USA > Indiana > Clay County > A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2) > Part 41
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JOHN F. MEYER .- Washington township, Clay county, is a rich agri- cultural center, and among the enterprising and self-reliant men who are ably conducting its farming interests is John F. Meyer, an extensive land- holder, and one of the most highly respected and esteemed citizens of the community in which he has so long resided. A son of Adolph and Ebine (Coltmeyer) Meyer, he was born, March 13, 1833, in Prussia, Germany, and was there bred and educated.
Reared to habits of industry and thrift, Mr. Meyer was engaged in tilling the soil in the Fatherland until thirty-one years of age. Emigrat- ing then to the United States, the land of hope and promise, he spent two months in Philadelphia, from there coming in 1864 to Clay county, Indiana. He began his career as a farm laborer in Washington township, and in a comparatively short time bought seventy acres of land. Labor- ing with characteristic energy, he succeeded from the first, and as fast as he had money to spare made other wise investments in land, and has now a clear title to eight hundred acres or more of choice land in Sugar Ridge and Washington townships, his estate being one of the most desir- able and valuable pieces of property in this part of Clay county.
In April, 1864, Mr. Meyer married Margareta Sendmeyer, who was born in Prussia, and into their pleasant household four children have been born, namely: Henry, of Washington township; August, of the same place ; Elizabeth, living with her parents; and Emma, wife of Henry Kohlenburg, of Washington township. Politically Mr. Meyer is a stanch Democrat, and religiously he is a member of the Christian church.
JUDGE SILAS DEMARCUS COFFEY .- On the long list of illustrious names of those who have gained fame for the bar of Indiana is found the name of Judge Silas Demarcus Coffey, one of the distinguished jur- ists of the state, who served on the bench of the circuit and also of the supreme court. His career was one which reflected credit and dignity upon the profession and throughout his entire life he was found faultless
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in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation. He was one of Indiana's native sons, his birth having occurred upon a farm in Owen county February 23, 1839. He was a son of Hodge R. and Hannah Coffey, natives of Tennessee and of North Carolina respectively. Re- moving to Indiana, they became pioneer residents of Owen county, and in the public schools, while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, Judge Coffey acquired his preliminary education, which was supple- mented by study in the state university at Bloomington, in which he matriculated in the year 1860. There he pursued his studies until the outbreak of the Civil war. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south, had noted the threats of secession and had pondered upon the question of the right of any state to withdraw from the Union. When the attempt at secession was made he at once offered his aid to the government, the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns having scarcely cleared away when he enlisted in response to the first call for three months' troops. On the expiration of that term of enlistment he re-enlisted for a year, and when President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand men his regiment, the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, responded and was mustered in for three years or during the war. Judge Coffey was actively engaged with the movements of the army in its contests with the southern forces until June, 1863, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, with which he continued until the expiration of his term of enlist- ment the succeeding year. He made a splendid record as a soldier, never faltering in the performance of any military duty assigned him and on the contrary giving valued aid to the cause which he espoused.
Following his return home Judge Coffey determined to engage in the practice of law as a life work, and after thorough preliminary prepara- tion became a partner of Allen T. Rose, then one of the able members of the Indiana bar practicing at Bowling Green. This connection continued until 1868, when the firm was dissolved and Judge Coffey became a part- ner of Major W. W. Carter, an association that existed harmoniously until Mr. Coffey was appointed judge of the circuit court. The political honors which came to him were largely in the line of his profession. In 1866 he was the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney for the district comprising Owen, Greene, Clay and Putnam counties, but could not overcome the strong Democratic majority of his district, which was an acknowledged Democratic stronghold. In 1873 he was nominated for the circuit judgeship of Clay and Putnam counties and was again defeated, although he ran far in advance of the party ticket, the large vote being a tribute to his personal worth and ability and an expression of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. He was, however, called to the bench on the 25th of March, 1881, by appointment of Gov- ernor Porter to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Turman. In June, 1882, in the Republican judicial convention, he was nominated by accla- mation for the position of circuit judge. Clay and Putnam counties always gave a strong Democratic majority, and it was believed that no Republican candidate could be elected, but Judge Coffey had so demon- strated his ability on the bench that he was chosen for the office by a ma- jority of six hundred and fifty-five, carrying his own county by a major- ity of one hundred and twenty-eight votes, although the state ticket gave a Democratic majority of one hundred and ninety. The vote was the public endorsement of his previous service and his course on the bench won for him the highest encomiums. He served from 1882 until 1888, and
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in the latter year was nominated and elected as one of the judges of the supreme court of this state, which position he held and filled with great credit and ability for six years. The records of the court of appeals bear evidence of his wide learning. His decisions indicate strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an unbiased judg- ment. The judge who makes a success in the discharge of his multitudi- nous delicate duties is a man of well rounded character, finely balanced mind and of splendid intellectual attainments, and that Judge Coffey was regarded as such a jurist is a uniformly accepted fact. Following his retirement from the supreme bench, where he was regarded as the peer of many of the ablest men who have been connected with the court of last resort, he resumed the practice of law in Brazil as a partner of Judge S. M. McGregor.
On the Ist of November, 1864, following his return from the war, Judge Coffey was married to Miss Caroline L. Byles, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1836, and was educated in Philadelphia. Her parents were William and Sarah (Larue) Byles, also natives of the Keystone state. The father died at the age of seventy- eight years and the mother passed away at the age of sixty-eight. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming in Pennsylvania in order to provide for his family. Both he and his wife were members of the Society of Friends or Quakers and were earnest Christian people. His political support was given to the Whig party. Unto him and his wife were born two sons and two daughters, but one has now passed away. Those still living are Thomas, Mrs. Coffey and Marie. William Byles, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Coffey, came to this country with William Penn and located in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, during the formative period in the history of that state.
Unto Judge and Mrs. Coffey were born six children, of whom four `are living. Ida L. is the wife of William E. Sanders, a resident of Chi- cago. Emma J. is the wife of Dr. R. H. Richards, who is living in Owen county, Indiana. He was county treasurer there and is prominent in the public life of his community. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Richards has been born a daughter, Dorothy Carolina, and Mrs. Coffey is very proud of this little one-her only grandchild. Nettie E. Coffey is a teacher in Las- cruces, New Mexico. Wallace married Miss Louise Wright and is engaged in business as an electrical engineer.
Judge Coffey was a prominent representative of the Masonic frater- nity and was a gentleman of fine social qualities, quiet and unobtrusive manner, but of undoubted integrity and of strong mentality.
Following his retirement from the bench Judge Coffey continued in the active practice of law with Judge McGregor in Brazil until the time of his death, which occurred in Manatee, Florida, on the 6th of March, 1904, when he was in the sixty-sixth year of his age. No death in this part of the state has occasioned deeper regret. In a series of resolutions passed by the Putnam county bar, in a brief review of his life, it was said: "Coming home from the war he at once entered upon the study of the law, having chosen for his life's work the legal profession. He was dili- gent as a student, and from the very start gave evidence of possessing naturally and in an unusual degree those qualities of mind which are essential to constitute a thorough and well equipped lawyer. He was enthusiastic and devoted to the study of his profession. It is said of him that as a private soldier in the field he carried with him in his knapsack
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on his back a copy of Blackstone's Commentaries, which he studied while halting on a march, and read by the light of the campfires at night. With such energy and pertinacity of purpose his future success and eminence as a lawyer were already well nigh assured. As a lawyer he was plaus- ible, tactful, self-confident, quick and clear in his legal perceptions, and always faithful and devoted to his clients. He was no mean antagonist at the bar. He had a wonderful evenness of temper. He was not easily swept off his feet and seldom lost his balance. As a trial lawyer he was selfpoised, and seemingly never disconcerted or surprised. However adverse the ruling of the court or however strong and unexpected the testimony against him, his countenance was the same and he betrayed no evidence of nervousness or fear. As a judge he was prompt and ready and his decisions were seldom overruled. He was generous, open-hearted, kind and companionable with his friends. He was a good citizen, a faith- ful soldier, a successful lawyer and an able and upright judge."
In the resolutions passed by the Clay county bar it was said: "In his death this community has lost a useful and valuable citizen; the bar has lost an able lawyer, and his family a kind, devoted and affectionate husband and father. Judge Coffey served a period of eight years on the circuit bench of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Indiana, and one full term of six years in the highest judicial tribunal in this state-judge of the supreme court of Indiana. He filled both of these high and responsible positions with credit to himself and to the honor of the profession of which he was a member. On the circuit bench he was absolutely fair and impartial in all his rulings and decisions, ever striving to see that justice was administered between litigants. On the supreme bench his opinions bore evidence of familiarity with the fundamental principles of the law and were carefully prepared and thoroughly digested. In his practice at the bar he was a most formidable adversary and a very successful practi- tioner. His pleadings were always framed upon a well defined theory. As an advocate he was much stronger before the court in discussing legal principles than before a jury in presenting the facts, and yet in all his arguments he was logical and impressive. For over a third of a century he practiced his profession in this and surrounding counties with a suc- cess rarely attained by any other member of the bar. In his private deal- ings he was the soul of honor, fulfilling all his engagements with prompt- ness and exactitude. In his social relations he was genial and most com- panionable. He was kindhearted and ever willing to lend a helping hand to those in distress. To the younger members of the bar he was tolerant, forbearing and uniformly kind, freely advising and counseling them when- ever his aid or assistance was sought. Long and intimate association with Judge Coffey, in those relations especially tending to develop the true disposition of the man, enables us to testify that the best conceptions of life dominated his nature. A believer in religion, devoted to the highest ideals of citizenship in both public and private relations, there can be lit- tle room for adverse criticism upon his life. Whether as citizen, acting in the ordinary affairs of life, attorney at the bar contending for the inter- ests of a client, or weighing the rights of litigants as a judge upon a bench, to do right and render exact justice was the purpose that always controlled his mind. His conceptions of public duty were high and he contemplated with horror any influence that might work a denial of jus- tice. He was never charged with or suspected of dishonesty. The cast of his mind was logical, the methods of his reasoning were argumentative.
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He was devoted to the interests of his clients but his devotion carried him beyond the limits of legitimate duty. There was the genius of success in his methods which gave him a large place in the public confidence. If he was not eloquent he possessed qualities of intellect of a more valuable kind. His mind was disciplined, systematic and discriminating and he reached conclusions by a process of reasoning which left little room for mistake. As a judge of the highest court in the state his opinions are brief, compact, and proceed from well defined premises to clear conclu- sions and constitute models of judicial precision and brevity."
No man in public life perhaps in this community has had so few ene- mies. Even those opposed to him politically entertained for him the warmest personal regard and admiration. It is said that he never forgot a friend : The playmates of his boyhood, the associates of his early man- hood, his comrades in arms, those with whom he labored at the bar and his colleagues on the bench were alike remembered through all the years with their added responsibilities and honors. His life record finds em- bodiment in the words of Pope:
Statesman, yet friend to truth; of soul sincere, In action faithful and in honor clear ; Who broke no promise, served no private end, Who gained no title and who lost no friend.
JACOB LUTHER .- Among the native-born citizens of Harrison town- ship who have spent their lives within its precincts, aiding in every pos- sible way its growth and development, is Jacob Luther, whose birth occurred September 20, 1858, on the farm which he now owns and occu- pies, and which his father, Jacob Luther, Sr., entered from the govern- ment.
Peter Luther, Mr. Luther's grandfather, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1828, impelled by the restive American spirit that led so many to seek new locations on the frontier wilds, he came with his wife and children to Indiana, performing the long, hard journey with teams. Settling in what is now Harrison township, he took up a tract of land that was in its pris- tine wilderness, and here, on the homestead which he improved, he spent his remaining days. He married Sally Randall, also a native of North Carolina, and she proved herself a wise helpmeet and companion.
Jacob Luther, Sr., was born in 1817 in Randolph county, North Caro- lina, and when a boy of eleven years made the memorable trip across the country to this state. In that early day the greater part of the land was owned by the government, and was covered with a heavy growth of tim- ber. Wild animals of all kinds were numerous and destructive, and many Indians were living in the forests. Much of the wood in this section was either black walnut, oak or poplar, and the huge logs made of the latter kind were rolled into piles and burned, that being the only way to dispose of them quickly. Arriving at man's estate, Jacob Luther, Sr., entered government land, a part of which is included in the farm on which his son Jacob was born, and which he now owns and occupies. For many years afterwards there were neither markets nor railroads in the state, and he used to take his hogs and other surplus products of the farm to Gosport, thirty miles away. The people lived on the productions of the soil or the fruits of the chase, and the busy housewife invariably dressed her family
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in homespun which she carded, spun and wove with her own hands. He succeeded well as a farmer, and on the homestead which he reclaimed from the wilderness resided until his death in April, 1861.
Jacob Luther, Sr., was three times married. By his first wife, Rachel Harris, he had three children, Silas, Sally Ann and Narcissa. He married for his second wife a Miss Church, who at her death left one son, Joel. The maiden name of his third wife was Annie Patton, and by her he had two children, namely: Jacob, the special subject of this brief biographical sketch, and Eliza, who died in childhood. She survived him, and subse- quently married Miles Jessup, who was born on Fort Harrison prairie, Vigo county, Indiana, and died in 1877. She was born near Cataract, Owen county, Indiana, in 1834, a daughter of Christopher Patton, and died in 1884. Mr. Patton was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and after his emigration to this country lived for awhile in North Carolina. He subsequently spent a short time in Kentucky, from there coming on horseback, with his wife and two children, to Owen county, Indiana. He was there a resident for many years, but both he and his wife spent their last days in Harrison township.
Brought up on the home farm, Jacob Luther received his early educa- tion in the district school and commenced when quite young to assist on the farm, living with his mother and step-father until 1882. In that year, taking unto himself a companion to share his pleasures and his troubles, he moved into a little old log cabin standing on the site of his present com- fortable home, and has since been here profitably engaged in general farming and stock raising. In his undertakings Mr. Luther has met with very satisfactory results, his rich and fertile land yielding abundant har- vests. He has made improvements of an excellent character on his prop- erty, including among others the erection of a good set of frame build- ings, the house in which he lives being very pleasantly located on the bank of the Eel river.
On August 18, 1882, Mr. Luther married Henrietta Huffman, who was born in Sugar Ridge township, which was also the birthplace of her father, Albert Huffman. Her paternal grandfather, John Huffman, emi- grated from Randolph county, North Carolina, his native place, to In- diana, making the entire journey with teams, and bringing not only his household goods, but his farm implements, he and his family camping and cooking by the way. One of the original householders of Sugar Ridge township, Clay county, he took up wild land from the government, and on the farm which he cleared and improved spent the remainder of his life. Albert Huffman was a natural mechanic, and for a number of years worked at the carpenter's trade. He was afterwards employed at a foun- dry in Brazil, and subsequently settled in Harrison township, where he spent his last years. , He married Olive Bolin, who was born in Owen county, where her parents were pioneer settlers, and died in Harrison township. She reared three children, Henrietta, now Mrs. Luther, Edna and Leota. Mr. and Mrs. Luther are the parents of four children, namely : Alexander, Grover Cleveland, John Jacob and Mamie. Grover C. mar- ried Margaret Dunham. Mr. Luther has been an active worker in the Democratic party for many years, and in 1901 was elected county commis- sioner, an office to which he was subsequently re-elected, serving in that capacity for six years. Fraternally he is a member of Saline City Lodge, No. 220, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Luther has two of the parchment deeds. the oldest executed by President Andrew Jackson, October 7, 1835, and
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the other by President Martin Van Buren November 7, 1837, the only two deeds of the kind found in Clay county so far. These are valuable heirlooms in the home.
HON. FELIX GRUNDY THORNTON, M. D .- An able and skilful physi- cian and a man of much prominence in public affairs, Hon. Felix G. Thornton, M. D., is especially worthy of representation in a work of this kind. A native of Indiana, he was born June 24, 1850, at Bloomington, Monroe county, a son of the late Captain James A. Thornton. He comes of old Virginia stock, his paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Thornton, hav- ing been born in Virginia, being the descendant of an early English set- tler of that state.
Emigrating to Kentucky when young, Nathaniel Thornton was one of the early pioneers of Owen county and a stanch friend of Daniel Boone, the famous trapper and backwoodsman. A millwright by trade, he built many of the very first mills erected in that state, including among others mills at Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Lexington and Owensboro. The last years of his life he spent in Lexington, Kentucky, living retired from active work.
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Born, bred and educated in Owen county, Kentucky, James A. Thornton began his active career as a boatman on the Ohio river, and while yet a young man was made commander of the steamer "Tennes- seean." later having command of the "Eagle." These steamers plied regu- larly between Cincinnati and New Orleans, conveying passengers as well as freight of every description. Upon resigning as captain of the steamer, he was made master mechanic of the Monon Railroad, a position that he ably filled for a number of years. Retiring from active labor, Captain Thornton resided in Bloomington, Indiana, until his death, at the vener- able age of eighty-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Mercer, was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Joseph and Jincy ( Kincaid) Mercer and granddaughter of Senator Kincaid. She still lives, at the age of seventy-seven years, in Bloomington.
One of a family of thirteen children that grew to maturity, Felix G. Thornton acquired the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Bloomington, after which, in 1869, he was graduated from the Indiana State University. Subsequently turning his attention to the study of medi- cine, he was with Dr. Joseph G. McPheeters, of Bloomington, for three years. Immediately beginning the practice of his chosen profession, Dr. Thornton was located at Salisbury for a few years, in the meantime add- ing to his acquired scientific knowledge by both experience and observa- tion. In 1880, two years after settling in Knightsville, the Doctor was graduated from the Indiana Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, and since that time has here been in active practice, having built up a large and lucrative patronage in this vicinity.
On September 5, 1876, Dr. Thornton married Clementine Uland, who was born near Bloomfield, Greene county, Indiana, a daughter of John Uland. Two children have blessed their marriage, namely: Walter E., a graduate of the Indiana Medical College and a well known physician of Montpelier, and Nancy, wife of Ross Thimm.
Fraternally Dr. Thornton belongs to Knightsville Lodge No. 409, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; to Knightsville Lodge No. 186, Knights of Pythias ; and to Indianola Tribe No. 61, Improved Order of Red Men. Politically he is an influential member of the Democratic party,
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and has served the public wisely and well .. He was elected to the state legislature in 1892, giving such general satisfaction to all concerned while filling the position that he was re-elected in 1896. During his first term in the legislature he was a member of the committee on Corporations, on Medicine and on Federal Relations, and was chairman of the Committee on Mines. At the second term he served as one of a committee appointed to escort the Governor to the joint session of the legislature, and was one of the committee on Trust Lands, Mileage and Accounts, Roads and the State Library. He is a member of the Clay County and the State Medical Associations, and served Clay county as secretary of the board of health in 1888.
JOHN MARTIN MARKS .- Numbered among the representative citi- zens of Harmony is John Martin Marks, one of the leading general mer- chants of the community in which he resides. Coming from English an- cestry on the paternal side, he was born March 1, 1855, in Albert county, New Brunswick, where his father, Samuel G. Marks, and his grandfather, Moses Marks, were also born. The grandfather, who followed the trade of a carpenter during his years of activity, spent his entire life in his native county, as did his wife, Mary (Daniels) Marks. They reared three children, Samuel, William and Abner.
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