Leslie Reid Skinner, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Leslie Reid Skinner
LESLIE R. SKINNER. In the matter of definite accomplishment and high personal integrity Porter county has every reason to be proud of those of her native sons who are here lending their co-operation in the furthering of her industrial, commercial and civic advancement and who are proving themselves leaders in their respective fields of activity. In such connection a place of special distinction must be accorded to Mr. Skinner, who is a scion of one of the most honored and influential pioneer families of this county and who holds prestige as one of the representative business men and financiers of the younger generation in his native city of Valparaiso, where he has the active supervision of the large estate of the family. He is the only surviving son of the late Hon. DeForest L. Skinner. Mr. Skinner is vice-president of the Valparaiso National Bank, which was organized in 1902, as the virtual successor of the First National Bank of Porter County, the charter of which expired in May of that year and of which his father had been president for nearly twenty years prior to his demise. He also succeeded his father as a member of the board of directors of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad Company and thus became one of the youngest railroad directors in the entire Union. He has inherited much of the business acumen and circumspection of his honored father and has proved equal to the many and heavy responsibilities that have devolved upon him as a financier and practical business man. Mr. Skinner is also one of the principal stockholders of the American Trust Company of South Bend, Indiana, and is serving on its advisory board. He is a member of the firm of Specht, Finney, Skinner & Company, which conducts at Valparaiso one of the most extensive retail merchandise establishments in northern Indiana, and as administrator of the family estate he has supervision of other large and important interests.
Leslie Reid Skinner was born in Valparaiso, on the 11th of July, 1872, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools of his native city he here continued his studies in the institution now known as Valparaiso University. Later he was a student for two years at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, in which he was a member of the class of 1897.
Mr. Skinner initiated his business career by assuming a clerical position in the First National Bank of Porter county, of which his father was president, and later he served three years as cashier of the State Bank of Valparaiso. He was one of the organizers, in 1899, of the mercantile corporation known as Specht, Finney, Skinner & Company, and has served continuously as secretary and treasurer of the same. He is known as an alert, far-sighted and progressive business man and as a citizen he exemplified the utmost loyalty and public spirit, though he has shown no desire for the honors of public office. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. In the Masonic order his affiliations are with Porter Lodge, No. 137, F. & A. M., Valparaiso Chapter, No. 79, R. A. M., and Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28, K. T. His popularity in his home city and county is of the most unequivocal type and his circle of friends, in both business and social relations, is coincident with that of his acquaintances.
On the 20th of January, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Skinner to Miss Louise Windle, who was born and reared in Valparaiso, where her father, William G. Windle, is a representative business man. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are prominent and popular factors in the leading social activities of the community and their beautiful home is brightened by the presence of their four children -- Mary Louise, DeForest Leslie, Sarah and Ruth Ann.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 373-374
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