USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume II > Part 13
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In 1909, Mr. Manlove married Bertha A. Hankins of Coffeyville, Kansas, and they are the parents of two sons. Mr. Manlove affiliates with the Masonic Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is one of the enthusiastic members of the Gary Commercial Club.
GEORGE DRACKERT. For his length of service as an active business man and his prominent relations with several large financial and indus- trial enterprises, George Drackert stands as one of the pillars of Ilam- mond's commerce and industry. His has been a career in which good judgment, industry and determination have effected a continuous progress from the position of a common workman to effective leadership in affairs.
A little more than half a century ago George Drackert was born in the locality where the great City of Hammond has since grown up. His birth occurred October 14, 1863, a son of substantial farming peo- ple, Joseph and Salome Drackert. His father, who was born at Biblitz, Germany, came to America in 1856, and after a year in New Jersey emigrated out to Lake County and settled down as a farmer. George Drackert as a boy attended the country schools of his locality, and at an early age began earning his own way. The one big institution at Hammond during his boyhood was the G. H. Hammond Packing Com- pany, and he was one of the minor employes there from 1876 until 1886. On August 26, 1886, George Drackert joined with C. H. Mayer, another prominent old-timer in Hammond business affairs, and estab- lished a small plant for the manufacture of bottled goods. That is one of the oldest continuous industries in Hammond, and in January, 1913, the C. H. Mayer & Company was incorporated, with George Drackert as president. Another concern to which his energies and ability have brought success is the Hammond Ice Company, which was organized December 7, 1907, with Mr. Drackert as secretary and treasurer, offices which he still holds. Mr. Drackert is a director of the Hammond Asphalt Products Company, was at one time a director of the American Trust and Savings Bank, is a director of the Becker-Tapper Realty Company, director of the East State Realty Company, a stockholder in the Hammond Savings and Trust Company.
While his business career has been best known, he has not neglected civic affairs. Mr. Drackert served four years in the city council, and for the past six years has been a member of the Metropolitan State Police Commission. Fraternally he is affiliated with the American Order of Foresters. Mr. Drackert married Julia Wirtz of Crown Point. Their two children are Edwin Hammond and Beulah, a student in the National Kindergarten of Chicago.
GUY C. WHITE. A member of the Hammond bar, Guy C. White has been practicing in that city since 1907, and possessing undoubted talents as a lawyer, the industry and energy which are the prerequisites of success in the profession, has in seven years securely established himself in the city and is regarded by many as one of the ablest younger lawyers of Hammond.
Guy C. White was born in Washington County, Iowa, April 13, 1881, a son of Addison and Rebecca (Lewis) White. His father was
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a farmer, and his early youth was spent on a farm, with attendance in the local schools. Later he attended a normal school, also the Highland Park College, and while earning his own way he studied law in an office in Davenport, Iowa, and finally entered the Valparaiso University of Indiana, where he graduated in the law course in June, 1907. Admitted to the bar in the same year, he established his office at Hammond, and has since given his attention to a general practice, both civil and erimi- nal. For two years he served as deputy prosecuting attorney for the thirty-first judicial circuit.
Mr. White is a member of the Hammond Country Club, affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the L. O. O. M., and is a member of the Lake County Bar Association.
MAX FENIMORE ALLABEN. One of the younger attorneys of the Hammond bar, Max F. Allaben has already found his opportunities and made excellent use of his time and advantages while in the city, and is regarded as one of the rising and most promising attorneys.
He was born in Polo, Illinois, February 22, 1885, a son of James W. and Vernon (Baker) Allaben. His father was also an attorney at law, and practiced successfully in Illinois for many years. The son was given a liberal education, and entered upon his profession with unusual advantages of training and preparation. After graduating from the Polo High School in 1903, he went east and was a student at Amherst College, Massachusetts, where he took his bachelor of arts degree in 1907. Returning to Illinois, he matriculated in the law department of the Northwestern University in Chicago, and was graduated with the class of 1910 and admitted to the Illinois bar after examination in June of the same year. His first two years as a lawyer were spent in Illinois, and in 1912 he was admitted to the Indiana bar and located and opened his office in Hammond. His offices are in the First National Bank Building. He affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.
Mr. Allaben was married on April 29, 1914, to Miss Flora Elizabeth Solfisburg, of Aurora, Ill. They reside at 8 West Ruth Street, Ham- mond, Indiana.
LINCOLN V. CRAVENS. Since coming to Lake County and locating in Hammond on January 4, 1909, Mr. Cravens has identified himself prominently with local public affairs, in a business way, and continuous practice of the law, a profession in which he has had a successful career for more than twenty-five years. Mr. Cravens came to Hammond from Madison, Indiana, where he was long prominent in politics and in his profession.
Born at Vienna, Indiana, April 4, 1864, Lincoln V. Cravens was a son of Vincent and Minerva A. (Read) Cravens. His father was a merchant. The son acquired a public school education and later took his literary courses in Hanover College of Indiana, graduating in 1885. After being admitted to the bar, he moved out to Scott City, Kansas, where he successfully practiced until January, 1893, and then returned to Indiana and located at Madison. During his residence in the latter city he served as deputy prosecuting attorney and for four years as city attorney. While in Scott City he was elected and gave four years of service in the office of prosecuting attorney. In Kansas he was chairman of the Scott County Republican Central Committee in 1892 and its secretary in 1890.
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Mr. Cravens organized and is president of the Hammond Finance and Development Company, which does a large business in making loans on realty in the city and vicinity. Mr. Cravens is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, and is active in fraternal matters. He is a Knights Templar Mason, also belongs to the Consistory of the thirty-second degree Scot- tish Rite, and the Mystic Shrine. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana in 1906, and is a trustee of the Grand Lodge. Mr. Cravens has one son, William H.
ONIS O. MELTON, M. D. At the age of thirty Doctor Melton has found his work and is practicing with unusual success and prestige in the City of Hammond. Doctor Melton's has been a self-made career in the best sense of that term, and his present attainments are the more creditable for the fact that as a boy and young man, in order to get a college education and equip himself for his chosen vocation, he accepted any opportunity for honorable work in order to earn a living and get the surplus means which his economy spared, and thus at the age of twenty-six was ready to take up the regular work of medicine.
Onis O. Melton was born at Bloomington, Indiana, November 2, 1884, a son of Donald and Alice (Wright) Melton. His father was a railway locomotive engineer. The son attended the public schools of Bedford, Indiana, later the Louisville High School in Kentucky and his studies in medicine were pursued in the University of Louisville until he graduated M. D. in 1910. As a boy, in order to get the money necessary for his education, he worked on a farm, in a lumber mill, in a confectionary store, had a newspaper route for a time, and was clerk in a railway yards. After graduating from medical college Dr. Melton served as resident physician of the Louisville City Hospital, and that provided exceptional opportunities for experience, since it had a capacity for five hundred patients and every member of the staff was taxed with duties to the full limit of his time and energy. Doctor Melton held his position with the hospital for two years, and then for one year was in charge of the Hunter Mineral Springs at Kramer, Indiana. In 1912 he established his office at Hammond and has since had a general practice. Doctor Melton has membership in the Lake County Medical Society and the Indiana, the Tenth District and the American Medical Association.
On October 8, 1912, he married Adelaide Waltring, of Louisville, daughter of Henry Waltring, a manufacturer and business man of that city.
HENRY C. PETERS. A resident of Lake County for the past ten years, Henry C. Peters came to Crown Point in 1906 and without making any particular stir in this vicinity began working for wages. Among his natural endowments and the results of self training. energy and busi- ness ability have been conspicuous, and on these qualities as a founda- tion he has continued to prosper and is now an independent merchant, one of the principal dealers in Lake County in fuel supplies, tile, and similar commodities.
Henry C. Peters was born in Chicago in 1876, a son of Rudolph and Sophia Peters. His parents came from Germany and about the close of our Civil war settled in Chicago, later moved to Porter County, In- diana, and from there to Eagle Creek Township in Lake County. Ru- dolph Peters was chiefly known in this part of Indiana as a ditch con-
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tractor, engaged in the construction of some of the early drainage ditches, and subsequently as a farmer.
Henry C. Peters acquired an education in the common schools, was actively engaged in farming for five years, and moving to Crown Point in 1906, entered the employ of Mr. Crowell, a building constructor. He was also connected with the plumbing trade, but in 1909 established a plant of his own under the name H. C. Peters, dealing in coal, wood, drain tile and fertilizers.
On May 14, 1902, Mr. Peters married Dina Rosenthal, daughter of Adolph and Sophie Rosenthal, Lake County farmers well known in their community. Mr. Peters is an active member of the Chamber of Com- merce, having been one of the charter organizers of that local association. His church is the Presbyterian, and his lodge affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters.
BENJAMIN WALTER CHIDLAW, M. D. Engaged in the practice of medicine at Hammond since 1905, Dr. Chidlaw is regarded as a physi- cian and surgeon of unusual ability and his practice and professional relations prove his high standing.
Benjamin Walter Chidlaw was born at Cleves in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 21, 1879, a son of John and Harrist (Hayes) Chidlaw. ITis father was a substantial farmer and the son grew up in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and most of his early education was acquired in the Woodward High School of that city. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and in 1904 graduated M. D. from the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati. The following year was spent in getting experience for independent practice as an interne in the German Deaconess Hospital at Cincinnati.
In June, 1905. Doctor Chidlaw located at Hammond and has since engaged in a general practice. At the present time he is serving as deputy coroner of Lake County, and is surgeon for the Indiana Harbor Belt, the Chicago, Indiana and Southern and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Companies. He is also medical examiner for three of the old- line insurance companies of Hammond. His professional relations are with the Lake County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical and the Tenth District Medical Association. Doctor Chidlaw is also a member of the Hammond Country Club, has taken the Chapter degrees in Masonry, and is exalted ruler of the Hammond Lodge of Elks. In 1905 at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, he married Nelle O'Toole. Their only daughter, Dorothy, died at the age of four years.
ALBERT EDWARD ESCHER. Coming to Hammond in 1890, Mr. Escher really has a place among the early citizens, and has been continuously identified with the business and community affairs of this locality. Energy and enthusiasm has been characteristic of Mr. Escher in all his dealings and relations with his fellowmen, and while he has acquired important interests he has at the same time gained and merited the complete trust and esteem of all men.
Albert Edward Escher was born in Albion, Michigan, May 21, 1866, a son of Jacob and Mary Jane (Kennedy) Escher. His father was a fruit grower, nursery man and florist at Albion. With a public school education, Mr. Escher started out in life on his own account, and on locating at Hammond in 1890 secured the management for the distribu-
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tion and sale of all the Chicago papers in this city. That was a business which naturally grew with the rapid development of the town, and he continued as local circulation manager for fourteen years. Since his first election in 1903, Mr. Escher has been assessor for North Township, and his official record is one of which he may well be proud. In a business way Mr. Escher is identified with the Lake County Guar- antee Title and Trust Company, the Hammond Savings and Trust Bank, and he owns stock in the Booster Cigar Company. He has also invested in Hammond real estate, and has an interest in the T. E. Bell subdivision and other city property.
In 1891 Mr. Escher married Erty M. Cotton, a daughter of George S. Cotton, a contractor of Hammond. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Escher is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, is a Knights Templar Mason and affiliates with the Mystic Shrine.
CHARLES A. SMITH. One of the most active citizens and public leaders of Hammond during the past thirteen or fourteen years has been Charles A. Smith, who came to the city in April, 1900, to take up his duties as rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He continued in the active work of the ministry and in charge of that church until October, 1913. When resigning from the ministry, Mr. Smith located at Ham- mond as one of its business men, and has since been district agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. He has been iden- tified with many civic and philanthropie movements since his residence at Hammond, is an energetic and able leader in anything he undertakes. and has had a serviceable career. He served as president of the Ham- mond public library board for two years, and was a member of the board six years. He is a member of the Hammond Country Club and of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, and is a Mason, affiliated with the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and also the Mystic Shrine.
Charles A. Smith was born at Stratford, Connecticut, in 1870, a son of Franklin C. and Jennie (Stewart) Smith. His father was promi- nent in Connecticut as editor of the Bridgeport Standard and later as secretary of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company.
Charles A. Smith after his education in the public schools, graduated from Yale University in the class of 1894. His studies in preparation for the ministry were pursued at Berkley Divinity School, and he was ordained a deacon in 1897 and a priest in 1898. After one year at Poughkeepsie, New York, and a year and a half at St. Joseph, Mis- souri, he came to Hammond, where his career and services have already been sketched.
In 1900 Mr. Smith married Adelaide Tracy, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Their three children are Harlan DuFay, Stewart, and Paul Tracy. All the family attend the St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
HARRY E. SHARRER, M. D. As a surgeon Doctor Sharrer probably stands foremost in the Calumet region for his successful record and his many influential relations with the community.
Dr. Harry E. Sharrer was born at Bowen, Illinois, June 11, 1873. a son of Wilbur F. and Katherine (Moore) Sharrer. His father is a physician and surgeon, and the Sharrer family have a somewhat notable record in the profession, sixteen of its members being identified with this vocation. Dr. Harry E. Sharrer attended the public school of
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Delphi, Indiana, finished his course in pharmacy at the Purdue Uni- versity in March, 1891, and the following three years were spent in the drug business at Delphi. Entering the Ohio Medical College at Cin- cinnati, after graduating M. D. in April, 1896, he established his office in Hammond, and began a career which has continued practically with- out interruption for the past eighteen years. His ability from the first was pronounced in surgery, and for some years his practice has been largely confined to that department.
Doctor Sharrer is on the surgical staff of St. Margaret's Hospital; is medical director of the Northern States Life Insurance Company ; is surgeon for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, for the Chicago, Indiana and Southern, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railway, and the Ham- mond, Whiting & East Chicago Street Railway Company. He is also a member and on the executive board of the American Association of Railway Surgeons, and a member of the National Association of Pen- sion Examiners, besides his membership with the Hammond, Lake County, Tenth District and Indiana Medical 'Societies.
Doctor Sharrer is president of the Hammond Country Club, is presi- dent of the Masonic Building Association, and in Masonry has been Past Master of the Blue Lodge and Past Commander of the Knights Templar, Past Potentate of Orak Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and is present representative to the Imperial Council of North America. His other fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, bc- longs to the Hamilton Club of Chicago, the University Club of Ham- mond, is vice chairman of the entertainment committee of the Indiana Society of Chicago, is a director of the Hammond Savings and Trust Bank and director of the Hammond Building & Loan Association.
Doctor Sharrer was married in April, 1898, at Burr Oak, Michi- gan, to Charlotte Weaver, who died November 25, 1901, leaving one daughter, Kathryn. On June 11, 1903, Catherine Tracy of St. Joseph, Missouri, became his wife. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. Doctor Sharrer is in every sense a man of progressive poli- cies, and this is illustrated by the fact that he was the first citizen of Lake County to own an automobile, and since his first machine, has owned a number of them and uses them constantly in his practice, and is an enthusiastic and experienced automobilist.
PATRICK REILLEY. One of the veteran business men of Hammond, Patrick Reilley has been identified with affairs in that city for thirty years, and along with material success has also won community esteem.
His career has been one of long and varied accomplishment and activity. Born in Verplanck's Point, New York, January 1, 1848, he is a son of James and Bridget (O'Donnell) Reilley, who were born in Ireland. The father was a brickmaker by trade, and on coming to America located in New York State and for some time was superin- tendent of the Second Avenue Car Stables in New York City, and his death in 1855 resulted from the kick of a horse. He and his wife, who were members of the Catholic Church, had six children, two sons and four daughters. The widow subsequently married John Allen, and had a son by that marriage, John Allen, Jr.
Patrick Reilley received his early schooling in New York State, and it was the Civil war which first interrupted the calm course of youth
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and diverted his energies into unusual directions. On October 23, 1863, at the age of fifteen, he enlisted at Philadelphia in the United States Marine Corps, and saw service for five years, three months and eight days as drummer. He then re-enlisted, and served altogether four years, being attached to several vessels of the navy, including the Guer- riere, on which he went to Europe, and also on the Don, the DeSoto and the Brooklyn. While with the navy he witnessed not only some of the actual hostilities of the closing of the Civil war, but visited and saw many parts of the globe. On retiring from the naval service he con- tinued in the same line as an employe in the Brooklyn Navy Yards for some time.
At Charlestown, Massachusetts, Mr. Reilley became identified with the manufacture of butterine. That was the activity which eventually brought him to Hammond. In the east he was in the employ of the Standard Butter Manufacturing Company and later with the firm of John Reardon & Son of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. In 1884, hav- ing become expert in the manufacture of butterine, he came to HIam- mond to take the position of superintendent of the butterine department of the Hammond Packing Company. After twelve years in that busi- ness, he started in business for himself as a plumber and was also in the grocery trade with his sons James and Edward for three years. His chief business interests, however, at Hammond during the greater part of his career has been the Reilley Plumbing Company, much of the active management of which has been in the hands of his son.
Patrick Reilley has been much in the public eye since coming to IIammond, and as a democrat represented the third ward in the council for eight years, was acting mayor during the last eighteen months of his term as councilman, and also held the office of mayor by formal elec- tion four years. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Independent Order of Foresters of Indiana, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church, and for many years they have had their home at 283 South Hohman Street. Patrick Reilley married Miss Mary A. McSweeney, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Murphy) McSweeney. To this long and happy marriage were born thirteen children, and the eight who grew up were named as follows: Mary Ann, James C., Edward, Catherine, Bessie, Nora, Julia and Joseph.
GEORGE M. EDER. The Citizens German National Bank of Hammond, of which Mr. Eder has been president since 1909, is one of the strongest and best known financial institutions in the Calumet district. Its national charter was issued May 2, 1906, and the facts of its prosperity are best indicated by its capital and surplus of $150,000 and deposits of more than a million dollars. The officers are: George M. Eder, president ; A. H. Tapper, vice president ; William D. Weis, vice president; L. G. Eder, assistant treasurer; and H. M. Johnson, cashier. Among the directors are C. E. Bauer, Peter Crumpacker, J. J. Ruff and J. K. Stinson.
George M. Eder has been identified with Lake County for forty years. and has had a long and successful career in various lines of business and in public affairs. He was born in Landau, Bavaria, Germany, Feb- ruary 23, 1855, a son of John B. and Theresa (Huber) Eder. His father was for twelve years a soldier in the Bavarian Army. In 1855, when
Les M Eden
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George was an infant, the family emigrated to America, and arrived in the City of Chicago on October 10. The family suffered from the fire of 1871, and in 1873 moved to Crown Point, Indiana, where the father died February 3, 1877, being survived by his wife, who died at the age of eighty-two.
George M. Eder was one of three sons and a daughter, spent his boy- hood in Chicago, attended the public and parochial schools, and learned the cigar-making business, which he followed with his brother Joseph in the firm of Eder Brothers of Chicago until 1873. On moving to Crown Point he continued the manufacture of cigars until 1891. In the previ- ous year he had been elected to the office of county clerk, a position which he filled for two terms, or eight years.
Mr. Eder has been a resident of Hammond since May, 1903, and for a number of years did a large business as a cigar manufacturer. He held stock in the Commercial Bank of Crown Point, of which he was vice president for a year. Mr. Eder was also president of the American Potato Machine Company at Hammond. In a public way, besides his service as county clerk, he has for years been more or less closely identified with politics and affairs. He was for six years town clerk and treasurer of Crown Point, and was twice elected to the office of township trustee, which he filled three years, until he resigned to take up his duties as county clerk. Fraternally he is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Independent Order of Foresters, and with his family wor- ships in St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is also a member of the Ham- mond Country Club.
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