The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-06
GREATHOUSE.
DEMOCRATIC
Chief, DEAD
Won Way to Business and
Political Prominence
in Nation.
AILING FOR TWO YEARS
National Secretary of Party
Will Be Laid at Rest
Saturday.

Indiana Democracys banner was
at half-staff today in honor of it's
outstanding leader educator, Charles
A. Greathouse, 81, secretary of the
Democratic national committee, who
died Thursday afternoon in ST. Vim
cents hospital
Ill for some time, Mr.. Greenhouse
underwent an operation on Oct. "a.
Much of the last two years was
spent by Mr.. Greathouse at Battle
Creek, Mich, in an effort to regain
his health, and because of this, he
took little part in the 1880 cam
paign.
Funeral services will be held at
2:30 p. m. Saturday in st. Pauls
Episcopal church, with Dr. Lewis
Brown in charge. Burial will be
private, in Crown Hill cemetery.
Meeting at the statehouse today,
members of the Indiana board Of
education adopted resolutions in
memory of Mr.. Greenhouse.
Began as School Teacher
Mr.. Greenhouse achieved business
success in the Bookwalter- Ball
Greathouse Printing Company, one
of the largest in the state. He was
president and treasurer at the time
of his death. But his prominence in
state and national politics began
when he became state superintend-
ent of public instruction in 1910.
Like many prominent Indiana po-
litical and business leaders, Mr..
Greenhouse began as a school
teacher.
He was born in Mt. Vernon, Ind,
July IT, 1869, and attended the pub
lie schools there, completing his
formal education at Indiana uni
Versity, where he was starred on
the football gridiron and baseball
diamond.
Upon graduating from college, he
returned to Posey county, where he
began teaching school. A year later
he was made county school Superin-
tendent, a position he held for ten
years. He resigned in 1905 to enter
the grain business.
Came Here in 1908
Mr. Greenhouse came to Indian
apolis in 1908. and in 1910 Cover
nor Thomas R. Marshall appointed
him as superintendent of public in
struction, to fill the uneXpired term
of Robert j. Alley former president
of Butler university, who resigned
to become president of the Univer-
sity of Maine.
Reelected twice, Mr.. Greenhouses
administration was noted for the
passage of much important school
book legislation, including the uni
form textbook law, vocational ed
ucation and improved wage stand
ards.
It was at this time, also, that he
aroused much comment when he re-
fused to serve as head of any teach
ers organization formed for the
purpose of obtaining contributions
from teachers for the Wilson-Mar-
shall campaign.
Enters Political Field
Mr.. Greenhouse was named DEM
ocratic state chairman in 1917, but
resigned a year later to accept an
appointment from President Wilson
to the federal board on vocational
education. Later he also was ap-
pointed to the board of rehabilita-
ton for disabled veterans.
Several years ago he was ap-
pointed member of the Indiana
State Normal college board of
trustees, a post he continued to
hold.
Upon resignation as national
committeeman of Edward c. Hotf-
man of Ft. Wayne in 1922, Mr..
Greathouse was appointed to sue
coed him. He was reelected in
1924, and again in 1928.
Doomed Evans WoOllen
Mr.. Greathouse was active in
promoting the candidacy of the late
Samuel M. Ralston, and three years
ago aided greatly in the "favorite
son" boom for Evans Woollen for
President.
Active in the affairs of st. PaulS
church, of which he was a veStry-
man. Mr.. Greathouse was also a
member Oh lllS Dual u VI AA0NNf
Woodstock Country Club, University
Club indianapolis Athletic Club,
indiana Democratic Club, Athen-
aeum. Murat Shrine and Scottish
Rite.
Survivors are the widow, Mrs.
Frma Ribeyre Greathouse; a son,
Charles A. Greenhouse Jr.; a daugh-
ter. Mrs. Henry J. Frenzel of Indi-
annapolis; two sisters, Mrs. John
Walters and Mrs Clarence Plock,
both of Mt. Vernon; nephew, Asa
B. Greathouse of Paris, Ill, and two
grandchildren, Suzanne and Joan
Frenzel.
Active pallbearers will be his as
sociates in the printing business:
Frank w. Ball, vice-president of
the company; John H. Bookwalter,
secretary; Frank w. Ball Jr., assist
ant superintendent of the bindery;
Joseph r. Stocker, foreman of the
pressroom; Fred H. Parker, foreman
of the composing room, and Carl w.
Holman, estimator.