History: Starke County, Indiana

William Baughman, born 1898, lived most of his life near Toto in Starke County, Indiana. He speaks about his family history, how they moved from Ohio, and the ways they made a living. He discusses his numerous jobs, some of which include bus driving, farming, hunting, and working as a conservation officer. The rest of the interview is interspersed with remembrances and anecdotes of the people and area in the early twentieth century.

Clair Campbell, born 1899 and died 1988, moved with his family from Vermillion County, Illinois, to North Judson, Indiana, when he was fifteen years old. He speaks about his family, the move from Illinois, and living on a farm in the early twentieth century. After he was married, his primary occupation was as a dairy farmer. He discusses his dairy farm and the dairy train that would pick up the milk for transport to the Chicago dairies.

Otto Chesak, born 1904, lived on a farm in North Judson, Indiana most of his life. He speaks about his grandparents emigrating from Czechoslovakia, and the small concentration of Czech people in the area. He discusses his early life including education, recreational activities, pickle farming, and gleaning for coal by the railroad tracks. Mr. Chesak has no faith in doctors and their "poison," and avoids them in favor of natural remedies and organic gardening. Throughout the interview he discusses the jobs he had while in Chicago, Illinois, working in the egg business, and selling farm mineral supplements.

Helen Dolezal, Anastasia Hines, and Crystel Kramer of San Pierre, Indiana discuss their childhood memories and changes that have taken place in San Pierre. They discuss community fellowship, farming, and employment. Memories of local bussinesses, the railroad, and the Great Depression are also shared by the women. Two of the women discuss their employment in Chicago and all of the women discusses their return to San Pierre in their adult life.

Herbert Golding, born 1905 and died 1997, lived in Knox, Indiana. He received a B.A. in Business and Science from Indiana University. He mentions seeing Halley's comet and several marsh fires as a boy. Most of his discussion is centered around stories of well-known people who came through the area such as Lewis Wallace, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Eddie Rickenbacker. He also describes his father's and grandfather's work for the Standard Oil Company. He speaks about some of the early farming and industry in the area, such as growing mint and producing pickles, and describes some of the changes in the community.

Bessie Holt, born 1898 in North Judson, Indiana, worked 32 years in Chicago at the Western Electric Company. She speaks about her childhood, specifically her schooling and how things changed after her mother died. She describes living in Chicago, working for the electric company, some of the various duties she performed, and the decline in work during the Great Depression. She was forced into retirement at a fairly young age, so she moved back to Starke County and aided the elderly.

Amy Lain, born 1897 and died 1995, talks about the businesses in North Judson, Indiana, during the early twentieth century, and compares that to more recent times. Later, she speaks about her family history and briefly mentions life during the Great Depression and World War II. Both she and her husband were heavily involved in fraternal societies such as the Masons and Eastern Stars, and she discusses their beliefs and the offices she held.

Carl Malott, born 1905 and died 1992, grew up in Starke County, Indiana, and had an interest in machinery from an early age. He learned to fly airplanes, and bought damaged ones at a cheap price to repair. He speaks about some of the early industry in the area such as dairy farming and the pickle factory, and describes the importance of the railroad to the latter's success.

John McFarland, born 1905, spent all his life in Starke County, Indiana, except for a short time in the military during World War II. He speaks about his family history, childhood, and farming. He specifically describes farming watermelons, and recounts several stories of people attempting to steal them out of his patches.

Stanley Pieza, born 1905, was a newspaperman in Chicago, Illinois, before retiring and moving to San Pierre, Indiana. He became interested the local history while working on a book for the All Saints Catholic Church. He mentions several prominent people who passed through the town such as Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley. He discusses in some detail the founder of the church, Father Joseph Stephan, who also served in the Civil War and helped found Saint Joseph's College.

Russell Richey, born 1905, engaged in several business pursuits before getting into the postal service as postmaster and rural carrier. He speaks about those business pursuits with emphasis on conditions during the Great Depression. He was also heavily involved in politics and discusses his involvement with the Democratic Party in Starke County, Indiana.

William Wheeler, born 1907 and died 1995, speaks about his childhood, including school and some of his family history. There have been many changes in his lifetime to the community of Knox, Indiana, and some examples he discusses are the drainage of the swamps and the technology from World War II.