From the Nance Collection:
Charles W. Inman was born in Laconia, Harrison, IN, October 2 6, 1860. He grew
to manhood there, learning blacksmithing and wagon making. He was educated in
the public schools. He took a business course in Terre Haute. For fifteen years
he was a traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery firm, beginning at a salary
of one dollar per day, and closing at two thousand dollars per year. In 1898 he
began the manufacture of ice, and now has a large plant in Louisville, Kentucky,
the Nation al Ice and Cold Storage Company, with a capital of one hundred
thousand dollars. He was married on his birthday, October 26, 1887. They reside
in New Albany in a fine residence of their own. Cousin Charles has be en a
Christian from early youth, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having
been ever active in church, Sunday school and league. He has be en Sunday School
Superintendent for many years, until very recently. Now he is league president.
Furniture Manufacturer and Artisan
Main entry Title Date Year Page Column
Inman Co. (Louisville, KY) Affairs of the industry 06/01 1932 29 3
Inman Co. (Louisville, KY) Inman Co. to erect new furniture factory 07/ 01 1923
60 3
Inman Furniture Co. (Louisville, KY) Editorial notes 03/01 1917 119 2
Inman Furniture Co. (Louisville, KY) New color for walnut 03/01 1922 1
Inman Furniture Co. (Louisville, KY) What some manufacturers are doing 03/ 01
1920 168 2
Inman Furniture...(Louisville, KY) High frequency dielectric heating slashes ...
10/01 1946 20 1
Inman Veneer and ..(Louisville, KY) New veneer concern 05/01 1917 211 2
Charles W. Inman, President and General Manager of "The Inman
Company". Manufacturers of Bed Room Furniture, Ply-Wood and Rotary Veneers, is
one of the leading business men of Kentucky and one, who has ever at heart the
best interests of his City and State. He was born at Laconia, Harrison County,
Indiana, October 26th, 1860, the son of Charles and Versalia Nantz Inman. He
attended the Common Schools of Indiana at Laconia and the High School at
Corydon, Indiana.
Before and after school hours and during vacations, he worked in his father's
blacksmith shop. After finishing in the Common Schools he worked regularly in
his father's shop until he had learned his trade. He then decided to prepare
himself for a business life and entered the Terre Haute Business College at
Terre Haute, Indiana and graduated from that institution in 1881.
For sometime after finishing his business course he was connected with Meyer
Bros. Drug Co., Kansas City, Missouri as City Bookkeeper. Later he returned home
and until January 1885 taught school at Laconia, Indiana, when he resigned and
came to Louisville and took a position with John Searcy, Wholesale Grocer on
East Market Street at a very small salary. In February 1887 he resigned his
position with the Searcy Company and went with t he Ouerbacker-Gilmore Co.,
Wholesale Grocers on Main Street as City Salesman. He held this position for ten
years, the last four of which he w as a stockholder in the Company.
In 1897 Mr. Inman decided to enter the Ice Manufacturing business and erected a
plant at Preston and Caldwell Streets, Louisville. This plant he operated as The
Inman Ice Company only a year when Capt. Jas. M. Duffy ma de him an attractive
offer for his plant, which he accepted, and the plant was turned over to Capt.
Duffy. This plant is still being operated and is known as the Duffy Ice Company.
A year later, in 1899, he purchased a site at 14th and
Magazine Streets and erected the National Ice & Cold Storage Company with a
Capital Stock of $1000,000.00 Mr. Inman being President, Treasurer and General
Manager of the Company. This business grew very rapidly and in 1902 he purchased
ground on East Main Street above Brook Street and organized the Merchants
Refrigerating Company with a Capital Stock of $2000,000.00 and erect ed an ice
and cold storage plant on the site. The business prospered and in 1904 Mr. Inman
and his associates, Samuel and Jos. Ouerbacker, increased the Capital Stock of
the Company to One Million Dollars and purchased practically all of the Ice
Plants in the City of Louisville and until 1 910, he as President and General
Manager operated these plants as one Comp any, namely: The Merchants Ice & Cold
Storage Co. At this time he sold h is holdings in the Ice business and began his
career as a manufacturer of furniture and kindred lines. He erected the Inman
Furniture Company 's plant at 30th and Kentucky Streets and began making Bed
Room Furniture, now known all over the Country as "The Inman Line".
In 1917 he purchased a square of ground on Broadway between
28th and 29th Streets and erected The Inman Veneer & Panel Company plant with a
Capital of $2000,000.00 The same year this Company purchased a controlling
interest in the stock of The Walker Veneer & Lumber Company. Manufacturers of
Rotary Veneer and thin lumber. This Plant is located at Mound Cit y, IL, and is
being operated as a part of the Inman organization.
Mr. Inman has associated with him in these manufacturing
enterprises his s on, Harry C. Inman, Theodor Kemnitz, E. E. Sutton, U. A.
Swisshelm and others.
In 1920 the stock of the Company was increased to One Million
Dollars, t he name changed to "The Inman Company" and all the plants were
consolidated or merged into and operated by the new Company with the Main
Offices located at 29th and Broadway.
In 1921 another large plant for the manufacture of ply-wood
cores was erected by the Company on the Broadway site and is the part of the
same Company.
This Company at all of its plants employs more the Five
Hundred people and is doing an annual business of more than Two-and-a-half
Millions Dollars.
In 1922 Mr. Inman and his brother-in-law, Judge Wm. Ridley,
organized "T he Corydon State Bank of Corydon, Indiana. This Bank has enjoyed a
wonderful growth and is now one of the leading financial institutions of
Southern Indiana.
In addition to these things, Mr. Inman is largely interested
in a financial way and as an officer and Director in the Gibbs-Inman Company,
the Ridley Ice & Coal Company and other industries of Louisville.
He is a member of Trinity M. E. Church. The Pendennis Club
and the Masonic Order, holding his membership in Lodge 400 of Louisville.
He was married on October 26, 1887 to Miss Emma Hildebrand of
Elizabeth, Harrison County, Indiana. Three children were born to them, only one
of whom is living. Harry C. Inman, 32 years of age is associated with his Father
in business. His daughter, Estyl Marie Inman, died in March 1918 with Influenza
and Walter H. died in infancy.
The business address of Mr. Inman is "The Inman Company" and
his residence address is 3237 West Broadway.
The building still stands today on Broadway Street at about
25th Street, a multi storied building, and has a nameplate: "INMAN FURNITURE
COMPANY".