USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume II > Part 30
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Mr. J. R. Snyder had a public school education, and was also a stu- dent in Drury College at Springfield, Missouri, and the Ohio State University at Columbus. His brother, H. B., is a graduate of Yale Uni- versity with the class of 1908. Both the Snyder brothers are vigorous and alert young newspaper men, have been thoroughly trained in the
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WB Van Horne
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business, and conduct a clean and enterprising paper for the benefit of Gary and the vicinity.
J. R. Snyder in 1910, married Edith Turner of Urbana, Ohio. Besides his newspaper work he has given considerable attention to local affairs, and in April, 1912, was appointed to the office of city elerk, which he held until the expiration of his term, January 1, 1914. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Commercial Club, the University Club and the Country Club, and his church is the Methodist. In politics he sup- ports the democratic party.
HON. WILLARD B. VAN HORNE. With offices and practice as a leading lawyer at Indiana Harbor, since 1902, Mr. Van Horne has prestige as one of the ablest lawyers in Lake County ; a man of fine intellectual and profes- sional attainments, he has been an influential factor in connection with po- litical affairs, and his sterling character and genial personality has gained him unqualified popularity. He is present representative from his district in the State Legislature, and all his work in public office has increased the confidence placed in him by the people. His career has been one in which he has progressed from a youth of ordinary advantages and opportuni- ties, to a degree of well-won success though still hardly beyond the threshhold of settled manhood.
Willard B. Van Horne was born at Grant Park, Illinois, June 4, 1879, a son of George W. and Sarah (Mather) Van Horne. His father has for many years been a competent physician and surgeon of Illi- nois, while the mother is now deceased. With his education acquired partly by attending an academic school at Hoopeston, Illinois, Mr. Van Horne took his degree, bachelor of science, from Valparaiso University, studied for two years in the Valparaiso Law School, and one year in the Chicago Kent College of Law. In 1902 he was admitted to the Illi- nois bar and selected the newly established industrial center of Indiana Harbor as his place for practice, in September, 1902, having been admitted to the bar of Indiana in June, 1901. Since then he has handled a large share of the more important litigation, and has become closely identified with the civic and material interests of Indiana Harbor. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in December, 1912.
On April 27, 1904, Mr. Van Horne was married to Laura Winslow, of Whiting, Indiana. Mrs. Van Horne died November 15, 1909. Their three children are: Willard B., Jr., George W. and Helen Arene. A believer in the value of fraternal association, Mr. Van Horne is one of the leading workers, especially in Masonry, in the Calumet region. He is past master of East Chicago Lodge, No. 595, F. & A. M., and took the leading part in the organization of Indiana Harbor Lodge, No. 686, F. & A. M., of which he was first master. He is a member of Orak Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Hammond. He also assisted in the organi- zation of the Eastern Star at Indiana Harbor, and was the first worthy patron. His Masonic work includes Knight Templar degrees in the York Rite, and thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite, and membership in the Mystic Shrine. He assisted in organizing the Knight Templar Commandery at East Chicago. He is a charter member, and was the first secretary of the Knights of Pythias, at Indiana Harbor, and has membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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As one of the prominent men of Lake County, Mr. Van Horne has for a number of years been before the public as an unselfish and eager worker in the community interests, and in 1910, 1912, and also in 1914, was elected to the State House of Representatives. Mr. Van Horne is president of the Commercial Club of Indiana Harbor and East Chicago, and both as representative, and in his local relations and as a private citizen, has manifested special interest and activity in behalf of the good roads movement in Lake County.
H. D. CRAWFORD. The leading fuel and general supply house of Gary is the Gary Supply Company. Something of the origin of this concern is told elsewhere in the sketch of C. T. Eadus, since the Gary Construction Company and the Gary Supply Company are both the outgrowth of the same capital. The Gary Supply Company has its yards at 1051 Broadway on ground 50x300 feet, facing Broadway and the Michigan Central Railway tracks. About five men are main- tained as the regular organization for handling the business, and as a prosperous growing concern its success is largely due to Mr. Crawford, who took charge in 1909, at which time he had his office in a little shack, while the prosperity of the firm is now evidenced by a substantial office building. Mr. Crawford is secretary and treasurer and manager, and through his own energies has chiefly built up the business.
Hilary D. Crawford was born at St. Joseph, Michigan, in 1870, a son of Henry B. and Elizabeth Crawford. His father was for many years a leading attorney of St. Joseph. Like many successful business men, Mr. Crawford started in life to earn his way, when fourteen years of age, having received the advantages of the public schools, but fitted himself for business by practical experience. During the years from 1893 to 1908 he was working for a hay and grain firm at Hammond. He became a cooper by trade, and followed that business for several years, finally moved to a farm in Michigan, and in 1903, engaged in the produce trade at Kalamazoo, which city remained his business head- quarters until he came to Gary, in 1903.
Mr. Crawford was married September 5, 1891, to Maggie Webster of Scotts, Michigan. They have one son, Henry B., who has finished his education and is now a rising civil engineer at Gary. Mr. Craw- ford affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is a republican.
A. G. GREGORY. The Calumet Supply Company, of which Mr. Gregory is active manager, does the largest wholesale and retail coal business, with a varied line of builders' supplies, in the city. The com- pany, which is an incorporated concern, was established at Gary in January, 1907, and Mr. C. B. Leland was the first manager, being suc- ceeded in 1909, by Mr. Gregory. The company have a fine office and yards with fifty feet of frontage on Broadway extending back several hundred feet along the Indiana Harbor and Wabash Railway tracks. In the different departments of the business twenty-five men are em- ployed, and besides selling coal both locally and by wholesale, they handle building materials, lime, plaster, cement, crushed stone, pressed brick, and various building specialties. Their trade extends not only through- out the immediate Gary district but all over the Calumet region and west as far as Joliet.
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A. G. Gregory, who though a young man, has made a very successful business record, was born in Canada in 1882, a son of George and Victoria Gregory. The father has been a brick manufacturer in Ontario for many years. The son attended the high schools and a business college at St. Thomas, Ontario, and after considerable experience in his father's brick plant went on the road to sell the product. In 1904 he transferred his employment to the Universal Cement Company of Chicago, and worked in their interests until he came to Gary about five years ago.
He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in politics is independent.
CARL K. SCHMIDT. The first exclusive shoe store to be established in Gary was started by Mr. Schmidt early in 1907. He thus holds the posi- tion of being one of the pioneer merchants, and his enterprise has grown and extended in proportion to the development of the city about him, and he has an honored place in local business and civic affairs. He is now senior member of the Acker-Schmidt Company, a firm that was established April 1, 1909, by Mr. Schmidt and Walter Acker. They have a large store 50 feet frontage and 100 feet in depth, and occupy half of the basement. Their stock comprises a full line of men's furnishing goods, clothing, shoes and haberdashery, and they have probably the best trade in that line in the city. When Mr. Schmidt began business here seven years ago, their stock of goods occupied a space 40x20 feet. The firm then moved to 523 Broadway, where they had a store with eighteen feet frontage, and on December 16, 1912, moved to their present loca- tion at 561 Broadway, a location that is a landmark for the trade of men in this city.
Carl K. Schmidt was born at Winona, Minnesota, in 1879, a son of H. G. C. and Ida M. Schmidt. His father has long been identified with the real estate business. With an education completed by graduation from the State Normal School of Winona, Mr. Schmidt gained an expe- rience in several lines of enterprise as a young man, and in 1904 went to St. Louis and was connected with a lumber firm of that city. In the following year he went to Chicago, and was deputy assessor of Cook County until 1907. In that year he came to Gary and opened a shoe store in the first building erected in Gary, and handling the first 'exclu- sive stock of shoes. Mr. Schmidt continued in the shoe business until the enterprise was enlarged by the formation of the present firm of Acker & Schmidt.
On June 11, 1902, Mr. Schmidt married Helene Martin, of Elgin, Illinois. Their two children are Valentine and Carl, Jr. Mr. Schmidt affiliates with the Masonic Order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose, is a member of the Congregational Church, and politically maintains an independent stand.
ROY G. PARRY. One of the young officials connected with the Gary Land Company, Roy G. Parry, has lived in Gary since 1908, and before forming his present business relationship was in the newspaper business a couple of years. He is a wide-awake and enterprising citizen, and like the majority of Gary people always willing to go out of his way to promote the substantial welfare and prosperity of his community.
Roy G. Parry is a native of Lake County, born at Crown Point, May 2, 1883, a son of William and Annie (Gornall) Parry. His parents located in Lake County in 1881, and his father is a contractor and since
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coming to this country from England has been engaged in monumental and contracting business at Crown Point. Roy G. Parry was trained while a boy in the public schools, and had a few years' business experi- ence in association with his father. On coming to Gary in 1908, he became city editor of the Gary Times, and looked after the city news department of that paper for two years. In 1910 he was employed as chief clerk of the Gary Land Company.
On September 6, 1913, Mr. Parry married Mildred L. Norton, a daughter of Capt. H. S. Norton, the resident manager of the Gary Land Company. The Parry home is at 704 Filmore Street, where he is owner of one of the most attractive bungalows in Gary. Mr. Parry affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Masonic Order and in politics is a republican.
PERRY H. STEVENS, who has been in Gary since 1908, and is inter- ested in several well known local companies, was born at Logansport, Indiana, in 1883, a son of R. D. and Clarissa D. Stevens. His father was in the lumber business, and the son had excellent training and is one of the many young college men at Gary. He finished his education in Lake Forest University in 1906, and then went into the lumber busi- ness with his father at Logansport. In December, 1908, he came to Gary, and besides his work as a building contractor as a member of the firm of Paine & Stevens, is also a member of the firm of Little & Stevens, being its secretary and treasurer. This firm has a large real estate busi- ness, and also built the Gary Furniture Company's building, the build- ing at 708 Broadway, and own several other vacant and improved prop- erties in the city. Mr. Stevens is secretary of the Logan Realty Company, which is developing a large acreage property on the west side. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Gary Commercial Club, the University Club, and the Y. M. C. A. In politics he is independent.
FRANK CALLAHAN. The election of Frank Callahan, in 1913, as mayor of East Chicago, was a political choice characterized by excep- tional consistencies, since it elevated to the chief executive position of a large community, one of the men whose accomplishments in private business and whose varied relationship with affairs, had already thor- oughly justified such an honor.
Frank Callahan was born at Flint, Michigan, December 11, 1876, a son of James and Ellen Callahan. His father, who is now deceased, was for many years a successful contractor and builder. After an edu- cation in the public schools, Frank Callahan learned his trade under the direction of his father, and was associated with the elder Callahan until he came to Indiana Harbor, in March, 1904. As a contractor and builder Mr. Callahan has a long record of successful experience in the Indiana Harbor District of East Chicago. Among other notable build- ings constructed by him and his organization, are the Commercial Club Building, the Methodist Church, the Christian Church, the O'Brien Block, the Farovid Block, the Gillette Building, the Barker Block, and many others, including flats and residences. The Jordan Power Plant was also constructed by Mr. Callahan.
Besides his large business as a contractor, he is secretary and treas- urer of the Calumet Laundry, and is president of the Commercial Club Auxiliary Association, and was one of the organizers of the Commercial
Frank Callahan
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Club itself. It was as a democrat in politics, though more particularly in recognition of his eminent qualifications for the position, that Mr. Callahan was elected mayor of East Chicago, in 1913, and began his official duties on January 5, 1914. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and his church is the Catholic. On April 6, 1905, he married Elizabeth Mar- wick, of Chicago. They are the parents of five children, all living, four sons and one daughter.
H. ALSCHULER. The largest mercantile establishment at Gary is that conducted under the firm name of H. Alschuler Company. It is a high-class general mercantile establishment, and its successful upbuild- ing testifies to the truth of the saying that in concentration of effort lies success. Such concentration, combined with special ability for his work, with frugal conservation of funds at the beginning and judicious manip- ulation of them as they increased, Mr. Alschuler has employed with notable results, and though still a young man has accomplished a splendid success in the mercantile field.
The H. Alschuler Company was organized in September, 1907, by Mr. Alschuler, and the history of the business has been one of progressive ascent ever since. The company leased its quarters in a building 50x125 feet on Fifth Avenue and Broadway. In 1913, to accommodate the great increase in trade, the store was enlarged to a building covering the entire corner, 125x125 feet, with two stories and basement, all of it taken up by the large stock of goods handled by this department store, which supplies practically all the goods needed in the dry goods, cloth- ing and furniture lines, and for the household and for provisions. From sixty-five to one hundred persons are employed in the establishment and it is the largest and most popular emporium in Gary.
H. Alschuler is a native of Ottawa, Illinois, where the family has long been prominent. In 1896 he engaged in the mercantile business at Waukegan, Illinois, and was a clothing merchant until he moved to Gary in October, 1907. Mr. Alschuler has a wife and two children and a fine home in Gary.
DR. JOHN W. HIGGINS. During his long career at Crown Point, Dr. John W. Higgins was one of the most eminent physicians and citi- zens in Lake County. He was born in New York State, May 29, 1822, being a descendant of early pilgrims and puritans, his pilgrim ancestor, Richard Higgins, having landed in Plymouth Rock in 1621, while on the puritan side he was a descendant of Simon Sackett, who settled in Boston Colony in 1632. Sackett's Harbor on Lake Ontario derives its name from this branch of the Sackett family.
Doctor Higgins was graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1846, began regular practice at Crown Point in 1859, served as a physi- cian and surgeon in the Union army during the Civil war, and resumed practice at Crown Point in 1865. He was one of the sterling old doctors who practiced through all kinds of weather and answered the call of patients whether in town or at distant places in the country.
Doctor Higgins died in Crown Point, April 7, 1904, when nearly eighty-three years of age. He married Diantha Tremper, who passed away in November, 1895. One of the stateliest homes in Crown Point is the Higgins-Youche mansion, which for many years was one of the social centers of the county seat, and both Doctor Higgins and the late
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Julius W. Youche died there. It is now occupied by Doctor Higgins' only child, Mrs. J. W. Youche and her son.
HON. J. W. YOUCHE. In the passing of J. W. Youche on January 2, 1901, was closed the career of one of Indiana's leading citizens; in the Lake County bar was vacated the place of one of its ablest lawyers; and his community was bereft of a strong character that had long occu- pied there a large sphere of usefulness and honor. Among the many tributes paid to him, one that came from an associate, declared that for many years Mr. Youche had easily been the leader of the bar of this county and a leading citizen of northwestern Indiana.
Julius W. Youche was born March 4, 1848, in Saxony, son of Fred- erick William and Wilhelmine (Pfeifer) Youche. He was brought across the Atlantic when two years of age, grew up in the State of Ohio, was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, and after coming to Indiana completed a course of literary study in the University at Bloom- ington. It was in the capacity of a teacher that Mr. Youche came to Crown Point, and was principal of the local schools in 1870 when twenty- two years of age. He subsequently graduated as a law student from the University of Michigan in 1872, and then returned to Crown Point to begin a career as a lawyer which kept him busy for nearly thirty years until the close of his life. As a talented young lawyer he rose rapidly in his profession, was successful in his business affairs, enjoyed the use of one of the best law libraries in the county, and left a large estate at the time of his death. His district sent him to the State Senate, he served as trustee of the University of Indiana, and held the office of vice president in the Crown Point National Bank.
The late Mr. Youche was married on January 1, 1873, to Miss Eunice Higgins. Their only child, Julian Higgins Youche, was born April 16, 1883, had a high school education and also attended an academy at Bloomington, Indiana, and received a university training in the same city. After reaching years of majority he assumed active management of his father's large estate, and has since been employed in real estate, banking, and related lines of work. Mr. Youche has a number of the important interests in Lake County's financial affairs, and has large investments in East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Whiting. He is an official in the Indiana Harbor Bank, the Gostlin, Meyn & Company, the First National Bank, the Lake County Trust & Savings Bank, all of Hammond, and has investments in other localities of the Calumet dis- trict. Mr. Youche is a member of the Chicago Athletic Club and the Hammond Country Club.
WHITING PUBLIC LIBRARY. This is one of the institutions of which the City of Whiting is especially proud, and there is probably none other with greater possibilities for service in advancing culture and intelli- gence among the population that have free access to its reading room and book shelves.
The Whiting Public Library Building is the result of the combined civic enterprise and the Carnegie fund for the establishment of libraries. Fifteen thousand dollars came from the Carnegie fund, and the Stand- ard Oil Company donated the three lots where the handsome structure now stands. After the library building was finished the library board issued bonds in the sum of $5,000, money therefrom being used for im- proving the grounds, sidewalks, furniture, etc.
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In this connection, in order to furnish a correct account of the origin of this institution, it will be appropriate to follow closely the minutes of the library board secretary. In 1904 a meeting of the Clean City Club was called for the purpose of discussing proposed civic improve- ments. At that meeting it was suggested that the necessity of a library seemed more urgent than other matters, and the secretary was instructed to correspond with the state commission relative to needful formalities. This communication brought to Whiting the commission's secretary, Miss Merica Hoagland, who addressed a meeting of representative citi- zens in Goebel's Hall, September 30, 1904, explaining the law as it pertained to the establishment of libraries in the State of Indiana. A committee of twenty-three was appointed at that meeting to carry on the project. The following day a sub-committee of three-G. H. Fifield, E. B. Green and J. D. Murphy-was appointed to present a petition to the mayor and common council of Whiting, asking a tax levy as required by law for the establishment of a library in the city. On October 14th the council considered the motion and carried it by unanimous vote. The next step was the appointment by the judge of the circuit court, the school board and the common council of a library board comprising seven members, viz: Frank N. Gavit, Rev. Charles H. Thiele, Hoyt G. Muffitt, William M. Greatrake, Mrs. Ada D. Davidson, Mrs. Isabella Curtis and Mrs. Besse E. Fifield. The members of the board having qualified, met November 17, 1904, for the purpose of organization, and elected officers as follows: F. N. Gavit, president; Rev. Charles H. Thiele, vice president; Besse E. Fifield, secretary. On December 12, the Pedersen Building was leased for library purposes, a librarian was engaged on December 17, her duties to begin January 1, 1905, and the library was opened to the public on March 22, 1905. Subsequently the books were removed from the Pedersen Building to the Putnam Build- ing, and remained there until the completion of the library in 1906.
On January 9, 1905, a communication was received from Andrew Carnegie in response to a letter from President Gavit, stating his will- ingness to give the sum of $15,000 for the erection of a public library building. On May 8th the common council of the city passed a resolu- tion pledging at least two thousand dollars a year for the support of the library, and a certified copy of that resolution was sent to Mr. Carnegie, who then notified the board that $15,000 was on deposit with the Home Trust Company of Newark, New Jersey, available when the site was decided upon and title thereto acquired. On July 10th a deed was exe- cuted conveying two 40-foot lots on Oliver Street from the Standard Oil Company to the Whiting Public Library. On September 11th plans and specifications for the library building, prepared by Paul O. Moratz, of Bloomington, Illinois, were formally accepted by the board, and on the 25th of the same month the contract for erection of the building was let to John F. Rees, of Bloomington. The cornerstone was laid December 2, 1905, with appropriate ceremonies by Whiting Lodge No. 613, F. & A. M. The opening of the library building to the public was on July 28, 1906, before the building had been quite completed.
The first librarian was Miss Ellen Schaeffer, who was succeeded by Miss Florence Wing, who was librarian from 1907 to 1908. Miss Helen Calhoun served as librarian from 1908 until 1913, and since then the library work has been under the supervision of Miss Louise Randall, who is a graduate of the Library School of the University of Wisconsin.
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JOHN C. BECKER. A Hammond business man and citizen since 1890, Mr. Becker has grown up with this city, has earned a successful position in affairs, and has always been a leader, with the ability to inspire others with his ideas and plans, and has given valuable service to the commu- nity. Mr. Becker has a large acquaintance over this part of the country, acquired by years of travel in the wholesale grocery trade. He is an official in several banks and civic and social organizations, and has been honored with public office.
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