Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue
History & Genealogy

Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Ben Oberlin

As proprietor of Oberlin's Grocery and Market and Oberlin's Ben Franklin Store, Ben Oberlin manages to keep himself busy. He came to Culver 10 years ago to engage in the retail food business and five years later built the attractive new building that houses the variety store. The above picture was taken in the latter store while Ben was waiting on a customer buring the Christmas shopping rush. He has been identified with a number of community activitites, having served as treasurer of the Boy Scout troop committee; treasurer, sergeant-at-arms, and vice commander of the American Legion post and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of a number of committees. Mr. Oberlin was born in Kankakee, Ill. served a year and a half in the army during the WOrld War, was assistant cashier of a bank at Herscher, Ill, for three and half years before going to Hamlet, where he operated a genral store for five years, making a total of 20 years of business experience for Mr. Oberlin, besides operating farms during this time.

From the Marshall county History of 1986 comes this basic information on the family:
Benjamin W. "Ben" Oberlin and Florence (Lane) Oberlin were originally from Hanna and moved to Culver about 1930. They Owned:

Ben Franklin 10¢ Store
IGA Grocery
Oberlin Appliance Store

Their children were:

William Wallace married Rose Marie Cowen
Dorothy Jean
Audrey

Last updated 24.11.2009

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