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 60

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 60

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ANNA, THOMAS, of Greencastle, who is now the Republican candidate for Lieutenant-governor, was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, on the 24th of August, 1841, and is consequently a little over thirty-eight years old. His father, who was a farmer, removed from Lawrence County to Greene County in 1854, when his son was but a little over thirteen years of age. The next seven years were spent at hard work upon the paternal acres, but improving every moment for study. In 1861 he had attained sufficient proficiency to enter Asbury University, together with a younger brother. Their father could spare them little money,

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They did odd jobs about the college, and were glad to get such labor as could be obtained in the town. In this way he stayed for two years, when the patriotic fever was too strong to be resisted, and he enlisted in Company C, 115th Indiana Volunteers, and soon after became first sergeant. The regiment was constantly on duty, marching and fighting. Longstreet's army was in opposition, and the two bodies perpetually menaced each other. The commissariat was very badly supplied, their shoes and clothing were insuf- ficient, and they were in danger of perishing from lack of food. The regiment lost more than a hundred men from disease occasioned by defective supply of nutriment. The next year he returned home, and entered the freshman class at Asbury, where he remained until 1868, then graduating. Judge F. T. Brown was favor- ably impressed by him, and received him into his office as a student of law, and two years later took him into partnership. In 1875 he was made city attorney of Greencastle, remaining in that position until 1879, and displayed in the discharge of his duties great abilities, and a conscientious endeavor to fulfill the requirements of the law. During the heated political campaign of 1876, when Indiana was the great battle-ground between the two parties, he served as chairman of the Putnam County Republican central committee, showing high talents, and succeeding in making a break in the Demo- cratic ranks. He has lately formed a partnership with S. A. Hays, a graduate of Asbury University ; his former associate, Judge Brown, having been compelled to retire from active business on account of ill-health. Mr. Hanna's character stands high. He is an active politician, sustaining his views on the stump and with the pen; and his Republicanism is of the most un- doubted kind. His success as a lawyer has been great, and he now obtains a large proportion of the most dif- ficult cases. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

and they were obliged to practice the closest economy, 'In the spring of 1844 he went with the firm to Harris- cooking their own meals and making their own beds. : burg, Pennsylvania, and was promoted to the position of foreman of a gang of men, his wages being increased to fifty cents a day. In 1845 he returned to Ohio, and, having completed his apprenticeship, was appointed su- perintendent by the firm. For the next eight years he remained with them, building all the bridges on the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, and also on other roads in the Middle and Western States. In 1853 he removed to Columbus, Indiana, and began business on his own account, which he still continues. Mr. Hege has done much towards improving the city and county in which he lives, having built all the bridges in the county except two, and all the leading business houses and residences in Columbus. He also built and owns the conservatory of music, the pride of the city. In politics he was reared as a Democrat, and then joined the Whig, and finally the Republican, party. He has often been solicited to permit nomination for office, but never accepted any position save that of coun- cilman, which he has filled seven years. December 17, 1850, he married Cynthia Hill, of Carthage, Indiana, an orphan daughter of a farmer of that place. Five children have been born to them, of whom two boys and one girl are now living. Charles, the eldest son, is his father's bookkeeper; William works for his father in the mill; Alice married William F. Kendall, his chief lumber foreman. Mr. Hege's wife died December 16, 1863, of consumption. He married, the following year, Mary E. White Chenoweth, a widow. They have three children. Mr. Hege was brought up in the faith of the English Lutherans, but, with his wife, is now a member of the Christian Church. He is regarded by the people of Columbus as having done more towards ad- vancing the interests of the city than any other man in this community.

EGE, SAMUEL, bridge-builder and contractor, of Columbus, Indiana, was born January 12, 1825, in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Peter and Polly (Updegraff ) Hege. His father was a farmer; and in the spring of 1826 removed with his family to Fairfield County, Ohio. Samuel Hege, being kept steadily at work on the farm, had no opportunity of attending school, but after attain- ing the years of manhood he acquired by his own efforts a fair English education. At the age of seventeen he ap- prenticed himself to a bridge-building firm of Circleville, Ohio, working the first two years for twelve and a half cents a day, and clothing himself out of these wages. ; Edinburg, where he has since been actively and success-

ERNANDES, DANIEL H., M. D., Edinburg, was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, September 25, 1854, being the eldest son of Joseph and Mary (Gomez) Fernandes. His early life was passed on the farm of his father, assisting in the labors of the summer months, and attending the district schools dur- ing the winter. At the age of seventeen, however, he entered Whipple Academy, where he remained two years. Having a decided taste for music, he improved his vacations by studying at the Conservatory of Music at Jacksonville. He entered Hanover College, at Han- over, Indiana, in 1874, where he spent two years. Having decided to make medicine his profession, he became a student in the Illinois School of Medicine, afterward graduating in the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. Upon his graduation, he removed to

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fully engaged in his profession. Although a young man, Doctor Fernandes has already attained an enviable position in his profession ; and by untiring industry and hard study is making his way rapidly toward the front rank among the medical fraternity. He was married, June 19, 1878, to Miss Clara M. Robertson, daughter of a well known and well-to-do farmer of Jefferson County, Indiana. Doctor Fernandes is a man of sterling ability. His influence is felt in every moral and philanthropic enterprise in the town of his residence. He is an at- tendant of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an honored member. Politically he belongs to the Repub- lican party, and gives that organization an earnest and hearty support. As a citizen and member of society he has the confidence and respect of the community; and, with youth and talent to aid him, will doubtless attain distinction in his profession. He is a man of great in- dustry, and is clear-sighted and painstaking. He is a representative and self-made man, who is popular in his town, and is esteemed highly by the members of his own profession, who know him best.

ORD, FRANCIS T., of Columbus, Indiana, was horn November 24, 1835, and is the son of Francis T. Hord, a prominent attorney of Maysville, Ken-

6 tucky, and Elizabeth S. (Moss) Hord. Mr. Hord never attended the common schools, but acquired his education at the seminary of Rand and Richeson, at Maysville, where he graduated in the summer of 1853. Immediately upon leaving school he commenced the study of law with his father. He was admitted to the bar in 1856, and commenced the practice of his profes- sion. In the spring of 1857 he removed to Indiana, and settled in Columbus, Bartholomew County. In the fall of the same year he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the state; and in the fall of 1858 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, embracing Bartholomew, Jackson, and Jen- nings Counties. At the expiration of his term of office, in 1860, he was appointed attorney for the county, which position he now holds. In the fall of 1862 he was elected to the state Senate, to represent Bartholomew County ; in the fall of 1866 he was renominated by his party for the same position, but declined the nomination. He married, August 16, 1859, Miss Emma Banfill, daughter of a prominent miller of Columbus, Indiana. They have had seven children, five of whom, three sons and two daughters, are now living. The eldest son, William B., is a law student in his father's office. Mr. Hord was brought up in the Presbyterian faith, but is not now connected with any religious denomination. He was reared in the school of the Jacksonian Democracy, and has always been in sympatny with its interests. He |

is an acknowledged leader in the county. He was tem- porary chairman of the Democratic state convention held in Indianapolis in June, 1880, and served as delegate to : the National Convention which nominated Tilden and Hendricks at St. Louis in 1876. He was the Democratic elector for Hancock and English in the Fifth Congres- sional District in the year 1880. He is one of the lead- ing members of the bar in this county, and enjoys the esteem and kind feeling of his fellow-citizens.

UNTER, MORTON C., of Bloomington, was born at Versailles, Indiana, February 5, 1825. He re- ceived his education in the common schools, and at the state university of Indiana, from the law department of which he graduated in 1849. He then entered upon a successful practice, which he continued until 1858, when he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Indiana from Monroe County. He entered the army at the beginning of the Civil War as colonel of the 82d Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He commanded this regiment until the fall of Atlanta, when, for meritorious services, he was breveted brigadier-gen- eral. From that time until the close of the war he commanded the First Brigade, Third Division, Four- teenth Army Corps. He was in Sherman's march to the sea, and participated in the great review at Washington, after the termination of hostilities. He was elected to the Fortieth, Forty-third, and Forty-fourth Congresses, and was re-elected to the Forty-fifth, as a Republican, securing fourteen thousand two hundred and sixty-five votes, against thirteen thousand one hundred and sixty- five for Mr. McLean, the Democratic candidate.

GIEHART, FERDINAND COWLE, pastor of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Evansville was born in Warrick County, December 8, 1845, and is the son of Asa and Ann (Cowle) Iglehart. His father, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume, is a member of the Evansville bar, the author of several standard legal works, and a lawyer of national reputation. Ferdinand Iglehart received a good preparatory training for college at the public schools of Evansville, and at the age of seventeen en- tered the freshman class of the Asbury University, graduating four years later. He early manifested a fondness for reading and study, taking especial interest in such works of a solid character as came within his reach. It was at one time his intention to study law, but, being led conscientiously in another direction, he abandoned the purpose, and began preparing himself for the ministry. In the autumn of 1869 he was li-

Respectfully

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censed to preach by the Quarterly Conference of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Evansville ; and a year from that time was admitted on trial in the traveling connection by the Indiana Conference, in session at Bloomington. His apppointments since then have been, Sullivan, New Harmony; John Street, New Albany ; Salem; Locust Street, Greencastle; and Trinity, Evans- ville. Revivals have attended his labors, and there has been an average of a hundred accessions to each Church he has served. He was married, October 12, 1869, to Miss Nannie Stewart, of Maysville, Kentucky, by whom he has had four sons, all now living. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and a Republi- can. Mr. Iglehart is somewhat under the medium stat- ure, rather slender, of grave and thoughtful appearance. His manners are agreeable, and of a character de- noting sincerity and frankness. These qualities make him attractive, both as a pastor and a friend. In pub- lic he is a man of more than usual influence for one of his age, and this influence he has always exerted in behalf of the best interests of the community in which he resides. He is a hearty advocate of tem- perance and political reform, speaking much and boldly on these and kindred subjects. He is a man courage- ous in all his sentiments, taking little counsel of what shall result from the utterance of the truth. As a speaker, in the pulpit and on the platform, he is forci- ble, energetic, and exact. As a writer, he has also achieved distinction, having contributed to several lead- ing magazines articles which have attracted much at- tention and favorable comment. He occupies a front rank among the ministers of his conference.

RWIN, JOSEPH I., banker and merchant, of Columbus, Indiana, was born near Columbus, In- diana, August 6, 1824, and is a son of John and Vilinda (Fenly) Irwin. His father was a farmer. His means of education were very limited, being only those afforded by the country schools-three months each winter until he attained the age of fifteen-as he was compelled to assist his father on the farm during the summer months; yet now he is a gentleman of fine English education and business ability. Ten years of his life, previous to attaining his majority, he resided near Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana, with his par- ents, who had removed there. At the age of twenty- one he left home and started out in life for himself, his mother handing him thirty cents to pay his fare from Edinburg to Columbus; but he concluded to walk, and thereby started life with a capital of thirty cents. He came back to Columbus, and entered the store of Snyder & Alden as a clerk, and remained with this firm three years. In this time he saved one hundred and fifty

dollars, and built up such a reputation for sobriety and economy that, in conjunction with Western W. Jones, he was enabled to purchase a tract of thirty acres of land, adjoining Columbus, almost entirely on credit, and had no trouble in procuring personal security to insure the deferred payments. As soon as this ground was laid off in lots they effected the sale of one of them, containing one-fourth of an acre, for four hundred dollars in cash. The thirty acres cost fifteen hundred dollars, and it took but a short time to realize this amount, leaving almost the entire tract in their hands as profit on the invest- ment. Mr. Irwin continued to purchase until he had accumulated one hundred and five acres in the then suburbs, which is now in the best part of the city. He began mercantile life on his own account about Jan- uary 1, 1850, and has been in business almost the entire time since. He commenced the banking business in 1874, and is still carrying it on. In politics he was reared a Whig, and upon the dissolution of that party he helped to make and build up the Republican party. He was a strong advocate of the preservation of the Union, and, although he did not enter the army, yet he contributed largely of his means in many different ways. A soldier's wife or widow never appealed to him for help in vain. When the Soldiers' Home was talked of he was chosen as a director to represent the Third Con- gressional District, and was instrumental in locating the Home at Knightstown, Indiana. In 1869 he was appointed by Governor Baker as one of the directors of the state Female Reformatory, which position he held five years. He has been a director of the North-western Christian University, now Butler University, located at Irvington, Indiana. In 1867 he commenced the im- provement of roads around Columbus, and has built and helped to build about fifty miles of turnpike, of most of which he is now the owner. He was a member of the town council in 1856. August 15, 1850, he was married to Harriet C. Glanton, to whom six children have been born, two of whom are now living : William G., twelve years of age, now attending school; and Linnie, wife of the Rev. Z. T. Sweeny, of the Chris- tian Church, of Columbus. Mr. Irwin's grandfather was a native of Ireland, and, having emigrated to this country with his father, settled at Louisville. Mr. Ir- win's great-grandfather is said to have been the first white man buried at Louisville. His grandfather set- tled on what was known as the Cane Spring Plantation, in Bullitt County, Kentucky. He was a friend of the Rowans and Hardins of Kentucky. Mr. Irwin joined the Christian Church at the early age of fifteen, and it was chiefly through his liberality that the magnificent edifice of that denomination at Columbus was built. He and his wife and two children are members of this Church. Mr. Irwin is regarded as one of the most genial and liberal-hearted citizens of this city. Ile has helped

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several worthy young men to situations of honor, and has done more toward the development of the city and surrounding country than any other man in this com- munity. He is a man of large wealth, and his home is one of elegance, comfort, and refinement. During the life of Governor Morton, he regarded Mr. Irwin, on account of his sterling integrity, as a friend upon whom he could rely in any emergency.

OHNSON, JARVIS J., physician and surgeon, of Martinsville, was born in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana, March 4, 1828, being the second son of Jesse and Sarah (Pleasant) Johnson. His father was one of the pioneer farmers of Lawrence County, and is still living, a sturdy, vigorous man, con- trolling and personally managing his large farm of six. hundred acres, and has the pleasure of having with him, under the old roof-tree, all of his children except Doc- tor Johnson. The family came originally from Virginia, and trace their ancestry back to the early days of the state. The boyhood of Jarvis Johnson was spent on the farm, but at the age of sixteen he entered the Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana, where he spent four years in diligent and faithful study. At the end of that time he resolved to make medicine his profession, and accordingly in 1849 he commenced a course of study in the office of Doctor W. Foot, in Bedford. The same year he attended the Louisville University of Medicine during one course, and commenced his practice in Mor- ganstown, where he remained until 1854. Desiring to further perfect his education, he returned to the univer- sity, and graduated in the spring of 1855. He has since attended a full course of lectures in the Kentucky School of Medicine, and received from that institution the ad eundem degree in 1858. He practiced with success in Morgantown until 1869. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War he tendered his services to his country, and by his personal efforts raised a company of volunteers- afterwards Company G, of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry-of which he was chosen captain. Before entering the field, however, he was commissioned sur- geon of the regiment, and as such accompanied it for eighteen months. He was severely injured by the fall of his horse at the battle of Winchester, and compelled to resign soon after the battle of Cedar Mountain. Be- fore his return from the field he was, in 1862, nominated by the Republican party as their candidate to the Leg- islature, and was elected in the fall of that year. He served with marked ability during the special and reg- ular sessions of his term, and was chairman of the Mil- itary Committee in those dark days when that was the all-important interest in the state and throughout the nation. In the fall of 1863 he was elected clerk of the

Circuit Court, and after serving one term returned to the practice of his profession in Martinsville. In the spring of 1875 the ad eundem degree was conferred upon him by the Belleville Hospital College, of New York. Since his return to his profession he has been a devoted, laborious practitioner, varying his labors, however, in 1878, by a much needed and protracted trip through the South and West, in search of health and pleasure. Mr. Johnson was married, March 30, 1851, to Miss Catherine H. Griffith, daughter of a well-known attor- ney of Morgantown. This union has been blessed with seven children, of whom five are living. The eldest son, Goldsmith Johnson, is the leading druggist in Martinsville, having the finest store in the town. The eldest daughter, Marietta, is the wife of James P. Baldwin, also a druggist of Martinsville. The second daughter, Sallie C., married James G. Blain, editor and proprietor of the Morgan County Republican. The other two children are still at the home of their father. Doctor Johnson is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He has been an active Republican since the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861; previous to that time he voted with the Democratic party. By his abil- ity and zeal he has secured the leading position in his profession ; and, by reason of his social and sterling characteristics, has the respect and confidence of the community in which he has so long resided.

EITH, COLONEL JOHN A., attorney-at-law, of Columbus, Indiana, was born May 29, 1832, at Germantown, Mason County, Kentucky, and is the eldest son of Isham and Diadema (Frazee) Keith. His father is now a hardware merchant in Co- lumbus. Colonel Keith received a liberal education at Fairview Academy, Fairview, Indiana, after which he commenced reading law with Hubbard & Sexton, of Rushville. He completed his studies in their office, and, being admitted to the bar in 1853, remained in the same office, and began the practice of his profession. In 1854 he went to Iowa, but on account of sickness re- turned to Columbus, Indiana, where his parents had settled, and practiced law until the breaking out of the Civil War. In April, 1861, he raised the second cavalry company raised in the state, which, however, was not accepted. In July, 1861, in conjunction with Colonel McMillan, he raised and organized the 21st Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, and was commissioned its lieu- tenant-colonel, July 23, 1861. Late in July the regi- ment was ordered to Washington City ; but was stopped by Major-general Dix, and ordered to Locust Point to support Fort McHenry. Companies E and G were then transferred to Fort McHenry, and taught artillery serv- ice. From Locust Point they were ordered to Fort

John Akeith

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SI.KEITH

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Marshall on garrison duty; and, in a short time, to | to advance the interests of the city; and is a highly re- Newport News, to report to General Butler. Upon the spected and useful member of the county of Bartholo- mew and state of Indiana. organization of the New England division the troops set sail under General Butler for New Orleans; a por- tion of the 21st Regiment, in boats, landed in the rear of Fort 9t. Philip; and the colors of the fort were then struck. They landed at New Orleans May 1, 1862; the 2Ist was transferred to Algiers, and went into camp in the Opelousas Railroad depot. General Butler, upon hearing of the murder of two sick soldiers at Houma, Terrebonne Parish, detailed Colonel Keith, with six of his companies, to proceed to the town of Houma and discover the perpetrators of the murder, if the hanging of every man in the parish was necessary to accomplish it. He destroyed two millions of property; arrested eighteen of the leading citizens, whom he took to New Orleans ; and compelled the people to disinter the mur- dered bodies, wrap them in United States flags, furnish coffins, and give them decent burial. At the battle of Baton Rouge, late in the action, on the fifth day of August, he was severely wounded. One company of the regiment manned some of the guns captured from the enemy; and the lieutenant-colonel was compli- mented for his gallantry by General Butler, and heartily recommended to Governor Morton for a colonelcy. Upon the recommendation of General Banks, the War Department transferred Colonel Keith's regiment into the heavy artillery service. On account of wounds Colonel Keith made an application for leave of absence, which was indorsed by General Butler in the following words :

"Granted. Colonel Keith's services to the govern- ment have been most valuable. His gallantry and cour- age are honorably mentioned.

“ (Signed)

B. F. BUTLER. "R. P. DAVIS, Captain, A. A. A. General."

March 22, 1863, he was commissioned as colonel of the 21st Regiment of Indiana, First Heavy Artillery, to fill a vacancy caused by the promotion of Colonel Jas. W. McMillan. He rejoined the regiment in May, 1863, and was ordered with seven batteries to Port Hudson, where he was engaged in the siege, remaining until the capitulation. He was then ordered to Baton Rouge, where he remained some time; and then to New Or- leans. From here the regiment returned to Indianapolis to recruit its depleted ranks. February 2, 1865, on ac- count of his wounds, Colonel Keith was compelled to resign his commission; and he again resumed the practice of law at Columbus, Indiana. He married, in 1859, Melissa Crisler, of Fayette County, Indiana, who died in 1861, leaving one daughter. Colonel Keith is one of the leading Republicans of the county. He is urbane and pleasant, and is direct and straightforward. His manner puts you at ease at once. He is a gentleman of wealth; has done much

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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 60

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