Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Joseph Landis (1844-1936) worked as an electrical engineer at Sosman & Landis before he became associated with the American Reflector and Lighting Co. in 1893. At the time of his passing in 1936, his obituary mentioned his work for the “Sosman & Landis Lighting Engineers Company.”
Joseph Landis was born on March 8, 1844, in Fairfield, Iowa. He was the fifth of twelve children born to Henry H. and Catharine Landis. The Landis family never settled in one place for long, and the birth of each child marked the Landis family’s travels between Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The twelve Landis children included: Mary (1833, Indiana), John A. (1835, Ohio), David J. (1839, Ohio), Jacob H. (1841, Ohio), Joseph (1844, Iowa), Infant daughter (born/died 1846), Julia Ann (born/died 1847), Perry (1848, Indiana), James Henry (1851, Indiana), Edgar (1852, Indiana), Franklin (1856, Iowa), Charles (1858, Iowa).
By the time he was twelve years old, Joseph was living on a farm in Steady Run, Keokuk County, Iowa. The boys sold produce and manned a local fruit stand. For geographical context, Steady Run was due north of Fairfield, Iowa. When the Civil War began, Jacob was seventeen years old; old enough to enlist and fight. Davis, Jacob and Joseph Landis all registered for military duty in Steady Run on the same day. I have yet to locate any information that verifies if Joseph Landis actually fought in the Civil War, but four of his brothers enlisted. David Landis died in 1863 from injuries sustained during battle.
In the years immediately following the Civil War, Joseph’s older brother, Jacob “Jake” Landis, entered the watch and jewelry business. He established a store in Fairfield, Iowa, and placed advertisements in the “Fairfield Ledger:”
“Jacob Landis, Dealer in and repairer of Watchers, Clocks, Jewelry, & c. North-East Corner Park, Fairfield, Iowa. A strict attention to business, and a desire to please all. He will pay particular attention to the manufacture of Gold and Silver Rings. Oct. 25, ’66-1y44.”
This was a turning point for the Landis family as they gradually transitioned from farmers to merchants. Over the next two decades four of Landis sons entered this jewelry profession. Even at the time of their father’s passing in 1893, Henry H. Landis was listed as a silversmith.
In 1870, Joseph Landis’s occupation was listed as a jeweler in the US Federal Census. At the time, he was 26 yrs. old and living in Liberty, Union, Indiana. Boarding at the United States Hotel, he met and soon married a local Liberty girl named Prudence Mae Hughes. She was the daughter of Francis N. Hughes and Mary Prudence Adams. Joseph and Prudence were married on Oct. 19, 1871, and remained in the area for several years. In 1875, they celebrated the birth Kathryn E. Landis.
By 1880, Henry H. Landis was also working as a jeweler in Rushville, Indiana, founding H. H. Landis & Son. That same year, Joseph was working as a jeweler in Liberty, Indiana, and Jacob Landis was working as a jeweler in Paskenta, California. Edgar would also move to California and work in a variety of trades, including mining.
Meanwhile, Perry Landis embarked on another journey and entered the theatre industry. By 1879 he and Joseph Sosman opened Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio at 279 South Clark St. in Chicago. That year, Frank Landis worked for the firm as a traveling salesman. By 1880, Sosman & Landis began to expand their staff as scenic art orders substantially increased. Some of their clients that year included the Turner Hall in Menasha, Wisconsin; the Philharmonic Hall in Winona, Minnesota; and H. D. McCullough’s Hall in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin. Between June 1881 and July 1882, Sosman & Landis delivered scenery to seventy-four stages throughout Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Wyoming, Dakota Territory and Montana Territory.
The immediate success of Sosman & Landis drew in other Landis brothers by the mid-1880s. Charles worked for the firm as a foreman in 1885, although it remains unclear in what department, whether it was scenery, lighting or stage hardware. Although I have yet to locate exactly when Joseph moved to Chicago, but he was a resident by 1891. On Aug. 23, 1891, the “Indianapolis Journal” reported, “Joseph Landis and family of Chicago are visiting in Liberty.”
Two years later, Joseph transitioned from working at Sosman & Landis to managing the American Reflector and Lighting Company of Chicago. The American Reflector and Lighting Co. was incorporated on April 5, 1893. The company’s objective was to “manufacture, purchase, sell and deal in all kinds of fixtures, machinery and appliances to be used for the purpose of lighting, heating and cooking and other purposes.” The timing could not have been better for the firm, as the Columbian Exposition opened on May 1, 1893. The fair ran until October 31 of that year.
The starting capital stock for the American Reflector and Lighting Co. was $100,000, with the amount of each share being $1,000. A meeting of the stock subscribers was held on April 4, 1893. Minutes from the meeting showed the following distribution of shares to subscribers: Perry Landis subscribed for 200 shares of stock.
Joseph S. Sosman subscribed for 250 shares of stock.
Joseph Landis subscribed for 300 shares of stock.
Charles Landis subscribed for 200 shares of stock.
William A. Toles subscribed for 50 shares of stock.
Directors of the American Reflector and Lighting Co. were listed as Perry Landis, Joseph Sosman & Charles Landis. The four officers for the firm elected by the Board of Directors (President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer), rotated between Perry Landis, Joseph Sosman, Charles Landis and Joseph Landis until 1904. These four were frequently listed as the co-founders of the corporation. The first address for factory for the American Reflector & Lighting Company was 215-217-219 South Clinton Street, with offices and salesroom at 80 Jackson Street. Keep in mind that Sosman & Landis’ main studio and offices were located at 236-238 South Clinton Street, just up the block. In 1894, “The Chicago Blue Book” lists the homes of Joseph Sosman, Perry Landis, Frank Landis and Henry Landis on West Congress Street. Perry was at 446, Sosman was at 570, and Frank was at 580. By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Landis were also living in Chicago on West Congress St (at Frank’s home). Frank had expanded his business interests to real estate.
In 1894, the Sosman & Landis studio catalogue carried a full page of advertisements for the American Reflector & Lighting Co. The advertisement asked, “How are You Going to Light Your Audience Room and Stage? The question of Proper Lighting is a most important one.” Profits continued to dramatically increase at the American Reflector and Lighting Co. throughout the 1890s. Money poured into the firm, with stockholders greatly benefitting from increased profits.
Between 1898 and 1901, Joseph Landis was listed in the Oak Park Directory as working at the American Reflector and Lighting Co, located at 273 Franklin in Chicago. At this time, the Landis family lived at 244 Home St. in Cicero. Cicero was only three miles southwest of Oak Park. Many Sosman & Landis employees settled in the western suburbs of Oak Park, Cicero, Austin and Berwyn in the late-nineteenth century and early-twentieth-century. It was a short train ride from downtown Chicago. In 1900, the Landis household included his wife Prudence, 15-yrs.-old daughter Kathryn E. and a servant named Ida Neilson. The 1900 US Federal Census listed Joseph Landis as a “manager” in the “lighting factory” industry.
Joseph Landis did quite well for himself during the first decade of the twentieth century. He was able to purchase a summer home and travel in his leisure time. His travels made Oak Park news, and on Aug. 20, 1904, the “Oak Park Reported,” announced “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Landis and Mrs. John Sargent are spending a few weeks at Winona Lake, Ind.” There was a summer home in Winona Lake.
Joseph and Frank Landis eventually purchased homes on the same street in Oak Park – 215 and 221 South Oak Park. Their homes were only two blocks away from the home of Thomas G. Moses at 233 S. Euclid Ave: a short four-minute walk. The three remained extremely close over the years, especially after Moses was elected President of Sosman & Landis. On August 28, 1915, the “Oak Park Leaves” reported, “President of “Scenery” Company. Thomas G. Moses has become president of the firm Sosman & Landis of Chicago, for many years one of the leading houses in the country engaged in the making and painting of scenery and the making of ‘properties’ for theatrical productions. Mr. Landis dies several years ago, and Mr. Sosman died early this month. Mr. Moses has been identified with the form for thirty-five years, and is recognized as one of the leading artists in this line in the country. The business has grown from the employment of a single artist, when Mr. Moses first took up the work, until now it requires thirty-five artists and fifteen stage mechanics. Mr. Moses first became a stockholder and vice president of the company ten years ago and now succeeds to the active control. Mr. Moses is a well-known citizen of Oak Park and has made his home at 233 South Euclid for twenty-two years” (page 40).
Life was going extremely well for the Landis families. It appeared as if all of the hard work over the years was paying off. Their daughter Katie grew up and married to Raymond Fritz Harris (1872-1942) on September 7, 1912. A granddaughter, Viola Landis Harris, was born the next year on Dec. 10, 1913. Raymond Harris worked as an accountant in the painting industry in 1917, and the small Harris family lived at the Landis home (221 S. Oak Park). On Dec. 22, 1917, the “Oak Park Leaves” announced, “Mrs. Joseph Landis, Mrs. Raymond Harris and daughter Viola of 221 South Oak Park avenue left Tuesday for Miami, Fla., to spend the winter, Mr. Landis and Mr. Harris are to follow later.” (page 4).
Tragedy struck the Landis family only two years, and lasted until 1923. On 2 Jan 1919, Kathryn Landis Harris passed away. She was only 44 years old at the time, and the mother of a young child. Her body was brought back to Liberty, Indiana, where she was buried at West Point Cemetery. Her daughter and husband continued to live at Joseph Landis’ house as the extended family grieved the loss of Katie. In 1919 the Landis household included not only Joseph, Prudence, 5-yrs.-old granddaughter Viola, and son-in-law, Raymond Fritz Harris, but also several others. The 1919 Oak Park Directory listed the following individuals residing at 221 South Oak Park avenue: J. Landis, R. F. Harris, L. E. Burr, F. Creek, and J. H. Pallister.
Joseph and Prudence continued to raise their young granddaughter until she graduated from high school and was married. At some point, however, Viola’s father moved out of the home. There is little information about the remainder of Raymond Harris’ personal or business activities over the next few decades, but he remained in the field of accounting. Meanwhile, Joseph, Prudence and Viola continued on with either Katie or RaymondThe three continued to vacation at Winona Lake, Indiana, and managed as best they could without Katie. On Aug. 21, 1920 (page 71), the “Oak Park Leaves” announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Landis and Miss Viola of 221 South Oak Park avenue have returned from a month’s outing at Winona Lake, Ind.”
By 1921, brothers Joseph, Frank and Charles Landis were all listed in the Oak Park Telephone Directory: Charles W. Landis 463 N. Evergreen Ave. Elmhurst; Franklin Landis 215 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park; and Jos Landis 221 S Oak Pk Ave, Oak Park. They were only 10 miles apart. The following year in 1922, Charles Landis relocated to N. Ashland Ave. in LaGrange, still only 8 miles away from his brothers. The close family togetherness was not meant to last. In 1923, both Charles and Frank passed away.
Frank’s obituary remembered his younger brother’s passing the month before:
““Franklin Landis. Funeral services for the late Franklin Landis were conducted last Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock at his residence, 215 South Oak Park avenue, Rev. R. E. Vale officiating. Burial was at Rushville, Ind. Mr. Landis suffered a stroke of paralyses in March, 1918, while he partially recovered and sought relief in warm climates, he never fully regained his health. About two weeks ago he was subjected to a complication which his weak heart was unable to withstand. His condition was aggravated by grief over the death of his youngest brother a month previous. Mr. Landis was born in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1856 and came to Chicago in 1888, He was a land broker, his judgement being taken as authoritative and sound. As recently as last April he made a trip to inspect some large holdings and it was on that trip that he suffered a complete breakdown. Mr. and Mrs. Landis moved to Oak Park in 1903. Mr. Landis was fond of nature and especially flowers. Besides Mrs. Landis, one brother, Joseph Landis, 221 south Pak Park avenue, survives.”
1923 was also the year that Sosman & Landis closed its doors. Assets were liquidated, the space leased to a new studio, and the firm’s name sold to Thomas G. Moses and Fred R. Megan. Regardless of the economic turmoil, Joseph Landis continued to work as an electrical engineer, raising his granddaughter in Oak Park. Life simply went on for those who survived the trying times. The Landis family only occasionally made news in the 1920s. In 1924, the “Oak Park Leaves” announced a few family vacations to Winona Lake, but little else. I have yet to locate any more information pertaining to Landis’ business endeavors in the 1920s. After all, in 1920 Joseph Landis was already 76 yrs. old. He would remain in Oak Park for another twelve years, waiting for his granddaughter to reach adulthood. Until the age of 88 yrs. old, he, Prudence and Viola lived in Oak Park. In 1932, however, they all returned to Liberty, Indiana. Viola’s own father remained in Illinois and continued to work as a bookkeeper until his own passing in 1942.
When Joseph Landis returned to Liberty, he was welcomed home by both friends and family. Although it had been more than four decades since he worked as a jeweler there, live fell back into a comfortable rhythm. One of the reasons for their return to family in Liberty was Prudence’s failing health. Fortunately, they were able to enjoy two more years together. Prudence passed away on July 5, 1932.
On July 6, 1934, “The Richmond Item” reported, “Mrs. P. H. Landis, Liberty Resident, Dies at Age of 84.” The article continued, “Liberty, Ind., July 5 – Following a week’s illness Mrs. Prudence Hughes Landis, 84 years old, wife of Joseph Landis, died Thursday afternoon at her residence on East South street. Mrs. Landis was one of the best known residents of the community, She had been in failing health for several years. After they had operated a jewelry store in Liberty for a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Landis disposed of the business and removed to Chicago several years ago but after a time they returned to Liberty for permanent residence. Mrs. Landis, who was a member of the local Presbyterian Church, is survived by her husband and a granddaughter, Miss Viola Harris, at home. Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Saturday at the residence, Dr. Walter H. Reynolds, pastor of the Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery” (page 9). Other obituary announcements reported, “She is survived by her husband; granddaughter, Miss Viola Harris; and two nephews, Herbert Hughes of Connersville, and Harold S. Hughes. Mrs. Landis was a sister of the late C.E Hughes.
Mr. Landis operated a jewelry store in Liberty for several years. He and Mrs. Landis moved to Chicago years ago, returning to Liberty two years ago for permanent residence.
Mrs. Landis had been in failing health for the past few years. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church and was an active worker in the church until her health failed her.”
Joseph Landis passed away two years later. At the time of his passing his death certificate still listed him as an electrical engineer. On March 17, 1936, “The Richmond Item” of Richmond, Indiana, announced, “Aged Liberty Businessman Dies At Home. Joseph Landis, 92 Years Old, Former Jeweler in Liberty, Chicago Well Known” (page 1). The article went onto report:
“LIBERTY, Ind., Mar. 16.- Joseph Landis, 92 years old on Mar. 8, died at his home on South Street, Monday. He had been confined to his bed only about three weeks. Mr. Landis was one of the early citizens of Liberty, having been engaged for several years in the jeweler’s business here. Later he and his family moved to Chicago where he engaged in the business for some years, later connecting himself with the Sosman & Landis Lighting Engineers Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Landis, with their only granddaughter, Miss Viola Harris, returned to Liberty about five years ago, he having retired from business some ten years before that time. Mrs. Landis’s death occurred after their return to Liberty. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. In addition to the granddaughter, at home, he is survived by a number of cousins, including Mrs. Belle Stevens of Liberty., Mrs. Prudence Wallace and other cousins of Brookville, and Harold Hughes, a nephew, of Liberty. Funeral Services will take place at the residence, Wednesday forenoon at 10:30 o’clock with Dr. Walter H. Reynolds. Pastor of the Liberty Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in West Point Cemetery.”
Viola Landis Harris was 22 yrs. old at the time of her grandfather’s death. That summer, she married Earl Forest Kitchel (1910-1988). Newspapers announced their wedding on August 1, 1936. Viola and Earl began their married life on a farm, just south of Richmond, Indiana. Her portrait was published with their wedding announcement “The Richmond Item” on Sept. 6, 1936 (page 7).
To be continued…
