His Own House in Town

John Baessler, whom we've only mentioned so far as the brother of Michael Baessler, Jr., was born and raised on his parents' farm in Union Township, Porter County. In 1888 he married Sophia Ols of Hobart, and as their little family grew, John continued to farm — moving around, renting land. In 1900 he rented a farm in Portage Township, Porter County. In 1909 he moved into Ross Township, renting land somewhere about two miles southwest of Ainsworth; five years later he moved again, renting Earle Blachly's farm on "the Joliet Road," aka 73rd Avenue. Four and a half years later, he'd had enough of farming, and of living in other people's houses.


(Click on images to enlarge)



And so the 1920 census finds John and Sophia living in their own house on Lake Street in Hobart. John has not retired — he is earning wages in some capacity in, I believe, a garage (the version of the census I'm using is almost illegible).


Sources:
♦ 1880 Census.
♦ 1900 Census.
♦ 1910 Census.
♦ 1920 Census.
♦ Indiana Marriage Collection.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 5 Mar. 1909; 30 Jan. 1914; 26 Sept. 1919.
♦ "Public Sale." Hobart Gazette 30 Jan. 1914; 26 Sept. 1919.