amy K Davis
