Doctor Schoier was born in the historic old City of Munich, Germany, where his father was a manufacturer of astronomical instruments. The Doctor is a son of John and Adele (Christen) Schoier, the former of whom was born in Germany, where he passed his entire life, and the latter of whom was born in France. The death of John Schoier occurred in 1910, and that of his widow in 1917, both having been devout communicants of the Catholic Church. Of the five children two died young; Rev. Eugene Schoier, elder of the two surviving sons, is a priest of the Catholic Church and has a pastoral charge at Watkins, Minnesota; Emil was editor of a paper at Saarbriieken, Germany, at the time of his death, in 1918; and Dr. Charles O., of this review, is the youngest of children.
The excellent schools of his native city afforded Doctor Schoier his early education, which included the curriculum of gymnasium, an institution comparing with the high school of the United States. He served the prescribed period in the German army, and in 1913 he came to the United States. Here he was able to initiate studies in consonance with his long cherished ambition - that of preparing himself for the medical profession. He was a student two years in the college at Pullman, Washington, and in the period of 1917-29 he was a student in the University of Kansas, where he availed himself of the advantages of the medical department. In 1920 he entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and in that institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1921. In the year that thus marked his reception of the degree of Doctor of Medicine he established his residence at Jasper, and here his ability and personal popularity have gained to him a notably large and representative practice. The Doctor keeps in close touch with the advances made in medical and surgical science, avails himself of the best standard and periodical literature of his profession and has taken effective post-graduate work in the medical department of Tulane University, New Orleans. He has active membership in the Dubois County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, he is a communicant of the Catholic Church, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. The early military service of Doctor Schoier included two years with the field artillery of the German army, in which he served as a supervisor.
In the year 1900 Doctor Schoier was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hoidl, and her death occurred in 1917. Of the children of this union the eldest is Adella, who is the wife of Carl Holcer, their children being two in number; Fanny, the next younger daughter, is the wife of O. Fritch, and they live at Munich, Bavaria; Emil and Eugene reside in the city of Chicago; Miss Anna lives with kinsfolk in Munich, Germany; and Miss Sally is training as a nurse at Saint Mary's' and Elizabeth Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
THOMAS J. MARTINSON, chief of the police department of the City of Hammond, has been a member of the department since 1922 and his advancement to his present office has been a normal result of efficient service and civic loyalty.
Mr. Martinson was born at Goole, England, on the 17th of October, 1888, and is a son of John D. and Elizabeth (Leggett) Martinson, who were born and reared in England and who thence came to the United States, with their family, in 1889. The family home during the first year was maintained at Clifton, Illinois, and removal was then made to the City of Kankakee, that state, where the parents have since continued to reside. John D. Martinson is a skilled workman at the trade of carpenter and since 1890 has been in the service of the New York Central lines, on the Western division of which he holds the position of foreman in the bridge and building department. He has membership in various organizations of railway employes, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church. They became the parents of seven children: James, Thomas J., Sarah Elizabeth (deceased), one who died in infancy, Martha Victoria (Mrs. Tracy Williams of Kankakee), Cornelius (a resident of Kankakee), and Alfred (deceased).
Thomas J. Martinson was an infant at the time of the family removal to the United States and was reared and educated in Kankakee, where he supplemented the discipline of the public schools by taking a course in the Kankakee Business College. While still in school he served as a newsboy in his home during the period of 1904-06 he there held a position in the bookkeeping department of the Paramount Knitting Mills. In the latter year he entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of machinist, in the Kankakee shops of the New York Central Railroad. He was there in service until 1910, when he went to Birmingham, Alabama, and passed a year as a machinist in the shops of the Alabama- Great Southern Railroad. He next passed a few months at Joliet, Illinois, in the employ of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. In 1911 he came to Hammond, Indiana, where he engaged in railroad work and in 1919 became round-house foreman for the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, and he was thus engaged until 1921, when he engaged in the garage and general automobile business at Kankakee, Illinois, though still residing in Hammond. A few months later he disposed of his interest in this business, and he then passed about six months in the employ of the Universal Portland Cement Company, at Hammond. In 1922 Mr. Martinson became a member of the Hammond police department, in which his service as patrolman continued two and one-half years. During the ensuing five years he held the office of sergeant in the detective division of the department, and the record of efficiency that he made in the service had much to do with the official recognition of his eligibility for the office of chief of police, to which he was appointed January 9, 1930, and in which he has given the excellent administration that has met with unqualified popular commendation.
Chief Martinson is a member of the Hammond Safety Council, and is vice president of the Tenth Congressional District Police Association. He also holds membership in the Indiana Police Association and is treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police, Hammond Lodge No. 51. He is a Master Mason in McKinley Lodge No. 112, A. F. and A. M., of Hammond, his political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and in their home city he and his wife attend the Christian Church. In the World war period Mr. Martinson was notably active and loyal in the promotion of various patriotic movements and agencies. He was made chairman of the railroad employes department of the Seven Federated Shop Crafts of the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, controlled by the New York Central lines, and in this connection he attended various conventions and was concerned in the formulating of the national agreement that was eventually presented to Mr. McAdoo, then the federal director of the railroads of the United States, under governmental war-period control. Mr. Martinson likewise served as chairman for the Government war loan drives of the Seven Federated Crafts, was a resourceful four-minute speaker and was financial secretary of the local machinists union. A devotee of athletic sports, Chief Martinson manifests special predilection for football and baseball.
At Kankakee, Illinois, on the 13th of July, 1911, Mr. Martinson was united in marriage to Miss Doris M. Byrnes, who was reared and educated at Bradley, that state, and who is a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth Anne (Colberg) Byrnes. Mr. Byrnes was long engaged in farm enterprise near Kankakee, and was a resident of Bradley, Illinois, at the time of his death, his widow being now a loved member of the family circle of Chief and Mrs. Martinson, of whose four children the eldest is Olive Elizabeth, who was graduated in the Hammond High School as a member of the class of 1928 and who is now bookkeeper for the Elliott & Daniels Automobile Sales Agency in the City of Gary. Doris Victoria is now a student in the Hammond High School. Muriel Roberta died at the age of ten years. Thelma Joan is a student in the Hammond public schools.
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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
RALPH E. ROBERTS. For more than thirty-five years Hon. Ralph E. Roberts has been engaged in the practice of law in Spencer County, and during this long period has held a soundly established position as a capable, reliable and industrious attorney whose clientage, has been of the most acceptable kind. A thorough master of the intricacies and perplexities of his profession, he has been connected with much important litigation, and likewise has occupied a position on the bench. As lawyer, judge and citizen he has so comported himself as to deserve fully the confidence and esteem in which he is held.
Judge Roberts was born January 22, 1868, on a farm in Jackson Township, near Gentryville, Spencer County, Indiana, and is a son of John and Nancy Louisa (Tuley) Roberts. John Roberts was born January 2, 1834, in Jackson Township, where he received a district school education and on reaching his majority centered his activities in farming. He was thus engaged when the differences between the North and the South brought about the war between the states, and he volunteered and was accepted as a private in Company K, Forty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After serving for two years he contracted illness, which rendered him unfit for service in the field, he being sent home on a furlough. The disease proved an obstinate one, needing long and patient care, and by the time Mr. Roberts had recovered the war had come to a close. He then returned to his agricultural operations, in which he continued to be engaged until his retirement, several years before his death, which occurred April 12, 1912. Mr. Roberts was a Democrat in his political views, and served as township trustee for at least twelve years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and had the respect and esteem of the people of his community. Mr. Roberts married Miss Nancy Louisa Tuley, who was born April 24, 1834, in Jackson Township, Spencer County, and died January 9, 1892, and of the six children born to this union, one, Kelso K., died at the age of three years, the others being: James W., a farmer who died at the age of thirty-eight years; John J., born in 1866, who was engaged in farming up to the time of his retirement and his death occurred in 1922; Henry H., born in 1864, and died August 9, 1929, at Kingman, Arizona, where he is buried, was for many years connected with mining; George S., born September 19, 1865, is still engaged in farming and stock raising on the old home place in Jackson Township; and Ralph E., of this review.
Ralph E. Roberts attended the public schools of Jackson Township, under the preceptorship of Prof. C. C. Hinkle, one of the well-known educators of his day, and others of that day, and when still a young man secured employment as a teacher in the rural schools, a vocation which he followed until 1888. With the money thus earned he attended the University of Indiana for two years, and then came to Rockport and took the position of deputy auditor of Spencer County, Indiana, December 5, 1891. While thus engaged he bought an interest in the Rockport Democrat and conducted this for a time, but in 1896 disposed of his holdings therein and since then has devoted himself to the practice of his profession, having been admitted to the bar of Indiana in 1895. His work has carried him into the higher courts, where he has demonstrated his ability, sound logic, knowledge of principles and precedence and power of expression in placing his facts before court and jury. For six years he served in the capacity of judge of the Circuit Court of Warrick and Spencer counties, this being the Second Judicial District, and his record in that capacity was one of conscientious service. Judge Roberts is a Democrat in politics. His family belong to the Methodist Church, but he has no particular religious connection, although he has always supported worthy movements. Fraternally he is past master of Rockport Lodge No. 112, A. F. and A. M. In addition to his large law practice he is the owner of a valuable and well-developed farm in the vicinity of Gentryville and extensive real estate within the limits of the city. He has been a member of the Spencer County Bar Association, the Indiana Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
On November 29, 1896, in Spencer County, Judge Roberts was united in marriage with Miss Alice E. Saunders, who was born in Ohio Township, seven miles from Rockport, and to this union there have been born five children. Ralph R., born October 16, 1897, is a former executive secretary and at present an employee of the Democratic Congressional Committee at Washington, D. C. He was in his second year at the University of Indiana when he left school to accept an appointment at Annapolis Naval Academy, where he remained for about a year, resigning to enlist in the United States Marines and was sent to Paris Island, where he underwent intensive training, and was soon to be sent to the frontline trenches in France with the Eleventh Regiment of Marines at the time of the signing of the armistice. He was attending an officers training school at Langres when the armistice came and was from there sent to West Point Academy, where he remained nearly a year, and in 1919 returned to his home and in 1922 was appointed private secretary to Hon. William E. Wilson, at that time United States congressman from this district. Graduating from the National University of Law, at Washington, D. C., he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court United States and local courts of the District of Columbia January 21, 1929. He had previously been admitted to the local and Supreme Courts of Indiana. He is also admitted to the Federal Court of Indiana and the Court of Appeals at Chicago. He is unmarried and resides at Rockport. Olive L. Roberts, the second child, was born October 28, 1899, and in young womanhood taught four years in the United States and one year in Canada during the World war. She married George E. Stevenson, a civil engineer, who served three terms of two years each as county surveyor of Spencer County, and is now deputy surveyor of Vanderburg County. They are the parents of one child, Alice Louise, born April 6, 1926. Marguerite Roberts, the third child, was born March 15, 1904, and graduated from the Rockport High School at the age of fifteen years, receiving of Bachelor of Arts from Evansville College before she was twenty-one years of age. For two years she taught school at McLeansboro, Illinois, and then went to Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and took all her work under Harvard University professors, where she received the degree of Master of Arts. In 1930 she finished her third year as teacher of English at the Central High School, Evansville, Indiana, a position to which she was reappointed. In 1929 she took leave of absence to go to Cambridge University, England, for a short course, and made a tour of Europe, after which she taught another year at Central High School at Evansville and is now on leave of absence at Radcliffe College, preparing for her Ph. D. degree. John L. Roberts, the fourth child, was born November 20, 1907, spent one year at Bloomington, one year at Evansville College, and then pursued a course at Lockyear's Business School. During the winter of 1928- 29 he attended the Western Union Telegraph School, Chicago, and was a member of the communication branch of the United States Army Coast Guard service, assigned to the Flagship Argus, with base at New London, Connecticut, until the fall of 1930, when he was admitted to practice in the Indiana courts and is now associated in practice with his father, having been admitted to practice in all of the courts in Indiana. Alice, the youngest child, was born February 25, 1910, and after graduating from the Rockport High School spent one year at Evansville College. She also took a three-year course in the music department, part of the time while she was attending high school, and from July, 1928, to June, 1930, studied voice culture and music in Berlin, Germany, under the famous Maestro Bachner, in preparation for a musical career in grand opera. She is now at home in Rockport, pursuing her work in music.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
JOHN LAVAL was a physician and surgeon of Evansville, and he returned to that city, where he was born, after several years of preliminary training and experience in his profession in other localities.
Doctor Laval was born at Evansville April 23, 1893, a son of Charles F. H. and Theresa (Doyle) Laval. His father was also born at Evansville and his mother was a native of Indiana. Charles Laval, now deceased, was a druggist for many years. Dr. John Laval was five years old when his mother died. The older son was Charles Laval, who owns a newspaper at Shanghai, China, and has for a number of years been correspondent for the Associated Press. He married Adelaide Killoge.
Dr. John Laval attended grammar and high schools at Evansville and graduated Bachelor of Science from the University of Chicago in 1917. He took his pre-medical work at the university and finished his course in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he was graduated in 1919. After an interneship in the Saint Francis Hospital at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Mr. Laval practiced three years at New Albin, Iowa, and in 1923 returned to his home City of Evansville, where he had a fine reputation and a large practice. He was a member of the Vanderburg County, Indiana State and American Medical Associations.
Doctor Laval married, September 18, 1915, Miss Margaret Thompson, daughter of J. E. Thompson. They had a son, John F., born January 16, 1917, now in school. Doctor Laval was a Republican in politics, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fraternal Order of Eagles, for which he served as examining physician, and was a member of the Catholic Church. On February 6, 1930, Doctor Laval died, after a brief illness, of pneumonia.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
JOSEPH KORDES, former sheriff of Dubois County and a popular and efficient member of the official family of the county at Jasper, its judicial center, was born on the parental home farm in this county, May 9, 1872, and is a son of the late Valentine and Philamina (Stratmann) Kordes, both of whom were born in Germany. Valentine Kordes was a young man when he came to the United States, and he was one of the substantial farmers of Dubois County many years, his death having here occurred in 1911 and that of his wife in 1917. Of the children of the family the eldest is John, who resides in Kentucky; Theresa is the wife of August Blume, their home being in San Antonio, Texas, and their children being ten in number; Casper died at the age of twenty-seven years and Adam at the age of forty-eight years; Philamina is Sister Superior in the Catholic convent at Ferdinand, Dubois County; Joseph, of this review, was next in order of birth; Emil and his wife, whose family name was Wahr, reside in Louisville, Kentucky, and they have eight children. Frank who resides on the old home farm of his parents, married Miss Lillian Brosmer and they have three sons and one daughter; Anton, now a resident of Lawrence, Nebraska, married Miss Sophia Reining, and they have five children.
Joseph Kordes was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church and his early education was acquired in a Catholic parochial school in his native county. After leaving school he found employment in the general store conducted by his uncle at Schnellville, a village in Dubois County, and in 1903 he engaged in the hardware business at Huntingburg, this county. He finally sold this business and for several years thereafter he owned and operated a planing mill at Huntingburg. He next turned his attention to contracting and building, and with this line of enterprise he continued to be identified until 1927, when he was elected county sheriff. The popular estimate placed upon his administration was shown by his reelection in the spring of 1929, his second term expiring January 1, 1931. Mr. Kordes is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, he and his family are communicants of the Catholic Church and he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World.
On the 9th of November, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kordes to Miss Rose Schnaus, daughter of Agat and Mary (Buchart) Schnaus, and the three children of this union all remain at the parental home, namely: Marsella, Louella and Antonetta. The two older daughters are employed at the Newberry Store at Jasper.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
EUGENE D. ROGERS, the oldest living native son of Boonville, has spent the greater part of his life in that Warrick County community and where he is now living in honored retirement.
He was born there December 23, 1845. His father, David Rogers, a native of Connecticut, possessed the Yankee genius of invention and invented and manufactured a stomach pump that made him considerable money. He died in 1855. David Rogers married Paulina Williams, a native of Pennsylvania, and of their four children the twins died early, and Eugene D. and Ida grew to mature years. Ida married Edward Gough, district judge and president of the City National Bank of Boonville. Judge and Mrs. Gough had seven children, five now living, and one son, Eugene, is a deputy comptroller of currency at Washington, D. C.
Eugene D. Rogers attended private and public schools at Rising Sun, Indiana, was a student in Holbrook's famous Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and the first regular employment he had after finishing his education was as a grocer's clerk in a store owned by the father of Senator James A. Hemenway of Boonville. After two years he engaged in the dry goods business, and during the Civil war he was with a regimental sutler in the Union army. Following the war Mr. Rogers attended normal school nine months and in 1865 became bookkeeper and a shipping clerk in a flour mill at Newburg. After eighteen months he engaged in the dry goods business for himself and remained there until 1868. Following that he spent five years on a Kansas farm and on returning to Indiana clerked in a dry goods store at Evansville ten years. He and E. H. Stephens were associated as partners in a general merchandise establishment for nineteen years, and after that he was alone in business until 1902.
Mr. Rogers in that year went to Kansas, where his wife's father was ill. Mrs. Rogers died while in that state, and was laid to rest in Warrick County, Indiana. Since then Mr. Rogers has lived retired at Boonville. He finds occupation for his leisure time in looking after his flowers, garden and other work around the home and is an ardent disciple of Izaak Walton.
He married at Newburg, Indiana, February 6, 1868, Miss Mattie Lewis, daughter of John B. and Minerva (Anderson) Lewis. Her father was born in Warrick County and spent his life as a farmer. Her mother was a niece of Bailey Anderson, one of the prominent pioneers of Warrick County. Mr. Rogers is a Republican, and has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Tribe of Ben Hur.
Mr. Rogers has many interesting memories of the early days in Boonville, and by way of indicating the great changes that have occurred in his life time he recalls seeing wild deer running through the streets. At the time of the Civil war the rebels made a raid into Indiana at Newburg, and he was sworn into service to join the party that ran them out. These indicate only a few of his early recollections.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
NORMAN M. SPRADLEY, M. D., has been long and successfully established in the practice of his profession at Boonville, judicial center of his native County of Warrick, and is distinctly one of the representative physicians and surgeons of this county. In his substantial and important practice he now has an effective coadjutor in the person of his younger brother, Dr. Louis G. Spradley, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this publication.
Dr. Norman M. Spradley was born on the parental home farm in Warrick County November 24, 1860, and is a son of William T. and Hannah (Roberts) Spradley, the former of whom was born in one of the counties in Eastern Tennessee and the latter of whom was born in Indiana. William T. Spradley was five years of age when his parents came from Tennessee and established their home on their pioneer farm in Warrick County, Indiana, where they passed the remainder of their lives. William T. Spradley was reared in Warrick County, where he received the advantages of the public schools of the period and where he early had fellowship with the activities of the home farm. He not only gained eventual status as one of the substantial farmers of this county but also became a successful lawyer at Boonville, where also he gave sixteen years of service as city assessor and two years as county assessor. Here his death occurred March 16, 1894, and his wife survived him several years. Of the eight children James A. died at the age of three years and Andrew B. at the age of eighteen years. Temperance, now seventy years of age (1929), is the widow of M. M. Rice, her husband having given prolonged service as a teacher in the Indiana public schools. Dr. Norman M., of this review, is next younger. William B., who is now a carpenter and builder in the City of Pensacola, Florida, married Clara Jones, of Spencer County, Indiana. Agnes is the widow of D. W. Whittinghill, who was a merchant in the City of Evansville, Indiana. Dr. Louis G. is the subject of individual mention elsewhere in this publication. Charles, who is engaged in the restaurant business at Tennyson, Warrick County, married Miss Norris and they have three children, Mildred, Gilbert and Woodrow.
The public schools of Warrick County afforded Dr. Norman M. Spradley his early education and in preparing for his chosen profession he went to the metropolis of Kentucky and completed a course in Louisville Medical College, in which he was graduated February 18, 1890. After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Selvin, Warrick County, eleven years, his professional headquarters during the ensuing eight years having been at Tennyson, this county, and he having then established his residence at Boonville, the county seat, where he served four years as county auditor, and in the meanwhile continued in the practice of his profession. He is now of the leading physicians and surgeons of Boonville and has as a valued associate his brother Dr. Louis G. He has membership in the Warrick County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his first wife.
October 18, 1884, marked the marriage of Doctor Spradley to Miss Mary Springstun, and her death occurred in 1908. Of the nine children of this union three died in infancy, and Carl was killed in an accident while employed in one of the great steel mills at Gary, Indiana, he having been twenty-seven years of age. Lois, wife of Loren Hobbs, a farmer in Warrick County, died December 28, 1928, and is survived by five children. Earl M., eldest of the surviving children, resides at Boonville, where he served four years as county sheriff and one year as chief of police and is now auditor in the gasoline tax department for the State of Indiana, working under State Auditor Floyd Williamson. He married Delores Frahlich, and they have three children - Earl Wylie, Margaret Elizabeth and Norman Mountford II. Narl A., next younger of the children, is a popular teacher in the Vanderburg County public schools, and the maiden name of his wife was Ivy Mae Kain. Lolin is the wife of Ira Shelton, who is a carpenter by trade and vocation, and they maintain their home at Boonville.
The second marriage of Doctor Spradley was solemnized November 24, 1910, when he wedded Miss Mina Wilke, daughter of William Wilke, of Warrick County. Of this union there are three children: Wilma, Lela and Norma. Wilma was graduated in the Lockyear Business College at Evansville as a member of the class of 1929 and Lela graduated from the same school in 1931. Wilma is now employed as secretary in the office of the law firm of Folson & Lindsey at Boonville.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
