USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume II > Part 6
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facturing a few hundred machines a year, the employees averaged about eight men, while the working force at the present time is sixty, and the company pays out about fifty thousand dollars every year in wages.
The machinery has won its reputation as a result of practical value to potato growers in every state of the country, and with this increasing reputation has come a gradual expansion of trade beyond the borders of the United States. While most of the machinery has been sold in the United States, the foreign trade is rapidly growing, and some of the diggers and planters are now found in practically every civilized country where potatoes are an important crop. The company has also incorporated and has a factory in Canada.
The presefit officers of the Champion Potato Machinery Company are: Otto Knoerzer, president; A. M. Turner, vice-president; Leonard Knoerzer, secretary ; and Anton H. Tapper, treasurer.
While by far the greatest amount of capital and likewise most of the men now prominent in manufacturing and business affairs of the Calumet region have been attracted to this district because of its superb advantages, the Champion Potato Machinery Company is in several ways a distinctively Lake county product, and Otto Knoerzer, its originator and president, was born on a farm in Lake county, August 24, 1865. His family were among the early settlers of Lake county, and his parents, John Leonard and Augusta (Hoemichen) Knoerzer, came to America in 1848, and after a year spent in Chicago located on a farm in Lake county. The father was born in February, 1811, and died in 1893.
Otto Knoerzer had a public school education in some of the early schools of Lake county, and from the farm graduated into his regular vocation as a blacksmith and implement dealer at Hammond. Mr. Knoerzer possesses not only the capable hands but also the original mind, and the combination of these resulted in the perfection of the first potato digger, and from that has come by successive stages the industry of which he is now the head. He is also vice-president and treasurer of the Canadian Champion Potato Machinery Company, operating a plant in Gault, Ontario. Mr. Knoerzer is vice-president of the Calumet Building and Loan Association, and in recent years has taken an influential part in inducing new capital to invest in Hammond and in expanding the scope of the city's industrial activities.
He is an active member and a director of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, belongs to the Hammond Country Club, is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters, and his church home is St. Joseph's Catholic church. Mr. Knoerzer owns the brick block on Hohman street, one of the modern store and office build- ings, 60x109 feet and two stories, constructed of pressed brick.
By his marriage to Katie Bick, daughter of Casper and Anna Bick of Hammond, he has four children: Mary, George, Anna and Leo.
ERNST W. HOHMAN. The early history and development of the City of Hammond will always give memorial to the name and career of the late Ernst W. Hohman, who was the first settler and possessor of a large part of the lands on which the city has grown, and whose enterprise and that of his family have been vital factors in the progressive pros- perity of that community. The chief thoroughfare of the city is Hohman avenue, yet that is only one of many distinctive marks left by the
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activities of this pioneer family on the city. The history of Hammond as a city told on other pages of this publication has frequent reference to the Hohmans, and at this point it will be appropriate to give some brief outline of the family itself.
Ernst W. Hohman was born in Koenigsberg, Prussia, September 5, 1817. He came of good family, was highly educated, and represented the best stock of the German nation. For some reason, probably on account of his affiliations with the revolutionary party during the '40s, he left Prussia and established a home in England. In London he met and gained the love of Caroline Sibley, who was born in Wales and reared in London, and on July 9, 1849, the couple were married in the City of London. A few days after their marriage they set sail for America, arriving on this side of the Atlantic August 20, 1849, and after a short residence in New York City, went west to Chicago. Ernst W. Hohman, who was a tailor by trade, opened a shop at the corner of LaSalle and Randolph streets in Chicago, and lived there about two years. From Chicago he moved to the Calumet River on April 1, 1851, and his was the first family to locate where the City of Hammond now stands. His first purchase of land was forty acres, and by later pur- chases he acquired nearly a thousand acres in that immediate locality. In that part of the country the Hohman house was known to all travelers around the bend of Lake Michigan, and supplied entertainment to hun- dreds who crossed the Calumet at that point as one of the early taverns. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hohman were people of exceptional education and native refinement. While Ernst W. Hohman spoke several languages fluently, his wife was unacquainted with the German, and the conver- sation of the household was usually carried on in French.
Ernst W. Hohman died December 18, 1873, while his wife passed away at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, June 15, 1900, and both now rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Hammond. The late Caroline Hohman had a very distinctive place in Hammond social circles not only as the pioneer woman resident, but for her many excellences of heart and mind, and for a number of years she capably managed the property even during her husband's lifetime. When G. H. Hammond and M. M. Towle came to the Calumet in 1869 to look out a site for a packing plant, they recognized the advantage of the Hohman land and willingly paid one hundred dollars an acre for twenty acres of land that was then little more than a swamp. After her husband's death Mrs. Hohman managed the affairs of the estate, and a large part of it is still undivided, and is regarded as one of the richest properties in Lake County. Mrs. Hoh- man gave the site for St. Joseph's Church, a lot 100x125 feet at the corner of Hohman and Russell streets.
For many years Mrs. Caroline Hohman kept a diary, and recently when the Hammond Woman's Club celebrated "History Day" the most interesting contribution to the program was a paper compiled from this diary, and for its essential historic interest a brief abstract of that paper is reproduced.
The first date in the diary was in April, 1851, and told of the buy- . ing by Mr. Ernst Hohman of the forty acres with its six-room log house on the north of the Calumet River. It told of his bringing his bride to this little home and of the many hardships endured and the homesickness of the twenty-year-old girl for her friends in Paris and London. It recited the enthusiastic belief of Mr. Hohman for a great future of
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this section of the state, and the felling of the trees of the forest and the selling of these and the investment of all his money in more lands; of a trip to Crown Point over the corduroy road that Mr. Hohman had assisted in building; of a visit to the home of Indians who were on their way to visit their burial ground on the south bank of the Calu- met; of Mr. Hohman's building the Hohman bridge across the river just south of their home. Also is mentioned the visit of the Michigan Central Railway officials for the purpose of purchasing right of way to extend their line to Chicago. Then came a story of a visit in a fine car- riage of two gentlemen from Detroit-George H. Hammond and M. M. Towle, who were looking for a site for a slaughter house. These gentlemen claimed that with the location of that plant would come eighteen men and their families, and then schools could be started for the children, who were then forced to go many miles to Crown Point or to Chicago, and also that with the coming of the plant the railroad would be forced to stop its trains at the State Line slaughtering house. Another interesting visitor, mentioned in the diary, was Stephen A. Douglas, who spent several days as a guest in the Hohman house, and on departing gave his young hostess a handsome brooch for her kind- ness in entertaining traveling strangers. At another place was told the advent of Mrs. Hohman's sister, Mrs. Sohl and her husband, and later of the coming of Thomas Hammond and the Gostlins. At a party given by the Gostlins Mr. Hammond refused to allow his children to go be- cause the Gostlin home was half a mile down Hohman road and the way was very dark and the entire section infested by undesirable char- acters. During the war of 1861-65 Mr. Hohman, on account of ill health sent a substitute. Through the diary at different points was told a record of buying and selling of land, and the entire diary is one of the most valuable original documents in the history of Hammond. Mr. and Mrs. Hohman had six children: Mrs. Ottilia Johnson; Charles G., of Hammond ; Louis E., of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Agnes H., wife of Benjamin Bell, of Hammond; Emma, now Mrs. F. R. Mott; and Lena, wife of Dr. T. E. Bell, of Hammond.
Charles G. Hohman, who is now active manager of the extensive Hoh- man estate, was born in Hammond, or in the locality which has since acquired that name, June 9, 1857. Educated in such schools as were convenient during his youth, he lived at home on the farm until he was twenty years of age, and then went to Chicago and engaged in a busi- ness career as clerk in a grocery store. In 1878 he bought a livery stable in that city, and that was his chief enterprise there until 1900. In that year he returned to Hammond and has since looked after the Hohman estate.
Mr. Hohman first married Ella Hatch. They were married in Engle- wood and Miss Hatch had been a resident of Chicago. By this marriage were born two children, Gertrude, who married W. M. King, of Los Angeles, California, and Harry, who died at the age of twenty-two years. After her death Mr. Hohman was married at Toronto, Canada, in 1903, to Christina J. Jones. Their two children are Caroline and Ruth. Mr. Hohman and family worship in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in which he is a vestryman. He has membership in the Hammond Country Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
CHARLES MAY MCDANIEL. The present superintendent of the Ham- mond public schools, an office which he has held since 1905, is a school
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man who has been active in his work in Indiana about thirty years, is an experienced educator, with practical and progressive ideals, and keenly alive to the needs of modern education, and possessed of the ability to make the school serve its proper end in the scheme of a twentieth-century society. The profession of the educator was never more important than at the present time, and it is the fortune of men like Mr. McDaniel to contribute no small share in the training of a new generation for the responsibilities of the coming years.
In his article descriptive of the work of the Hammond schools con- tributed to the recent educational report of Lake county schools, Super- intendent McDaniel said: "Hammond is an industrial community. It has more than fifty factories, representing almost every line of activ- ity. A boy or girl who may be dissatisfied with school conditions needs to use little persuasion with his parents to get their permission to go to work, especially when they receive from five dollars to twelve dollars per week. When the parents see so little in the school of immediate value, their decision for industrial activities can be appreciated.
"So far as possible to adapt the school work of the common public schools to the industrial needs of Hammond, preserving at the same time such essentials of the traditional work as might be thought best, has been the sole aim of the school authorities. In crystallizing a work- able program there is no claim for anything absolutely new, rather a unifying of some things that have been done in different school sys- tems. We do not want to be understood to announce that the cur- ricula of the grades and the high school have been fully adapted to the general scheme that is rapidly developing. The fact is that much especially in the grades needs to be changed, eliminating some lines of work and correlating others."
Under Superintendent McDaniel a number of modifications and im- provements have been introduced into the local school system. German is being taught in the grades, and one of the most recent features was the establishment of night schools, beginning in September, 1912. An employment burean has been organized to assist students in securing work after leaving school. The schools have a full equipment of manual training, domestic science and shop facilities, and a scheme for co- operative school and shop work has been planned. At the same time full commercial courses are offered to the students of the public schools. With these agencies the school work has been so planned as to afford proper guidance for the choice of vocations, with fundamental training in elementary industrial work beginning in the grades.
Charles May MeDaniel is a native of Indiana, born at the old social and educational center of Crawfordsville, August 28, 1863. His parents were Owen W. and Katherine McDaniel, his father a harness maker by trade. From the public schools Mr. McDaniel entered Wabash College at Crawfordsville, and has degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from that institution. During his long career as an educator he has taken additional courses during the summers at the University of Chicago and in the Winona Lake School.
Mr. McDaniel's first experience as teacher was near Crawfordsville, at the West schoolhouse, and his career includes one year at Newtown, principal of the Portland schools four years, at Edinburg one year, four years as principal and nine years as superintendent of the Madi- son public schools, and in 1905 he came to Hammond to take up his duties as superintendent.
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Mr. McDaniel is one of the best known educators in the state of Indiana, and has many relations with educational bodies. He is a trustee of Wabash College, his Alma Mater, is a member of the State Teachers' Association, the Northern Indiana Teachers' Association, of which he is an ex-president, is ex-president of the Southern Indiana Teachers' Association, former president of the Town and City Teach- ers' Association, and former chairman of the executive committee of the State Teachers' Association. For three years Mr. McDaniel was principal of the Winona Lake summer school. Other professional affiliations are with the Northern Indiana Superintendents' Club, the Town and City Superintendents' Association of Indiana, the National Teachers' Association, the National Society for the Study of Education. He is a member and first vice-president of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and belongs to the Country Club of that city. His fraternal associations include the Knight Templar degrees of Masonry, also mem- bership in the Mystic Shrine, and in the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A member of the Board of Deacons in the Christian church, he has for several years been a teacher of the young people's Bible class.
At Crawfordsville on December 31, 1889, Mr. McDaniel married Margaret M. Blair. Their three children are Wellie May, Paul Wallace, and Ruth Louise.
WILLIAM BIEKER. The junior member of the enterprising firm of Bieker Bros. Company of Hammond is a practical business man who about twenty years ago joined his brother in selling goods to this com- munity, and by concentrating his efforts along one line has already found the success which is the ambition of every normal man.
Representing one of the older families of Lake county, William Bieker was born on a farm July 10, 1873, a son of William and Tracie Bieker. The country schools supplied his early training, and he de- veloped strength of constitution by exercise in the various duties of the home farm until he was twenty-one. Coming to Hammond in 1894, he worked as a teamster for a year or so, and in 1896 joined his brother Henry in a feed and grain store. Their united efforts have kept this business growing, and later they began trading in builders' materials, coal and wood, and other supplies. They now have one yard at 257 Hohman street, another at 144 Sibley street, and one at the inter- section of the Erie railroad and Douglas street.
William Bieker is a member of the Hammond Chamber of Com- merce, belongs to the Knights of Columbus and he and his family worship in St. Joseph's church. Mr. Bieker was married at St. John, in Lake county, June 18, 1904, to Johanna Austgen. Their five chil- dren are: Lawrence William, Herbert N., Arthur J., Alma Genevieve, and Edward G.
IGNATIUS F. MANKOWSKI. It is not only as city clerk of West Ham- mond since the organization of that city that Ignatius F. Mankowski is known to the community, but he has for a number of years been known as a substantial young business man, and his record is one which well justifies the public responsibilities and honors which have been accorded him.
Ignatius F. Mankowski was born in Chicago, November 10, 1886, a son of Ignatius and Mary Mankowski, both of whom were natives of
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Germany and emigrated to America in 1881. The parents lived in Chicago until 1892, then moved to Hammond, and the father, who is now sixty-four years of age, has had a long and successful career as a contractor and builder. The city clerk of West Hammond grew up in Hammond, attended the public and parochial schools, and also had training in a business college. His first regular employment was as a butcher in the local packing house, followed by two years as a farm hand, and he then became associated with his father in the general con- tracting and house-moving business. In the meantime he learned the trade of bricklaying, and that gave him the qualifications for setting up an independent business as a contractor.
His entrance into official life came with his election as village clerk of West Hammond in 1910. When the village was incorporated as a city about a year later, he was made city clerk, and has held that office to the present time. He is also secretary of the board of local im- provements, and holds that office by virtue of his place as city clerk. He is also acting city comptroller, and is serving as legal adviser to King John III Sobieski No. 1 Building and Loan Association of West Hammond.
In addition to his other interests, Mr. Mankowski has an office and handles real estate and insurance, his headquarters being at 147 One Hundred and Fifty-fourth place. He has for ten years had membership in the Roman Catholic Union of America, belongs to the Polish Na- tional Alliance, the Polish Vuleans, the White Eagles Pleasure Club, the third degree of the Knights of Columbus, and he and his family worship in St. Andrew's church. On January 27, 1907, at West Ham- mond he married Mary Sankey. Their three children are: Joseph Edward, Raymond and Florence.
LAKE COUNTY SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY. In the remarkable growth and development which have attended all lines of business in the Calumet district during the twentieth century, few financial insti- tutions have shown a better record than the Lake County Savings and Trust Company, which was organized at Hammond in October, 1902. This company was the logical outgrowth of the personal business which for a number of years had been conducted by Peter W. Meyn, and which had grown to such proportions that Mr. Meyn deemed it wise to form a bank in order that his customers might be given the benefit of increased capital and more perfect service.
The Lake County Savings and Trust Company resumed business under that title and under its charter on January 1, 1903. The initial deposits were two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the first officers and directors were: Peter W. Meyn, president; Frank Hess, vice-president ; W. C. Belman, secretary-treasurer; and the directors : Peter W. Meyn, A. M. Turner, Frank Hess, W. C. Belman, E. C. Minas, John N. Beckman and E. Ullrich.
The banking business was continued in the former office of Peter W. Meyn at 92 State street from January, 1903, until July, 1910. In the meantime the quarters had become entirely inadequate for a bank of such magnitude, and with such important relations with the commu- nity, and through a fortunate chain of circumstances the company was enabled to procure two rooms on the southeast corner of State and Hohman streets. These rooms were remodeled and made into a spacious and convenient banking home. But as the business continued
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to thrive and prosper at the new location, it was soon outgrown, and in August, 1913, the directors found it necessary to increase the space and accommodations and by careful planning enlarged the working space and installed certain new fixtures and added conveniences which have made the banking room one of the most complete and convenient in the city of Hammond, and which afford an appropriate home for one of the leading institutions of its kind in the county.
At the present time, after a little more than eleven years of suc- cessful operation, the Lake County Savings and Trust Company shows deposits of $575,000.00, with total assets of $735,947.30. The present officers and directors of the company are as follows: Peter W. Meyn, president; Joseph W. Weis, vice-president; W. C. Belman, secretary- treasurer; David T. Emery, assistant secretary-treasurer; and the directors are: Peter W. Meyn, J. N. Beckman, W. C. Belman, David T. Emery, Jos. W. Weis, A. M. Turner, Albert Maack and J. H. Youche. While the original capital was only $50,000, the present capital, surplus and undivided profits amounts to $110,000, a remark- able showing in the few years the bank has been in operation.
FRED BARNETT. A young Hammond lawyer who has done much to prove his ability and open a way for a large and successful career in the law, Fred Barnett has been a resident of that city for the past seven years, and has had several official distinctions since beginning practice. For the past four years he has made an exceptionally capable record as Police Judge of Hammond.
Fred Barnett was born at Hallsville, in Dewitt county, Illinois, March 19, 1881. His parents are John I. and Mary (Kirby) Barnett, his father's vocation being chiefly school work. The Barnett family ancestors go back to Revolutionary stock in America, and one of its earliest members was Alexander Barnett, a well-known physician and surgeon in his day, and also a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. Great- grandfather John Barnett was a Kentuckian, who enlisted in the War of 1812, fought with General Jackson, and participated in the great battle of New Orleans early in 1815, and was mustered out shortly afterwards.
Fred Barnett was educated in the public schools and the Valparaiso College and studied law at the Illinois College of Law in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1907. In the same year he located in Hammond and has since devoted himself to his profession along general lines and has enjoyed a large practice. In November, 1909, Mr. Barnett was elected Police Judge, and by re-election in 1913 is still filling that office. He is a Democrat, and has been active in the local party since he came to Hammond.
On October 29, 1907, Mr. Barnett married Edna MeKinney, of Clinton, Illinois, a daughter of Ashley and Alice Mckinney, who were farming people. They have two children, Muriel Alice and Paul El- wood. Judge Barnett and wife worship in the Christian church, and fraternally he has taken the Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery degrees in Masonry, and is a member of the Shrine. He is Venerable Consul in the Modern Woodmen of America and was delegate to the Head Camp of that order in 1911. He has allied himself with the business community as a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
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EDWARD C. MINAS. The modern merchant is the man who knows what the people want and supplies the best facilities for meeting those wants. He also knows how far trade can be safely stimulated. He keeps a large and well selected stock, but never so long that it is out of date, and acts on that solid commercial principle that real success is only a return for an adequate service. Of merchants in the Calumet region belonging to this class there is no more conspicuous example that E. C. Minas of Ham- mond. His career is an inspiration. Twenty-four years ago he opened up a small and inferior stock of goods in a small room, and in the face of vigorous competition has built up a business which is now second to none in the entire Calumet district.
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