Charles J. Wacker  

Charles John Wacker Birth: 6 Apr 1880 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana Death: 11 Apr 1960 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana buried APR 13,1960 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, son of August Wacker & Louise Ehrensperger

married 17 Jan 1906 Marion county Indiana Elizabeth Mayer b. Dec 1879 Germany Birth: 1879 Death: 1914 buried MAY 16, 1914 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana daughter of Henry Mayer & -- Denger

Charles J. Wacker, who was born in Indianapolis, April 6, 1880, has proved, himself so keenly alive to his opportunities and has made such vigorous and effective use of them and of his own talents and abilities that today he ranks as on of the principal general contractors in the city, with general offices in the Chamber of Commerce Building and with a splendid organization representing a large amount of capital, machinery, and tools and an organization of expert men capable of handling almost any contract in the building line.

Mr. Wacker was born at the old home of his parents in North Indianapolis on Thirtieth Street. His father is August Wacker, who has for many years been engaged in developing and building up Indianapolis and has specialized in constructing homes on property owned by him, selling the finished improvement. Charles J. Wacker spent the first fifteen years of his life at his father's country residence or farm in what is now Riverside Park. The next three years he was learning a trade in a blacksmith shop in Haughville, and became very proficient and expert blacksmith and horseshoer. He abandoned the trade to go to work for his father in building homes. He made a close study of building operations, and had opportunity to perfect his abilities during such work as excavating for foundations, laying cement sidewalks, or walls for houses, and gradually his experiences enabled him to take larger and more important contracts and develop into the general contracting business.

His first real contract was for the construction of the Shelter house at Riverside Park. Then built a Shelter house at Military Park, and from that his program of work has been constantly varied and has assumed almost enormous proportions. Among more extensive contracts handled by him should be mentioned the following: T. T. B. Laycock plant, additions to the Parry manufacturing plant; excavation for the Meridian Street Church; drop forge works; St. Vincent's Hospital; addition to the Methodist Hospital; Castle Hall on Ohio Street; part of the Indiana New Building on North Senate Street; J. B. Bright wholesale coffee house; Oaks manufacturing company plant on Roosevelt Avenue; Polk Milk Company garage; City Baking Company plant at Sixteenth and Bellefontaine; Indianapolis Baking Company on Vermont Street; Wabash Packing Company on Dakota and Ray; Oliver Chilled Plow Works warehouse at Donalson and Norwood; Meridian Hotel; Judah Peekham Building on North Capital; Memorial Fountain at University Park; Indianapolis Heat & Light Building of Kentucky Avenue; Terre Haute Theater at Eighth and Main. A some what unusual contract now in process of fulfillment is the construction of a huge Dutch windmill, built almost entirely out of concrete, located at Miami, Florida and owned by Carl Fischer.

As the brief record of business shows Mr. Wacker is a thoroughly progressive man of extraordinary energy and of unusual business equipment. He is on of the prominent member of the Builder & Contractors Association of Indianapolis, and is a member of the Canoe Club and the Turnverein.

Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood Chicago: American Historical Society, 1919, Dunn, Jacob Piatt, pg. 2089-90

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From the ashes of the Acme Evans Co flour mill A which was destroyed by fire there is rising a larger mill of the most modern type... Charles J Wacker 207 Chamber of building Indianapolis has the contract for the Acme Evans mill which with equipment and ground represent an investment of $350,000 putting it the city's largest manufacturing plants - - Engineering and Cement World, Volume 13 International Trade Press, 1918

...the Acme Evans Co flour mill ... The contract for the building alone $90,000 and has been let to Charles J. Wacker of Indianapolis With the ground it will represent an investment putting it among the city's largest plants ... American Miller and Processor, Volume 46, Issues 1-6 National Miller Publications., 1918 - Flour mills

Another new project has just been started which will involve a large amount of plumbing work Charles J Wacker an Indianapolis building contractor having the contract for the erection of a modern eight apartment flat building at Twenty seventh Street and Churchman Avenue for Dr A D Swartz The cost of construction is estimated at $20,000 ... Domestic Engineering and the Journal of Mechanical Contracting, Volume 87 1919

Charles J. Wacker. president of the Riverside Civie Association, has announced that the association has taken an option on property held by the Riverside Park Amusement Company on which it had been planned to establish the amusement park... - -THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15,1920.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 388; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0083
Name: Charlie Wacker
Age: 20
Birth Date: Apr 1880
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1900: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Brother
Marital Status: Single
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
August T Wacker 27

Fannie Wacker 25 Louisa Wacker 5
Letha A Wacker 2

William Wacker 9/12 Gerome Wacker 2/12 Charlie Wacker 20

Year: 1920; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana; Roll: T625_452; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 94; Image: 671
Name: Charles Wacker
Age: 39
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birthplace: Indiana
Home in 1920: Indianapolis Ward 4, Marion, Indiana
Street: Parkway Blvd
House Number: 2659
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed[Widow]
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany Native Tongue: German

Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Block pinent
Industry: Contract
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Attended School: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Wacker 39
Kathrine Wacker 12
Clarence Wacker 11
Mary Wacker 5
Sassie Gloom 61

Year: 1930; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 608; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0049; Image: 864.0
Name: Charles J Wacker
Birth Year: abt 1880
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Indiana
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: Central Ave
Ward of City: 4
Block: 617
House Number in Cities or Towns: 3228
Dwelling Number: 230
Family Number: 234
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 60
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Contractor
Industry: Buildings
Class of Worker: Employer
Employment: Yes
Household Members: Name Age
Charles J Wacker 50
Katherine Wacker 23
Clarence Wacker 21
Mary Wacker 16