People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — MEN OF MEANS [ARTICLE]

MEN OF MEANS

It would be an oversight to omit from this recital the conspicuous fact that Rensselaer is perhaps the wealthiest town of equal population in Indiana. There are scores of men who may be counted in the list of ■rich men. It would be indelicate ] to publish a list of their names, but the aggregate reputed wealth represented by those who live in the town reaches into the millions. It has in nearly all cases been acquired in a single lifetime in this county. And the pleasing feature of it all is that these men of means are using their money in enterprises for the development of their growing city and county. The list of actually “retired” men is very

small. They have been industrious all through life, many having commenced life with absolutely nothing, and it is impossible for them now to remain idle. Al 1 have builtgood homes, in harmony with their modest tastes, attractive but not extravagant in design, though many are costly structures, the equal in architecture with those in any other city of 2,500 people. The children of these wealthier people are being taught the frugal habits that established character for their parents and brought success to their efforts. With all classes the matter of education is paramount to all other considerations, and at all times there are many studeqts from Rensselaer attending the leading colleges of this and other

stales. Equipped with a good education and the practical lessons of prudent parents, the boys and girls of Jasper county enter the vocations of life well qualified to win both fame and fortune, Perhaps it is the softening experiences of the still vividly remembered pioneer d a y s > that maintains a warm fraternal feeling among all the people, but certain it is that the class lines are as lightly drawn here as in any community that cdp be found. The family in affluence yet sees no impropriety in associating with their- less fortunate neighbors. The true American spirit is manifest in all social intercourse, the aristocracy of our Anglosized cities being regarded as inimicable to American traditions.