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 II, Part 112

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006

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 II > Part 112

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of a very thorough common school education. About this | four months, during which time over fifteen hundred time his father became intent upon forming an alliance cases of that dread disease were skillfully treated. Doc- tor Matchette himself experienced a slight attack. While in Memphis he was a member of the Medical Associa- tion of the district of West Tennessee, for six months was secretary, and for six months its president. In May, 1864, he was promoted to the position of surgeon, serv- ing until he was mustered out of the service, at the close of the war. In the discharge of his duties he was conscientious, energetic, and industrious. His ability, good sense, and humanity made him a valuable officer. He became a member of the organization known as the Advocates of the Monroe Doctrine; was elected grand secretary of the grand lodge of the United States, and was active in raising volunteers in aid of the Mexican patriots, of whom about fifteen hundred were sent to Mexico through the auspices of the society, mostly from the states of Tennessee and Mississippi. In the fall of 1865 he returned to Indiana, and located at Bourbon, where he formed a business connection with his brother as a physician, as W. C. & A. C. Matchette, the partner- ship existing only for one year, when he removed to Chicago, continuing practice there in connection with the drug business and the manufacture and sale of pat- ent medicines. Owing to the failing health of his wife, he remained there only about eighteen months, when he returned to Bourbon. Two years after this he associated with himself Dr. Samuel France, and they began the drug trade in connection with their calling as physicians. In 1875 they added a general supply store, since enlarg- ing it, until their stock is second to none in Marshall County. It is a model of order and neatness. Doctor Matchette, on account of failing health, caused from overwork and exposure unavoidable in an extensive coun- try practice, some years since saw the necessity of con- tracting his professional labors, since devoting much attention to the care of his mercantile business. He has gained an enviable position as a physician. Thor- oughly attentive to the interests of his patients, prompt in judgment and action, with a full, well balanced brain, he has been a popular and successful practitioner. He is always calm in the sick-room; impressing anxious friends with his ability and conscientious fidelity. He is a typical family physician, and has the esteem and confidence of those whom he serves in that capacity. He had been trained as a Republican, and served with them until 1872, when he became convinced that party corruption was too common for the interests of the peo- ple, and that a change of managers in the executive de- partments of the government would better serve the country. He became a warm supporter of Greeley, and may now be termed a Liberal, and an advocate of the National Greenback system of finances. Doctor Match- ette, although taking an earnest interest in all political movements of the day, has never accepted an office of between his son and a young lady of the neighborhood, which appears not to have been in accord with the views of either of the parties most to be affected by such an arrangement. It was earnestly persisted in by the father, and, being just as firmly resisted by the son, it finally culminated in a threat on the part of the parent to disinherit his boy, and refuse him support in any way, which led him to withdraw from the parental roof, the possessor of but seventy-five cents in money, but strong in determination and courage. His early tastes having been for the healing art, he resolved to gratify them. He accordingly made his way to Chicago, where he began reading medicine in the office and under the directions of Professors N. S. Davis and Edmund Andrus, both of whom belong to the faculty of the North-western University of Chicago, and were in- structors in the medical department, which he entered as a student, remaining for about three years, and grad- uating with high honors. During his course of study he experienced many severe trials and hardships, which required all his native strength of will and character to endure and overcome. His only means of sustaining himself during the time was derived from a percentage on the collections of bills and accounts intrusted to him by Doctors Davis and Andrus. Rooming and boarding himself during the time, the remembrance of many cheerless, foodless, and hungry days and nights is still fresh in his memory. But the conscious pride and satisfaction of having secured a thorough and self- acquired collegiate education has more than repaid him for his numerous trials and privations. March 9, 1862, Doctor Matchette was commissioned an assistant surgeon of the regular army of the United States, meeting his first experience on the field at the bat- tle of Shiloh, where he assisted in the removal of the first boat-load of wounded, which he accompanied up the river to St. Louis as surgeon in charge, occupy- ing about three days in the trip. During that time twenty-five amputations were performed, and but for the efforts of Doctor Matchette many needless operations would have been added. Although a bold operator, he would never allow the use of the knife and saw unless convinced that it was the only means of saving life or limb. Many a brave soldier lives to-day with his heart full of gratitude towards the Doctor for his interference in his behalf. His service as army surgeon extended throughout the Department of the Cumberland, the Gulf Department, and the Department of Missouri. In 1863 he was made a member of the board of surgeons for the examination and discharge of disabled soldiers. While stationed at Memphis, Tennessee, he was de- tailed, in connection with three other surgeons, for service in the small-pox hospital, where he served for

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honor and profit, although frequently tendered official | were already printers, he was not allowed to complete preferment by his constituents. Quite recently he was unanimously nominated for Congress in the Thirteenth Indiana District, but, according to his invariable rule, on account of his large professional and business inter- ests demanding his undivided attention, he was com- pelled most respectfully to decline the honors of the nomination so generously given him by the convention of his party. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd-fellows, and of the Im- proved Order of Red Men. Doctor Matchette has been a contributor to the columns of different newspapers published in his part of the state, as well as to many of the leading medical journals of the country, and as a writer is terse, forcible, and comprehensive. He was married, September, 1866, to Miss Marie L. Curran, of Huntington. She is the daughter of the Rev. R. A. and Elizabeth H. Curran, and a descendant of the Duc de la Rochelle, France, in the fourth generation, on the one side, and of the House of Stuart on the other, for a long time monarchs of England. The duke was a Huguenot, and was murdered at his table in the even- ing on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. His widow fled with her only child, a son of a few months old, and a few faithful dependents, to a vessel bound for America, then lying in the River Seine. Arriving at the city of New York, she soon made choice of a tract of land about thirty miles distant from that place as her future home, and named it New Rochelle, after the place from which she had fled. Mrs. Matchette is a lady of marked appearance, of great intellectual and moral superiority. She is an exemplary mother, a sympathetic and devoted wife; and for her many virtues and pleas- ing traits of character is highly esteemed by all who know her. The Doctor in private life is a most culti- vated and genial gentleman. His character is without a blemish. His position is assured as a physician, as a cit- izen, and as a man.

ILLER, ALFRED B., journalist, was born in South Bend, Indiana, February 6, 1843. His father conducted a paper for many years near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Afterwards he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was connected with a paper owned by James Birney, Abolition candidate for President. The office was destroyed by a mob from Kentucky, and Mr. Miller went to South Bend, where he worked as a printer in the Free Press office. This paper was bought by the Hon. Schuyler Colfax in 1845, and its name was changed to the St. Joseph Valley Register. Mr. Miller became its foreman, and in this office his son, Alfred Miller, passed a great deal of his time until his twelfth year, learning to set type and acquiring a general insight into the business. . As two of the family

his trade, and after a few years spent in the public schools, became a clerk in a dry-goods store, continuing his studies at night without a teacher. He frequently wrote, not only for the local papers, but for Harper's Monthly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Paper, Morris & Wil- lis's Home Journal, and other able publications, his con- tributions being chiefly stories and poems. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the 21st Indiana Battery. He was afterwards made lieutenant, and served with his command until the close of the war. While in the army he acted as war cor- respondent for several papers and continued his efforts in light literature. When he returned to South Bend it was with the avowed intention of making journalism his profession. He was urged by leading citizens to start a paper in South Bend, but thought it best to fol- low another course. He and his brother-in-law, Elmer Crockett, one of the best practical printers in the coun- try, bought a half interest in the St. Joseph Valley Regis- ter. Mr. Miller took charge of the editorial work, Mr. Crockett of the mechanical department, and the other partner of the business management. This arrangement continued for more than four years, when Messrs. Miller & Crockett disposed of their shares. Immediately a general pressure was brought to bear upon them to issue a new paper ; and within two months the South Bend weekly Tribune appeared. It was a wide-awake, progressive sheet, which avoided personal quarrels, and treated all subjects with that fair consideration which brought it at once into favor. The first number was is- sued March 9, 1872. In less than three months it had fifteen hundred subscribers, and at the conclusion of the year nearly three thousand. Its success was a wonder in journalism. Instead of a third-story loft for an office, with an editorial room on the second floor, the proprietors were obliged to rent a whole building, consisting of three floors and a basement. Their business now included printing, binding, and engraving, together with a store for the sale of sta- tionery. At the earnest solicitation of Mr. Colfax and other leading citizens, Mr. Miller issued the first daily paper in South Bend. It was small, but newsy, and was received with such favor that it was soon en- larged and placed on a permanent paying basis. Mr. Miller has a natural aptitude for editorial work. He never reads, changes, or interlines his manuscript, sending it to the printers as each sheet is filled. This, com- bined with what Murat Halstead calls "a nose for news," enables him to dispatch an immense amount of work in a very brief time, and has given his journal a high reputation for spirit and enterprise. The follow- ing circumstance is given as an instance of his rapidity of execution : Being secretary of a political convention, he wrote up the proceedings, had messengers to carry

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the manuscript to the office, and, within five minutes after the convention closed, the Tribune, containing the full proceedings, was sold in the streets. For several years Mr. Miller did all the editorial work for both his papers-leader-writing, paragraphing, reading of proof, etc .; but this amount of work-requiring eighteen hours out of the twenty-four-told upon his health, and of late years he has had able assistants. His remarkable success may be attributed to the fact that he exercises a dignity and independence in journalism which are cer- tain to command respect and influence.

ITCHELL, CAPTAIN JOSEPH A. S., lawyer, of Goshen, was born near Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1836. His parents were Andrew Mitchell and Sarah Lecron. His father died while he was yet an infant, and his childhood and youth were spent in toil. At the age of seventeen he entered the Blandenville Academy, where he remained three years. Graduating in 1856 he served one term in the institution as a teacher. The next two years were devoted to the study of law in the office of Riley &. Sharp, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Armed with his diploma and a scanty supply of money, he removed to the West and settled at Goshen, Indiana. Commencing the practice of his profession in the spring of 1860, he continued it one year with gratifying suc- cess, when the tocsin of war called all loyal citizens to the defense of their country's honor. Mr. Mitchell was one of the first to respond. He assisted in organizing Company M of the 2d Indiana Cavalry, and was made its first lieutenant. Three months later he was promo- ted to the captaincy of the company, and served with it until it was disbanded in January, 1865. During his connection with the army Captain Mitchell participated in a number of the hardest-fought battles of the war; notably those of Shiloh, Stone River, and Chickamauga. In the summer of 1863 he was assigned to duty on Gen- eral McCook's staff, as acting inspector-general of the ILLER, MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN FRANK- LIN, late of South Bend, was born in Union County, Indiana, November 21, 1831, and in 1833 removed with his father, Hon. William Miller, to St. Joseph County, in that state. He was partially ed- ucated at South Bend and at Chicago, Illinois. In 1849, at the age of nineteen, he commenced the study of law, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws at the State and National Law School of Ballston Springs, New York, in August, 1852. In February, 1853, he went to California, by way of Nicaragua, and practiced law three years in Napa City and Benicia, acquiring an extensive business. He then returned to his home in South Bend, Indiana, and engaged in the practice of First Cavalry Division, in which capacity he served un- til the close of the war. During the famous " March to the Sea," Captain Mitchell was busily engaged in raiding the enemy's lines of communication at different points en route. On one occasion, while leading a charge.on the Confederate lines in the vicinity of Newnan, Georgia, a minie ball from the enemy's ranks, which would otherwise have pierced his heart, struck a package of letters in the breast-pocket of his coat, thus saving his life. This package of letters, having served so useful a purpose, is still carefully preserved in his family as a valuable souvenir. In this engagement the division to which Captain Mitchell belonged was badly crippled, and cut off from all communication with the main | his profession. In 1860 he was elected to the state Sen-

army. For more than a week they were supposed to be lost ; but, gathering together the shattered remnants of his command, General McCook cut his way through the enemy's lines, and, after making a detour of a hun- dred and fifty miles, joined the main army August 4, 1864. This perilous ride was full of adventure. Captain Mitchell returned to Goshen, and, associating himself with John H. Baker, established the law firm of Baker & Mitchell. This partnership, owing to Mr. Baker's ab- sence in Washington as a member of Congress, still ex- ists, though nominally more than practically. As a lawyer, Captain Mitchell stands in the front rank of his compeers. His practice is large and lucrative, and the best evidence of his reputation among his professional brothers is shown by the fact that he was one of the delegation of three, chosen by the State Bar Association, to the convention of the National Bar Association, held at Saratoga, in 1879. The other members were General Benjamin Harrison and Judge A. Dyer. Captain Mitch- ell is a stanch Democrat, firm in his convictions, and as earnest in support of his principles as he was valiant and true in defending his country's honor. In the pres- idential campaign of 1872, and the more memorable one four years later, he was chosen one of the state delegates to the National Democratic Convention. He is at pres- ent the candidate of his party for Judge of the Supreme Court for the Fifth Judicial District. He is a member of the board of trustees of Asbury University, a Knight Templar in the Masonic Fraternity, and a communicant in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married, No- vember 15, 1865, Mary E. Defrees, daughter of Joseph H. Defrees, of Goshen, a lady of rare social and intel- lectual accomplishments. They have had two children : Leroy D., born September 12, 1867; and Hattie May, born May 4, 1872. Leroy died April 25, 1880, of con- gestion of the brain. The death of their only son has cast a shadow over their household, as he was the idol of his parents.

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ate, and served during the regular session of 1860-61 and the special session of 1861. He acted at this time as aide to Governor Morton, with the rank of colonel, and assisted in putting the state on a war footing. Mr. Miller resigned his seat in the Senate to enter the mili- tary service, and in July, by order of Governor Morton, organized and took the command of the 29th Indiana Volunteers, which, after going into camp at Laporte in July, was on the 27th of August mustered into service, and in the following October ordered to Indianapolis, from which place it joined General Rosecrans in Ken- tucky. In December, 1861, Colonel Miller was taken seriously ill with typhoid fever, and was conveyed to Louisville, where his wife awaited him; but in a few weeks, having sufficiently recovered, he returned to his command at Bowling Green. On his arrival he was assigned to the command of the brigade of which his regiment formed a part, and marched to Nashville, Tennessee, where they went into camp. March 14, 1862, he was detached from his brigade, by order of General Buell, and assigned to the command of the convalescent barracks and camps at Nashville. June 27, 1862, he succeeded General Dumont in command of the post at Nashville and approaches to that city, which was at that time threatened by Morgan, Stevens, and other Confederate generals. On the night of August 15, 1862, Colonel Miller, with fifteen hundred infantry and four pieces of artillery, started for Gallatin, a town some twenty-six miles north of Nashville, for the purpose of attacking Morgan. The enemy, however, had heard of his approach, and started to leave the town before day- light ; but Colonel Miller arrived in time to fall upon their rear, killing six, and hastening the flight of the remainder. He then commenced loading his artil- lery on the train, preparatory to returning to Nash- ville, when Morgan, confident in his superior numbers, charged on the train. A severe skirmish ensued, in which the rebels were again put to flight, with the loss of seventeen killed and many wounded, Colonel Miller losing but two men. In August, 1862, Colonel Miller was ordered to assume the command of the brigade at Murfreesboro. When General Buell commenced his move into Kentucky, Colonel Miller's light brigade was broken up, and he was ordered to take command of the Seventh Brigade, General Negley's division, then at Nashville. This command varied in strength from four to seven regiments. Shortly after General Buell marched into Kentucky, Nashville was again menaced by ma- rauding bands, who regularly infested the place, cut off all communication by railroad, and declared the city in a state of siege. At one o'clock on the morning of Oc- tober 1, Colonel Bennett having collected between four and five hundred men, Colonel Miller marched to at- tack them. Coming upon their camp at daylight, he completely surprised and routed them, without losing a

| single man. The enemy had forty killed and many wounded and taken prisoners, their commanding officer, Colonel Bennett, being mortally wounded. Colonel Miller returned in triumph to Nashville with a large number of horses and cattle. The rebel general, S. R. Anderson, with some three thousand Confederate troops, occupied La Vergne, a small town some fifteen miles south of Nashville. On the night of the 6th of October, Brigadier-general Palmer, with a force of cavalry and artillery, left the city on the road leading to La Vergne, with the object of engaging the enemy's front, while Colonel Miller, with two thousand infantry, attacked their flank and rear. Colonel Miller started from Nash- ville about ten o'clock P. M. on the Wilsonville Pike, and while on the route was frequently fired on by the enemy's pickets, several of whom were captured. The concerted onslaught was to take place about four in the morning ; but the whole affair nearly proved a fail- ure through the precipitancy of General Palmer, who commenced this attack at half-past three. The enemy opened fire, and attempted to turn his flank by throwing upon his right the 32d Alabama Regiment. They would doubtless have succeeded had it not been for the opportune arrival of Colonel Miller with his forces, con- sisting of the 78th Pennsylvania, 18th and 21st Ohio, and 14th Michigan Volunteers, which he immediately disposed along the left flank of the enemy, who endeav- ored to cut their way through. The Confederate cav- alry dashed with great force upon his lines, but were met by a succession of volleys of musketry that quickly repulsed them. From one end of the line to the other blazed forth a sheet of fire before which the enemy fell back in disorder and fled. The 32d Alabama soon threw down their arms and surrendered or fled. Colo- nel Miller then commanded his troops to search the woods and bring in such prisoners as could be over- taken. The Confederate loss at La Vergne was forty-six killed and between three and four hundred prisoners, including two colonels and a large number of line officers. On the 19th of October, 1862, information was received that General Forrest, with a large force of cav- alry and artillery, had commenced crossing the Cumber- land River, and that his advance, about one thousand strong, had encamped at Neeley's Bend, seven miles north of Nashville. Colonel Miller immediately started with a detachment of infantry, a battery, and one reg- iment of cavalry, to intercept them. He met them the next morning at daylight, and drove them in the utmost confusion across the river. In their flight they lost one of their cannon from a flat-boat, and the road was strewn with arms, clothing, and knapsacks. There were but few killed or wounded, but a number of pris- oners were taken, including a colonel. December 10, Colonel Miller left Nashville, with the center corps of the Army of the Cumberland, and camped six miles

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from the city, on the Franklin Pike, where he remained several weeks. On the night previous to the battle of Murfreesboro, Colonel Miller's command rested on their arms in an open field on the right of the Nashville Pike, and at sunrise on the 30th took position on the right of General Palmer's division, on the edge of a dense cedar wood, fronting the south. Colonel Miller then deployed skirmishers in his front, and to the left of the Wilkerson Pike, to act in concert with skirmish- ers from Colonel Stanley's brigade on his right. A brisk fire was kept up all day until the arrival of Gen- eral Sheridan's division on the right, when the skir- mishers were withdrawn. During the day, General McCook's corps advanced on Colonel Miller's right, and a change of front was made by the latter, who lost only about twenty men killed and wounded. The next day, skirmishing was resumed along the line of Colonel Miller, and very heavy firing was heard along General McCook's line. The firing gradually increased, and neared Colonel Miller's position, until a continuous roar of artillery and musketry was heard in his rear, and heavy columns of the enemy, advancing on his right and front, threatened to overwhelm his brigade by force of numbers and weight. It thien soon became ap- parent to all that the right wing of the army had been defeated and was now falling back before the en- emy, who, infuriated and flushed with success, men- aced the command of Colonel Miller with annihila- tion. He received orders to hold his position to the last extremity, and for this purpose executed rapidly a partial change of front, arranging the troops in convex order in front of a dense cedar wood; the 78th Penn- sylvania Volunteers on the right, the 37th Indiana Volunteers on the right center, the 74th Ohio on the left ; Captain Marshall Balmy being posted on the left of the 74th Ohio, and Lieutenant Ellsworth's battery on the left of the 2Ist Ohio. Simultaneously heavy forces advanced on his right and left wings from the enemy's works, and a most terrific fire was opened on every part of his line ; but his batteries were worked with rapidity and skill, and poured forth a well-directed, terribly destructive fire in return. Colonel Miller was severely wounded by a rifle ball, which barely missed the jugular vein and passed through his neck. Though the wound was very painful, he did not flinch, but, wrapping a scarf around his neck, he rode along the line, amidst shot and shell, delivering his orders and encouraging his men, who were quite unaware of his suffering. Checked by the fire from Colonel Miller's brigade, the advancing enemy halted. The din of musketry and roar of artil- lery became almost deafening, and more and more terri- ble as the struggle progressed. Once the strong force attempted a bayonet charge on Colonel Miller's left wing, but were gallantly met and repulsed with great slaughter. The battle continued, with great fierceness

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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 II, Part 112

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1006

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006