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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00094 6639
Gc 977.201 B64CR v.2 CRIST, L. M. 1837-1929. HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA
HISTORY
OF
BOONE COUNTY
INDIANA
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Old Families
BY HON. L. M. CRIST
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
A. W. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
Allen County Public Library A. Wayne, Indiana
DEDICATION
This work is respectfully dedicated to THE PIONEERS
long since departed. May the memory of those who laid down their burdens by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer flowers, for their toils and sacrifices have made Boone County a garden of sunshine and delight.
1408948
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION.
To write a history is but to commit to words in type events as they have transpired, and to be pure history, it must be colored as little as possible by the views or personal opinions of the writers.
In presenting this history of Boone county, the author has attempted in every instance, to refrain from the expression of his opinions and to give the facts, indeed, it will be noticed, by the careful observer, that the same incident is given, in some instances, in different language, in more than one place, because coming from different sources of seemingly equal authority. I make no claim to originality, but have, with great care and much labor, sifted every possible particle of information, hoping from the mass to collect the best and most important facts and events for preservation.
It has been impossible to publish all of the matter placed at my disposal ; much has, no doubt. been omitted which should have been published, and much, perhaps, has been published which the reader will consider super- fluous. Much information, in the possession of those who should have been glad to furnish it, has been omitted for lack of interest of those parties and their failure to furnish me the facts, though often requested so to do.
The author desires to express his appreciation of the assistance of each and every one that has aided in the work and especially the press of the county, Strange N. Cragun and Ben F. McKey. Also the author desires to pay tribute to the careful and faithful work of Messrs. Harden and Spahr, who published a history of Boone county in 1887.
The earnest endeavor on my part to give a complete history of the county to December 1, 1914, will, I trust, be appreciated.
LEANDER M. CRIST.
Thorntown, Indiana.
3
PREFACE.
All life and achievement is evolution ; present wisdom comes from past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer- tion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men who have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privi- lege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres- ent conditions of the people of Boone county, Indiana, with what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin land, it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid industries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the foundation upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, political and indus- trial progress of the community from its first inception is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the present to the past, is the motive of the present publication. The work has been in the hands of an able writer, who has, after much patient study and research, produced here the most complete historical memoirs of Boone county ever offered to the public. A specially valuable and interesting department is that devoted to the sketches of representative citizens of this county whose records deserve preservation because of their worth, effort and accomplishment. The pub- lishers desire to extend their thanks to the citizens of Boone county for the uniform kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking and for their many services rendered in the gaining of necessary information.
In placing the "History of Boone County, Indiana," before the citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident that our efforts to please will fully meet the appro- bation of the public, we are,
Respectfully,
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I-First Inhabitants-Dominion of European Nations-American 25 Control-Meaning of Names
CHAPTER IJ-Mound Builders-Indian Occupancy-Territory Acquired by White Man 37 General Natural Features-Soil and Climate of Boone County 63
CHAPTER III-Geology and Topography-General Features-Rivers-Lakes- - CHAPTER IV-Public Domain and Its Survey 75
CHAPTER V-Organization of the County-Official Acts Connected with Its Or- ganization -- Organization of Various Townships-Where They First Effected Their Settlement-Early-day Mills-Early Roads-Pioneer Schools and Churches-Customs and Manners of the First Who Established Homes. 79
CHAPTER VI-Organization of Territory-Right of Occupation-Origin of the Name, Hoosier 120
CHAPTER VII-Early Life-Early Recollections-Early Entertainment-Social Gatherings, etc. 135
CHAPTER VIII-Military History of the County-Mexican Soldiers-Soldiers of the Civil War from This County-Those Who Served in the Late Spanish- American War 168
CHAPTER IX-Bench and Bar of Boone County-Lawyers, Past and Present -- Early Courts-Brief Sketches of Oldtime Attorneys. 211
CHAPTER X-Agriculture-Agricultural Society-Agricultural Agent-Farmers' Clubs-Drainage-Native Forest
CHAPTER XI-Educational Development of the County-Early Teachers-Con-
gressional Fund-Concentration of Schools-County Seminary. 258
CHAPTER XII-Church History-First Churches-Churches of Today 323 CHAPTER XIII-Newspapers of the County 357
CHAPTER XIV-Medical Profession-Early Doctors-Their Experiences-Char- acter of the Pioneer Physicians-Superstition, etc. 365
CHAPTER XV-Banks and Banking 384
CHAPTER XVI-Cities and Towns of the County
CHAPTER XVII-County Buildings 391
431
CHAPTER XVIII-Politics of Boone County-Official Roster. 442
CHAPTER XIX-Railroads-Traction Lines-Telegraph-Telephone 453
CHAPTER XX-Civic and Benevolent Societies 459
CHAPTER XXI-Boone County Cemeteries 502
CHAPTER XXII-Early Life and Early Settlement in Each Township 515
HISTORICAL INDEX.
A
Advance
400
Agriculture
225
Growth
226
Productions
School Work
226
242
Clubs
242
Farmers' Short Course
243
Agricultural Agent
235
Annual Report
236
Seed Corn Testing Week 237
Orchard Demonstration
238
Milk Testing
238
Alfalfa Tour
239
Field Demonstration
239
Contests
240
Agricultural Society
228
First Fair
229
Report
230
A1-Si
232
Anakims, The
35
Apotheosis of the Pioneer, An
515
Archway
503
Auditors
450
B
Banks and Banking 384
First Bank in County
385
Banks of Cities and Towns
386
State Bank of Advance
1038
Bench and Bar
211
Court Room of Early Days
211
Judicial Circuits
211
Bench and Bar-
History of Courts from Organiza-
tion to Present
212
Circuit Court
214
Early Judges
214
Early Attorneys
215
Twentieth Judicial Circuit 222
Bonsall, Mabel
500
Boone, Betty
164
Boone, Daniel
530
Boone's Oldest Male Resident. 152
Boy Wanted
149
Boyd, Adaline (Burk) 512
Bravery of a Kentucky Girl
150
Burckhalter, Marietta Mills.
426
Business and Manufactures
531
Boss Manufacturing Co., The 1039 Dairy Cream Separator Co., The_ 910 Poland-China Hogs, Dr. Tucker's_1042
C
Center Township
113-518
Location
113
County-seat
114
Early Settlement
115
Churches
115
Schools
116
Roads
117
Century Mark Passed
383
Cemeteries, Boone County
502
Churches
322
Methodist
Episcopal
Ministers,
Zionsville
324
HISTORICAL INDEX.
E
Churches --
Methodist Episcopal
Ministers,
Lebanon and Whitestown 355
Methodist Episcopal, Lebanon
322
Christian or Disciples
324
Presbyterian
325
St. Joachim
327
First Baptist
328
First Christian
329
Seventh Day Adventist
331
United Brethren
331
African Methodist Episcopal
332
Methodist Episcopal, Jamestown. 333
Methodist Episcopal, Salem 335
Methodist Episcopal, Thorn-
town
335-49
Presbyterian
337
Missionary Society 323
Christian
347
Civil War
168
Causes Leading to it
168
Call for Volunteers 172
Knights of the Golden Circle. 172
Organization of Companies
175
Facts About the Conflict
176
Clarkstown
400
Clinton Township
88-521
Location
88
Early Settlement
89
Churches
89
Schools
90
Elizaville
91
Commissioners, County
446
Corn (White Man) 139
Coroners
452
Courthouse
431
Dedication
431
Hon. Chas. Fairbanks' Speech
436
Crawford Home, The
439
D
Dover
401
Drainage
244
Eagle Township
108-522
Location
108
Early Settlement
108
Early Ministers
109
Churches
110
110
Schools
Eagle Village
108
Early Life in Boone County
134
Traveling in Early Days
135
First Roadways
136
Early Recollections
141-514
Talks of the Old Days
153
Interesting
Things
Relative
to
Early Times
156
Education
258
Engleman, Joseph 61
Essay by W. H. Mills
159
253
Essay on Forestry
F
Fayette
Forest, Our Native
247
248
Tulip
Walnut 250
Elm
250
Linden
Beech 250
251
Flowery Trees
Tree as an Engineer
255
255
G
Gadsden
Geology and Topography 62
63
Period, Post-Tertiary
Wells
65
63
Coal
Gospel Temperance Meetings
480
425
Governor, Vote of
Growth of County in 84 Years
148
401
Oak
249
250
Plea for Trees
402
HISTORICAL INDEX.
H
Harrison Township
103-521
Location
103
Early Settlement
103
Roads
104
Churches
104
Schools
105
Hazelrigg
402
History Unique, A
483
Hoath, Lydia M.
499
Hoosier, Origin of
129
Horse Breeders' Association
241
I
Indiana, Map of
73
Indians
40
Indian Wars
58
Treaties
42
Reserves
50
Indian Village
51
Death of Tecumseh
53
Treaty of St. Mary's
55
Close of Reserve
56
Indian Controversy
57
Harmar's Expedition
59
Indian Lore
505
Indian's Plea for Prohibition, An
476
Infirmary, County
239
J
Jackson Township
100-522
Location
100
Early Settlement 100
Churches
101
Schools
102
Roads
102
Jail, Boone County
438
First
438
Second
438
Third
438
Present
438
Jamestown
402
Jefferson Township
98-520
Location
98
Early Settlement
98
Churches
98
Schools
99
Roads
99
Judson Baptist Association
349
L
Lebanon
396
Location
396
First Settlement
396
Present Condition
399
Libraries
440
List of Commissioned Officers, Civil War 179
List of Non-commissioned
Officers
and Privates, Civil War
181
M
Marion Township
84-520
Location
84
Early Settlement 84
Roads
86
Schools
86
Churches
86
Towns
87
Masters, M. D., Luella M 501
Matthews, Mattie
499
Mechanicsburg
404
Medical Profession
365
Pioneer Physicians
365-381
Fees
369
Pioneer Ideas and Beliefs 370
Sketches of Pioneer Physicians
378
List of Early Physicians
382
List of Present Day Physicians 382
Memorial Day 173
Milledgeville
403
Mills, Col. Anson 413
Mills, James P.
421
Mills, Sarah Kenworthy
421
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Miscellaneous 530
What They Say of Us 533
Then and Now
535
Faithful Ox, The
538
Tom and Dick
539
Autochthon, Story of.
234
Mondamin (Indian)
138
Mound Builders
37
N
Names and Ages of Survivors of the Civil War and Spanish-Ameri-
can War, living in Thorntown ..
208
National Cemeteries
175
New Brunswick
405
Newley, Jesse (Millikan)
498
Newspapers
357
Lebanon, Newspapers of 357
Thorntown, Newspapers of
362
Zionsville, Newspaper of
362
Jamestown, Newspaper of
363
Whitestown, Newspaper of
364
Northfield
405
O
Organization of County 79
Location
83
Survey
84
Organization of Territory
121
Organization of Various Townships-
83
Orphans' Home
439
Our Foremothers
523
Our Title to Indiana
41
Outlook for Boone County
543
P
Passing of Pisa, The 251
Perry Township 105-520
Location
105
Early Settlement 105
Churches
106
Schools
107
Roads
107
Pioneer Home of James P. Mills 422
Politics
442
Prehistoric Works
36
Prosecuting
Attorneys,
Circuit
Court
451
Prosecuting
Attorneys,
Common
Pleas Court
451
Public Domain and Its Surveys.
74
Canal Land
75
Michigan Road Lands 75
Swamp Lands
76
Seminary Lands
77
University Lands
77
College Fund Lands
77
School Lands
78
R
Recorders
450
Railroads
453
Indianapolis, Cincinnati & LaFay-
ette
453
Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville
(Monon Route)
453
Raiment
129
Report of County Supt. of Schools 532
Representatives in Congress. 445
Reunion, Thorntown Academy.
303
Rosston
406
Royalton
406
S
Schools
258
Early School Houses 259
Teachers
260
Congressional Fund
273
Consolidation of Schools
276
County Schools
277
Concentration of Schools 281
County Seminary
283
Thorntown Academy
286
Schools, Lebanon
317
Presbyterian Academy
319
Secretary of State, Vote of
445
Sheriffs
450
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Skeleton, of Indian Chief
504
Slavery, Question of. 130
Societies, Secret
458
Underground Railroad
132
Woman's Relief Corps
468
Temperance
472
Woman and the Church
482
Woman's Franchise
484
Woman's Christian
Temperance
Union
485
Ananias Club
490
Spanish-American War
203
Names of Those That Enlisted
204
Roll of Honor
208
Story of 1830, A Real
509
Sugar Creek Township
94-519
Location
94
Early Settlement
94
Schools
96
Churches
97
Roads
97
Sunday Schools
493
County Conventions
495
Surface and Soil
80
Drainage
80
Drift, The 81
Areas of Different Soils
83
Surveyors
452
T
Telephones of Boone, The 455
Terhune
407
Thanksgiving Story 162
Threshing
148
Thorntown
407
Early Settlers 408
Schools
408
Committee Reports
409
Traction Lines
454
Lebanon-Thornton Traction Co ..
454
Terre Haute, Indianapolis & East-
ern Traction Co.
454
Treasurers
450
U
Union Township
111-520
Location
111
Early Settlement
111
Churches
111
Roads
112
W
Ward
428
Washington Township
91-522
Location
91
Early Settlement 91
Churches
92
Schools
92
Mechanicsburg
93
Roads
93
Whitestown
428
Location
428
Early Business Men
429
Worth Township
118-523
Location
118
Early Settlement
119
Schools
120
Churches
120
Z
Zionsville
429
Location
429
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
A
Adair, D. W.
651
Adair, James W. 651
Adams, George E. 583
Adler, Phil
892
Adney, Roy W.
585
Airhart, Dr. Joseph O. 832
Allen, George
648
Allen, Thomas F. 648
Armstrong, I. N.
901
Ashley, Robert T.
654
B
Ball, M. D., James R. 593
Barker, Isaac N. 851
Barker, Murray S.
850
Batterton, James W.
1030
Beard, Eliza A.
848
Beard, Jarrett S.
849
Bechtell, Jacob A.
1025
Beck, Larkin
940
Belles, Isaac H. 916
Billingsly, Robert D. 660
Billingsly, Samuel
663
Booher, Benjamin
1006
Bowen, Samson 930
Bowers, Reiter Cragun 909
Bowman, Henry
721
Bowman, William H.
720
Brandenburg, William
987
Brendel, M. D., J. F. 630
Brosar, Walter H. 1040
Brown, Caleb O.
640
Brown, John S.
640
Brown, John T.
792
Brush, D. D. S., Forest G.
865
Brush, Henry C.
866
Brush, James
866
Burns, David M.
896
Burns, Andrew 896
C
Caldwell, Thomas V.
886
Callane, Richard
911
Callane, W. E.
911
Campbell, George W.
608
Campbell. Mark
611
Carter, Henry 765
Carter, Newton 764
Carter. Samuel R. 1044
Cason, Samuel L.
856
Chilson, Edna A. 1014
Clark, Andrew J.
606
Clark, David M.
606
Clouser, Martin L. 694
Cobb, Jacob S. 872
Cobb, William 618
Cobb, William F. 618
Colgrove, Riley
1015
Comley, George M. 771
Conrad, Ira F. 629
Conrad, Rufus 946
Conrad, William
629
Coombs, Ben F.
846
Coombs, George 846
Coons, M. D., Henry N. 602
Coulson, George
830
Coulson, Jonathan E.
830
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Cowan, Hon. John M.
876
Cragun, Strange N. 907
Crist, George Weller
680
Crist, James Weller
680
Crist, Leander Mead
680
Crist, Mark B.
935
Crose, David
860
Crose, William B.
860
D
Daily, Americus C. 1018
Daily, Charles D. 1046
Darnell, William H. 723
Darnell, William J.
723
Davenport, Milton S.
988
Davis, Edgar W.
743
Davis, Isaac T. 970
Davis, John H.
932
Davis, John W.
743
Denger, Charles H. 646
Denger, Peter
647
DeVol, William J.
840
Dodson, Vasco
734
Dodson, William H.
734
Dulan, John A. 931
Dulan, Thomas W. 931
Duvall, Jacob 810
Duvall, John A.
810
Dye, James M.
786
E
Ellis, Thomas 977
Ellis, William H. 977
Endres, Dominick A. 822
Everett, George A.
725
Everett, John
725
F
Farrow, Hon. John A. 705
Farrow, Thomas
705
Felker, Adam H.
782
G
Godfrey, Charles 798
Goldsberry, John J.
1054
Goldsberry, Thomas
1056
H
Halpin, Dennis
652
Hamilton, Gilbert H.
919
Hamilton, John
919
Harbaugh, Thomas G.
789
Harmon, James
787
Harris, Elwood T. 716
Harris, Mathew T.
716
Hart, James F. 779
Harting, George H. 690
Harting, Hiram B.
691
Harvey, M. D.
973
Hawkins, Benjamin F.
1041
Haworth, Samuel
880
Hazelrigg, Maj. H. G. 1047
Head, Manson
796
Head, S. C.
797
Heath, Samuel S. 1008
Hill, Joseph 697
Hill, William L. 696
Hinshaw, Frank
587
Hinshaw, T. H.
587
Howard, Charles C. 693
Howard, John
714
Howard, Richard W. 714
Holler, Andrew
759
Holler, James E. 758
Hollingsworth, Samuel
906
Hooton, Ashpbell P. W.
627
Hooton, John 628
Huber, Harvey W. 727
Huber, Valentine
727
Huckelberry, Irvin T. 747
Hussey, John S.
768
Hussey, William
768
Hutchinson, William H.
1034
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
I
Imel, Ralph W. 604
Isenhour, Bert 900
Isenhour, James 657
Isenhour, Jonathan
657
J
Jackson, Elisha
938
Jarrell, Nancy 1048
Jones, Benjamin
733-41
Jones, Thomas J.
741
K
Kern, Jacob
757
Kersey, James H. 752
Kibbey, James H.
670
Klingler, Abraham L.
659
Klingler, Francis
659
Kohn, Daniel
766
L
LaFollette, Harvey M.
729
LaFollette, Jesse 730
Lane, Emsley J. 666
Lane, Levi
1003
Lane, Samuel B.
748
Lane, William U.
666
Laughlin, Samuel H. 775
Laughlin, Vincent
776
Laughner, J. T. Frank
852
Lemon, William
745
Lemon, William N.
745
Lewis, Martin
1028
Longley, Rev. Abner H.
396-994
Loose, Frank E.
888
M
McDaniel, Harry
975
McDowell, Henry H.
836
McGee, John
732
McGee, M. D., Joseph A.
732
McKey, Ben F.
890
McRoberts, Benjamin B. 990
Maish, John W. 613
Maish, Joseph 614
Maple, Arthur
922
Miller, Jacob S.
668
Miller, John D. 668
Millikan, William W. 820
Mills, Anson 952
Mills, James P.
962
Mills. John M.
634
Mills, Sarah K.
962
Moore, James B. 739
Moore, John Stanley
806
Morrison, John W.
676
Morrow, Loring W.
835
N
Nelson, Dr. A. F. 1026
Nelson, Thomas J. 1027
Newby, Granville
738
Newby, Presley
738
Nicely, James M.
1032
0
Orear, Charles D.
942
Orear, Dr. John H.
942
Ottinger, Roy N.
891
P
Parr, Jesse A.
591
Parr, Jacob
772
Parr, Nelson J. 772
Parr, Judge Willett H.
588
Perkins, Jacob
1024
Perrill, John
882
Perrill, Nathan A. 882
Petry, Frank
1021
Pugh, Elias
788
R
Ralston, Hon. Samuel M.
573
Reagan, M. D., Jesse Stanley
707
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Reed, David W. 711
Reed, John 711
Richey, James 843
Ridpath, John C.
1049
Riggins, Vallandingham
1036
Riley, James
689
Riley, Lewis C.
688
Ritchie, Andrew W. 800
Ritchie, Morris
800
Roberts, Clarence
808
Rodman. Capt. Carson P.
984
Rogers, Elza O.
581
Rose, Lewis
686
Rose, M. D., Madison Hall
685
Routh, John F.
638
S
Sanford, William J. 1013
Scott, Charles W. 1001
Scott, James M.
1003
Servies, Edgar M.
1016
Shapley, Thomas R.
777
778
Sharp, Ira M.
616
Shaw, Albert M. 781
Shaw, C. W.
650
Shaw, John M.
650
Shaw, Nelson
781
Shumate, Capt. Felix
998
Silver, George W.
625
Silver, Samuel
656
Sims, Rev. C. N. 1051
Small, James M. 968
Smith, Aaron J. 595
Smith, Eli
596
Smock, James A.
928
Snodgrass, James
598
Snodgrass, Robert
598
Spencer, Alexander O. 698
Stall, Robert S. 763
Stark, Albert W. 912
Stark, John P. 912
Stephenson, John 948
Stephenson, Samuel H. 950
Stoltz, George
978
Stoker, Benjamin L. 665
Stoker, Tyrie 665
Sumpter, Edward D. 760
Sumpter, Scott T.
760
Swope, Ebenezer H.
812
Swope, Joseph M. 812
T
Taylor, Charles A.
750
Titus, Samuel
728
Tucker, M. D., Jesse E.
802
U
Umberhine, M. D., Charles D
791
W
Waddle, Isaac
637
Waddle, Montraville 636
Waltz, John
902
Waltz, Theodore C.
902
Welch, Charles F.
678
Whitely, Enoch
702
Whitely, William 702
Whittinghill, Robertson
870
Whittinghill, William E.
870
Williams, M. D., William H
1022
Wilson, George 927
Wilson, Joseph M. 926
Wilson, William H. 769
Witham, Flavius J.
826
Witham, William
827
Wood, Henry K.
625
Wood, William J. 625
Worley, James M. 980
Worley, William F. 980
Wright, Samuel
638
Wyant, Williard O.
751
Y
Young, James H.
862
Young, John T.
862
Shapley, William
GOV. SAMUEL M. RALSTON.
-Daily Reporter.
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. SAMUEL M. RALSTON.
The rise of a man from farmer boy, ox driver, coal miner, country school teacher, to the highest office within the gift of the people of a sovereign state, is an evidence of greatness-greatness of energy, of ability, of perse- verance, of heart qualities and of character. Such is the life story of the subject of this sketch.
Samuel Moffett Ralston, governor of Indiana, was born on a farm near New Cumberland, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, December 1, 1857. His father, John Ralston, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, Sarah Ralston, nee Scott, was born in Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Andrew Rals- ton, was born in Scotland February 25, 1753, and came to this country with his parents when but a small boy. With the exception of Andrew and a sister, the entire Ralston family was massacred by the Indians in Pennsyl- vania. Grown to manhood, Andrew served for seven years in the Revolu- tionary war as a member of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment and was taken prisoner on Long Island August 27, 1776. When the war was over he mar- ried Sophia Waltemeyer, of Irish descent, and moved to Ohio, where they reared a family. Andrew Ralston lies buried by the side of his wife in Beech Spring cemetery, Harrison county, Ohio.
Governor Ralston came to this state with his parents in the spring of 1865, when they moved to Owen county, Indiana, where his father purchased and operated a large stock farm. In his early youth Mr. Ralston did not have an opportunity to secure an education, but early in his young manhood he realized that if he was to achieve the position in life that his ambitions sought for that he must have an education, so he applied himself until he was able to secure a license to teach school. For seven years he taught school
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during the winter months and attended summer school during the summer. During all this time a portion of his earnings went to the support of his parents, his father having failed financially in the panic of 1873. He at- tended the Northern Indiana School at Valparaiso and the Central Indiana Normal School at Danville, Indiana, graduating from the latter institution in the scientific course in August, 1884.
He studied law in the office of Robinson & Fowler at Spencer, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar January I, 1886, and located in Lebanon, In- diana, in June of that year, for the practice of his profession. He is a lawyer of distinction, having taken part in the trials of some of the most important cases in the state. He has few equals as a cross-examiner of witnesses and is especially strong in cases involving the rules of equity or the constitutional- ity of statutes. In the prosecution of cases he is vigorous and is regarded by many as one of the foremost defensive criminal lawyers of the state.
He was nominated by his party for governor of Indiana in 1912, by acclamation. He is the only governor of this state since Thomas A. Hen- dricks to have been so honored by a political party. In the election of 1912 he carried eighty-three of the ninety-two counties and received a plurality of one hundred and nine thousand two hundred and thirty-three.
He was president of the Lebanon school board, August 1, 1908, to July 31, 19II. He was also presidential elector in 1892-3. Other than the above, he never held public office until he was inaugurated governor of Indiana on the 13th day of January, 1913.
While attending normal school at Danville, Mr. Ralston made the ac- quaintance of Miss Jennie Craven, of Hendricks county, Indiana, who was also preparing to teach. Common interests and a strong mutual attraction brought them closer together and resulted in an early engagement. Mrs. Ralston's many excellent qualities are obvious even to the superficial observer. Her good sense and pronounced love of simplicity, her sincerity, and devotion to principle make her the ardent supporter of all measures that contribute to domestic happiness and social well-being. During the years that Mr. Ralston studied law Miss Craven taught at Bloomington and Elletsville. In 1889 they were married and at once began housekeeping at Lebanon, where their home became known for its hospitality, amiability and cheer. The restful harmony that prevailed there from the first was felt in the entire community. The many fine qualities that endear Mr. Ralston to his clients, to his asso-
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ciates, and the children are most strongly in evidence at home where Mrs. Ralston spends in like measure the full force of her fine personality. As is usual in such fortunate marriages, the superior mental and moral endow- ments of the wife are a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to the husband. He owes much to the good sense and genuineness of her nature and above all to her high standard of masculine integrity and professional probity. These quiet years of happy domestic life have fixed in each the fundamental principles of sane, sound living. Their convictions on the sacredness of home life, and the paramount necessity of preserving such domestic ideals in high places make these two people the safest possible guardians of the first home of the state.
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