USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume II > Part 28
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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
It was in 1905 that Mr. Dupes came to Indiana Harbor as agent for the railway, but in December, 1907, resigned after his long career which made him a veteran railroad man, and in June, 1908, became a salesman for the J. R. Farovid Company. He remained with that concern until October, 1910, and then engaged in the real estate business under the firm name of Saric & Dupes Company. Since June 1, 1913, Mr. Dupes has had his office alone at 3401 Michigan Avenue, and now looks after an extensive business in the handling of several large properties in rental and collection branches, and in general real estate brokerage.
On December 1, 1890, he married Winifred Haldeman, of Dunkirk, Ohio. At her death in December, 1897, she left three children named as follows: Karl, Gretchen and Winifred. In April, 1900, Mr. Dupes mar- ried for his second wife Nellie F. Rogers, of Boscobel, Wisconsin. The four children of this marriage are: Marion; Lowell; Carmen, deceased ; and Bonnie Madeline. Mr. Dupes affiliates with the Royal League, is independent in politics, and his church is the Methodist.
FRANK ZAWADZKI. In introducing some statistics and other informa- tion concerning the Polish people of Gary, it is appropriate to begin with Mr. Frank Zawadzki, who is commissioner for the State of Indiana of
For 6 загадки
671
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
the National Polish Alliance, and a former treasurer of that organization. Mr. Zawadzki is one of the most prominent Poles in Northern Indiana, and as commissioner of the State Alliance has thirty-two lodges or indi- vidual organizations under his supervision. He has also made a splendid record of business success at Gary, and on January 5, 1914, was appointed to the important office of membership on the board of public works.
In many ways his career is typical of other successful Polish Ameri- cans. He was born in Russian Poland, November 29, 1860, came to the United States in 1879, spent six years in New York, then moved west to Chicago, and after one year as a laborer got on the police force, and was a Chicago policeman for sixteen years and four months, with a record of bravery and efficiency that often brought him commendation from his superiors. Most of his service on the police force was on the west side, and for five years he served as interpreter for the Chicago Department of Health. Coming to Gary in 1906, the year that city. was founded, Mr. Zawadzki opened the Hotel New World, at the corner of 12th and Broadway. After three years in that location he opened a new place under the same name at 1120 Broadway, and a year and a half later, in November, 1912, opened his present hotel at the corner of 15th and Broadway.
Mr. Zawadzki was married in 1879 to Mary Malinowska, who was born in the same section of Poland as her husband. They are the parents of six children, three of whom are now deceased. Mr. Zawadzki and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and in politics he is independent, and it was his vigorous record as a business man and citizen and well- known independence and integrity, which brought about his appoint- ment as a member of the Gary Board of Public Works.
When the Polish people celebrated the anniversary of their revolu- tionary days of January 22, 1831, and November 29, 1863. on January 22, 1914, the Calumet published an interesting article on Gary's Polish citizens, with partienlar reference to Mr. Zawadzki, and the greater part of that article is quoted herewith for its value as local history.
There are some three thousand Poles in Gary, according to this arti- cle, and they are a sturdy people. As a rule they are laborers, having come to free America with nothing but brawny arms to work with and good brains, although uneducated. Just why these agricultural people drift into the cities and mills is a problem for the sociologist to solve, but they have come to America in great numbers, three thousand of them to Gary, and most of these found employment in the steel mills. On immigrating, what little money they had accumulated shrunk amaz- ingly, for, to take Austria for an example, the equivalent of $25 is worth only $7.50 in our money. Considerable property in Gary is now held by the Polish people. Perhaps the most conspicuous success is that of Frank or Franciszek Zawadzki, who came to America from Russian Poland and has become not only a leader among the local Poles, but a national leader as well. In the appointment of Mr. Zawadzki to the Gary Board of Works, Mayor Johnson recognized Mr. Zawadzki's acknowledged ability, and at the same time his appreciation of the Polish vote. Not more than twenty Poles in the recent municipal election voted the customary democratic ticket. They were all for Johnson.
The Poles belong to the great Slavie race. Of the large foreign-born population of Gary, fully 65 per cent are Slavs and their natural increase is very rapid. The Servians and Croatians number about. five thou- sand; Bohemians, three thousand; Poles, three thousand; Slavonians,
672
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
two thousand five hundred to three thousand; Hungarians, one thou- sand five hundred; Macedonians, one thousand. These seven nationalities of the Slavic race constitute half of Gary or more, and they are a power which must be reckoned with. Considered as ancestors only, they pre- sent some interesting angles for study. Nationality is hardly recognized in the second generation. Out of their assimilation will spring a strong race.
The Poles are an intensely patriotic people. They love their Father- land, and are hoping and waiting for the moment to come when their un- happy country can strike off its fetters and become an independent nation once more. It is with that in view that the anniversary is celebrated- to keep alive the national spirit in the children. Unlike America's Fourth of July, Poland's celebration commemorates a defeat. The unavailing January insurrection took place in 1831, and the November revolt in 1863, in Russian Poland. For more than a year Polish blood poured over that unhappy country. Almost a thousand skirmishes and battles were fought, and some thirty-five thousand were killed or wounded. Many thousands were exiled.
The organizing power of this people in America has been wonder- ful. Thirty-one years ago a movement was started in Philadelphia, which resulted in the Polish National Alliance of America. More than one hundred thousand loyal sons and daughters of Poland are in the organization, and are working faithfully for their beloved country. As the chief of the information bureau of the alliance expresses it, "they are earnestly enlightening and educating themselves; they are uplift- ing themselves morally and spiritually, so that they may become worthy of the moment when their country calls to them for help to liberate her from the chains of Austria, Russia and Germany."
There are thirty-two societies in Indiana which are branches of the Polish alliance, the national headquarters of which are in Chicago. The alliance has built up an enormous property, has paid out $4,500,000 to widows and orphans, has established weekly and daily papers, and has a surplus today of $1,700,000, of which $10,000 has been loaned in Gary to help build up the city. As state commissioner and ex-treasurer of the alliance, Mr. Zawadzki has succeeded in securing the adoption of a measure setting apart one cent a month from each member's payment as a fund for the care of old and disabled members. With a membership of 101,000 a large fund will result.
The Poles are Catholics. They built the first church in Gary, on Connecticut Street, between 17th and 18th avenues, and a sketch of the Catholic Church in Gary will be found elsewhere in this work.
Commenting on the patriotism of the Poles, Mr. Zawadzki in the Calumet said : "The Polish people love America. They are trying to absorb her spirit and the spirit of her institutions. But there is no harm in their thinking of the Fatherland once in a while. Should the Ameri- can flag ever be in danger, you will find that of all nationalities, the Poles will furnish the biggest percentage of its defenders."
LAZAR W. SARIC. Probably no business man of Indiana Harbor has a more definite and practical knowledge of real estate values and busi- ness generally than L. W. Sarie, who during the past seven or eight years has had an important part in developing the city and handling real estate for a large group of citizens.
673
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
Lazar W. Saric is a native of Slavonia, born July 14, 1874. His early life was spent in his native land, and in 1903 he came to the United States, worked in a bank at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, one year, spent two and a half years in the real estate and foreign exchange business at Youngstown, Ohio, and then after eight months at Detroit arrived at Indiana Harbor in 1907 and went to work for Mr. Farovid, head of the Citizens Trust and Savings Bank. He was associated with Mr. Farovid for two years, and since then has engaged in real estate business inde- pendently, with his office at 3448 Guthrie. Since then Mr. Saric has built more than a hundred houses, and has introduced a number of families from different parts of the country to the home owning and thrifty population of Indiana Harbor. Besides his individual transac- tions, some of the large property owners have regular relations with him for the handling of their business and residence property as agent. He was admitted to the bar October 22, 1914.
In 1900 Mr. Saric married Maria Cochisa, who was born in Slavonia of Roumanian descent. Mr. Saric has affiliations with the following fraternal orders : the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Royal League, the Servian National Globe of America. He is a republican, and quite active and influential in local affairs.
FRANK JEROME. Soon after the commercial center of Indiana Harbor was established, Frank Jerome, who for many years has been identified with business in the City of Chicago, opened a furniture store in the new town, and as one of the pioneer merchants has enjoyed a successful trade increasing with the population, and at the same time has been one of the energetic spirits in community affairs.
Mr. Jerome was born at Ellicottville, New York, in July, 1856, and belongs to the same family of which the former district attorney of New York City is a representative. The Jeromes have been prominent in America since the early colonial days and some of the ancestors served as soldiers in the American Revolution. Mr. Jerome's father, Charles Jerome, was a minister of the Presbyterian Church. The mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Reed. Frank Jerome's boyhood was spent in the Village of Clinton, New York, famous as the seat of Hamilton College, and he began a commercial career before reaching his majority. In 1874 he moved to Philadelphia, and came west to Chicago in 1876, and has lived in this vicinity ever since. For many years he sold goods on the road and was also in the brokerage business in Chicago. In 1902, the year which saw the opening of the Great Inland Steel Mill at the new town of Indiana Harbor, Mr. Jerome established what was known as the "Wigwam," and put in a stock of furniture. His store is a build- ing 50 by 90 feet with a basement, and his increasing trade has necessitated expansion and in 1907 he bought what he calls the Annex, which is also filled with a large and varied stock of furniture equipment. The "Annex" was built in 1901 by Joseph Place, of East Chicago, and is therefore one of the landmarks of Indiana Harbor. For several years it was used as a meeting house and since it came into the possession of Mr. Jerome has afforded additional space for his business.
In August, 1909, Mr. Jerome married Amalie Hofer, of Iowa. Mr. Jerome has fraternal affiliations with the Masonic Order, including the Knight Templar degree and membership in the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the Order of the Sons of the American Revolution.
674
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
He belongs to the City Club of Chicago, the Chikaming Country Club of Michigan and the local Commercial Club. In politics he is republican.
WOLF MARCOVICH. One of Indiana Harbor's most sueeessful men is Wolf Marcovich, who came to the United States a dozen years ago, located at the new center of industry in the Calumet region in 1904, and by extensive dealing and development in real estate has become one of the largest factors and at the same time has probably done as much as any other individual to upbuild his community in a material way.
Wolf Mareovieh was born in Roumania, one of the little countries comprising the Balkan Confederacy, in 1868. In 1902, emigrating to the United States, he located in Chicago, and two years later moved to Indiana Harbor. There he opened a place of business as a dealer in foreign exchange, real estate, and the sale of steamship tickets, at 3716 Center Street. His most important activity has been the buying and selling of property, and the building of many homes in this eity. His contraets, always conducted on a high plane of honorable dealings, has made him one of the wealthy men of the eity, and at the present time he pays taxes on local property probably as high as any other individual.
On March 12, 1894, Mr. Mareovich married Buna Herskovice of Roumania. Their six children are: Gazelle, who is assisting his father in business ; Fannie; Paul ; Michael; Eva; and Abraham, the only one of the children born in Indiana Harbor. The family are members of the Jewish Church. Mr. Marcovich affiliates with the B'Nai B'rith and the I. O. B. A. In politics he is a progressive republican. One of the chief thoroughfares in Indiana Harbor is Hunter Street, on which Mr. Mar- covich first located on coming to Indiana Harbor, and the development of that street as a business avenue has been influenced as much by Mr. Mareovich as by any other citizen.
M. CLIFFORD WILEY. More than any other profession perhaps is the architect known by his works, and by that standard M. Clifford Wiley, East Chicago architect, is easily one of the leaders in his profession in the Calumet district.
M. Clifford Wiley was born at Lowell, in Lake County, Indiana, son of Wilson and Clarinda Wiley. The Wiley family came from Ohio to Lake County during the early times, and the father was a farmer here. Mr. Wiley was thoroughly edneated, but chiefly from means supplied by his own labor, and until entering his present profession was engaged in teaching. He attended school at Valparaiso University, also the Cook County Normal Sehool in Illinois, and during his work as teacher was principal of the Lowell publie schools from 1894 to 1896. Mr. Wiley received a thorough training and experience in architecture and praeti- cal building work in Chicago, which was his home until 1911, in which year he moved to East Chicago and opened an office. Mr. Wiley de- signed the First National Bank Building of Whiting, which is perhaps his most conspicuous achievement in the Calumet district. Other im- portant buildings of which he is architect are a bank at Dubuque, Iowa, a theater at Burlington, Wisconsin, and a number of lesser buildings in the Calumet region and elsewhere.
Mr. Wiley is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the East Chicago Club, the Commercial Club, and in polities is independent.
675
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF EAST CHICAGO. Prominent among the influences necessary to the highest civilization of any country are the church and school. Whatever success the individuals lacking these in- fluences may achieve, a community can never prosper without them. St. Mary's Catholic Church of East Chicago, of which Father George Lauer is pastor, has performed a notable service both in religion and in education in that community, and a brief sketch of the church and parish have an appropriate place in the history of the Calumet region.
It was Father H. M. Plaster who built the first church in 1889 at a cost of $3,500, he bought six lots from the East Chicago Land Company for $900, the company donating three other lots. Father Plaster as the first pastor celebrated the first mass in the old Tod Opera House. General Torrence, who was such a prominent figure in the founding and upbuilding of Hammond and East Chicago, donated the first bell, which had originally belonged to the first public school, the sehool building subsequently becoming the city hall. Father John Tremmel, who was assistant to Father Plaster, succeeded him in the parish when the latter moved to Plymouth. Indiana, and Father Tremmel was succeeded by Father Lenz, who after four months was followed by Father M. J. Byrne. Father Byrne was the first stationary pastor, St. Mary's having up to that time been a mission. He remained two years and was then transferred to the Sacred Heart parish at Whiting. Once more St. Mary's became a mission and was served by Father Byrne once a month, he making the trip from Whiting in a buggy. Father S. Kobelin- ski, who had charge of St. Adalbert's parish at Hammond, was the next missionary priest at St. Mary's, and after him came Father H. Kappel, who was assistant at St. Joseph's of Hammond, but remained only three months.
The record thus far brings St. Mary's up to the year 1898. At that time there were only about twenty-four families in the parish, and some of them are still there, including J. S. Reiland, Edward King, Mrs. M. Flack, Andrew O'Girr, Freman Fife, Mrs. Harry Smith, Peter Whelan, Sr., James Durkin. Joseph French, Sr., Thomas Kennedy, Henry and Elmer Bourque.
In February, 1899. Father George Lauer took charge of St. Mary's. He had confronting him a heavy responsibility, since the parish had never been in a flourishing condition, and in the past fifteen years he has practically founded and built from the ground up the flourishing church organization now represented by St. Mary's. At the beginning he had about thirty families, twenty-two children in the Sunday school, and practically no services had been held there for three years. A debt of $2,700 increased the difficulties of his pioneer work. The first bill paid ont was $165 for street improvements on Forsyth Avenue. The people living within the parish limits promised him their support, and through a bazaar the sum of $1,078 was netted. The priest's house was built, but later was converted into a sisters' convent. At the same time additions were placed on the church at a cost of $950. St. Mary's first organist was Mrs. A. P. Brown, and assisted by Catherine and Ella Sheets and Carrie Reiland as singers. The following year Josephine Flack took the organ, and four years later was succeeded by Miss Eva Kennedy, and her long service of eight years was followed by that of Miss Lillian Artibey, the present organist.
In 1901 the schoolhouse was built, a two-story frame building
676
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
40x52 feet, costing $2,350 and located just north of the church. The fall of 1901 saw 170 children in attendance under the charge of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods of Indiana, near Terre Haute. At the present time St. Mary's parish comprises about one hundred and sixty families or 850 souls. There are five teachers in the school, instruction runs through eight grades, and the very highest standards of scholastic work are maintained. A new rectory for the priest was built in 1902, and his old home given to the sisters. About the same time five additional lots were purchased at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The present rectory cost $6,500. Another item in the financial record of the church is that during the last ten years about forty-five hundred dollars have been paid out for street improvements around the church and school grounds.
On May 17, 1913, construction was begun on a new schoolhouse, and it was finished in October, containing eight class rooms and a large auditorium with stage, capable of seating 350 pupils, heated by steam. and has all modern improvements. At the same time the rectory was changed to a sisters' convent, and the priest now resides in a temporary flat which has been fitted up in the school building. The total cost of the schoolhouse was $24,300.
During the past year through the efforts of the Willing Workers Society the church funds have been increased by the sum of $9,850. Mrs. Charles Dewey was chairman in 1913 of the Willing Workers, and was also sub-chairman of three other circles, and with other prominent women members of the parish has secured the greater part of the means by which the many improvements have been effected. One feature of the varied activities of the parish in which Father Lauer is particularly interested is the Dramatic Club.
Father George Lauer was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 24, 1872, received his early education in St. Mary's school of that city, and after finishing there in 1886 entered St. Lawrence College at Mount Calvary, controlled by the Capuchin Fathers and located near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He completed the course in 1891, and concluded his theological studies in St. Mary's of the West at Cincinnati in 1896. His ordination as a priest occurred on June 30, 1896, and he said his first mass July 5th of that year at St. Mary's at Fort Wayne. His successive stations as a priest or assistant have been at Goshen, Indiana, Earl Park, La Porte, in the Cathedral at Fort Wayne, at Avilla, Indiana, at Rome City, was then stationed at Ligonier and had charge of the Kendallville. Wawaka and Millersburg missions. Following this he was sent to St. Joseph's at Hammond as temporary assistant, and at the same time was given charge of the East Chicago Church of St. Mary's, and his energies have since been directed to the latter charge, with what fruitful success has already been described.
Father Lauer's father is Justin Lauer, a native of Germany, and now sixty-six years of age. The mother's maiden name was Gertrude Wyss. She is a native of Indiana and of Swiss ancestry and now sixty-two years of age, and both live in the old home at Fort Wayne, being among the oldest members of St. Mary's Church in that city. Father Lauer's brother Nicholas is a contractor at Fort Wayne, and married Margaret Happ of that city. They have three children. Father Lauer also has three sisters, as follows: Gertrude, now Mrs. Oscar Sprenger, of Port Clinton, Ohio, where the husband is engaged in tailoring and they have
Clarence OSoflong,
677
LAKE COUNTY AND THE CALUMET REGION
four children; Matilda, widow of Joseph Neuman, and living at Elyria, Ohio; and May, who is single and living at home.
Father Lauer is a devoted churchman, has made his life one of benefi- cent service, and in East Chicago is esteemed both as the leader of a great church organization and as a citizen interested in every movement for the improvement of his community.
CLARENCE O. SEFTON. A lawyer of broad experience and successful practice at Gary is Clarence O. Sefton, who has been identified with the Gary bar since 1907.
Born in Louisville, Illinois, December 9, 1876, Clarence O. Sefton had the inestimable advantage of being born in the country and reared in the wholesome environment of an Illinois farm. His parents were James S. and Elizabeth (Golden) Sefton, and they represented pioneer families in Illinois. His early life was divided between the planting and harvesting labors of the farm, and attendance at the local schools, and his ambition early led him to seek those opportunities which lie above the plane of commonplace effort. His education was acquired in the Orchard City College, Austin College, and in 1905 he graduated from the law department of Valparaiso University. In the meantime seven years had been spent as a teacher, and his earnings from the schoolroom defrayed most of his expenses during the time he was fitting himself for law practice. His first year as a lawyer was spent at his native village of Louisville, followed by one year in South Bend, Indiana, and in 1907 he came to Gary. Mr. Sefton, in 1912, was democratic candidate in Lake County for the office of prosecuting attorney. His popularity in the county and the aggressive campaign which he made, resulted in his receiving 2,400 votes more than the normal democratic strength, and while he failed of election, it was a gratifying compli- ment to his personal standing. He has been unswerving in his loyalty to the democratic party.
ALLEN P. TWYMAN. The legal profession of the Calumet region has one of its ablest representatives in Allen P. Twyman of East Chicago, and his position in that community as a rising young lawyer is already well established. His work has given much promise of distinctive achievement, and his service as temporary incumbent of the office of city judge a year or so ago is especially remembered to his credit.
A Kentuckian by birth, Allen P. Twyman was born at Louisville, December 9, 1885. His parents are Buford and Bettie (Piatt) Twyman. His father was also an attorney, one of the older members of the Louis- ville bar, and died in 1901.
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.