A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 25

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > Indiana > A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I > Part 25

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ILSON, FRANCIS, was born February 19, 1836, in Lexington, Scott County, Indiana. Soon after his birth his parents moved to a farm two miles distant from Lexington, and here the first dozen years of his life were passed. They subsequently re- moved to the village of New Frankfort, in the same county. At the age of sixteen, Frank, as he has always been familiarly called, had so far mastered the common branches of education as to be able to obtain from the county examiner a certificate to teach a district school. From this period until he was twenty years of age his time was spent in giving instruction, and in attending college at Hanover College, Indiana. When twenty years old he left college and went to Illinois, where, for the next two years, he was engaged in teaching school

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and in land surveying, then returning to his native state and settling at Paoli, the county seat of Orange County. Here he resumed the occupation of teaching, and at the same time began the study of law. After two years thus passed he was admitted to practice. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace for Paoli Township, and continued to hold the office for about a year, when he resigned, that he might give his entire time to his profession. This term of office won for him the title of "'Squire " Wilson, which he continued to bear for a number of years. His advancement in his calling was not very marked for two or three years, but by in- dustry, close attention to his business, and honesty, in four or five years he came to be known as one of the best and most trustworthy lawyers of his section, and from that time he controlled a leading practice in the courts in Paoli and in the adjoining counties. As he was neither bold nor aggressive in character, he won his way by dint of real merit. In 1861 he married Mary, daughter of Doctor Cornelius White, a leading phy- sician of Paoli. She is a woman of fine personal ap- pearance and great force of character, and has made him a most excellent wife. He continued to practice his profession, living at Paoli until 1868, when he re- moved to Bedford, Indiana, where he has ever since re- sided. At this last place he has for ten years been en- gaged with great success, his reputation as a lawyer causing his services to be sought after in the most im- portant cases in his part of the state. In 1873 he was appointed by Governor Thomas A. Hendricks to supply a vacancy in the office of Circuit Judge of the Tenth Circuit. This place he filled with credit and ability, and he was nominated by his party for election for the next term, but failed of securing it on account of an inde- pendent candidate, who was of the same politics, and who took off enough votes to elect the nominee on the

other side. At the next contest for Circuit Judge in his circuit, his party again nominated him, and he was chosen, although his party was in the minority. He is now serving his term as Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit of the state, composed of the counties of Mon- roe, Lawrence, Orange, and Martin. The ability and honesty with which he has discharged the duties of his office have more than met the expectations of his warmest friends and admirers. Judge Wilson is under the aver- age stature. He is in dress inclined to be neat and tidy beyond that of lawyers in general. He is scrupu- lous about having things in order, and is methodical and systematic in business. In his profession he is dis- tinguished for untiring industry, zeal, and ambition to excel. He wants the physical vigor and vocal power to make a great advocate, but he has made many jury speeches that will be long remembered by those who have heard him, and he has the rare faculty of being able to argue a law question so as to enlist the attention and interest of even the unprofessional hearer. His style of speaking is deliberate, clear, logical, and ear- nest, using the best of language, and sometimes warm- ing up to the highest pitch of forensic eloquence. In speaking it is not his habit to appeal to the passions or prejudice of his hearers. In his conduct toward his adversaries he is noted for courtesy and fairness, and he has never allowed his zeal to induce him to seek success by disreputable practices. In politics Judge Wilson started out in life a Republican, and continued to act with that party until 1872, when he joined the liberal Republicans, and supported Greeley. Since that time he has acted with the Democratic party. He has always been a zealous partisan, but has few of the qualifications for a successful politician. Whatever success in life he attains will most likely be in his profession, in which he is thoroughly versed.

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AIN, WILLIAM C. A., physician and surgeon, of Brownstown, was born December 5, 1819, in Trimble County, Kentucky, and is a son of Leroy and Elizabeth (Baker) Bain. His father served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of captain, and his grandfathers on both sides belonged to the Revolution- ary army. He acquired the rudiments of his education at the common schools in Trimble County, and at the age of twenty-two years left home and went to Scott County, Indiana, where he commenced the study of medicine under Doctor McClure. After a year's study he spent one term in the Medical College at St. Louis. He then settled in Jackson County, Indiana, and prac- ticed medicine until the fall of 1849, when he entered the Evansville Medical College, from which he graduated the following March. Returning to Jackson County he resumed the duties of his profession in the southern part of the county, and had an extensive practice. In 1863, during the siege of Vicksburg, Doctor Bain was com- missioned as a volunteer surgeon by Governor Morton ; and at the close of the siege returned to Jackson County and settled in Brownstown, where he has since resided. He married Sarah Ann Barnes, the daughter of a wealthy farmer of Jefferson County. Six children have been born to them, five of whom are now living. William M. Bain, a respected merchant of Seymour, In- diana, died in his thirty-first year. Thomas J., now rail- road agent at Columbus, married Ella Davison, of Seymour ; she bore him three children, who, with their mother, are dead. Mary E. Bain -married a farmer of Seymour; Frances A. is the wife of Aaron Salsisch, freight agent at Terre Haute; Eunitia V. married J. Brannaman, a farmer of Brownstown; Laura, the young- est daughter, is at home. Doctor Bain's wife departed this life on the 26th of April, 1861. October 19, 1862, he married Mary M. Morelands; they have had two children, one of whom is now living. Dr. Bain was brought up a Methodist, but is not a member of any

religious denomination. He believes in a man's think- ing for himself, and his wife is of the same opinion. From his earliest recollection he has sympathized with the Democratic party, but now believes that there is no honesty in politics, and supports the man he deems best qualified for the position. By close attention to his professional duties he has won the hearts of the com- munity, and many citizens feel that they owe their lives to his skill. He is to all intents and purposes a self- made man, having taught school and chopped wood to defray his expenses at college.

ARMORE, DAVID S., ship-builder, of Jefferson- ville, is the only surviving son of David and Phœbe Barmore, who emigrated in 1817 from Penn Yan, Yates County, New York, to Cincin- nati. There David Barmore was born, on the 10th of August, 1833. His mother died when he was six years old, and his father five years later, leaving five children, one son and four daughters. He was cared for during his childhood by his oldest sister, who, about the time of her father's death, married Mr. James Howard, a ship-builder. Though his educational advantages were limited, he was fond of useful books, and, being a nat- urally intelligent boy, mastered, with but little assist- ance, engineering and drafting. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to his brother-in-law to learn the ship- building trade. When but eighteen, being practically and theoretically master of his craft, he engaged to work for his brother-in-law, and before he was nineteen had charge of over two hundred workmen. He re- mained here until 1855, when, with a Mr. King, he engaged in ship-building at Jeffersonville, Indiana, un- der the firm name of King & Barmore. Two years later the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Barmore took charge of Mr. Howard's yard in Jeffersonville until 1864, when he

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formed a partnership with a Mr. Stuart, the firm name being Stuart & Barmore. They were very successful, and built some of the finest steamboats on the Ohio River. In 1869 Mr. Barmore purchased Mr. Stuart's interest, and he has since continued the business alone. In 1877 his mills and nearly every thing connected with his business, including models and drafting depart- ment, were destroyed by fire, his loss exceeding fifty thousand dollars. At this time he had seven steamboats under contract, and succeeded in rebuilding his mills and completing them on time. He has one of the largest ship-building yards on the Ohio River, and em- ploys over two hundred workmen the greater part of the year. He has built over one hundred and twenty-five steamboats, and several light-draft steamers for the gov- ernment coast survey service, at an average of thirty thousand dollars each, making a total of three million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Barmore married, December 31, 1856, Miss Elizabeth Cash, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Cash, of Jefferson- ville, Indiana, and has had two children, one of whom is living. Mrs. Barmore is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which Mr. Barmore also attends.

ENZ, JOHN, state Senator, one of the prominent merchants and leading politicians of Leavenworth, Crawford County, was born in Germany, March 9, 1834. He is the son of Jacob and Mary Benz. After receiving a thorough and complete education, at the early age of sixteen he came to America to seek his fortune, landing at New Orleans, March 25, 1850. He speedily acquired a knowledge of our language, and identified himself with American interests, customs, and institutions. He proceeded to Louisville, where he worked at his trade, that of a tailor. After remaining there five years he removed to St. Louis, where, how- ever, he only remained some nine months, when he re- turned to Louisville. Not, however, feeling perfectly satisfied, he shortly after removed to Hawesville, Ken- tucky, and from there to Cannelton, Indiana, where he was employed for some four years. Having by that time, through the exercise of care and economy, accu- mulated a fair amount of money, he resolved to go into business on his own account, and decided upon Leaven- worth as the point, it being a young and rising town. He there embarked in business as a general merchant, and such has been his success, through his own energy and perseverance, that he is now one of the largest and most successful merchants of the town. He is a man of enterprise, tact, and energy, and is one who enjoys in a high sense the honor and respect of his fellow-citizens wherever he has become known. Successful in his busi- ness career, he now enjoys a competence. Early in life

he associated himself with the Democratic party, and has served most efficiently as chairman of the Democratic central committee of Crawford County for about four years. In 1864 he was elected county coroner for Craw- ford County, in 1874 school trustee of Leavenworth, in 1876 to the state Legislature from Crawford and Orange Counties, in 1878 state Senator for Crawford and Harri- son Counties. He was educated as a Lutheran, and now attends that Church. He was married, July 4, 1856, to Caroline Nybower, daughter of Karl Nybower, of Germany. They have had six children-three girls (one of whom is dead) and three boys. The two eldest sons are now employed in their father's store. Such is the record of one of Crawford County's most prominent citizens, and one upon whom honors have been be- stowed for his worth alone.

LISII, JOIIN H., merchant, of Seymour, was born in Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont, April 25, 1822. His parents were John and Mareb (Wales) Blish. His father was a hardware mer- chant at Woodstock. He attended school at the acad- emy at Newbury, Vermont, graduated a civil engineer in 1845, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession on the Rutland and Burlington Railway. In September, 1849, he started for California, but was in- duced to stop at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he was ap- pointed assistant engineer of the Madison, Jeffersonville and Indianapolis Railroad, the second railroad in the state-just being constructed-and located and built the road from Jeffersonville to Indianapolis. In 1853 he ac- cepted the same position on the Chicago and Cincinnati Air-line Railroad. He was married, in September, 1856, to Sarah S. Shields, daughter of Hon. Medey W. Shields, of Seymour, Indiana. In the fall of 1857 he resigned his position on the railroad and removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa. There he engaged in the real estate business, and was made city engineer. The fol- lowing spring he removed to Seymour, Indiana, and, purchasing the Crescent Flour-mills of that city, man- aged them very successfully until the spring of 1869. He was then appointed chief engineer of the Evansville and Lake Erie Railroad, securing and locating the line of that road until work on it was suspended in 1873, owing to the financial troubles of the country. He then returned to Seymour, where he gave his attention to dealing in grain, and in 1877 he re-purchased the Cres- cent City Mills. Mr. Blish is the father of seven chil- dren, five of whom, three sons and two daughters are now living. The oldest son, Medey Shields Blish, is a partner with his father in the milling and grain business; John Ball Blish, the second son, is a midshipman in the | United States Navy ; Tipton S., Emma M., and Lucy S.,

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are at home with their parents. The family of Mr. Blish is one of the wealthiest and most refined in the county. Although his parents were devout Methodists he has never joined any religious denomination, but at- tends the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is an exemplary member. Being a prominent Republican, he has often been solicited to become a candidate for va- rious positions, but has invariably declined. He is vice- president of the First National Bank.

RAZELTON, REV. JOHN, of North Vernon, was born near Danville, Kentucky, May 26, 1822. He has no recollection of his father, who died when Mr. Brazelton was about three years of age. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth League, removed to Jefferson County, Indiana, about a year after her husband's death. Here she married Mr. Fitch, a gentleman much older than herself, who had a large family by a previous marriage. The boyhood of Mr. Brazelton was spent, until his thirteenth year, on a farm, attending school a few months during the fall and winter, and performing, while yet a child, a man's labor the remainder of the year. Mr. Fitch was a kind. step-father, but still the boy's life was far from being happy. When he was thirteen years old he bade a final adieu to home, attended school some months, and began teaching while yet but fifteen. He taught and attended school alternately for three years, com- pleting his school course at the Spring Valley High School, in Graham Township, Jefferson County, Indi- ana, then conducted by a celebrated teacher, Mr. Ben- jamin Mayhew. At the age of eighteen he entered the law office of Hon. J. G. Marshall, of Madison, as a student, and after remaining three years was ad- mitted to the bar in 1843. In 1845 he accepted the nomination for member of the Legislature, but was defeated by a majority of thirteen. His failing health compelled him to relinquish his chosen profession, and removing to Kent, Jefferson County, he opened a store. In 1848, still seeking to regain his health, he removed upon a farm, and for three or four years devoted his time to agriculture in the summer and to teaching during the winter. The taste for farming thus acquired he has never lost, and he still owns, and to some extent manages, his farm. In 1852 he united with the Christian Church, and in the fall of the same year, at the urgent call of his denomination, he entered the home missionary field in Southern Indiana. In 1854 he was, without an effort on his part, nominated for the Legislature from Jefferson County, and was elected without making a pledge or a speech during the entire canvass. In 1863 he removed to Columbus, where he was pastor of the Columbus Church for one

year, and then went to Queensville, Jennings County, and purchased the farm which he now owns. For the following thirteen years he preached at Hartsville, although changing his residence, in 1872, to North Vernon.

In 1877 he resigned this charge, and since that time has been preaching at Vernon, Mount Auburn, and North Vernon, and laboring as an evangelist. In politics Mr. Brazelton has been a Republican ever since the formation of that party in 1856. In 1868 he was nominated for the state Senate, but, declining to stump the district, another was nominated in his stead and elected. He was married, September 7, 1841, to America Hyter, of Kent, Indiana, by whom he had seven daughters. All but one of these became the wives of well known and respected citizens of their na- tive state. Marietta married Marshall Grinstead, who died in January, 1877; Jennie married Doctor King, of North Vernon, and, later, T. J. Houchen, a farmer of Illinois; the third daughter, Josephine, married James King, of North Vernon, a dairyman; the fourth, Florence, married Charles Curtis, a farmer, of Jennings County ; Fanny married R. Scott, a teacher; Annie married Ernest Tripp, a merchant, of North Vernon ; and Nettie is still living at her father's home. Mr. Brazelton's wife died in 1871, and he married his present wife, Mrs. Nannie (Miller) Frost, of Columbus, February 17, 1875. Mr. Brazelton has always been one of the leading men in his Church, and is regarded as one of the best speakers in Southern Indiana. With a strong, logical mind, and deep .convictions, his earnest labors have been the means of great and lasting benefit to the cause of religion and humanity. He is still in the prime of life, and has undoubtedly many years of usefulness before him.

RADLEY, AUGUSTUS, of New Albany, was born in Edgecomb (now Wilson) County, North Carolina, October 14, 1821, and came to New Albany with his parents in 1830. Richard Brad- ley, his father, was at one time possessed of a good pat- rimony, and was one of the substantial farmers in the old North State, but by indorsing for friends he became insolvent, and, at the suggestion of his wife, removed with his family across the mountains to New Albany, with the hope of regaining his fortune in the free atmos- phere of Indiana. There he died in 1833. Augustus Bradley's mother, Obedience Bradley, then apprenticed her son to learn the printer's trade. After serving his apprenticeship, by rigid economy he and his elder brother enabled their mother to maintain and educate her family. He remained in the printing-office six or seven years, employing all his spare time in study, hoping in this manner to prepare himself for practical business life. At about the age of nineteen he was ap-

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pointed deputy postmaster at New Albany, by General Burnett-who was then postmaster of that city-and served in that capacity for about three years. Desiring to obtain a more thorough education, he resigned his position and entered Greencastle College, where he made very rapid progress. After spending about a year in college, he was nominated by the Democratic party for county auditor, to which office he was elected in 1845, at the age of twenty-three years. He was afterward re-elected, and served his constituents acceptably for nine and a half years. He did all the work of the office himself, and so perfectly was it done that he was never called upon to make a single explanation. On retiring from the auditor's office, Mr. Bradley entered upon the mercantile business, in some branch of which he has been engaged ever since. In 1861 he was again called into public life and elected state Senator, to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Colonel D. C. An- thony. After serving the remainder of this term, Mr. Bradley was re-nominated and elected, receiving five hundred and nine votes more than any man on the state ticket. While a member of the Senate he showed him- self possessed of excellent legislative ability. One of the important measures in which he was interested was the erection of an asylum for the incurable insane, for which he succeeded in getting an appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars. The new building, now nearly completed, is of equal capacity with the old one, near which it stands. Mr. Bradley was strongly in favor of meeting the public debt of Indiana as it became due, and accordingly introduced a bill for that purpose, the main features of which were adopted and made the law under which the state debt was settled in 1866. He was also urgent in behalf of many important measures, representing Floyd County as ably as it has ever been represented by any one. He was a war Democrat, be- lieving that much wrong had been done to the South, but that such wrongs did not justify a war upon the old flag. About the expiration of his term as state Senator, he was appointed by Governor Baker a commissioner on the part of the state to examine the accounts of the Fund Commissioners of Indiana, but declined. In 1872 he was a delegate from Indiana to the National Democratic Convention, at Baltimore, which nominated Horace Greeley for the presidency. He has filled many places of trust, always discharging his duties in the most acceptable manner. His character as a private citizen and a public officer has never been assailed. Mr. Bradley served the people of his ward thirteen consecu- tive years in the New Albany city council, and had much to do with the city's interest and prosperity. During all this time he watched carefully the interests of the tax-payers, doing all in his power to place the city on a good financial basis. In 1869 Mr. Bradley was elected to the presidency of the Louisville, New Albany

and St. Louis Air-line Railroad Company. This was thought to be an enterprise that would be of great ben- efit to New Albany, and therefore required competent and trusty men. He entered upon the discharge of his duties in this important position with that earnestness and determination to succeed which have characterized his whole life. He procured a subscription of one mill- ion seven hundred thousand dollars, which he expended on the line, fitting almost the entire road for the cross- ties, and making nine tunnels, one of which is three- fourths of a mile through solid rock. Some thirty miles of this road are completely equipped and in operation ; and had it not been for the panic of 1873, which drove all great enterprises, both public and private, to the wall, the Air-line Road would have been entirely com- pleted, and one of the best paying in this country, be- sides being of great national importance. Mr. Bradley took the presidency of the road without a dollar, and succeeded in grading, bridging, trestling, and almost finishing the greater part of it. He severed his connec- tion with the road as president in 1875, but his ambition still is to see the line completed. For twenty-five years past Mr. Bradley has been secretary and treasurer of the New Albany and Vincennes turnpike, an evidence of the confidence placed by the directors in his ability and in- tegrity. He has always been an unflinching Democrat, fighting gallantly for his convictions. In 1846, while yet in the auditor's office, he and Mr. Oliver Lucas pur- chased the Western Union Democrat, of New Albany, which they conducted very successfully, making it a sterling Democratic paper. This was afterwards sold to John B. Norman. It became the New Albany Ledger, and later the Ledger-Standard, which is to-day the most substantial and the leading Democratic paper in the state. Mr. Bradley's early training made such lasting impressions on his mind that, although not a professed politician, his ardor for the success of his party has never abated, and he is ever ready to give his influence and make personal sacrifices for principle. While he has never pretended to be a public speaker, he makes a good, logical speech, and writes with great ease and fluency on most subjects. Mr. Bradley is a Methodist, and has been an active worker in the interest of the Church ever since his connection with it. For many years he has been a teacher in one of the classes of the Centenary Sabbath-school, and never fails to be at his post, giving the Sabbath mornings to the youth and children of the Church. Some time since, in reviewing with a friend the past, he remarked: "If there is one feature in the history of my life to which I can turn with pleasure, it is to my connection with the Sabbath-school." Having been taught in his youth the principles of truth so necessary to real manhood, he has ever met friends ready to stand by him. In business and social relations he has always been straightforward and

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A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 25

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1038

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038