William F. Ludtke, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William F. Ludtke
WILLIAM F. LUDTKE. The life of the farm has ever been one of independence, but in this twentieth century the husbandman finds his lot one of the most grateful and pleasing if he has availed himself of the splendid opportunities afforded in connection with the great basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing and has adopted progressive policies in the furtherance of his farming enterprise. To him are given the advantages of the modern facilities of machinery and the best of the accessories of urban life. His home has its telephone service, its free delivery of mail and such other accessories as he himself is willing to provide, the while he brings to bear scientific principles in connection with the various phases of his progressive enterprise. In Porter county a popular and effective representative of modern agricultural industry is William F. Ludtke, who is the owner of a finely improved farm of one hundred acres, in Pine township, and whose attractive rural home is one equipped with the most modern facilities and conveniences. The residence is a commodious and substantial brick building of attractive architectural design and equipped with furnace and other approved facilities which contribute to comfort and indicate appreciation and refined tastes. Mr. Ludtke is a native son of Porter county and a scion of one of its well known and highly honored families. He has won success through his own well ordered endeavors, and he has so ordered his course as to merit and receive the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. As one of the representative farmers and sterling citizens of his native county he is well entitled to specific recognition in this publication.
William F. Ludtke was born in Westchester township, Porter county, on the 31st of July, 1874, and is a son of John and Augusta (Grailer) Ludtke, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, where their marriage was solemnized and whence they immigrated to America in the early '70s. Soon after their arrival in the United States they came to Porter county, where the father turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and in the course of years gained definite independence and prosperity. He was a man of industry and of sterling character, and he commanded secure place in the esteem of the community. He passed to the life eternal on the 5th of April, 1899, and his widow now resides in the village of Furnessville, this county. Of the seven children William F., of this review is the eldest; Ernest resides at Furnessville; Martha, Albert, Otto and Edward maintain their home in Michigan City; and Minnie is the wife of Henry Greger, a resident of Furnessville.
The boyhood days of William F. Ludtke were passed on the homestead farm, where he early learned the lessons of self-reliance and practical industry, and he continued to attend the public schools during the winter terms until he had attained to the age of seventeen years. While still a youth he became an employe on the fine dairy farm of E. L. Furness, one of the well known pioneer citizens of Porter county, and he continued to be thus engaged for a period of six years. He was actively identified with farm work until he arrived at his legal majority, and he then went to Michigan City, where he secured employment in running machinery in the machine shop of the car manufacturing plant at that place. He was employed in the machine shop for three years and for the ensuing four years he was employed as a truck builder in the same manufactory. He was a valued member of the fire department of the car works, in which he was identified with hose company No.6, a position which he retained for six years and in which he gave most efficient service. Impaired health finally compelled Mr. Ludtke to seek less sedentary occupation, and he accordingly returned to Porter county, where he farmed on rented land for the ensuing eight years. Industrious and conservative, he was successful in his operations, and with the earnest cooperation and admonition of Mrs. Ludtke, he was finally enabled to effect the purchase of his present fine farm, upon which he has made the most admirable improvements of permanent order, the while thrift and prosperity are in evidence on every side. The beautiful and modern residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ludtke is known by their many friends for the cordial greeting and welcome extended to everyone who enters its portals, and Mrs. Ludtke has proved a most gracious chatelaine, even as she has been a devoted wife and mother. The attractive home is known as "Pine Villa," and Mr. and Mrs. Ludtke designed and planned their beautiful residence, no architect having been employed and Mr. Ludtke having done virtually all of the construction work with the exception of the brick-laying.
Mr. Ludtke is wide-awake and energetic in all his undertakings, takes a lively interest in all that concerns the general welfare of the community, and has secure vantage place in popular confidence and esteem. In politics he has been favoring the principles of the Democratic party, and in the autumn of 1908 he received the nomination of the party for the office of assessor of Pine township, his defeat being compassed by normal political exigencies implied in the superior strength of the opposing party in the township. He was affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America for sixteen years, and both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the German Lutheran church, in which he was confirmed in the church at Porter.
On the 30th of July, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ludtke to Miss Henrietta M. Wiseman, who was born in Pine township, this county, on the 2d of September, 1879, and who is a daughter of John and Hannah (Seiford) Wiseman, both of whom were born in Germany. Mrs. Ludtke gained her preliminary education in the public schools of her native township and later continued her studies in an excellent school conducted under the auspices of the German Lutheran church at Michigan City, where she remained until the time of her confirmation in the church. Mr. and Mrs. Ludtke are endeavoring to give their three children the best possible educational advantages, so that they may be fitted for lives of usefulness and honor. Sylvia E., the eldest of the children, was graduated in the public schools as a member of the class of 1911 and has also received excellent training in vocal and instrumental music. She is a young lady of marked intelligence and much personal charm, is at the present time a student in the German Lutheran school and she received confirmation in the church in October, 1912. John W. is a member of the class of 1913 in the public schools, is an ambitious student and has taken special interest in the course of study touching agricultural industry. Elsie M., the youngest of the children, is in the seventh grade of the public schools and is a winsome figure in the family circle, the home relations of the Ludtke family being in every sense ideal.
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: 757-759
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