Lois M. Guant, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Lois M. Guant
LOIS M. GUANT (GANT)
Born July 5, 1907 at E. Union Street, Valparaiso. Parents: Professor P. A. Gant born March 15, 1869 (or 66) at Knimen, IN; died June 5, 1952. For 20 years -- until 1918, professor of sight singing, ear training and voice at Valparaiso, IN. Owned his own school of piano tuning in Kansas until 1924; returned to Valparaiso and established a circuit for tuning pianos, personally, in and around Valparaiso. Anna Marie E. Gant, nee Hagen, born November 27, 1877; died April 25, 1948. Attended school at Valparaiso University and normal school in Chicago. Taught school in a little schoolhouse on what is now highway 30, west of Boiling Springs about 1/4 mile and taught kindergarten in city school under Mrs. Hemstock; author of novel PSYCHIC CRISIS and 2 books of poems, MESSAGES AND MEMOIRS and a book of poems about the university.
P. A.'s parents were Noah M. Gant and Caroline C. Gant, whose parents came to Indiana from Kentucky.
Anna's parents were Herman Hagen, Sr. who came from Germany at age 28, and Margaret Elizabeth Hagen, nee Durner, who was born in Castle Gardens, 1 hour after her mother landed in this country.
Anna's parents settled in the 1860's in what is now Center Township, on the old Tower Road, midway between what is now highway 130 and old highway 30. She attended the old Leonard School, located on the old Tower Road and old 30. Her brothers were Herman, Jr.; Otto and Arthur and sister Clara Foster Phillips.
P.A.'s parents lived between DeMotte and Rensselaer on what is now highway 8 at Gant's corners: His brothers were Jerome, Marion, Frank, John and Leuel S., his sisters were Jennie (Martha Jane) and Frances (Francini).
Lois was a tutor of voice and piano, attended Valparaiso University for 2 1/2 years. Married, first Edward Briese of Port Washington, Wis. -- 2 children, Elizabeth June Chester, nee Briese and Joseph Gant Briese; married second Frank Grasse of Park Falls, Wis.-- 1 child, Francis Otto. Lois also sang for social events, weddings, funerals and memorial services, and was on the road in vaudeville as accompanist and singer for a Spanish Dancing team. No clubs or other affiliations except now, R.S.V.P. member, work 3 days a week at Historical Society Museum and spend one day a week at the Willows. Residence Rt. 13, Box 41, Valparaiso.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 110
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