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 36
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stone quarries ; Doctor A. A. Armington, a physician of prominence and fine acquirements in his profes- sion ; Lieutenant A. G. Armington, who died in 1864, from disease contracted in the army; and A. N. Arm- ington, a law student, who died in 1865. On the 22d of January, 1846, Doctor Armington married Miss Ger- trude J. McHargh, of Greensburg, a lady of great cul- ture. She died in 1867, leaving two daughters-Clarissa L. and Mary M. Armington, both remarkable for intel- ligence and refinement. The survivors of Doctor Armington's family all reside in the city of Greensburg, and are greatly esteemed by the entire community. Doctor Armington was a kind and indulgent husband and father, a sincere friend, an eminent physician, and an honest man. He was a member of Lodge No. 36 of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, and was a worthy example of the Masonic principles. He died February 24, 1862. His funeral was attended by the members of his lodge and a large number of rela- tives and friends.
ARWICK, R. P. C., of Brookville, was born in Caroline County, Maryland, in the year 1807. Elijah, his father, was a farmer, and a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during his life reared up a family of eleven children. Those were pioneer days in Maryland, and the family were subjected to hard labor and many inconveniences in consequence. The children attended school three months, probably, in the winter time, by going three or four miles to some log-cabin used for that purpose. In 1826 the family removed to Brookville, Indiana. Two years previous to this Mrs. Barwick died, but in 1830 the father married again. The subject of this sketch, upon his arrival here with his father, went to work in earnest to help support the family. At first he went to learn the wagon-maker's trade, and then lived with General Noble, Senator from Indiana, but, inducements being offered by Mr. John Adair, the tavern-keeper, he stayed there for two years and six months, receiving his board and one hundred dollars a year. Out of this but little could be saved. But he struggled along, making for himself an honest living and a good reputation for character. After leaving Mr. Noble's he lived for a time at the Adair Hotel, and, after Mr. Adair's death, conducted that place of enter- tainment. In this business he made some money, but soon after he bought a hotel, which burned down as soon as it was completely furnished, inflicting a loss on him of several thousand dollars. He also engaged in the pork-packing business, losing in that several thou- sand dollars ; but in other pursuits he was very success- ful, having made for himself, in his old days, a hand- some competence. In 1833 he was married to Miss
Mary Cole Scott, of Brookville, formerly of Maryland. They had one child only, now dead, but have since taken several orphan children and established them in life. In 1835 and 1836 he formed a copartnership with Mr. Butler in the dry-goods business. He was engaged in a tannery during the war, and for several years made money very fast, but he has now retired from all active employment. Mr. Barwick and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are people much admired and respected by their neighbors.
EAGLE, REV. T. WARN, of Vevay, was born at Flagg Spring, Campbell County, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 16, 1836. He received an academic educa- tion at Aspen Grove, Kentucky, and at Mount Hygiene Academy, Ohio. He taught school for more than three years. In 1858 he married Miss M. K. Demoss, in Kentucky. He commenced preaching in 1859, his first pastorate being the Baptist Church at Pleasant Ridge, in his native county. In 1863 he re- moved to Rising Sun, Indiana, and lived there about four years. The first year he preached half of the time there and half at Grant's Creek, five miles distant. During three years he preached for the Rising Sun Church every Sunday. The Church at Rising Sun, when Mr. Beagle first went there, was small and di- vided. The patronage of the Baptist State Convention was secured, and finally, by hard labor on the part of the pastor, the Church became self-sustaining and pros- perous. In Rising Sun Mr. Beagle has many friends, of all classes and denominations, as is the case wherever he has lived. After resigning the care of the Church, much against the will of the membership, he went to Moore's Hill, where he remained eighteen months. After twice tendering his resignation as pastor of that Church, having received repeated calls to the pastorate of the Switzerland Baptist Church, of Vevay, Indiana, he removed to the latter place in 1870, where he is at present residing, having nearly completed his ninth pastoral year with the Church there. During his pas- torate at Vevay the Baptists have erected a church- edifice, at a cost of more than twenty thousand dollars. Great harmony has at all times existed between the pastor and membership. As a worker in every good cause, he is earnest and faithful ; as a minister, his walk is circumspect and upright, as becomes a man of God; as a speaker, he is fluent and earnest, and all who hear him are impressed with the belief that he means and feels what he says. His social qualities are unsur- passed, and his conversational powers are superior. He is especially faithful in visiting the sick and the poor, and in looking after and supplying their wants. IIe is frequently called upon to deliver addresses at public
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gatherings, at Sunday-school conventions, Fourth of July celebrations, temperance organizations, etc. He is thoroughly identified with all the moral and educational interests of the community in which he lives. Now, in the prime of life, he is in excellent health, and bids fair to do even more good work in the cause of religion and morality in the future than he has done in the past.
ELLAMY, JOHN FRANKLIN, A. M., lawyer, of Madison, was born in Switzerland County, In- diana, and is the son of Jesse P. and Nancy J. (Hart) Bellamy, who were farmers in moderate circumstances, but industrious, pious, and intelligent, and have since become comparatively wealthy. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, nearly all of whom are possessed of more than ordinary mental ability. One of them was the late Flavius J. Bellamy, who represented the counties of Switzerland and Ohio in the Indiana Senate from 1866 to 1870, and acquired considerable reputation as an orator before his untimely death, in 1874. John F. Bellamy, the subject of this sketch, from his earliest years manifested a remarkable fondness for books. Prior to his fifteenth year, though laboring industriously upon his father's farm, he devoted to reading and study nearly all his hours of leisure, in- stead of wasting them in boyish sports. After toiling all day in the field, he would often, when permitted by his parents, sit up to read till a late hour at night. His Sundays, his evenings and mornings, and the intervals of rest at noon, were all so diligently improved by him, that he had read the entire Bible through three times, be- sides reading Milton's -" Paradise Lost," Rollin's " An- cient History," and various other books of history, poetry, and biography, before he was thirteen years old. During the next two years, in addition to other books, he read one hundred volumes of "Harper's Family Library," which his father had united with some of his neighbors in purchasing for the benefit of their children. He was not, however, sent to school until he was ten years old, his parents preferring to instruct their children while of tender years at home, rather than subject them to the danger of contracting evil habits from wicked asso- ciates at school. As a result of their care and training, it is said of Mr. Bellamy, that he was never known to swear, to play at cards, to drink any intoxicating liquor, or even to use tobacco in any form. At the age of ten he entered the common school of his neighborhood, which he attended about three months during the winter of each year, and there made rapid progress in the study of the common branches, being a favorite with his teachers, and regarded as the best and brightest scholar in the school. Though his parents at that time were poor, encumbered with the care of a large and increasing
family, and could ill afford to dispense with the services of their oldest son, yet, seeing his desire for a good edu- cation, they yielded to his entreaties, and sent him, at the age of fifteen, to the Indiana Asbury University, at Greencastle, where he pursued the regular classical course of study, and graduated with the highest honors of his class. As a student he was quiet and gentlemanly in his deportment, correct and studious in his habits, and was not only a diligent student of the text-books, but was also an inveterate reader of general literature, as well as an active and conspicuous member of the " Platonean Literary Society," connected with the insti. tution. While at college he was much addicted to essay writing and verse making; and was noted for his literary and poetic taste as well as for his general schol- arship. Though so young, and of small and compara- tively feeble frame, he at the beginning took the first rank in his class, and held it to the close of the course. Indeed, so high did he stand in all the several depart- ments of study that he made the remarkable average of ninety-nine and a half-one hundred denoted perfec tion-for the entire college course. Prudent and econom- ical in disposition, and desirous of lightening the bur- dens of his parents as much as possible, he rented a room and boarded himself (or " bached," as it was called), sometimes alone and sometimes with a chum or companion, all the time he was at the college except his last year; and not unfrequently he eked out his scanty supply of pocket money by sawing wood on Sat- urdays, at ten cents per hour, for citizens or other stu- dents. At the beginning of his senior year, Mr. George Ames, a brother of Bishop Ames, was so delighted with a public address delivered by Mr. Bellamy at a college performance that, on learning of his superior character and scholarship, he employed him as a tutor in his family for the instruction of his three daughters. By instruct- ing the latter one hour per day, he paid for his board and lodging during the last college year. After gradu- ating he engaged in teaching for several years; was two years principal of the Wilmington Academy, Indiana; one year principal of the union high school, at Mt. Carmel, Illinois ; and one year principal of the Spring Street school, at New Albany, Indiana. As a teacher he was industrious and zealous, a good disciplinarian, a successful instructor, and much attached to his vocation. But failing health at length compelled him to abandon it, and, after a year or two of rest and travel in quest of health, in 1870 he engaged with his usual industry and zeal in the study of the law. In due time he was admitted to the bar at Oswego, Kansas, to which state he had emigrated, and entered upon the practice of his profession. But owing to the loss of a child, the ill- health of his wife, and her consequent dissatisfaction with a residence in Kansas, he in 1873 returned to his native state, and settled in Madison, Indiana, where he
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has since resided, engaged in the active and success- ful practice of law. In 1876 he was nominated by ac- clamation as the Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Indiana, con- sisting of the counties of Jefferson and Scott. The cir- cuit was Democratic by a small majority ; but Mr. Bel- lamy displayed so much prudence and ability in the canvass that he received not only the vote of his own party but also many Democratic votes, and was elected by a majority of forty. One of the incidents of the election most gratifying to him was the high com- pliment he received from the Democratic town- ship of Milton, in Jefferson County, whose people, living adjacent to the place of his birth, had known him from his childhood. That township gave Williams, Democratic candidate for Governor, a major- ity of twenty-two votes, but complimented Mr. Bellamy with a majority of sixty, and thereby virtually deter- mined the election in his favor. In November, 1877, he entered upon the discharge of his official duties, and has performed them so faithfully and successfully as to make a record surpassed by none. Within less than a year he has prosecuted sixteen men for felonies in Jeffer- son County, and succeeded in having convicted fifteen of that number, of whom one (John W. Beavers) was hanged, and fourteen were sent to the penitentiary. His official services have been so satisfactory to the people that, in 1878, he was complimented with a re-election to the same office by an increased majority, having car- ried the county of his residence by a majority of six hundred and seventy-five, and the circuit by a majority of two hundred and eighty-nine votes. By his natural talents and professional acquirements, Mr. Bellamy ap- pears admirably qualified for the office he holds. He is said by those who know him to be a man of the purest morals and strictest integrity, a consistent Christian, an accomplished scholar, and an excellent lawyer; and is conceded, even by his political opponents, to be an im- partial and conscientious as well as a successful officer. The diligence and ingenuity with which he worked up the evidence in the celebrated murder case of the State vs. John W. Beavers, for the murder of John W. Sew- ell; the fairness and signal ability with which he con- ducted the prosecution in court; his able argument to the jury, in which he so skillfully arranged and com- bined the various facts and circumstances of the case as to make them all point to the defendant's guilt, "as the spokes of the wagon-wheel point to the hub," thereby succeeding in having the defendant convicted and hanged on purely circumstantial evidence; and also his success in other difficult cases depending on circum- stantial evidence, have won for him an enviable reputa- tion as a criminal lawyer, and give an earnest of greater achievements in the future. In 1870, Mr. Bellamy mar- ried Miss Jennie Snyder, daughter of Rev. W. W. /
Snyder, of the South-eastern Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Rising Sun, Indiana. Their union has been blessed by two children, a son and daughter. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though a Republi- can from his boyhood, and a man of decided convic- tions, he is not an extremist in politics, but is regarded as liberal and conservative in his views. Unassuming in his manners and diffident in disposition, he never re- sorts to the artifices of the demagogue to win popular- ity ; yet, on account of his sterling qualities of head and heart, he enjoys in a high degree the esteem ard con- fidence of the people in his judicial circuit; and, being comparatively a young man, he has bright prospects for attaining to still higher honors and greater usefulness.
ERRY, HENRY, a native of Rockingham County, Virginia, where he was born the 20th of June, 1783, was a descendant of the first colonists that settled at Amboy, New Jersey. His whole at- tendance at school lasted but three months, but his study at home enabled him to acquire as much knowl- edge as was necessary for business. He began life for himself at an early age. He had only attained his twelfth year when he went up to the county seat and engaged himself with Mr. Sullivan, a tailor of that place, to learn the sartorial art. But his stay with that good-natured Irishman did not last long, as a year after his employer died-a thing, perhaps, less to be regretted by the boy, as his occupation had chiefly been to nurse an infant nephew of the tailor, since an eminent member of the Indiana bar and a Judge of the Supreme Court, Hon. Jeremiah Sullivan. Berry next engaged with a nailer, and remained with him until he became a good workman, but a new calamity overtook him. Ma- chinery was introduced into that neighborhood by two enterprising men, by which the nails were headed in a vice. As compared with the rapid processes of to-day, this method is antiquated, but when placed in contrast with the plan previously in use, where a hammer was employed to shape them, it was very rapid. The hand- workers were undersold, and they were obliged to look out for a new trade. But the young man, who had grown to be strong and energetic, did not mean to fail in life, and, without repining, turned to the black- smith's forge, at which he wrought in his native county until 1816, when he thought he might venture West. He packed all his worldly goods, including a vice and anvil, upon a four-horse wagon, and, with his wife and four children, departed for Indiana territory. No public roads existed, the streams were unbridged and the swamps innumerable, but with stout heart he plodded on, only being able to make half a dozen miles
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in a day sometimes, and occasionally finding his wagon | stuck in the mire. The season had been one of copi- ous rains, and, if the roads were bad in dry weather, too much could not be said against them in wet. One night in November they camped near the house of Archibald Talbot, in Butler County, Ohio. Mrs. Tal- bot, with the hospitality which has always distin- guished the pioneers, invited the family into the house, and gave them the best she had, which was mush and milk. The result of the meeting was that Mr. Berry bought of his entertainer a tract of land three miles east of Brookville, Indiana, on which he settled, residing there until his death, and in a quiet part of which the remains of himself and wife now repose. They reached their new home on the 7th of November, 1816. Judge Berry derived his title from having been the Judge of the Probate Court for more than twenty years, a position for which his natu- ral gifts eminently fitted him. The cause of the widow and orphan was safe in his hands, and he enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens to a very high degree. He was an earnest Methodist, and held firmly to their standards of faith until death, which oc- curred the twenty-first day of September, 1864. Of the sons of Judge Berry, the eldest is George, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, February 17, 1811. He began the blacksmithing business with his father, but did not continue at it, as his health would not permit. He became a teacher, subsequently studying medicine, at the present time having been engaged in its prac- tice for over forty-seven years in Brookville. He has been elected to several offices of trust, among which we may mention state Senator for three terms. He was postmaster during the administrations of General Jackson and Mr. Van Buren. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, to revise the state Constitution, and for eight years he was county auditor. During the Mexican War he was surgeon to the 16th Regiment of the United States Infantry. He is Democratic in politics. Jesse, the second son, is a Virginian, and was born June 14, 1813. He was a farmer in summer and a school-teacher in winter. After a while he emigrated to Iowa, where he taught the first school ever opened in Iowa City. Upon the organ- ization of Johnson County he was chosen recorder, and clerk of the Commissioners' Court. He was killed in a storm on his farm near Iowa City, in May, 1857. Henry, the third son, was born in Franklin County, Indiana. He originally studied medicine, but only prac- ticed it for a short time, when he deserted it for jour- nalism. He was for a number of years the editor and one of the publishers of the Franklin Democrat, at Brookville. While conducting this paper he studied law, and was for eight years county clerk of the Circuit Court, and is now a member of the legal firm of Berry
& Berry, of Brookville, composed of himself and his brother. Fielding, the fourth son, and partner of the preceding, devoted a portion of his younger days to school-teaching, also serving at the same time as county surveyor. He subsequently studied law.
ACKMAN, JOHN J., merchant, late of Aurora, Indiana, was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1814. His parents were in moderate circum- stances, and, Mr. Backman dying when John was only eleven years of age, the son was early thrown upon his own resources. At the very outset of his career he displayed the remarkable energy and perseverance which characterized him throughout his life. He managed to work his way to the city of Baltimore, which he reached on foot. He often related that his first suit of fine clothes was purchased from the proceeds of the sale of chestnuts, which he had gathered while on his way to the city. In Baltimore he followed several occupations, never missing an opportunity to make an honest liveli- hood, until he was enabled to apprentice himself to the carpenter's trade, which he mastered. In his after life he often remarked that he had never had occasion to regret the experience thus gained. After various changes of residence, and many and varied experiences, he at length, in 1845, came to the city of Aurora, Indiana, where he engaged with the firm of T. & J. W. Gaff, in the distilling business. Here his zeal, industry, and good management soon made itself evident, and he be- came manager of the immense establishment. In 1862 he was admitted to the firm; and continued actively engaged in business up to the time of his death. His executive ability was remarkable. He personally super- intended the working department of the distillery, and was thoroughly cognizant of every detail of the busi- ness ; nothing seemed to escape his observation. Com- ing into personal contact with every man in his em- ployment, he was sincerely respected by all, and his popularity among his employés was almost unbounded. While strict in his manner of dealing with any derelic- tion of duty, he was kind and courteous to all, impress- ing his people with the feeling that he was one of them, and that their interests were his. His memory is still cherished by all his subordinates. Quick in perception, punctual in his attention to duty, he never wanted in determination to accomplish what he undertook ; full of laudable ambition for himself, he did not forget the interests of others, and assisted much in giving life and activity to the city of Aurora; fond of improvements in his own home and surroundings, he also took a lively interest in every thing that tended to improve and beautify the city of his choice. He was a member of the city council for twelve years, and filled the position
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with entire satisfaction to the community. He was the prime mover in securing for Aurora the beautiful River- view Cemetery, in which his remains now rest. He was a stockholder in the United States Mail Line be- tween Cincinnati and Louisville and in the First Na- tional Bank of Aurora. During his whole life Mr. Backman was an ardent and enthusiastic Democrat, and took an active part in the councils of his party. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Aurora, and one of its most liberal supporters. He was also one of the original incorporators and stockholders in the Aurora Gas and Coke Company. Mr. Backman was twice married. His first wife, Miss Sallie Garrett, died January 1, 1851, leaving a family of one son and four daughters, who are all married. On the 26th of October, 1852, he married Miss Caroline Sutton, a sister of Doctor George Sutton, a prominent physician of Aurora. Mrs. Backman survives her husband. They have a family of four children, all living : Lilian, now Mrs. J. H. Lamar, of Aurora; George; Carrie; and John, a bright, intelligent boy, fourteen years old, who bids fair to follow in the footsteps of his honored father. Mrs. Backman is a lady of remarkable energy of char- acter and fine attainments. She was in every sense a worthy partner of a worthy man; and their home in Aurora offered an example of refined hospitality and cultured taste. The oldest daughter, Mrs. Lamar, is a lady of more than average intelligence and artistic tastes. In 1872 and 1873 she traveled extensively in Europe and the East, reaching home but a compara- tively short time before the fatal illness of her father. Mr. Backman was stricken by paralysis November 24, 1873, and died January 12, 1874. Unremitting attention to business had undermined his constitution, which at last gave way. In his death Aurora lost one of her most enterprising citizens, a model husband and father, a use- ful member of society, a public-spirited citizen, a gener- ous, hospitable, whole-souled gentleman.
OND, REV. RICHARD CLAYTON, M. D., of Aurora, a native of Wood County, West Virginia, was born March 22, 1822. He is the seventh son of Lewis and Lydia (John) Bond. His father was a farmer and a Baptist minister ; he was of English descent, and spent his early life in Maryland. Doc- tor Bond's mother was of Welsh ancestry, and was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His early education was received under her kind and intelligent instructions, and he was impressed in childhood with that love of truth which has marked all his subsequent career. At the age of eighteen years he was sent to New Geneva Seminary, Pennsylvania, where he remained some three years, pursuing scientific and literary studies. He then A-12
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