USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 20
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Mr. Walter H. Hammond was about four years old when he came to Hammond, and has lived here the rest of his life. He graduated from the high school in 1892. after which he attended Oberlin College. He then took a business course in the Metropolitan Business College in Chicago, and shortly afterward engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he has continued with increasing success to the present time. He is president of the Home Building and Loan and Savings Association of Lake county. and is the owner of considerable city property in addition to his nice resi- dence at 704 South Hohman street, which he built in 1902.
June 17, 1896, Mr. Hammond married Miss Miami J. Laws, a daughter of John and Eliza Laws. They have three children, Haroid W., Florence E. and Kenneth H. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members of the First Baptist church. and he is a church trustee. He affiliates with Garfield Lodge No. 569. F. & A. M., with Hammond Chapter No. 117. R. A. M., and with Hammond Commandery. K. T. In politics he is a Democrat.
HERBERT S. BARR.
The true measure of success is determined by what one has accom- plished, and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, there is particular interest
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attaching to the career of the subject of this review, since he is a native son of the place where he has passed his active life. and has so directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of the representative citizens of Lake county. He is actively connected with a profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or community, and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights.
Mr. Barr was born in Crown Point, March 4, 1865. His paternal grand- father was Samuel Barr and his father S. A. Barr. The latter. a native of Pennsylvania, came to Lake county in 1866, was prominent and influential in public affairs and was widely recognized as one of the leading, honored and respected citizens of his community. He served his country as a soldier of the Civil war and was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek by a minie ball, and the injury that he there sustained caused his death thirty- four years later. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and filled the office of county auditor for four years. He was likewise a worthy representative of the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in all life's relations was found true and loyal to every trust reposed in him and to high ideals. He married Miss Emma Standish, a direct descendant of Miles Standish. Mr. S. A. Barr passed away in 1898, but his widow still survives. They were the parents of five children. all of whom are yet living.
Mr. H. S. Barr was the second child of the family, and in his early youth attended the public schools of Crown Point. He afterward became a student in the Northwestern Law School. and his reading for his profession was also directed by J. W. Youche for several years. Later he was asso- ciated in practice with Mr. Youche for about seven years, and since 1893 he has been successfully prosecuting his profession at Crown Point. He lived for about one year in Chicago, but with this exception has remained continu- ously in his native city, where he is now numbered among the leading law- yers.
In 1899 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Barr and Miss Jessie Hill. a daughter of Charles J. Hill, and they have two children. Harold and Ruth. Mr. Barr affiliates with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Foresters, and in politics is a supporter of Democratic principles. His life has been one of untiring activity crowned with success, yet he is not less
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esteemed as a citizen than as a lawyer, and his kindly impulses and charm- ing cordiality of manner have rendered him exceedingly popular among all classes.
LAWRENCE COX.
Lawrence Cox, superintendent of the Metropolitan police of Hammond, has been connected with the public life and business interests and as a private citizen of Hammond for over fifteen years, and there is perhaps no better known resident of the city nor any more interested in the welfare and gen- eral development of both city and county. He has been in some important official position for the past seven years, and has been found efficient, ener- getic and painstaking in all his performances.
Mr. Cox was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, near Kingston, June 16, 1866, a son of John and Mary ( Kane) Cox, both natives of Canada. His paternal grandfather was the founder of the family in America. He was born in Ireland, and about the beginning of the nineteenth century he and his wife Isabella emigrated to Canada, and their four daughters and one son were all born on this side of the waters.
John Cox has been a life-long and prominent farmer of Canada, and now resides on Howe Island, in Ontario. He has been prominent in the public affairs of his community, being now county commissioner of Fron- ยท
tenac county. He was reeve of his township for a number of years, and was fishery overseer for some years under Sir John McDonald. He is a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife. She died in 1894, at the age of fifty-one years. Her father was Thomas Kane, a native of county Water- ford, Ireland, and who emigrated to Canada about 1836, settling on Howe Island. where he was a farmer. His wife was Catharine ( Powers) Kane, and they had a family of twelve children.
Jolin and Mary Cox had thirteen children in their family, and nine are still living, as follows: Kate, the wife of W. J. Collins, of Hillsville, Penn- sylvania ; Lawrence, of Hammond: Maggie, the wife of R. J. Patterson, of Danville, Connecticut : Matthew J., of Ontario, Canada ; Miss Marian, a teacher of Howe Island. Ontario; Jolin, of Scranton, Pennsylvania: Miss Lillian, of Montreal, Quebec: Agnes, the wife of William Beaubien, of Howe Island; and Vincent, of Hillsville, Pennsylvania.
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Mr. Lawrence Cox was reared on his father's farm to the age of four- teen years. Ile received his education in the district schools, the Kingston Collegiate Institute, and also in the night school of the Dominion Business College at Kingston. He was a bookkeeper for a time, and in 1884 made a trip to the United States. In 1888 he came to Hammond as his permanent location. He was first employed with the G. H. Hammond & Company for two years, and from 1891 to February, 1897, was in the fire and life insur- ance business. At the latter date he became deputy sheriff under B. F. Hayes, and then held the same position under the latter's successor until May I. 1901, which was the date of his appointment to the office of superintendent of the Metropolitan police, which office he has filled to the eminent satisfac- tion of all concerned for the past three years.
August 8, 1899. Mr. Cox married Mrs. Mary Nelson, the widow of R. H. Nelson and a daughter of William W. Reece and Anna E. (Dowdi- gan) Reece. Her parents were pioneers of the Calumet river region. and for many years were the only residents between the Indiana state line and South Chicago. Mrs. Cox is their only child, and her father died when she was about three years old, but her mother still lives and makes her home with Mrs. Cox. She has considerable property interests in Chicago. Mrs. Cox had two children by her former marriage, Alfaretta and Mae. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Catholic church, and he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is also a charter member of the Hammond Club. His politics are Republican. He owns his nice home at 517 South Hohman street, and lie and his wife have liosts of friends in the city and vicinity.
GALLUS J. BADER.
Gallus J. Bader, prominent as a representative of the business and finan- cial interests of Whiting, is now the president of the First National Bank at that place. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence in Whiting has been uniform and rapid. As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the advantages which are found in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Bader has done. He has perse-
D& Badem
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vered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and has gained the most satisfac- tory reward, and his name is a strong one on commercial paper and an honored one in all business transactions.
Mr. Bader was born in LaPorte, Indiana, on the 2d of November, 1864, and is a son of Gallus J. and Magdalene ( Mantel) Bader, both of whom were natives of Baden, Germany, whence they emigrated to America, settling in LaPorte county, Indiana, at an early period in the development and upbuild- ing of this portion of the state. The father was engaged in the hotel business and conducted what was called the Washington House.
Gallus J. Bader, his namesake and the immediate subject of this review. is the youngest in a family of six children, all of whom reached adult age. His education was acquired in the public schools of LaPorte, and his boyhood days were spent under the parental roof. At the age of twenty-one years he began business as a dry-goods merchant of LaPorte, where he continued until 1890, when he came to Whiting and entered into partnership with Fred J. Smith in the conduct of a bakery and restaurant. Subsequently he turned his attention to the electric light business, and in this enterprise was associated with James A. Gill. They organized a company and erected a plant, of which Mr. Gill was the president, while Mr. Bader was the secretary and treasurer. This enterprise prospered and enabled him at a later date to extend his labors into financial circles. The First National Bank of Whiting was organized on the Ist of December, 1902, and capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Bader is now president, while John M. Thiele is the cashier and W. E. War- wick is vice-president. These gentlemen are members of the board of di- rectors together with James A. Gill, Richard F. Schaaf and Frank H. Morri- son, the last named of LaPorte, and F. J. Smith, of Whiting.
In 1893 occurred the marriage of Gallus J. Bader and Miss Elizabeth Wagner, who was born in 1870 and was reared in Michigan City, LaPorte county. This marriage has been blessed with one child, a son, Clarence. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bader are well known in Whiting and this portion of Indiana. and have gained many warm friends who entertain for them high regard and extend to them the hospitality of the best homes of Whiting.
In his political views Mr. Bader is a Republican, having joined the ranks of the party in 1896 on account of the money question. He had formerly supported the Democracy, but could not endorse the "free and unlimited
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coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to I." Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus. He has been a very successful business man and one whose life history should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished by determined purpose and capable management. He began with a very small amount of money. His father died when the son was but thirteen years of age, and from that time forward the boy had to depend upon his own resources for a living. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in a dry-goods store, and in order to perfect his education attended night school for two winter seasons. He remained for two years in the employ of the man whose service he had first entered, and then went to Chicago, where he became an employe of the Crane Elevator Company, continuing for three years in the machinist depart- mient. He then returned to LaPorte and engaged in business for himself, and for five years he was numbered among the merchants of that place. On the expiration of that period he sold his business there in order to remove to Whiting, where he has since been located and where he has made for himself an honored name, gaining at the same time a very creditable success.
Since 1900, the firm of Smith & Bader have been engaged extensively in the real estate business, after having been in the bakery business for ten years.
Mr. Bader possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and liis excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the midst of his family and friends, to whom he is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally entertain for him warm regard.
MARION F. PIERCE.
Marion F. Pierce, merchant and well-known business man of Merrill- ville, Ross township, is one of the oldest native sons of Lake county still engaged in the active pursuits of life. Three generations of the Pierce family have been identified with the industrial and commercial affairs of the county, covering a period of seventy years, and extending from the time when the alternate stretches of woodland and prairie in Lake county offered habitation to few white men, until now there is not a square foot anywhere
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not in private possession or devoted to public use. Myiel Pierce, the grand- father : Marion Pierce, the father : and Floyd M. Pierce, the son, are the three men who have wrought out their success and advanced the welfare of the county during the years of their lives spent here, and to the second of the three is due the distinction of sixty-three years of residence in the township where his business interests are still located.
Mr. M. F. Pierce was born in Ross township. Lake county, August I, 1841. His father, Myiel Pierce, was born about 1800 in Erie county, New York, and as a pioneer among the pioneers arrived in Lake county, Indiana, June 25. 1835. He was a farmer and hotel-keeper and in September. 1842. erected the old and well-known Merrillville Hotel, which after sixty-two years of use still stands as a monument to its founder and builder. He sold this hotel property after running it two years, and then bought the farm on which he died in 1847. He was county assessor for a time, and was well known throughout the surrounding country. His wife was Marcia Ann Crawford, a native of Erie county. New York, and who died in January, 1897. in her seventy-eighth year. There were six children in their family : Corydon. Angelina, Sidney, Marion F .. Myiel. and Myron, who died about 1848.
Marion F. Pierce was about six years old when his father died, and he never enjoyed many days of pleasant boyish recreation, nor yet had he his full complement of schooling. His mother was compelled to go into the hayfield and do a man's labor in order to maintain her family and home. and Marion was never behindhand in assisting her, and in each succeeding year did a larger share of the farm duties. He thus remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one, and on August 9. 1862, enlisted in Company A. Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry, serving in the ranks for nearly three years, until his discharge after the close of the war, on June 16, 1865. He was in thirty battles altogether, taking part at Vicksburg. Jackson. Resaca. Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro. Fort McAllister, was all through the campaign to the sea, and thence to Washington, where he participated in the grand review. He returned to Ross township and resumed farm work. remaining at home till his marriage, in 1867. In 1873 he engaged in the mercantile business at Merrillville, and has been in that for over twenty years. now ranking as the premier merchant and business man of the town.
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Mr. Pierce is one of the influential Democrats of the county, and has taken an active part in local affairs. He was trustee of Ross township for nine years. served as postmaster of Merrillville four years, and was in the internal revenue service five years under Cleveland's administration. He affiliates with the John Wheeler Post, G. A. R., at Crown Point, and in the Masonic Lodge No. 551. at Merrillville, has filled all the chairs but one, senior deacon.
He was married, October 27, 1867, to Miss Maggie B. Randolph, daughter of Cyrus and Allie (Meade) Randolph. They are the parents of three children : Floyd M., Cora B. and Ralph M.
JOHN FISHER.
John Fisher, now deceased, was a respected and honored resident of Crown Point, who had many friends in Lake county, and whose death, there- fore. was deeply regretted. He was born in Schenectady county, New York, September 7. 1832, and was of Scotch parentage and ancestry. His father, Alexander Fisher, was born in Ayr. Scotland, and in 1818 crossed the At- lantic to the new world, settling first in Montreal, Canada. The following year. however, he removed to Schenectady. New York, where he spent his remaining days. He was a millwright and farmer, following the dual pur- suits as a life work.
In his native county John Fisher was reared, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, where he was trained to habits of industry and economy. The west, with its business possibilities, attracted him, and in 1855 he came to Lake county, Indiana, locating at Southeast Grove in Eagle Creek township. There he was engaged in the broom manufacturing business and soon after his arrival in Lake county he was elected county surveyor, which position he filled for many years. He knew every foot of the county, his business making him thoroughly familiar with every locality. It also brought to him a wide acquaintance, and he became one of the most prominent and influential men in this part of the state, taking an active and helpful interest in public affairs. He was one of the civil engineers who worked on the con- struction of the Panhandle Railroad, assisting in the survey of the road from Columbus, Ohio, to Chicago. This work was done about 1864. Mr. Fisher also carried on agricultural pursuits, owning a farm two miles southeast of
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Crown Point, and he thoroughly under tood the best methods of caring for the fields and producing good crops. Whatever he undertook be carried for ward to successful completion, for he was a man of unfaltering energy and strong purpose.
Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Amelia J. Willey, who was born in Lake county. The Willey family is of English lineage and was etal. lished in America in early colonial day by David Willey, the great grand- father of Mrs. Fisher. His son. Jemmiah Willey, was born in Connecticut, July 28, 1777, and there resided for many year, but eventually removed to the Empire state. Her father. George Willey, was born in Connectiont and was four year of age when he removed to Madison county, New York, with his parents. In August. 1838, he arrived in Lake county, Indiana, locating m Hanover township. He removed to a farin about a mile east of Crown Point in 1865 and there he spent hi remaining days, devoting his energie to agri. cultural pur uit until his death, which occurred on the 5th of April. 1884. He was one of the pioneer of this county and did much for it early develop- ment and improvement. He was ever actively interested in public affairs, . a salon in hi advocacy of all mesure, that tended to promote the gel- eral welfare and was widely known as an influential and valued citizen. His wife lore the maiden name of ( Lithia Wash and ca a native of Madison county. New York, and a daughter of Thomas Bach. Mr. and Mr . Willey became the parents of even children, four sons and three daughters, but three of the sons ched in infancy. The only For living con is George A. Willey, a resident of St. Louis. Micouri. 'The sisters are Mrs. Alice Granger, of Fort Dodge, low.a. and Mrs. Adella C. Griffin, of Oklahoma, Mrs. Fisher is the oldest of the seven children and was born in Hanover tow achip, Lake county, Indiana. April 30, 1841. She pur ned her early education in the district schools and afterward continued Her education in Crown Point. She gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Fisher on the 7th of November. 1865, and by this marriage there have been born two children. Agne Mag, who died when twenty month old, and George W., who is mes a resident of Crown Point.
In his political views John Fi-her was a life long Republican, and polit ical questions had for him great interest. He was a Royal Arch Majon and was a consistent and faithful member of the Presbyterian church. He died
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March 7. 1897. and because of his honorable, upright life he left to his family an untarnished name as well as a comfortable competence. He gained the respect of all with whom he had been associated, and his loss was therefore deeply deplored by his many friends as well as by his widow and son. Mrs. Fisher has spent her entire life in Lake county, Indiana, and is well known. She has been a resident of Crown Point for ten years, where she has a wide circle of friends. For many years she has been a member of the Presbyterian church.
BALZER FRANZ.
Balzer Franz, of section 8. Ross township, came to this township as a boy of twelve, some fifty-five years ago, and when he began doing for him- self he had only his industry and strong constitution for his capital stock. He has been a hard worker and good manager all his life, and does not even now remit much of his former diligence, although the success that he has won gives him freedom from care and necessary business activity. He has proved himself an influential factor in the development of the agricultural interests of Lake county, and through his own material prosperity and good citizenship has enriched the community in which he has passed so many years of his life. When he was a boy in the county there was not a railroad in operation through the county, from which faet it is evident that he has been a personal witness of all the great development that has resulted in making Lake county a network of railroad lines, and six acres from his own farm have been taken for railroad rights of way.
Mr. Franz was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 21, 1836, so that he is now within the shadow of the age of threescore and ten. He remained in the old country until he was twelve years old, and then accompanied his mother and step-father to America, the family coming directly to Ross town- ship. Lake county. He was reared and has spent all his subsequent years in this county, and during his boyhood attended for several years the township schools. IJe remained at home and worked for his mother and step-father until he was twenty-three years old, and for several years thereafter was engaged in various pursuits connected with farming. working on farms by the month, driving cattle to Chicago markets, hauling cord wood, etc. He was all the time getting a more substantial vantage ground in material worth. and was soon engaged in the operation of his own farm, from which time
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he has continued with increasing success in agricultural pursuits until he is now the owner of a fine farm of five hundred acres, well improved, highly cultivated and productive of as good all-around crops as are raised anywhere in Ross township.
Mr. Franz has been married twice. In 1865 he wedded Miss Elizabeth Geibe, who died without issue. He then married Anna Shello, and they have nine children : George, Helen, Nora, Maggie. Elizabeth, Cecilia, Grace, Mary and Balzer. They were all born in Ross township, and all are well educated. Cecilia and Grace having finished the country schools and being now students in Merrillville.
CHARLES W. FRIEDRICH.
Charles W. Friedrich, the miller at Dyer, has been successfully con- ducting the mill at this place for the past ten years, and has followed that line of business almost continuously since he was fifteen years old, when he became an apprentice to the trade in his native Germany, and where he learned all the details of the work in the thorough manner so much in vogue in the fatherland. He came to America during his young man- hood, and has had a very successful career in different parts of the middle west since that time. He is counted among the influential citizens at Dyer, and is enterprising and public-spirited in all that he undertakes, whether for personal advantage or for community interest.
Mr. Friedrich was born in Germany, December 24. 1846, and was reared and educated in his native country. He attended the public schools during the required limit up to his fourteenth year, and then became a miller's apprentice. continuing his work faithfully for three years and gradu- ating as a master at the trade. He followed his chosen occupation in Ger- many until 1872, when he embarked and crossed the ocean to America. For some time he was engaged in the express, grocery and saloon business in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1881 he moved to North Judson, Starke county, Indiana, and bought a mill, which he operated until 1893. He then sold out. and in the following year came to Dyer and bought the flouring mill at this place. He has improved the plant in many ways, and increased its pro- ductive capacity to fifty barrels a day besides adding to the quality of its output and building up an extensive trade and demand for all his products.
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