March 2, 1931: SHERIFF MAXWELL IS NOW THE OWNER OF FARM THAT HAS BEEN FAMILY ESTATE FOR 80 YEARS

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 2, 1931.

SHERIFF MAXWELL IS NOW THE OWNER OF FARM THAT HAS BEEN FAMILY ESTATE FOR 80 YEARS

A realty transaction that had many unique features surrounding it was consummated Saturday in this city when deed to fifty acres of land in Pleasant township, owned by James A. Hollandsworth, was acquired by Burney Maxwell, sheriff of Porter county.

The land in question had been in the Hollandsworth family for nearly eighty years, Mr. Hollandsworth’s mother buying it and entering the government patent when she obtained title.

During those four score years the land has never been encumbered with a mortgage, no judgements have been entered against it, and there have been no delinquent taxes or liens of any kind.

Sheriff Maxwell’s home is in Pleasant township. He has owned a small tract near the Hollandsworth property for a number of years. Whether the sheriff is looking ahead to the time he will retire from office, planning to take up farming, or merely purchased the old homestead as an investment, is not known. Right now the sheriff is so busy handly the Kirkland trial that he can’t be approached on incidental subjects.

Mother and Father At Kirkland’s Side

Rough as has been the going of his trial, which today entered its second week, with the state still placing witness after witness on the stand to condemn him and perhaps send him to the electric chair for his part in the murder of Arlene Drives, pretty Gary school girl, Virgil Kirkland, the first of the five Gary youngmen of the five Gary young men to face a jury as the result of the wild gin party of last November, has the consolation of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Kirkland, pictured here in the Porter county circuit court chambers here during a recess. To the Kirklands, Virgil is still “their boy,” the victim of prohibition liquor and the “loose times.” pictured below is Mrs. David Thompson, at whose home, in Glen Park, Gary, the fatal party was held. Her husband is one of the four other defendants, awaiting trial for their parts in the death of the Draves girl.

Nov. 2, 1955: Church Will Observe Its 75th Anniversary

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 2, 1955.

Church Will Observe Its 75th Anniversary

KOUTS, Nov. 2一St. Paul’s Lutheran church of Kouts will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building of its first church in 1880, at special ceremonies Nov. 6 and 13.

Present pastor of the congregation of 289 communicants and 411 baptized members is Dr. Luther P. Koapke, who is also Dean of Men at Valparaiso University.

To commemorate this occasion two special church services will be held and a banquet will be conducted at which a review of the past 75 years will be made.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 13, special anniversary services will be held. Dr. W.E. Bauer, of Valparaiso University will speak on Nov. 6. The Rev. Walter Schwane, a former pastor, will speak at the services on Nov. 13. Both services will start at 10 a.m.

At 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, the anniversary banquet will be held at the Legion hall in Kouts. Prof. Herman C. Grunau, of Valparaiso University, will be the guest speaker.

The first Lutheran worship service was held in Kouts in August of 1873. This service was conducted in an old school building on what is now highway 8, near the east end of Kouts.

No Resident Pastor

During the period from 1873 to 1880 there was no resident pastor. They were, however, served at various times by the following pastors: the Rev. Phillip Schmidt, the Rev. W.J. Lange, and the Rev. Adolph Dunzing.

During this time, divine services were conducted in the homes of various members of the congregation, usually on Sunday afternoon when one of the pastors would come to Kouts from a nearby community to conduct the services.

The period from 1873 to 1880 was one of slow growth for the Lutherans in Kouts, since they did not have the services of a full time pastor, it was recalled.

On the first Sunday in September, 1880, the Lutherans of Kouts dedicated a new small frame church, erected at a cost of $600. This church served the congregation until 1908 as the place of worship.

In 1894 the Rev. Albert Bauman became the first resident pastor of St. Paul’s congregation. Pastor Bauman served until 1899. In 1899 the Rev. Otto Schumm became pastor. He served until 1905.

Serves 40 Years

From 1905 to 1906 the Rev. Arthur Both was the pastor. During his pastorate, the first English services were conducted in the church. Previous services had been in the German language.

In 1907 the Rev. Hicko Hicken became pastor of St. Paul’s and served for 40 years. In 1908 the new church was erected which still serves as the place of worship for the congregation. The brick church was built at a cost of $3,500 and was constructed by the Foster Lumber company of Valparaiso.

Following the resignation of the Rev. Chicken, the Rev. Walter Schwane became pastor of the congregation and served until 1954. Following a vacancy of six months, Dr. Koepke became pastor.

Some of the official acts performed at the church from 1873 to 1954 included 289 baptisms, 343 confirmations, 132 marriages and 155 funerals.

The first Sunday school at the church was held on May 12, 1931. The first teachers of the Sunday school were the following: Alma Rosenbaum, Henrietta Denzine, Doris Miller and Margaret Rosenbaum.

Mrs. Emil Hofferth was the first Sunday school superintendent; she served from 1931 until 1947. Wilbur Lippert served as superintendent from 1947 to 1952; William Roeske, 1953, and Ten Schroder, 1954. Schroder is now serving in the capacity.

In 1946, a Walther League was organized at the church. The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League was started in the congregation in 1948. The first officers of the LWML were the following: Mrs. Wilbur Lippert, president; Mrs. Ella Williams, vice president; Mrs. Herbert Roeske, secretary, and Mrs. Robert Hamann, treasurer.

Oct. 24, 1985: Friends harvest ailing farmer’s crop

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 24, 1985.

Friends harvest ailing farmer’s crop

by Charles Knebl

Staff Writer

PLEASANT TWP. 一 Kouts-area farmer Joe Jarnecke had open-heart surgery Saturday to replace a valve.

Wednesday, his friends got together and harvested Jarnecke’s 55 acres of soybeans from fields just off County Road 700S.

“There’s none of us that is indestructible,” said Jarnecke, 59, who began working the 150-acre farm at 753 S. CR 300 E with his father in 1936.

Neighbors Tom Heiniger, Vic Martin, Keith King and Craig Birky spent most of harvesting Jarnecke’s beans. And farmers Ed Freyenberger, Ed Whitmore and Harley Birky (Craig’s father) loaded beans into storage bins and helped out around the farm.

“Definitely it (their help) takes some pressure off. I always figured you never had your crop until you had it in the bin,” said Jarnecke.

“I’m really thankful they can take the time to help me.”

The Kouts-area farmers were helping Jarnecke because he needed help and his friends were there to give it, said Heiniger, who farms about 232 acres of his own. He’s been handling chores for both farms for about a week.

“It’s just a matter of helping a fella that needs help. It’s tough times (for farmers) and we’re doing the best we can,”said Heiniger.

Heiniger’s father, Walter, also was helping in the fields Wednesday; he came from Tempe, Ariz. two weeks ago to visit.

“We thought we’d get this (group) together and get this crop out and it’d give Joe a little lift,” said Walter, who is Jarnecke’s brother-in-law. Walter’s wife, Mary, is Jarnecke’s sister.

Jarnecke said it was important to get his beans “in as soon as possible because you never know the variables.” a heavy rain or an early snow could damage the beans.

Another unknown for Jarnecke was the condition of his heart.

“What started out as the flu turned out being the heart,” he said.

On Oct. 10 Jarnecke suffered a pain in his chest that “felt like somebody grabbed me.” and although fluids had built up in his lungs that kept him coughing most of the night, Jarnecke thought the ailments were flu symptoms.

But by Oct. 13 he was having trouble breathing and went to a local medical clinic. A couple days later he went to Porter Memorial Hospital’s emergency room because his lungs were filled with fluids.

Doctors discovered his heart was not functioning properly.

“They thought I probably had a bad valve,” he said.

The operation was performed at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago. Surgeons inserted a port valve to replace Jarnecke’s dysfunctioning valve.

Jarnecke will be recovering for about five weeks. And he’ll be doing it with the knowledge that his neighbors care about him.

“I appreciate their help,” he said.

Joe Jarnecke’s soybean field was harvested by (from left) Vic Martin, Tom Heinger, Keith King and Craig Birky. Lined up side-by-side the combines cover 72 feet of field. One farmer said the machines’ combined worth is about $180,000.

(V-M: Kathy Woodward)