USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 17
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Mr. Black has never voted for any but Republican principles and candi- dates. and he has taken as much interest in public matters as his busy life would permit. He was elected and filled the office of county commissioner for five years, and his administration was so satisfactory that he might have retained the office longer had he been willing to serve. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Black was married in 1859 to Miss Caroline Beaders, and they have seven children living : Henry, William, Anna, Ella, Eddie, Hannah and John.
GEORGE B. SHEERER.
George B. Sheerer, a prominent attorney-at-law of Hammond. Indiana. has gained a successful position in the legal profession by his own merits. He is of the type of self-made men of whom this country is so proud. It is certainly no mean achievement for a boy to start to earning his own way at the age of eleven, afterwards as a result of his labor attend school and make up in an educational way what he had been retarded in getting when a boy, take a law course and gain admission to the bar, and then rise to a place of prominence among his fellow-practitioners in the great profession of law. Mr. Sheerer has been engaged in practice in Hammond since 1892, and is held in high esteem in the city and surrounding country
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Mr. Sheerer was born in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. December 24, 1866. a son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth (Fritz) Sheerer. His paternal grandfather. John M. Sheerer, was the original Sheerer who came from southern Scotland to America, locating in Wayne county, Pennsylvania. where he spent most of his life. He was a canal and railroad contractor, and was a very wealthy man, at one time owning all the land on which the present city of Scranton stands. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died at the age of eighty-eight years, having been a man of remarkable constitution and manly vigor. He was never sick a day in his life, never took a dose of medicine. When he was eighty-four years old he was physi- cally very active. He died from the result of an injury, his back having been wrenched while he was mowing. His wife lived still longer, passing away at the age of ninety-two years. Her maiden name was Susan Stitely. They had a large family.
Benjamin F. Sheerer, the father of George B. Sheerer, was a Baptist minister. and has made home missionary work the principal object of his endeavors all his life. He came out west to Illinois in an early day, and bought one hundred and fifty acres of land where the Chicago business center now is, but he afterwards sold out and went back east. He is now living at Waterton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, being in his eighty-eighth year. His wife, Elizabeth (Fritz) Sheerer, is in her seventy-ninth year. Her father, Lucius Fritz, came from Germany when a young man and located in Pennsylvania, where he was a farmer. He had been a soldier in a German war, and was also in the war of 1812. He married Miss Mary Gorman. and they had eleven children. He died at the age of sixty-seven, and she when about seventy-three.
Eight children were born to Benjamin F. and Elizabeth Sheerer, and the six now living are : Friend B., of Town Hill, Pennsylvania; Alfred N., of Burwick. Pennsylvania; Marion MI., of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin ; George B., of Hammond; Matilda, the wife of R. Gregory, of Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania : and Millard, of Miners Mills, Pennsylvania. The two deceased children were Layton L., who was president of the Colfax Seminary, at Colfax, Washington ; and Celinda, the wife of Rev. James R. Wilson, of Syracuse, New York.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
George B. Sheerer lived at home in Waterton, Pennsylvania, until eleven years of age, and received his first schooling there. He then started out to make his own way, working during the summer at three dollars a month and board, and going to school during the winter. He taught school in the east for some time, beginning when he was seventeen years old. In 1884 he came west to Indiana and entered the normal school at Valparaiso, where he was graduated in the law department in 1889. In the same year he was admitted to the bar of the state. After his graduation he at once set to work to pay up his debts contracted in his efforts to school himself. In the fall of 1892 he opened his office for practice in Hammond, and has enjoyed an increasing patronage to the present time.
November 16, 1892, Mr. Sheerer married Miss May E. Wertman, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Wertman. They have two children, Ger- trude and Mildred. Mrs. Sheerer is a member of the Baptist church. They reside at 50 Warren avenue, where he built a good home in 1900. Mr. Sheerer affiliates with the Calumet Lodge No. 601. I. O. O. F., and with Hammond Lodge No. 210. K. of P. He is independent in voting, but his general political cleavage is Democratic. He is treasurer of the board of education, and has been a member of the board for the past six years.
CHRISTIAN FIELER.
Christian Fieler, a prominent and well-known farmer of Center town- ship. Lake county, is a native son and a life-long resident of the county, and has enjoyed a prosperous career devoted to the agricultural interests in this fine farming section. He is likewise one of the public-spirited men of this part of the county, performing his share of the duties of society, and is held in high esteem both for his own personal character and for what he has accomplished in the world of material things.
Mr. Fieler was born in Hobart township, Lake county, Indiana. July 10. 1861 His father. Jacob Fieler, was a native of Würtemberg, Germany, and came to America and to Lake county in the year 1854. He was one of the early settlers and bought a farm in Ross township, where he continued his vocation of farmer until his death in 1877, when in his fifty-eighth year. He was a member of the German Methodist church, and a well-known and representative citizen of the county. His wife was Catharine Kelver, a
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native of the same province of Germany from which he came, and she died at the age of sixty-nine years, having been the mother of five children.
Mr. Christian Fieler was the only son and the youngest child. He was reared in Hobart township, and was educated in the public schools of Ross township and also of Chicago. He was sixteen years old when his father died, and he then took the mantle of manly responsibility and carried on the work of the farm, in which his father had trained him. His mother died in 1884, and he then bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead and continued his farming there until 1898. He then sold and moved to Center township, where he bought his present place on Section 3. consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, fertile, well improved and highly cultivated. He also has sixty-three acres in Winfield township and two hundred in Ross township. so that altogether he is the possessor of three hundred and eighty-three acres of first-class Lake county soil. Besides his general farming work he buys and ships stock, and has carried on his exten- sive concerns with much individual success and profit.
Mr. Fieler was married in 1901 to Miss Alice Palmer, a daughter of H. D. and Catherine (Underwood) Palmer. one of the prominent families of Lake county. Mrs. Fieler was born and reared in Ross township, and was educated in the Crown Point schools. . Mr. Fieler has always been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Blaine in 1884.
GEORGE H. HOSKINS, M. D.
Dr. George H. Hoskins, who has attained prominence as a representa- tive of the medical fraternity and is now serving as coroner of Lake county, making his home in Whiting, is a native of New York. his birth having occurred in Essex. Essex county, on the 18th of October, 1872. His father was Henry E. Hoskins, a native of Montreal, Canada. In early life. how- ever, he was taken to New York, was reared in the Empire state and there spent his remaining days, but died on the eve of his departure for the west in the year 1875. His widow then came with her two children, a son and daughter, to the Mississippi valley, locating at Grant Park, Illinois. She had previously learned the milliner's trade, and for about fifteen years was engaged in that business at Grant Park. HEnois, thus providing for her children. She
5
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was quite successful in the conduct of her business enterprise and secured a liberal patronage.
Dr. Hoskins was but four years of age when he arrived in Grant Park, and there he acquired his early education which was supplemented by one year of study at Valparaiso, Indiana. In 1894 he took up the study of medi- cine in Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois, and was there graduated in June, 1898. In July of the same year he located at Whiting, where he has since been in constant practice. He was the first health officer here, and in 1902 he was elected county coroner. entering upon the duties of the office in January, 1903. He has secured a large private practice which is indicative of the confidence and trust reposed in him by the public. He is a thorough and discriminating student, constantly broadening his knowledge and pro- moting his efficiency by investigation and research. He is thoroughly in touch with modern ideas concerning medical science and practice, and his professional duties make heavy demands upon his time and energies.
On the 24th of October. 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. George H. Hoskins and Miss Bertha E. Dewey, a daughter of George H. and Celesta L. Dewey. They now have two interesting little sons. George H. and Harley D. Socially Dr. Hoskins is connected with the Masonic fraternity at Whiting, and he was a member of the Baptist church at Grant Park. He belongs to the Lake County Medical Society, and his attention is chiefly de- voted to his profession, wherein he has won a creditable name. He closely follows the ethics of the medical fraternity and enjoys the entire confidence and esteem of his professional brethren as well as of the general public. As a citizen, too, he is progressive and has been a co-operant factor in many movements for the general good. In politics he is a Republican, and in March, 1904. he was nominated by that party for his second term as coroner of Lake county. He completed his new residence on Sheridan avenue, near One Hundred and Nineteenth street, in the fall of 1903. For 1903 Dr. Hos- kins was worshipful master of Whiting Lodge No. 613. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Owls Club.
JOHN S. REILAND.
In an analyzation of the character and life work of John S. Reiland we notice many of the salient traits which have marked the German nation
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for many centuries, the perseverance, reliability, energy and unconquerable determination to pursue a course that has been marked out, and it is these sterling qualities which have gained to Mr. Reiland success in life and made him one of the substantial and valued citizens of East Chicago. He is now living a retired life, for through his energy and capable management in former years he gained a comfortable competence that now enables him to put aside further business cares and to enjoy the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Reiland was born in Prussia. Germany, on the 17th of March, 1834. His paternal grandfather. Dominicus Reiland, was long in public life, holding office for twenty-four years in the city of Berlin and discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won him the highest commendation and respect. His death occurred when he had attained an advanced age. His family numbered four children, including John Reiland, the father of our subject. He, too, was born in Germany, became a trader of that country and died in the fatherland at the age of seventy-three years. He had wedded Miss Mary Thomas, also a native of Germany and a daughter of Stephen Thomas, who was an active factor in industrial circles in the community in which he made his home, operating a distillery and twenty-four lime kilns. He died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. In his family were four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. John Reiland became the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, but only two are now living, the sister of John S. being Annie, who is the widow of Mathias Jones and is living on the old Reiland homestead in Germany. The father died at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-nine years. Both were communicants in the Catholic church.
John S. Reiland spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Germany, continuing a resident of that country until nineteen years of age, during which time he acquired a good practical education in the public schools. He also learned the carpenter's trade and was thus qualified to earn his living as an artisan. In the year 1854 he crossed the Atlantic to America, having heard very favorable reports concerning the new world and its business oppor- tunities. He located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and there took out his naturalization papers, for he had made his way to this country to become a citizen of the United States. Believing that he might have still better business privileges and advantages in the middle west, he made his way to
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Illinois in 1861, settling in Peru, that state, in the month of October. There he lived for about five years or until 1866. since which time he has made his home in Lake county, Indiana. On removing to this locality he secured a tract of land and was engaged in farming until 1872, after which he became proprietor of a hotel in South Chicago, conducting the same until 1888. Since that time he has lived in East Chicago and is now enjoying a well merited rest from further business cares.
On the 6th of August, 1856, Mr. Reiland was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Henrietta Meisenbach, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Meisenbach. They became the parents of the following children: Jacob C., born September 8, 1857; John, born August 27. 1859: Mary, deceased, born January 17, 1862; Lena, born October 17, 1864; Antony, born February 17,. 1866; Nicholas, born January 27, 1868; William, born November 1, 1869; Frank, born October 30, 1872: George, born August 18, 1876; Carrie, born August 6, ISSI; Albert, born October 31. 1883. Of these Jacob is street commissioner and water inspector in East Chicago. He married Miss Mary Mahr, and they have three children. William, John and Mollie. John, who is a carpenter by trade, and is following his vocation in East Chicago, married Lena Smith and has one daughter. Pearlie. Mary died January 10, 1893, was the wife of John D. Williams and had one daughter, Pearl. Lena is the present wife of John D. Williams and they make their home in East Chicago. Antony, who is a bricklayer, is married and has three children, Grace, George and Henry. Nicholas follows the pursuit of boiler-making. William is serving as city judge of East Chicago. Frank is an electrical engineer of Cleveland, Ohio, and is married. George is an attorney of East Chicago. Carrie is the wife of A. C. Huber, and they have a daughter. Helen Ruth. Albert is now a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Mr. and Mrs. Reiland and their family are members of the Catholic church. and politically he is a Republican. deeply interested in the success of his party. He served as alderman for several years, and during that time exercised his official prerogatives in support of every measure that he he- lieved would contribute to the general improvement and upbuilding. In 1903 he built a beautiful home in East Chicago at the corner of One Hundred and Forty-eighth street and Whiteoak avenue, where he is now living retired.
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The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities he sought, which. by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man, and making the best of these Mr. Reiland has steadily worked his way upward. He pos- sessed the resolution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of people of the fatherland, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of East Chicago.
ANDREW 1. SAUERMAN.
Andrew A. Sauerman, whose interests are thoroughly identified with those of Lake county so that he is at all times ready to lend his aid and co-operation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the state or advance its substantial development, is a native son of Crown Point, his birth having occurred on the 22d of February. 1858. The family comes of German lineage and was founded in America by Nichols Sauerman, the grandfather of our subject, who was born in Germany and crossed the Atlantic to America. He possessed strong purpose and laudable ambition, and as the years progressed won a fair measure of prosperity. His son, John C. Sauer- man, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and when fourteen years of age crossed the Atlantic, locating in Chicago. There he learned the harness-maker's trade. and in 1851 he removed to Crown Point, where he engaged in business as a manufacturer of harness, continuing in that line for about twenty-four years or until 1875, when he put aside private business interests in order to perform public service, having been elected county treasurer of Lake county. He filled the office for four years and then retired to private life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well-earned and richly merited rest. He died in the year 1886. at the age of fifty-four years, and his value as a citizen and friend made his death the cause of general sorrow in his com- munity. He was a life-long Republican. ever active in the local circles of the party, and in religious faith was a Lutheran. His wife bore the maiden name of Pauline Strochlein and was likewise a native of Bavaria, Germany, where she was reared. She came to America in early womanhood and for many years she traveled life's journey as the wife of John C. Sauerman. Her death occurred in 1900, when she was seventy-one years of age. This worthy couple were the parents of four children, one of whom died when only a year old, while Flora died in 1888. Margaret T. is the widow of Dr. Henry Pettibone, of Crown Point.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
Andrew A. Sauerman, the second in order of birth of this family, was reared at Crown Point, attended the public schools there and after acquiring his elementary education attended college at Valparaiso, Indiana, the insti- tution being known as the Northern Indiana Normal School. He was grad- uated in the business department and after returning to his home hie fol- lowed the harness-maker's trade, which he had previously learned, following that pursuit until 1876. In that year he entered the office of the county recorder as deputy, acting in that capacity for two years, and in 1878 hie became assistant cashier of the First National Bank, which position he filled until January, 1896, when he was elected cashier of the bank. This has been his connection with the institution to the present time, and the success of the bank is attributable in no small degree to his efficiency and fidelity. He is a popular cashier, his obliging manner and unfaltering courtesy being greatly appreciated by the patrons of the institution, while at the same time he is most loyal to the interests of the corporation which he represents. Since 1884 Mr. Sauerman has been a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank.
In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sauerman and Miss An- toinette Aurich, of Hancock, Michigan, a daughter of Michael and Mag- dalena (Diem) Aurich. She was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and was reared in Hancock, Michigan, and she died on the toth of March. 1903. leaving two children : Harvey A., who is engaged in the drug business at Valparaiso: and Pauline M., who is attending school at Crown Point. Mr. Sauerman is a member of the Lutheran church, of which he is serving as a trustee, and he is well known throughout the county as a stanch Republican, having considerable influence in local political circles. He is a representa- tive of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which barred his path to success and reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public-spirited interest have made him a clirector of public thought and action.
JOHN BUCZKOWSKI.
The prosperity and progress of every community depend upon its busi- ness activity, its commercial interests and industrial development, and those
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who are foremost in the public life are the men who are controlling the veins and arteries of traffic. Mr. Buczkowski has become well known in connection with mercantile circles in Whiting, where he is now conducting a grocery and confectionery establishment. He deserves great credit for the success he has attained as it has been won entirely through his own well directed efforts guided by sound business judgment and permeated by trust- worthy methods.
Mr. Buczkowski is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred on the 14th of June, 1857. He was but a small boy when lie came to America with his parents, the family home being first established in LaPorte county, Indiana, near Westville. The father was a farmer by occupation, and John Buczkowski was reared upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, in connection with the cultivation of the fields. He remained a resident of LaPorte county until about thirty-three years of age, and in his boyhood days attended the common schools, thus becoming equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. After entering upon his business career he had charge of a depart- ment for the street car company for a time and later was in charge of the convicts of the state prison at Michigan City for one year. In 1889 he came to Whiting, where he opened a saloon, which he conducted for five years at one location. He then removed to Robertsdale or North Ham- mond, where he continued in the same business for about five years. He then retired from active business for a time, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he afterward entered trade circles. He erected three buildings in North Hammond, and he now owns four buildings there. He also bought and sold land and speculated to a considerable extent in real estate, doing a business which has resulted profitably. He is now connected with the firm of Smith & Bader in the real estate business, oper- ating under the name of the Whiting Land Company. He has assisted materially in the upbuilding and improvement of North Hammond and of Whiting. having erected two houses here, and he is known as one of the mnost enterprising and progressive men of the town. As proprietor of a grocery and confectionery store he is conducting a large and growing busi- ness, and in the different fields of trade with which he has been connected he has met with creditable success.
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Mr. Buczkowski was elected justice of the peace at the same time that Judge Jones was elected to represent North Hammond, Whiting and East Chicago in North township. Mr. Buczkowski has taken quite an active part in public affairs, and is a Democrat in his political views where national questions are involved, but at local elections casts his ballot independently of party ties. supporting the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. May 17, 1904, he was appointed by the council as street commissioner of Whiting.
In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of John Buczkowski and Miss Mary Przyblinski, and they now have three children, two sons and a daughter. namely : Harry. Frank and Vangeline. Mr. Buczkowski is well known in Lake and LaPorte counties, where he has many friends, and his consecutive endeavor, strong purpose and laudable ambition have formed the foundation upon which he has builded his business success. As the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well, and may justly be called by the somewhat hackneyed but very expressive title of a "self-made man."
JOHN L. KEILMAN.
John L. Keilman. general merchant and a director in the First National Bank at Dyer, is an influential and progressive young business man of Lake county, where he has had his life-long residence. He early marked out business pursuits as the object of his career, and he has been steadily advanc- ing to greater success in his enterprises since he took up active life some fifteen years ago. He is well known throughout the county, not only for his connection with commercial and financial affairs but also as the bearer of a family name that will always be entitled to honor and esteem in Lake county, with whose growth and material development the first American Keilman became identified in the pioneer epoch, and the family influence and resources have been increasing to the present time.
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