Charles F Pahrman
Biography
Photos contributed by Doug Snyder
history assembled and offered by: Deanna B. West

Charles Frederick Pahrman arrived in this world on 14 March 1886 - La Porte County, Indiana.  As the 1900 census shows us, he was the oldest living son of Charles and Carolina Pahrman both born Germany about 1860 and having arrived in the 1880's. Carolina states in this same census that she has had two children deceased and three living. Charles Sr. was a wood worker in a local factory.

Charles living siblings were:
Anna born March of 1890. She later would wed Otto A. Kuberna on 4th of November 1911. Otto died at 50 years of age in 1940.

Brother: William H. Pahrman - born 28th November 1893 in La Porte County, Indiana. He later wed Fern V. Reeg on 25 Dec 1919. William also served in the US armed forces and he died 1st of November 1941. Fern died in 1962 and both are buried in Pine Lake Cemetery.

Charles wed Marie L. Helt, 8th of April 1909. Marie was born 19th of February 1889 and died the 29th of November 1975. They had one daughter Dorothy born about 1910. Charles and Marie are laid to rest beside Charle's parents at Pine Lake Cemetery.

From an early age it was quite evident that Charles was an ambitious young lad as he went to work for Mr. Charles Peterson at Peterson's Hardware store on Lincolnway in La Porte city. Charles Pahrman is standing at the left in this photo

For larger view click on photos.

Charles had the dubious task of waiting on Belle Gunness when she drove up in her buggy to the hardware store. Mr. Peterson introduced Charles to Belle and from that point on, Belle would sit in her buggy and Charles would bring out choices for what ever item(s) she was in the market for. He along with Mr. Peterson also put up a fence of Mrs. Gunness at her residence and were even invited inside. The Historical Society Museum of LaPorte County has a lot of details along with displays on this and other issues pertaining to Belle Gunness that we won't go into in this writing. Even after 1908 Charles continued working at the hardware store.

During the 1920's Charles tried his hand working for an Insurance agency as so stated in the 1920 census. And in the 1930 census he states he is a real estate broker and he, his wife and daughter are all living with his widowed mother. Also in the same household are his brother in law and sister Otto A and Anna (Pahrman) Kuberna. He is working as a shipping clerk in a molding factory.

Charles had a passion for taxidermy and in the 1930's he came up with the idea to start his own museum with some of his pieces such as guns, birds and mounted fish to name a few. He started construction on a museum in 1937 and it was completed in 1939. The shingles and siding were made out of flattened tin cans and it was located next to where the Holiday Inn stands today on Pine Lake Avenue.

May 19, 1940

Museum photo taken January 8, 1939

Charles filled his life with things concerning his family and community. In the late 1940's Charles saw the need for a safe heaven for lost and stray dogs. We have gone into this in greater depth under our
"This That and The Other pages."

Charles Pahrman 1939

older years

With a life full, Charles left this life on 8th of August 1963.

Return to Index Page