JOHN HIPSKIND.
In the second generation of the Hipskind family, the best known and prominent representative is John Hipskind, who was named for his father, one of the four Hipskind brothers who located in Wabash in the early days, and whose careers are briefly sketched in preceding paragraphs. John Hipskind, Jr. has been for many years one of the ablest business men of Wabash, has been prominent in affairs of citizenship, and his name is related with many of the public and semi-public movements and organizations which have given vitality to local business and community affairs.
John Hipskind was born in Germany, November 17, 1850, and was four years of age when brought to this country. As a boy he attended a private school for a time, and later was a student in the public schools. His education was abridged on account of the economic necessity of the household, and when less than ten years of age, he left school and began earning his living by work in the old woolen mill at Wabash. That was his regular line of employment until he was twenty years of age, and he then began an apprenticeship of three years in the carpenter's trade. After the death of the man from whom he had learned his trade, he continued until he had completed the unfinished contract, and by the successful manner in which he prosecuted the tasks left to his care, he established a reputation for reliable performance and careful workmanship which for many years has never suffered any diminishment. Having completed the contract of his former employer, Mr. Hipskind began contracting and building on his own responsibility. That was his almost sole line of business in Wabash and vicinity for a period of thirty-two years. In 1899, associated with a son, he engaged in the plumbing and heating business, although for a time thereafter he continued working at his trade. Since 1907, his entire attention has been devoted to the plumbing and heating line. His record as a builder has been a very successful one, and among the larger contracts undertaken and carried out by him might be mentioned the present high school building, at Wabash, the Carnegie Library Building, two of the Ward schools, and many of the best residence and business blocks in the city.
The above by no means includes all of the commercial enterprise and relations of Mr. Hipskind with his community. He assisted in organizing the Wabash Building and Loan Association, the first association of that kind ever organized in Wabash, and of which he was a director for eight years. The Enterprise Building & Loan Association, and the Rock City Building & Loan Association, also received assistance from him at their beginning, and all those associations were operated practically about the same time. He also gave a hand to the organization of the Wabash Loan Fund and Building Association, of which he was treasurer during its entire existence. The Home Telephone Company, likewise had his support and assistance at its beginning and he has been a director and also treasurer of the company since its organization.
A democrat in politics, Mr. Hipskind has served as a member of the city counsel from 1887 to 1889, and from 1910 to the present time. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his family worship in the Roman Catholic faith.
On May 28, 1873, he married Barbara S. Fleck, of Wabash county, Indiana, a daughter of Christian and Margaret Fleck, deceased. Eight children have been born to this union, namely: Charles C., Sarah E., Thomas A., who died in infancy, Thomas F. Mary M., J. Lawrence, Josephine B. and James Henry. Thomas F., J. Lawrence and James Henry are partners with their father in the plumbing and heating business.
