USA > Indiana > Courts and lawyers of Indiana, Volume III > Part 48
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resigned from the office of United States district attorney in December, 1913, since which time he has been a member of the firm of Miller & Dowl- ing, with offices at 1109 Fletcher Savings and Trust building, Indianapolis. In 18SS, at the age of twenty-four, he was elected mayor of the city of Goshen ; was a delegate to the national convention that renominated Presi- dent Harrison in 1892, and was presidential elector-at-large in 1900. Mr. Miller is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Marion, Economic and Columbia Clubs, and is also a member of the American, Indianapolis and Indiana State Bar Associations; is a thirty-third-degree Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He is vice-president of the American Underwriters, Incorporated, and a director in the Home Telephone Com- pany, the Farmers Trust Company and the National City Bank. Mr. Miller married Sarah E. Perkins, a daughter of Charles W. Perkins.
JOHN E. SPAAN.
John E. Spaan, of Indianapolis, was born in Marion county, Iowa, on October 11, 1870. His parents were natives of Holland, but emigrated to Iowa in 1858. John E. Spaan grew up on the farm, availing himself of the advantages of the district schools of his home county. He later en- tered Iowa College, at Ames, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1892. From that date until 1896 he taught school in Nebraska, in the meantime pursuing his studies at the State University Law School at Lincoln. In 1898 he was admitted to the bar and began the active prac- tice of his profession in Indianapolis. During the Spanish-American War he served in Battery A, known as Twenty-seventh Indiana Battery, Na- tional Guard, in the Porto Rican campaign. He has served as deputy prosecutor and attorney for the poor in Indianapolis and Marion county.
Mr. Spaan is a Thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner, member of the Knights of Pythias and an adherent of the Republican party.
JESSE E. WILSON.
Jesse E. Wilson, former representative in the Indiana Legislature, as- sistant Secretary of Interior from 1895 to 1911 and a member of the bar of Indiana since 1895, now practicing law at Hammond, with offices in the Citizens National Bank building, is a native of the state of In- diana, born on a farm in Owen county on October 4. 1867, son of John W. and Jane (Manners) Wilson, who were the parents of eleven chil- dren. He received a high school education, taught school four years and early turned his attention to the study of law, presently entering the Indiana Law School, from which he was graduated in 1895. In that same year he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession at Rensselaer, Indiana, where he remained until the year 1905, when he moved temporarily to Washington, D. C., where for six years he was as- sistant secretary of the interior. In April. 1911, he located at Ham- mond, where he has been engaged in practice ever since. Mr. Wilson is a Republican and in 1902 was elected representative from his district to
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the Indiana state Legislature and was re-elected in 1904, thus serving in the sixty-third and the sixty-fourth sessions of the General Assembly. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Lake County Bar Association and of the Indiana State Bar Association; is a member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce, was president of same for two years. He is affiliated with the Masonic order, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Wilson, before her marriage, was Gail C. Wasson, daughter of John M. Wasson and Martha Jane (Woods) Wasson.
E. G. SPROAT.
One of the prominent members of the legal profession of Hammond, Indiana, is E. G. Sproat, who was born in Ohio on February 5, 1883. He is one of a family of three children born to William F. and Mary (Mack) Sproat, the former of whom was a carpenter-contractor by occupation. E. G. Sproat received his early education in the public schools of his na- tive state, which was supplemented by attendance at Miami University, and in 1908 he was graduated from the law department of Valparaiso University. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1908, and began the active practice in Hammond, Indiana, in September, 1908. He was ap- pointed deputy state prosecutor under Attorney Patterson, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a member of the Lake County Bar As sociation, and is now serving as secretary of same. He also holds mem- bership in the Indiana State and American Bar Associations. In politics he is a Republican, and is affiliated with the following societies: The Masons, Eastern Star, Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Eagles and Tribe of Ben Hur.
Mr. Sproat married Lillian Varges, and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family home is located at 169 High- land street, Hammond, Indiana.
JOHN M. STINSON.
John M. Stinson, of Hammond, a member of the bar of Indiana since 1898, is a native of the state of Missouri, born on a farm in Jackson county, March 27, 1875, son of John and Susan (Herrington) Stinson, who were the parents of ten children, of whom nine survive. Upon com- pleting the course in the public schools he entered Valparaiso University and was graduated from that institution in 1897. The following year he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession at Hammond, where he ever since has been located, with present offices in the First National Bank building. Mr. Stinson is now a member of the board of trustees of Valparaiso University, his alma mater. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Stinson is a Democrat and has served as secretary of the county central committee. He is affiliated with the
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Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Royal League and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his entire family are' members of the Christian church. Mr. Stinson married Florence Wolcott, daugh- ter of Elton Wolcott, and to this union two children have been born, a son, Elton W., and a daughter, Retta M.
JOHN A. GAVIT.
A well-known member of the Lake county bar, now serving as city at- torney of Hammond, Indiana, is John A. Gavit, who was born on August 19, 1861, the son of Albert W. and Bridget (Highland) Gavit, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer. John A. Gavit was one of five chil- dren, and received his education in the public schools and high school, later attending the Normal College at Flint, Michigan. He read law under Durand & Carter, and was admitted to the bar at Flint in 1898. He be- gan the practice at Saginaw, Michigan, where he remained until 1896, when he became a resident of Hammond, Indiana. While still living in Saginaw he served as prosecuting attorney of that city for two terms. In 1910 he was appointed city attorney for the city of Hammond, which position he is now holding. He is also district attorney for the New York Central Railroad Company. He is a member of the American, Indiana State and Lake County Bar Associations, while politically he is a Deno- crat. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Gavit was married to Emma Campbell, the daughter of John Camp- bell, and they are the parents of six children.
DAVID V. WHITELEATHER.
David V. Whiteleather, practicing attorney, residing in Columbia City, Indiana, was born on December 4, 1866, in Columbiana county, Ohio, he being the eldest of eight children born to John F. and Mary (Walter) Whiteleather. Mr. Whiteleather was reared on a farm and received his elementary education by attending the district schools. For six years he taught school in Stark and Columbiana counties, Ohio. During the summer vacations he attended the Normal school at Ada. Ohio. and Mount Union College at Alliance, Ohio. In 1889 he was se- lected principal of the public schools at Larwill, Indiana, which posi- tion he held for a period of five years. during which time and while he was not actively engaged in school work he read law in the office of P. H. Clugston at Columbia City, Indiana. In September, 1894, he passed the required examination and was admitted to the practice of law in the Whitley Circuit court, and was subsequently admitted to prac- tice before the Supreme court of Indiana and the District courts of the United States. On January 1. 1895, Mr. Whiteleather and Ivers W. Leonard formed a partnership for the practice of law, which continued for about three years. In 1899 he and Thomas Gallivan became partners, which partnership continued until 1893. when Mr. Gallivan. on account of ill health, retired from the firm. At that time a partnership was
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formed for the practice of law by Mr. Whiteleather and Benton S. Gates, which partnership continues, said firm at the present time enjoying a lucrative law practice at Columbia City, Indiana.
In 1896 Mr. Whiteleather was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for Whitley county, and in 1898 was elected prosecuting attorney for the Thirty-third judicial circuit of Indiana, and was re-elected to said office in 1900, and served as said prosecuting attorney until the first day of January, 1903.
Mr. Whiteleather is a member of the following fraternal societies : Masonic, Order of Eastern Star, Modern Woodmen of America and Ben Hur. In 1895 he and Katura H. Essick, of Columbiana county, Ohio, were united in marriage. They are the parents of four children, name- ly : Dorothy V., John W., Hazel G. and Katura, now deceased. Aside from the active practice of the law, Mr. Whiteleather pays some atten- tion to agriculture and stock raising, being the owner of a large farm situated near Columbia City, Indiana.
WILLIAM PATRICK BREEN.
William Patrick Breen, senior member of the law firm of Breen & Morris at Ft. Wayne, president of the Allen County Bar Association and former president of the Indiana State Bar Association, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Terre Haute, February 13, 1859, son of James and Margaret (Dunne) Breen, natives of Ireland, who later moved to Ft. Wayne, where James Breen was for years a member of the city council and at the time of his death was a member of the board of waterworks trustees. William P. Breen received his elementary education in the school of the Brothers of the Holy Cross at Ft. Wayne, supplementing the same by a course in Notre Dame University, from which he was graduated in 1877 with the degree of bachelor of arts. In the fall of that same year he entered the office of Coombs, Morris & Bell at Ft. Wayne and after a thorough course of law under that careful preceptorship, was admitted to the bar in May, 1879, he then being but twenty years of age. In the following September he began the practice of his profession in his home town in partnership with Warren H. Withers, and that mutually agreeable partnership con- tinued until the death of Judge Withers in November, 1882, after which for more than ten years Mr. Breen maintained his office alone, or until the spring of 1893, when he formed his present partnership with John Morris, Jr., son of the late Judge John Morris. Mr. Breen is the present president of the Allen County Bar Association, and in 1903-04 served as president of the Indiana State Bar Association, of which he has been for years one of the most active members. Mr. Breen received the degree of LL. D. at Notre Dame University in 1902; was a member of the executive committee of the American Bar Association during the years 1903, 1904 and 1905, and was appointed by President Roosevelt a dele- gate to the Universal Congress of Lawyers and Jurists held in St. Louis in 1904. In addition to his law practice he also has given considerable
Miriam P. Breen
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attention to local business affairs, and is the president of the Peoples Trust and Savings Company. Mr. Breen is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. It was on May 27, 1884, that William P. Breen was united in marrlage to Odelia Phillips, who was born at Ft. Wayne, daughter of Bernard Phillips, for years a prominent business man of that city.
CHARLES GREENWALD.
Charles Greenwald, of Gary, Indiana, judge of the Superior court of Lake county, is a native of Ohio, born in the city of Cleveland, on Jan- uary 21, 1876, son of Joseph and Mary (Mack) Greenwald, who later moved to Whiting. Charles Greenwald completed his schooling in the public schools of Chicago and pursued his study of law at the Univer- sity of Michigan. He was admitted to practice in 1898 and opened an office at Whiting, in Lake county, this state. In 1904 he served that city as city attorney and in 1908 was elected prosecuting attorney for Lake county, serving in that capacity until the time of his election in 1914 to his present office as judge of the Superior court of Lake county and is now serving as one of the three judges of that court. Judge Greenwald is a Republican. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association and is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic order, a mem- ber of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, past exalted ruler of the lodge of the latter order at Gary. His wife is a member of the Catholic church. Mrs. Greenwald, before her marriage, was Christine Michaely, a daughter of Peter Michaely. To Judge and Mrs. Greenwald three children have been born, Dorothy, Gertrude and Charles.
FRED MCCALLISTER.
Fred McCallister, of the legal firm of Holmes & McCallister, of In- dianapolis, Indiana, was born on a farm near Shannondale, Montgomery county, Indiana, on May 8, 1875. He is a son of David V. and Harriett N. (Mount) McCallister, the latter of whom was a sister of Gov. James A. Mount. Fred McCallister grew to manhood on the farm, attending the public schools during the winter seasons and assisting his father during the summers. In 1900 he graduated from Wabash College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and at his graduation was made a mem- ber of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. In the fall of 1900 he entered Indiana Law School at Indianapolis, graduating in 1902. He began the practice of his profession at Ladoga, Indiana, but on June 10, 1903, he located in Indianapolis, where he has since been engaged in the practice. For five and one-half years he practiced in partnership with S. E. Perkins, Jr. In 1907 Mr. MeCallister was appointed deputy prosecutor for a Justice court, which position he held for two years. Afterwards he was made grand jury deputy under Prosecutor Elliott R. Hooton,
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serving in this capacity in 1909 and 1910. For three years he was chief deputy under Prosecutor Frank P. Baker, but on January 1, 1914, Mr. McCallister resigned this position, forming a partnership with Ira M. Holmes, and this firm still continues the general practice of law. Mr. Mc- Callister is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Indiana Democratic Club.
On January 14, 1897, Fred McCallister was married to Hattie F. Lough, of Ladoga, and they are the parents of four children, Ralph Z., Leona F., David V., Jr., and Lois M.
KARL V. FISCHLER.
One of the younger attorneys practicing at the Lake county bar is Karl V. Fischler, who was born at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1883, and is one of a family of six children børn to Charles and Lena (Elliott) Fischler. Karl V. Fischler received his early education in the public schools of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Dickinson Sem- inary, later attending the Lincoln-Jefferson College of Law, from which institution he was graduated in 1912. He was admitted to the bar at Hammond the same year, where he has since continued to practice. He is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, as well as the Lake County Bar Association. Before beginning the practice of his profes- sion Mr. Fischler served as a civil engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the highway department of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company and the United States Steel Corporation. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Hammond Country Club and the Commercial Law League of America.
Mr. Fischler was married to Harriet D. Bradford, a daughter of Ralph Bradford, of Pontiac, Illinois, on May 30, 1913, and to this union one daughter has been born, Harriet. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.
MOSES B. LAIRY.
Moses B. Lairy, of Indianapolis, a member of the Supreme court of Indiana, was born in Cass county, Indiana, August 13, 1859. He is the son of Thomas and Eliza (Barnett) Lairy, the father being a farmer and a native of Ohio. Judge Lairy was educated in the public schools of Cass county and was also a student at Valparaiso for a time. He taught school for a few years and then began the study of law in the office of Chase & Fickle. He completed his legal education at the Uni- versity of Michigan, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1889.
He was admitted to the bar the same year he graduated and began the practice of his profession in Logansport. He was appointed judge of the Cass Circuit court on April 1, 1895, to fill out the unexpired term
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of Dyer B. McConnell, and served until November 3, 1896. He then formed a partnership with Michael F. Mahoney, which continuel until he was elected Judge of the Appellate court of Indiana in 1910. In the fall of 1914 he was elected to the Supreme court of the state and ascended the bench of this court in January, 1915, for the regular six-year term. Judge Lairy is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association. He is a Mason and an Elk.
WILLIAM W. McMAHON.
The senior member of the well-known law firm of McMahon & Con- roy, at Hammond, Indiana, is Hon. William W. McMahon, who is one of a family of thirteen children born to his parents, William and Eliza (Love) McMahon, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of north- ern Indiana. Mr. McMahon was born on March 28, 1857, and received his early education in the public schools of the state, completing his stud- ies and graduating from the college at Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the class of 1882. He was admitted to the bar the same year, and immedi- ately thereafter began the practice of law in Rochester, Indiana. Four- teen years later he came to Hammond, Indiana. Mr. McMahon served as City Judge of Hammond from 1902 to 1908. The present law firm was formed in 1908. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association and the State Bar Association, and is a Democrat in politics.
William W. McMahon was married to Julia F. Salvage, the daughter of William Salvage, and they are the parents of one son, James D., who is also a member of the legal profession, having been admitted to the bar in 1913. James D. McMahon is a graduate of Notre Dame.
MILTON B. HOTTEL.
Milton Benton Hottel, of Indianapolis, a member of the Appellate Court of Indiana, was born in Harrison county, Indiana, May 1, 1860. When he was about four years of age he was taken by his parents, Levi P. and Annette (Horner) Hottel, to Fredericksburg, Washington county, Indiana, where the father operated a general store and conducted a farm. Here Judge Hottel grew to manhood. After leaving the public schools he attended Prof. Pinkham's Academy at Paoli. Later he entered Indiana University and graduated in 1882, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
After graduating from the university he worked with his father in the store until January, 1SS4, when he entered the law office of John A. Zaring at Salem. In the fall of the same year he finished a term of school at Tampico, following the death of the teacher. In the summer of 1885 he returned to Salem and formed a partnership with Zaring and practiced with him until his death in the fall of 189S. He later formed a partnership with Harvey Morris. Still later he was a mem- ber of the firm with Frank B. Cauble and Wilbur W. Hottel, a brother, under the firm name of Hottel, Cauble & Hottel. Cauble died in 1909 and the firm continued as Hottel & Hottel until the election of Milton
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B. to the Appellate bench in the fall of 1910. Judge Hottel was re- elected in 1914 and is now serving his second term.
Judge Hottel was married in 1888 to Cora H. Harris and they have five children. Two daughters are married and one daughter and the two sons are still at home. Judge Hottel is a member of the Greek letter fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and of the Elks. He is a member of the State Bar Association, the Indiana Democratic Club and Woodruff Place Club.
DAVID EDWARD SMITH.
David Edward Smith, of Decatur, judge of the Twenty-sixth judicial circuit, was born on a farm in Mercer county, Ohio, December 20, 1867, and is one of two children born to James H. and Hettie Smith. The Smiths are of English lineage. The mother of the Judge was Scotch-Irish. The grandparents of David E. Smith, Robert and Maria Smith, emi- grated from England to Ohio. When David Smith was an infant, his parents moved to Adams county, Indiana, where he grew up, enjoying such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and later graduating from the high school. He studied for a time at Indiana Uni- versity and then entered the law office of Van Vorhis & Spencer. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1892, and at once became a member of the firm of Schurger, Reed & Smith. This firm continued until 1898, when Mr. Reed withdrew. Schurger & Smith continued in partnership until 1912, when Mr. Smith was elected to the circuit judgeship, which position he still occupies. He had previously served as prosecutor, 1890- 1900. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, a Knight Templar, Knight of Pythias and a Democrat in politics. He married Ethel Hale, and they are the parents of six children. The family are members of the Meth- odist church, and have their home at 610 Madison street, Decatur, In- diana.
JOHN W. HANAN.
John W. Hanan, a resident of Lagrange, Indiana, since 1879, was born on July 10, 1860, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His parents, George W. and Eliza A. (Burden) Hanan, were born in the same town. The father, brother and two uncles of John W. Hanan lost their lives in the Civil War, while the grandfather on his father's side lost his life in the Mexican War.
As a youth, John W. Hanan attended the schools of his native town until he was thirteen years of age, and then removed with his mother to Lagrange county, Indiana, where he has since made his home. There he completed his education, began to teach in the public schools before reaching his majority and was superintendent of schools when he quit the profession after ten years of service. In the meantime he studied law and was admitted to the Lagrange county bar on September 23, 1886. On April 4, 1887, he entered into a law partnership with Judge
David & Smith.
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Robert Lowry, of Fort Wayne, which continued until February, 1892. He then formed a partnership with Judge Joseph D. Ferrall, of Lagrange, which terminated when the latter was elected judge of the Thirty-fourth circuit in 1902. His next partnership was with Judge Louis B. Ewbank, of Indianapolis, offices being maintained in Lagrange and Indianapolis. When Judge Ewbank became judge of the Marion Circuit court in the fall of 1914 Judge Benjamin F. Watson, of Indianapolis, was taken into the firm.
At the present time Mr. Hanan is counsel for the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company, a position he has held for many years. He is also serving in a similar capacity for the St. Joseph Valley Rail- way Company. He was counsel for the Lake Shore & Michigan South- ern Railway Company for a number of years.
In politics Mr. Hanan is a Democrat. He was the nominee of his party for joint senator of Lagrange and Steuben counties in 1892 and made a splendid race in a very strong Republican district. He was twice elected trustee of the town of Lagrange and served as president of the board of trustees. He was three times appointed trustee for the Eastern Indiana hospital for the insane at Richmond, Indiana, by Gov- ernors Hanly and Marshall, and served as president of the board dur- ing the entire time. He resigned in January, 1916. He was attorney for the town of Lagrange and also of the county for a number of years.
He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Fort Wayne. In 1913 he was most worshipful master of the Masonic lodge of the state of Indiana. During his term as grand mas- ter of the lodge he made many Masonic addresses on various occasions.
Mr. Hanan was married to Mary A. Merritt, of Lagrange, in March, 1879. They had one son, John Franklin, who was admitted to the bar in 1907, and is now the junior member of the firm of Hanan, Watson & Hanan.
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