Genealogy Trails
Marion County, Indiana
Genealogy and History
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Genealogy Trails Marion County, Indiana |
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Source: The Indianapolis Star, September 27, 1953, page 15I Contributed by:
Darlene Anderson
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| JOHN U. GISLER, born in 1853, was one of the early pioneers
of Indianapolis. Mr. Gisler, a contractor, built many of the show
places of the city. His son, Charles J. Gisler, took over where his
father left off. Charles, one of the original pattern makers in
Indianapolis, found the C. and G. Foundry in 1920 and is doing a
worldwide business. The Enterprise Iron and Fence Company, established
in 1883, and noted for wrought iron fences and ornamental iron, was
purchased by Charles in 1935.
Charles J. Gisler, one of the city's prominent industrialists, is not only a great church worker but one of our leaders in the civil life of Indianapolis. Started in 1918 when Charles J. Gisler made patterns for various local manufacturers and incorporated the business on April 5th, 1919. A foundry was added in 1920 and the first location was 555 East Washington Street. The busines later moved to Kentucky Avenue but when the Kentucky Avenue bridge was built the business was forced to move its location and has been located at 2440 Yandes since that time. Prior to 1926 the foundry produced only non-ferrous castings but an iron foundry was added in that year to take advantage of the expanding era of mechanization. C and G castings were a part of the Stutz, Marmon and Dusenberg cars and were also a part of the famous Frontenac heads made by the Chevrolet brothers, and the volume and tonnage of the foundries has gradually increased over the years through peace and war to include the modern busses, tanks, automobiles, machine tools, earth moving machinery and various other industries located in Indianapolis and other Midwestern cities. In 1935 the principals of C and G Foundry and Pattern Works purchased the Enterprise Iron and Fence Company, a noted wrought-iron fence and ornamental-iron working concern which was established in 1883. This company's location was adjacent to C and G property and is still operating in the same location. Famous landmarks of Enterprise's work are the iron fences at various cemeteries, including Crown Hill, and the Governor's mansion on North Meridian Street. Enterprise today is active in the miscellaneous iron and steel fabrication required for the building industry, and in addition to installing industrial and home fencing also produces special handling equipment, fire escapes, wire mesh partitions, iron gates, production parts, gratings, window guards, pipe railings, iron ladders and porch railings. The two companies combined can proudly say, "We can cast or form most anything in metal," and their two hundred employees are proud of their part in the Indianapolis Story.
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