The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-04
FIVE CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS ON
LIST RECOMMENDED FOR MAYORS CHAIR
lSeIections Made by Group
of Delegates From Large
! Number. jtsII.I

and an educator form the list Of
five men chosen Thursday by the
representatives of more than sixty
civic and business organization as
The c::len from whom they will rec
ommend that city council elect a
mayor to fill out the term of John
L, DuvalI.
Brief biographies of the five fol-
low:
CHARLES F.. COFFIN-vice
president and general counsel of
the State Life Insurance Company,
was born on farm In Marion
County June 2, 1856. After receiv-
ing his early education in the pub
lie schools of Westfield, he entered
De PAW University, where he was
graduated in 1881 with a degree of
bachelor of arts, and three years
later with a degree Of master of
arts.
; After teaching schools in Indian
apolis, Connersville and New AL
bany, Coffin, in 1885, took up the
study of law at New Albany. In
1886 he was admitted to the bar.
From 1887 to 1893 he practiced law
at Wichita, Kan. In 1894, after
serving as dean of the law school
at De PAW one year, Coffin en-
tered the general practice of law
here mad was one of a group to or
ganize the State Life Insurance
Company.
His civic service was distin-
guished by his Chamber of Com
merce activities. He was the only
man to be chosen president of the
local Chamber three successive
years without solicitation on his
part. He was instrumental in get
ting the law enacted creating the
city plan commission. He is chair
man of the directors of the City
Manager League.
Coffin is a Mason, member of the
Commandery, knights Tenplar,
knights of Pythias, Indianapolis
Athletic Club, Highland Golf and
Country Club, Literary Club and
Century Club. He is married and
has three children. The family
home is at 1905 N. Meridian st.
JACOB FREDERICK HOKE, Jr.
-Vice-president and treasurer of
the Holcomb & Hoke Manufacture
ing Company, was born at Jeffer-
Sontown, KY, Aug. 9, 1871. After en-
gaging in farming, teaming, sawnill
labor and clerking during hsi boy
hood, Hoke, at 20, became a clerk
in the hardware store of j. F. Hoke,
merchant and banker, at Sullivan,
Ind.
In 1896 he became associated with
j. I. Holcomb in the forerunner of
the present business, which came
to indianapolis from Sullivan in
1905. The company is the largest
manufacturer of popcorn and
peanut roasting machines in the
world.
Hoke was active in Liberty Loan,
Y. M. G. A, and personnel work
during the World War. He is trustee
of De Paw University, director of
the Y. M. G. A., former president
of the Community Chest, trustee of
the Methodist Hospital, member of
the Methodist Church. His only
public office was that of town clerk
and treasurer Of Sullivan in 1904,
at salary of $3.50 a year.
Hoke's club and fraternal mem
berships include Masons, Scottish
Rite, Knights Templar, Mystic
Shrine, Rotary Club. Highland Golf
and Country Club, Woodstock Club,
University Club, Indianapolis Ath-
letic Club, Indiana Democratic
Club, Chamber of Commerce and
Board of Trade.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoke live at 3445
Washington Blvd.
THOMAS CARR HOWE-Presi-
dent of Butler University from 1908
to 1920, actively identified with ed
ucational and civic undertakings in
Indianapolis and Indiana for
many years, was born on a farm
in Charlestown Township, Clark
County, Indiana, Aug. 5, 1867.
He entered Butler in 1884, after
preliminary education in the public
school of Charlestown, and from
Butler was graduated in 1889 with
the degree of Bachelor Of Philosophy
Marrying in 1890, Mr.. and Mrs.
Howe spent two years in Berlin,
where he studied Germanic
languages and literatures.
After another four years as pro-
fessor at Butler, Howe entered
Harvard University, where he re-
ceived his Master of Arts degree in
1897 and the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in 1899. Outstanding in
his work for Butler was his direction
of the $250,O00 endowment cam
paign.
From Dean, in 1907, Howe became
Buffers president in 1908, to con-
tinue in that post until private
affairs demanded all his attention
in 1920.
In 1905, Howe was State Rep
resentative from Marion County. He
once unsuccessfully opposed Lew
Shank for the Republican nominal
ton for mayor. He has been active
in community chest work, Indiana
public library commission, city plan
commission, board of zoning appeals,
teachers retirement fund and Dis
ciples of Christ Church affairs.
He is a Mason, member of In
dianapolis Literary Club, University
Club, Columbia Club, Indianapolis
Athletic Club, Chamber of Com
merce and Athenaeum. He has ex-
tensive business interests in
Kokomo. He lives at 1912 N. Meri-
dian St.
WILLIAM H. INSLEY-President
of the Insley Manufacturing Com
pany, was born Jan. Is, 1870, at
Terre Haute, Ind. Receiving his
common school education in Foun-