Monster Tractor

In April 1915, John Gruel bought a new tractor, and what a tractor — an Emerson-Brantingham Big Four "20," costing $2,350 and probably looking something like this. It was the first Big Four "20" in Lake County.

In its front-page story on this impressive purchase, the Gazette commented: "Mr. Gruel … is one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers in this section of the county."

I consider the Gruels Ainsworthites — they lived as close to Ainsworth as to any other town (on the land that is now the River Pointe Country Club) — and they were the sort of people any town would be proud to claim as its own: progressive and prosperous, yes; peaceable, sociable and well connected. We've already seen John Gruel, in 1909, play an active role in getting legislation passed that benefited Indiana dairy farmers. He also was Vice-President of the American Trust and Savings Bank in Hobart. And from what I've learned thus far of the Gruel daughters, they seem to have been women of uncommon drive. Instead of staying in their comfortable home until they chose to marry, Anna, Bertha and Emma pursued careers as nurses in Chicago hospitals, a line of work that, while interesting, must have been — dare I say it? — grueling. (Sadly, Bertha died in 1914 after undergoing surgery for goiter.) The youngest daughter, Elsie, would later become a teacher and eventually set up a scholarship fund for students at the Purdue University School of Agriculture.

So why don't I talk about them more? I hardly know, except that I can't talk about everybody and these folks don't seem to need my commentary.


Sources:
♦ "Additional Local News." Hobart Gazette 12 June 1914.
♦ "Bank Statement." Hobart News 12 June 1913.
♦ Buys New Gang Plow." Hobart Gazette 30 Apr. 1915.
♦ "Death of Bertha Gruel." Hobart Gazette 13 Nov. 1914.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 22 Oct. 1909; 6 Jan. 1911; 12 July 1912.
♦ Personal and Local Mention." Hobart News 29 Apr. 1915.
♦ "Retired Teacher Honors Her Roots." Post-Tribune 23 Nov. 1990.