A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 13

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toral college cast his vote for William Henry Harrison. In 1839 he was elected to succeed. Gen. John Tipton in the United States sen- ate, the struggle having been an animated one, requiring thirty-six ballots divided among Mr. White, Noah Noble and Col. Thomas H. Blake. He entered the senate a young man, but his training eminently fitted him for the duties of that distinguished body, in the delib- erations of which he bore an active part. He strenuously opposed the annexation of Texas, as he did every measure which was calculated to extend the area of slavery. "He was of a conservative temperament, and usually voted with the moderate men of his party, but he was conscientiously an anti-slavery man and always acted with those who strove to confine slavery to the territory it then polluted." He was active in securing grants of land to aid in the extension of the Wabash & Erie canal, and took a prominent part in shaping legislation to promote other internal improvements. On the expiration of his term, Mr. White resumed the practice of law, but soon abandoned the profession and entered actively into the busi- ness of railroad building. He was president of the Indianapolis & Lafayette railroad from its organization until 1856, and during a part of that time was at the head of the Wabash & Western railway. In 1860 he was again called into public life as a member of congress, where his thorough knowledge of political and state affairs soon enabled him to take high rank. He was made chairman of a select com- mittee, raised to consider the question of com- pensated emancipation, and also reported a bill appropriating $180,000,000 to pay loyal men for their slaves, and $20,000,000 to aid in the colonization of freedmen. His con- gressional career was eminently honorable, but he failed of a renomination, mainly on account of his action in regard to the emancipation question. In January, 1864, he was appointed 7

by President Lincoln United States judge for the district of Indiana, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Caleb B. Smith. He soon adapted himself to his new position, and had he lived, would have proved a worthy successor of his eminent predecessor. His term was cut short by his death, which oc- curred on the 4th day of September, 1864. "Mr. White had but little in common with the typical western pioneer, and it is therefore somewhat strange that he should have reached the eminence he did. He never sunk his man- hood nor lowered his self-respect, by trying to get down to the level of every man that ap- proached him. He was in no sense a dema- gogue, and never sought to curry favor by pretending to be what he was not. He was always dignified and always a gentleman." In personal appearance, Mr. White was below the medium height, quite spare and had a nar- row visage with a prominent Roman nose. Physically he was weak, but intellectually ranked with the strong men of the state and nation. "He was one of the first men of the Wabash country, and of the state, and his name will not be forgotten while learning and scholarship are cherished and honor and pat- - riotism revered."

DWARD A. HANNEGAN was a na- tive of Ohio, but in early life moved to Kentucky, and settled at Lexing- ton, where he grew to manhood. He received a liberal education, and after several years spent in the study of law, was admitted to practice at the Lexington bar at the early age of twenty-three. Not long after this he settled at Covington, Ind., where he opened an office and practiced his profession with flat- tering success for a number of years. He soon entered the political arena and ere long

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was honored by an election to the state legis- lature, in the deliberations of which he soon took an active and brilliant part. His career in the legislature brought him into prominent notice, and in January, 1833, he was elected to the congress of the United States, defeating Albert S. White, afterward his colleague in the senate. In 1840 he was again a candidate for congress, but after a very exciting contest was defeated by Hon. Henry S. Lane, afterward governor and United States senator. In 1842, much to the surprise of every one, Mr. Han- negan was elected United States senator, de- feating Oliver H. Smith and Tilghman A. Howard on the sixth ballot. He took his seat in the senate on the 4th of December, 1843, and served until March 4, 1849, during which time he made several speeches which attracted the attention of the country. While a mem- ber of that body his votes were always in accord with his party. In March, 1849, Pres- ident Polk nominated him for minister to Prus- sia, but being unfit for diplomacy by nature and habit it is no wonder that his career at Berlin added nothing to the character of the government he represented. He was recalled the next January, and with that recall the pub- lic life of the brilliant but erratic statesman ended. He returned to his home at Coving- ton, and the next year was defeated in a race for the legislature, which he took much to heart and which served to drive him further into the convivial habits which ultimately proved his ruin. The habit of drink con- tinued to grow upon him until in a fit of drunken frenzy he took the life of one whom he dearly loved-his brother-in-law, Capt. Duncan. The two had been drinking deeply and angry words passed between them. Mr. Hannegan finally went into a separate apart- ment, but was followed by Capt. Duncan, who applied some bitter epithets to him and slapped him in the face. Upon this Mr. Han-

negan seized a dagger and buried it to the hilt in Duncan's body, the effect of which was death the following day. He was not indicted and tried for this killing, the universal senti- ment of the people being in his favor. He re- moved to St. Louis, in 1857, and on the 25th of January, 1859, he died in that city. Mr. Hannegan was warm in his friendships and had a large personal following. His manners were elegant, and he was ardent, impulsive and undaunted, thinking, acting and speaking with the utmost freedom. In person he was below the medium height, firmly and compact- ly built, but in after years became quite cor- pulent. He was a charming companion, and as an orator was more eloquent than logical. "He was not a profound man nor a great scholar, but what he lacked in profundity he made up in brilliancy, and his deficiency in scholarship was largely compensated for by his quick wit and fertile imagination, and his power to express himself in the choicest lan- guage. He was of Irish descent, and inherited many of the characteristics of that warm- hearted, impulsive race."

J ESSE D. BRIGHT, for twenty years a leading politician of Indiana, was born in Norwich, N. Y., December 18, 1812, and came to this state when a boy, lo- cating with his parents at Madison, where he grew to manhood's estate. He received an academic education, and after a preparatory course of reading was admitted to the bar. where his talents soon won for him a conspic- uous place among the successful lawyers of Indiana. He was not profound in the philos- ophy of jurisprudence, but, being a fluent speaker and quite popular with the people, he succeeded in gaining a lucrative practice, which extended throughout the counties of the lower

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Wabash and elsewhere. He was elected judge of probate in Jefferson county, and sub- sequently received the appointment of United States marshal for Indiana, and it was while holding the latter office that he laid the found- ation of his political career. In the 'forties, he made the race for the state senate against Williamson Dunn and Shadrack Wilber, whom he defeated, and in that body was soon recog- nized as the leader of the party. In fact, he was a born leader of men, and always stood at the fore-front of the line. In 1843 he was lieutenant governor on the ticket with James Whitcomb, and such was the ability he dis- played in the discharge of the duties of that position that the senators and representatives. with all of whom he sustained relations of the warmest friendship, afterward elected him to the senate of the United States. At this time he was barely eligible to a seat in the senate, on account of his age, being the youngest man ever elected to that distinguished body. In 1850, he was a candidate for re-election against Hon. Robert Dale Owen, who subse- quently withdrew from the contest, thus mak- ing Mr. Bright's election without opposition. In 1856, his term having expired. he again sought a re-election, which was granted him after a memorable contest which was decided by the United States senate, in a strictly party vote. In the senate, Mr. Bright ranked high as a committee worker, and enjoyed a great per- sonal popularity. Such was his standing that on the death of Vice President King, in 1-853. he was elected president pro tempore of the senate, which he filled with ability until the inauguration of John C. Breckinridge, in 1857. In the latter year, when forming his cabinet, President Buchanan offered Mr. Bright the secretaryship of state, which position he saw fit to decline. He continued a senator until 1862, when he was expelled for disloyalty, by a vote of thirty-two to fourteen. The princi-

pal proof of his crime was in recommending to Jefferson Davis, in March, 1861, Thomas Lin- coln, of Texas, a person desirous of furnishing arms to the confederacy. Mr. Bright organized and led the Breckinridge party in Indiana in 1860, and in stumping for the brilliant young Kentuckian gave the movement all the force and vitality it had in this state. He left Indi- ana soon after the legislature of 1863 refused to return him to the United States senate, and took up his residence in Kentucky, in the legis- lature of which state he subsequently served two terms. In 1874 he removed to Balti- more, in which city he died on the 20th of May, 1875, of organic disease of the heart. Mr. Bright had a splendid physique, and weighed about 200 pounds. He had a good head and a good face, but was imperious in manner and brooked no opposition from either friend or foe. "He was the Danton of Indiana democracy, and was both loved and feared by his followers."

J OHN PETTIT was born at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., July 24, 1807, and died in Lafayette, Ind., June 17, 1877. After receiving a classical education and studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1838, and commenced the practice of his profession at Lafayette, Ind. He soon became active in state politics, was in the legislature two terms and served as United States district attorney. He was elected to congress as a democrat in 1842, re-elected to the next con- gress and served with distinguished ability in that body from December 4, 1843, to March 3. 1849. He was a democratic elector in 1852, and in January, 1853, was chosen United States senator to fill the unexpired term occasioned by the death of James Whit- comb, serving as such until March 3, 1855

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during which time he earned the reputation of an able and painstaking legislator. In 1859 he was appointed, by James Buchanan, chief justice of Kansas, and in 1870 was elected . supreme judge of Indiana. He was a delegate to the Chicago democratic convention in 1864, and as a political leader wielded a strong in- fluence in Indiana in a number of state and national contests. He was renominated for supreme judge in 1876, but owing to scandals connected with the court, which excited popu- lar indignation, he was forced off the ticket, and the name of Judge Perkins substituted.

a HARLES W. CATHCART, of whose public and private history but little is now known, was born on the island of Madeira, in 1809. He received a liberal education and early in life shipped as a sailor, and after a number of years spent on the sea, located, in 1831, at LaPorte, Ind., where he engaged in farming. He served sev- eral years as land surveyor, was a representa- tive in the legislature, and in 1845 was an elector on the democratic ticket. He was elected to the congress of the United States in 1845-47, re-elected the latter year to serve until 1849, and was afterward appointed to fill the unexpired term occasioned by the death of James Whitcomb. He served as senator from December 6, 1852, to March 3. 1853, and at the expiration of his term re- turned to LaPorte county, where his death subsequently occurred.

RAHAM N. FITCH was born in Le Roy, Genesee county, N. Y., on the 5th of December, 1810, and is said to have been the first white child born in that town. His grandfather was a

soldier in the revolutionary war, and his father, a soldier in the war of 1812, was wounded in the battle of Queenstown. Mr. Fitch received a liberal education, and in early life chose the medical profession for a life work, and completed a course of study in the same in the college of physicians and sur- geons of western New York. He came to Indiana in 1834, and settled at Logansport, where his successful career soon won for him the reputation of one of the most skillful sur- geons and thorough practitioners in the west. In 1844 he accepted a professorship in Rush Medical college, at Chicago, and occupied the chair of theory and practice during the years 1844-47. Though not naturally a politician, Dr. Fitch, from force of circumstances, was drawn into the arena of politics, where his commanding talents and energy marked him as the people's choice. In 1836 and again in 1839, he was chosen to represent Cass county in the state legislature. Subsequently, at the election in August, 1847, he was chosen to represent his district in the lower house of congress, holding that responsible position until 1852. During his membership he was active and efficient in the discharge of his duties, earning the reputation of a good legis- lator. His legislative capacity was further tested by an experience in the senate of the United States, commencing in 1860-61. The honorable distinction acquired in subordinate legislative positions was not dimmed by his senatorial experience, and he left that distin- guished body with a record of which posterity need not be ashamed. Although a democrat in political affiliations, he always esteemed principle above mere partisanship and was not slow to manifest disapprobation when his party seemed disposed to pursue a course of policy in antagonism to his better judgment. In the triangular contest for the presidency, between Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Douglas and Mr.

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Breckinridge, he gave his undivided support to the last named gentleman, influenced there- to by a belief that his election would prevent the threatening civil war. Again, when his party rallied to the support of Mr. Greeley, he manifested his dissent by supporting Mr. O'Conor for the presidency. When the war came on, he raised a regiment, the Forty-sixth Indiana, and at its head entered the federal service. He did brilliant service in several campaigns, but owing to an injury received by the falling of his horse, was compelled to leave the service before the expiration of the war. After the close of the war, he still continued to practice his profession, not interfering in political affairs except to preserve the integ- rity of his inherent ideas with the vigor of his palmier days, opposing whatever he conceived to be wrong in civil and political affairs. In personal appearance, Dr. Fitch was an unusual specimen of physical manhood, having a well knit frame and a courtly dignity which bespoke the polished gentleman. In his prime he appeared a knight among men, and while a member of the United States senate is said to have been the finest looking man in that body. The death of Dr. Fitch took place November 29, 1892.

AVID S. TURPIE, born in Hamil- ton county, Ohio, in 1829, graduated at Kenyon college, studied law, and began practice at Logansport, Ind., in 1849. He was a member of the legislature in 1852, was appointed judge of the court of common pleas in 1854, and of the circuit court in 1856, which post he resigned. He was again a member of the state house of repre- sentatives in 1856, and was elected to the United States senate from Indiana, as a dem- ocrat, in place of Jesse D. Bright, who had been expelled, serving from January 22 to

March 3, 1863. Nearly twenty-four years afterward he was again called on by his party to represent them in the senate, to which body he was elected by the Indiana legislature, at the session of 1886-7, after a memorable struggle. His opponent was Benjamin Harri- son, afterward elected president, and he was defeated by the votes of one or two independ- ents in the legislature who held the balance of power between the two great parties, which were almost equally divided in voting strength among the members. Mr. Turpie enjoys the reputation of being one of the ablest constitu- tional lawyers in Indiana, and is also graded high as a man of literary attainments.

0 ANIEL D. PRATT was born at Pal- ermo, Maine, October 24, 1813, and died at Logansport, Ind., June 17, 1877. His father was a physicain and the son of David Pratt, a revolutionary soldier, of Berkshire county, Mass. Mr. Pratt's early years were years of excessive toil, necessitated by the circumstances of his fath- er's family. His early education was acquired in the district schools of Madison county, N. Y., and in 1825 he entered the seminary at Cazenovia, that state, and two years later entered Hamilton college, from which he graduated in 1831. He was a natural orator, and as a classical scholar was rarely excelled. Immediately after graduating he accepted a professorship in Madison university, and with the means thus earned began the study of law. In the spring of 1832, he decided to move west. Accordingly he set out for Cincinnati, making a part of the journey on foot, and later made his way to Rising Sun, Ind., where he taught a term of school. Subsequently he en- tered the law office of Calvin Fletcher, at Indianapolis, and in 1836 located in Logans- port, at that time a mere opening in the

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wilderness. The bright promises of his early youth were soon fully realized, for no sooner was he admitted to the bar than he rapidly rose in his profession, and in a few years the fame of the eloquent young advocate resounded throughout northern Indiana. He was one who never courted notoriety, but he made himself a necessity in the field of action, and it was often a race between litigants to see who could reach his office first. At the time of his election to the United States senate in 1869, he was recognized as the ablest lawyer in northern Indiana, and his fame was not confined to this state alone, but extended throughout the western country. For twenty- five years he was without a rival in northern Indiana, before a jury. Gov. Hendricks and Sec. Thompson divided the palm with him in the south and west parts of the state. His eminent merits were recognized, and in 1847 he was nominated for congress, but was de- feated by Charles Cathcart. In 1848, he was one of the presidential electors, and in 1851- 53 was elected to the legislature, and soon be- came the leader in the house. In 1860 he was secretary of the national convention at Chicago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and attracted great atten- tion by his eloquence and commanding pres- ence. During the war Mr. Pratt was a zeal- ous and patriotic advocate of the Union cause. In 1863 he received the unanimous vote of his party, then in the minority, for United States senator, and in 1868 was elected to congress by a handsome majority. In 1868 the legisla- ture, without solicitation on his part, promoted him to the United States senate. It was un- fortunate that he entered that body so late in life, as he was then fifty-six years of age, and with the exception of two terms in the state legislature was without public training. The artificial restraint thrown around him in the national capital disgusted him, and interfered

with his splendid oratorical powers. As it was, however, he was recognized as one of the ablest men of that body during the period of his service, and although he made but few speeches, those he delivered were sound, log- ical and comprehensive. For six years he was a member of both claim and pension com- mittees, and for two years was chairman of the pension committee. Millions of dollars were allowed and dis-allowed on his recom- mendation. So conscientious was he that Wendell Phillips once remarked that "Pratt is the most absolutely honest man I ever knew." Upon the expiration of his term as senator, at the solicitation of Pres. Grant he took charge of the internal revenue department. In 1876, the republicans urged Mr. Pratt to become a candidate for governor of the state, but he de- clined. Personally Mr. Pratt was one of the most cheerful and genial of men, and in his social life, and all his associations, shed an in- fluence around him which was like sunshine. Although he never sought literary honors, his talents could not be unappreciated, and in 1872 Hamilton college conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D. In appear- ance he was above the average height, being over six feet and correspondingly portly. His presence was dignified and he moved among men as one born to command. In his death the nation lost one of its faithful public serv- ants, the state a great man, the legal profes- sion one of its ablest members and the com- munity one of its best citizens.

J OSEPH E. McDONALD was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 29, 1819, the son of John McDonald, a native of Pensylvania, and of Scotch descent. Maternally, Mr. McDonald is descended from French Huguenot ancestry. His mother,

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Eleanor (Piatt) McDonald, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a woman of superior order of intellect. Seven years after the death of John McDonald she married John Kerr, who moved with his family to Montgomery county, Ind., in the fall of 1826. Joseph McDonald was seven years of age when the family moved to Indiana, and until his twelfth year he lived upon the home farm. In his twelfth year he became an apprentice to the saddler's trade in Lafayette, in which capacity he served out five years, studying law in the meantime, for which he early manifested a decided taste. At the age of eighteen he entered Wabash col- lege, began the study of the higher branches, supporting himself mainly by plying at his trade when it was possible for him to do so. He afterward became a student in the Asbury university, and in 1842 began the systematic study of law at Lafayette, Ind., in the office of Zebulon Beard, one of the leading lawyers of the state. He was nominated for the office of prosecuting attorney before his admission to the bar, and was elected to that position over one of the prominent lawyers of Lafayette. He was re-elected prosecutor, and discharged the duties of the office for a period of four years. In the fall of 1847, he moved to Crawfordsville, which place was his home until 1859. In 1849 he was elected from the old eighth district and to the twenty-first con- gress, and served one term, and in 1856 was elected attorney general of Indiana, being the first chosen to this office by the people. He was re-elected in 1858, and served two terms. In 1864 he was nominated for governor of Indiana by the democratic state convention, and made a joint canvass with Oliver P. Mor- ton, the republican nominee. At the election he received 6,000 more votes for governor than the state ticket did in 1862, but Mr. Morton was elected by nearly 20,000 votes. Throughout his entire life he has strictly

adhered to his resolution to follow the law and make a success of the profession, and as a lawyer he has for years ranked among the most successful and profound in the nation. He was elected to the United States senate for six years, to succeed Daniel D. Pratt, and entered upon the duties of that position March 5, 1875. While a member of that body he was chairman of the committee on public lands, a member of the judiciary committee, took a conspicuous part in the debates on finance, and ranked as one of the ablest law- yers in that body of distinguished men. He served with distinction until 1881, since which time he has given his attention principally to the practice of his profession, though taking an active part in political affairs, being one of the recognized leaders of the democracy in the United States. He made the principal argu- ment for the objectors in the count of the electoral vote of Louisiana before the electoral commission appointed to determine the result of the presidential election in 1876. In the national democratic convention, held in Chi- cago, in 1884, Mr. McDonald's name was pre- sented as a candidate for the presidential nomination, and he had a strong following in the delegation from a number of states. He is and always has been a representative demo- crat of the Jeffersonian school, and believes that the true idea of democracy is to preserve, unimpaired, all the rights reserved to the states respectively, and to the people, without infringing upon any of the powers delegated to the general government by the constitution. "He believes in the virtue of the people, and in their ability and purpose to maintain their institutions inviolate against the assaults of designing men." "As an orator, both at the bar and on the hustings, he is cool, logical and forcible, and, as a citizen, he has the confi- dence and respect of all who know him, re- gardless of political creeds." "His views are

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080