PAUL J. WEICHT. For four generations the Weicht family has been engaged in the undertaking business, and its members have all been men of high standing and unimpeachable character. The family is now represented in the business by Paul J. Weicht and his son, the former being the owner of the Angola Casket Factory, at 207 North West Street, corner of West Gilmore Street, Angola, Indiana.

Mr. Weicht was born in his present home, which is also the site of his factory, June 23, 1880, and is a son of Henry B. and Leona (Tyler) Weicht. His paternal grandfather was Leopold Edward Weicht, who was born August 1, 1830, in Baden, Germany. On August 10, 1852, he married Catharine (Kate) Schobb, who was born August 3, 1832, at Kleinhausen, Germany. Henry B. Weicht was born November 9, 1855, and for many years was engaged in the undertaking and funeral directing business at Angola, where he died November 9, 1923, being buried in Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola. He married Leona Tyler,. who died when their son Paul J. was but two years of age, and he afterward married Clara McClue, who died and was buried in Circle Hill Cemetery. One child, Leona, was born to this union, and she is now the wife of John A. Bickel, a steel manufacturer of Akron, Ohio. After the death of his second wife Henry B. Weicht married Mary Beil, who survives him at Hiram, Ohio, where she is a matron in Hiram College.

Paul J. Weicht obtained his early education in the public schools of Angola, following which he pursued a course at the Tri-State College and then attended the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He learned the undertaking business under the preceptorship of his father, who was a skilled cabinet-maker, and finally took over the management of the business in which the family has been engaged for more than sixty years. In addition to carrying on a modern undertaking business at the corner of North West and West Gilmore streets he is proprietor of the Angola Casket Factory, manufacturers of quality funeral furnishings, including cloth covered and hard wood caskets, suits, dresses and casket hardware. Mr. Weicht has every manner of modern equipment for the proper and reverent care of the dead. He is a man of kindly impulses, great tact and sympathetic manner, and has earned the gratitude and esteem of many families of Angola whom he has visited at the time of their bereavement. He takes an active part in civic affairs, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and as a fraternalist holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. With his family he belongs to the Christian Church.

Mr. Weicht married Miss Wealtha Sowle, of Angola, daughter of F. J. and Mary Alice (Duke) Sowle. F. J. Sowle was born June 15, 1863, and died April 2, 1926, at Cooperstown, New York, but was buried in the Sowle Settlement Cemetery, Angola. In 1882 he married Mary Alice Duke, who was born May 23, 1865, in Missouri, and to this union there were born two children: Wealtha, the wife of Mr. Weicht; and Willa, the wife of Robert Doyle, of Angola, who has one child, William Paul, born January 27, 1924. Mr. and Mrs. Weicht are the parents of one son: Joseph Henry, born June 15, 1905, who is associated in business with his father and is the fourth generation of the name to be identified with this business. On August 28, 1926, he married Olive Sharp, of Hamilton, Indiana.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


HON. RALPH SAMUEL FEIG, who was the first judge of the City Court of Mishawaka, has been a prominent figure at the bar of that city for a number of years. His reputation among the people is perhaps as strongly based upon his public service as on his ability as a lawyer. He has been taking the part of a leader in many movements that have expressed the current spirit of progress. He was president of the board of public works of the city.

Judge Feig was born at Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana, January 27, 1883, son of J. and Theresa (Mish) Feig. His father was born in New York City, and for many years was a merchant at Elkhart. Later he returned to New York City, where he is now living retired at the age of seventy years. His wife was born at Elmira, New York, and died in 1883, the year her only son and child, Ralph, was born. Her father, Charles Mish, was an early settler at Mishawaka and one of the first merchants of that town.

Ralph S. Feig was liberally educated, attending school at Mishawaka, and in 1907 graduated LL. B. from the law department of Notre Dame University. He was admitted to the Indiana bar the same year and his abilities have brought him a generous share of the local law practice.

Judge Feig for eight years served Mishawaka as city Judge. He was president of the board of public works, board of public safety and the park board from 1925 until 1929. He is a director of the Mishawaka Loan & Trust Company. During the World war he gave his influence and leadership to the promotion of the patriotic drives.

Judge Feig is a member of the Board of Children's Guardians of St. Joseph, is a member of the Council for the Boy Scouts of America, and belongs to the St. Joseph County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias, the Fellowship Club and the Knife and Fork Club of South Bend. Judge Feig, like many busy men, has a hobby. It is collecting books. His chief recreation is traveling.

He married, November 26, 1907, Miss Emily Weil. She was born in Chicago, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Weil, now deceased. They have one child, Charles Mish, born October 24, 1914.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


RALPH WALDO JOHNSON is an Indiana educator, and for many years has been directing the school work of the community of Royal Center, in Cass County.

Mr. Johnson was born April 27, 1893, second of the family of four children of Thomas and Gertrude (Warren) Johnson. His ancestors were Colonial Virginians, coming to the United States in 1740. His father was born in Indiana, in 1863, and died in 1914. During a number of years was in the banking business.

Ralph W. Johnson attended school in Randolph County, completing his high school course at Saratoga, and at the age of twenty began his work as a teacher in Randolph County. Mr.. Johnson graduated with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago and has taken post-graduate work in Columbia University of New York City. After teaching in Randolph County for seven years he came to Cass County, and for eleven years has been principal and superintendent of the schools at Royal Center.

Mr. Johnson married Miss Ruth Orr, a native of Indiana. He is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of Royal Center Lodge No. 585, A. F. & A. M.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


JASON M. BEEN, of Delphi, was educated for the law, but nearly all of his active business experience has been in association with the A. T. Bowen & Company Bank, of which he is cashier. This bank is the oldest and largest private bank in Indiana.

He was born in Carroll County, October 4, 1888, son of Joseph and Alice (Kinnaman) Been. His father was also a native of Carroll County, where the grandfather settled in 1844.

Jason M. Been was one of four children. After the common and high schools he entered Indiana Law School, where he graduated with his law degree with the class of 1911. About 1911 he entered the service of the A. T. Bowen & Company Bank, and his genial character and willingness to serve have been important factors in the growth and prosperity of that well known Delphi institution.

Mr. Been married Estelle Sibbitt, a native of Carroll County. Her forefathers were soldiers in the War of the Revolution. Mr. And Mrs. Been have one child, Joseph S., attending school at Coronado, California.

Mr. Been was with the colors for twenty-three months during the World war, eleven months overseas in the air service, and is a licensed pilot. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, is a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and is a former commander of Post No. 75, of the American Legion.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


DWIGHT DERWOOD PERRY, South Bend business man, is a native of St. Joseph County, and is a member of a family that have lived here, honored and respected, through three generations. Mr. Perry was born on a farm in Union Township, October 20, 1894, son of Albert E. and Grace (Sells) Perry, and grandson of Charles Perry. Dwight, Albert E. and Charles were all born in the same township. The birth of Charles Perry occurred a short time after his parents came to St. Joseph County from Ohio. Charles Perry was one of St. Joseph County's soldiers in the Civil war. Albert E. and Grace (Sells) Perry still live in the old neighborhood of the old homestead. Grace Sells was born in the same community. Her father was Isaac Sells.

Dwight D. Perry is the oldest of four children, all of whom are living. He attended the district schools of Union Township, and his experiences were limited to those of the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. On moving to South Bend he established a trucking and teaming business, and made his organization an important factor in the local transportation of goods and commodities. In 1927 he bought a half interest in the Wesley-Miller Coal Company, and consolidated his trucking interests with this firm. He brought to the business years of successful experience as well as equipment that would immediately increase the efficiency of the Wesley-Miller Coal Company, and under his active management the scope of the business of the firm has been greatly expanded, and he has also added a great deal of new equipment and improvements to the yards and facilities for service. Mr. Perry is president and general manager of the firm, one of South Bend's leading organizations retailing coal and other fuel.

Mr. Perry married, December 2, 1924, Miss Mary Rebecca Wharton, who was born in Liberty Township, St. Joseph County, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Wharton, reside. They have three children, Dwight Devon, Irma Lucille and Betty Jane Perry. Mr. Perry is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the South Bend Coal Club.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


FRED CRANE is a native of Indiana, has through his life been closely associated with the farming and business interests of Warren County and is carrying on a business as a grain dealer and implement merchant at Pence, well known to all the farmers in that locality.

Mr. Crane was born in Shawnee Township, Warren County, August 6, 1874. His father, Elijah Crane, was also a native of Indiana. His active life was spent as a lumberman and he owned several sawmills and lumber yards. He was a civil war veteran, serving three years in the Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and participated in a number of engagements. He died in 1920. His wife, Eliza Glover, was born in Ohio and died in 1922. They were the parents of seven children, W. W., Joseph O., Osa, Herbert, Fred, Hattie and Gertrude.

Fred Crane was educated in public schools in Fountain County. On leaving school he began assisting his father in the lumber business, and later he went on a farm, and farming was his chief business until 1922. In that year he became proprietor of the Crane Elevator Company at Pence, and through this business has afforded a steady market for the grain products of this farming' community. In 1928 he added another department to his business when he took the agency for the John Deere Company's line of implements.

Mr. Crane married, July 12, Miss Maude Duvall. Her father, Charles Duvall, member of an old family in this section of Indiana, was a Union soldier in the Civil war and for three terms was county commissioner of Warren County. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have five children, Miss Maria, at home, Duvall, Kenneth, Geraldine and Helen. Duvall lives at Peoria and is overseer for the Bell Telephone Company, and is married. Kenneth is foreman for the Bell Telephone Company at Dayton, Ohio. Geraldine is the wife of Otis Waters, a representative of the Toledo Scales Company, at the present time in Europe. Miss Helen is taking the nurses training course in a hospital at Danville, Illinois. Mr. Crane is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Masonic fraternity. He has served on the township advisory board.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


CLEMENT MARSHALL MINNICH, who owns and conducts a substantial general upholstering business at 110 North Lee Street in the City of Garrett, DeKalb County, was born in the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 7,1888, and is a son of Frank E. and Emma (Webber) Minnich, whose marriage was there solemnized and who there continued to reside until their death, both having been devout communicants of the Catholic Church. Frank E. Minnich passed his entire life in Allen County, where his birth occurred, near Fort Wayne, on the 16th of July, 1853, and where he met his death in an automobile accident on the 6th of September, 1928. Of the children the eldest is Nora, wife of Frederick Mies, who is a skilled machinist, their home being maintained at Garrett; Joseph and his wife, whose maiden name was Laura Kabish, reside in Fort Wayne, where he is a boilermaker in the employ of the Western Gas Construction Company; Clement M., of this sketch, was next in order of birth; and Esther is the wife of Charles Ueber, of Fort Wayne.

Clement M. Minnich was reared and educated in his native City of Fort Wayne and there served his apprenticeship to the trade of upholstering, in which he is a specially skilled artisan. From 1908 until 1918 he was foreman of the upholstering department of the Peru Chair Factory, at Peru, this state, and in the latter year he established his present upholstering business at Garrett, the enterprise including general upholstering work of all kinds and also the manufacturing of custom-made upholstered furniture of high grade.

Mr. Minnich is a valued member of the local Chamber of Commerce, he and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic Church, and he has served as grand knight of the Knights of Columbus.

On the 10th of January, 1912, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Minnich to Miss Louise Mies, who was reared and educated at Garrett and who is a daughter of Peter and Mary (Geiser) Mies. Mr. Mies met his death in an accident, in September, 1925, and his widow, who was born in Germany, still resides at Garrett. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich have one child, John Francis, born July 30; 1926.

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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


ALFRED WILLIAM SNYDER is a South Bend weekly community paper publisher. He was born and grew up in that city, learned the printer's trade, and eventually set himself in a small way as publisher of a community newspaper. He now owns a group of four such papers, published by the Free Press Publishing Company, of which he is the owner.

Mr. Snyder was born at South Bend, August 4, 1896, son of Walter C. and Jennie (Hupp) Snyder, his father a native of Pleasant Valley, Indiana, and his mother was born at South Bend. All of their five children are living, Alfred W. being the oldest.

Mr. Snyder was educated in the grammar and high schools of his native city and at the age of fourteen began his apprenticeship at the printer's trade. He served that apprenticeship with the Beers Printing Company. This was followed by a course of practical construction at the United Typothetae School at Indianapolis. For a short time he was employed as a linotype operator at Flint, Michigan, and Michigan City, Indiana, and, returning to South Bend, worked for a year for the News-Times and for six years as a linotype operator with the South Bend Tribune.

Mr. Snyder looked forward to something larger than the restricted routine of a linotype operator. While working he took up the study of advertising, and in November, 1923, started his first community newspaper. It was the first successful community newspaper of the kind established in the City of South Bend. It has been conducted without change of name as the South Side Free Press. He launched this publication without giving up his regular job with the Labor Publishing Company, now defunct. After putting in a day at work at the Labor office he spent his evenings working over his community newspaper, which was first published in a small building at 729 Clinton Street. He had the satisfaction of seeing the business grow and enlarge, and he then organized the Free Press Publishing Company, of which he is sole owner. After a short time he moved to his present location; at 810 Clinton Street. He is now making plans for a new building that will take care of his publishing activities. After the South Side Free Press had been securely established he started publishing East Side Free Press, then the Riverpark Free Press, and later the North West Free Press. All four of these are unusually fine types of community newspapers, carrying the local news of special sections of the city and affording ample publicity to local business. The Free Press Publishing Company in addition to issuing these four community newspapers does a large amount of commercial printing and has a complete plant and facilities for handling such work.

Mr. Snyder has been as active in promoting community improvements as his papers. He is a former secretary of the South Side Business Men's Association and is secretary and served as secretary and later as president of the St. Joseph Valley Aviation Club, and took the lead in promoting the first big air show at South Bend. He is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the National Editorial Association, the Up Town Business Men's Club, the East Side Business Men's Club, the River Park Business Men's Club, and the North West Business Men's Club, and First Christian Church.

Mr. Snyder married in 1916 Miss Edna Thumn, daughter of Mr. James Thumn, deceased, who was a prominent figure in South Bend political affairs and who was a member of the South Bend Park Board. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have two children, James Walter and Martha Blanche.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


JAMES H. MCCONNELL, who recently completed a term of four years as mayor of the City of Marion, has many claims to the esteem of the people of that community, where he has lived for over thirty-five years.

Mr. McConnell was born in Hancock County, Ohio, March 30, 1864, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather, William McConnell, a farmer by occupation, moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1850. The wife of William McConnell was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1808 and came to this country in 1823. James R. McConnell, the father of the former mayor of Marion, was born in a log cabin in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and was one of the sturdy and industrious farmers of Northern Ohio. He owned 160 acres of land. He died and was buried at Van Wert, Ohio, in 1913. His wife, Barbara Ann McConnell, was born in Lanaster County, Pennsylvania, about 1827. They had a family of five sons and two daughters, John A., William R., Hugh H., George R., James H., Sarah and Mary.

James H. McConnell was reared on an Ohio farm, and attended the public schools of Hancock County, graduating from high school at Van Wert in 1884. He has been in the insurance business since he was twenty-five years of age. The first company whose service he sold was the Ohio Farmers Insurance Company. On coming to Marion in 1895 he established an agency for the Ohio Farmers Insurance Company, and later took on the service of the Security Fire Insurance Company of New Haven, the Peoples National of New York and Millers National, Chicago. He has developed a very fine business, intensively rather than extensively, and nearly 5,000 policies are on record in the books of his office.

Mr. McConnell was mayor of Marion from 1926 to 1930. In a material way the city is especially indebted to his administration for the inauguration of its splendid street lighting system. The lights are carried on ornamental standards of simple but very effective design, and with lights of 1500 candle power around the public square and of 700 candle power on the main north and south street. Marion has a flood of brilliant illumination probably not surpassed by any city of its size in the state.

There were other notable things besides those that can be comprehended under material assets in Mayor McConnell's administration. Some of these were mentioned in an editorial of deserved tribute paid him by the Marion Leader-Tribune a short time before the close of his term. That editorial is quoted as follows:

"Mayor Jim McConnell is soon to go out of office. He has worked conscientiously and faithfully, and has performed splendid service. Not all has been perfection but nothing in life is that, for it is impossible. We can say one thing for Mayor McConnell which stands far above every other thing in his life and the life of anyone. Mayor McConnell has played the game on the level, and his honesty and fairness marked characteristics of his administration. No trait, no quality in life can excell that of honesty and square dealing. No tribute can be paid to any man which compares to that of playing the game on the level, of being able to leave public office, looking any man in the face, eye to eye and saying 'I have not taken a cent dishonestly, I have done my best for all.' Mayor Jim can do that. He has not compromised with vice. He has accepted no vice. He has accepted no graft. He has not been in league with bootleggers and criminals. He has kept his record clean, without a stain. Mayor Jim leaves the office with the respect of every citizen. The greatest heritage man can leave posterity is to have kept the faith, to have been tried, and never found wanting. We would rather have the reputation of JimMcConnell as an honest man than all the compliments the world could afford."

Mr. McConnell is a Democrat in his political affiliation and a very unusual tribute was paid him when he was elected mayor in a strong Republican county by the largest majority ever given a candidate for the office up to that time. Fraternally he is active in the Knights of Pythias, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Improved Order of Red Men and B. P. O. Elks and is a member of various other clubs and societies.

Mr. McConnell married at Van Wert, Ohio, November 7, 1887, Miss Laura B. Miller, of Van Wert County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell had two children. Their daughter, Goldie R., who was born at Decatur, Indiana, in 1892, died November 10, 1899, and is buried at Marion.

Carl D. McConnell, only son of former Mayor McConnell, was born at Decatur, Indiana, in 1895, attended school at Marion and was graduated from high school at the age of eighteen. On May 7, 1917, he enlisted, and was in training at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 1918 he took examinations for overseas duties, being disqualified on account of eye trouble having met with an accident while at Camp Shelby. For a time he was in the shipyard at Bristol, Pennsylvania, and was then transferred to Fort Niagara, where he was attached to the old Fourth Indiana Infantry, then the One Hundred Thirty-ninth Field Artillery and from 1918 until the end of the war acted as instructor to the various units stationed at Niagara. He received his honorable discharge in December, 1918. Carl McConnell married Merle Wilson at Marion. They have a daughter, Marion Irene, who was born at Marion July 25, 1919.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


FRANK P. HUNTER, M. D., is a resident of Lafayette. He has his offices at 300 Main Street. Doctor Hunter has the background of general practice, but almost from the first has specialized in laboratory and clinical medicine, and his abilities and experience in that field have been a great asset to the physicians and surgeons of Lafayette.

Doctor Hunter was born in Warren County, Indiana, June 7, 1889. His father, Hon. James M. Hunter, followed the profession of the law during the greater part of his active life. For two terms he represented Warren County in the Indiana legislature, and he also held the office of justice of the peace at Williamsport. He was born near Columbus, Ohio, and during the Civil war was enrolled in the Indiana State Militia. His father, John Park Hunter, put his family and household possessions into a covered wagon and drove across the country to Indiana in 1843, entering land from the Government. The Hunter family before going to Ohio were Virginians. The mother of Doctor Hunter was Amanda E. Bonebreak, who came from West Virginia. Her father was a pioneer doctor who for some years practiced among the Indians, and several of his sons took up and followed the profession of medicine.

Dr. Frank P. Hunter was one of two children. He was educated in public schools in Warren and Fountain counties, and after finishing his work at the Attica High School entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He was graduated M. D. in 1915 and had his interne training and experience in the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Lafayette. For a time he was engaged in private practice and then went east to receive his training in laboratory methods and analysis at the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Polyclinic. Doctor Hunter in 1917 returned to Lafayette and specialized in laboratory work until he was called to the colors. In August, 1917, he was commissioned a first lieutenant, and was assigned work in line with his experience and preparation, as a laboratory specialist. He spent eleven months in France with the American Expeditionary Forces. Doctor Hunter was discharged in July, 1918, and immediately returned to Lafayette, where he has carried on a general practice and his laboratory, with offices in the Lafayette Life Building. He is a member of the Tippecanoe County and Indiana Medical Societies, the American Society of Clinical Pathology, and for one year was president of the County Medical Society. He belongs to the American Legion Post at Lafayette, the Lafayette Country Club and Attica Country Club. He married Fern G. Nordstrum, who was born in Warren County, Indiana, of Swedish ancestry. They have three children, Leo Lauren and Mary Frances, both attending school at Lafayette, and a baby, James Richard.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931


Deb Murray