Adelaide Norton Hermansader, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Adelaide Norton Hermansader
MRS. JOHN T. HERMANSADER (ADELAIDE NORTON)
Mrs. John T. Hermansader (Adelaide Norton), born March 26, 1892, Reading, Pennsylvania; lived in Meridian, Miss., Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Kansas City, Mo., Des Moines, Iowa, Chicago, Ill.; moved to Porter, Ind., June, 1954, with husband, on his retirement. Taught school in Pennsylvania; sang in choirs, played church organ and piano many years; active in church and neighborhood house work many years, serving as President of Board of Managers of Italian Institute in K.C., Mo., and Treasurer of Board of Firman House, Chicago; honored as Churchwoman of the Year, United Council of Church Women, Chicago, in 1959, leader of Campfire Girls in K.C.; active in Porter Methodist Church, teaching Bible study classes, planning with other churches for World Day of Prayer; chairman of World Day of Prayer in Chicago for five years; inspirational speaker to local, Valparaiso, and Chicago groups; winner of Senior Citizen's Queen of Porter County 1975, and first runner-up for Indiana Senior Citizen's Queen 1975; mother of Eleanor Murray, grandmother of James Thomas and Sarah Emily Murray.
Bonsel Murray, born Clinton, Indiana; employed by U. S. Steel, Gary, for 46 years; graduated Clinton H. S.; sergeant in U. S. Air Corps in World War II, serving in Guam; moved to Chesterton from Gary in Nov. 1947 with wife, Eleanor; father of James Thomas and Sarah Emily; exhibited pen-and-ink drawings in Chesterton Woman's Club and Chesterton Art Fair.
Mrs. Bonsel Murray (Eleanor Norton Hermansader), born Meridian, Miss.; lived in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., Kansas City, Mo., Des Moines, Onawa, and Clarinda, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., East Chicago, Indiana, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and moved to Chesterton in Nov. 1947 with husband, Bonsel; graduate of Drake Univ. in 1935, attended Chicago Art Institute, California College of Arts and Crafts, Indiana Univ.; art teacher in Iowa, East Chicago, Grosse Pointe, Portage, Westchester, Beverly Shores, and Hobart Township Schools; mother of James Thomas and Sarah Emily; researched and painted murals for Porter County Courthouse rotunda 1966-68; painted murals in cafeteria of Hageman School, portrait of Lincoln as boy for Evans School and painting of school activities for Meister gym; exhibited at Iowa State Fair, Ridge Art Association of Chicago, East Chicago Civic Art Association, Chesterton Women's Club, Michigan City University Women, Artists and Craftsmen of Porter County, and Gary Artist's League; choir director of Porter Methodist Church, soloist for individual and combined church services in Des Moines, Chicago, Detroit, Gananoque (Ont.), Lake Wawasee, Chesterton and Valparaiso; president of Chesterton-Porter Business and Professional Women's Club 1956-7 and 1967-8, honored as Woman of the Year 1968 by B. P. W.
James Thomas Murray (son of Bonsel and Eleanor), born in Gary, graduated Chesterton H. S. 1969, Ball State University in Mus. Ed. in 1974; married to Kari Lynn Lewis Aug. 1973; active in band and chess clubs in H.S. and stage crews for dramatic and musical productions; employed at radio station at Ball State, by U. S. Steel, Gary; exhibited in Chesterton Woman's Club several years.
Sarah Emily Murray (daughter of Bonsel and Eleanor), born in Valparaiso, graduated Chesterton H. S. 1973, attending Ball State University, majoring in music education; member Porter Methodist Church choir and Community Chorus locally, Concert and Madrigal Choirs at Ball State; worked in costuming and make-up for several plays and cast of "Music Man" at C.H.S.
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: 120-121
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