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 93

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 93

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[7th Dist.

his life, to acquire sufficient knowledge of books to serve him as an educational basis in his successful busi- ness career. The inclination for trade, which indicated the bent of his mind toward the business of after life, was early developed, and while yet a boy he made frequent visits to the markets of Cincinnati with pro- duce purchased at the farm-houses of the various settle- ments. In 1852 he made a visit to Indiana, and, being pleased with the country, purchased a small tract of land on the then newly constructed Bellefontaine Railroad, at the site of the present town of McCordsville, in Han- cock County. In September of the same year he located there, and in the spring following opened a store. This may be considered the beginning of his prosperous busi- ness career. Always public-spirited and energetic, he soon succeeded in having a post-office and a railroad station established at his new place of residence, and became the first postmaster and the first railroad agent of the town. In connection with this store he carried on a general trading business, buying corn, wheat, hogs, etc., from the farmers, and by promptness and integrity established himself in the confidence and esteem of the people, and soon became known throughout the county as a man of ability and honesty. As a natural result of this public confidence he was elected in 1863 treas- urer of Hancock County, which position he held for two consecutive terms, although he did not remove his family to Greenfield, the county seat, until 1866. After the ex- piration of his last term of office he engaged in the gro- cery business at Greenfield, and continued in this until 1871, when, with several other gentlemen, he established the Greenfield Banking Company, of which he is now the president. He is also connected, as half owner, with the Hancock Flouring-mills. Mr. Bradley has been a large stockholder in nearly all the gravel roads center- ing in Greenfield. He has contributed liberally toward the erection of churches and public buildings, and has always been ready to aid in all that has tended to in- prove and develop the town and the county. He is an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, having joined that order in Georgetown, Ohio, in 1845. He took the Chapter degrees in Felicity, Ohio, in 1848, and the Council and Scottish Rite degrees at Indianapolis at a later date. He assisted in organizing Oakland Lodge, No. 140, of which he was the first Junior Warden, and also McCordsville Chapter, No. 44, of which he was the the first High-priest. He is now a member of Hancock Lodge, No. 101, of which he has been treasurer and trustee for many years. He has been a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1845. He was a Whig during the days of that party, and is now an enthusiastic Republican. He was married, Septem- ber 29, 1844, to Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Christian Gray, formerly a resident of Pennsylvania, and subse- quently one of the pioneers of Ohio. As before indi-

cated, Mr. Bradley is a man of great energy of charac- ter, with ability to plan and skill to execute, as is fully attested by his success in every department of business he has undertaken. He possesses an even temper and fine social qualities; enjoys a good joke and a hearty laugh ; and has a host of warm friends, endeared to him by his genial manner and kind disposition.

OYD, JAMES T., M. D., of Indianapolis, Indiana, was born in Albany, New York, April 14, 1823, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He obtained his literary and classical education in the Cherokee Academy, under the private tutelage of Rev. J. B. Johnstone, D. D., now of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Rev. John French, now of Michigan. He commenced his medical education as a student with Doctor A. H. Lord, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, April 20, 1845, and studied with him one year. In the spring of 1846 he went to Cincinnati and placed him- self under the instruction of Professor George Mendenhall and Professor H. Raymond. While in Cincinnati he at- tended the Commercial Hospital. He has attended six college courses of medical lectures, was connected with the Marine Hospital, occasionally lectured on surgery in the College of Medicine and Surgery, and received a very flattering letter from Professor Baker on leaving that institution. He graduated in the Starling Medical College in 1850; and received the ad eundem degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Cincin- nati in 1854. April 20, 1847, Doctor Boyd was married to Miss Orit V. Mead, a daughter of Doctor Stillman Mead, of Richland, Ohio, a soldier of 1812. The result of the marriage was six children, five daughters --- two of whom died in infancy-and one son. After practic- ing allopathy until 1857 his attention was directed to homœopathy by a newspaper controversy with a member of that school. One of Doctor Boyd's articles against homœopathy gave so great satisfaction to his allopathic brethren that they urged him to make a thorough in- vestigation of the subject and expose the fallacies of the school. With this view he commenced the study of homœ- opathy, securing the best authors on the subject. The is- sue was different from what he and his allopathic brethren had anticipated; for, like many other scientific investi- gators, he soon became convinced that homœopathy, as represented by some of the illiterate who practice it, is a very different thing from what it is when scientifically applied. After a very rigid examination of its princi- ples, as presented by its learned authors, and a careful application of those principles in actual practice, he be- came convinced of their truth, and, to use his own words, issued his "Declaration of Independence" of the old school and his adhesion to homœopathy in the same paper in which he had previously lampooned it. Dur-

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

7th Dist.]

ing the time that he practiced allopathy Doctor Boyd was censor, vice-president, and president of the Central Ohio Medical Association, and a member of the Ameri- can Medical Association (old school). He is at present a member of several literary and scientific societies: of the Academy of Science of Indiana; of the Indiana State Institute of Homœopathy ; vice-president of the Western Academy of Homeopathy; and is consulting surgeon to the City Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, etc. Doctor Boyd has always been an earnest and consistent friend of temperance. He was editor and proprietor of the Western Independent, a temperance paper; and of the Curopathist, a liberal medical journal, both conducted with signal ability. During the late war Doctor Boyd was sent to the South as a special surgeon, to examine into and relieve the wants of the sick and wounded sol- diers of Indiana; and on his return his report was de- clared to be the most complete and accurate of all the reports furnished to the Governor. During his visit South he found the "contrabands" flocking into the Union lines, with no one to look after their wants; and he obtained the following letter from Governor Morton to General Grant, to enable him to make a more thor- ough examination of the condition of the colored people :

"STATE OF INDIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, INDIANAPOLIS, May 25, 1863.

" MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, commanding army South-west, Vicksburg :

"Sir,-This will introduce Doctor J. F. Boyd, a loyal citizen, and one of the first physicians in this city. The Doctor visits the army for the purpose of looking into the condition and welfare of the contrabands in that vicinity, with the view of bettering or relieving their wants. I trust he may be afforded every facility and opportunity. All favors shown him will be properly ap- preciated. O. P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana."

After returning from the South he organized "The Indiana Freedmen's Aid Society,".for the purpose of collecting funds to aid the poor refugees, and to send them instructors and agents to look after their wants. The officers of this association were: President, Calvin Fletcher, senior; vice-president, Colonel James Blake ; treasurer, James M. Ray; secretary, J. V. R. Miller ; corresponding secretary, Doctor J. T. Boyd. In the spring of 1868, when it became evident that the colored people would be allowed to vote, there was a primary election held in Indianapolis to nominate officers. This was held in February, a much earlier period than usual, to satisfy some of the Republican party, who wished to have the nominations made before the colored people could be allowed to vote, fearing they might try to get some one of their own color on the ticket; for, although the Republican party was compelled to grant the right of suffrage to the colored people of the South as a necessity, yet many of them were not willing to extend this right to them at the North. As evidence

of that fact, the state platform adopted that year by the Republican party of Indiana had this plank in it : "The suffrage of the negroes of the South is the direct result of the rebellious spirit maintained by the Southern people, and it was necessary to secure the reconstruction of the Union, and the preservation of the loyal men therein from a state worse than slavery. The question of suffrage in the loyal states belongs to the people of those states." Doctor Boyd had been an Abolition- ist ; he was born of Abolition parents, educated in an Abolition Church, and of course these views were not his. He demanded that the colored people should have the right at the nominating election to say who should be the candidates, as they would be expected to help elect them. The Doctor carried his point, as the fol- Jowing will show :

" INDIANAPOLIS, January, 1876.

"This certifies that it was Doctor J. T. Boyd's influ- ence and importunity that induced the county central committee to allow the colored men to vote at the pri- mary election held in February, 1868, the first time they were allowed to vote in this city.

" WILLIAM M. FRENCH, " Chairman County Central Committee."

Doctor Boyd is a Presbyterian, as were his ancestors in Scotland, as far back as they can be traced. His father, Robert Boyd, was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for over fifty years; he was a contractor in Albany for many years, but afterward retired to a farm in Northern New York. Doctor Boyd's mother was Eliza Frazier, who came of a good and pious race, Pres- byterian ancestors. He was very active during the late war in preparing and furnishing sanitary supplies to the brave men that were fighting the battles of the country, as the following will show:

" First Indiana Sanitary Fair.

"To Doctor J. T. BOYD, Indianapolis :

" As the agents of the sick and wounded soldiers, and in their behalf, it is with pleasure we acknowledge your generous donation to the Indiana Sanitary Fair, held at Indianapolis, on the state fair grounds, October 3 to 15, 1864. In token of our appreciation of your gift we subscribe this testimonial, 'The Lord loveth the cheerful giver.' THOMAS HANNAMAN,

" President Indiana Sanitary Commission.

"E. LOCKE, Gen'l Supt., "First Indiana Sanitary Fair."

It is needless to say Doctor Boyd was a firm Repub- lican from the first, of soft-money proclivities, and still holds to the position adopted by the wisest and best of the Republican statesmen in 1868. During the dark and gloomy days of the Rebellion, Doctor Boyd was acting president of the Union League of Indianapolis, and this league had its spies in the midst of "The Sons of Liberty," a traitorous organization. The league and Governor Morton were thus kept advised of every move of that disloyal association, and were prepared to cir-

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[7th Dist.

cumvent their efforts at liberating the Confederate pris- oners confined at Indianapolis, and other contemplated acts of disloyalty. When the Southern rebels laid down their arms, Doctor Boyd was the first to favor the most liberal terms of amnesty to them, and the endeavor, by a united effort, to repair the loss and miseries to both sides, and to alleviate the animosities engendered by the war.

ROWN, AUSTIN HAYMOND, of Indianapolis, ex-clerk of Marion County, was born at Milroy, Rush County, Indiana, March 19, 1828. His father, the late Hon. William J. Brown, was an early settler in that county, having followed his father, George Brown, from Clermont County, Ohio. Remov- ing to Rushville, William J. studied and practiced law for some years, and was prosecuting attorney in a cir- cuit extending from the Ohio River to the Michigan state boundary. He was married, in 1827, to Susan Tompkins, daughter of Nathan Tompkins, of Milroy, and of the children born to them (three of whom are still living) Austin H. was the eldest. William J. Brown was actively engaged in public life and was re- garded as a sagacious, shrewd, and effective politician, open and fair in his opposition, faithful to his friends, and true to his principles. He held, with honor, re- spectively, the offices of Secretary of State, member of Congress, and Assistant Postmaster-general, and died on the 18th of March, 1857, respected by all who knew him. The mother, Susan Brown, still lives, and, al- though she is now seventy-three years old, is yet an ac- tive, intelligent woman, whose wonderful energy of character is the subject of remark by her many acquaint- ances. The early education of the subject of this sketch was but meager, the country and village schools of that day being held but a few months in the year. Having an ambition to become a newspaper man, soon after the removal of the family to Indianapolis, in 1837, he entered the Indiana Democrat printing-office as a "printer's devil " and carrier. The paper being a weekly one, he could also attend school part of the week and work at the printer's trade the rest of the time. In this way he obtained most of his education. The Messrs. Chapman purchased the paper and changed its name to the State Sentinel, and our young printer boy continued with the new proprietors until the fall of 1844, when he went to Asbury University, at Greencastle. His college career was brief, for in February following he was summoned to Washington, and in a few weeks after was appointed clerk in the sixth auditor's office, at the age of seven- teen. He entered as a copying clerk and left it five years afterward as assistant chief clerk and disbursing officer. Returning to Indianapolis, he became the pro- prietor of the State Sentinel newspaper, which he con-

ducted ably for five years, first as a semi-weekly and then as a daily, assisted in the editorial management by his father, William J. Brown, Nathaniel Bolton, John W. Duzan, A. F. Morrison, O. B. Torbett, and Charles Nordhoff. After this, in 1855, he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, auditor of Marion County, serving four years. In 1861, after the Civil War broke out, he entered the office of the adjutant-general of Indiana as clerk, and assistant adjutant-general as well. During the war he was employed in that position, assisting Generals Noble and Terrell in all of the detail work. During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Brown supported and sustained the administrations of Governor Morton and President Lincoln, as a war Democrat, and when it ended he took his place in the Democratic line again, and was appointed in September, 1866, by President Johnson, collector of internal revenue for the Indianap- olis District, was confirmed by the United States Senate, and continued in that office until 1869. The year fol- lowing he entered the banking house of Woollen, Webb & Co., as its cashier, and continued in that employment until 1873, when he engaged in insurance and brokerage. In 1874, as the Democratic candidate for county clerk, he was elected, after one of the most energetic cam- paigns ever known in the county; and Mr. Brown's efforts secured not only his own election, but that of the entire ticket of his party. He continued in this office for four years, retiring with honor and a good record, the entire bar uniting in commending him as having made the best clerk the county had ever had. Since then Mr. Brown has not been engaged in any business of an active or public nature. Since 1861 he has served thirteen consecutive years in the city council, and nine years as one of the board of school commissioners, of which he is still an influential member. He is, also, a member of the national Democratic committee. Mr. Brown's father's family, immediate and remote, were Baptists, but Mr. Brown is not a member of any Church. He is a member and officer of all the Masonic bodies, to which work he devotes much time. On the 17th of December, 1851, he was married to Margaret E. Russell, daughter of Colonel Alex. W. Russell (an early pioneer of Indiana, former sheriff of Marion County, and post- master at Indianapolis under General Taylor), and granddaughter of General James Noble, one of Indi- ana's first United States Senators. They have living two sons: William J., now nearly twenty-three; and Austin H., junior, nineteen years of age. The former is being educated in the mercantile business, and the lat- ter is a student at the Ann Arbor (Michigan) University. Both children have graduated from the Indianapolis high school. Mr. Brown is a little above medium height, strong, compact, and well proportioned, having a physical carriage and demeanor which commands at- tention and respect, and a gentlemanly bearing and ad-

Justin A Grown

٠۵

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

7th Dist.]

dress. Although a prominent politician and active worker in his party, he retains universal popularity and personal esteem. With character above reproach, his career as a business man has been a marked success. Prominent in the highest social circles, his urbanity and largeness of heart make him a general favorite, and im- part a genial influence among his numerous friends.

ROWN, GEORGE PLINY, Indianapolis, superin- tendent of the public schools, was born at Lenox, Ashtabula County, Ohio, November 10, 1836. His father was William P. Brown, and his mother Rachel Piper Brown. His education was received at Grand River Institute, Austinburg, Ashtabula County, Ohio, failing health preventing him from completing a full college course of studies. This may have seemed an unfortunate circumstance, but Mr. Brown rose supe- rior to it, and perfected himself by subsequent assiduous self-culture, and the development that early school-teach- ing so well promotes. Few men at their first start in life are so fortunate as to strike the vocation which they are best adapted by nature to make their life work. In this respect Mr. Brown was favored by commencing teaching at the early age of sixteen, and has, with a brief interval, been an educator to this day. He taught his first school in 1854, in Cherry Valley, Ashtabula County, Ohio ; subsequently was an instructor in Geauga County, and from 1855 to 1860 had charge of the public schools in Waynesville, Ohio. During the latter year he removed to Richmond, Indiana, where he was teacher and superintendent of schools five years. He was then for one year superintendent of the public schools of New Albany, Indiana. Returning to Richmond in 1867, he was school superintendent there the next two years. He was then engaged in the study and practice of law until February, 1872, when he was elected principal of the Indianapolis high school, and served as such until June, 1874, when he was chosen superintendent of pub- lic schools of the same city, which responsible office he still retains. Professor Brown is also secretary of the State Board of Education. He was, for two years, with Mr. A. C. Shortridge, editor of the Educationalist, an educational paper published in Indianapolis, which was subsequently consolidated with the Indiana School Jour- nal. For two years he was associate editor of this latter paper, which is the organ of the educational interests of this state, of extensive circulation, wide influence, and a power in its line of usefulness. The Professor was married to Mary L. Seymour, of Geauga County, Ohio, in 1855. They have four sons, all of whom have graduated from the high school of Indianapolis. Two are pursuing their studies at Michigan University. Mr. Brown is in the prime of manhood, tall and well formed,

of remarkably fine address, ready in decision and prompt in action, a gentleman of heart and intellect, whom both teachers and children would intuitively love and fear, and, in fine, the right man in the right place. The many and repeated sacred trusts that have been placed in his keeping fully sustain this estimate of his character.

USKIRK, CLARENCE AUGUSTUS, Princeton, ex-attorney-general of the state, was born at Friendship, Alleghany County, New York, No- vember 8, 1842. His father was Andrew C. Bus- kirk, and was of Holland descent, and his mother's maiden name was Diantha E. Scott, of Scotch and Irish ancestry. The subject of this sketch was educated in Western New York until seventeen years of age, in Friendship Academy, and afterwards completed his course of instruction at the University of Michigan. He commenced teaching school when seventeen years of age, and taught five terms in all. He studied law in the office of Balch & Smiley, at Kalamazoo, Michi- gan, attended a course of law lectures at Ann Arbor, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Coming to In- diana in 1866, he located at Princeton in the practice of his profession. Rapidly rising in popularity, his fellow-citizens called upon him to enter public life by electing him their Representative to the Indiana Legis- lature in 1872, and re-elected him the succeeding year. In that body he served on the Committee on the Judi- ciary, and on other important committees. Acquitting himself in his duties with such marked ability and de- votion as to give him a wide reputation throughout the state, he was, in 1874, nominated for the office of attor- ney-general on the Democratic ticket, and elected, and was re-elected in 1876, occupying the position until November 6, 1878. His administration of the office gave universal satisfaction to the people of the state, and has added greatly to his legal reputation. He mar- ried Amelia Fisher in 1868, at Princeton, Indiana. In person this gentleman is of notable presence, compactly and harmoniously formed, with a pleasing address and social bearing, and drawing friends around him.

RANHAM, ALEXANDER K., merchant, of Greenfield, Hancock County, was born at George- town, Kentucky, on the 20th of February, 1826. His parents were Tavner R. and Fannie Bran- ham; the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. He received a fair English education in the schools of his native town, where he began his studies at the age of eight years. At the age of five he suffered the loss of his kind and loving mother; and

:14

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[7th Dist.

at the age of eight, in that memorable cholera year, his father died of that fell disease. While yet a boy he learned the smithing business, and continued to labor earnestly and faithfully at that calling until he was nineteen years old. The healthful exercise conse- quent upon this avocation tended to develop his phys- ical strength, and gave him a liking for athletic sports, in which he excelled in earlier life, and, no doubt, laid the foundation of the vigorous manhood he has since attained. At the age of twelve he went to Stamping Ground, Kentucky, where he remained until he was six- teen, when he returned to Georgetown. There he re- sided four years, when he emigrated to Indiana, and located at Greenfield, Hancock County, his present home. Although his early life had been spent at the forge, his natural inclination led him to seek a mercan- tile career; and, on arriving at his new home, he engaged with Mr. A. T. Hart, merchant, as a clerk, at a salary of ten dollars per month, boarding himself. Notwith- standing this rather unpropitious beginning, by assidu- ous attention to business, and probity of life, he won his way to the esteem of his employer, and a more prosperous career soon opened before him. In 1850 he began mercantile business for himself, by entering into partnership with Orlando Crane. This partnership con- tinued for one year, when Mr. Hart, his former em- ployer, purchased the interest of Mr. Crane, and the firm became Hart & Branham, and continued in pros- perous and reputable business for fifteen years, during which time Mr. Branham did much to encourage and advance the growing interests of the town and county. This partnership was dissolved, and he engaged in the stove and tin business, in 1869, at which he continued until 1871, when he sold his establishment and opened a grocery store in connection with his early and esteemed friend, James M. Morgan, conducting that until 1874. He is now the owner of an extensive jewelry store, and is still engaged in active and prosperous business. In early life Mr. Branham developed a decided talent for military exercises, and at the age of eighteen became a member of the Georgetown artillery, and took lessons in military training from such men as Cassius M. Clay, Hum- phrey Marshall, and the venerable John Pratt. This knowledge served a good purpose in his after life, and many an efficient soldier and officer of the Union army in the late war received his first drill under his instruc- tion. In 1859 he organized an independent military company, which he drilled and kept in organization until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when most of its members entered the Union army. In 1863 he com- manded a company of state troops, who joined in pur- suit of John Morgan, at the time of his memorable invasion of Indiana and Ohio, and was present with his company at the terrible and lamentable disaster at Law- renceburg, Indiana, where several citizens of Han-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 93

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