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 64

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 64

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AGAN, REUBEN, late of Putnam County, Indi- ana, and one of seven sons of Robert and Sally (Samuel) Ragan, was born October 5, 1793, in Caroline County, Virginia. But little is known of his parents save that, in 1795, with their large family, they emigrated to that portion of the blue grass region of Kentucky now known as Mercer County, where they and three of their sons soon afterwards died. Robert, Abner, Reuben, and Thompson were left as a legacy to | yond the average citizen of his day. Through his

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instrumentality many new varieties of fruits and agri- cultural products were introduced into the country ; his place at all times being a kind of experimental farm. As a citizen and neighbor, none knew him but to admire and respect him for his many virtues and general worth. In evidence of this we quote from a private letter which Mr. Ragan's son received from a friend a few days prior to the former's death:

" I say to you what I have often said to others, that, considered in all the relations of life, I regard your father as the best man I have ever known ; an exemplary citi- zen ; a model, patient man, whose life is worthy of all imitation, and of all praise; one who has made fewer mistakes than most men, and has lived, rather than professed, a long Christian life. I have known him in- timately from my very childhood, and have learned from him more lessons of virtue, of morality, and of true manhood, than I have learned from all the rest of the world. Reuben Ragan has been not only a good but a great man, in the truest sense of the word."

We feel constrained to present, among the many, one other tribute of respect, from the annual address of I. D. G. Nelson, president of the Indiana Horticultural Society, in 1870:

" The past year has been a marked one in the history of the world for the death of its heroes, statesmen, jurists, men of renown in science, high literary culture, and princely wealth, as well as distinguished agricultur- ists and pomologists. But among them all there was not seen a better man than the late plain, unostenta- tious, pure-minded, practical pioneer horticulturist and first president of this society-Reuben Ragan. He acted well his part in all the relations of a long and useful life, in a quiet and unobtrusive way, until he was called hence, at the advanced age of seventy- six years. This society will not fail to pass appro- priate resolutions in memory of the man who has been so long identified with the horticultural interests of our state, and who, although not known in political circles, has done more to advance the true interests of Indiana in a social as well as commercial point of view than many of high pretensions and heralded fame."

Mr. Ragan was a Universalist, having full and un- bounded faith in the ultimate triumph of good over evil, and in the "restitution of all things spoken of." When death was approaching he composed the follow- ing lines :

" My God doth call and I must go, And leave this vale of tears below, And join that happy, blessed number, Where joy and peace doth never cease, And wake in heaven from my slumber. My soul still lingers on the breeze, And loves its own sweet native trees; But free from earth it goes to God, Along the road that angels trod."

The Ist of May, 1828, he married Miss Jane Mat- thews, eldest daughter of Anderson B. and Amy (Heavin) Matthews. Mrs. Ragan was born October 3, 1812, in Montgomery County, Virginia, and removed

with her parents to Putnam County, Indiana, in 1827. She still resides at the old homestead, where her hus- band lived from 1822 until his death, in August, 1869. From her family have descended some persons of note. Professor J. C. Ridpath, the historian and author, is the son of one of her sisters; while her brother, the late William Matthews, a physician and author, arose to eminence in his profession. Mr. and Mrs. Ragan's family consisted of twelve children, ten of whom are still living. Three of the sons were private soldiers in the Union army in the late Civil War. The eldest son, William H. Ragan, now forty-three years of age, was elected secretary of the Indiana Horticultural Society in 1869, in which capacity he continues to serve. In 1873 he was also made a member of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, and has been successively re- elected to the present time. At the biennial election in 1874 he was elected by the qualified voters of Hen- dricks and Putnam Counties a Representative in the General Assembly, and in 1876 a Senator from the same district. One of Mr. Ragan's daughters is the wife of M. A. Moore, Esq., a sketch of whose life ap- pears in another portion of this work. The remaining members of the family are honored and respected citi- zens. Three sons and two daughters, still unmarried, make their home with their widowed mother, who, although near unto the extreme age allotted to man in his best estate, is still hale and hearty. She is happy in the contemplation of a long life well spent, and in the satisfaction of being surrounded by a large family of children and grandchildren, in all of whom virtue and morality are leading traits of character.

IDPATH, ABRAHAM (deceased), son of John and Mary Ridpath, was born January 21, 1815, in Montgomery County, Virginia; and at the age of eighteen years emigrated with his father's family to Indiana, settling in Putnam County, in 1833. He was the oldest son, and labored hard for the support of the family, which was poor, experiencing all the hardships of pioneer life. At the age of twenty his father gave him his freedom-all he ever inherited ex- cept good character and industry. On July 4, 1839, he married Sally P. Matthews, daughter of Anderson B. and Naomi Matthews. She as well as her husband was a native of Virginia, and a woman of rare qualities of mind and heart, having also the advantages of II common school education such as girls then received. Prior to his marriage he worked four years for Mr. Matthews as a farm and mill hand, for which he re- ceived ninety-six dollars the first year and one hundred dol- lars per year afterwards. In January, 1840, he removed to a farm in Marion Township, where he resided until

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November, 1875, when he removed to the city of Green- castle. During these thirty-five years he applied himself assiduously to farming pursuits, and had the pleasure of seeing developed under his toil and care one of the finest farms in the county. Mr. Ridpath gave his whole energies to the interests of society, being especially devoted to the cause of education. He was the first trustee of his township after the passage of the free school law of Indiana, and did much for the promotion of the system, and for every other worthy cause which was agitated among the people of his county. Five sons and two daughters were the fruit of his first marriage. He also adopted William M., an infant son of a brother, whom he reared as one of his own children. In 1859 his first wife died. Three years afterward he married Caroline Wright, who died within a few months. In 1864 he married Sarah Yowell, who bore him two daughters, and survives him. Mr. Ridpath never went to school a day in his life, but he managed by private study to become a good English scholar, and to acquire by reading an unusual fund of general knowledge. It was the ambition of his life to see his family well edu- cated, and, making every thing bend to this purpose, he succeeded to an unusual degree. Few men of his means and position in life have left so many children so well educated. The oldest, John Clark, is the well known professor in Indiana Asbury University, and author of Ridpath's histories of the United States. Gillum is a teacher, and recently professor of mathematics in Tulla- homa College, Tennessee ; and William M. is a success- ful lawyer at Brazil, Indiana. These, together with Martha, who intends to become a teacher, are all gradu- ates of Indiana Asbury University. Anna E. was for several years a student of Thorntown Academy, after- ward a teacher in the public schools of Greencastle, and is now the wife of Professor Bassett, of Indiana Asbury University. The younger members of the family promise to fulfill their father's fond expec- tations. In stature Mr. Ridpath was of medium height, spare of flesh, but very muscular. He was of nervous, sanguine temperament, quick in movement, and had great power of endurance. These traits are charac- teristic of his family, which is one of great longevity. His grandfather and grandmother died, at their Virginia home during the Civil War, the former aged ninety- nine, and the latter one hundred and two years. His father is now living, in Boone County, Iowa, in his eighty-second year. Mr. Ridpath joined the Christian Church in his early manhood, and lived a consistent life. The spirit of sacrifice and of devotion to those whom he loved was the leading trait of his character. Scrupu- lously honest, he often suffered injury rather than take an undue advantage. His example has not been lost. Each of his first wife's children is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred le-

cember II, 1876. After sixty-two days of suffering from typhoid fever, he sank quietly to rest, and his life-work was done.

IDPATH, JOHN CLARK, LL. D., vice-president and professor of belles-lettres and history in As- bury University, Greencastle, Indiana, was born in Putnam County, on the 26th of April, 1840. He is the son of Abraham and Sally (Matthews) Ridpath, both of West Virginia. In his youth he re- ceived only such educational advantages as were gained in the common schools of the day. At the age of nine- teen he entered Asbury University, and graduated in 1863 with the first honors of his class. To his parents, who were people of more than ordinary culture, is per- haps due greater credit than to the schoolmaster for the excellent preparatory training he had received for college. During the succeeding three years he taught, successively, as subordinate and principal of the Thorn- town (Boone County) Academy. In 1866 he was elected professor of languages at the Baker (Kansas) University, and at the same time superintendent of the public schools at Lawrenceburg. He accepted the latter posi- tion, and occupied it for three years with distinguished success. In 1869 he was called to the chair of English literature and normal instruction in Asbury University, and entered at once upon the discharge of the duties of the position. He left behind a sorrowing sense of loss among those with whom he had labored at Lawrence- burg, where his varied learning and eminent ability as an instructor brought the schools to a high condition of efficiency. Two years later the title of his chair was changed to belles-lettres and history. His career as an author began in 1874. In that year and the next he produced an academic history and a popular history of the United States, which latter, a work of eight hun- dred pages octavo, has met with great favor. The sales in a brief period following its publication reached more than one hundred thousand copies, and the demand still remains active. It ranks among the best historical works of the age. In July, 1876, he published a gram- mar school history of the United States, making in all three important books, each bearing the marks of careful preparation. This he did in addition to his college duties, and it is needless to say to those conversant with such work that it was a labor of herculean proportions. These books are now used in a large number of the schools and colleges of the country, and are every-where regarded as models of their kind. During his connec- tion with Asbury University he has wielded a much larger educational influence than that which flows from the discharge of his duties as professor of history and . belles-lettres. His judgment has been of great weight with his colleagues in shaping the policy of the literary

Dom Clark (path)

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department of the college, while his long experience in the management of public schools has enabled him to exert a lasting and salutary influence upon the educa- tional system of the state. He has now in press a fourth work, entitled, " An Inductive Grammar of the English Language," which will be published the present year. He has been secretary of the Indiana State College Asso- ciation since its organization. In July, 1879, he was unan- imously elected by the board of trustees vice-president of Asbury University. In June, 1880, he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Syra- cuse, New York. Since entering upon his duties at As- bury he has achieved an enviable reputation as a speaker upon the lecture platform, his repertory including such subjects as " The Chinese at Home," "Catherine of Rus- sia," " A Fight with Force," all of which he has delivered throughout Indiana and Illinois. In person he is about five feet eleven inches in height, finely proportioned, and wears a full beard and mustache. He was mar- ried in December, 1862, to Miss Hannah R. Smythe, of Putnam County. Five children have blessed their union, four of whom are yet living. This is the record of a remarkable man, whose labors for the benefit of his race have been untiring in the past sixteen years, in which brief period he has accomplished more really val- uable work than is done by many literary men of ordinary caliber in a life-time. He is just in his prime, strong, vigorous, well-grounded in a wholesome faith, and am- bitious to do all in his power for truth and right, and the dissemination of knowledge. His past augurs a brilliant and useful future, and he assuredly deserves high honor, and challenges the brotherly sympathy and encouragement of good men every-where.

OBINSON, JOHN C., of Spencer, Owen County, Indiana, son of Osmyn and Nancy Robinson, was born in Rush County, Indiana, February 29, 1840. His father, a man of great natural ability, was elected to the Legislature in 1839, where he served with distinction. He died in 1847, leaving his wife with the care of seven children, the eldest being but thirteen years of age. Mrs. Robinson, who was a woman of extraordinary endowments, succeeded, how- ever, in properly training, educating, and preparing her children for careers of usefulness. She died June, 1876. Her son, John C. Robinson, was prepared for col- lege at Fayetteville Academy, under the instruction of Professor William M. Thrasher, now of Butler University. He entered the Indiana State University in 1857, and graduated in 1861. During his early years he spent much time in working on his father's farm, and it was there that he laid the foundation of that fine physical constitution which he now enjoys. During that time, !

| however, he was developing mind as well as muscle, reading thoroughly all the leading literature of the day. He read to such purpose that, while in the academic and collegiate course, his opponents in debate found him a formidable adversary in all questions of interest. After leaving college he taught school during the winter months, reading at night and during odd hours, so that he might be prepared for the profession of law. In 1865 he commenced to practice law in Spencer, where he now resides. During the fall of 1865 he was ap- pointed deputy district attorney, in which capacity he served until 1866, when he was elected district attorney in the district composed of Putnam, Clay, Owen, and Greene Counties. In the fall of 1868 he was elected prosecuting attorney in the circuit composed of Morgan, Monroe, Putnam, Clay, Owen, and Greene Counties, and was re-elected in the fall of 1870 by an increased majority. The state was never more ably represented than during Mr. Robinson's term of office. In 1872 Mr. Robinson received the nomination of the Demo- cratic party for reporter of the Supreme Court, but was defeated by Hon. James B. Black, of Indianapolis, the result of the ill-timed action of the Democratic party in attempting to defeat Grant with Horace Greeley. In 1876 he received the nomination for Judge of the Fif- teenth Judicial Circuit, composed of Morgan, Owen, and Greene Counties, and was elected by the largest majority ever given to any person in that circuit, receiv- ing over his competitor a majority of two thousand eight hundred votes. In this position, which he now occupies, Judge Robinson displays great legal ability. As a jurist, he ranks among the first lawyers of the state. On the bench he is dignified in his bearing and just in his decisions. He is a man of generous im- pulses, social and warm-hearted. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church. For a number of years he was president of the Indiana State Christian Sunday-school Association, and took a deep interest in the success of Sunday-schools. In April, 1869, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Martha J. Cooper, of Spencer, a lady of unusual intelligence. She was a daughter of John J. Cooper, Esq. This union has re- sulted in three children, two of whom are living.

EAGAN, AMOS W., M. D., Mooresville, Morgan County, Indiana, was born in Marion County, In- diana, April 3, 1826. He is the son of Reason and Dinah (Wilson) Reagan, natives of South Car- olina, the former being of Irish extraction and the latter of Welsh descent. The early life of young Reagan was spent on the farm in Marion County, with a limited at- tendance at the common schools of the country. In 1839 his father removed from Marion to Morgan County, set-

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ability; and, as a result, he has a very general and ex- tended practice in all the country in the vicinity of his home. His standing among his professional peers is of the highest character, and clearly indicates that his career has been no less creditable to the profession than it has . been useful to the general public.

tling at Mooresville. At the age of seventeen he went | implicit confidence in his integrity and professional into his father's store as clerk, where he remained for two years. In 1844 he entered Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana, and pursued the regular literary course of study in that institution for three years. By this time he had concluded to adopt the healing art as a life-time calling, and immediately on his return from As- bury, in 1847, he began reading medicine in the office of Dr. G. B. Mitchell, at Mooresville. This continued only for a brief period, for, at the beginning of the session of lectures, he entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincin- CHELL, FREDERICK A., physician and surgeon, of Spencer, Owen County, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, March 21, 1826. He is a son of Enos and Charlotte (Hughes) Schell, natives of Maryland, his father being of German extraction and his mother of English-Scotch descent. His maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary army, serving with honor and distinction to the close of that contest. Doctor Schell was educated in the common schools of his native state, which he attended in winter, toiling at the severest farm labor in summer and autumn. He was noted in early life for his studious habits, taking but little interest in the frivolous amuse- ments of that time. Losing his father early in life, he removed with his mother to Jeffersonville, Clarke County, Indiana, in 1845, where he engaged in mercantile pur- suits until the next year, when he went to Monroe County, in the same state. There his mother purchased a tract of land near Mt. Tabor, upon which they settled. The improvement of this tract gave the son oppor- tunities for physical development. He remained here but a short time, however, for immediately after the declaration of war with Mexico he enlisted in the reg- ular army, and served until the close of that contest. He was in General Taylor's command, and took part in the noted battles of Monterey, Buena Vista, and in many other smaller engagements. Near the close of 1848 he returned home, and soon after began the study of medicine with Doctor Ware S. Walker, at the same time superintending his mother's affairs on the farm. In 1850 he entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincin- nati, and graduated in the spring of 1852, receiving the degree of M. D. Soon after his graduation he removed to Spencer, Indiana, and undertook the practice of his profession. In 1856 he attended a course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, which in- stitution conferred upon him a diploma and the degree of M. D. In the spring of 1857 he returned to Spencer and resumed his practice. In 1859 he removed with his family to Cincinnati, assumed charge of the Eclectic Medical Institute, and practiced medicine and surgery until the following year, when he again returned to Spencer. In 1862 Doctor Schell was appointed assistant surgeon of the 7Ist Regiment Indiana Volunteers, after- ward the 6th Indiana Cavalry. He served in this nati, Ohio, for the winter of 1847-48, and zealously pur- sued his studies till the close of the term. On his return from Cincinnati in the spring of 1848, he went to Bridge- port, Indiana, where, in company with his brother, Doc- tor Lot Reagan, he continued his reading, alternated with considerable practice. In the fall of 1850 he returned to Cincinnati, re-entered the Ohio Medical College, and in the spring of 1851 he graduated with the degree of M. D. Immediately after receiving his diploma he formed a partnership with his preceptor, Doctor Mitchell, and entered regularly upon the practice of medicine at Mooresville. This connection continued pleasantly and profitably with the exception of the time Doctor Reagan was engaged in the army, since which time he has prac- ticed alone. At the organization of the 70th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, in 1862, Doctor Reagan entered the military service as assistant surgeon, but upon the com- pietion of the organization was commissioned regimental surgeon, and entered upon his duties. He remained with his regiment till February, 1864, when he assumed the duties of brigade surgeon in the First Brigade, Third Division, of the Twenty-sixth Army Corps, and from May following till the close of the war was with Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign. Doctor Reagan is a member of the Morgan County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society, and is esteemed as a man of high professional integrity and practical skill. In 1848 he joined the Free and Accepted Masons, and still retains an honorable standing in the order. Doctor Reagan's first marriage occurred on the fourteenth day of August, 1855, to Miss Anna Rooker, daughter of Jesse Rooker, Esq., of Morgan County. He was again married, to Miss Sarah E. Rooker, September 6, 1866. His third and last marriage happened on the seventh day of Octo- ber, 1872, the bride being Mrs. Harriet Cox, widow of John B. Cox, and sister of the Hon. Franklin Landers, ex-member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional District of Indiana, and present candidate for Governor of Indiana on the Democratic ticket. His only living child is Mrs. Jessie Wampler, wife of Millard Wampler, Esq., of Gosport, Indiana, and an amiable and intelli- gent lady. Doctor Reagan is a portly gentleman, of a courteous and dignified bearing. He is honored and es- teemed by a large circle of friends, who have the most

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capacity during the campaigns in Tennessee and Georgia under Generals Grant and Sherman. About the close of the war he returned to Indiana, and again resumed the practice of his profession at Spencer, where he has since lived. Dr. Schell is a Democrat of the old Jeffersonian school. On the fourteenth day of February, 1850, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Gideon Walker, of Monroe County, Indiana. He is the father of three children: two daughters, Callie and Dorothy; and one son, Doctor Walker Schell, a young man of fine literary and medical attainments, who is associated with his father in the practice of medicine. Doctor Schell is a man of a broad and comprehensive mind, and much above the average of his profession in intellectual acquirements. He is a genial and affable gentleman, enjoying a lucrative practice, and commands the esteem of a large circle of friends.

has been closely identified with the growth and pros- perity of the city and county, having for many years carried on a manufacturing business which employs a large number of hands the year round.

CHOFIELD, SYLVESTER H., M. D., of Martins- ville, was born March 8, 1824, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Doctor Jonathan H. and Hannah (Bicking) Schofield, natives of Virginia, and of German and Scotch descent respect- ively. He attended the common schools of Pennsyl- vania early in life, but at the age of eighteen entered Jefferson College, Philadelphia, remaining there one year. He then began the study of medicine with Doc- tor Dawes, a physician of high repute in Philadelphia, and after four years of close application attained a high degree of excellence in his studies. In 1843 he removed to Morgan County, Indiana, and began the practice of medicine. He soon became known as a man of extraor- dinary ability in his profession, and was abundantly successful. He was formerly of the Presbyterian faith, but for several years has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He has filled several official positions in Martinsville, and was president of the Morgan County Medical So- ciety for several years. He was married, October 19, 1848, to Miss Mary J. Work, daughter of Robert and Lettie Work. He has four children living, all of whom have had the advantage of a finished education; the eldest daughter being a musician of rare qualifications, as well as an accomplished scholar. Doctor Schofield has loved his profession from youth, and has embraced every opportunity for improvement. Although his finan- cial circumstances have not for years required him to practice, he has been a hard student, frequently attend- ing courses of lectures, in order to keep thoroughly informed on all new points. At one time he contem- plated removing West for the benefit of his family, in reference to which the Martinsville Gazette has the fol- lowing, from the citizens of Martinsville:

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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 64

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