Hi, I am glad that I was able to help out with the Ostermeyer family. Since the Piel surname was mentioned, I thought that it might be of interest to post the obit for a prominent member of that family. THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR, Friday, Aug 31, 1923; pg. 20 W.F. PIEL RITES TO BE HELD TOMORROW _____________ Starch Maker, Who Died After Long Illness, Was Pioneer Business Man. Funeral services for William F. Piel, 72 years old, president of the Piel Bros. Starch Company, who died at his home, 3138 North Meridian street, yesterday morning after a prolonged illness, will be held at the home and at the Church of Our Redeemer tomorrow afternoon. The Rev. William E. Elfert, pastor, will preach the funeral sermon. Burial will be in the Lutheran cemetery. Mr. Piel was a well-known Indianapo- lis business man. He was the last sur- viving member of the original board of governors of the Indianapolis Board of Trade, which he helped to found. He was born in Indianapolis, Dec. 23, 1851, and, with the exception of a few years, he spent his entire life in this city. He was the son of William F. Piel Sr., one of the earliest business men of Indianapolis. He was educated in the Lutheran schools of this city and also attended Northwestern Christian university, the forerunner of Butler col- lege. Started as Bookkeeper. From the position of a bookkeeper in the Fletcher bank fifty-six years ago. Mr. Piel rose to a place as director of the Fletcher American National bank, the bank which succeeded the old Fletcher bank. He remained, however, as a bookkeeper at the old Fletcher bank only six months, before he joined his father and his brother, Charles F. Piel, in the starch making business. They succeeded in establishing three starch factories, two of which burned, but the third was organized with the National Starch Company in 1889. A year later Mr. Piel left Indianapo- lis for New York where he was vice president of the consolidated company, but he returned to Indianapolis in 1902 after resigning as president of the com- pany, to rejoin his father and brother in organizing the Piel Bros. Company. Helped to Found Board of Trade. Mr. Piel also took an active interest in commercial interests in Indianapolis. He, with Fred P. Rush of Indianapolis, a grain dealer, aided in organizing the Indianapolis Commercial Union, which later became the Board of Trade. He was the first vice president of the union, vice president of Products of Corn, and also vice president of the National Associa- tion of Wet Corn Millers. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Meyer of Indianapolis in 1874. Mrs. Piel died in 1911. Four of their eight chil- dren survive. They are Alfred, Elmer, William, and Mrs. Alex Metzger of Indi- anapolis. The sons were associated with their father in the starch company. One brother, Charles F. Piel, and two sis- ters, Mrs. Emelia Melcher and Mrs. Frank Sudbrock, all of Indianapolis, also survive him. Mr. Piel always was a staunch Lutheran church member. He also was a member of the Columbia Club. _________________________________ - Ed