Carl Ackarman of Sedan had justified all the predictions and wishes of his friends as to a successful career in the law. He had ability, training, industry and courage, and had handled with exceptional skill every interest entrusted to him since he opened his law office at Sedan. In 1916 he was re-elected for another term as county attorney of Chantauqua County. His first term had given such general satisfaction that he was unopposed by any candidate for re-election.
Born at Moline, Kansas, January 16, 1881, he was reared in Sedan, educated in the public schools, graduating from high school in 1898, and for the following four years gave his time and energy to his father, a well known hardware merchant. He preferred a professional rather than a commercial career, and as soon as he could give up his responsibilities in connection with his father’s business he entered the law school of the University of Kansas at Lawrence, where he remained until graduating in 1905 LL. B. Mr. Ackarman made not only a good student record in Lawrence, but also contributed to the athletic prowess of the university team. He played three years on the Kansas University football team, and he contributed to the many victories won by the team in those years. He also excelled in the weight events in the track and field contests. He is a member of the law fraternity Phi Delta Phi.
After completing his course at Lawrence Mr. Ackarman returned to Sedan and had spent ten years in building up a fine practice both in civil and criminal law. His offices are in the First National Bank Building.
Mr. Ackarman likes to do things. Aside from his practice as a lawyer he had found his greatest pleasure in making a home. In 1914 he completed his modern residence on the fair grounds addition to Sedan, and he spent much time in planning and in getting a house to his own liking. He did much of the work himself, and among other modern improvements which he installed is a scientifically constructed septic tank to dispose of the house sewage. He built that himself.
In politics he had affiliated with the republican party. For nearly three years he served as city attorney and resigned that office on being elected county attorney in 1914. He served on the Republican County Central Committee in 1912-14. He believes in fraternalism, and is a prominent member of several of the orders represented at Sedan. He served two terms as master of Vesper Lodge No. 136, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; for one term was high priest and is now secretary of Syroc Chapter No. 42 Royal Arch Masons; is a member of Wichita Consistory No. 2 of the Scottish Rite and of the Mystic Shrine Temple at Wichita. For the past ten years he had been secretary of Sedan Lodge No. 141, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and had held the position of clerk for six years in Camp No. 40 of the Woodmen of the World at Sedan.
In 1913, at Chickasha, Oklahoma, Mr. Ackarman married Miss Jeannette Surbeck. Her parents were Joseph and Harriet Surbeck, and her father is still living, a retired farmer at Oklahoma City.
Mr. Ackarman is a son of E. C. Ackarman and his wife, Laura (Thornburg) Ackarman, and is a grandson of Andrew Ackarman and a great-grandson of Andrew Ackarman, Sr. His great-grandfather was born in Germany, and settled near Rome City, Indiana, in the very early days, spending his life there as a tanner. Grandfather Andrew Ackarman followed farming near Rome City, where he was born in 1812, and died there in 1890.
E. C. Ackarman was born at Rome, Indiana, August 28, 1847, grew up on a farm, and came to Kansas and settled in Crawford County in 1869. He moved to Howard County in 1871, and a few years later left the farm and engaged in the hardware business at Moline. In 1883 he established a hardware store in Sedan, and conducted that for nearly twenty years, when he finally turned it over to his son, Fred, who is now its proprietor. E. C. Ackarman still lives in Sedan and had long been prominent in local affairs. He had held various offices of trust in his township, was county commissioner three years, was mayor of Sedan two terms, and is a loyal and public spirited citizen. His wife died in Sedan in 1902. Carl Ackarman was the oldest son and the oldest of the children to grow up. His oldest sister, Ethel, died at the age of three years. The next younger in the family is Fred Ackarman, and another brother, Paul, lives at Chautauqua, Kansas. The youngest of the family, Ruth, died at the age of eight years.