The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-07-26
T. CHICAGO
HONORS z
BOOSTERS
City Names New Parks AT
ter Commander r. H.
Tod and Co. w. J. Riley,
in Recognition of Their
Work.

Z
I In naming two az its parks after
Lieut.. Commander Robert IT Tod. U
/ S. y. r. and Col Walter J. Riley
the park commissioners Of the city OF
East Chicago have recognized in be-
half OF the municipality the civic ser
vices rendered by the two men. who
have had so much to do with the com
munity's industrial and financial de-
velopment
THE PARKS.
The park named after Commander
Tod is located on both sides Of For
sythe avenue and south Of the west
branch OF the Indiana Harbor ship ca
nal a waterway for which Tod Is
| chiefly RESPONSIBLE Col Rney's name
has been given to the park at Chicago
and Grasselli avenues where the rest
dents OF the Calumet section have
their recreation center The park Is
proved. East Chicago having sold
s125.ooO worth 81 bonds FOR park inn
provement purposes.
LARGEST IN COUNTY.
In developing its park system East
Chicago Is not doing il on small
scale by any means. and Tod and
Riley parks are only part OF the sites
owned Tod park. As acres in area.
Is the largest not only in Lake coun-
" but in Northern Indiana. Riley
park is Is acres in size and for some
time has served as playground CEN
ter for the children Of the neighbor-
hood
MIR. TOD An ACTIVE MAN.
Commander Tod IS one OF the pio-
neer boosters of East Chicago He
first became identified with the COM
munity In 1887 at the time Of its found
ing being associated with the late
Gen. Terrence in the Standard Steel
and Iron copany from which has
evolved the present East Chicago COM
pany In the early COS Mr. Tod was
located in the new town. Then he went
to New York and engaged in the bank
ing business. As New York banker
and millionaire with large corporate
and financial interests. Mr.. Tod never
lost his eagerness 10 see East Chicago
a great Industrial community. Besides
his work for the ship canal ne helped
TO bring many industries TO the city.
and TO develop the East Chicago COM
pany. organized in 1901 and whose ac-
tive control came into his hands in
industrial sites on the railroads and
waterways in Hammond and in the
Calumet Indiana Harbor and z. Chi
cago section Of the city. Mr.. Tod. who
also has an East Chicago street named
after him. is president Of the East
Chicago company. being associated on
the board with two local directors
Col Riley and his partner. c A. West
berg.
ENTERED NAVY AT so.
Although around the 50-year mark
Mr. Tod volunteered his services when
the war broke out in 1917 lie is one
Of the few private individuals who
r bids a master mariners certificate
from the government. emitting him toI
command a ship. Sec. Daniels made
Mr. Tod IN officer in the reserve corps
OF the navy and induced many wealthy
Americans to donate their pleasure
crafts to the government For time
he commanded the coast -defenses Of
an Atlantic seaport When J p
Morgan's palatial yacht. the "Corsair."
was commissioned a man-o'-war 1t.
Tod was made its commanding officer.
He took the ship across the Atlantic
10 the battle fleet in French waters.
Promoted 10 be lieutenant commander
Mr. Tod was made port commander at
Brest and in charge Of debarkation OF
troops After the government began
10 develop Brest for army. navy and
marine corps uses Commander Tod /
was made. and stlil serves as commits |
oner Of public works there.
COT. RILEY HoNORED.
In giving his name to one of the
new parks the city Of East Chicago is
taking official cognizance Of citizen
VINO has served IL il an official ca
pacity al we'll as in other ways Col
Riley was the FIRST city Judge and later
was member OF the board Of public
works.
Coming to East Chicago In Nav
1917 Mr. Riley engaged in the law
and real estate business When the .
first Calumet Trust and Savings bank |
was founded he became its vlce-pres-
ident. In 1915 he was promoted 70 be
president OF the bank His financial I
interests broadened and ne organized I
and became president Of the First /
Trust and Savings Bank in Indiana |
Harbor in 1914 In 1918 he became |
pesident Of two more East Chicago |
banks. the First National and First |
Trust and Savings. When Governor |
Goodrich assumed Office he appointed !
Mr. Riley a member OF his STAFF with |
rank of colonel in the Indiana Nation |
al Guard Besides the presidency Of /
the four banks Co. Riley Is also the /
president OF the o. F Jordan COM |
pany. railwNy machinery manufactur-
ers. an officer and director In numer- |
Gus other financial affairs and indus |
trial enterprises.