USA > Indiana > Lake County > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of Lake County, Indiana, with a compendium of history 1834-1904 > Part 22
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In 1857 Mr. Keilmann married Margaret Schaefer, who was born in Germany and came to America in childhood with her parents. There are nine living children of this marriage: Susan, who is the wife of Joseph H. Gerlach, of Chicago: Francis B., of Chicago; John, of Crown Point; William F .. of St. John: Elizabeth, wife of Edward Schmal, of Chicago; Margaret, unmarried: George : Lena, wife of Frank Thiel. of St. John: and Peter. All these children were born in the same house and in St. John town- ship. and they are now all capable and worthy men and women.
JOHN M. THIEL.
John M. Thiel, the genial old "village blacksmith" of St. John, came to
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Lake county as a German lad of ten years old, and has been numbered among the citizens of the county for all the subsequent sixty odd years. He learned his trade in the county, and established his shop in St. John forty- seven years ago, so that his place of business is the oldest of its kind in the county, and he himself holds the palm for long continuance at his trade. At the age of seventy-three, he is still hearty and strong, does a day's work that he need not be ashamed of, and is respected and honored through- out the township not only because he has so long been a factor of its in- dustrial enterprise but also because of his personal character and genuine worth of citizenship.
Mr. Thiel was born in Prussia, Germany, May 15. 1832, a son of John and Mary ( Klassen) Thiel, who emigrated from their German fatherland in 1842 and settled in Lake county, Indiana, about a mile and a half from St. John. His father devoted himself to the improvement and cultivation of a farm, and lived there till his death, when he was about eighty-two years of age. and his wife died in the same place at the age of seventy-seven. They were parents of twelve children, and seven of them grew to man- hood and womanhood.
John M. Thiel is the fourth son. He was ten years old when he came to Lake county. where he was reared and received his English education. At the age of twenty he left his parents' home and went to Crown Point, where he served his time at learning the blacksmith trade. After his ap- prenticeship of two years he worked at his trade in Crown Point for three years, and in 1857 came to St. John and opened his own shop, which he has conducted from that year to this, always giving satisfaction to his large patronage and at the same time being on good terms with every person in the community. Besides this business, which he still carries on, he owns a fifty-aere farm in the town of St. John, and this is managed by his son Joe. In politics Mr. Thiel has always been a Democrat, and he and his family are all members of the Catholic church in St. John.
In 1857. the same year in which he located in St. John, Mr. Thiel mar- ried Miss Susan Davis, who was born in the same province of Germany as Mr. Thiel, but preceded him to America by two years. They are the parents of seven children, all of whom were born in St. John: Jacob mar- ried Lena Thiesen, who died, and he now lives in Whiting: George mar-
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ried Flora Sneider and lives in Chicago; Eberhard married Mary Scheidt, and works in the shop with his father; Joe, mentioned above. is the only one of the children who has not married: Frances, who married John Dietz. died in 1894: Clara, also deceased, was the wife of Jacob Keilmann : Thresia, wife of Henry Neibling, resides in St. John.
J. FRANK MEEKER.
J. Frank Meeker, county attorney of Lake county, is one of the younger members of the bar at Crown Point, but during the twelve years of his practice he has acquired an extensive clientage and in the later years found himself in possession of as much business as he can consistently manage. He is thoroughly identified with the interests of Lake county, having known it all his life, and he has the distinction of being one of the youngest of the log-cabin children of northwestern Indiana, to which favored class some of the most prominent men of the present belong, but whose day and genera- tion are of the past in the populous and highly developed state of Indiana.
Mr. Afeeker was born December II. 1868, and his birthplace was in Center township, five miles east of Crown Point, in the primitive and pioneer log cabin that his father had made his home place on first coming to the county. His parents are Sherman B. and Elizabeth (Cress) Meeker, both natives of Pennsylvania and now living retired from the active duties of life at Crown Point. His father, on emigrating to the west, first established his home in Illinois, afterwards located in Michigan, and in 1866 came to Lake county, Indiana, settling in Center township, where he followed the occupa- tion of farming for a number of years. He and his wife were the parents of four children: Nathan Brewster, who is engaged in farming on the old homestead: Charles H .. conducting an implement business at Crown Point ; Henrietta, the deceased wife of Elliott Bibler ; and J. Frank.
Mr. J. Frank Meeker, the youngest of the family, spent his early boy- hood days upon the old homestead in Center township. attending the dis- trict schools. He came to Crown Point at the age of thirteen, and con- tinued his education here until graduated from the high school. Later he took up the study of law with Mr. Peterson, under whose direction he con- tinued his reading for about two years, and he afterward entered the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the law
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department with the class of 1892. In the same year he made the beginnings of his practice at Crown Point, was then at Hammond for one year, after which he returned to Crown Point, which has been the center of his activity ever since. He was in partnership with Judge McMahan for two years, but since then has practiced alone and built up a very fine patronage. He served as deputy prosecuting attorney for two terms, covering four years, and in February. 1901, was appointed county attorney, which office he still fills.
Mr. Meeker since taking his place among the legal fraternity at Crown Point lias taken considerable interest in Republican politics, and has done much for the organization and influence of that party in Lake county. He is vice chairman of the county central committee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Crown Point, of the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters and the North American Union.
On March 24, 1894, Mr. Meeker was united in marriage with Miss Stella S. Colby, a daughter of Mrs. Catherine Colby. She is also a native of Lake county, and has the distinction of being the only woman who has qualified and obtained admission to the bar of Lake county. Mr. and Mrs. Meeker have one daughter, Stella.
CHARLES E. GREENWALD.
Endowed by nature with peculiar qualifications that combine to make a successful lawyer and possessing the energy and determination without which advancement at the bar can never be secured, Charles E. Greenwald has won for himself a prominent position as a representative of the legal fraternity in Lake county. Patiently persevering, possessed of an analytical mind and one that is readily receptive and retentive of the fundamental prin- ciples and intricacies of the law, gifted with a spirited devotion to wearisome details, quick to comprehend the most subtle problems and logical in his conclusions, fearless in the advocacy of any cause he may espouse and the soul of honor and integrity, Mr. Greenwald has achieved a position of prom- inence that is most creditable and is a recognized leader of public thought and opinion in the community in which he resides.
A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in the city of Cleveland on the 21st of January, 1876. He is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Mack) Green- wald, and he began his education in the public schools of Cleveland and
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afterward continued his studies in the high school of South Chicago. He took up the study of law in 1895. having determined to make its practice his life work, and was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with the class of 1898. He then located for practice at Whiting, opening an office here. Althoughi professional advance- ment is proverbially slow and he had to demonstrate his skill in handling intricate legal problems, he won a good clientage in a comparatively short space of time. and in 1902 he was elected city attorney of Whiting. He has been deputy prosecuting attorney since 1898. and is now the candidate o11 the Republican ticket for prosecuting attorney of the district composed of Lake and Porter counties. In this connection one of the Republican papers of Whiting said :
"Attorney Charles E. Greenwald of our city has announced himself as a candidate for the Republican nomination for prosecuting attorney. For months many influential lawyers and politicians have insisted that he should be a candidate, but until this week failed to get his consent that his name might be used. Mr. Greenwald has served six years as deputy prosecuting attorney here, and his conduct of the office during this time justifies his friends in their claim that he has shown himself well qualified to fill the posi- tion. He is regarded by the lawyers as one of the most promising young men at the bar, and the number of lawyers who are supporting him is the best possible evidence of his ability to fill the position. He is a strong favorite with the politicians and other men interested in the success of the Republican party in this county, recognizing the loyal services rendered for his party in previous campaigns. The active Republicans of Lake county are quick to remember and repay those who have rendered valiant service to the party. and this sentiment will enure to Mr. Greenwald's advantage as against any opponent who may contest with him for the nomination."
In his private practice Mr. Greenwald has shown great care in the preparation of his cases, and as a public official in courtroom he has been unfaltering in the performance of his duty in furthering the ends of justice and right. He is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank of Whiting.
In the year 1900 Mr. Greenwald was united in marriage to Miss Christine Michaely of Michigan City and they have on little daughter, Dorothy. They
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are well known in Whiting and have gained a wide circle of warm friends. Mr. Greenwald is a scholarly gentleman who speaks four different languages -the Polish, Slavonian, Bohemian and English. In politics he is a stanchi Republican, and has taken a very active and influential part in the work of the organization, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He organized the National Slavonian Political Club, which has been in existence for two years and is now one of the prominent organiza- tions in this part of Indiana, composed of about two hundred men. The object of the club is to teach political economy and civil government. He is well fitted for leadership and his opinions carry weight and influence in political and other circles in Whiting.
CHARLES H. MEEKER.
Charles H. Meeker, who is energetic and notably reliable in business affairs, is now dealing in agricultural implements in Crown Point. He has never sought to figure before the public in any light save that of a business man and in his chosen field of labor he has won confidence and respect and at the same time has gained a fair measure of success. He was born in Calhoun county, Michigan, on the 2d of November, 1857, and is the second son and third child of Sherman and Elizabeth A. (Cress) Meeker. His father was born in Pennsylvania and on emigrating westward established his home in Illinois. He afterward located in Michigan and in 1867 came to Lake county. Indiana, settling in Center township, where he followed the occupation of farming for a number of years. He now lives retired in Crown Point. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Cress, who is also a native of Pennsylvania, and a resident of Crown Point. They are the parents of four children: Nathan Brewster, who is engaged in farming on the old homestead; Charles H., who is conducting an implement business at Crown Point : Henrietta, the deceased wife of Elliott Bibler; and J. Frank, an attorney of Crown Point.
When only about a year old Charles H. Meeker was taken by his parents to White county. Indiana, while the family home was afterward established in Carroll county when he was six years of age. In the fall of 1867 he removed to Lake county, where he attended the district schools of Center township. He was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, early
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becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist, and he continued to assist his father up to the time of his marriage.
It was on the 22d of September, 1880, that Mr. Meeker was joined in wedlock to Miss Rose A. Sweeney, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Johnson) Sweeney, who was born in Center township, Lake county, Indiana, and was educated in the same school that her husband attended. The young couple located on a farm lying in Center and Ross townships, and there Mr. Meeker engaged in farming for ten years. In 1891, how- ever, he retired from that department of labor and established an agricultural implement business in Crown Point, since which time he has dealt in farm machinery of all kinds. He also handles buggies and wagons, and he draws his patronage from almost every section of the county. He is one of the best known men in this line of business, and has secured a liberal patronage which is constantly growing. His business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and his earnest desire to please his patrons com- bined with strong and honorable purpose has been the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity.
Mr. Meeker keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and gives a stalwart support to the principles of the Republican party. In 1904 Mr. Meeker was nominated for the office of township trustee of Center township. He belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters and to the fire company at Crown Point. He is well known throughout this por- tion of the state, his business taking him to all parts of the county, and he has thus formed a wide acquaintance and gained the warm regard of many friends. His residence in Lake county covers thirty-seven years and there- fore he has been a witness of much of its development, progress and ad- vancement.
GEORGE M. HORNECKER.
George M. Hornecker is the proprietor of the Fair, a general department store at Whiting and in this connection has met with very creditable success. In viewing the mass of mankind in the varied occupations of life, the con- clusion is forced upon the observer that in the vast majority of cases men have sought employment not in the line of their peculiar fitness, but in those fields where caprice or circumstances have placed them, thus explaining the reason of the failure of ninety-five per cent of those who enter commercial
Seo. M. HonEcker
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and professional circles. In a few cases it seems that men with a peculiar fitness for a certain line have taken it up, and marked success has followed. Such is the fact in the case of the subject of this biography.
MIr. Hornecker is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Henry county, that state, on the 3d of October. 1873. He is a son of G. J. and Catherine (Ernst ) Hornecker, who were natives of Germany, whence they came to America in early life. Here they were married and established their home in Illinois. They became the parents of nine children, of whom George M. Hornecker is the fifth in order of birth. He was reared and educated in his native county, attending the public schools, and when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom he devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits. After putting aside his text-books he followed farming until 1896, when he came to Whiting and began working for the Standard Oil Company. He also engaged in clerking in a hardware store for about two years, and on the 8th of August, 1897. he began business on his own account by purchasing and opening up a small stock of hardware. He received a good patronage and within a short time was enabled to extend the scope of his business by adding other departments. His trade has rapidly increased along substantial lines, and he now has the largest store in Whiting. It is called the Fair and is a credit to the town. He makes careful selection of his goods, sells at prices which are fair alike to pur- chiaser and to merchant and by his honorable dealing has won the unqualified confidence of the public. He is also a member of the Chicago Telephone Company at Whiting and the office of this company is in his building. He is likewise a stockholder in the First National Bank, and his influence has been a potent factor in commercial and financial circles of this city.
In 1897 Mr. Hornecker was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. S. Wille, and to them have been born three children who are yet living, while their second child. Gertrude A., is deceased. Those who survive are Laura C., Martin G. and Robert A. Mr. and Mrs. Hornecker are repre .. sentative members of the German Lutheran church, of which her father. Rev. H. Ph. Wille, is now minister.
Through his business interests Mr. Hornecker has contributed in no small degree to the upbuilding of the town. He erected his first business building in 1901, and has also added another of the same size-twenty-five
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
by seventy-five feet. In the second building he occupies three floors with his large line of general merchandise. He is treasurer of the Whiting volun- teer fire department. In politics he is a Republican, and, May 2, 1904, he was elected to represent the Second ward in the City Council of Whiting. He is a member of some of the most important committees. Mr. Hornecker entered upon his business career with very limited capital, yet his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that he seems to have realized at any one point of progress the full measure of his possibilities for accomplishment at that point. A man of distinct and forceful individuality, broad mentality and most mature judgment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the mercantile world. and at the same time his business is of such a nature that it promotes the commercial prosperity of the town and thus contributes to its general benefit and growth.
FRANK HESS.
Frank Hess, treasurer of the city of Hammond and otherwise prominent in the public and business life of his city and county, is a native son of Lake county and has lived here all his life, for over half a century. For fifteen years he has taken a leading part in the official matters of his county. has been the incumbent of some place of trust during this time, and in what- ever relation he has met his fellow-citizens has won their entire confidence and esteem.
Mr. Hess was born in North township. Lake county. Indiana, Novem- ber 17. 1853, being the only son and child of Joseph and Mary Ann ( Sack- ley ) Hess. His mother was a native of Canada and a daughter of William Sackley. She died in 1860, when Frank was seven years old. Joseph Hess was a native of France, and was one of three sons and one daughter, children of a life-long resident of France .. Joseph Hess was a baker by trade. He came to America about 1846, and worked at his trade in Syracuse, New York, for a time, and in 1848 moved west to Chicago. About 1852 he settled at West Point, or Gibson station, in Lake county. Indiana, having come to North township, Lake county, in 1850. That place was then the western end of the Michigan Central line of railroad, passengers being carried by stage from there into Chicago. He conducted an eating house there for a short time, and then moved to the place which was named in his honor.
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Hessville. He was in the cattle and stock business there for a time, and then conducted a general store. He held the office of trustee of North township for twenty-two years, and was also postmaster of Hessville for nearly forty years, his second wife having the place after his death. He died in August, 1895, past seventy-one years of age. He was recognized as one of the most prominent citizens of that part of Lake county, and in many ways was identi- fied with the progress and development of the community. He was a devoted member of the Catholic church. He married for his second wife Elizabeth Natke, and they had eleven children, nine of whom are now living: Edward ; Alice. deceased, who was the wife of Fred Scheuneman, also deceased ; George: William; Julius; Gustave, deceased : Albert; Joseph; Emma, who was the second wife of Fred Scheuneman, and after his death married William Bundy : John, and Lydia.
Mr. Frank Hess was reared on a farm in Lake county, and secured his education by attendance at the district schools. He remained with his father and assisted in his business until he was married at the age of twenty- six. He early took a prominent part in the public affairs of his township. and served as assessor of North township for thirteen years. He was city councilman of Hammond for three years, was city clerk for four years, and in 1892 was elected city treasurer, which position he has held and whose responsible duties he has discharged most faithfully to the present time. He has always been an advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. He is vice-president and also a director of the Lake County Trust and Savings Bank. Ile built his good home at 443 North Hohman street in 1886, and besides has other business interests and property in the city and county.
Mr. Iless married. May 24. 1879, Misss Emma Haselbach, a daughter of August and Mary ( Grabo) Haselbach. Ten children were born of their union, but all died when young. Mrs. Hess died February 12, 1894. On October 10, 1895, Mr. Hess married Miss Martha Karsten, a daughter of John and Mary Karsten. They have one daughter, Emma C. Mrs. Hess is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Hess have an adopted daughter. Lydia Hess, born May 13. 1895.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
JOHN P. SCHAEFER.
John P. Schaefer, of Section 33, St. John township, is a life-long resident of Lake county, and for many years has been one of its prominent farmers and representative citizens. He has been frugal, industrious and a good manager all through his career, and at the prime of his years has acquired a competence in a fine landed estate. He farms the small place where he resides, and rents out most of his other property. He has also identified himself with various community interests. and as an all-round successful man is a fine example of sterling American citizenship.
Mr. Schaefer was born in Center township of Lake county. on October 9. 1854. His father, Jacob Schaefer, a native of Germany, is counted among the early settlers of Lake county, and lived to be eighty-three years old, having spent his life as a farmer. His wife was Maggie Willem. also a native of Germany, and she died at about the age of sixty-five years. There were nine children in the family and all of them reached manhood and womanhood.
Mr. John P. Schaefer was the youngest of the family. He was nine years old when the family moved over into St. John township, and he was reared and received most of his education here. He remained at home and assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm until the latter's death. and he has continued farming to the present, gradually adding to his estate interests as he was prospered. He now owns four hundred acres where the old homestead is situated, and seventy-three acres where his present resi- (lence is located. He does general farming and stock-raising. He located on his present farm in 1901, having lived in section 35 previous thereto. and gives most of his own labors and attention to the seventy-three acres at his home, renting nearly all the rest of his land.
Mr. Schaefer is a Democrat as far as concerns national politics, but in local affairs tries to vote for the best man, regardless of what party tag he bears. He has church membership with the St. John's Catholic church. He was married in 1883 to Miss Susan Jordan, who was born in St. John township, Lake county, October 5, 1864. a daughter of John A. and Johanna (Klassen) Jordan, old settlers of Lake county. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer have six children : Maggie, Edward, Carrie, Zelie, Mary and John A.
Joukob Vefügung
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY.
FLOYD M. PIERCE.
Floyd M. Pierce is the eldest child of Marion F. and Maggie ( Ran- dolph) Pierce, whose biographies as prominent citizens of Lake county are given on other pages of this history. The son has himself found a broad field of usefulness in his native county, and Ross township has especial reason to be proud and grateful for his sterling and public-spirited citizenship and his loyalty to all that concerns the general welfare. Both now and in later years his work for the educational interests of the township will be cherished and held up as one of his most important achievements. As trustee of the township he has given a far more than ordinary or perfunctory attention to the practical matters of education, and every child of school age is receiving more or less benefit from the enlarged educational opportunities which have been so largely the result of his endeavor and ambition along these lines.
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