Mr. Cooper was born at Laurens, Pocahontas County, Iowa, May 13, 1903, and is a son of Rev. Alfred Nelson and Mary (Sensow) Cooper. Rev. Alfred N. Cooper became a clergyman of the Christian Church and was pastor of the church of this denomination in LaPorte in the opening period of the present century, he having later held a pastoral charge at Laurens, Iowa, where his death occurred when his son Errett R., of this review, was a child of four years. He was a grandson of Horatius Cooper, who was a brother of the distinguished James Fenimore Cooper, American author. The maternal grandfather of Errett R. Cooper was of French lineage, and a member of a family that moved from France to Germany prior to the Franco-Prussian war.
After the death of his father Errett R. Cooper was brought by his widowed mother to LaPorte, he having been four years old at the time his mother thus returned to her native city, where she still maintains her home.
In the LaPorte public schools Errett R. Cooper continued his studies until he was graduated in the high school, and in preparation for his chosen profession he completed a course in the law department of Valparaiso University, in the neighboring City of Valparaiso, this state. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1929, he having received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. The honorary degree of Bachelor of Oratory was conferred on him by the British Royal Academy at Christ College, Oxford, England. At the university he became a popular member of the Scroll and Key society and the local chapter of the Delta Kappa Kappa national law fraternity. His admission to the Indiana bar was virtually coincident with his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and he is established in general practice in LaPorte, with office in the First National Bank Building. He has become eligible for practice before the Indiana Supreme Court and also the Federal courts of the state. His law business shows a distinctively cumulative tendency, and its expansion is to be attributed to his professional ability and loyalty and to his personal popularity in the city and county in which he was reared. The political allegiance of Mr. Cooper is given to the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the church in which his father was an able and honored clergyman.
Click here for photo.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
HARRY L. CRUMPACKER, judge of the Superior Court at Michigan City, has had a notable career in the law and public affairs. This career supplements the distinguished services of the Crumpacker family in Northern Indiana, where they have lived close on to a century.
The Crumpackers are of Holland-Dutch ancestry. John Crumpacker immigrated from Holland in 1762 and settled in Bedford County, Virginia. Owen Crumpacker, founder of the Indiana branch of the family, was born in Botecourt County, Virginia, in 1783 and was a Virginia soldier in the War of 1812. He married Hannah Woodford and in 1834 they left Virginia with their children and settled in Porter County, Indiana. Their son, Theophilus Crumpacker was at that time twelve years of age. Theophilus Crumpacker was born in Virginia, January 18, 1822. He grew up in Porter and LaPorte counties, was a farmer in Porter County and after 1888 lived in Valparaiso until his death on November 27, 1908. Theophilus Crumpacker married Harriet Emmons, who was born in Virginia, December 23,1822. Two of the sons of Theophilus Crumpacker became eminent lawyers, Edgar D. and Grant, and Edgar for many years represented the Tenth Indiana District in Congress.
Another son of Theophilus Crumpacker was John Crumpacker, who was born on a farm near Valparaiso, March 31, 1849. He attended public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso, taught for several years in Porter County and served two terms as county treasurer of that county. After leaving this office he became cashier of the LaPorte Savings Bank and continued with that institution until a short time before his death, being cashier and later president. He died April 6, 1913, and is buried at Valparaiso. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and Elks.
John Crumpacker married Anna J. Smith, who was born at Norwalk, Ohio. Her father died there, and her mother then brought her to Indiana. She became a school teacher, and was a very devout Methodist. She died May 5, 1926.
Judge Harry L. Crumpacker was the only child of John and Anna J. (Smith) Crumpacker. He was born at Valparaiso, May 6, 1881. He attended school at LaPorte, graduating from high school in 1899. He then entered the University of Michigan, where he took the A. B. degree in 1903 and graduated with the law class of 1905. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and on October 15, 1905, opened his law office in Michigan City, which has been his home and the center of his professional career for over a quarter of a century. For several years his law partner was S. J. Crumpacker, of South Bend. After that he practiced alone until he went on the bench. He resigned the office of city attorney to make the race for Superior Court judge. He has been on the bench since January 1, 1915, a consecutive service of nearly seventeen years. During that time he has presided in the trials of many important cases.
Judge Crumpacker is a member of the Michigan City, LaPorte County, and Indiana State Bar Associations. He is a director of the Michigan City Trust & Savings Bank, a trustee of the Michigan City Library Association, a director of Saint Anthony's Hospital. Judge Crumpacker is a member of Acme Lodge No. 83, A. F. and A. M., and of the B. P. O. Elks. He is a member of the Pottawattomie Country Club and Chamber of Commerce, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics and before going on the bench attended a number of state conventions of the party. His recreations are fishing and golf.
Judge Crumpacker married at LaPorte, June 12, 1907, Miss Blanche Bosserman, daughter of Charles and Emma (Webber) Bosserman. The Bosserman family are of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Both the Bosserman and Webber families were people of wealth and influence. Charles Bosserman for many years had an active part in the business and financial life of LaPorte County. He died in 1916 and is buried in the Pine Lake Cemetery at LaPorte. His widow resides at Glendale, California. Mrs. Blanche Crumpacker was educated in public schools at LaPorte and was graduated in 1902 from Ferry Hall at Lake Forest, Illinois. She was a Methodist. She died June 14, 1914, and is buried in the Pine Lake Cemetery. By his first marriage Judge Crumpacker had three children, John, Helen and Marjorie. John Crumpacker graduated from the Michigan City High School in 1926 and from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1931, and is now an ensign on the great battleship and airplane carrier Saratoga. The daughter Helen graduated from high school in 1927 and is attending Indiana State University. Marjorie graduated from high school in 1931 and is a student at the university of Wisconsin.
On January 15, 1920, Judge Crumpacker married, at Chicago, Mrs. Harriet (Bray) Manny, daughter of William and Emma (Boeckling) Bray. Her father was a furniture merchant at Michigan City and later was with the Illinois Steel Corporation at Gary. He died at Michigan City in September, 1930. The Boecklings were an early pioneer family of LaPorte County. Mrs. Crumpacker was educated in the grammar and high schools of Michigan City. Her first husband, Norman B. Manny, was for several years with the Monon Railway Company in Chicago. He died in 1916 and is buried at his old home at Michigan City. Mrs. Crumpacker is a member of the Episcopal Church and is president of the Saint Anthony Hospital Guild and active in woman's club work.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
MARIE KUSTERER WILCOX, librarian of the Michigan City Public Library, was born in Michigan City, where the family have lived since pioneer times.
She is a daughter of George W. and Otillia (Kusterer) Wilcox. The Wilcox family is of English descent and their old home in New England was at West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Kusterer family came from Germany. Miss Wilcox's grandfather, Edward Wilcox, was one of the early railroad engineers to make his headquarters at Michigan City. George W. Wilcox was born in Michigan City and for a number of years was in the service of the Pere Marquette Railroad and in recent years has been with the Pullman Car & Manufacturing Corporation at Michigan City. He married in 1893 Miss Otilla Kusterer, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Miss Marie K. Wilcox was the only child of her parents. She was educated in the public schools of Michigan City, graduating from high school in 1912. A few years later she became interested in library work and has been connected with the Michigan City Public Library since 1918. In 1921 she completed a course in the summer library school at Indianapolis and in 1923 was advanced to the post of librarian.
Miss Wilcox is a member of the League of Women Voters, the B. and P. Woman's Club, Monday Musicale, Woman's Study Club, and the Trinity Episcopal Church.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
CAPT. WALTER R. O'NEAL, postmaster of Carlisle, is a World war veteran and came to Carlisle soon after the close of the World war. He was with the State Highway Commission until appointed postmaster on March 3, 1923. He was reappointed for a second term on March 3, 1927.
Mr. O'Neal spent his early youth in many localities, his father being a minister of the Gospel. He was born at St. Francisville, Illinois, May 6, 1895, son of Rev. James I. and Mollie B. (Cornelison) O'Neal, and grandson of James O'Neal. His grandfather was with a Kentucky regiment in the Union army during the Civil war and was wounded in the Morgan raid and died as a result of his wounds two years after the close of the war. He had been before the war a steamboat pilot on the Ohio River. Rev. James I. O'Neal is a minister of the Christian Church, now located at Marshall, Illinois. He was born at Palmyra, Indiana. He and his wife had seven children: Bessie, Anna, Walter R., Hazel, Vaughn, Fayette and Augusta.
Walter R. O'Neal was educated in the common schools at Keensburg, Illinois, Huntingburg, Indiana, attended high school at Vincennes, Indiana, and Oblong, Illinois, and completed his high school course at Mount Vernon in 1914. The close of his school days coincided with the unsettlement of world conditions through the outbreak of the great war in Europe. Not long afterward came the threatening war cloud over the United States and Mexico, and in 1916 Mr. O'Neal went to the Mexican border, with the rank of sergeant in the Fourth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard. He was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio. His regiment had returned and had been mustered out in the spring of 1917, only a short time before America became a participant in the World war. In June, 1917, Captain O'Neal enlisted again, and was first assigned to Company B, 130th Infantry, Thirty-third or All Illinois Division. He went overseas with his unit in May, 1918, was in a training Sector with his division and later was transferred to Company D, Sixth United States Infantry,. Fifth Division. At the time of this transfer he was commissioned a second lieutenant, and before the signing of the armistice he was promoted to first lieutenant. His active service record came in the climax of America's participation in the war, in the St. Mihiel sector and in the Meuse-Argonne. After the armistice he went with the Army of Occupation into Germany. He received his honorable discharge in June, 1919, at Camp Grant, Illinois. He now holds a commission as captain in the Officers Reserve Corps and is vice president of the Second District of the Indiana Reserve Officers Corps.
Captain O'Neal is a member of the Country Club, Carlisle Lodge No.3, A. F. and A. M., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a past commander of Carlisle Post No. 236, American Legion. He is a member of the Christian Church and his political faith is that of a Republican.
Captain O'Neal married, March 24, 1917, Miss Martha Fay Ormiston, daughter of Walter E. and Nealy R. Ormiston. They have an interesting family of four children, Walter H., Mary Ann, James O. and John Albert.
Click here for photo.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
ALBERT REYNOLDS COUDEN, city comptroller of Michigan City, represents in the third generation one of the first families of this early metropolis of the Michigan Lake Shore.
His grandfather, Reynolds Couden, settled in Michigan City in 1834. He became the pioneer hardware merchant of the town. Michigan City at that time was larger and even more promising as a village than Chicago. Reynolds Couden from his store at Michigan City extended his trade to the Chicago district, driving loads of tin and hardware to sell to Chicago merchants. Reynolds Couden for many terms was a member of the City Council. He married in Michigan City in 1836, and he and his wife are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery there.
The father of Albert R. Couden was Chauncey B. Couden, who was born and reared in Michigan City and in early life was an employee of the Michigan Central Railroad. Later, for thirty-five years, he was with the Haskell & Barker Car Company. He died in 1912 and is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery. Chauncey B. Couden married Ida M. Hubbard, who was born in New York State, September 19, 1850, and was two years of age when her parents moved west to Michigan City. As a young woman she learned a very novel occupation for one of her sex, becoming a skilled telegrapher, and for some time was employed as an operator with the Michigan Central. She was a leading member of the Trinity Episcopal Church. These parents had three children: Margaret M., wife of Charles C. Tryon, of Michigan City; Florence M., Mrs. William Rogers, of Detroit; and Albert R.
Albert Reynolds Couden was born at Michigan City March 12, 1883. He graduated from high school in 1901 and for several years following was an employee of the Haskell & Barker Car Company. In the spring of 1904 he went with Armour & Company in Chicago, but in 1911 returned to his native city and during the following thirteen years was again connected with the Haskell & Barker Car Company.
Mr. Couden since early manhood has taken a deep interest in civic affairs and in local government. On January 1, 1924, he was given the important responsibilities of the office of city manager of Michigan City and served in that capacity until October, 1929. In May, 1930, he was appointed city comptroller, the office he now holds. Mr. Couden is one of the owners of the Yellow Cab Company of Michjgan City.
During the World war he was chairman of the local exemption board. He has done much work in the local Chamber of Commerce. He is a past master of Acme Lodge No. 83, A. F. & A. M., a member of the B. P. O. Elks, Rotary Club, and First Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican. His favorite diversions are hunting and fishing.
Mr. Couden married at Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada, March 6, 1913, Miss Myrtle K. Platt, daughter of C. C. and Margaret (Maitland) Platt, of Gore Bay. Her father is a Canadian government official, and both parents are active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Couden completed her high school education in Canada. She is a member of the Methodist Church, the Eastern Star, the Woman's Club and the League of Women Voters. Mr. and Mrs. Couden's two children, Earle and Kathleen, are students in the public schools.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
LORENZO ALEXANDER GLASSCOTT, a prominent member of the Michigan City bar, is professionally associated in practice with his brother, Judge Robert E. Glasscott, with offices in the Citizens Bank Building.
The Glasscott family were early settlers in Michigan City. The founder of the family was John J. Glasscott, who came from Ireland about 1850 and located at Michigan City. He was a brass moulder and followed that trade in the shops of the Michigan Central Railway for many years. He and his wife are buried in the Calvary Cemetery at Michigan City.
The father of Lorenzo A. Glasscott is a leading business man of Michigan City, John J. Glasscott. He was born in Michigan City, August 15, 1869, was educated in public schools and for a number of years was in the retail coal business. Since 1909 he has conducted the Glasscott Insurance Agency, with offices in the Citizens Bank Building. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus. John J. Glasscott married Evangeline McCrory, who was born and reared at Michigan City and attended parochial schools there. She is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Her parents, John and Katherine McCrory, came from Ireland, and her father for a number of years was a guard at the Michigan City Penitentiary. John J. and Evangeline Glasscott had four children: Miss Eulalia, teacher of home economics in the Junior High School at Michigan City; Lorenzo A. and Robert E.; and Miss Mary E., teacher of English and history in the Junior High School.
Lorenzo A. Glasscott was born at Michigan City, September 7, 1897. He graduated from the Michigan City High School in 1915, and in 1918 completed his work in Notre Dame University. While in the university he registered for service in the United States Army, but was not called. For several months he was a member of the Selective Service Board. Mr. Glasscott was admitted to the bar on November 11, 1918, Armistice Day. He was just twenty-one years of age, and for the past thirteen years has enjoyed a steadily growing practice and reputation as a successful lawyer. Since 1924 his brother, Robert E., has been his partner in practice. Both are members of the Michigan City Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and American Bar Association. Lorenzo A. Glasscott is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the B. P. O. Elks, is a Republican and a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church. He is unmarried.
Robert E. Glasscott was born at Michigan City, February 27, 1903. He attended grammar and high schools in his native city, and was graduated from the law department of Notre Dame University in 1924, being admitted to the bar the same year, and at once joined his brother in practice. On November 5, 1929, he was elected city judge. On account of the contest over that election he did not take office until May, 1930, after the Supreme Court had given its decision on the election. Mr. Glasscott stood highest in the popular vote for candidates for city officials.
Judge Glasscott is secretary of the Michigan City Rotary Club, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and B. P. O. Elks, and was delegate from his lodge to the Elks National Convention at Seattle in July, 1931.
He married, May 17, 1930, Miss Dorothy Ohming. They were married in St. Mary's Church. She is a daughter of Otto Ohming, of Michigan City, a retired building contractor. Mrs. Glasscott attended Michigan City public schools. She is well known in local musical circles as a singer.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
WILLIAM J. K. VOLK, born January 2, 1896 and now head of the Calumet Region's largest and oldest accounting firm, Volk, Newberg & Mazur, Inc., is one of the ever-widening circle of Hammond, Indiana, native sons whose future is most promising because of a successful past career.
Instead of pioneering in new lands as had his father and his grandparents, Mr. Volk chose to blaze his own trail in his immediate environment and so becomes another example of the successful American business man who has the will and ambition to put the pioneer spirit of pioneering parentage to work at home.
On his father's side, Mr. Volk is of German descent, while on the mother's side there is a French strain. His father, the late John K. Volk, came to this country at the age of 20 from Bavaria, Germany. Landing in New York he stayed there a few years and pushed on to the then Far West to Kansas, where pioneering was done in sod houses. In 1885, Hammond was "jes growing." Men like the late John K. Volk who knew the carpenter trade found here opportunity both for em ployment and for investments. Beginning on the smallest possible scale, he gradually acquired considerable real estate and for his time and day was rated a most successful real estate owner and operator. He died a widower, June 16, 1927 and is buried in St. Joseph's cemetery in Hammond, beside his wife, Susanna M., nee Maginot, she having passed away December 14, 1909.
The mother of William J. K. Yolk was born and reared at St. John, Indiana, and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Maginot, pioneer and successful farmers in St. John Township, Lake County. They were immigrants from Alsace Lorraine when those provinces were French possessions.
To get back to the living, it may be added in these few family lines that William J. K. Yolk has three sisters, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. John H. Bogner of Hammond, Theresa C., Mrs. August E. Huhn of Fort Wayne and Miss Clara M., of Wilmette, Illinois.
Having graduated from All Saints Catholic parochial school, Mr. Volk next entered the Hammond High School, then a business college and finally St. Cyril's College in Chicago. His school days ended, Mr. Volk now began his career in the business world, first at Reid Murdock Company, then by getting the experience in various departments of what was then the First National Bank of Hammond. After two years of this employment he went to the Citizens Trust and Savings Bank of Indiana Harbor as receiving teller. The World war was upsetting all peaceful occupations and after a year, the future accountant was in the Ordnance Department of the Standard Steel Car Plant at Hammond and in 1918 he answered the call to the colors and went into training in the Artillery Headquarters, Company F, Artillery Corps, Officers Training Section, at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, until after the Armistice. He received his honorable discharge on the 18th day of February, 1919.
It was while he was stationed at Camp Taylor that Mr. Volk met his fiance and future bride, Miss Rose R. E. Lang, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Lang of Louisville, Kentucky. Her father is retired after a long and successful career as a building contractor. Her mother, nee Rosenburg, died in 1926 and is buried in Louisville. Mrs. Volk received her grammar and high school education in the public schools of Louisville. Mr. and Mrs. Volk were married in Louisville, June 25, 1919. They have one daughter; Anita Rose, who is a pupil of All Saints parochial school in Hammond, her parents being members of this parish. Mrs. Volk is also member of the Woman's Catholic Order of Foresters and the daughters of Isabella and the Hammond Woman's Club.
Mr. Volk is a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and the Knights of Columbus and was formerly active in the B. P. O. Elks. He is a member of Hammond Post of the American Legion, the Lake Hills Country Club, is an independent Republican and a member of All Saints Catholic Church. His diversions are golf, fishing and hunting.
It was after the war that Mr. Volk laid the foundation for the accounting firm which until May 1, 1931 carried his name only as Volk & Company.
The time between his army discharge and the opening of his own business was given to the Seifer Furniture Company at East Chicago. On October 1, 1919, when the country was still in the post war turmoil, he opened his office. He was chief executive and office boy. Today he has a trained staff of experts in his organization, the number varying with seasonable demands and extraordinary work. The nature of the accounting work demands a professional spirit of the highest order. Clients lay bare their business secrets and problems and gaps are bridged and pitfalls closed by good counsel. At other times the prodding pen of the certified accountant brings to the bar of justice him who has been reckless or criminal in trusted financial positions. The ramifying ways of the modern business world demand expert counsel. Mr. Volk realized this growing need for the Calumet Region and shaped his career accordingly. Seeing the need of further enlargement and the sharing of responsibilities for his growing clientele, Mr. Volk incorporated his business so as to give a financial interest to two of his oldest employes in point of service whose names now also appear at the first mast head - J. M. Newberg and George J. Mazur.
Mr. Newberg is an Illinois Certified Public Accountant and has been associated with Mr. Volk for more than five years. His previous connections were with some of Chicago's leading accounting firms.
Mr. Mazur, a native resident of Whiting, joined Mr. Volk as his first assistant. He rapidly worked up to the position of Senior Accountant.
The offices of Volk, Newberg & Mazur, Inc., are in the First Trust Building, Hammond, with branch offices in Gary and Chicago, all members of the firm being registered public accountants in Illinois.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
HARLEY ROYAL REGENOS is one of Kosciusko's most enterprising farmers and citizens, is trustee of Seward Township and has lived in that township all his life.
Mr. Regenos, whose home is six miles southwest of Claypool, was born on his present farm, January 23, 1883. His grandfather, Martin Regenos, came from Ohio and settled in Kosciusko County in 1860, at that time acquiring the lands that now constitute the farm of Harlev R. Regenos. Martin Regenos was an industrious citizen, for forty years was class leader of the United Brethren Church and the family have always been prominently identified with that church denomination in Kosciusko County. The parents of Harley R. Regenos were Jefferson and Mary (Warren) Regenos. His mother was born in Wabash County, Indiana.
Harley R. Regenos grew up on the home farm, was educated in local schools, and for over a quarter of a century has been proprietor of the Yellow Creek View Farm. In connection with growing crops and live stock Mr. Regenos has a reputation over this section of Indiana as an auctioneer. He has also been prominent in farm organizations, and at one time was president of the Township Farmers Institute. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1923 was elected assessor of Seward Township and in 1927 was given the responsibilities of township trustee, one of the important offices in the county. Like his ancestors, he is a devout member of the United Brethren Church.
Mr. Regenos married, November 5, 1904, Miss Minnie Mattix, a native of Franklin Township, Kosciusko County. They are the parents of four children: Frankie Lucile, who is a graduate of the Burket High School, completed her work in the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute in 1926 and has taught in the grade schools at Akron, Indiana; Allen Dale, a graduate of the State School for the Deaf; Orlondo Dean, who graduated from the Burket H.igh School in 1927 and is now attending the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute; and Ilo Elizabeth, in high school at Burket.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
EDWARD TINKER KEITHLEY, Michigan City business man, owner of the largest automobile repair and parts establishment in the city, was born in Buffalo, New York, July 25, 1902.
The Keithley family were of Pennsylvania- Dutch ancestry. When they went west they established a home in Central Missouri, in Saline County, where many of the prosperous farmers were known as Pennsylvania Dutch. Mr. Keithley's great-grandfather was a pioneer in that section of Missouri near the City of Marshall. Mr. Keithley's grandfather, Jacob Carter Keithley, was born in Saline County and has spent a long and active life in that vicinity. He is at this writing a hundred years of age, and still lives on his farm.
The father of Mr. Keithley was Herbert R. Keithley, who was born and reared near Marshall, Missouri. After getting his education he went east to New York City. He was of an inventive turn of mind and his active career was spent in the field of mechanical invention. He invented the copper rail union and the Keithley box car under-frame for railway cars. He died in 1922 and is buried, at Michigan City, where he lived the last five years of his life. He was laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery. He married Hattie M. Tinker. The Tinkers are of New England, and English ancestry. Her father, Henry Tinker, was born in New York State, where he lived out his life. She herself was born on a farm near Norwich, New York, and attended public school there. She resides with her son at Michigan City and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her children were five in number: Herbert R., a radio salesman at Michigan City; Madeline, wife of Robert Fitz, who is in the garage business at Michigan City; Frank T., an automobile salesman at Michigan City; Edward T.; and Jane N., who has made a bid for fame in the motion picture world, lives at Hollywood, California, and appears on the stage under the name of Jane Keith.
Edward T. Keithley attended public school at Davenport, Iowa, and high school at Michigan City, and directly after leaving school spent five years with the Michigan City electric Company. He then took up automobile work for himself, handling automobile repairs. At first he was associated with his brother Herbert R., in the firm of Keithley Brothers, Incorporated, at 310 Pine Street, but in 1928 bought his brother's interest and has continued the firm under the old name. He has a large and well equipped shop, handling repairs of all kinds, and his place of business is the first and last resort for automobile parts.
Mr. Keithley is a Republican in politics, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the B. P .O. Elks. He enjoys hunting ana other sports.
He married at Michigan City, October 12, 1923, Miss Clara M. Schultz, daughter of Emil and Elizabeth (Schultz) Schultz. Her father has for a number of years been with the S. Karpen & Brothers furniture house and is a member of the Lutheran Church and Loyal Order of Moose. Mrs. Keithley attended school at Michigan City. She is a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church and the Woman's Club.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
REV. JOHN JOSEPH LACH. Regardless of denomination people in Whiting of all classes know something of the splendid work accomplished there by Father Lach, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. He has made his church not only a center of worship, but source of civic and social uplift to the entire community.
This zealous priest was born at Hibernia, New Jersey, June 9, 1896, son of Joseph and Mary (Rakucka) Lach. Both parents were born in Slovakia. His grandfather, John Lach, brought his family to America in 1873, and after living for a time in New York City moved to New Jersey. He was a merchant in that state. After retiring from business he and his wife returned to Slovakia, where he died and where his widow resides. Joseph Lach was a boy when brought to America. He was educated in public and parochial schools of New Jersey and for many years was a merchant, but is now living retired at Whippany, New Jersey, where he and his wife are communicants of the Church of the Assumption. His wife, Mary Rakucka, was brought to America by her parents ana also attended school in New Jersey. They have a family of five children: Rev. John Joseph; Joseph, of Gary, Indiana; Frank, of Paterson, New Jersey; Mrs. Sophia Mazur, of Whiting; and Stephen; of Whippany, New Jersey.
John Joseph Lach had his first schooling in the parochial schools of New York City. He took a course in commercial law at St. John's College, Brooklyn, New York. After it was decided that he should prepare for the priesthood he entered St. Procopius Seminary at Lisle, Illinois, where he completed his high school course in 1912, was graduated in Philosophy in 1916, and in 1918 completed his theological training. Father Lach was ordained in 1922, by Bishop Allerding, of Fort Wayne, and all of his work has been in the Fort Wayne diocese. For eight months he was assistant priest at Sts. Peter and Paul, Church at Marion, Indiana, for one year was pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, a Polish church at LaPorte, for two and a half-years was pastor of St. Thomas Church at Knox, Indiana, and in 1926 came to his labors at Whiting as pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. During the World war Father Lach was in training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station until after the armistice. He is a member of the Whiting Post of the American Legion. He is a man of boundless energy and industry, and his labors at Whiting cover a much broader scope than the average pastor is able to undertake. He is president of the Catholic Slovak Athletic Association of the Mid-West. He has done much to promote wholesome sports in his own and other communities. He is a popular citizen, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, B. P. O. Elks and an honorary member of the Woodmar and Lake Hills Country Clubs. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and several Slovak fraternities.
One organization which has done much to spread the name of Father Lach abroad is the brassband known as "Father Lach's' Band." It is one of the largest parochial school bands in America and it has had a conspicuous part in many local entertainments, and has also toured extensively throughout the country, making a tour every summer. The tour for 1931 was a trip from Whiting to New York City and to Washington and other points. Plans have been made for a European tour in 1932. Father Lach is the supervising head of the parochial school in his parish, in which are enrolled 500 pupils, with a staff of ten teachers.
Click here for photo.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
ANTHONY WAYNE TILT, of Michigan City, is a business man of wide and interesting experience and achievement. As a young man he thought his first duty was to his country, and he served a period of enlistment during the Spanish American war, and afterwards went to the Philippines and saw some of the heavy fighting and campaigning in the insurrection.
He was born at Peoria, Illinois, December 25, 1877, son of Charles Leslie and Maria Jane (Miller) Tilt. Charles L. Ti1t was born and reared at Toronto, Canada, attended school there and when a young man went to New York City and came west to become an employee of the Studebaker Company at South Bend. For several years he lived at Peoria, then again in the East, and on returning to South Bend was connected with the Studebaker Company until his death. He died September 15, 1897. He was a member of the Royal Arcanum and was reared in the Episcopal Church, but followed his wife into the Baptist denomination. They are buried at LaPorte.
Charles L. Tilt and his wife were married at LaPorte. She was a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Deborah Miller. Samuel Miller owned a farm , east of LaPorte, but most of his time was spent in his duties as a pioneer Baptist minister in Northern Indiana. Maria Jane Miller was first married to Yates Salisbury, and by this union there were two sons, Sam Salisbury, of LaPorte, and Harry Salisbury, of Hobart, Indiana. The only child of her second marriage is A. Wayne Tilt. Maria Jane Tilt died July 18, 1928, at the age of seventy-six.
A. Wayne Tilt attended public school at LaPorte but graduated from high school at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1896. He learned telegraphy and was an operator with the Chicago & Alton Railroad until the beginning of the Spanish-American war. He enlisted and was assigned duty as telegrapher with Company A of the First Wisconsin Volunteers. His company was organized at Janesville by Capt. Charles L. Hanson. He was at Jacksonville, Florida, in camp until the end of the war and like many others in southern camps was afflicted with typhoid and malaria. For two weeks he was in a Government hospital at Pablo Beach, Florida, spent two and a half weeks at Fernandena in that state and accompanied his regiment back north to Milwaukee. When he returned to Janesville he weighed only seventy-five pounds. He was honorably discharged October 19, 1898.
After spending nearly a year recuperating he reenlisted, on September 15, 1899, at LaPorte, under Captain Anderson, who was recruiting for service in the Philippines. He was first sent to Indianapolis, then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was assigned duty with Company G of the Forty-fourth United States Volunteer Infantry. The regiment left for San Francisco and on November 21, 1899, went on board the transport Hancock. The transport reached Honolulu November 29, and Manila on December 22. Three days later, on Christmas Day, the regiment left Manila Bay for Iloilo, Panay Island. On January 16, 1900, he was member of an expedition that started into the interior of the island, marching through the mountain country in search of the enemy, whom they encountered at Madalog, January 30. Later his company was transferred to another district of Panay, had numerous encounters with the Ladrones, including the engagement at Balilao March 6. He was in the engagement at Patnongan April 28, and in the fight at Pandan May 4. Other engagements were at Cassia, May 13, Idio, May 15, Mabalaum, August 1. While in the station at Pandan his company made numerous marches of from one to fourteen days into the mountains after Insurgents and Ladrones, and altogether he spent about fifteen months in one of the most hostile sections of the Philippines, being in the danger zone practically all the time. His command returned to Manila May 30, 1901, and the following day started for the United States, visiting en route Nagasaki, Japan, where the company was given shore leave. They reached San Francisco June 25, 1901, and Mr. Tilt was mustered out at the Presidio June 30th.
From San Francisco Mr. Tilt returned to LaPorte and soon afterward went to work for the W. W. Kimball Piano Company in Chicago. When the Hobart M. Cable Company moved its plant to LaPorte he joined them. In 1908 he went with Lyon & Healy Company in Chicago, in charge of the tone regulating department. In 1912 he became connected with the Bush & Lane Piano Manufacturing Company at Holland, Michigan. He was rated as an expert in the piano industry. In 1917 he became a road man for Sears, Roebuck & Company, doing service and adjustment work in the piano department. Mr. Tilt in 1923 joined the August Korn Music House at Michigan City, but after two years resigned in order to go into business for himself.
Since 1925 he has conducted a general insurance and real estate business. During that time he has handled a great many bankruptcies. Mr. Tilt is a man of original ideas, and has put many of them into effect in the course of an active business career. Some time ago he secured a patent on a unique idea, which is registered in the United States Patent Office and is owned by the National Consumers Discount Company. Mr. Tilt has worked out this idea in a very thorough manner and has secured its adoption by merchants in Indiana and elsewhere. The basis of the idea is a savings plan offered by aggressive independent merchants, who under the plan offer to pay monthly telephone bills through the savings or discount on cash purchases in their stores. Mr. Tilt is the local representative at Michigan City of the Bankers Reserve Life Agency. He is in his fourth year as secretary of Acme Lodge No. 83, A. F. and A. M., is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Council, the Scottish Rite Consistory bodies at South Bend, and has served on the reception committees in the Consistory. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Episcopal Church. His recreations are water sports, sail boating, swimming and fishing.
Mr. Tilt married at Goshen, Indiana, March 26, 1904, Miss Martha Kahn. They were married by Rev. J. V. Fradenburg, pastor of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Tilt is a daughter of John and Minnie (Hauschold) Kahn, of Michigan City, where her father for many years was connected with the Haskell & Barker Car Company. Both parents were members of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. Her father died in 1916 and her mother is also deceased. They are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery. Mrs. Tilt attended the parochial school of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. She is now a member of the Christian Science Church. Mr. and Mrs. Tilt have one son, Charles Leslie Tilt.
This son was born March 13, 1906, and is a young man of brilliant promise and fine abilities. He graduated from the Carl Schurz School at Chicago, and at the age of sev- teen went to work for the South Shore Electric Railway Company in the traffic department. His experience has brought him an authoritative knowledge of traffic science. He was with the South Shore Company until 1928, and then went with the industrial traffic department of the Universal Car Loading & Transfer Company. On March 7, 1931, he was transferred to the general offices at New York City as chief clerk. He handles exclusively tariff cases. He has also made a study of tariff law ana will soon get his law degree. His home is at Jersey City, New Jersey.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
CLARENCE WALTER MAHNS, owner of the Mahns Motor Sales at Michigan City, is one of the prominent business men and, citizens of that community and represents one of the old and substantial families of Northern Indiana.
Mr. Mahns was born at Crisman in Porter County, May 6, 1897, son of Fred and Augusta (Grieger) Mahns and grandson of Fred Mahns. Fred Mahns came from Germany and was one of the early settlers of Hammond, Indiana. He and his wife owned a large amount of property in that city and both are buried there. Fred Mahns, Jr., was born at Hamburg, Germany, February 21, 1869, and was three years of age when his parents came to America. He attended public schools in Hammond, and at the age of nineteen was married and became operator and station agent for the Michigan Central Railway at Crisman. He has been at that post of duty continuously for over forty years, being one of the veterans in railway service. He is a member of the Order of Railway Trainmen, the English Lutheran Church, and his recreations are hunting and fishing. His wife was born at Furnessville, Indiana, daughter of Louis and Paulina (Martin) Grieger. Her father is a retired farmer near Furnessville, and is ninety years of age, while her mother is eighty-seven. Fred and Augusta Mahns had five sons, two of whom died in infancy. Doctor Rudolph, who practiced dentistry at Gary for eight years, died May 6, 1931, and his widow and son Lon reside at Crisman with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lenburg. Edward Mahns, an inspector at the Gary Steel, Mills, married Luella Thompson, of Three Oaks, Michigan, and has two children, Dwyane and Gloria.
Clarence W. Mahns was educated in the grammar and high schools of Crisman and for two years after leaving school was with the Illinois Steel Company at Gary. Since then he has been connected with the automobile business. He located in Michigan City in 1919 and was sales manager for several different firms until 1928, when he took the local agency for the DeSoto cars. Subsequently he added the Marmon and Plymouth cars, and handles all three of these noted cars today. He has a fine office and show room at 112 East Michigan Street and has facilities for complete servicing of cars. Mr. Mahns is a member of the Michigan City Automobile Dealers Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, the English Lutheran Church, and is a Republican. He enjoys fishing, and is well known in local circles as a talented entertainer, having done vaudeville work, and has shown much ability as a magician.
Mr. Mahns married at Crisman, August 16, 1916, Miss Grace Robinson, of Wheeler, Indiana, daughter of George and Augusta (Cole) Robinson. Her birthplace was Watertown, New York, and she was a child when her parents settled at Wheeler. Her parents reside at Wheeler. Her father was a farmer and carpenter and is now connected with the American Tin Plate Company of Gary. There were nine children in the Robinson family. The son Norman was killed in a train accident in November, 1918. Those living are Gertrude, Mrs. Mahns, Leonard, Dwyane, Otho, Bonnie, Elda and Edytha May. Mrs. Mahns attended school at Wheeler, spent two years in Valparaiso University, and was a teacher for three years at Crisman, until her marriage. She is a member of the English Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid Society of the church, and for the past three years has taught a class in Sunday School. Mr. and Mrs. Mahns had three children, Maurice; Willard, who died at the age of eight months; and Darlene. Maurice is in his first year in the Michigan City High School and Darlene is in the grade school. Both these children have artistic gifts and Darlene has sung in public since she was five years of age.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
