Historical Images of Porter County

Meat Market
Chesterton, Indiana

Date: Circa 1906
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not Applicable
Collection: Gordon D. Rogers
Remark: Emil Anderson is the man on the left in this photograph. The other man is believed to be Lloyd Sherwood or William McFarlan. The meat market was located next to the five and dime store.

The scale was produced by the The Computing Scale Company of Dayton, Ohio. Printed on the two boxes to the right of the scale is the following:
QUALITY BRAND
HAMS BACON
PURE LEAF LARD
"Perfection in Pork Products"

Behind the scale is a sign reading: "WE SELL FOR CASH ONLY." Printed on the bins located behind the man on the right is the following: "Sawyer Biscuit Co., Chicago."

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.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook