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 68

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 68

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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[with Dist.

Lincoln at his second election, and has ever since been a member of that party. In 1876 he was elected to represent Grant County in the Legislature, and was re- elected in 1878. He became a Mason in 1848, and has taken twelve degrees, including that of Sir Knight. He has been connected, during the last thirty-six years, with the Christian Church. November 10, 1840, he was mar- ried to Miss Lois S. Hall, daughter of Stephen Hall, of Hamilton County, Ohio. They have had four chil- dren, but only the youngest is spared to them-Mary L., wife of Charles W. Humphreys, a lumber and hardware merchant, of Marion. Such, in brief, is the record of the life, thus far, of Colonel Oliver H. P. Cary. His conduct in the trying times through which he has passed is worthy of extended comment, but no more can be given here than the general verdict of his comrades, who were and are still greatly attached to him. Colonel Cary was a strict disciplinarian, yet considerate of the comfort of his men, tireless on the march, skillful in advance and retreat, brave and impetuous in battle, and always faith- ful and efficient. His duties through life, having been those of a tradesman, soldier, farmer, and legislator, have required a strong constitution and a versatile mind of no small capacity. Now a little over sixty, he bids fair to enjoy many more years of honorable usefulness.

OLE, JUDGE ALBERT, of Peru, was born, May 13, 1790, at Berlin, Connecticut. He was the son of Stephen and Lucy (Deming) Cole. His father was a farmer, who died in 1801. Albert, then about eleven years old, went to live with his oldest brother, who was also a farmer, and until the age of fifteen he attended the district schools during the win- ters. He spent the interval between fifteen and twenty

in learning tanning and shoe-making, at Meriden, Con- necticut. Illness obliging him to give up his trade, he engaged one year in selling Yankee notions through the country. In 1812 he decided to go to Mississippi, where he had an older brother living. He passed by way of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he witnessed the excitement over Hull's paroled men, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Having reached his destination he remained about one year, a part of the time assisting his brother in a saw-mill. Being attacked with chills and fever, which he could not throw off, he purchased a pony at New Orleans, and started north by land-there being at that time only one steamer on the Western waters. After a long and tedious journey, during which he passed through the possessions of the Choctaw and the Chickasaw nations, he reached a white settlement near Columbia, Tennessee, where, owing to severe ill- ness, he was obliged to remain four weeks. In the fall of 1813 he reached Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained

there until the following spring. In the mean time news came that peace had been declared between the United States and Great Britain. After leaving Cincin- nati Mr. Cole returned to Connecticut. There, in Sep- tember, 1814, he married Mary Galpin, and started for the West. He purchased a farm of eighty acres in Zanesville, Ohio, where, as farmer, tanner, and shoe- maker, he remained until 1833. That year, by means of a four-horse wagon-probably among the first seen in that section-he transferred his family first to Goshen, Indiana, and afterward, in July, 1834, to Peru, in the same state. Miami County had then been recently or- ganized, and Peru selected as the county seat. Consid- erable enterprise had, however, been manifested in the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, the laying out of town lots, etc. Soon after going to Peru Mr. Cole formed a partnership with Mr. D. R. Bearss, car- ried on a general mercantile business for one year, and erected a storehouse. At the end of that time the firm was dissolved by a division of interests, Mr. Cole taking his share of the goods to Lewisburg, on the canal, where he put up some log buildings, and sold goods for another year. He then returned to Peru, and was en- gaged in mercantile business for about six years; after which, in 1848, he was elected postmaster, which office he held till 1851, and then retired to a farm, which he purchased at an early day, just north of the city. After the death of his wife, who had been his faithful com- panion for forty years, he returned to Peru, having dis- posed of his farm, and invested his capital in city prop- erty. Since that time he has led a retired and quiet life, occupied with the care of his property, most of which is improved. Judge Cole was a Whig during the existence of that party, and has since been an ardent Republican. He was elected Associate Judge at the August election in 1840, when the circuit was com- posed of a president-judge, elected by the Legislature, and two associate judges from each county, elected by the people. He was also United States commissioner, under President Harrison, for distribution of surplus revenue. In 1857 he married Mrs. McCleary, of Zanes- ville, Ohio. Judge Cole had six children by his first wife, namely : Emma A., now Mrs. D. R. Bearss ; Alphonso A., deceased; Lucy, now Mrs. Lewis D. Ad- kinson ; Mary L., the late Mrs. James T. Miller ; James Omer; and Ellen, now Mrs. Harry G. Fetter. He is six feet in height, well-proportioned, and of that pe- culiar muscular development which gives great power of endurance. He has always been a lover of horses, and is a good rider. Up to within the last six months he carried his eighty-seven years in the saddle with an ease and grace of which a horseman of half his years might be proud. Caution, economy, integrity, and active, persistent industry have made his career successful, and secured the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

Consil.

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

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OWGILL, CALVIN, of Wabash, Representative in | the Forty-sixth Congress from the Eleventh Con- gressional District, was born near Martinsville, Clinton County, Ohio, January 7, 1819. His boy- hood and youth were passed in the country, where, se- cluded from the stimulating intellectual influences of city life, the mind develops slowly. His early educa- tion was limited, being such as could be obtained in a common school, with some private instruction; but, though his advantages were few, nature had liberally endowed him, and he determined to rise superior to his surroundings. He desired to study law, but for a time was unable to do so because of the objections of his par- ents, Amos and Edith (Mendenhall) Cowgill, worthy mem- bers of the society of Friends. At length, in 1840, when the family had removed to Randolph County, Indiana, he became, with his parents' consent, a student of law in the office of the Hon. Mormon Way, at Winchester. Pursuing his studies with the utmost zeal, he passed a thorough examination, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. At this time his health again became impaired ; and he was compelled to abandon his books, renounce or defer his cherished plans, and return to farming. In

1846 he removed to Wabash County, continuing that occupation until 1852. Though turned aside from his original purpose, and obliged to toil in the field from day to day, he availed himself of all possible means of culture. Distinguished among his neighbors for his studious habits and marked abilities, he acquired an in- fluence among them that widened year after year, until in 1851 he was elected to represent Wabash County in the Legislature. At the close of the term he resumed the study of law in the village of Wabash, to which he removed in March, 1852; and in the summer of 1853 he commenced practice, at the age of thirty-four. He ap- plied himself with energy to the work before him ; and from the first had a fair and reasonably remunerative practice. In 1855 he was elected treasurer of the county of Wa- bash, and held that office by re-election two terms. In 1854, shortly after beginning practice, he formed a law partnership with the Hon. John U. Pettit, which lasted until June, 1863, when it was necessarily dissolved by Mr. Cowgill's acceptance of the appointment of provost- marshal of the Eleventh District, which office he held until October, 1865. In that year he was again sent to the Legislature, and served during the special session. Previous to his appointment as provost-marshal he did some very effective work in recruiting soldiers for the Union service in the Civil War. In 1872 he was chosen presidential elector for the Eleventh District. His po- litical course has always conformed to the principles of the Whig and Republican parties. He was elected a Representative to Congress from the Eleventh Congres- sional District in 1878; and his record thus far in that body, especially with regard to the "Army Bill," as it

was commonly called, has been one which his friends may review with satisfaction. He was one of the eleven Republican members of the House who voted against that bill. Mr. Cowgill has been identified with most public enterprises in Wabash County during his resi- dence there. He organized the Grand Rapids, Wabash and Cincinnati Railroad Company, and as its president was chiefly instrumental in building the road, which is now called the Cincinnati, Wabash and Michigan Rail- road. He still retains his connection with it as a direc- tor, and is its solicitor. He helped organize the First National Bank of Wabash; and was a director so long as he continued one of its stockholders. When not engrossed with public duties Mr. Cowgill has devoted his energies to the practice of law, and when his serv- ices have been obtainable he has been employed in nearly every important case in Wabash County, and in many cases in the adjoining counties. The thoroughness of his preparation and his talents as an advocate render him generally successful. The exactness of his knowl- edge, the clear, logical style in which he presents the legal aspects of a cause, and his power over a jury, all mark him as one of the foremost lawyers in Northern Indiana. He excels not only in forensic efforts, but also in political oratory, having often stumped the county and the Congressional District, and always at- tracting large audiences. Mr. Cowgill is interested in agriculture and stock-raising, and has made this business, as indeed every kind in which he has engaged, quite profitable. He owns a fine farm not far from Wabash ; and, when he can escape from the pressing labors of public station or from the law-office, he seeks recreation in superintending the cultivation of his fields and the care of his stock. He has been very efficient in pro- moting general education, having rendered important aid in establishing the public school of Wabash, of which he has been trustee for a number of years. He is a strong temperance worker, and is very moral in his habits. He possesses much firmness and independence of character, and is full of energy and enthusiasm. A man like him, who increases the material wealth of the country, originates and conducts worthy public enter- prises, attains a high rank in the legal profession, and fills with credit and honor responsible offices, both civil and military, must have a vigorous, capable mind, and be a useful and estimable citizen ; especially when, as is true of him, his acts are based upon a sense of justice, and characterized by strict integrity. He married, Sep- tember 15, 1841, Miss Mary Flanigan. They have had six children-three sons and three daughters: Carrie, wife of Harvey F. Woods, sheriff of Wabash County ; Emma, who married Wm T. Mendenhall, M. D., an able physician of North Manchester; Kate, wife of H. B Shiveley, Wabash ; Thomas C., mail agent of the Wabash Railway; Harry, who died in 1863, and Cary

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

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E. Cowgill, an experienced attorney, now in practice with his father. The last-named was born in Winches- ter, Randolph County, August 6, 1843; was educated at Wabash College; and admitted to the bar in 1865. Books, especially legal works, have ever been his com- panions, and few lawyers in that portion of the state are better versed in the knowledge of law. He was elected to the Legislature in 1872, serving one term. He served in the Civil War as lieutenant of Company G, 138th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Shive- ley, above named, is in practice with Mr. Cowgill, in the firm of Cowgill, Shiveley & Cowgill. He was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 4, 1844; graduated from the Law Department of the Michigan University ; and became a member of the firm in 1875. He served in the late war as a member of Company B, 40th Indi- ana Infantry, and was a brave, faithful soldier. In the desperate battle of Mission Ridge he was severely wounded, and disabled from further duty. He seems naturally adapted to the legal profession, and excels as an advocate.

ARNALL, JAMES MILTON, Kokomo, was born, June 28, 1817, in Jessamine County, Kentucky. He was descended, on his father's side, from a family that settled in the colony of Maryland more than two centuries ago. His mother was the daughter of James Bridges, whose ancestors settled in North Car- olina long before the Revolutionary War. They were all of English, Welsh, or Scotch ancestry. Zenas Dar- nall, the father of the subject of the present sketch, not recognizing the divine right of one man to enslave his fellow, as was maintained by the supporters of the slave system of the South, removed to the free state of Indi- ana, and settled in Decatur County, in the fall of 1822. The son lived and worked with his father on the farm until he was twenty years old, getting such education during the time as the common schools of the county afforded. He was then permitted to provide for him- self, and succeeded so well that in a few years he had obtained a good education, at Hanover College. He ob- tained the means to acquire this by teaching school in the winter and working upon a farm in the summer. Then he studied medicine in the office of Dr. R. T. Brown, of Connersville, now of Indianapolis, after which he commenced the practice of his profession in Burling- ton, Carroll County, Indiana, remaining there for about twenty-two years. In 1845 he was married to Miss Mary Gwinn, of that vicinity, who, as well as her parents, were natives of Virginia, where their ancestors had resided for more than a hundred and fifty years. In 1864 he left a successful business and removed to Kokomo, How- ard County, to engage in the drug trade. Ile still resides there, but not retaining his interest in the drug-store.

He always took an active interest in politics, first as a Whig, then, in 1848, as a Free-soiler; and when the Republican party was organized, he became a Republi- can, still continuing true to its faith. In 1874 he was elected a Representative in the Indiana Legislature, for Howard County, and at the session next following took an active part in the legislative business. After having been elected several times as a member of the city council of Kokomo, he was chosen, in 1879, mayor of the city, an office he now holds. He has always been an earnest supporter of education, temperance, morality, and relig- ion, and an active member of the Christian Church, giving aid and support to all its enterprises for the dif- fusion of Christian knowledge, both at home and abroad.

OUGHERTY, HUGH, banker, of Bluffton, was born, July 28, 1844, in Darke County, Ohio. He is the son of William (and Margaret) Dougherty, a farmer, recently deceased. He received a com- mon school education in Darke County, until the age of sixteen, when for one year he remained on the farm. His knowledge was gained chiefly by his own persever- ance. At the age of seventeen he taught school for some six months, remained home through the harvest, and, in the fall of 1863, enlisted in the 94th Ohio In- fantry. After remaining in camp ten days he proceeded with his regiment to the seat of war. On the second day's march, after leaving the cars at Lexington, they met the enemy coming from Richmond, and thus began his first engagement. The regiment was driven back, or rather the remains of it-there being only three hun- dred left out of a full regiment, the remainder being mostly made prisoners, having been overpowered by a greatly superior number. He then was employed in skirmishing, from Lexington to Louisville, where the regiment remained until it was partly filled up, when it was attached to Buell's army and marched to Perryville, where it engaged in a hot contest. Afterwards he marched with his regiment from Perryville to Nashville, and remained there twenty days, when they proceeded to Stone River. He was present at the battle of that name, where he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cav- alry making a detour to the rear, where he was sta- tioned. He immediately received his parole, and was sent back to Nashville, and thence to Camp Chase, Ohio. On arrival, learning of the approaching death of his brother, he absented himself without leave. After his brother's death he again reported for duty; but was almost immediately taken sick, and was discharged. He returned to Greenville, Ohio, entered the county re- corder's office as deputy, holding that position for three years, when he removed to Bluffton, and was for six months engaged in the dry-goods business, afterwards

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

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entering into partnership with Mr. John Studabaker in the produce business, remaining in it for some seven years, at the same time being assistant cashier of the First National Bank, of which Mr. Studabaker was president. That institution, during that time, was changed into a private banking firm, Mr. Dougherty being a partner, still continuing so, the firm being John Studabaker & Co. They are doing a large general banking business, in which Mr. Dougherty proves most efficient. He was elected school trustee in 1868, and by his efforts Bluffton obtained a school-building of which she is justly proud. He was also instrumental in push- ing the Fort Wayne, Muncie and Cincinnati Railroad to a final and successful issue, and was selected to super- intend the building of the section of the road from Fort Wayne to Bluffton. By these two acts he was brought more prominently before the people, and in 1870 was elected by a large majority to represent them in the Senate from Wells and Huntington Counties, performing the duties efficiently for four years. In connection with Mr. James Crosby he built the fourteen miles of narrow- gauge railroad between Bluffton and Warren. He is a man of high ability, ever working for the good of his town and county, which he has done so much to improve and develop. He is a man of the highest honor and integrity, of much business capacity, and well informed, and is respected by the community and beloved by his friends. Mr. Dougherty is of good personal appearance, bright, active, and intelligent; he has traveled consid- erably through the Northern and Western states, and has gathered information on the way. He has been an active member, since 1866, of the Methodist Church, in which he has been a trustee and steward for the past twelve years. He took an active part in building the handsome church which belongs to that denomination in Bluffton, and was selected as the business and finan- cial manager of its construction. The Democratic party commands his support. On October 25, 1877, he was married to Emma G. Gilliland, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, the daughter of T. F. Gilliland, Esq., a grain oper- ator, now of Iowa.

AILEY, JOSEPH S., attorney-at-law, Bluffton, was born, May 31, 1844, in Wells County, Indiana. He @& is the son of James and Lydia Dailey. His father was a farmer, esteemed by the community, and held the position of county auditor for nine years. Jo- seph received his education in the public schools of Wells County until the age of nineteen, when he began the study of law in the office of Newton Burwell, of Bluffton, and remained with him for two years, when he attended the Law Department of the Indiana Univer- sity, took the full law course, and was graduated in 1866. He returned to Bluffton and entered upon the practice

of his profession, in which he has been continuously engaged ever since, in the firm of Dailey & Mock, the leading one of the city, of ten years' standing, and which does an extensive and general law business. He was a boy of a studious nature, one who always preferred literature to play, and he is now a man of remarkable memory, in which he resembles his father, and which has more particularly been developed in the matter of remembering names and persons. In November, 1866, he was elected district attorney, and filled that office for two years. In 1868 he was chosen to the office of prosecuting attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and again in 1870, 1872, and 1874. In 1878 he was elected to the House of Representatives, for the counties of Wells and Adams. He has held the office of director and attorney of the Delphos, Bluffton, and Frankfort Railroad. The doctrines of Universalism command his hearty support. In politics he is a Democrat. He has been a member of both the Masonic and Odd-fellows' Orders for a number of years. On the 15th of March, 1870, he married Emma Gutelins, of Bluffton. They have three children, all boys. Mr. Dailey is a thorough lawyer, well read and versed in the law, and is a man of social qualities and good appearance, successful in his profession, and he enjoys the respect and confidence of the community.

E LONG, ALEXANDER W., postmaster of Hunt- ington, and editor of the Indiana Herald, was born 96 in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 21, 1828. His parents were Isaac and Mary M. De Long. In 1833 the family removed to Perry County, Ohio. In May, 1848, Mr. De Long removed to Huntington, In- diana, where he has since resided. He received a com- mon school education, and a partial course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. Arriving at Huntington, he established the Indiana Herald, a weekly journal, the first published in the county of Huntington. It was begun as a Whig paper, being, since Whig days, devoted to the interests of the Republican party. This paper has, during its thirty years of prosperity, been published every Wednesday. Mr. De Long, besides conducting his newspaper, has for over thirteen years been postmaster of Huntington, having been appointed July 21, 1865. In 1866 he engaged in merchandising, by dealing in books and stationery, in which he contin- ued until 1877. He has been interested in all public improvements in Huntington, and is president of the Board of Education of that place. He is a member of the subordinate Order, Chapter, and Royal Arch Ma- sons. He is an Odd-fellow, and member of subordinate lodge and encampment, and has represented both in the Grand Lodge of the state. He was married, May 10, 1850, in the village of Mahon, ten miles east of Hunt-

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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[with Dist.

ington, to Miss Elizabeth C. Morgan, and has one ‹laughter. Mr. De Long is a very active man in poli- tics. He cast his first vote for General Scott, and has since been a hard-working Whig and Republican. He is a member of the Republican State Central Committee of Indiana, and was a delegate from the Twelfth Con- gressional District of Indiana to the Cincinnati Conven- tion, taking an active part in nominating R. B. Hayes for President of the United States.

FFINGER, ROBERT PATTERSON, attorney-at- law, Peru, was born, March 26, 1826, at Lancas- ter, Ohio. His parents, Samuel and Mary (Noble) Effinger, were natives, respectively, of Virginia and Maryland. He received the rudiments of his edu- cation at Lancaster, where his early youth was spent ; and, after taking a preparatory course at Kenyon Col- lege, attended the Ohio University, at Athens, and sub- sequently the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. He left Oxford in his senior year, expecting to graduate at Princeton, New Jersey ; but this expectation was never realized. Among his fellow-students were the late Gov- ernor Morton, John Sherman, General William Sher- man, the present Thomas Ewing, and many others who have since attained distinction. From 1845 to 1848 Mr. Effinger studied law in the office of the late Hon. Thomas Ewing ; and in the spring of the latter year was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of the state of Ohio, then convened in Cincinnati. During the fol- lowing year he practiced law in partnership with John D. Martin, now a prominent banker in Lancaster. In 1850 Mr. Effinger went to California with Colonel John B. Weller, who had been appointed United States Com- missioner to fix the boundary line between California and Mexico. Having remained during that year with Colonel Weller, stationed most of the time at San Diego, he spent the year 1851 in Upper California and Oregon, practiced law in San Francisco a part of the time, and then returned to his native state. In November, 1852, he removed to Peru, Indiana, and soon after formed a partnership with N. O. Ross, Esq., which continued for about twenty years. Their practice extended to all parts of the state and to the United States Courts ; they were employed as attorneys for all the railroads running through Miami County; and few firms were better known. Since Mr. Ross retired from the firm, Mr. Ef- finger has practiced alone. Mr. Effinger has avoided the life of a politician, but has taken an active interest in all public measures. For many years he labored earnestly to support the principles advocated by the Democratic party ; but of late years he has not been a strict partisan, having voted for those candidates whom he deemed most eligible. He was one of the school

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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 68

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