USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume II > Part 27
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A. T. ELLIOTT. Lake County's prominent educators include Pro- fessor Elliott, the superintendent of the Lowell public schools, where his work has been marked by many improvements, and the Lowell High School is now one of the best equipped and one of the strongest in the Calumet district.
A. T. Elliott was born in Randolph County, Indiana, November 18, 1885. His early education was acquired in the village schools at Spartan- burg, he graduated from the Richmond High School in 1902, from the Richmond Business College in 1905, and was given the degree Bache- lor of Science at Earlham College, at Richmond, in 1911. His work from early youth has been along educational lines, and in addition to the training already described, he was for three terms in the normal training courses at the State Normal and Marion Normal. His first work as a teacher was in the grade schools for three years at Arba and Bos- ton, Indiana. In 1907-10 he was principal in the commercial depart- ment of the Richmond Business College, and in 1911 took charge of the Lowell High School, and has been superintendent of the local schools for the past three years. Some of the noticeable improvements since he took charge should be mentioned. He has added a domestic science course for three years, a manual training course, and has done much to make gymnastics and athletics an essential part of the curriculum. The Lowell High School has had an exceptionally strong basket ball and track team. In 1911 a three year course in agriculture was added, and for this purpose the school has eight acres of land. In 1911 the school was improved with a new heating system, and in 1915 a new high school building was completed. The representative of the Lowell High School won first place in oratory in a contest among other schools at Hammond,
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and first place in 1913 at Gary. Mr. Elliott brings to his work thor- ough training and the enthusiasm and enlightment of the best modern educators. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order and has held offices in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His church is the Methodist. He is fond of motoring and hunting, and is a constant student of local conditions and in every way within his power is work- ing to make the school a factor in community life.
ROBERT KLOSE. One of the fine old pioneers of the Calumet district was the late Robert Klose, who was one of the original settlers and landowners where City of Whiting now stands. He was a substantial German-American, thrifty, hard-working, provided liberally for his family, and died with the respect and esteem of his community.
Robert Klose was born in Germany, November 10, 1832, a son of Karl and Ernestine Klose. His youth and early manhood were spent in his native land, and in 1862 on emigrating to America he settled at Chesterton, Indiana. His next move was to South Chicago, in 1868, and in 1870 he established his home at what is now the City of Whit- ing. While employed on the railway as a section foreman, he kept a nice little home and was the owner of three acres now included within the city limits of Whiting. Robert Klose died in 1896.
In 1869 he married Augusta Trowe, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1863, having made the voyage in a sailing vessel and spending five weeks on the water. She was a daugh- ter of Gottfried and Christiana Trowe, who established their home at Chesterton. Robert Klose and wife had two children, Charles R. and Ella, the wife of Roy E. Green. The family, since coming to America, have been active members of the German Lutheran Church.
CHARLES R. KLOSE. While developing a large business that now offers a service familiar to all the people of Whiting, Charles R. Klose has never neglected his civic responsibilities, and deserves special credit for his work in developing the present public school equipment of his home city and is at the present time a member of the board of public works.
Charles R. Klose was born in Whiting, August 21, 1880, a son of Robert A. and Augusta Klose. His father was for a number of years employed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, until his death, on May 24, 1896. The son grew up in Whiting, is a graduate of the first class in the high school, and had his business training by two years with the J. J. Donegan Coal Company. This was followed by two years with the Standard Oil Company, and on August 21, 1903, on his twenty-third birthday, he and Paul J. Scholz, started a small busi- ness, handling feed, poultry and produce. In 1909 they bought out the Robert Atchison coal yard, and that business is now conducted under the corporate title of the Northern Indiana Lumber & Coal Company. In 1910 the partners established the first automobile garage in Whiting.
Mr. Klose was married July 14, 1904, to Lilian Wright of Chicago. They have two children: Norene and Lilian. Mr. Klose is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and in politics is a republican. His service as a member of the Whiting School Board continued for six years, between 1906 and 1912, and during one year he was secretary and for the remaining five years was president of the board. It was during that time that the splendid high school build-
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ing was constructed at a cost of $140,000. In January, 1914, Mr. Klose was appointed commissioner of the board of public works in Whiting for a term of four years.
EAST CHICAGO COMPANY. It was in June, 1901, work was com- menced in the northeast part of the limits of East Chicago, but miles away from the factory and residence section of that city, on a new industrial city project, especially to provide a site for a large inde- pendent steel mill. It was in August, 1902, that the Inland Steel Mills was ready for operation, and already at that date Indiana Harbor was a town and almost a city. It is not the intention to tell the detailed history of Indiana Harbor here, but only an outline of facts concern- ing the great land company which has owned and controlled the local- ity and has been chiefly responsible for the upbuilding of a city at that point.
The East Chicago Company was organized in 1901, and has suc- ceeded and taken over the properties and the business of several other land companies which had preceded it in the field. It was in 1887 and succeeding years that Gen. Joseph Torrence of Chicago, started the Calumet Canal and Improvement Company and the Standard Steel & Iron Company, and it was the latter organization which promoted and laid out the City of East Chicago. From that enterprise was developed the comprehensive plan which subsequently included and originated the Indiana Harbor project. The Chicago and Calumet Railway, now known as the B. O. C. T. Railroad, was likewise an early factor in the city's growth of that early date. In 1895 the Lake Michigan Land Company was organized by Owen F. Aldis of Chicago and associates, and they acquired the property now included within the limits of Indiana Har- bor, and began the first important development work and eventually made Indiana Harbor the seat of the Inland Steel Company. This company's operations were followed by reorganization in 1901, of the East Chicago Company, and in 1903, three other companies were absorbed and their land holdings acquired.
The East Chicago Company has the following officers: Robert E. Tod, of New York, president; C. A. Westberg, whose home is in Chicago, but with business headquarters in Indiana Harbor, vice president and treasurer ; and Thomas F. Mooney, secretary. The company has a capital of $1,000,000, and its operation has been the mainspring in Indiana Har- bor's growth and development. General Torrence sold out his holdings about 1892, and Mr. Tod has since been the controlling factor in the enterprise. The company started with 7,000 acres, sold land to every factory and industrial project of Indiana Harbor, and still has some twenty-two hundred acres left. Under the auspices of the company the harbor was constructed during 1901-03, and in 1904 the Indiana Harbor Canal was started, and at the present time it has been opened for a dis- tance of six miles, and its channel has a depth of twenty feet allowing practically all the freight boats of the Great Lakes to enter and dis- charge and receive cargoes at the docks of Indiana Harbor. As the ac- tive executive in charge of the affairs of the company at Indiana Harbor, C. A. Westberg has a prominent place in local affairs. Born in Chicago in 1881, a son of P. A. Westberg, his father a contractor and builder of that city, Mr. Westberg is a graduate of the high schools in Chicago, and his early experience was acquired in the contracting business with his father until the latter's death. His record with the East Chicago Com- Vol. II-13
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pany, whose services he entered in 1904, has been one of unusual ad- vancement and indicates the aggressive energy and ability with which Mr. Westberg handles everything intrusted to his care. He began with the company as collector, and has since held every post in the company's service but that of president. Mr. Westberg is a republican in politics, and has fraternal membership with the Masonic Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
CITIZENS TRUST & SAVINGS BANK OF INDIANA HARBOR. As an insti- tution that meets the highest standards of financial service in an indus- trial and commercial community the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank of Indiana Harbor has fulfilled all the requirements of success.
This bank was established in June, 1909, and with less than five years of history has resources and a record of service which places it among the strongest banks of the Calumet region. At the close of the year 1913 the total resources of the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank were $261,129.51. At that date the deposits aggregated over $200,000.00, and while the capital stock is $50,000.00, the surplus amounts to $4,000.00 and undivided profits between $5,000.00 and $6,000.00. When first started the capital was $25,000.00 and was increased to its present amount in March, 1912. The first officers were J. R. Farovid, who was the organizer and is still president; A. G. Lundquist, vice president ; and C. P. Packard, Jr., cashier.
The banking house in which the bank has its quarters was erected in 1908. Originally this was the Citizens State Bank, organized by a group of Chicago capitalists who subsequently sold their interests to Mr. Farovid, and under his direction the company was reorganized in its present form.
It is not only a position as president of one of the strongest banks but also as a pioneer business man that J. R. Farovid occupies in Indiana Harbor. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1871, and in the same year his parents, James A. and Mary E. (Vincent) Farovid moved to Chicago. His father was in the wholesale hat and cap business. The Indiana Harbor banker was educated in the public schools, and in 1896 graduated from Harvard University. After several years of business experience elsewhere, he identified himself with the Indiana Harbor enterprise in the fall of 1901, and as a real estate man sold the first lot on that new townsite. He represented the Lake Michigan Land Trustees, and after several years in looking after the interests of others he opened an office for himself in 1906. Thus Mr. Farovid had behind him a long and thorough experience in local business affairs and enjoyed the com- plete confidence of the community when he organized the bank in 1909.
Mr. Farovid is affiliated with the Masonic Order, with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, has served as president of the Indiana Harbor library board, and in politics is a progressive republican.
FRANK W. SMITH, M. D. While his ability and success in the medi- cal and surgical profession have given him rank among the foremost doctors in Lake County, Doctor Smith outside of his large private prac- tice is perhaps best known to the people of Northwestern Indiana as a courageous and brilliant public leader, and has been active and a use- ful worker in public affairs for a number of years. It was with Doctor Smith as a leader that the City of Gary recently effected a complete
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change in its municipal administration, and brought about the over- throw of the old regime, inaugurated a new government with com- petence and economy, efficiency and honesty, as its basic principle. His many enthusiastic friends in the tenth district say that Doctor Smith will be the next congressman from this part of Indiana.
Frank W. Smith is a native of Clinton County, Indiana, where he was born September 20, 1867, a son of J. W. and Sarah A. Smith. His father was for many years a lumberman and is now living retired. Since the years of his early manhood Doctor Smith has been in the ranks of social service workers, first as a teacher, then as a physician and surgeon, and at the same time as a publie leader. He is a man of splendid education, went through the public schools as a boy, graduated from the Indiana State Normal, took post-graduate work in the Univer- sity of Chicago, studied medicine at Rush Medical College at Chicago and in the Marion Sims College of Medicine at St. Louis and also in the Indiana School of Medicine. While his practice at Gary is of a general nature, he has been called upon as a surgeon so much that surgical work now constitutes perhaps the major part of his profes- sional activities. Doctor Smith has membership in all the local, state and national medical associations.
In 1892 he married Gertrude E. Mattix, of Clinton County, Indiana. Their two children are Lucile, aged twenty, and Robert, aged seven. Doctor Smith has fraternal membership in the following orders: Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Improved Order of Red Men, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose. His wife is an attendant of the Methodist Church.
Since casting has first vote Doctor Smith has been a republican, and at the present time is in his second two-year term as county coroner of Lake County. It was in 1913 that Doctor Smith took the lead in the organization of the Citizens Party of Gary, of which he was chair- man. At the same time he is chairman of the republican party organiza- tion in the city. The citizens party conducted a compaign to "clean up Gary," and its incidents and results are still fresh in the memory of all citizens in the Calumet region. The party drew its supporters from all classes and the campaign was so well organized and conducted so evidently for the best interests of the community at large, that prac- tically the entire voting element interested in good and clean local government was enlisted for its success. As a result of the campaign a new mayor was elected, and great results are to be expected from the present municipal government. Doctor Smith for several years has been a co-worker with Fred A. Sims in the ninth district. For fifteen years before entering upon the practice of medicine, Doctor Smith was a teacher, and supported himself and paid his way through higher schools by his work in that profession. He has taught in every grade of school from a country district to instructor in the St. Louis University.
FRED GASTEL, JR. The relations of Fred Gastel, Jr., with Indiana Harbor, which have subsisted pleasantly and profitably for the past ten years, are chiefly through insurance, loans, and general brokerage lines. He is one of the successful and popular business men, has worked hard for all he has got, and has well merited his success.
While perhaps the majority of successful men in the Calumet region today were born in other localities and have been drawn into this field
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by the presence of its great industrial and commercial resources, Fred Gastel, Jr., acknowledges Lake County as his native home and can claim a pioneer relationship for his family with this section. Fred Gastel, Jr., was born at Hammond, November 20, 1883, and is a son of Fred and Gertrude (Hilbrich) Gastel. His father, who is now a retired real estate dealer, came to Tolleston in Lake County in 1861, from there moved to Hammond in 1872, thus being an early settler in two points that have since become centers of industrial development and population in the Calumet region.
Fred Gastel, Jr., spent his early boyhood in Hammond, attended the . public schools, and after finishing a commercial course in Valparaiso in 1900 was employed by the firm of Libby, McNeill & Libby of Chicago one year as paymaster, and on coming to Indiana Harbor in 1903 was made paying teller for the Indiana Harbor State Bank. Since 1904 Mr. Gastel, Jr., has been engaged in independent operations as a real estate and insurance broker. He handles real estate, insurance, commercial paper, bonds, and acts as a general broker and financial agent.
On June 20, 1906, Mr. Gastel married Ida D. Joern of Crown Point. Their two children are Fred the third and Dorothy Marie. Mr. Gastel has membership in the Masonic Blue Lodge of Indiana Harbor and in the Royal Arch Chapter at East Chicago, is independent in his political relations, and a member of the Commercial Clubs of Lake County.
INDIANA HARBOR LUMBER AND COAL COMPANY. This, one of the most extensive concerns of its kind in the Calumet region, was established in 1902, the year in which the great steel mills began operation and when Indiana Harbor became an industrial city in fact as well as in name. However, the first lumber from the yards was sold by the Greer-Wilker- son Lumber Company, under which name the business was first estab- lished, and it has been conducted as the Indiana Harbor Lumber and Coal Company since 1903. Mr. C. V. Gough, now of Gary, was the first manager of the business, and was succeeded in 1907 by Mr. E. E. Dubbs. Mr. Dubbs is an old hand in the lumber trade, and was promoted from the office of assistant manager to his present responsibilities. The com- pany's yards and sheds cover 21/2 acres of ground, located conveniently on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railway and the Chicago, Indiana & South- ern line. The business is one of extensive proportions, and all kinds of lumber, building material, coal and wood are the chief commodities handled.
E. E. Dubbs was born at Peru, Indiana, in 1881, a son of Edward E. and Alice (Williams) Dubbs. His father was for many years an active business man at Peru, engaged in the hotel and other lines of enterprise. Mr. Dubbs is the example of the college man who has succeeded in busi- ness affairs, and after spending four years in Wabash College at Craw- fordsville graduated from Purdue University in 1903. His first experi- ence was in the lumber trade at Cincinnati, Ohio, with the C. Crane Lumber Company. Later he was with the C. E. Fouts Lumber Company at Zanesville, Ohio, and in 1904 came to Indiana Harbor to become assist- ant manager to Mr. Gough, whom he succeeded as manager in 1907.
Mr. Dubbs on October 14, 1911, married Kathryn McGrath, of Chi- cago, who was born in Leachburg, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Jane McGrath, born July 11, 1914. Mr. Dubbs has membership in the Phi Kappa Psi College fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Masonic Order and belongs to the lumbermen's organization,
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the Hoo Hoos. His church is the Presbyterian, and in politics he supports the republican party.
B. C. LUKENS. The Central Drug Store was established at Indiana Harbor in 1908 by B. C. Lukens, an old and established druggist, and under whose capable management the store has gained the confidenee and patronage of the best class of people in the city. Mr. Lukens has been acquainted in a practical manner with the drug business since he was a boy, and his enterprise and progressive ideas have made him one of the successful merchants of this thriving city in the Calumet region. His store building is at 3410 Michigan Avenue, has ground dimensions of 25x100 feet, and his stock is complete in a supply of pure drugs and all the general commodities usually carried in an up-to-date establish- ment of the kind.
B. C. Lukens was born at LaGrange, Indiana, in June, 1865, a son of Moses and Margaret (Boyd) Lukens. His father was a miller, and died in 1867 when the son was an infant. His mother died in 1882. Mr. Lukens was reared in the family of his grandfather Boyd, attended the public schools so far as his opportunities permitted, but was only twelve years old when he did his first work in a drug store and served a thor- ough and long apprenticeship in every phase of the business. In 1890 Mr. Lukens bought a half interest in a store at Huntington, Indiana, and from there moved to Indiana Harbor in 1908.
In 1890 Mr. Lukens married Ora Draggoo, of LaGrange, Indiana. They have one son, Boyd. Mr. Lukens affiliates with the Masonic Order. the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Royal League. He also belongs to the Commercial Club, and in politics is independent.
DAVID J. LEWIS. The Monarch Hardware and Furniture Company was established in Indiana Harbor in 1907 by David J. Lewis, who is president and treasurer of the corporation. The secretary is J. H. Lewis and the other director of the company is H. Moffat. In seven years the business has grown to one of flourishing proportions, and is one of the best managed and best patronized establishments of its kind in East Chicago. Its location is at 3339 Michigan Avenue, and the stoek is housed in a two-story building 25x80 feet. A full line of furniture and hardware is carried, and the proprietors have been close students of the mercantile problems involved, have maintained an excellent credit, and every year since the beginning has seen a satisfying increase in the total volume of business done.
David J. Lewis has had a varied career, was in the service of the United States navy about the time of the Spanish-American and Phil- ippine wars, and came into his present suceess after a long experience in the school of adversity and hard knocks. Born in the City of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, in 1875, he was a son of Jolin G. and Margaret ( Wat- kins) Lewis. His father, who was an iron worker, was killed as a result of a boiler explosion in 1888, and the mother, being left with nine young children, in the same year moved to East Chicago, where the children grew up and all members of the household had to bear their part in earning enough for food and shelter. David J. Lewis when eleven years old did his first work in a mill, and had very limited opportunities for schooling. He continued as a mill worker until seventeen years old, when he learned the bricklayer's trade, but on reaching his majority enlisted
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in the United States navy in the engineering service as yeoman. For some time he was employed largely in clerical and secretarial work for the chief engineer and captain of the vessel on which he served. His command was engaged in some of the campaigns and in garrison and other duties during the Philippine war, and later was a part of the American forces sent to China during the Boxer rebellion. Mr. Lewis while in the navy eneireled the globe, and for his efficient conduct re- ceived two medals. On returning to East Chicago in 1901, he spent six years in work at his trade, and then engaged in his present line of business.
In October, 1911, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Jane Young, of Akron, Ohio. They have one son. Mr. Lewis is active in Masonic circles, being past master of East Chicago Lodge No. 595, A. F. & A. M., has taken the Knights Templar degrees, thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite, and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. Other affiliations are with the Frater- nal Order of Eagles, and the Commercial Club. In polities he is a progressive republiean.
DANIEL W. DUPES. Following many years of active service as a rail- road man, the duties of which service had already brought him to Indiana Harbor, Mr. Dupes has for the past four years been one of the enterprising real estate men of that city, and now operates one of the best known and most liberally patronized agencies and brokerage houses in the city.
A native of Ohio, Daniel W. Dupes was born in Williamstown August 31, 1869, a son of Adam and Keziah (Edgar) Dupes. His father was a farmer. His ambitions early caused him to long for things beyond the horizon of the farm, and after finishing the course of the Dunkirk high school in Ohio he learned telegraphy and became a regular operator with the Pennsylvania railway. During the following years he served as operator, as extra agent and as agent, for a total period of twenty-two years, during which time he was stationed in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. For several years he was agent at Hegewisch, Illinois, and for two years at Indiana Harbor.
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