Mr. East was born near Bloomington, Indiana, May 31, 1885, and is a son of William H. and Mary (Conder) East. He belongs to an old and honored family which settled in this country many years ago, becoming particularly known in North Carolina. In that state was born William H. East, who was brought as a child to Indiana by his parents and secured his preliminary educational training in the public schools. As a youth he applied himself to the study of law, was admitted to the bar, and for thirty years practiced in partnership with his brother, Hon. John R. East, who was for years a member of the Indiana State Legislature. This was one of the most prominent and successful law firms of Bloomington and took part in much litigation of importance that attracted widespread attention. Mr. East was a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and also belonged to numerous fraternal and social organizations. He was likewise active in civic affairs, and in his death, which occurred in 1915, Bloomington lost one of its most highly valued citizens. Mr. East married Mary Conder, who was born in White County, Indiana, where she was educated in the public schools. At the ripe age of seventy-one years she still resides at Bloomington, where she is active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were seven children in the family: Austin, Daisy and Ethel, deceased; Ernest, of Marion, this state; Miss Ida, of Bloomington; Rufus F., of this review; and Earl, of Bloomington, who conducts an art store in partnership with his sister, Ida.
The public schools of Bloomington furnished Rufus F. East with his early education, and after he graduated from the high school, as a member of the class of 1904, attended the University of Indiana, where he pursued studies in both the literary and law departments. For twelve years he was a teacher in the high schools of Indiana, and then became manager of the Canadian branch of the Wayne Oil, Tank & Pump Company. In 1918 he located at Gary and for six years was a clerk in the employ of the Illinois Steel Company, resigning to become private secretary to Mayor R. O. Johnson, a position which he held four years. In 1926 he entered the life insurance and mortgage loan business as representative of the People's Life Insurance Company, of Frankfort, Indiana, and has continued in the same line to the present, with constantly increasing success. He occupies well-appointed offices at 738 Broadway, and has a high standing in business circles. Mr. East is a Mason and member of the Loyal Order of Moose, and for years was active in the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Optimist Club. A stanch Republican in his political allegiance, in 1926 he made a strong race for the office of city treasurer and in 1930 became a candidate on his party's ticket for the State Legislature. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and for years was teacher of the boys' class in the Sunday School. In every way he has shown himself a dependable and reliable citizen.
At Decatur, Indiana, June 24, 1916, Mr. East was united in marriage with Miss Etta Brandyberry, a daughter of Simon and Elizabeth (Trim) Brandyberry, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formerly of Decatur, where Mr. Brandyberry
was for many years engaged successfully in the contracting business as a carpenter. Mrs. East was educated in the grade and high schools of Decatur, and for several years prior to her marriage was a public school teacher there and elsewhere in the state. She is a woman of superior intellect and has been helpfully active in the Central Baptist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and several women's clubs. Mr. and Mrs. East are the parents of two sons: Robert (Bobby) and William (Billy), both of whom are students at the Horace Mann public school. The family resides in a pleasant and attractive home at 535 McKinley Street.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
JAMES MURICE WHITE, M. D. Among the younger members of the medical profession of Lake County, one who has won prominence in his calling and popularity as a citizen is Dr. James M. White. Commencing his career as a school teacher, he subsuquently attended medical college and received his degree, and since 1926 has made his headquarters at Gary, where he has well-appointed headquarters in the Gary State Bank Building. He has found the time to take an active part in community affairs and is president of the Gary Exchange Club.
Doctor White was born at Mount Ayr, Iowa, April 20, 1898, and is a son of Elmer E. and Anna (Bevington) White. His paternal grandfather, Hugh White, was born in Pennsylvania, and shortly after the close of the war between the states moved with his family to Ringgold County, Iowa, where he became a pioneer agriculturist. He was one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of his community and for several years served in the office of sheriff of Ringgold County. He and his wife are buried in the Mount Ayr (Iowa) Cemetery.
Elmer E. White was born in Pennsylvania and as a child was taken by his parents to Iowa, where he obtained a public school education. Mr. White was a merchant practically all of his life at Mount Ayr, although he also conducted a merchandise business at Guilford, Missouri, where he was a member of the school board and active in community affairs. He was a Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and throughout his life was a pillar of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1919 and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Mount Ayr. Mr. White married Miss Anna Bevington, who was born and reared at Mount Ayr, where she was educated in the public schools and for some years previous to her marriage was a teacher. Coming to Gary in 1926, with her son, Dr. James M. White, with whom she still lives, she has been active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Gary Woman's Club. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Orr B., engaged in the insurance business at Mount Ayr, who married Carrie Bruce and has four children, Doris, Anna and Arline and Maurine, twins; Dr. Hugh Carl, born May 30, 1889, a graduate Doctor of Dental Surgery of Drake University class of 1912, who has done post-graduate work at Northwestern University, now engaged in an excellent practice at Gary, with offices with his brother in the Gary State Bank Building, married Miss Mildred Harper; and Dr. James M., of this review.
James M. White attended the public schools of Mount Ayr, Iowa, graduating from the high school with the class of 1916. He then spent one year at the Maryville (Missouri) State Teachers College, following which he was engaged in the teaching school for three years at Guilford and Burlington Junction, Missouri, and then resumed his own educational training at the University of Chicago, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Science as a member of the class of 1922. He pursued his medical studies at Northwestern University Medical School, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1926, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, then doing interne work at Harper Hospital, Herman Keifer Hospital and the Children's Hospital, all of Detroit, Michigan. In the latter part of 1926 he settled at Gary, where he has been engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery and has built up a large and lucrative professional business.
Doctor White has a splendidly equipped suite of offices in the Gary State Bank Building, 504 Broadway. For one and one-half years after his arrival he was associated in practice with Dr. A.A. Watts, but this partnership was dissolved and Doctor White now practices alone. He is a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital and secretary
of the staff of the Methodist Hospital, and belongs to the Lake County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He belongs to Guildford (Missouri) Lodge No. 343, A. F. and A. M., the South Bend Consistory, thirty-second degree, the Phi Rho Sigma fraternity and the Pi Kappa Epsilon honor medical fraternity, is president of the Exchange Club and an active member of the Gary Commercial Club. Doctor White is a consistent Methodist and a Republican in politics.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
HON. RALPH WIANT PROBST. The brilliant young prosecuting attorney of Noble County has made a name for himself that will long stand as a record one. In his office he has been ready to undertake the most unpopular prosecutions the moment he believed they were right, regardless of the personal consequence. He has not hesitated to attack guilt, in no matter how high a place it stood intrenched, and to bring down the guilty, no matter how powerful the influence that stood behind them. While, personally, he has many warm personal friends, he does not allow these bonds to influence him in any way, for he recognizes the fact that he is under obligation only to the law of the state and nation, and the light for his feet is his oath of office.
The birth of Ralph W. Probst occurred on a farm near Garrett, Keyser Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, May 24, 1900, and he is a son of George W. and Lydia (Wiant) Probst. The father was born on the same farm as his son, February 29, 1868. Growing to useful manhood on that farm, he conducted it for many years, but when he was elected county treasurer he moved to Auburn. His term of office covered the period from 1902 to 1906, inclusive, and at the expiration of his term of office he removed to his farm near Garrett. There he resided until his death, which occurred in 1911. He was a son of Henry Probst, also a native of DeKalb County, born August 12, 1846, and he, too, served as treasurer of DeKalb County, his period of office being in the early eighties. It is somewhat remarkable that he succeeded his father, Charles Probst, a native of Pennsylvania. The Probst family has always stood very high in public esteem, and the fine homestead in DeKalb County affords wholesome recreation from professional cares to Attorney Probst, who makes superintending it his hobby. The mother of Attorney Probst was born in Butler Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, September 18, 1867, and she is now residing at Kendallville, Indiana, having survived her husband. She is a woman of superior mentality, and is vice chairman of the Noble County Democratic Woman's Association. She and her husband had three children, namely: Henry Earl, who is a farmer; Wanda Rose, who is deceased; and Attorney Probst, who is the youngest.
Carefully educated, Attorney Probst completed his grade and high-school work at Garrett, and was graduated from the University of Indiana in 1925, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of law at Kendallville. In 1929 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Noble County, and, as already stated, he is proving himself one of the best and most fearless officials the county has ever had in the office. Two of his cases that became nationally known are the Lloyd Crench case of Columbia City, bank embezzler, and Joseph Caraceno case, bank robber of Columbia City, each of which were successfully prosecuted and resulted in convictions. He is a very active Democrat, has served as a justice of the peace, and is a member of the Allen Country Club and the Jefferson Club. He belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. The Methodist Protestant Church holds his membership, and he is regarded as one of its leaders.
On November 15, 1928, Mr. Probst was married to Miss Gertrude Bungartner, born near Avilla in Noble County. Mr. Probst is an able lawyer, a scholar and a gentleman, and there is no one who comprehends the ethics of his profession better than he. His reputation is widespread, not only over Noble and Whitley counties, which he represents, but his part of Indiana, and all who know him appreciated his many admirable characteristics.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
MORTON LAMB, postmaster of the City of Kokomo, is a native of Howard County, and for many years was engaged in educational work. As a teacher his name is known and respected all over the county.
Mr. Lamb was born near Greentown, Howard County, Indiana, September 11, 1875. His parents, William and Artie (Silvers) Lamb, were also born in this section of Indiana, where the two families were pioneers. Mr. Lamb's mother is still living. His father, who died in 1913, was an old time boot and shoemaker. He did much of his work in the days when the making of boots and shoes was to satisfy individual patrons. It was long before the machinery for this work came into general use. Most men in those days wore boots, and every man had his particular fancy and taste, and William Lamb was a real artist in being able to satisfy the discriminating tastes of his clients. William Lamb was also a union soldier, serving in Company I of the One Hundred Eighteenth Indiana Volunteers.
Morton Lamb grew up in eastern Howard County, attended local schools there and was still a very young man when he was put in charge of his first school as a teacher. His work as an educator continued over a period of twenty-three years. He taught in the common schools and in high schools an din the meantime was going on with his individual education. In 1908 he graduated from the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. Mr. Lamb while engaged in teaching took a considerable interest in local affairs and politics as a Republican. In 1925 he was appointed deputy revenue collector, and served in that capacity until he became postmaster. His appointment to the office of postmaster at Kokomo was given him by President Coolidge in 1926 and he was installed in office in March, 1927. Mr. Lamb is a member of the Friends or Quaker Church, his membership being with the church at Kokomo. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
In 1895 he married Miss Erma Brown, of Howard County. The children of their marriage are Ross H., Ralph, Burcha, Mignon, Daniel, Charles and June. All are living except Daniel, who passed away in 1927.
Click here for photo.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
WALTER ELBRIDGE HADLEY. Since 1918 the assistant general superintendent of the Gary Works of the Illinois Steel Company at Gary, Walter E. Hadley is one of the most capable and energetic officials of this great industry, of which he has become an essential integral part. His career, while somewhat varied in character, has been along the general line of his present activities, although his early training was such as to give him a somewhat broader knowledge than is possessed by many men who have confined their energies wholly to one line of endeavor. He is an able executive and devotes himself strictly to business, but finds time to take a helpful part in civic affairs, although he has never sought nor wished public office.
Mr. Hadley was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 24, 1882, and is a son of Elbridge J. and Mary J. (Wood) Hadley. Elbridge J. Hadley, the first of the seventh generation of Hadleys in New England, was born at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and traces his ancestry far back in the history of this country. Among other famous members of this family may be noted Arthur Twining Hadley, the great American educator, president of Yale University; and James Hadley, the American philologist. Mr. Hadley's mother was related to the Rebecca nurse of old Salem (Massachusetts) witchcraft fame. In this connection a note or two pertaining to witchcraft may not be inapropos. It was first practiced in America in 1692, at Salem, where it broke out in the home of Mr. Parish, a minister. A company of girls had been in the habit of meeting a West Indian slave to study "black art." They suddenly began to act mysteriously, bark like dogs and scream at something unseen. An old Indian servant was accused of bewitching them, and the excitement spread and impeachments multiplied. A special court was formed to try the accused, and as a result the jails rapidly filled and many were condemned to death. It was unsafe to express a doubt of a prisoner's guilt and fifty-five persons suffered torture and twenty were executed. Common sense finally prevailed, but it was many years before many could be thoroughly convinced that witchcraft did not exist.
Elbridge J. Hadley received his education in the public schools of Charlestown, and at the outbreak of the war between the states enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. Returning to Cambridge, he engaged in the building supply business, in which he continued for many years, until his retirement, and became on of the substantial and highly respected men of his community. He was active in civic affairs and as a member of the Knights of Honor, and died in 1927, at the ripe age of eighty-five years, being buried in the cemetery at Cambridge. Mr. Hadley married Mary J. Wood, who was born in England and came to the United States as a child with her parents, who settled at Cambridge, where her father was engaged in the glass making business for many years. After the death of his wife, who was buried at Cambridge, Mr. Wood moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where his own death occurred. Mrs. Hadley was educated in the public schools of Cambridge, and for many years has been active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She still survives and is a resident of Randolph, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley there were born the following children: One who died in infancy; Camille, who also died in infancy; Miss Alice M., who resides with her mother at Randolph, Massachusetts; Adelaide E., now Mrs. Walter Rockwell, of Randolph; Charlotte A., now Mrs. Leon Crothers, of Randolph; and Walter E., of this review.
Walter E. Hadley acquired his education at Cambridge, where he was graduated from the manual training school in 1900, supplementing this by a course in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in 1904. On leaving school he secured a position as assistant superintendent of blast furnaces of the National Tube Company, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and remained in that capacity for a period of seven years, when he joined the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company and took up his headquarters at Ensley, Alabama, where he resided until 1916. In that year Mr. Hadley removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he established himself in a business of his own as president of the Trojan Electric Steel Company, but two years later disposed of his interests therein to come to Gary as assistant general superintendent of the Gary Works of the Illinois Steel Company, a position which he still occupies and in which, as noted, he has achieved marked accomplishments. Mr. Hadley has always been a public-spirited citizen, and during the World war was an active worker and generous contributor in behalf of the various drives. He is a member of the Commercial Club and Chamber of Commerce of Gary and the University Club. Politically he is a Republican and his religious connection is with Christ Episcopal Church.
At Norwell, Massachusetts, September 10, 1913, Mr. Hadley was united in marriage with Miss Alice Faulkner, whose parents were residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, where her father was the owner of textile mills for many years and prominent as a citizen. Both parents are deceased and buried in the cemetery at Lowell. Mrs. Hadley was given her early education in public and private schools, following which she entered Smith College, at Northamption, Massachusetts, from which she was graduated as a member of the class of 1907. She has been very active in the various movements of the Christ Episcopal Church, and is president of the Tri Kappa sorority and the Gary Service Club. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley there have been born
two children: Barbara, a graduate of Emerson High School, Gary, class of 1930; and Cornelia Kathryn, who is attending public school.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
VERNON H. KRIDER was born on a farm in Washington Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, July 13, 1876, son of Samuel L. and Leticia Jarvis Krider.
Samuel L. Krider was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He served in the Civil war, nine months in the infantry and three years in the cavalry, and came west and settled in Elkhart County, marrying Leticia Jarvis, then a school teachers at Dunlaps, Indiana.
Vernon H. Krider, the second in a family of four children, attended school at Bristol, Indiana, finishing the high school there in 1892, attended the high school at LaGrange, Indiana, during the winter of 1892 and 1893, graduating there from in 1893; studied medicine in 1894 and 1895, kept books for the Frisco Railway Company during the winter of 1896 and 1897 at Lebanon, Missouri, and taught school at Adamsville, Michigan, from 1897 to 1900. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Krider purchased a fruit farm south of Bristol and started in a small way in the nursery business, teaching in the schools of Middlebury Township during the winters of 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902.
He served as trustee of Middlebury Township from 1909 until 1913 and from 1917 until 1925.
Mr. Krider was married to Erma M. Artley in 1902, and in 1903 purchased a farm in Middlebury Township, consisting of thirty-nine acres, and started the Krider Nurseries, as a mail order business, the first catalogue going out in the fall of 1903. In 1907 this was increased to one hundred acres and in 1922 another farm, of 128 acres, in the corporation of Middlebury was acquired, the company was incorporated, and the acreage increased to 225 acres. Another large farm was added in 1929, until the Krider Nurseries now consist of 420 acres in one block, located at Middlebury, Indian, thirty miles east of South Bend, fourteen miles east of Elkhart, ten miles northeast of Goshen, ten miles south of White Pigeon and seventeen miles west of LaGrange.
This nursery at the present time is the largest and best equipped of any nursery between Cleveland and Chicago.
The Krider Nurseries sell direct both wholesale and retail, shipping stock annually into every state in the Union and many foreign countries. The Krider Nurseries, Inc., are members of the American Association of Nurserymen.
Vernon H. Krider is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Blue Lodge of Masons, and Knights Templar, also a member of the Saint Paul;s Lutheran Church.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
WALTER D. ELLIOTT has for many years been custodian of the Gen. Lew Wallace properties at Crawfordsvile, including one of the most attractive shrines of Indiana literary people, General Wallaces's Studio and Library, where that class of American literature, "Ben Hur," was written.
Mr. Elliott was born in Greencastle, Indiana, June 20, 1856. His father, Dr. Dorcey O. Elliott, was a native of Maryland, and was one of the early pioneers in Putnam County, Indiana, where for many years he practiced medicine and conducted a drug business in Greencastle. Doctor Elliott married Elizabeth Bagley, also a native of Maryland. She died in 188 and his wife lived to be ninety-nine years of age. They had nine children, Pat B., Serving, Ann, Laura, Edward, Ehols, Walter D., Lula and Lawrence. All are now deceased except Pat B., who lives in Brookston, and Ann, wife of Howard Ehols, of Brazil, Indiana.
Walter D. Elliott was educated in the public schools of Greencastle. As a youth he clerked in a store, was in business for a number of years and for a time was city marshal of Brazil. He came to Crawfordsville in 1902, and at the request of General Wallace assumed charge of the Wallace properties. He has given a thoroughly businesslike administration and has also earned the good will of thousands of Indiana people who every year come to visit this literary shrine.
MR. Elliott is a Democrat, is a member of the Christian Church and is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men and Loyal Order of Moose. He married, in 1880, Miss Bessie Rastry. They have one daughter, Zety, wife of Frank Stigler and living in Texas.
From Richard Breckenridge rlb27@bellsouth.net, family researcher:
This information I have in a hand writen letter by Walter D. Elliot himself.
Mother- Elizabeth Cannon Bagwell, not Bagley
Children twelve not nine.
William R.
Powhattan Brocau (Pat) - married Malinda Berry Smedley - my G.G.Grandfather
Sarah Ellen
Thomas Edward
Ann Eliza
John
Laura
*Walter D.
Eckels
Lulu
Lawrence
one still born
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
