Ben H. Urbahns, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Ben H. Urbahns
BEN H. URBAHNS. An active, brainy young man, enterprising and progressive, Ben H. Urbahns, of Valparaiso, holds a position of prominence among the public officials of Porter county, which he is now serving as treasurer, having the distinction of being the youngest man ever elected to this responsible office. A life-long resident of Valparaiso, he was born April 22, 1880, of pioneer stock, and of German ancestry.
His father, John Urbahns, was born in Holstein, Germany, but as a boy came with his parents to Indiana, locating in Porter county, where he was brought up and educated. He married, in Valparaiso, Dorothy Harbecht, who was born and reared in Germany, and subsequently continued a resident of this city. The Urbahns family were among the early settlers of Porter county, and were prominently identified with its pioneer history, taking an active part in the development of its industrial resources.
Ben H. Urbahns was educated in Valparaiso, attending both the public schools and the German Lutheran school when young, and afterwards taking a business course at the Valparaiso University. For awhile he followed the barber's trade in Valparaiso, and was afterwards a clerk in the store of J. Lowenstine & Son for six years. For four years thereafter Mr. Urbahns served as deputy county treasurer under L. H. Coplin, and in that capacity proved himself so able and efficient that in November, 1910, he was elected county treasurer of Porter county. He is filling, it is needless to say, this position with characteristic fidelity, administering the affairs of the office wisely, conscientiously and with complete thoroughness.
Mr. Urbahns is a stanch Republican in politics, ever true to the interests of his party. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Lodge, No. 137, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 500, of Valparaiso.
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: 594
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