Charles Horace Kiracofe

Narrative:

     Charles Horace Kiracofe was born on 25 Jul 1876 in Westfield, Clark Co., Illinois.^9,10,11
     He used his middle name, Horace, except in only a few formal documents.^1,17,18
     In 1879 he moved to Hartsville, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, with his parents, where his father had become president of Hartsville College.¹⁹
     He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Hartsville, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents, Charles Hiram Kiracofe and Anvilla Rundles.⁴
     Horace was taught at home by his mother until he was 10 years old, then attended Hartsville College, where he took preparatory and college subjects until his family moved away.⁶
     He moved to Dayton, Ohio, with his parents in 1889.¹⁹ There he attended the Central High School, graduating in Jun 1893.⁶ Horace spent another year at Hartville College, then entered Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jun 1898.⁶
     His family moved to Huntington, Indiana, in 1897, and Charles presumably returned there between terms at college.²⁰ He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Huntington Twp., Huntington Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents.²¹

Beginning a Newspaper Career --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He worked as a proofreader for the Springfield Journal in Springfield, Illinois, for some months before returning to Huntington in May 1899.^22,23 He became a reporter for the Daily News-Democrat in Huntington in Jul 1899. Two years later he was named news editor.^24,25,26
     Horace married Matilda Kuhlman, daughter of Friedrich Heinrich Geltmayer and Varena Long, on 14 Oct 1903 at their new home, 20 Whitestine St., Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, with Rev. C. H. Kiracofe, his father, officiating, in the presence of family and a few intimate friends.^12,13,14
     Horace was one of a group of men who purchased the company that published the Huntington Evening Herald in Nov 1905. He became the newspaper's city editor. In 1910 he became the manager of the paper, and the next year he also became editor. He sold his interest in the paper in Sep 1911, and left it altogether by the end of that year.^27,28
     Horace and Matilda appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, at 349 W Tipton St., enumerated 21 Apr 1910, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their son Melville was listed as living with them.²⁹

Shifting to a Career in Insurance --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 1 Jan 1912 Horace and William Schwartz opened offices as insurance agents at 346 North Jefferson St.. Schwartz was just completing a four-year term as county clerk, and had previously been an insurance agent. The firm was an agent for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, and also sold accident and fire insurance.^30,31 Horace registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at 349 West Tipton, Huntington Co., Indiana, reporting he was employed as an insurance agent for Schwartz, Kiracofe, and Snider.³
     Horace was named an executor in the will of Frederick Kuhlman, his wife's father, dated 5 Jul 1918.³²
     Horace and Matilda appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, at 349 W Tipton St., enumerated 3 Jan 1920, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their son Melville was listed as living with them, as was her sister, Elizabeth.³³
     Horace dissolved his partnership with Schwartz and Charles W. Snider, who had joined the firm, at the end of 1919. In Apr 1920 the state approved the formation of a new corporation, Service Insurance and Realty Co., with Horace and two others as initial directors. Horace was the manager of the new firm, which took over the general insurance business, but not the life insurance business, of the former partnership.³⁴ The Huntington Trust & Saving Bank announced in Feb 1926 that it had purchased the Insurance Service and Realty company and was opening an insurance department to carry on that business, with Horace as manager.^35,36
     Horace and Matilda appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, at 349 W Tipton St., enumerated 23 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $10,000, and did not own a radio. Their son Melville was listed as living with them, as was her sister, Elizabeth.³⁷
     By 1937 Horace had left the bank and was operating his own agency. He reported in 1940 he had worked 50 hours the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year.^38,39
     Horace and Matilda appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, at 407 Etna Ave., enumerated 11 Apr 1940, reporting they rented their home, for $25 per month, and that they had lived in the same town in 1935. Her sister Elizabeth had continued to live with them until this time, but she does not appear in the census record.^40,41
     His wife died on 20 Mar 1941 in Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana.⁴²
     Horace died on 7 Jul 1942 in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana, at age 65.¹⁵ He was buried on 8 Jul 1942 in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana.¹⁶