Biography of John C. Lochner, pages 496/497/498. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. Few citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana are as widely and favorably known as John C. Lochner, one of the county’s most useful and highly esteemed men, and editor and publisher of the Auburn Weekly Bee. His life has been closely identified with the community and his honorable business career has brought him before the public in such a way as to win the esteem and confidence of his fell men and give him an enviable reputation among his contemporaries. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, combined with mature judgement and ever-day common sense have been among his most prominent characteristics, and, while laboring for individual success, he has also been instrumental in promoting the advancement and prosperity of the community with which he is identified. John C. Lochner was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on August 1, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Wyatt) Lochner. Jacob Lochner was born in Germany, coming to America in his boyhood with three brothers and a sister. For a time he was employed in driving mules along the towpath of the old Wabash & Erie Canal, but was wisely economical of his earnings, so that at length he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land in Jackson township, this county. It was raw and unimproved land, but he cleared it and developed it into one of the best farms in this locality, the place being now owned by his son, P. P. Lochner. The father lived on this farm until late in life, when he went to live with a daughter, Mrs. Beaty, in Auburn. He had followed farming continuously from the time he first obtained possession of his land, and added to his original tract until his farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. His hobby was in keeping his place up to the highest possible standard of perfection, and in this he was successful, for he would not rest while a weed grew in the fields, nor allow a needed nail to remain missing. He erected a good, substantial brick residence, commodious bank barn, and every thing about the place was strictly up- to-date according to the ideas of his day. Jacob Lochner was twice married, first to Mary Wyatt, the daughter of Thomas Wyatt, and they became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Henry, of San Diego, California; P. P., who is engaged in the operation of the home place; Etta, deceased, who was the wife of S. S. Potter, grocer at Auburn; Anna E., the wife of J. E. Beaty, of Auburn; Sarah , wife of C. W. Bartles, of Jackson township, this county; John C., the immediate subject of this sketch. The mother of these children died in 1874 and a few years later Mr. Lochner married Anna Gerrig, who died some years ago, without issue. John C. Lochner was reared on the home farm until the age of fifteen years. He had no great liking for farm work, but after leaving home was employed at farm work for two years by a neighbor. He was then employed for two years in a saw-mill at Auburn, when he suddenly resolved to try his hand at the printing trade. Among his acquaintances was W. B. Campbell, owner of the Auburn Dispatch, and with him he obtained a place. He was a large, strong boy, and he began his work as a “printer’s devil” at the weekly wage of one dollar and fifty cents. His board cost him two and a half dollars, but he got credit for a part of that and was thus able to get by. In the printing office Mr. Lochner was in his proper sphere and from that time to the present he has never regretted the step which started him in the business. In the Dispatch office he made rapid progress and inside of a year he was made foreman of the shop, holding that position about three years. He then bought a half interest in the Times, a Populist paper which had been started at Auburn, but in less than a year he sold his interest to his partner and joined the Auburn Courier, which was then owned by James A. Barnes, one of the veteran newspaper men of DeKalb county. On March 4, 1896, Mr. Barnes started the Daily Courier and placed Mr. Lochner in full charge of it. The paper espoused the Democratic cause and, as party feeling ran high that year, some exciting experiences were passed through. After remaining with the Courier a few years, he went to Argus, Indiana, and bought the Reflector, in March, 1898, which he sold at the end of six months and returned to Auburn. He now erected several houses and for a time was engaged in the real estate business. Going then to Keithsburg, Illinois, Mr. Lochner bought the Times, which he ran about six months and then sold it at a good profit, which he at once invested in more houses in Auburn. He then went to Colon, Michigan, bought the Express and for nine months published it, building it up to a point where he sold it at a handsome profit. Returning then to Auburn again, he started a job printing office, which he managed with continuous success until 1907 when he was induced by a handsome salary to join the sales force of the Auburn Automobile Company and for two years was on the road for that concern. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Lochner again found himself engaged in newspaper work, having been employed by W. H. McIntyre, then owner of the Daily and Weekly Courier, to manage that paper. He continued in this capacity only a few months when Mr. McIntyre transferred him from the management of the paper to the position of sales manager of his automobile factory. The printing business has not lost any of its charms for Mr. Lochner and in the fall of 1911 he re-purchased the job printing office, and on January 3, 1912, he started the Auburn Weekly Bee, and independent weekly paper, and probably the only paper in its class sold at a subscription price of fifty cents a year. His natural talent and experience enabled him to conduct this paper along such lines as secured him a large circulation, which has steadily increased since the first issue, until today it is considered one of the best newspapers and advertising mediums of DeKalb county, the equipment of his office being the best to be found in the county, including an Intertype typesetting machine. Mr. Lochner possesses the genuine instinct for news so essential to the successful newspaper man and, wielding a forceful and trenchant pen, his columns are never dull or monotonous, but always spicy and readable. Besides his printing and newspaper interest, Mr. Lochner is also interested somewhat in manufacturing concerns. He has for a number of years been an active member of the Commercial Club, has served two years as its secretary, and is now a member of the board of directors. On May 9, 1894, Mr. Lochner was united in marriage to K. Darley Clark, of Auburn, the daughter of William and Mary (Scott) Clark, and they have two children, Don M., born June 13, 1896, and Clellah R., born April 25, 1900. Fraternally, Mr. Lochner is an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, and is now serving his second term as deputy grand chancellor of the first district of Indiana. In Military affairs Mr. Lochner has long been deeply interested, and he has been identified with the Indiana National Guard for eighteen years. Enlisting as a private at the same time Colonel Kuhlman became identified with the guard, Mr. Lochner has gradually risen in the ranks and was on the staff of Colonel Kuhlman when the latter was major. He is now on the staff of Major Groll, as battalion adjutant, with the rank of first lieutenant, and but very few officers in the state are his senior in the lineal list. Personally, Mr. Lochner is affable and popular with his fellows and stands ready at all times to encourage and aid, by mouth and pen, all laudable measures for the general good. By a life consistent in motive and because of his many fine qualities he has earned the sincere regard of all who know him and his success in his chosen field of endeavor has been honestly earned. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com