James F. Gookins

He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, where his father, Samuel Gookins, was a lawyer and judge.

[1] He attended Wabash College but his education was interrupted by the outbreak of the American Civil War.

[2] During his war service he produced several sketches that were published in Harper's Weekly.

[2] After the war he moved to Chicago to pursue art, moved to Europe for a time to study, and then returned to the United States and opened an art school in Indianapolis.

[1] Later in life he was involved in organizing the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors' Monument,[3] "designed the lakefront plans for the 1893 Colombian Exposition,"[4] and worked as a civil engineer.