Kruge-Frey Television & Electronic Corp. December 4, 1930 – 1931.                                                        “to generally deal in & with all kinds of electrical supplies, machinery, articles and appliances, including telephones, television, radios, batteries, lamps, and mill factory supplies”. This is a very early date to be selling televisions retail to the public; I don’t think there was a television station in the area. Maybe Kruge and Frey wanted to impress the public that they were modern, cutting edge electricians. Anyway, the business didn’t last. The owners were: August W. Krug – 42 years old, earlier worked for an electric supply company, and later got a job as an engineer for the Omar Baking Company. Helen Kruge –  36 years old, August’s wife. Lewis W. Frey – 36 years old, earlier  worked for the National Car Company as a machinist, and I think later moved to Detroit, Michigan,  to work for an auto company.

An Archive volunteer came across a Civil War burial card for Pvt. John Auten. Auten enrolled at South Bend, Indiana, on April 17, 1861, five days after the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, the beginning of the Civil War. He joined the 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Co. L, commanded by Indianapolis native, Brig General Thomas Morris. They engaged the Confederates at Laurel Hill, Virginia, the first land battle in the Civil War. Auten was killed  on July 10, 1861, when the 9th Regiment charged the Confederate breastworks, becoming the first Indiana soldier killed in the Civil War. The burial card noted he died at nearby Belington, VA, (now West VA). Three days later his funeral was held at the South Bend, IN, Courthouse.

H. Lauter Furniture Industries, 1907 – 1932. “for the purpose of manufacturing furniture”. This business was located at 55 South Harding St, at the corner of West Washington Street and Harding Street. This was the largest furniture maker in Indianapolis at the time, and its building now houses the H. Lauter Lofts, Luxury Condominiums. This company was earlier started by Herman Lauter, a German immigrant, who was also instrumental in the founding of Manual High School.  I think the company mainly made office desks. Herman died in 1907,so this incorporation must have been a reorganization of the Company’s directors : Alfred Lauter – 35 years old and the son of Herman. Six female family members were also designated as directors.

L.A. Share Company, incorporated on January 26, 1903, “for the purpose of manufacturing, buying and selling Wood Rings, Saddle Reeds, Boxes, and other articles”. The directors were: Horace O. Wright – wholesale dry goods merchant.                                   David Wright – merchant. Louis A. Share – woodworker. Fletcher Hines – grandson of Calvin Fletcher, Indianapolis pioneer, lawyer, banker, large land owner in Marion County. At this time Hines was a horse breeder at Millersville, just northeast of Indianapolis. He might have been living at his uncle’s, Stoughton Fletcher’s, mansion in Millersville, Laurel Hall. There was a horse stable there for many years, through the 1970s, across the street from Laurel Hall.

An Archive volunteer, working on the records of the Soldiers and Sailors Childrens’ Home in Knightown, IN, came across a photo of a the Home’s van made by Indiana Truck. The van is sitting in front of the Home’s original administration building and the photo is marked “ca 1920”. Indiana Trucks were made in Marion, IN, from 1910 to 1933. The company was owned by George C. Harwood and Charles G. Barley.

Jenny Electric Motor Company, in business from January 17, 1890 to ca 1910.  “the manufacture and sale of electric motors”. This Indianapolis company manufactured direct-current dynamos for large machines. Its factory was located on the east side next to the Belt Railroad. The directors were: Charles D. Jenny – President. He had an 1882 patent for an electric-arc lamp, and an 1884 patent for an Automatic Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines. Edwin W. Jenny – an electrician and older brother of Charles D Jenny. Amos K. Hollowed – V.P. and Treasurer of the D.H. Rank Publishing Co., and Treasurer of the Nordyke & Marmon Co. Albert A. Barnes – Proprietor of the Udell Wooden Ware Works.   Addison Bybee – President of the Woodburn-Serven Wheel Co. Julius F. Pratt – Treasurer of the Consumers Gs Trust Co., and V.P. and Treasurer of the Woodburn-Serven Wheel Co.

Joseph P. Deery & Company, established on January 16, 1914.                                                           “to conduct the business of painting and decorating houses & structures of all kinds, upon the interior and exterior”. The Directors were: Joseph P. Deery – 22 years old, decorator, later became a salesman for Sherwin-William Paints. Kenneth K. Wooling – 22 years old, later became an architect.James New – 22 years old, became a druggist. Bowman Elder – 25 years old, realtor. He was a descendent of Indianapolis pioneer John Elder, and was very active in Indiana’s Centennial Celebration in 1916.

Jones-Hogue Company, incorporated on April 17, 1903. “to promote, finance, construct, equip, rent and operate  in the State of Indiana and elsewhere, street and interurban railroads and plants for the creation and distribution of electric and other heat, light and power”. The mammoth Traction Terminal Building, located in Indianapolis at the n/w corner of Market & Illinois Streets was erected in 1904. Maybe this company was organized to bid on the Terminal’s construction. The Directors were: H. Whitford Jones – President. He was a building contractor. George A. Taylor – he was a railroad engineer. Arthur B. Hogue – V.P. and General Manager. He became the proprietor with William M Prosser of the Terminal Station Saloon. George A. Hogue, 2nd V.P. – A carpenter. Edward E. Elliot – Secretary. A machinist. Lucie L. Green – Bookkeeper?

The Joseph Eastman Hospital, in business from July 1, 1905 to 1921; “to establish and maintain a general hospital for the treatment of sick, wounded and injured persons, giving medical, surgical and obstetrical treatment thereto…and to establish and maintain a school for the education and training,of nurses”. This medical clinic was located at 331 N. Delaware St. in downtown Indianapolis. This was probably a name change from the Joseph Eastman Sanitorium, which was located at the same address. The Directors were:  Thomas B. Eastman, Physician. Joseph Rilus Eastman,  Physician. Mary K Eastman, Secretary.

Canada Dry Bottling Company; July 13,1939 – 1945 Tom Joyce, President. He also owned the local 7-UP franchise. Frank J. McCarthy Vice-President. G.F. Joyce, Sec-treasurer. Robert Joyce, General Manager. E.H. Peck. Operations were at 123 West 22nd Street, Indianapolis.

Boston Systems Dentists (Originally Taft’s Dental Parlors) March 2, 1917 – May 31, 1943             “engaging in & carrying on the business of dentistry & every branch thereof; the manufacture, buying, selling and dealing in dental supplies, artificial dentists’ crowns & bridgework, porcelain inlays, and other merchandise.” Directors were C.A. Cash, J. Dan Moschelle, Omar O’Horrow. In Indianapolis the business was known as Taft’s Dental Parlors and was located at 25 1/2 West Washington Street. On December 7, 1929, the business was bought & the name changed to the Boston System Dentists, and was moved to 800 Broadway, Gary, Indiana. The new owners were Elizabeth Scott – President, C. H. Lietzman – Treasurer, and G. B. Gardner – Secretary.

The Kelloniemi Manufacturing Co. February 14, 1918. “to manufacture barn door locks, buy, sell, import, export and generally deal in barn door locks and machinery for the purpose of manufacturing barn door locks.” The directors were W. Kelloniemi, Victor Viiki, and Walter Anderson, all from Lead, South Dakota.

Kelvinator Indianapolis, Inc. August 11, 1927 – 1929. “engaging in the business of buying, selling, and generally dealing in mechanical, electrical, and other refrigeration and cooling appliances and products, particularly Kelvinator Refrigerators.” The Kelvinator Company was founded in 1914 and was manufactured in Detroit, Michigan. The Kelvinator brand of refrigeration systems is still being manufactured in different locations around the world. The owners of this Indianapolis franchise were Charles L. Bieler, Maria F. Bieler, and Charles W. Richardson.

The Indiana Macaroni and Noodle Co., incorporated on May 14, 1923. “To manufacture and produce, buy and sell food products of all kinds, including macaroni, noodles, and other wheat products.” The directors were Philip Purport – a fruit salesman, probably at the City Market. He was born in Wisconsin but his parents were Italian; Sol M. Teresi – attorney and counselor-at-law; Vincent H. Mercurio – lawyer: in the 1930s he lived in Miami Beach, Florida.

Indiana Melo-Cola Co, incorporated on October 11, 1912. The objective was “to manufacture, compound, prepare, bottle and otherwise pack and sell at wholesale or retail, a non-intoxicating beverage and drink called and known as Melo-Cola”. The directors were Charles F. Skehan – an auto insurance salesman; J. Edwin Stein – an insurance salesman; M.J. Moreland – insurance agent; James M. Crume – President of the Majestic Life Insurance Co.; M.A. Hamilton – a bookkeeper. I wonder how a bunch of insurance guys became interested in the soft drink business.

Old Reliable Paint Co., incorporated from August 24, 1909 to 1936. The objective was “to buy and sell paints, varnishes and all kinds of painters supplies, at wholesale and retail”. This store was located at 366 S. Meridian St., and then at 505 S. Meridian St. The first incorporators were Sol Wile- originally a house painter; Samuel Wile – originally a carpenter; Clarence E. Utely – possibly an accountant. It is interesting that a retail paint store would be located in what we now consider as “downtown”, and that it stayed in business for about 26 Years. Also, I like the name of the store!

Styx Realty and Finance Co., incorporated from May 9, 1925 to 1936. The objective was “to buy, own, and sell real estate, and to act as a holding company for the Sahara Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R. (Mystic Order Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm).” Its office was at 1236 Park Ave., Indianapolis. The original directors were Oliver R. Wald – undertaker; Charles O. Martin – clothing store salesman; Lawrence Drapier – advertising salesman;  Samuel A. Johnson – paper company salesman; Charles C. Brautigan – salesman; Othneil Hitch – lawyer; Lewis Nowlin – paper company salesman; Winston E. Pedlow – bookkeeper; Ralph R. Reeder – tinner; Oscar Lee – paper hanger; Elihah H. Hughes – Marion County State Bank Cashier. Certainly a diverse set of investors in the organization. I imagine this company was set up as supplemental income for the Sahara Grotto. Also, does the term “Styx” refer to the River Styx in Hell?

Ex-Servicemen’s Purchasing Association, incorporated in 1924. The purpose was to buy and sell merchandise and obtain discounts from merchants “upon purchases made by men who have been in the military or naval service of the United States”. Directors were Homer K. Wiley – retail merchant; Oscar E. Scruggs – a salesman, and H. Earl Brown.

Ewald Spring Service Co., incorporated on May 22, 1923. The objective was “particularly the replacing of springs and spring parts for automobiles”. The directors were Louis C. Ewald – and employee of the Studebaker Corporation in South Bend, IN; Norman J. Bolton – a machinist; Anne E. Miller – bookkeeper.

Exlo Products Co., incorporated on February 28, 1923. The objective was “the manufacture and sale of a device relating to steering post controls for Ford Motor Cars”, at 10-12 N. Oriental. The directors were A. Hough Adams – president of Adams-McCullough Co.: an auto parts manufacturer; Roscoe R. Mills – purchasing agent for an auto company; Cressah L. Hindbaugh – bookkeeper.

Excel Film Co., incorporated on December 21, 1915. The objective was “to manufacture, lease, rent, buy, sell and distribute films for moving picture shows”. The directors were Cecil A. Patrick -salesman; Mildred Patrick – bookkeeper; Harry J. Brooks – motion picture film distributor (Harry did this work through the 1950s).

The Exhibitors Service Co., incorporated on February 8, 1912. The objective was “to buy sell, rent, lease and deal in theatres, moving picture shows, films, slides & supplies; to illustrate songs, to book plays, vaudeville sets”. The directors were William H. Cleveland and Glen O. Dixon – salesmen.

Indiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co., incorporated on June 19, 1902. The objective was the “buying and selling of Coca-Cola and other liquids. The said liquids to be bought in bulk, bottled in convenient bottles and sold in that form”. The directors were S.B. Tinsley – a teacher in Louisville; Louis K. Webb – a telephone company manager in Louisville; S.B. Overton – a teacher in Louisville; E.C. Toner – a newspaper reporter in Anderson, IN.
The first City Directory listing of a Coca-Cola Bottling Works in Indianapolis was in 1905 at 724 E. Washington St., with J. Bornscheim as manager; in 1910 it was located at 101 S. Cruse St. In 1934 an art-deco style Coca-Cola Bottling Plant was built in Indianapolis at 858-862 Massachusetts Ave; this building is still standing and has had different uses.

Charles Edison’s Auto Laundry, incorporated on April 13, 1938, at 1134 N. Meridian St. The objective was the “washing, polishing, servicing and storage of all kinds of motor vehicles”.

Em-Ten Tavern, Inc., incorporated on July 9, 1934 at 5108 E. 10th Street. The owners were William E., Ada & George Youngman : all of Indianapolis. This building is still at the southeast corner of 10th Street and Emerson Avenue, and is now known as Greene’s Pub.

Casmire Manufactory Co., incorporated from 1912 to 1922, “to manufacture ice cream freezers”. Directors were William C. Bobbs – President of the Bobbs-Merrill Co., a famous Indianapolis publisher of many bestseller books in the first half of the 20th Century: his company started as a bookstore in 1850; C.B. McCulloch – a general practice physician; Bert A. Casmire – an attorney and manufacturer. Their office was at 316 Board of Trade Building.

Cher-ee Cola Co., incorporated in 1908 at 129 W. Market St. Henry D. Tutewiler, an undertaker, was the owner. This drink did not sell!

Dunes Highway Realty Co., incorporated on November 7, 1927, by E.C. Doering, an optician located in Gary, Lake County, Indiana, at 692 Broadway. This company was formed two years after the Dunes Indiana State Park was established, and 21 years after the city of Gary was founded by the U.S. Steel Company.

Chemical Products Co., incorporated in 1911. The objective was “to manufacture polish”. Its vice-president was Meredith Nicholson. This Hoosier author had best-selling books in the early 1900s and later had diplomatic posts in Paraguay, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Electric Machine Corp., incorporated from 1921 to 1928, at 236 E. 15th St. The objective was “to manufacture electric parts for automobiles and appliances”, and was part of the W.J. Holliday & Co. According to the historical sketch for the W.J. Holliday & Co. Records at the Indiana Historical Society, “Holliday & Co. had entered the auto accessory business, but the focus was dropped when the company began wholesaling mill, mine, and industrial supplies”. Maybe they had contracts with local auto manufacturers like Stutz, Duesenberg, and Cole, whose sales were dwindling by the late 1920s.
The directors were Joseph C. Schaf, Jr. – he was earlier a realtor, but he then became vice-president of this company; his father owned an Indianapolis brewing company; Burrell Wright – an Indianapolis attorney; William J. Holliday – secretary of the W.J.Holliday Co: he succeeded his father in this company which was originally a hardware store.

Excelsior Manufacturing Co., incorporated from 1912 to 1914, at 526 E. Washington St. The objective was “to manufacture horseshoes and non-slip attachments for horseshoes”. The directors were Frank F. Jacobs – an Indianapolis veterinarian; J. Frank Young – owned a livery stable; Robert E. Woods – hardware store; George V. Coffin – the Sheriff of Marion County; William H. Kershner – manager of the American Engineering Company. I’m not sure why they would form a company to make horseshoes when automobiles were becoming so popular, unless they had a specific contract with someone like the Sheriff Department.

Indianapolis Old-Mill Co., incorporated from September 16, 1920 to 1924. The objective was “to maintain and operate buildings and grounds containing water devices and apparatus, for presenting amusements and entertainments…in the town of Broad Ripple, Indiana”. Incorporators were H.S. Burpee – Banker in Rockford, Illinois; Charles Otto Breinig – Manager and Director of Amusements at the Wintergarden Amusement Co.: lived in Terre Haute, Indiana; George E. Christina – movie house projectionist and lived in Broad Ripple at 1810 E. 62nd Street.

Columbia Creosoting Co., incorporated in 1904. The investors were W.A. Hughes – and Indianapolis lawyer; Stoughton Fletcher – a prominent Indianapolis banker; it’s interesting that Fletcher would invest in creosoting.

Colored Men’s Business Association, incorporated in 1904. The African-American organizers were Mathew B. Allen – a gardener; William H. Clayton – a servant; William Sherry Clayton – a laborer; Aaron Gann – a laborer; Samuel D. Williams – a janitor; Hazzard Wood – a coachman; J.O. Corley – a porter.

Chandler & Taylor Co., incorporated in 1888. They built engines, boilers, and saw mills. According to the Indianapolis Illustrated, published in 1893, this firm was preceded in 1858 by Wiggins & Chandler and organized in 1868 as Chandler & Taylor. Their manufacturing plant and office was located at 370 W. Washington St. and covered three acres. The 1888 directors were Thomas E. Chandler – President; William M. Taylor – secretary; Franklin Taylor – treasurer; George M. Chandler – purchasing agent; Henry G. Werbe – bookkeeper.(I believe Werbe was the son of an early Indianapolis grocer.)

Colfax Refining Corp.,incorporated in 1927. The investor was Schuyler C.(Colfax) Mowrer, an Indianapolis attorney who lived at 728 Middle Drive, Woodruff Place. He was named after a Vice President of the United States from Indiana, Schuyler Colfax, but I’m not sure if he was related to him. Incidentally, Mowrer was overcome by poison gas during WWI and almost died.

County Investment Co., incorporated from1925 to 1927. Their investments were real estate, insurance, stocks, bonds, etc. The directors were J.Voris Tobin, an insurance agent, president; Estes Duncan – a farm manager; F.C. Tucker – president of the F.C. Tucker Real Eastate Co., which was founded in 1918 and is still in business.

College of Musical Art, incorporated from 1907 to 1920, located at 824 N. Pennsylvania. The purpose was to teach “Piano, Voice,Violin, Harp, and Cornet. The directors were Grace Pierce & Oliver Willard Pierce -piano teacher and former President of the Metropolitan School of Music, room 8, 131 W. Market St.

Carriage Builder Publication Co. Incorporated in 1901 by John F. Wood and Labant Wood, printers at 40 1/2 E. Washington St. I wouldn’t think this would be very popular at the beginning of the Automobile Age.

Colored Union Oil Co , incorporated in 1907. The objective was to drill for oil and mining. The African-American stockholders were Elwood C. Knox – secretary and treasurer of the Freeman Publishing Co.; Joseph H. Ballard -a physician; John J. Buckner – a porter; John B. Goins – a waiter; H.L. Sanders – manufactured clothing, mainly uniforms; and Rev. C.H. Johnson.

Indianapolis Athletic Club, Incorporated from June 21, 1920 to 1939, located at 350 N. Meridian St. The objective was “to advance & encourage physical culture and manly sports; to promote social intercourse among its members; to provide for them the convenience of club houses, golf grounds, aviation & athletic fields , trap shooting , tennis and all other out door and indoor sports and amusements”. The original signers were: Henry C. Campbell – President of the Club and V.P of the Charles E. Stutz Sales Co.; Herbert L. Bass- architect located in Suite 801 of the Hume-Mansur Building; Lucius M. Wainwright – First V.P. of the Club and President of the Diamond Chain Co; Soughton A. Fletcher – Treasurer of the Club and President of the Fletcher American National Bank; William H. Oakes – Secretary & Treasurer of the Oakes Co., a manufacturer automobile parts; Harry A. Stutz – founder of the Stutz Motor Car Co.; Arthur B. Baxter – owner of the Keyless Lock Co.; Almus G. Ruddell – President of the Central Rubber and Supply Co.; Charles L. Bushman – V.P. and General Manager of the Lewis Meir & Co.: clothing manufacturers.

By 1939 the officers of the Indianapolis Athletic Club were: Joseph W. Stickney – President of the Club and owner of an insurance agency; Roy W. Adams – First V.P. of the Club and Chairman of the Board of the J.D. Adams Co.: manufactures of road graders; Ralph Reahard – Second V.P. of the Club and Director of the Pharmacy Division of Eli Lilly & Co.; Bowman Elder – Treasurer of the Club and owner of the Bowman Real Estate Agency. Bowman was the great-grandson of John R.Elder, editor of the early Indianapolis newspaper: the Locomotive.

Columbia Meter Co., incorporated in 1909. The officers were Charles Test – President, and Skiles Test – Secretary & Treasurer. At the time, Charles Test was President of the National Motor Vehicle Co. and his son, Skiles Test, had just graduated from High School. They both lived at 795 Middle Drive, Woodruff Place, Indianapolis. Later, Skiles became an eccentric farmer/inventor who became famous for his home on the northeast side of Indianapolis: The House of Blue Lights.

Central City Realty Co., incorporated in 1911 by Ralph S. Norwood. Ralph might be related to George Norwood, a wagon maker and owner of the “Norwood Block” in early Indianapolis.

Central Amusement Co., incorporated from 1910 to 1927; theater owners with an office at 133-135 N. Illinois St. Directors were Max Flaskamp, born in Germany in 1879, and seems to have been a professional wrestler and promoter in Chicago in the early 1900s; Benjamin V. Barton – theater manager; and Martin Hugg – general practice lawyer. In 1910 they owned the Lyric Theater and two 5-cent moving picture shows in Indianapolis.

German-American Boating Club of Indianapolis, incorporated on February 2, 1906. Its purpose was “to promote friendly and social relations among its members and their associates, and to build and maintain boating facilities for its members”.  They didn’t say where these boating facilities were to be built. Incorporators were Ernest A. Kottlowski – a general contractor & builder; Gus Breuminger – a department manager at Vonnegut Hardware; and William E. Krieger – an undertaker.

Frank Bird Transfer Co., incorporated from June 24, 1890 to April 30, 1929. (Its unusual to find a company in business for this many years in these incorporation papers). Its purpose was “to carry & transmit freight, passengers and baggage to & from the railroads & other points in said city {Indianapolis}”; with their office on Union Street, 319 E. New York Street, and later at 23 W. Henry Street. The officers were Frank Bird – proprietor; Francis L. Golibart – bookkeeper; and Charles Gilliland. The original incorporation papers were notarized by John S. Tarkington, who in 1890 was the manager of Fletcher’s Safe Deposit Co. He was the father of the future author Booth Tarkington and they lived at 598 N. Pennsylvania St.