OSCAR A. MARTIN is owner of the Oscar A. Martin Company, the Wabash County Sales & Distributing Agency for the Hudson and Essex cars. Mr. Martin is no stranger to Wabash County, having been born there and is member of a family that have lived in this section of the Upper Wabash River Valley nearly a century.

He was born in the town of La Fontaine, January 13, 1893, and is a son of John C. F. and Flora E. (Holmes) Martin and a grandson of Phillip and Hannah (Bain) Martin. Phillip Martin was born in Ohio, January 11, 1813, and settled in Wabash County September 11, 1834. He acquired a tract of Government land, developed it into a farm, and was one of the prosperous and influential citizens of the community around La Fontaine.

John C. F. Martin has long been a leading business man and citizen of Wabash County, served as president of the Farmers State, Bank or La Fontaine, for two terms was a county commissioner and has been a grain dealer for thirty years.

Oscar A. Martin is one of a family of seven children. He was educated in the grade and high schools at La Fontaine and graduated in 1910 from North Manchester College. He has had twenty years of experience in the automobile business. For five years he was connected with the Gibson Auto Company at Indianapolis.

Mr. Martin in September, 1917, enlisted, was in training for several months with the infantry and was sergeant major of the One Hundred Fifty-ninth Brigade. Later he entered the Officers Training School at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and was commissioned a lieutenant in November, 1918, and after the war was in the United States Reserve Corps.

After his army service he spent a year or so in Chicago, as sales manager for the Chicago branch of the Monroe Automobile Company. Mr. Martin in 1921 came to Wabash and organized the Oscar A. Martin Company, acquiring the franchise for the Hudson and Essex cars. He has a fine plant and sales room at 458 Miami Street, his shop utilizing about 10,000 square feet of floor space, and with equipment and facilities for handling repairs on all kinds of cars.

Since 1915 Mr. Martin has been also associated with other members of the family in the grain business, being vice president of the A. B. Martin Grain Company of La Fontaine. His father is president of this company and his brother, A.. B. Martin, is secretary and. treasurer. This firm operates an elevator at La Fontaine, with a capacity of 20,000 bushels, and another elevator at Sweetzer, with a capacity of 75,000 bushels.

Mr. Martin married Miss Ruth Sundheimer, of Wabash. He is a member of the Wabash, Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, La Fontaine Lodge of Masons, Marion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, also the Council and Knights Templar Commandery at Marion and the Scottish Rite Consistory at Indianapolis. He is a member of Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Chicago. Mr. Martin is a member of the Retail Merchants Bureau, is a Republican and a trustee of the First Evangelical Church.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


HENRY W. MOORE, a prominent member of the bar of Terre Haute, where he has been in practice since 1911, was born on a farm in Daviess County, Indiana, December 29, 1868, son of John Dillon and Katherine (Slinkard) Moore.

Mr. Moore was educated in the public schools of Greene County, taught school in early life and completed his literary and legal education in Indiana University. He was admitted to the bar at Bloomfield, Greene County, in 1892. During the years he practiced at Bloomfield he was for two years a law partner of Judge Oscar Bland. In 1911 he removed to Terre Haute, where he has ranked as one of the leaders of the bar for the past twenty years, his cases frequently taking him into the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Moore has always been prominent in the Democratic party organization of the state. While living at Bloomfield he served as Democratic chairman of Greene County and was owner and editor of the Bloomfield Democrat, then the official organ of the Democratic party in the county. In 1926 and again in 1928 Mr. Moore was the Democratic candidate for Congress from the Fifth Indiana District. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner.

He married, April 10, 1895, Hallie Edith Haas, daughter of Morris and Colin (Dickey) Haas. Their only child, Marcella, is the wife of Ben S. Bostick, of New York City.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


JOSEPH J. CHILLA came to America from Czecho-Slovakia when eighteen years of age, and has achieved success and prominence in banking circles at Whiting, and has long been a leader among his fellow countrymen in this section of Indiana.

He was born in Czecho-Slovakia October 1, 1881, son of Andrew and Mary (Nemec) Chilla. His parents were also born and reared in that country. After the death of Mrs. Mary Chilla, Andrew came to America in 1912 and lived retired. He was in the railroad service in his native land. He died in 1916 and is buried in St. John Cemetery at Hammond. His wife died in 1910. Of their nine children six died in infancy. The living are: Mrs. Mary Ciesko, of Whiting; Mrs. Amelia Harkut, of Czecho-Slovakia; and Joseph J.

Joseph J. Chilla had the advantage of the parochial schools in his native country. When he came to America, in 1900, he located at Whiting, and here, while working during the day, he made diligent use of his leisure time by equipping himself for larger responsibilities, attending night school and also taking private instruction. Since 1907 his experience has been in the banking, insurance and real estate field. In 1926 he established the Liberty Savings & Loan Association and has been secretary since that date. He is also a director of the company. In connection he conducts an insurance and real estate agency.

Mr. Chilla is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Whiting Lions Club, the B. P. O. Elks, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters. He has long been prominent in Czecho-Slovakian organizations, including the First Catholic Slovak Union of America, the National Slovakian Society of America, and is a member of the Catholic Turners Society, the American Slovak Citizens Club of Whiting, St. Nicks Club and the Washington Club. He casts his vote independently and is a member of St. John's Catholic Church.

Mr. Chilla married at Whiting, June 6, 1905, Miss Lydia Kubeck, daughter of Andrew and Mary Kubeck, of Whiting. Her father spent many years in the service of the Standard Oil Company and later was sexton of St. John's Cemetery. He died in 1922 and her mother resides at Whiting. Mrs. Chilla attended parochial schools in Whiting. She is a member of St. John's Church and the Daughters of Isabella and the Ladies of the Maccabees. Mr. and Mrs. Chilla have an interesting family of seven children. Their daughter Mary is the wife of Andrew Witko, of Gary, and has two children, Andrew, Jr., and Rose Marie. The unmarried children are Anna, Joseph J., Jr., Helen, Benedict, Clara and Dolores. Benedict is in high school and Clara in St. John's parochial school. Mary, Anna, Joseph, Jr., and Helen are all graduates of the Whiting High School. Joseph and Helen are now assisting their father in his business.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


GEORGE L. WINKLER. Since 1911 George L. Winkler has been constantly employed in one or another capacity as a law enforcement officer, having been an employe of the City of Indianapolis, the County of Marion and the Federal Government. He began his career in this line of work as a uniformed member of the Indianapolis police force, and in 1928 was elected sheriff of Marion County, a position which he still retains, and in which he is displaying the courage, fidelity and sagacity that made him a successful police captain and capable prohibition official.

Sheriff Winkler was born on a farm in Johnson County, Indiana, December 17, 1866, and is a son of David and Aliena (Snow) Winkler. His father, who was an Indiana volunteer during the war between the states, spent the greater part of his life in agricultural operations in Johnson County, where he was highly esteemed as a man and a citizen. George L. Winkler attended the grade and high schools in Johnson County, and when his parents moved to Indianapolis he had the added advantage of attending the Manual Training High School, from which he was duly graduated. He then secured a position as errand boy for the Holcomb & Hoke Manufacturing Company, and won rapid promotion because of his ability, fidelity and great industry, and at the time of his resignation, in 1911, was superintendent of the plant. In that year Mr. Winkler became a patrolman on the Indianapolis city police department's force, and here again he won promotion, advancing rapidly to the rank of captain. In 1921 he left the department to become a Federal prohibition agent, subsequently was advanced to group chief, and eventually to the highest enforcement position in the state, that of deputy administrator of Federal prohibition. When he became a candidate, on the Republican ticket, for the office of sheriff of Marion County, in 1928, Mr. Winkler resigned from the prohibition force. He was duly elected to the office by a handsome majority and has discharged his duties in a highly commendable and expeditious manner, earning the gratitude and confidence of the people of the county. Sheriff Winkler has been a lifelong Republican and is one of the leaders of his party in Marion County. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious affiliation is with the Christian Church.

In 1905 Sheriff Winkler was united in marriage with Miss Florence Wilson, of Ripley, County, Indiana, and to this union there were born two children: Mrs. Jessie Allena Todd and George Robert. Mrs. Winkler died in December, 1922, and February 5, 1927, Sheriff Winkler married the present Mrs. Winkler, who was formerly Miss Florence Claffey, of Indianapolis. The pleasant Winkler home is at 32 South Alabama Street.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


FRED E. DAVIS has been for thirty years an influential figure in banking enterprise in Tipton County, where he is president of the Citizens National Bank at Tipton, the county seat, and where he has ever been known and duly valued as an able and reliable man of affairs and as a loyal, liberal and public-spirited citizen. He thus has gained inviolable place in popular confidence and esteem in his home city and county.

Mr. Davis was born at Rock Island, Illinois, February 20, 1858, and is a son of Oren W. and Elizabeth (Heflin) Davis, his father having been born in Kentucky and having gained a goodly measure of pioneer precedence in Illinois, where he and his wife remained until their death. Fred E. Davis received in his boyhood and early youth the advantages of the public schools of Illinois, and as a lad of fifteen years he there found employment in a drug store. He continued for fifteen years his service as a drug clerk, and he then turned his attention to the banking business. He was for six years a partner in a private bank at Loogootee, Indiana, and he then became cashier of a bank at Sullivan, judicial center of Sullivan County, Indiana, where he remained about two years. He then, in 1898, established his residence at Tipton, where he effected the organization of the State Bank of Tipton. He became cashier and later the executive head of this institution, the affairs of which he directed with marked circumspection and with reliable and straightforward policies, the result being that after the passing of six years the business of the bank had so expanded as to make it expedient to reorganize the institution under its present title of Citizens National Bank. As president of this solid and well ordered banking concern he had made it a distinct communal asset and has gained to it secure status as one of the leading banking institutions of this section of the Hoosier State.

The political allegiance of Mr. Davis is given to the Republican party, he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their home city.

In his native State of Illinois was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Davis to Miss Mellie Royston, who was born at Peoria, that state, and the one child of this union is a daughter; Madge, who is the wife of William Hill, the latter being an executive officer of the Citizens National Bank of Tipton.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


HON. HOWARD A. CANN, of Frankfort, is a business man with natural inclination and ability for public affairs, and has several times been honored with election to the Indiana Legislature, serving in both Houses, and his activities have made him a well known figure in the state.

Mr. Cann was born at Monticello, Illinois; October 28, 1870, but both his parents were born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, having lived in Illinois only a short time. His father, Christopher C. Cann, was born near Lafayette, July 4, 1840, and had just reached his majority when the Civil war broke out. He served three years and four months in the Fortieth Indiana Regiment. After the war he was deputy county clerk of Tippecanoe County and for four years held the office of county recorder. Christopher C. Cann married Ella A. McKee, who was born near Clarks Hill in Tippecanoe County, February 9, 1840.

Howard A. Cann was a small child when his parents returned to Tippecanoe County where he attended the common schools, completing his education in the Central Indiana Normal College at Danville. He worked on a farm during 1890-91 and in 1892 became connected with the monument business at Thorntown. During 1893 he represented the Emil Wulschner Company, of Indianapolis, as a salesman of musical instruments in Clinton and Tippecanoe counties. The year 1894 was spent on a farm and in 1895 he located in the City of Frankfort, which has been his home for thirty-five years. During all this time Mr. Cann has conducted a monument business.

Politically he has been an influential figure in the local and state Republican party for many years. What he regards as one of the most interesting and important services of his lifetime was his chairmanship of the County Red Cross during the World war. In 1918 he was first elected to the Legislature, as a representative. In 1920 he was one of the senators elected from the district of Clinton and Boone counties, and in 1924 was returned to the Senate from the district, comprising Clinton, Carroll and White counties. Mr. Cann took an active part in the campaign for raising funds to enlarge the Riley Hospital at Indianapolis. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order, is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Sons of Veterans, and is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club. Both he and his wife are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Frankfort. He has been on the board of trustees since 1910, is a member of the Area Council of Indiana and a director of the Wesley Foundation at Purdue University.

Mr. Cann married, January 27, 1892, in Clinton County, Clara S. Harshman, daughter of Martin V. and Ann Eliza Harshman. She was born January 20, 1873. She is a member of the Woman's State Assembly Club, the Eastern Star and the Pythian Sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Cann have two adopted children. The son, Harold Cann, born March 5, 1892, was one of the early volunteers for service in the World war, joining the First Division, and was with the first contingent of American troops to go overseas. He is now connected with the General Motors Company at Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Cann's daughter, Marie, born March 22, 1896, is the wife of Samuel M. Purdue, of Lafayette. Mr. Purdue is a traveling salesman for the text book department of D. Appleton & Company, publishers.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


COL. THOMAS GRAHAM HAMILTON. The limits assigned for this sketch of the life of an active and eminent member of the profession of electrical engineers and a railway man known and admired throughout the Middle West are wholly inadequate to give even a cursory notice of the many brilliant works which he has planned and executed, or of the military episodes of a life which would alone entitle him to be enrolled among the bravest, most skilful and. most successful officers who led the American army during the World war. It must suffice to make allusion to those incidents of a long life and active and diversified career which will afford the best clue to the character of the man and his many and brilliant achievements.

Col. Thomas Graham Hamilton was born at Belfast, Ireland, December 21, 1870, and is a son of John and Sarah Jane (Graham) Hamilton. His father, also a native of Belfast, was engaged in landscape gardening in his native land, where he married, and in 1871 came to the United States and settled at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he continued to follow the same vocation for a time, later entering the wholesale and retail grocery business, in which he was engaged until a few years prior to his death, when he retired. He was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and died in the faith of the Episcopal Church in 1884, being buried in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Sarah Jane Graham was born and reared in Scotland, where she attended the public schools, but later was taken by her parents to Ireland, where, at Belfast, she met and married Mr. Hamilton. Throughout her life she was a pious member of the Episcopal Church and active in its work, and at her death in 1924 she was laid to rest at the side of her husband in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh. There were six children in the family: One who died in infancy; Col. Thomas Graham, of this review; Agnes L., Theodore, Mary J. and Sarah C. Thomas Graham Hamilton attended the public schools of Pittsburgh and a business college, and in 1895 was graduated from Lehigh University with the degree of Electrical Engineer. Shortly after he had left business college he joined the service of the Pittsburgh Railways Company, and on his first day of employment this company operated the first cable street railway system in the Smoky City. Upon his return from Lehigh University he returned to the Pittsburgh Railways Company, as engineer in charge of tracks, overhead lines and various construction projects; including new power stations, bridges, etc. In the fall of 1898, at the close of the Spanish-American war, Colonel Hamilton was sent to Havana, Cuba, to report on street railway conditions, where the cars at that time were all horse- drawn. Again, in 1899, he was sent to Havana to construct the first electric street railway in Cuba. After planning the entire work it was found that because of the presence of yellow fever no contractors would make bids for the project and accordingly Colonel Hamilton was placed in charge of the construction of tracks, overhead lines and power houses, using native labor in construction and breaking in natives as operators. He himself operated the first electric cars to pass through the streets of Havana, in the midst of great excitement. This work was done under Gen. Leonard Wood, at that time military governor of Cuba, and the employment force under Colonel Hamilton were governed by army regulations, and kept under the strictest medical supervision. Colonel Hamilton also engaged extensively in building interurban lines in Cuba, but in 1904 was stricken with malaria and secured a three months leave of absence, but on his return to the United States decided to remain here and obtained his release from his obligations in Cuba. Subsequently he accepted the position of assistant chief engineer in the construction of the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler & Newcastle Railway, making all preliminary surveys and carrying through construction until final completion in 1907. In October of that year he became chief engineer and superintendent of construction of the lines in Northwestern Indiana, including LaPorte, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, the lines which now comprise the system of the Gary Railways. When the United States was drawn into the great European struggle, in 1917, Colonel Hamilton volunteered his services and was commissioned major, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, June 23, 1917. He entered the training camp at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, September 2, 1917, and was assigned to overseas duty September 12, 1917, arriving in France September 22. He served on the staff of chief of engineers of the American Expeditionary Forces, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in April, 1919, returned to the United States July 13, 1919, and was honorably discharged at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, July 30, 1919. Colonel Hamilton's military career was a remarkable one, and he was created a chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by presidential decree of the French Republic of April 4, 1919, in recognition of his services, and received his decoration in the Court of Honor of the Invalides, Paris, April 28, 1919. He was commended by the chief of engineers and by the chief finance officer of the A. E. F. of the United States forces. Subsequently he was engineer member of the claims settlement board of the American Expeditionary Forces, and a member of the commission appointed by the chief of engineers of the American Expeditionary Forces to determine the disposition of engineers' stores in France after the armistice. During his service Colonel Hamilton's department handled some 778,000 tons of supplies and Colonel Hamilton personally expended upwards of $110,000,000.

Having adjusted all claims amicably, due to the armistice, in connection with the above expenditures in France, Colonel Hamilton returned to this country and again took up the duties of peace, having since served as vice president and general manager of the Gary Railways. He is also assistant general manager of the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad and as chief engineer was in charge of the rehabilitation of this property, now the fastest and most modern high speed electric railroad in the United States and Canada. He is one of the best known electrical engineers and railway men in the country. He has retained his interest in military matters, having served as commander of Gary Memorial Post No. 17 of the American Legion and during 1922, 1923 and 1924 was president of the Tenth Indiana District Reserve Officers Association. He is a director in a number of utility properties and corporations. Colonel Hamilton holds an honorary membership in DuQuesne Lodge No. 54, A. F. and A. M., and is a Royal Arch Mason; is a charter member of the American Society of Military Engineers; and a member of the Rotary Club, the Gary Commercial Club and Chamber of Commerce and the Gary Country Club. He is a Republican in his political allegiance. His religious connection is with the First Presbyterian Church.

At Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1901, Colonel Hamilton was united in marriage with Miss Mildred Leet Davis, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of David Leet and Frances A. (Hall) Davis. David Leet Davis, who served with a Pennsylvania infantry regiment in the Union army during the war between the states, was captured by the enemy and confined in the infamous Andersonville Prison. However, he managed to make his escape therefrom, rejoined his regiment and fought until the end of the war, after which he was employed by the Government for many years. Both he and Mrs. Davis have been deceased for many years and are buried at Waynesburg. Mrs. Hamilton attended the public schools of Waynesburg and after her graduation from high school pursued a course at Waynesburg College. She has always active in church, charitable and hospital work and is prominent in the women’s civic activities of Gary. Colonel and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of one son: John Leet, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1924, who is now district manager for the Manning, Maxwell & Moore Corporation of New York City, being located at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He married Miss Jean Fogerty, of Michigan City, Indiana, and they have two sons, Thomas Graham II, and James Corbett.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


CHARLES NEBEKER THOMPSON, whose name for many years has been closely associated with activities and organizations for preserving the records of Indiana history and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the state, is himself a descendant of early pioneers who settled at Covington in Fountain County in 1824.

Mr. Thompson was born at Covington, July 7, 1861, son of William and Hanna (Nebeker) Thompson and is a grandson of James and Jane (Allen) Thompson and Lewis and Hanna (Morris) Nebeker. Hanna Morris was a daughter of Richard Morris.

Mr. Thompson is a graduate of old Asbury, now DePauw University, which conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree in 1882. After his admission to the Indiana bar in 1885 he was engaged in general practice until 1913. Since that year his time has been more and more taken up with his legal and other relationships with public utilities. He is a director, vice president and general counsel for the Indianapolis Power & Light Company, is a director of the Fletcher Savings & Trust Company, the Union Title Company, the Fletcher Avenue Savings & Loan Association and is director and vice president of the Indiana Savings & Investment Company and director and president of the Guthrie-Thompson Company.

Mr. Thompson has cultivated as his intellectual hobby for many years a deep interest in the early history of the state. He is a member and president of the Indiana Library and Historical Board and by, appointment of the governor is a member of the commission for the erection of the new state library building at Indianapolis. For the past five years he has been president of the Society of Indiana Pioneers. He is a member of the Indiana Historical Society, American Historical Association, (life member), member of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association and a fellow of the American Geographic Society. Mr. Thompson is a Republican, but has had only a brief public service by election, serving in the Indiana State Senate from 1901 to 1903. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, Columbia Club, Indianapolis Literary Club and is a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church.

He married at Indianapolis, October 7, 1891, Julia Alice Conner, daughter of John C. and Aice (Finch) Conner. She is a granddaughter of John Conner, one of Indiana's distinguished pioneers, and founder of the City of Connersville. John and his brother William Conner were among the first white settlers in the new purchase district of Indiana and they were employed as Indian interpreters by General Harrison. Mrs. Thompson's father was a captain in the United States Army and at the close of the Civil war resigned and became a member of Congress from Texas.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


Deb Murray