Vigo County Historical Society
Wabash Valley Profiles

The Vigo County Historical Society would like to thank First Financial Bank, The Terre  Haute Tribune Star, and Mike McCormick for granting us permission for reprinting these past Wabash Valley Profiles.  A special thanks to the staff of First Financial's Marketing Department for assisting us with formatting these articles for your enjoyment.

You can also visit the Wabash Valley Visions & Voices Website to view these articles.

#

The 1912 Corn and Coal Exposition - The classiest agricultural show ever held in Indiana

The 1936 Indiana State Olympic Trials Basketball Team

The 1946-1947 Garfield Basketball Team - First High school basketball team to make it to the Indiana State Finals undefeated.

Indiana State and the 1951 Pan American Games – One of the Most Successful Seasons in Indiana State University Basketball

The 1955 Babe Ruth League World Champions - One of Terre Haute's finest baseball teams (Published August 11, 2005)

The 1974 Patriot 4-Mile Relay Team - The "Four Js" set a high school track record that still stands

A

Carrie B. Adams - Prolific 20th Century Composer

Milton Alexander - Military Hero, Politician

Alix - World-record holding horse of late 19th Century (Published March 31, 2005)

Allen Chapel - Western Indiana's oldest African-American church. (Published July 21, 2005)

Vincent Allen – Accomplished college and pro football player

The American Federation of Labor - Born in Terre Haute

Warren Anderson - First African-American to serve on Indiana Board of Education

Ray Arcel – One of the most successful trainers in boxing history

Asbury Chapel - Terre Haute landmark for nearly 80 years (Published July 21, 2005)

Axworthy - One of Terre Haute's famous horses

B

Jonathan Banks – Actor, producer and director

Theodore W. Barhydt - Terre Haute's premier theater builder

John Jacob Baur - Retail drug businessman (Published September 27, 2001)

Oscar Baur, Fredrick Benson, Mary Smith Young, and Sheldon Swope

Lenhardt Bauer - Prominent Terre Haute citizen

Birch E. Bayh, Jr - US Senator from 1962 through 1980 and author of two amendments to the US Constitution (Published November 3, 2005)

John Ed Beggs - One of the founders of Commercial Distilling Co.

Dr. Iverson C. Bell

Edward Price Bell - World famous journalist, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

Greg Bell - Olympic Gold Medallist

George Bement - Pioneer wholesale grocery businessman

Joe and Johnny Benna – Noted amateur boxers of the Wabash Valley

Joseph Benti - Pioneer television journalist

Junius "Rainey" Bibbs - Noted athlete, educator, coach

Fred J. Biel and Punch - Cigar factory owner and his faithful wooden friend

Edward Bindley – Noted pharmacist

Ben Blanchard - Colorful Terre Haute realtor and salt mining magnate

John J.P. Blinn – Civil War patriot

Fannie Blumberg - Author, artist, and philanthropist

Beebe Booth - Co-published of first book printed in Indiana

Elizabeth Booth - Socialite, mother of author Booth Tarkington

Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown - Baseball Hall of Famer and Pitching Legend

Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt - Co-founders of Terre Haute

C

Cam Cameron – Indiana University football coach

Joseph G. Cannon - Popular Congressman

Centenary United Methodist Church

Central Presbyterian Church

Archileen Chambers - Vaudeville dancer, mainstay in local artistic and entertainment circles for nearly five decades (Published March 17, 2002)

Hezlep "Heze" Clark - Athlete, coach, athletic director and journalist

Coates College for Women

Levi Coffin – Unofficial “president” of the Underground Railroad

Blackford Condit – Religious Leader, Bible Historian, Distinguished Author

Winnifred Harper Cooley - Author, journalist, editor, world traveler, lecturer, drama critic, radio personality, toastmistress

William C. Coup - P.T. Barnum's business partner; created the "three-ring big top" and "the greatest show on earth"

Claude Cox - Early automobile pioneer

Paul S. Cox - World War I aviation hero

George N. Craig - Influential 20th Century governor of Indiana

Andrew Crawford - Vigo County's iron and steel tycoon

General Charles Cruft – Civil War Hero

D

Charles Strout Davis - Founder of Borg-Warner Corporation and commissioner of Indianapolis 500 trophy (Published August 18, 2005)

Johnnie “Scat” Davis – Noted musician

Eugene V. Debs – Noted social reformer, five-time candidate for U.S. President

Demas Deming Jr. - Prominent banker, developer and philanthropist

Grace DeVaney - Indiana's first female high school principal

Josh Devore - "The greatest catch in baseball history."

Sydney B. Davis - Attorney and protector of children.

Budd Doble - The greatest driver-trainer in harness racing annals

Allen H. Donham – Attorney, political organizer and banker

Paul Dresser - Noted American composer

William J. Dunn - Prominent World War II broadcast journalist (Publised December 1, 2005)

E

Jacob D. Early - Affluent and respected businessman of mid 1800's (published December 13, 2001)

Oscar Edwards - Noted athlete and educator

William Kirkpatrick Edwards – Terre Haute’s first mayor

Max Ehrmann - Noted poet and author

Jumbo Jim Elliott - National League Pitcher (Published October 4, 2001)

Carl Ellis Eppert - Internationally renowned composer

Julius Ermisch - Founder of dry-cleaning business Ermisch Cleaners (Published October 6, 2005)

F

Henry Fairbanks

George W. Faris - Late 19th century Congressman, attorney (Published April 10, 2002)

George E. Farrington - Civil War Soldier and Railroad Executive (Published November 29, 2001)

Hart F. Farwell - Independent telephone company pioneer (Published June 23, 2005)

Stewart "Red" Faught - One of the nation's most innovative football coaches

Ted Fehring - Wiley High School Football Coach

George Felstein - Prominent Midwest jeweler

Cecil Ferguson - Noted athlete, major league pitcher and doctor

Hulbert Ferguson - Leading coal operator, politician and community leader (Published September 29, 2005)

Nicholas Filbeck - Civil War hero, hotel proprietor, and postmaster

First Baptist Church (Published December 6, 2001)

First Congregational Church

Jerry Fitzgerald - Savoir of Memorial Hall

Ross Ford - Movie Star of 1940s and 1950s; star of "Meet Millie"

Fountain Theater - Terre Haute's longest running small downtown cinema venue

“Tiger Jack” Fox – Noted boxer

Frank Fox - Oil speculator, race car driver, real estate developer and horse breeder

Job Freeman - One of Indiana's most successful pioneer coal operators (Published April 17, 2002)

Paul Frisz – Terre Haute’s “Mr. Baseball”

The Battle of Ft. Harrison

Blanche E. Fuqua

G

Richard “Skeets” Gallagher – Noted movie and theater actor

GAR Memorial Hall - Greek revival structure at 219 Ohio Street (Published October 27, 2005)

Garfield High School

Dr. Charles F. Gerstmeyer - Vigo County's pioneer proponent of vocational education (Published October 11, 2001)

Gerstmeyer High School

Margaret Gisolo - Pioneer female athlete

Hillary A. Gobin - Esteemed educator, theologian and college president

Ray Goddard - Prominent athlete

James Farrington Gookins- Acclaimed 19th century artist

Carl Graham - Founder of Graham Grain

George R. Grimes - Designer of Terre Haute's famous Four-Cornered track (Published July 7, 2005)

Mother Theodore Guerin - Religious icon and founder of Saint Mary of the Woods College

Flora Gilman Gulick - Founder of the Terre Haute Boys Club

H

Ray Hahn - Popular retail merchant, community leader and politician

Ira Hall - Terre Haute's most noted automobile race driver

Samuel R. Hamill - Nationally prominent attorney

William A. Hamilton - Insurance executive

James McLean Hanna - Indiana Supreme Court justice (Published April 28, 2005)

Edward Hannegan - Famed attorney, orator and politician: Congressman, Senator and Ambassador

Elizabeth Boynton Harbert - Nationally known Women's Suffrage Movement Leader

Jim Harkness - Local basketball standout

Ross C. Harriott - Terre Haute businessman, civic leader and baseball fan

Sara King Harvey - Noted professor and mother of "America's James Bond" (Published March 17, 2005)

The Harvester - World Champion Horse

Havens & Geddes Fire

Benjamin Havens - Mayor of Terre Haute and distinguished community leader (Published September 8, 2005)

John G. Heinl - Prominet local florist, master of the legendary Stiffy Green (Published November 17, 2005)

Robert Debs Heinl - Nationally respected journalist (Published December 8, 2005)

Adolph Herz - The dean of retail merchants (1869-1917)

Highland Lawn Cemetery

Hippodrome Theater

William "Babe" Holland - Esteemed athlete, coach and school administrator

Home Packing Co. - Livestock dealers for nearly 56 years

Hudnut Hominy Co.

Harriet Hosmer - One of the world's most famous 19th Century sculptresses (Published April 7, 2002)

Tilghman A. Howard - Prominent 19th century politician

Ward Hubbard - Industrial leader and philanthropist (Published April 14, 2005)

The Hudnut Family - King of Corn Oil; "America's Hominy King"

Robert N. Hudson - Politician, Civil War officer, journalist

Herman Hulman - Businessman and philanthropist

Irl W. Humphrey - Inventor of the first automobile injection system (Published October 20, 2005)

Robert Hunter - Influential author and social champion

Preston Hussey – Dean of Terre Haute Financiers

Vernon Hux - Modern day Horatio Alger

Edward E. Hylton

I

William P. Ijams - Noted local industrialist, horse racer, racing owner and promoter

The Indois Hotel

J

Uriah R. Jeffers - Father of Terre Haute's Four-Cornered Track

Virginia Jenckes – First woman from Indiana elected to Congress

Dr. Martin D. Jenkins - Renowned educator and expert on gifted children (Published May 26, 2005)

Don Jennings - Esteemed educator and coach of champion 1974 Indiana high school baseball team (Published October 13, 2005)

The Johnson Brothers – Builders of marine motors, motor bicycles and America’s first successful monoplane

Charles "Chubby" Johnson - Character actor appeared in nearly 100 feature films and about 300 television appearances

James R. Jones - Author of From Here to Eternity (Published June 6, 2002)

K

The William Kassis Family - Prominent Terre Haute Family

General Philip Kearny

Joe Keaton - Vaudeville Star and Father of Buster Keaton (Republished May 12, 2005)

Paul "Spike" Kelly - Celebrated Coach (Published June 16, 2005)

Ken Kercheval - "Cliff Barnes" of television's Dallas

Jay H. Keyes - Founder of the Country Club of Terre Haute and prominent industrial leader (published August 4, 2005)

Willard Kidder - "Gold Medal" flour entrepreneur

Max Kidd - Football player and coach; grandfather of NFL punter, John Kidd

Bertha Pratt King - Co-founder of King-Crawford Classical School, women's rights crusader, author and orator

Duane Klueh - ISU basketball and tennis legend

Amalia Küssner Coudert - Famed miniaturist artist

L

Albert Lange - Esteemed diplomat, county auditor, state auditor and two-term Terre Haute mayor (Published April 24, 2002)

Hyacinth Lasselle - Early 19th Century land speculator; proprietor of Terre Haute

Hugh B. Lee - World renowned cola-mining entrepreneur

A.N. Levin - Accomplished businessman and respected community leader (Published November 10, 2005)

Sidney Levin - Celebrated community philanthropist

Salo J. Levite – Co-founder and chief executive of Meis Department Stores

Liberty Bell – The Battle for the Bell – Terre Haute North and South Football

Lella Parr Livingstone

Ralph Llewellyn - Celebrated community philanthropist

Clyde Lovellette - College and Pro Basketball Star (Published December 20, 2001)

M

Herb Mace - Founder of Mace Lincoln-Mercury and civic leader (Published May 2, 2002)

Joe Malooley - Civic leader and restaurateur (Published April 3, 2002)

Mahlon Manson - Civil War officer and politician

Mascot - Famed racing horse

Martha Evans Martin - Noted turn-of-the-century author and journalist (Published March 24, 2002)

Anton Mayer – Owner of the Terre Haute Brewing Company

Bill McCoy - Dirt track racer

John McFall

James T. McGuire – Major league baseball player

Capt. Philip H. Monninger - Owner of winery and builder of eventual "Devil's Den" (Published November 8, 2001)

More Park Dairy

Jim Morris - Respected and noted Indiana business leader

William M. Myers

Ernestine Myers Morrissey - Famed actress and dance instructor

Jerry Mugivan – Famous circus owner

N

Thomas Henry Nelson - Member of the vaunted "Big Five" of the 1890s; "Ambassador Extraordinaire"

William A. Noyes

O

Jack O'Grady - Noteworthy musician and politician

Alfred M. Ogle - Indiana coal company entrepreneur (Published May 5, 2005)

P

Juliet Peddle - Terre Haute's pioneer female architect

Dr. Allen Pence - Local physician and community leader (Published September 1, 2005)

Cynthia Shepard Perry

P.B.S. Pinchback - First black governor in U.S. history

Danny Polo - "World's Greatest Clarinet Player"

Maurine Powers - Motion picture actress known as "Terre Haute's Dainty Little Sunbeam" (Published March 10, 2005)

Frank Prox – Industrial leader

Ernie Pyle - Respected World War II Journalist

Q

Quaker Maid - Food producer to the world

R

Dr. Ezra Read - Prominent 19th Century Physician

William S. Rea Park

Harry Reeves - Cartoon illustrator for Disney (Published May 30, 2002)

James W. Reid – Noted architect

Elise Reiman

Hiram Rhodes Revels - First black U.S. Senator

Cleon Reynolds - Illustrious basketball coach

Baskin Rhoads - Founder of Indiana State Normal (Indiana State University)

George Richards – Coal magnate

Branch Rickey - Hall of Fame Baseball executive

Charles Roll - Inspirational history professor (Published September 15, 2005)

Woody Roloff - Noted educator and football coach

Root Glass Company - Designer and creator of modern Coca-Cola bottle (Published September 20, 2001)

Rose Dispensary

Rose Orphan Home

Warren Ross - Outstanding Wiley and ISU Basketball Player

S

Everett Sanders - U.S. congressman, secretary to President Coolidge, Republican Party chairman

Everett Sanders (updated) - U.S. congressman, secretary to President Coolidge, Republican Party chairman (Published September 22, 2005)

Anna McBride Saylor - Prominent Female Activist; first Californian female legislator

Lucius H. Scott - Pioneer early settler of Terre Haute (Published May 16, 2002)

Janet Scudder - Internationally renowned American sculptor (Published March 24, 2005)

D. Omer “Salty” Seamon – “Hoosier Artist” and Indiana icon

Bert Shepard - WWII hero, major league baseball player

The Shirkie Brothers - Prominent coal mine operators

Abe Silverstein - Guggenheim Medal recipient for "significant contributions to the advancement of flight"

Josiah Snelling - Noted 19th century U.S. Army officer - "The Prairie Chicken"

Nancee South - Wabash Valley Entertainment Legend

Emma-Lindsay Squier - Journalist and author in the early 1900s (Published November 24, 2005)

Glenn Staggs - Local athlete; manager of the 1955 Babe Ruth League World Champions

St. Anthony's Hospital

George Kirkpatrick Steele - Politician, soldier, and aide-de-camp for Civil War Gov. Morton

Arthur Strum - ISU athletic coach and administrator

Jerry Sturm – Illustrious professional football player

The Sumar Racing Team - 1950s racing team

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer - "Alfalfa" popular member of "Little Rascals" on Our Gang (Published April 7, 2005)

Sheldon Swope - Prominent jeweler and benefactor of the Sheldon Swope Art Museum

T

John Templeton - Founder of Templeton Coal Company Inc.

Bill Thompson – Master of dialects, Voice of The Fibber McGee and Molly Show

Col. Richard Wigginton Thomson – Lawyer, teacher, state congressman, US congressman, advisor to President Lincoln, and Secretary of Navy

William Thornton – Pioneer in public education

The Tivoli - Entertainment mecca of the late 19th century.  (Published August 25, 2005)

William T. Turman

Ralph Tucker - Colorful and controversial five-term mayor of Terre Haute (Published May 8, 2002)

U

John Palmer Usher - Cabinet member under President Lincoln

V

Pete Varda - Schulte Coaching legend

Gene Verostko - Terre Haute's best amateur golfer

James M. Vickroy - Commercial artist (Published October 18, 2001)

W

Daniel Wolsey Voorhees - Terre Haute Congressman and U.S. Senator

Bruce Walkup - Local race car enthusiast

Leon H. Wallace - Prominent dean of Indiana University Law School (Published July 14, 2005)

Fred Wampler - Athlete, soldier and politician

Levi G. Warren - Business leader of the mid-1800's

Henry Washburn - Pioneer of Yellowstone National Park

Helen Webb - Talented pianist of 1930s, 40s and 50s (Published March 27, 2002)

John Weir - Founder of the first Grange in Indiana

Will Weng

Wiley-Garfield Turkey Day Game

William H. Wiley - Celebrated local educator

John M. "Jock" Wilson - Coal Miner, Boxer, Poet, Artist, Author, Surveyor, and Engineer

Monsingnor Herbert Winterhalter - Ecclesiastical & Civic Leader (Published June 30, 2005)

Dr. Paul A. Witty - One of nation's leading child psychologists (Published June 9, 2005)

Paul Wolf - Teacher, disciplinarian, coach and gentleman

Dr. William Maxwell Wood - Pioneer Terre Haute physician and first Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy (Published May 2, 2005)

X

Y

Herbert Yardley - Pioneer cryptologist for U.S. during World War I (Published May 19, 2005)

Elizabeth Cooper Young

Z

Charles Zimmerman - Educator and long-time Garfield principal (Published May 23, 2002)