Historical Images of Porter County

Cruising Town
Chesterton, Indiana

Date: Circa 1913
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not Applicable
Collection: Gordon D. Rogers
Remark: It is believed that this photograph was taken along Valparaiso Street (now called Calumet Avenue) in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana.

The man on the left, holding the reins, is Emil Anderson. Emil's friend, Fred W. Reglein is along for the ride. Fred was an employee of Reynolds & Brooks, a meat market located in Chesterton in the early 1900s. Fred was born in 1887 and died in 1952; he is interred in Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana.

The business sign behind the horse and surrey reads:
AXEL. PETERSON.
TAILOR
CLEARING & REPAERING

The following is a biography of Emil Anderson taken from Cannon, Loring, and Robb's 1927 book (pp. 501-502) concerning the history of the Calumet Region on Indiana:

EMIL ANDERSON - Emil Anderson is one of the owners of the firm known as Wannegar and Anderson, of Porter, Indiana, which occupies a distinctive place in this community, it being the only concern handling a line of lumber, coal, coke and building material. Prior to this activity Mr. Anderson had a diversified business experience. He was born in Chesterton, Indiana, on May 10, 1888, the son of Charles F. and Emma (Sederberg) Anderson, both of whom were of Swedish nativity and came to America shortly after their marriage. They located in Chesterton in 1881 and to them were born the following children: Charles W.; Hilma; J. A.; Emil; Esther, the wife of Alex Carlson; Anna, wife of Arthur Pillman; Jennie, who is now Mrs. Bryan Sewall of Gary; and Emma, the wife of John Charlesworth. Emil Anderson attended the Chesterton schools and on the completion of his studies he secured work as a grocery clerk and later served in the Gary steel mills. In 1920 he decided to come to Porter and in that year he engaged in the lumber and coal business in this town. While the nucleus of the business was modestly substantial, it was a firm foundation upon which has since been developed the present business. The firm occupies not only a singular place in the community, but also enjoys a wide measure of popularity due to the very evident fairness and good business methods used by those who direct it. On the organization of the company Frank Wannegar became a partner, and it has since been conducted as it was on its organization. Mr. Anderson married Bertha, the daughter of Frank and Alice (Czizek) Wannegar, of Porter, Indiana, the father being the partner in the firm. To this union was born one child, Dorothy May, a student in the Porter schools. Mr. Anderson belongs to a number of organizations and has probably been more active in promoting the interests of the Chamber of Commerce than any other body, but nevertheless he has found time to divert his attention to general matters of civic interest.

The following obituary for Emil Anderson was published in The Vidette-Messenger [Volume 33, Number 45, Page 6, Column 3] on August 26, 1959:

EMIL ANDERSON

PORTER -- Emil Anderson, 71, Porter, died at 5:30 a.m. today at his home on Lincoln avenue after an extended illness.

He was a lifelong resident of the Chesterton-Porter area and owner of a lumber business in Porter until 1946.

Born May 10, 1886 at Waverly to Charles and Emma Seederburg Anderson, he was married to Bertha Wannegar at Joliet, Oct. 23, 1916.

Surviving are his widow, one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Mae Rogers and one grandchild of Arizona.

Other survivors are one brother, Charles Anderson, Gary, and four sisters, Mrs. Anna Pillman, Porter, Mrs. Hilma Anderson, Gary, Mrs. James Sewell, Muskegon, Mich., and Mrs. Ruth Felton, Chicago.

The body is at Carl Edmonds Funeral home in Chesterton. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

The following obituary for Axel Peterson was published in The Chesterton Tribune on August 11, 1938:

AXEL PETERSON
Axel Peterson, a resident of Chesterton the past thirty-five years, passed away Tuesday night at 11:35 o'clock at his home on Calumet road, following a four months illness. He was 84 years 6 months and 16 days of age.

Mr. Peterson was born on Jan. 24, 1854 in Arvicka, Varmland, Sweden, the son of Peter and Anna Peterson. He came to America in April 1876 and lived in Chicago until 1903 when he came to Chesterton. He started a tailor business in Chesterton in 1911 and was active in his work until the past few years.

Surviving are three daughters, Ida E. Peterson, at home, Esther Gustafson and Mary Johnson of Oak Park, Ill; and one son, C. R. Peterson of Portland, Ore. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife, Kaisa Pearson Peterson passed away on Sept. 19, 1921 and one daughter and two sons also preceded their father in death.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the home and at 3 o'clock from the Flynn-Lundberg chapel. Interment will be in Chesterton cemetery.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook