USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume I > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
PERSONAL SIDE OF JOHN BROWN
.. But there is another cause for this meeting, of even greater moment, and that is the personal side of this man, John Brown. At the age of ten years we find him the mainstay of a resolute widowed mother with three younger children, charged with the duty of developing the new homestead left by the pioneer father. This duty, like all those following, was executed well until Lincoln's plea for help to save a nation's honor spread over this land of ours; and there was no interruption in this young man's service to his country until Lee's nuconditional surrender to Grant at Appomattox. Then withont waiting for the plaudits of a grateful people, the blue nuiform was speedily changed to the blue overalls and home-spun clothing, and we again find John Brown at the plow where he left it four years before.
"Not strong on reminiscences-by-gone days have claimed but little of his thought and energy-little has been heard from his lips of his army experienee; but it was my good fortune to know three of his constant companions in eamp, on the field of action and in Andersonville. Sol Allen said, 'No man in the United States cavalry could ride a horse so well or so far as he.' Ed Rathburn told me that Brown was the gamest private soldier in the Union army. Ed Bryant said that John was as good a nurse as he was a fighter, and that, due to his splendid
328
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
physique and his devotion to his comrades, many a soldier's life was spared while in Andersonville prison.
.
"A county officer, the guiding hand in the First National at Crown Point, a leader in industrial and agricultural achievements without num- ber, and withal having an affectionate interest for those in need-in brief, his is the history of a plain man. There are no titles or frills to his name or to him; 'no rings on his fingers or bells on his toes.' Just plain John Brown. But so great is my estimate of his resourcefulness that if I were president of this country, and were perplexed with what to do. with Mexico, I would send John Brown down there and, believe me, he would settle things one way or the other. Or if I were mixed on the wording of the currency bill, I would ask him to fix it up; for, fellow bankers, I have never known this man to be assigned to a duty where he failed to exercise good judgment.
"This meeting is called that we may pay our respects to the dean of the banking fraternity of Lake County, plain John Brown."
Mr. Brown was the last regular speaker and his remarks largely partook of recollections of his early ups-and-downs with the First Na- tional, and a touching tribute to his mother, to whom he gave the credit of whatever of usefulness or goodness he had contributed to the com- munities in which he had lived. Then Judge Fields, in behalf of the bankers of the county, presented Mr. Brown with a beautiful loving cup. which was received with a few sincere and characteristic words.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF HAMMOND
The First National Bank of Hammond is a creation of Marcus M. Towle, who is the father of the city, if any one man can claim that distinction. It was organized in 1886, and came under the present ownership and management in September, 1901. At that time the total deposits of the bank amounted to $168,000, capital $50,000, and surplus and undivided profits, $30,000; now the capital is $150,000, surplus and undivided profits $200,000 and total assets, $2,200,000.
Since the reorganization of the First National. in that year, A. M. Turner, the president, and W. C. Belman, the eashier, have been the pillars of that institution, as well as of other concerns which have given Hammond a high reputation for stability. Before commencing to build up its affairs, they had had the advantage of a training in rural com- munities, Mr. Turner had had experience in public office and Mr. Belman as an educational leader; both were popular and in their early '40s, having already proven their ability as men of affairs. This personal
329
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
combination proved strong, as the steady increase of the bank's business has demonstrated.
FOUNDED BY MESSRS. TOWLE AND HAMMOND
Mr. Belman is thoroughly competent to etch the banking history of Hammond, which he has done in the following words: "In the year 1869 there came into the Calumet Valley from the East an enterprising young man, whose life work seems to have been to lay the foundation for the future of the great manufacturing and commercial city of Ham- mond, which at that time consisted of nothing but swamps and sand ridges. This young man, M. M. Towle, Sr., was a man of tremendous energy, adaptation and originality. He it was who founded the first great packing plant, lumber yard, distillery, steel mills and many other of the industries of the city. On March 20, 1886, he organized and financed the First National Bank of Hammond, with a capital of $50,000. For several years the First National was able to furnish all the financial needs of the community, but as the city developed it was deemed wise by Thomas Hammond and others to organize a second institution.
"Therefore, in May, 1892, there was established the Commercial Bank, with a capital of $50,000.
REORGANIZED BY MESSRS. TURNER AND BELMAN
"In September, 1901, the First National Bank was purchased and reorganized by new capital and energy represented by A. M. Turner, president, and W. C. Belman, cashier. The new organization soon showed its strength in the rapid increase of the bank deposits.
FIRST TRUST COMPANY
"On October 16, 1902, Peter W. Meyn, who had established a large . and successful insurance agency, which had taken so many features of a bank, decided to establish a trust company with $50.000 capital. the first organization of its kind in Lake County.
OTHER FINANCIAL PIONEERS
"In March, 1905, the First National Bank increased its capital to $100,000. May 2, 1906, saw the organization of the Citizens' German National Bank, with a capital of $100,000, and George M. Eder as its leading spirit.
330
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
"The Hammond Savings and Trust Company was organized on May 17, 1907, with a capital of $30,000, Adam R. Ebert being its president. This trust company consolidated a number of real estate firms and in- surance agencies.
ABSORPTION OF THE COMMERCIAL BANK
"On January 2, 1909, the First National Bank announced the pur- chase and consolidation of the Commercial Bank with the First National, and on the next business day the combined institutions began business in the elegant banking rooms of the First National Bank, with combined deposits of $1,400,000 and total assets of $1,800,000, the capital and sur- plus of the First National having been increased to $250,000, thus mak- ing it the largest and the strongest bank in the whole Calumet Region."
LAKE COUNTY SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY
The Lake County Savings and Trust Company of Hammond was founded in November, 1902, with a capital of $50,000. It was formally organized and opened for business January 1, 1903, with the following officers : Peter W. Meyn, president; Frank Hess, vice president, and W. C. Belman, cashier. There has been no change in these officials, with the exception of the vice president, which is now held by Joseph W. Weis. The capital of the concern has remained unchanged ; its deposits are now $650,000 and its surplus and undivided profits, $55,000. Its insurance department is especially strong.
CITIZENS GERMAN NATIONAL
Among the strongest banks in the Calumet region is the Citizens German National Bank, also of Hammond, which was chartered in May, 1906. George M. Eder, an old banker and business man of Crown Point, has been its president from the first. The bank has a capital of $100,000, surplus of over $50,000, and deposits of more than $1,000,000.
Within the past five years several savings and trust companies have been organized in Hammond. The Hammond Savings and Trust Com- pany was organized in May, 1909, with Adam R. Ebert and Frank Ham- mond as president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, and the Ameri- can Trust and Savings Bank, opened in July, 1911, with William J. Mc Aleer as president and H. M. Johnson as secretary.
331
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
STATE NATIONAL BANK OF LOWELL
The State National Bank of Lowell was the fourth institution of the kind to be organized in Lake County. It was founded in 1893 as a state institution, and John Lynch continued as its president until his death in 1901, when it was reorganized as a National Bank. Dr. John E. Davis was president for a short time, and was succeeded by Albert Foster, the present incumbent. F. E. Nelson was cashier for the first decade of the bank. both as a state and national institution, and was succeeded by John E. Love, H. M. Johnson (now cashier of the Citizens German National, Hammond) and S. A. Brownell. When the bank was reorganized under a national charter its stock was increased from $25,000 to $50,000. Its deposits average about $260,000.
BANK OF WHITING
In April, 1895, Henry Schrage, Sr., established the Bank of Whiting. He had already become wealthy through his real estate holdings in North Township and he has continued to add to his fortune, which now em- braces heavy financial interests, as well as valuable real estate, in Whit- ing, Hammond, East Chicago and Chicago. So that although the Bank of Whiting is a private institution, operated under state supervision, it is backed by very substantial securities and by the city's best known pioneer, Mr. Schrage himself, with various members of his family. In 1910 he ereeted a large two-story brick building. on 119th Street and New York Avenue, which accommodates not only the extensive business of his bank but the Whiting postoffice.
FIRST NATIONAL, OF WHITING
The First National Bank of Whiting was authorized to commence business by the comptroller of the currency in December, 1902. Its capital is $50,000; president, Gallus J. Bader, and cashier, G. H. Wilson. The First National is spoken of as one of the Smith & Bader banks, and is reported to have $45,000 surplus and deposits of $600,000.
EAST CHICAGO BANK
The East Chicago Bank is the oldest institution of the kind in that city, although it can claim a history only since 1899. In that year Andrew Wichey organized a private banking house, but soon sold it to Henry Schrage, Sr., of Whiting, who conducted it as a private bank
332
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
until January, 1910. The proprietor then took out a state charter and capitalized the concern at $50,000. The capital has remained the same, but the resources of the bank are now more than $500,000 and the deposits average $550.000. Mr. Schrage is still president. Walter E. Schrage, his son, who is cashier of the Bank of Whiting, is also a director of the East Chicago Bank.
FIRST NATIONAL OF EAST CHICAGO
East Chicago's First National Bank was established in February, 1905, with a capital of $50,000. It succeeded to the business of the old Lake County State Bank. Its present capital is $100,000, its surplus $20,000 and deposits nearly $600,000.
INDIANA HARBOR NATIONAL BANK
In 1903, about a year after the Inland Steel Works were fairly estab- lished at Indiana Harbor, the Lake County State Bank was organized at East Chicago for the special purpose of serving the community known as Indiana Harbor. In 1905 it was succeeded by the Indiana Harbor State Bank, organized under a regular state charter, and in April, 1912, the business came under the jurisdiction of the United States under the name of the Indiana Harbor National Bank. Albert D. Erskin was the first president and Otto J. Gondolf, first cashier of the Indiana Harbor State Bank, but early in December, 1906, they, with other large holders of the stock, sold their interests to G. J. Bader, Fred J. Smith and others. who have since controlled its affairs. Since May, 1908, the bank has occupied its own building, a portion of which is leased to the postoffice. The Indiana Harbor National Bank has a capital of $100,000, a surplus of more than $25,000 and about $750,000 in deposits. Mr. Bader is president, Mr. Smith. vice president and J. G. Allen, cashier.
FIRST CALUMET TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
The First Calumet Trust and Savings Bank, listed as an East Chi- cago institution, is located at the station of Calumet. Its history is thus given in the "Calumet Survey:" "Organized in 1909 as a trust com- pany, it has a capital of $50,000, surplus of $17,400, deposits of $356 .- 000, and loans of $350,000. Its name, First Calumet Trust and Savings Bank, is reminiscent of a strange coincident in banking history of Gary and East Chicago. A group of men at Gary decided that the name Calumet was fitting for a Trust Company they were organizing and in
333
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
the regular course of events forwarded certificates and application with that name. In a day or two in came a similar application at the state auditor's office for the bank under way at East Chicago and greatly to the disgust of the founders through the chance accident of the difference in filing, their young hopeful had to have its name changed to the 'First Calumet Trust.' Congressman Jolin B. Peterson is one of its directors and it has enjoyed a good growth largely as a result of its excellent connections."
CITIZENS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, INDIANA HARBOR
Established in June, 1909, this institution had resources, at the close of 1913, amounting to over $260,000. Its president, from the first, has been J. R. Farovid.
FIRST STATE BANK OF TOLLESTON
Of course the oldest bank in the Gary district is the First State Bank of Tolleston. It occupies its own home in the old part of the eity, and reports the following items as representative of its financial status: Capital, $25,000; surplus, $15,000; deposits, $210,000; loans, $183,000.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GARY
Of the banks located in the new part of the City of Gary, the oldest is the First National, founded by Thomas T. Snell, as president, and E. C. Simpson as cashier, on the 5th of November, 1906. They still guide its affairs in those capacities. From an initial capital of $25,000 it has undergone four increases until now it has $200,000, with average deposits of more than a million and a half dollars and a surplus of $50,000. The First National Bank occupies the ground floor of one of the most elegant buildings in Gary, at the southwest corner of Broadway and Sixth Ave- nue. The property represents an investment of $250,000.
GARY STATE BANK
The Gary State Bank, which was organized by some of the officials of the United States Steel Corporation about the same time, is the depository of the steel mills and allied corporations, and may be said to divide the bulk of the financial operations of the Gary district with the First Na- tional. Henry G. Hay, Jr., whose father has been assistant treasurer of the United States Steel Corporation for some years, has been president
334
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
of the State Bank since its organization. He is therefore one of the city's pioneers. The Gary State Bank reports a capital of $250,000, surplus and undivided profits of $43,000, deposits of $1,459,000 and loans of $717,000.
NORTHERN STATE BANK
In July, 1909, the Northern State Bank was opened to the public of Gary, having been organized by Samuel J. Watson and his associates. In March, 1913, the management completed on Broadway what has been pronounced the finest bank building in Lake County. The stock of the bank has been increased from $50,000 to $100,000, and its deposits now aggregate more than a third of a million of dollars.
SOUTH SIDE TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
The South Side Trust and Savings Bank was organized during the early part of 1910, largely through the efforts of C. O. Holmes and C. R. Kuss, who are still serving as its president and secretary-treasurer. It was substantially an outgrowth of the Calumet trust and savings con- cerns, has a capital and surplus of $60,000, and besides conducting a general banking and trust business, operates insurance, rental and for- eign exchange departments.
OTHER LATE BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES
The Gary Trust and Savings Bank is the result of a merging of the institution by that name and the Security State Bank during the early portion of 1910. It has now a capital of $50,000 and deposits of about $300,000.
"The close of 1911 and beginning of 1912," says a Gary historian, "saw an attempt to introduce the private bank methods of Illinois into Gary by L. M. Fairbanks under the name of the United Deposit Loan and Trust Company. It ran along for several months, but kept getting fur- ther and further away from the straight and narrow path and finally, at the suggestion of the Banking Department of the State Auditor's Office the institution was liquidated."
The last of the trust and banking institutions of Gary to commence business was the International Trust and Savings Bank, which opened its doors on July 1, 1913. It was founded and financed by Laporte men and is headed by John W. Albright, president. On the directory are also the well known bankers Gallus J. Bader and Fred J. Smith. The bank is capitalized at $60,000.
335
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
COMMERCIAL AND PEOPLES STATE BANKS, CROWN POINT
The Commercial Bank of Crown Point is one of the early financial institutions of the county, having been founded in November, 1897, with Samuel A. Barr as president. In 1897 he was succeeded by H. P. Swartz, who served until 1904, when John B. Peterson assumed the presidency. Walter L. Allman, the first cashier, held office until 1904, Mr. Swartz from that year until 1908, since which Earl R. Cole has been the in- cumbent. The Commercial Bank has a paid-in capital of $60,000, surplus and undivided profits of more than $50,000, and total resources of $420,000.
The Peoples State Bank of Crown Point was organized in February, 1905, with M. Grimmer as president, and Henry Aulwurm, cashier. Its capital stock is $60,000; surplus and undivided profits, $44,000; and resources over $580,000. J. Frank Meeker was president of the bank at the time of his death in 1914, and at the date of this writing his successor has not been named. John F. Frass is the present cashier.
LOWELL NATIONAL BANK
The Lowell National Bank opened for business in May, 1903, with F. E. Nelson as president, G. B. Bailey, vice president, and P. A. Berg, cashier. Since January, 1908, Mr. Bailey has served as president and C. E. Nichols as vice president, Mr. Berg retaining the office of cashier. In July, 1909, the capital of the bank was increased from $25,000 to $50,000. Its surplus and undivided profits amount to $16,500; deposits, $275,000.
OTHER BANKS
Hobart has had a number of banks, generally private in character, one of them dating from the middle '80s. The First State Bank of Hobart is perhaps the strongest, having a capital of $25,000 and a sur- plus of about a third that amount:
Dyer has had a bank since October, 1903, when the First National opened for business, with Henry L. Keilman as president and A. W. Stommel as cashier.
The Farmers and Merchants is a small bank which has been estab- lished within the past three years at Highland.
.
CHAPTER XXIII
HAMMOND AS A CORPORATION
SHORT TOWN REGIME-MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION-GROWTH BY WARDS -HAMMOND'S SEVEN MAYORS-OTHER CITY OFFICIALS-THE CITY HALL-FUNCTIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT-RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES-TAX LEVY AND TAXABLE PROPERTY-BONDED INDEBT- EDNESS AND APPROPRIATIONS-HAMMOND'S FUTURE TERRITORY-ELEV- ENTH WARD CREATED-SEWERS, PAVEMENTS AND SIDEWALKS-AREA OF CITY PARKS-RAILROADS IN THE CITY-NEW BUILDINGS-WATER SYSTEM-FIRE DEPARTMENT-POLICE DEPARTMENT -- PARKS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH-THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-FIRST MOVEMENT BY SHAKESPEARE CLUB-FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS-FOUNDATION OF SYSTEM-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1892-1904- POINTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT MCDANIEL-FRIEND OF THE BACKWARD PUPIL-HAMMOND'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Although M. M. Towle managed to induce the postal authorities to change the name of the postoffice at the Hammond slaughter house from State Line to Hammond, in 1873, and platted the original town in 1875, it did not receive a body corporate until the fall of 1883.
SHORT TOWN REGIME
For some three months the town was governed by William H. Ver- rill, Fritz Miller and Louis E. Hohman, as trustees, John F. Krost, treasurer and clerk, and Edward Horst, marshal. It is not of record that during this short life of the town government any notable ordinances were passed, or any arrests made by the town marshal, or any money handled by the treasurer; so that their honors seem to be purely historical.
MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION
Hammond was incorporated as a city in the spring of 1884 and the following officers were elected for the first municipal year : Marcus M.
336
T
t
LOOKING NORTH ON HOHMAN STREET, HAMMOND
338
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
Towle, mayor; George H. Boynton, clerk; Charles C. Smith, treasurer ; Donald McDonald, city attorney ; Allison A. Walker, marshal; Carrol N. Towle, chief of the fire department. Councilmen: First Ward- Patrick W. Mullins and S. F. Fogg; Second Ward-William H. Gost- lin and William Kleihege; Third Ward-Henry W. Sohl and Michael Clements.
GROWTH BY WARDS
Until 1894 the city had but three wards; a fourth ward was added during that year, a fifth in 1896, in 1908 it was divided into ten wards, and in 1913 an eleventh was created.
HAMMOND'S SEVEN MAYORS
In all Hammond has had but seven mayors-men of sterling stock, whose names and careers are identified with everything that stands for progressive citizenship; men whose names and activities are the corner- stones of local history; and some there are who have a far broader fame. Mr. Towle continued in mayoralty during the first four years of Hammond's history as a municipality, and Thomas Hammond from 1888 to 1893. Patrick Reilley served in the following year and from 1898 to 1902; Fred R. Mott, in 1894-98; Armanis F. Knotts, from 1902 to 1904; Lawrence Becker from 1904 to 1911; and John D. Smalley. since March, 1911. He was then appointed to succeed Judge Becker, who had been elevated to the bench of the Lake County Superior Court, and in November, 1913, was elected to head the municipal government.
OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
The other officials of the city since 1884 have been as follows:
Clerks-George H. Boynton 1884-1886; Frank D. Merrill, 1886-1888; J. B. Woods, 1888-1892; Peter W. Meyn, 1892-1894; Frank Hess, 1894- 1898; Frank H. Lyons, 1898-1902; Thomas H. Jordan 1902-1906: Otto H. Duelke, 1907-1914; William E. J. Kolb, 1914 -.
Treasurers-Charles C. Smith, 1884-1887 ; Alfred A. Winslow, 1887- 1888; John B. Smith, 1888-1890; Henry Huehn, 1890-1894; William Kleihege, 1894-1898; Peter W. Meyn, 1898-1902; Frank Hess, 1902- 1906; William H. Wolters, 1907-1914; Otto H. Duelke, 1914 -.
City Attorneys-Donald McDonald, 1884-1885; Samuel Griffin, 1885-1887; John Burroughs, 1887-1888 ; Samuel Griffin, 1888-1889 ; John
339
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
Kreuter, 1890-1892; Robert Gregory, 1892-1894; Peter Crumpacker, 1894-1898; Lawrence Becker, 1898-1902; Virgil S. Reiter, 1902-1904; LeGrand T. Meyer, 1904-1908; John A. Gavit, 1908 -.
Chiefs of the Fire Department-Michael E. Clements, 1885-1887; Jacob Kasper, 1887-1889; H. M. Godfrey, 1889-1893; Nicholas Kaiser, 1893-1894; A. N. Champaigne, 1894-1898; Nicholas Haan, 1898-1902; Benjamin L. P. Bell, 1902-1904; Peter J. Dilschneider, 1904 -.
From the time Hammond was incorporated as a city up to 1898 the name of Allison A. Walker was associated with ideas and memories of enforced law and order. In the aforesaid year Matt Nichols sur- ceeded Mr. Walker as marshal by election. A. F. Malo being appointed Hammond's first chief of police and serving from 1894 to 1898. In the latter year John Einsele was appointed chief of police, a position which he held up to 1901, at which time a change was made, under the new Metropolitan Police Law, by which Lawrence Cox became superin- tendent of police and Thomas Hammond, Henry M. Bieknell and Wil- liam F. Bridge, police commissioners. This group of men, excepting Mr. Bridge, who was succeeded by William Pepperdine as police commis- sioner, remained in office until 1905 when Joseph JJ. Ruff, George P. Pearson and Thomas E. Knotts became commissioners. In 1906 Fred Rimbach was appointed superintendent of police and Joseph JJ. Ruff and George P. Pearson continued as commissioners. Peter Austgen, the present chief, succeeded Fred Rimbach as superintendent in 1909, and Anton H. Tapper, George Drackert and Thomas Swanton represented the board and are known as "the last of the commissioners," as the police department again came under the control of the municipality. Matt Nichols served up to 1901 as the second and the last of the marshals of the City of Hammond.
Charles Morlock, in 1892, became the growing city's first judge, and William F. Bridge the city's first civil engineer. In 1905, John F. Kuhl- man, who used to roam in the vicinity of Hammond as a boy some forty years ago when the city's business section was a prairie, when mud- pools stood where pool rooms now abound, became and still is Ham- mond's first street commissioner.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.