Charles Horace Kiracofe1,2,3

ID# 23151, (1876 - 1942)
FatherCharles Hiram Kiracofe4,5,6 (25 Jan 1845 - 21 Feb 1921)
MotherAnvilla Rundles7,6,8 (15 Oct 1843 - 12 Feb 1924)

Key Events:

Birth: 25 Jul 1876, Westfield, Clark Co., Illinois9,10,11
Marriage: 14 Oct 1903, 20 Whitestine St., Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, Matilda Kuhlman (May 1872 - 20 Mar 1941)12,13,14
Death: 7 Jul 1942, Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana15
Burial: 8 Jul 1942, Mt. Hope Cemetery, Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana16
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker

Copyright Notice

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

Children:
     Child with Johana Matilda Kuhlman:

  • Melville Kuklman Kiracofe29,33,27 (24 May 1908 - 24 Jun 1982)

Citations

  1. [S11084] Charles H. Kiaracofe household, 1880 U.S. Census, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, shows name as Horrace Kiaracofe.
  2. [S11086] Chas H. Kiracofe household, 1900 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows name as C. Horace Kiracofe.
  3. [S11088] Charles Horace Kiracofe, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  4. [S11084] Charles H. Kiaracofe household, 1880 U.S. Census, Bartholomew Co., Indiana.
  5. [S11091] "Wedding Approach," Daily News-Democrat, 12 Oct 1903.
  6. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 491.
  7. [S11084] Charles H. Kiaracofe household, 1880 U.S. Census, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, shows him as son of her husband.
  8. [S11085] Anvilla Kiracofe obituary, The Huntington Press, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  9. [S11084] Charles H. Kiaracofe household, 1880 U.S. Census, Bartholomew Co., Indiana, shows age 4 and state.
  10. [S11088] Charles Horace Kiracofe, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date.
  11. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 491, shows date, town, county, and state.
  12. [S6251] Marriage Record, Huntington Co., Indiana, M:492, C. Horace Kiracofe and Matilda J. Kuhlman, shows date and officiant.
  13. [S11091] "Wedding Approach," Daily News-Democrat, 12 Oct 1903, shows Wednesday, address, new home, and officiant.
  14. [S11087] C. Horace Kiracofe household, 1910 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows married 7 years.
  15. [S11083] Charles Horace Kiracofe, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.
  16. [S11083] Charles Horace Kiracofe, Certificate of Death.
  17. [S6251] Marriage Record, Huntington Co., Indiana, M:492, C. Horace Kiracofe and Matilda J. Kuhlman.
  18. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 491, shows name as C. Horace Kiracofe.
  19. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 490.
  20. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 490-1.
  21. [S11086] Chas H. Kiracofe household, 1900 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana.
  22. [S11089] "City in Brief," Huntington Weekly Herald, 5 May 1899.
  23. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 492, shows job title, paper, and city.
  24. [S11091] "Wedding Approach," Daily News-Democrat, 12 Oct 1903, shows he had been a memeber of editorial staff 4 years, two as reporter and two of news editor.
  25. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 492, shows date, became city editor, paper.
  26. [S11086] Chas H. Kiracofe household, 1900 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows occupation as reporter.
  27. [S11090] Bash, History of Huntington County, Indiana, pg 492.
  28. [S11087] C. Horace Kiracofe household, 1910 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows occupation as manager and industry as newspaper.
  29. [S11087] C. Horace Kiracofe household, 1910 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana.
  30. [S11092] "Firn Aggressive Firm in Insurance Field," The Huntington Herald, 29 Dec 1911.
  31. [S11081] Horace C. Kiracofe household, 1920 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows occupation as agent and industry as insurance.
  32. [S10862] Will Book, Huntington Co., Indiana, H:415-6, will of Frederick Kuhlman, 12 Dec 1918.
  33. [S11081] Horace C. Kiracofe household, 1920 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana.
  34. [S11093] "Kiracofe Heads New Huntingon Firm," The Huntington Press, 24 Apr 1920.
  35. [S11095] "Huntington Trust and Savings Bank to Open New Building Today," The Huntington Press, 20 Feb 1926.
  36. [S11080] Charles H. Kiracofe household, 1930 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows occupation as salesman and industry as insurance.
  37. [S11080] Charles H. Kiracofe household, 1930 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana.
  38. [S10997] The Baldwin and Ball Huntington Indiana Consurvey Directory, pg 268, shows him as a broker; no issues between 1931 and 1937 are available.
  39. [S11082] C. Horace Kiracofe household, 1940 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana, shows occupation as agent and industry as insurance co.
  40. [S11082] C. Horace Kiracofe household, 1940 U.S. Census, Huntington Co., Indiana.
  41. [S10963] R. L. Polk & Co.'s Huntington Directory, 1939, pg 112, and 1941, pg 99, both show Eliz. Kuhlman at 407 Etna Av.
  42. [S10861] Johana Matilda Kiracofe, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.