F. W. Alpen, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of F. W. Alpen
F. W. ALPEN, the president of the Citizens Savings and Trust Company of Valparaiso, was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, on August 26, 1874, the son of Hans and Margaret (Plahn) Alpen, both of whom were born in Germany and settled in Valparaiso. Hans Alpen was a plastering contractor by occupation, and later engaged in the dairying business. The parents were married in 1869 in Valparaiso, and to them were born three sons and two daughters: Henry, who passed away in childhood; F. W.; John, who also died when very young; Anna; and Amanda.
Mr. F. W. Alpen attended the Valparaiso schools, later engaging in the barbering business, which he followed for fifteen years, and subsequently acquired farming and dairying interests, which he carried on for a number of years. In 1920 he became vice president of the Citizens Savings and Trust Company, serving in this capacity until 1922, when he became president of the institution. In 1919 he subdivided his farm of fifty-five acres, naming it Alpen Subdivision. During the war activities Mr. Alpen was of inestimable value as chairman of the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives, securing fine cooperation in the raising of funds for war purposes. His interests, aside from personal and the usual civic interests, have been of value in the political life of this community. He was honored with the election to the office of county commissioner of Porter County three different terms, serving from 1916 to 1924. Mr. Alpen is one of the directing factors in the Chamber of Commerce. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, Elks, and the Rotary Club. He was married in 1904 to Miss Ida Claussen, daughter of Hans and Catherine Claussen. Mrs. Alpen passed from this life in 1910, and Mr. Alpen married in 1911 to Clara Claussen, daughter of John and Johanna Claussen.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 263-264
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook