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 26
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Bank of Franklin. He remained in this position until the fall of 1870, when he resigned his place and re- sumed the practice of the law. In 1872 he was again elected to the Legislature from his county, and served as second on the Judiciary Committee, the Republicans having a majority of the House. During this session he was the acknowledged Democratic leader of the House, and was the author of the protest made by the Democratic members against the passage of the apportionment bill of that year. In 1878 he was nominated by the Demo- cratic state convention for Attorney-general, and was elected by a majority of fourteen thousand four hundred and sixty-one over his opponent, Judge Baldwin, of Logansport. Judge Woollen was married, in August, 1850, at Brownstown, Indiana, to Harriet J. Williams, daughter of the late Judge Williams, of Jackson County. By her he has five children living, three sons and two daughters. His wife died in April, 1869, and in March, 1872, he married Mrs. Kate Pulasky, née Byfield, widow of John Pulasky. By her he has two children, both daughters. Judge Woollen is a man of commanding presence. He is full six feet high, and weighs about two hundred and twenty-five pounds. The character of his mind is analytical and judicial. He is not a brilliant speaker, and does not deal in tropes and imagery, but he has a ready command of language, and in his public addresses uses the simplest words that will convey his meaning. He is a logical speaker, and is stronger before a court than a jury, but his efforts before the latter are vigorous and convincing. Judge Woollen has been a Democrat from his youth, and comes from a Democratic family. His father cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson for President, and all his brothers are active Democrats. His brother William Wesley was a member of the executive committee of the Democratic state central committee that managed the brilliant campaign of 1876, and has been the treas- urer of the Democratic state central committee for the last four years. His brother Levin James was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1876 in the Fourth District, and last fall was elected to the state Senate from his district, and his brother Edward New- ton was elected auditor of Johnson County by the Democracy of that county a few years ago. At the Democratic state convention of 1874, four out of five of the brothers Woollen were delegates. We doubt if there be a parallel to this in the political history of the state. Their having been selected by their party asso- ciates to represent them in this convention, proves them to be representative men, and men who are willing to take upon themselves their party's burdens. Judge Woollen is in the prime of life, and should he live to the allotted age of man he will, no doubt, be often heard from in the politics and judicature of the state.
FOOLLEN, LEVIN J., M. D., of Vevay, state Sen- ator from the counties of Ripley, Ohio, and Switz- erland, was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, June 30, 1834. His parents were Edward and Anna (Wheeler) Woollen, and the family were among the oldest in the state of Maryland, being identified with its first settlement. His father was a farmer, and died in Indiana in 1870. His mother is still living, at Indianapolis, with the family of his brother, W. W. Woollen, of Woollen, Webb & Co., bankers. Hon. T. WV. Woollen, the present Attorney-general of Indiana, is also a brother of the subject of this sketch. Doctor Woollen had but few educational advantages in early youth. Previous to his eleventh year he attended pri- vate schools in Maryland; after that he was compelled to rely upon his own resources-studying much at night. In 1845 his father removed with his family to Baltimore, where Levin Woollen obtained a situation with Edward Wright, the pioneer in the business of canning fruits and oysters. His labors at this period were the hardest of his life, being compelled to be at the establishment from early morning until ten and eleven o'clock at night. After three years spent in this manner, he was engaged on the Chesapeake Bay as clerk and hand on a small fruit and oyster schooner. In 1849 the family moved to Madison, Indiana, where he was employed as deputy county treasurer; his brother, W. W. Woollen, then being treasurer of Jefferson County. He was afterward connected with the Madison daily Banner for a short time, and then entered the law office of W. M. Dunn, now Judge-advocate-general of the United States, as a student. Finding the law not suited to his tastes, after a few months he began the study of medicine with the late Doctor William Davidson, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Edinburgh, Scotland, and one of the most talented physicians that the West has ever known. In 1857 he graduated in the Medical Department of the University of Louisville, then in the zenith of its pros- perity. He spent the next year in the office of Doctor Joseph H. D. Rogers, of Madison, after which he set- tled in Jefferson County, where he resided some seven years. He then removed to Moorefield, in Switzerland County, remaining there till the summer of 1873, when he went to Vevay, the county seat. He has been con- tinuously in the practice of medicine since his gradua- tion in 1857. He was candidate for political honors, first as Democratic nominee for Congress, in the Fourth District, in 1876, when he was defeated by Lieutenant- governor Sexton by a small majority, although he led the ticket in his district. In 1878 he was elected to the Senate from the counties of Ripley, Ohio, and Switzer- land, defeating Philip J. Seelinger, of Ripley County. He has been a Democrat from his youth, and comes from a Democratic family, his father having cast his first vote for General Jackson. He was one of the most
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active members of the Senate, evincing a deep interest in all matters affecting the public welfare. Profession- ally, Doctor Woollen has a fine reputation, and is con- sidered one of the most successful practitioners in Switz- erland and adjoining counties. Doctor A. G. Craig is associated with him, and the partners enjoy a large and lucrative practice. He is a member of the Switzerland County Medical Society, and the Indiana State Med- ical Society, and is a contributor to the Louisville Practitioner and to the Western Journal of Medicine. He is prominently identified with the order of Free- masons, to which he has belonged about ten years; has passed the master's chair, and been Grand Lodge representative. He is an active member of the Meth- odist Church and holds the position of trustee. Doctor Woollen married, in March, 1858, Miss Mary Van Pelt, a niece of Mrs. Amelia B. Welby, the poetess. Her name sufficiently denotes her Knickerbocker origin. They have three children, a daughter and two sons. Doctor Woollen is a man of fine physique, a ready and fluent speaker, frank and open in manner, and very pop- ular among his acquaintances, one who has many friends and no enemies. He is in the prime of life, and doubt- less is destined to play still more important parts on the stage of public and professional life.
ILLIAMS, JAMES L., M. D., was born January 18, 1841, in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. His father, William J., was born in Boston, Massachusetts, married Miss Anna Fletcher, of Salem, on the 12th of October, 1837, and immediately moved to Norwich and commenced the prac- tice of his profession, law. It was his intention that his son, James L., should follow in his footsteps, but, after graduating at Harvard University in 1863, he came to the conclusion that the law was too dry a profession for him, and that he was better qualified for a physician than lawyer. In furtherance of this object he began the study of medicine under Doctor A. G. Parkhurst, with whom he remained two years. During this time he took two courses of lectures in the Medical Department of Har- vard University. After graduating here with high honors he crossed the waters, and for six months at- tended lectures and hospital practice in Paris; and, after an extended trip to all the leading points of inter- est in Europe, he returned to this country in the fall of 1866, and began the practice of his profession in his native city, where he remained for eight years. September 23, 1867, he married Miss Elizabeth Foster, the daughter of Charles Foster, a retired merchant of the city, by whom he has had three children, two of whom are living. After the death of his first-born, the Doctor became disheartened and determined to leave the city,
and, giving up his practice, he with his family started on an extensive tour of the United States, visiting Cal- ifornia and the South. Among all the places visited, the Doctor and his wife made up their minds that this, the largest and most rapidly growing inland city of the West, was the place for them, and here they pitched their tent in the spring of 1877. Here, among new scenes and new people, Doctor Williams is building up a splendid practice. A highly educated man, kind and affable to all he meets, dispensing hospitality with an open hand in his beautiful home, and entering warmly into all the charities of the city, it is no wonder he has made himself liked by all he meets.
RIGHT, JOSEPH A., was born at Washington, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1809. In 1819 his fam- ily removed to Bloomington, Indiana, where he and his two brothers assisted their father at work in the brick-yard and in the brick business generally. In 1823 his father died, and he, then fourteen years of age, having but little if any aid from others, was left to de- pend entirely upon his own resources. He attended school or college about two years. While at the col- lege he was janitor, rang the bell, and took care of the building ; and it is said that the little pocket-money he had was made by gathering walnuts and hickory-nuts in the fall, and selling them in the winter to the stu- dents who had larger exchequers. By this work he was soon known as the " walnut huller." He studied law with Craven P. Hester, of Bloomington, who is still living, and is a judge in the state of California. In
1829, as soon as Mr. Wright had acquired a sufficient knowledge of law, he moved to Rockville, Parke County, Indiana, and commenced the practice of his profession, meeting with fair success from the start. He devoted his entire time to the practice of law, and exhibited the great energy and determination which were so prom- inent in his character. He was married, in November, 1831, to Louisa Cook, a daughter of William Cook, a farmer of Parke County. This marriage was one of the most fortunate events of his life, as his wife was just what he needed to bring forth and develop the sterling qualities of the young man. She was a zealous Christian, and at an early period turned his mind toward the Church. In 1837 he connected himself with the Meth- odist Church, and then began his labor in the Sunday- school interest, which was dear to him all his life. He was elected from Parke County to the House of Repre- sentatives in 1834, and to the state Senate in 1839. He was also elected district attorney for his (the Sev- enth) district, for two terms, in 1836 or 1837. He was associated in the practice of law with Hon. Tilghman A. Howard from about 1840 to 1844, when President
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Polk appointed General Howard United States commis- sioner to Texas. In 1843 Mr. Wright was elected to Congress from the Seventh District over Edward W. McGaughey, by three majority, and served until Polk was inaugurated, March 4, 1845. In 1849 he was elected Governor of Indiana under the old Constitution, and in 1852 he was re-elected by over twenty thousand major- ity, and served until 1857. In the summer of 1857 he was appointed Minister to Prussia by James Buchanan, and served until 1861. During this he made the ac- quaintance of Baron Alexander von Humboldt, and between the two there sprung up a warm friendship, which continued as long as they lived. During his res- idence abroad he made a number of reports on Prussian agriculture, which were of great interest to American farmers. His course in 1860 and during the Rebellion, in favor of the maintenance of the Union, was a very positive one, and he never had any sympathy for the rebels. On September 7, 1861, the citizens of Indian- apolis gave him a reception on his return home from Prussia, and General Ebenezer Dumont was chosen to deliver the reception speech, from which, as published in the daily Journal and Sentinel of April 9, 1861, are quoted the following :
" As often as it has been the pleasure of the people of the state, during your long life of public service, to express their approbation of your course, never did they do it more heartily than upon reading your letter writ- ten in Prussia as to the duty of the government in deal- ing with traitors and crushing out rebellion. 'Whoever raises his hand against the Union, strike him down; he is a traitor and a rebel, wherever he lives,' is a senti- ment expressed by you, honored sir, long before John A. Dix said, ' Whoever attempts to tear down that flag, shoot him on the spot.' To the head and the heart of those who uttered them, the sentiments are alike honor- able."
After his return home, in 1861, he traveled over most of the Western States, making speeches in favor of the Union cause, and urging the people to volunteer for the support of the government. In March, 1862, Governor Morton appointed him United States Senator, to fill a vacancy made by the expulsion of the late Jesse D. Bright from that body. He served until the expiration of the term, January 22, 1863. In 1863 he was ap- pointed by President Lincoln as the United States com- missioner to the Hamburg Fair. At a dinner party given about that time by President Lincoln, Governor Wright among the invited guests, some remark was made by the President about the great service Governor Wright had done the Union cause during the past two years. A friend, sitting by the President's side, re- marked : " But, Mr. President, he was the first minister you recalled after you were inaugurated." Said Mr. Lincoln at once, in his prompt way, "I wanted the best men at home." In this connection it might be added that Governor Wright, at an early period in his
life, took an active interest in the county fairs held in Parke and other counties of the state, was among the first movers in favor of state fairs, and was their first president. In 1865 Mr. Johnson appointed him Min- ister to Prussia. This was his second time to the same court, and he served until his death, which occurred May II, 1867.
ILSON, ISAAC H., a pioneer of Shelbyville, was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, May 20, 1807, and is the third son in a family of eleven children. His father, James Wilson, was the first settler of Shelby County. He threaded his way through the woods to a point on Blue River, where he built a cabin, into which his family moved in January, 1819. He at once began the hard task of clearing the land, and, when planting-time came, had prepared six acres, upon which he raised a crop of corn. His little home was in the depths of the forest, his nearest neigh- bor on the east being eighteen miles distant, and the nearest settlement on the west thirty miles. Soon other immigrants arrived; and, to their joy, the government surveying party made its headquarters there. Indians were numerous, but not hostile, and Mr. Wilson opened a thriving trade with them. In 1820 the New Purchase, as that region was then called, was ceded to the United States government ; and when the lands were surveyed he returned from the land sales with a surveyor, and, in partnership with Mr. John Sleeth, laid out the first town in Shelby County. This town he named Marion, in honor of General Francis Marion, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Wilson did not live to reap the reward of his enterprise, but died in February, 1824. He earned the gratitude of his country, both as pioneer and soldier, having fought in its defense in the War of 1812. His wife, Nancy McCarty, survived him over fifty years, dying in Adams County, Illinois, December 14, 1874, at the age of ninety. Her ancestors were born in Ireland, her husband's in Scotland; hence their son, Isaac Wilson, is of Scotch-Irish descent. He was eleven years of age when the family settled on Blue River. In Franklin County, where they lived for ten years, he attended one of the primitive schools of that time. As no school was established in Shelby County until three years after its settlement, he received nearly all his early instruc- tion from his father. At the age of twenty he attended school for about six months, to gain a knowledge of arithmetic and writing. He worked at clearing the farm until 1825, when, at the age of eighteen, he began learning the trade of cabinet-making. This he contin- ued until 1830, when, failing to find further employ- ment, he commenced the carpenter and joiner business. He finally settled in Shelbyville in 1836, building in that year the house which has been his home for forty-
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two years. Success attended him in his new occupa- tion, and he continued it until 1855. By cordiality of manner and just dealing he gained the good will of the people. They discovered in him a fitness for official duties, and in 1855 elected him county treasurer, in which office he served one term. From 1862 to 1872 he was township trustee and assessor. Mr. Wilson has heart- ily enlisted in various public enterprises. He contributed toward the construction of the first railroad through Shelby County; was a director and for a time treasurer of the first turnpike company, and has given means to- ward building other turnpikes in the county. In Feb- ruary, 1851, he joined the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, and in the same month of the succeeding year was made a Master Mason. He subsequently held the position of Master of the lodge, and in July, 1856, be- came a Royal Arch Mason, and was elected High-priest. In May, 1857, he was advanced to a Royal and Select Master, and in January, 1868, became a Knight Tem- plar in Baldwin Commandery, No. 2, of Shelbyville. "Old Hickory," as General Jackson was familiarly called, was the first presidential candidate for whom Mr. Wil- son voted ; and he has always remained in connection with the Democratic party. He married, September 26, 1836, Miss Rebecca Ann Montgomery, daughter of William Montgomery, an early settler of Shelby County. She died February 10, 1860. Of their six children, five are living. He and his family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, to which Mrs. Wilson also belonged. Mr. Wilson was born in Indiana while it was yet a territory. He has seen the forest give place to farms and cities, as the state gradually emerged from the wilderness. In this mighty work he has performed well the part assigned him. He has cleared land, erected buildings, given money and influence toward the con- struction of roads and other public improvements, dis- charged the duties of responsible offices, and, above all, has ever acted justly, thus earning the reputation of a perfectly honest and high-minded man.
USKIRK, SAMUEL HAMILTON, ex-Judge of the Supreme Court, was born in New Albany, In- diana, January 19, 1820. When he was quite young his father's family removed to Monroe County, and he received his education at the State Uni- versity at Bloomington. He afterward studied law with Paris C. Dunning, and graduated in 1841 in the law department of the state university, then under the presidency of the late Judge David McDonald. In 1843 he was a candidate for prosecuting attorney of Monroe County, but was defeated by Judge Hester. He then devoted himself to the practice of law, at the same time taking an active interests in politics. He very early ac-
quired the reputation of being one of the best stump speakers in the Democratic party. In 1845 he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Walters, who still survives him. He began his public career in 1848, and has been prominent in state and national politics ever since. He was elected a member of the Legislatures of 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, and 1854. In 1856 he was a candidate for elector on the Democratic ticket, and made a most vig- orous and effective campaign of the state for Buchanan. He was again a member of the Legislature in the years 1862 and 1863, and was elected speaker of the House, and again elected a member of the Legislature in 1864 and 1865. He suffered his first defeat in 1866, when he was beaten for the Legislature by Judge James Hughes. During all these years he was assiduously engaged in the practice of law, when not actually engaged in official duties. In 1870 he was elected to the Supreme Court, and served the full term of six years. While on the bench he wrote and published " Buskirk's Practice," which is now a standard work on practice in the Su- preme Court. After his retirement from the Supreme Court he removed to Indianapolis, and engaged in the practice of law with Mr. J. W. Nichol, with whom he was associated at the time of his death. He leaves surviving him his wife and six children. He was a brother of Judge Edward C. Buskirk, of Indianapolis, and also a brother of the late Judge George A. Bus- kirk, of Bloomington, Indiana. Judge Buskirk was a man of wonderful energy and intense application. Probably no lawyer at the bar ever came in court with his cases so completely in hand as did Judge Bus- kirk. No labor of preparation seemed too great for him. His creed was that success depended upon work, and he faithfully followed his belief. Indeed, his death was undoubtedly the result of a continuous overstrain of his physical powers. The machine was worn out by too much friction. Judge Buskirk ranked high as a lawyer. Before a jury he was especially formidable. His careful preparation placed him beyond surprise, while at the same time it placed him in a position to defeat his adversary. He was a fine public speaker, and was regarded one of the strongest men in the Demo- cratic party on the stump. Socially, he was a genial, courteous gentleman, exceedingly popular and beloved by all. Judge Buskirk died very suddenly, on the 3d of April, 1879.
OBURN, JOHN, the son of Henry P. and Sarah Coburn, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 27th of October, 1825. His father was a native of Dracut, Massachusetts, and his mother, Sarah Mal- lott, was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky. John Co- burn has always resided in his native place. The most of his education was obtained in the schools of Indianapolis,
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and in the county seminary of Marion County, of In- dianapolis, where he distinguished himself as a thorough and accurate scholar. He entered the junior class of Wabash College in 1844, and graduated with high honor in 1846. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1849. He served as a Repre- sentative in the Legislature of 1851, taking a prominent and active part. He practiced law in Marion and the adjoining counties until elected Judge, in 1859, of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1852 he was on the Whig electoral ticket for his district, General Scott being the candidate for President. In the spring of this year he was married to Miss Caroline Test, daughter of Hon. Charles H. Test, a most worthy lady and congenial com- panion, the life of a social throng at Washington during her husband's sojourn there. In September, 1861, he resigned as judge and volunteered in the 33d Regiment of Indiana, being appointed colonel. In a few days the regiment was sent to Camp Dick Robinson, in Ken- tucky. Very soon it was ordered to Wildcat, and on the 21st of October, 1861, took part in the battle at that place with the forces of Zollicoffer, bearing the brunt of the action. This was the first conflict upon Kentucky soil, and the first fight of the Army of the Cumberland. The enemy made the attack, was re- pulsed, and retreated. He remained with his regiment until the next spring, and was then put in command of a brigade in the campaigns in South-eastern Kentucky and East Tennessee, in the spring and summer of 1862. In the winter of 1862-63 his command was ordered to Middle Tennessee. Here he was actively engaged at the front, but was, with a part of his command, cap- tured on the 5th of March, 1863, in a desperate fight with overwhelming numbers under Van Dorn, at Thomp- son's Station. He remained a captive two months, and was, on the 5th of May, exchanged, and returned to duty with his old command, continuing till the end of his military service actively engaged in camps, marches, battles, and sieges with his men. It so happened that the city of Atlanta was surrendered to him in Septem- ber, 1864, he being in command of a reconnoissance in force on that day. He was breveted as a brigadier for gallant and meritorious services. He never sought pro- motion, but only attempted to do his whole duty promptly and efficiently. , Returning home, he resumed the practice of law, but was surprised by his appoint- ment and confirmation as secretary of Montana, in the spring of 1865, a place he at once declined. In the fall of 1865 he was elected Circuit Judge of the Central Dis- trict, without opposition, and served acceptably until nominated for Representative in Congress in the summer of 1866, when he immediately resigned, taking the stump as a candidate. He was elected to that position four times in succession, serving until the 5th of March, 1875. He was, while a member, active and efficient in
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