The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-28

Of character, while his persistency m
the face of difficulties was q factor in
the rejuvenating of Industry in this
city after the Hammond Packing Com
pany left. l feel the loss Of him keen
""
DAIr. Gostlin was one Of the builders
OF Hammond stated Peter w. Meyn.
The loss to his immediate associates
and to the city OF Hammond is heavy
one. He was one Of the builders OF
the city and did more for industry
here than any other man"
sIXTY-FOUR YEARS OLD.
William II. Gostlin was born De-
cember >. 1882. on a farm near Brock
viMe. Canada, being the youngest OF
the six children Of Thomas and Sarah
(Kerr) Costlin.
In 1862 the family moved to the vi
einity of Wadsworth. o.. where he at
tended school At the age Of seven
teen. in 1869. he moved to Chicago
where he attended school. And subse-
quently became identified with the
distillery business in that city. and
continued in that line until 1879. In
that year congress passed law ia
vorable to vinegar makers. as result
of which Mr.. Gostlin became engaged
was the first manufacturer of vinegar
under that new law. The following
year he established at Crystal Lake.
Ill, the largest viWgar factory of that
time His relations with the business
continued until April 1852. when he
disposed Of hi sinterests to j. J. VIII
son.
From crystal Lake Mr.. GostHn came
- -aar in q
NJ. NJ TowIe he erected the Nj 81
Towle Distilling & Syrup plant. being
the second industry located in the
Calumet region.
Mr.. P. ". Meyn recalled today that
he was the first man in Hammond who
ever worked for Mr. Gostlin. When
the syrup factory was located here Mr..
Meyn was driving a team and he haul
ed equipment from the railroad to the
site of the plant at Holman street and
the Grand Calumet river
The factory burned in 1887 and Mr..
Gostlin went into the dredging busi-
ness and for two years was one OF
the contractors in the dredging Of the
grounds of the Worlds Fair in Chi
cago. and also for two years used his
organization in the constructDn of the
Chicago Drainage canal.
In the meantime Mr.. Gostlin had be-
gun his real estate activities which
commanded the greater part of his
time and energies. In 1883 he laid out
two subdivisions. known Gostlin $
first and second additions. and 1899
became head of the firm of Gostlin.
Warren & Webb. which laid out
Homewood. a tract of 10 acres, and
Riverside containing twenty acres. In
one year this firm built forty houses
in Riverside. In the Homewood addi-
ton the buildings were restricted to
the erection Of residences at certain
fixed cost, on fifty foot lots. and neith-
er business blocks or school houses
were allowed in that district. Mr..
Gostlin's home on Holman street, fac
ing Harrison Park is located in this
addition and is one of the many fine
residences of the city.
In 1902 the real estate firm of Cost
lin. Meyn & Company was organized
and in 1905 it was Incorporated with a
capital stock of 100000. In 1913 the
capital stock was increased to $500. .000
The first officers were William a.
Gostlin. president; A. Murray Turner
vice president, Peter w. NIeyn, secre-
tary and treasurer. Through the ae-
tivities of Mr. Gostlin, together with
those of the other members of the
firm, this company has been the most
important mediums Of real estate
transactions in Hammond. and through
its large resources has undertaken
many important improvements. 1t has
done much TO beautify the city. plant