A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 10

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 10
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 10

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

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which he was reappointed by President Van Buren, and served as such until the expiration of the latter's term of office. Early in 1841 he returned to Indiana and resumed the prac- tice of law in Terre Haute, where he soon acquired a large and lucrative business. He was at that time one of the best known and most popular members of his party, and at the democratic state convention of 1843, he was nominated for governor of the state. His op- ponent was Samuel Bigger, whom he defeated by a majority of 2,013 votes. Three years afterward he was re-elected, beating Joseph G. Marshall, the whig candidate, by 3,958 votes. When he became governor he found the state loaded down with debt, upon which no inter- est had been paid for years, but when he left the office the debt was adjusted and the state's credit restored. He also, by his efforts, crea- ted a public sentiment that demanded the establishment of benevolent and reformatory institutions, and he awakened the people to the importance of establishing common schools and providing a fund for their maintenance. During his term of office he raised five reg- iments of infantry that represented the state in the war wfth Mexico. The legislature of 1849 elected Gov. Whitcomb to the senate of the United States, for which high position he was well qualified by talent, by education and by experience. Owing to feeble health he was unable to discharge his senatorial duties as he wished, and he died from a painful dis- ease when he had served little more than half the term. In 1843 he wrote a pamphlet entitled, "Facts for the People," the most effective treatise against protective tariff ever known. As a lawyer, Mr. Whitcomb ranked among the ablest in the country, and as gov- ernor will always be remembered as one of the ablest of the distinguished men who have occupied that position. Gov. Whitcomb was compactly and strongly built; he was some-

what above the average size of man; he had a dark complexion and black hair. His features were good and expressive, and his manners the most elegant. He was a talented and an honest man, and when the roll of Indiana's great men is made up, among the first in the list will be the name of Whitcomb.

ARIS C. DUNNING was born in Guil- ford county, N. C., in March, 1806, but emigrated to Indiana with his mother and elder brother, and located at Bloomington in 1823. He studied law and was admitted to practice about 1830. In 1833 he was elected to represent Monroe county in the state legislature, and was three times re-elected. In 1836 he was elected to the state senate from Monroe and Brown counties, and remained there until 1840, when he vol- untarily retired. He was chosen as a demo- cratic presidential elector in 1844, and during the campaign exhibited extraordinary energy and ability as a public speaker. In 1846 he was elected lieutenant governor on the demo- cratic ticket, and when Gov. Whitcomb was elected to the United States senate, Mr. Dun- ning succeeded him as governor. After his retirement in 1850, he practiced his profession for many years, having meantime declined a nomination for congress. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Charleston and Baltimore national conventions, where he distinguished himself as an earhest advocate of Stephen A. Douglas, and subsequently worked assiduously for that statesman's election to the presidency. At the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, Mr. Dunning identified himself with the Union cause, and throughout the war rendered val- iant aid to the country. In 1861 he was elected to the state senate without distinction of party. Subsequently he was elected twice as president of the senate. Goveror Dunning

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was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Alex- ander, and the second time to Mrs. Ellen D. Ashford. Ex-Gov. Dunning takes high rank as one of the self-made men of Indiana, and he filled the many positions of honor and trust conferred upon him with great credit to him- self and to the entire satisfaction of the cit- izens of Indiana.

J OSEPH A. WRIGHT, for seven years governor of Indiana, was born in Wash- ington, Pa , April 17, 1810. In 1819 his family moved to Bloomington, Ind., where he and his two brothers assisted their father at work in a brickyard, and in the brick business generally. In 1822 his father died and he, then fourteen years of age, hav- ing but little if any aid from others, was left entirely upon his own resources. He attended school, and college about two years, and while at college was janitor, rang the bell and took care of the buildings. It is said that what little pocket money he had was made by gath- ering walnuts and hickory nuts in the fall and selling them to students in the winter. He subsequently studied law with Craven P. Hes- ter, of Bloomington, and began the practice of his profession, in 1829, at Rockville, Park county, where he met with good success from the start. In 1833 he was elected to the state legislature, and in 1840, the year of the Har- rison political tornado, was chosen a member of the state senate. He was also elected dis- trict attorney for two terms in 1836 and 1837, and later was appointed by President Polk United States commissioner to Texas. In 1843 he was elected to congress from the Seventh district, over Edward McGaughey, by three majority, and served until Polk was in- augurated, March 4, 1845. In 1849 he was elected governor of Indiana, under the old constitution, and in 1852 was re-elected by

over 20,000 majority, and served until 1857. In the summer of the latter year he was appointed minister to Prussia, by James Buchanan, and as such served until 1861. In 1862 he was appointed by Gov. Morton United States senator, and sat in the senate until the next January. He was appointed commis- sioner to the Hamburg exposition in 1863, and in 1865 went again to Prussia as United States minister, and remained there until his death, which occurred at Berlin March 1I, 1867. Gov. Wright will be best remembered as governor of Indiana, his services in the general assembly, aenate and congress being too-brief for him to make much impression in any of those bodies.

As governor, he was an important factor in shaping legislation - and molding public opinion. He was an orthodox democrat of the straightest sect, stood high in the councils of his party, and contested with Jesse D. Bright for the leadership, but without success. He was strong with the people but weak with the leaders. In personal appearance Gov. Wright was tall and raw-boned. He had a large head and an unusually high forehead. His hair was light and thin his eyes blue, and his nose and mouth large and prominent. He was an effective speaker, mainly on account of his earnestness and simplicity. While not the greatest man in the state, he was one of the most influential; and to his honor be it said, his influence was exercised for the public good. Economy and honesty in public life, and morality and religion in private station, had in him an advocate and an examplar.

A SHBEL PARSONS WILLARD was born October 31, 1820, at Vernon, Oncida county. N. Y,, the son of Col. Erastus Willard, at one time sheriff of Onedia county. He pursued his pre-

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paratory studies in the Oneida Liberal insti- tute, and when eighteen years of age entered Hamilton college in the class of 1842. After graduating from that institution he studied law for some time with Judge Baker, of his uative county, and later emigrated to Michi- gan, locating in the town of Marshall, where he remained for over a year. He then made a trip to Texas on horseback, and on his return stopped at Carrollton, Ky., and there taught school. After this he taught for some time at Louisville, but subsequently left the school room for the political arena. In the contest for the presidency in 1844, between Clay and Polk, young Willard began stumping for the latter, and during the campaign made a speech in New Albany, Ind., which made such a favorable impression that many of the first men of the town solicited him to come and settle among them. He soon afterward located in New Albany. which place remained his home nntil his death. He at once opened a law office, but was compelled to encounter a very able bar, in consequence of which his practice for some time was by no means lucra- tive. The first office he held was that of com- mon councilman. He took pride in the place and won the good opinion of the people irre- spective of party. In 1850 he was elected to the state legislature, and from that time until his death he occupied a conspicuous place in the public mind. Such was his career in the legislature that when the democratic conven- tion of 1852 convened the delegates were met by an overwhelming public sentiment demand- ing the nomination of Willard for lieutenant governor. The demand was recognized and the nomination made. He filled this office until 1856, when he was elected governor, after a very bitter and exciting political con- test. In the summer of 1860 his health gave way, and he went to Minnesota in quest of health, which he did not find, but died there

on October 4th of that year. Gov. Willard was the first governor of Indiana to die in office. The people, without respect to party, paid homage to his remains, and a general feeling of the most profound sorrow was felt at his untimely taking off. "In person Gov. Willard was very preposessing. His head and face were cast in finest molds, his eyes were blue, his hair auburn, and his complexion florid. A more magnetic and attractive man could nowhere be found, and had he lived to the allotted age of mankind he must have reached still higher honors."

BRAM ADAMS HAMMOND, who succeeded to the governorship on the death of A. P. Willard, by virtue of his office of lieutenant governor, was a native of Vermont, born in the town of Brattleboro, March 21, 1814. He came to Indiana when six years of age, and was raised near Brookville, where he began the study of law in the office of John Ryman, a lawyer of note in that town. He was admitted to the bar in 1835, moved to Columbus, Bartholomew county, in 1840, where he was afterward chosen prosecuting attorney, an office which he filled with more than ordinary ability. In 1846 he became a resident of Indianapolis, and the following year removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. He returned to Indianapolis in 1849, and in 1850 was chosen first judge of the com- mon pleas court of Marion county. In 1852 he emigrated to California, and for some time practiced his profession in San Francisco. He soon returned to his adopted state, loca- ting in Terre Haute, where he resided until his election as lieutenant governor in 1852. He made a most excellent presiding officer of the senate, his rulings being so fair and his decisions so just that even his political oppo-

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nents bestowed encomiums upon him. · On the death of Gov. Willard, in 1860, Mr. Ham- mond became governor, and as such served with dignity until the inauguration of Gov. Lane, in January, 1861. Gov. A. A. Hammond was not a showy man, but he was an able one. He possessed an analytic and logical mind, and was remarkably clear in stating his positions when drawing conclusions. When in his prime he was a fine specimen of physi- cal manhood. He was of medium height, compactly built, and of dark complexion. His head was large and well shaped, while the expression of his countenance was mild and gentle. Frank in manners, honorable in his dealings, and dignified in his deportment, he commanded the esteem of all with whom he came in contact.

a ONRAD BAKER, governor of Indiana from 1867 to 1873, was born in Franklin county, Penn., February 12, 1817. He was educated at the Penn- sylvania college, Gettysburg, and read law at the office of Stevens & Smyser, and was ad- mitted to the bar in the spring of 1839, at Gettysburg, where he had a lucrative practice for two years. He came to Indiana in 1841, and settled at Evansville, where he practiced his profession until after the commencement of the rebellion. He was elected to the lower house of the general assembly of Indiana in 1845, and served one session, elected judge of the district composed of the counties of Van- derburg and Warrick, in 1852, in which capac- ity he served about one year, when he re- signed. In 1856 he was nominated for lieutenant governor by the republican party without his knowledge, on the ticket with Oliver P. Morton. They were defeated by Willard and Hammond. In 1861 Mr. Baker

was commissioned colonel of the First cavalry regiment of Indiana volunteers, which he or- ganized, and with which he served until Sep- tember, 1864, in which year he was elected lieutenant governor. In 1865 Gov. Morton convened the general assembly in special ses- sion, and immediately after delivering his message, started for Europe in quest of health, leaving Col. Baker in charge of the executive department of the state government. Gov. Morton was absent five months, during which time the duties of the executive office were performed by Lieut. Gov. Baker. In Febru- ary, 1867, Gov. Morton was elected to the senate of the United States, in consequence of which the duties of governor devolved upon Mr. Baker. 3 He was unanimously nominated by the republican convention of 1868, for governor, and was elected over Thomas A. Hendricks, by a majority of 961 votes. He served as governor with ability and dignity, until the inauguration of Mr. Hendricks in 1873, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of law in Indianapolis, being a member of one of the strongest and most widely known firms in the state.

0 LIVER PERRY MORTON, Indiana's great war governor and United States senator, was born in Saulsbury, Wayne county, Ind., August 4, 1823. The family name was originally Throckmorton, and was so written by the grandfather, who emigrated from England about the beginning of the Revolutionary war and settled in New Jersey. Gov. Morton's father was James T. Morton, a native of New Jersey, who moved in an early day to Wayne county, Ind., where he married the mother of Oliver P., whose maiden name was Sarah Miller. Of the early life of Gov. Morton but little is known. When a boy he attended the academy of Prof.

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Hoshour, at Centerville, but owing to the poverty of the family, he was taken from school, and at the age of fifteen, with an older brother, began learning the hatter's trade. After working at his trade a few years, he de- termined to fit himself for the legal profession, and with this object in view he entered the Miami university in 1843, where he pursued his studies vigorously for a period of two years. While in college he earned the repu- tation of being the best debater in the institu- tion, and it was here that he developed those powers of ready analysis and argument which made him so celebrated in after life. He be- gan his professional reading in the office of Judge Newman, of Centerville, and after his admission to the bar was not long in rising to an eminent place among the successful law- yers of Indiana. In 1852 he was elected cir- cuit judge, but resigned at the end of one year and afterward increased his knowledge of the profession by an attendance at a Cin- cinnati law school. On resuming the prac- tice the number of his friends and legal cases rapidly increased, and his reputation soon ex- tended beyond the limits of his own state. As a lawyer he possessed the faculty of selecting the salient points of a case and getting at the heart of a legal question. His mind was massive and logical, and he could apply great principles to given cases, discard non-essen- tials and reach decisive points. Mr. Morton's political career was of such a brilliant char- acter that his great achievements in the arena of statesmanship, his wonderful power as an organizer, won for him a recognition from the strongest opponents, and faith in his powers, and the lasting fealty and admiration of thous- ands of friends until he reached the highest point among the great American statesmen.

Up to his thirty-first year, Mr. Morton was a democrat. The county in which he lived was largely whig, thus virtually preclud-

ing him from holding elective offices. He was opposed to the extension of slavery, how- ever, and upon the organization of the repub- lican party he entered the movement, and in 1856 was one of the three delegates from Indiana to the Pittsburgh convention.

His prominence was such that in 1856 he was unanimously nominated by the new party for governor of Indiana, against Ashbel P. Wil- lard, an able and brilliant speaker, the superior of Mr. Morton as an orator, but his inferior as a logician and debater. These two distin- guished men canvassed the state together, and drew immense crowds. The speeches of Wil- lard were florid, eloquent and spirit-stirring, while Mr. Morton's style was carnest, convinc- ing and forcible. He never appealed to men's passions, but always to their intellect and rea- son, and whether in attack or defense, proved himself a ready, powerful debater. Although beaten at the polls, he came out of the contest with his popularity increased, and with the reputation of being one of the ablest public men in the state. In 1860 he was nominated for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Hon. Henry S. Lane, with the understanding that if successful he should go to the senate, and Mr. Morton become governor, He made a vigor- ous canvass, and the result of the election was a republican success, which placed Mr. Lane in the senate and Mr. Morton in the guberna- torial chair. From the day of his inauguration Mr. Morton gave evidence of possessing extra- ordinary executive ability. It was while filling this term as governor that he did his best pub- lic work and created for himself a fame as lasting as that of his state. A great civil war was breaking out when he became governor, and few so well comprehended what would be its magnitude as he. He was one of the first to forsee the coming storm of battle and most active in his preparations to meet it. Perceiv- ing the danger of a dilatory policy, he visited

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Washington soon after the inauguration of President Lincoln, to advise vigorous action and to give assurance of Indiana's support to such a policy. He commenced preparing for the forthcoming conflict, and when Sumter was fired on, April 12, 1861, he was neither surprised nor appalled. Three days after the attack, President Lincoln called for 75,000 men to put down the rebellion, and the same day Gov. Morton sent him the following telegram :

" INDIANAPOLIS, April 15, 1861.

"TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States: On behalf of the state of Indiana, I tender you, for the defense of the nation, and to uphold the authority of the government, 10,000 men.

" OLIVER P. MORTON, " Governor of Indiana."

In seven days from the date of this offer over three times the number of men required to fill Indiana's quota of the president's call offered their services to the country. Never in the world's history did the people of a state respond more cheerfully and more enthusias- tically to the call of duty, than did the people of Indiana in 1861. This record of the state, which Mr. Morton was instrumental in plan- ning, reflects imperishable honor on his name, and from that time forth he was known through- out the nation as the "Great War Governor." During the entire period of the war he per- formed an incredible amount of labor, coun- seling the president, encouraging the people, organizing regiments, hurrying troops to the field, forwarding stores, and inspiring all with the enthusiasm of his own earnestness. His labors for the relief of the soldiers and their dependent and needy families were held up as matters of emulation by the governors of other states, and the result of his efforts seconded by the people was that during the war over $600,000 of moneys and supplies were col- lected and conveyed to Indiana soldiers in camp, field, hospital and prison. The limits

of a sketch like this forbid a detailed account of Gov. Morton's public acts. He displayed extraordinary industry and ability, and in his efforts in behalf of the soldier justly earned the title of "The Soldiers' Friend." The legislature of 1862 was not in accord with the political views of Gov. Morton, and it refused to receive his message, and in other ways treated him with want of consideration and respect. It was on the point of taking . from him the command of the militia, when the republican members withdrew, leaving both houses without a quorum. In order to carry on the state government and pay the state bonds he obtained advances from banks and and county boards, and appointed a bureau of finance, which for two years made all dis- bursements of the state, amounting to more than $1,000,000. During this period he refused to summon the legislature, and the supreme court condemned his arbitrary course, but the people subsequently applauded his action. By assuming great responsibilities he kept the ma- chinery of the state in motion and preserved the financial credit of the commonwealth by securing advances through an eastern banking house to pay the interest on the public debt. In 1864 he was again nominated for governor against Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, whom he defeated by an overwhelming majority. These two distinguished men made a joint canvass of the state, and passed through it with the utmost good feeling.

In 1865 Gov. Morton received a partial paralytic stroke, affecting the lower part of the body, so that he never walked afterward without the use of canes. His mind, how- ever, was in no wise affected by the shock, but continued to grow stronger while he lived. In January, 1867, he was elected to the United States senate, and immediately thereafter re- signed the governorship to Conrad Baker, who served the remainder of the gubernatorial

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term. In 1873 he was re-elected to the senate and continued a leading member of that body while he lived. In the senate he ranked among the ablest members, was chairman of the committee on privileges and elections, was the acknowledged leader of the republi- cans, and for several years exercised a deter- mining influence over the course of the party. He labored zealously to secure the passage of the fifteenth amendment, was active in the impeachment proceedings against Andrew Johnson, and was the trusted adviser of the republicans of the south. In the national republican convention of 1876 he received next to the highest number of ballots for the presidential nomination, and in 1877 was a member of the celebrated electoral commis- sion. In 1870 President Grant offered Sen- ator Morton the English mission, which was declined. After visiting Oregon in the spring of 1877, as chairman of a committee to inves- tigate the election of Senator Grover, of that state, he suffered another stroke of paralysis, which terminated in his death, November Ist, of the same year. The death of no man, with the exception of President Lincoln, ever cre- ated so much grief in Indiana as did that of Senator Morton, and he was mourned almost as much throughout the entire nation. On the 17th of the next January, Mr. McDonald offered in the senate a series of resolutions in relation to Senator Morton's death, which were unanimously adopted. In speaking on these resolutions, Mr. McDonald said: "Naturally combative and aggressive, intensely in earnest in his undertakings, and intolerant in regard to those who differed with him, it is not strange that while he held together his friends and followers with hooks of steel, he caused many, whose patriotism and love of country were as sincere and unquestioned as his own, to place themseles in political hostility to him. That Oliver P. Morton was a great man is

conceded by all. In regard to his qualities as a statesman, men do differ now and always will. But that he was a great partisan leader -the greatest of his day and generation-will hardly be questioned, and his place in that particular field will not, perhaps, be soon sup- plied." Senator Burnside said: "Morton was a great man. His judgment was good, his power of research was great, his integrity was high, his patriotism was lofty, his love of family and friends unlimited; his courage indomitable." The following is from Senator Edmonds: "He was a man of strong passions and great talents, and as a consequence a devoted partisan. In the field in which his patriotism was exerted it may be said of him, as it was of the Knights of St. John, in the holy wars, 'In the fore front of every battle was seen his burnished mail and in the gloomy rear of every retreat was heard his voice of constancy and courage.'" The closing speech upon the adoption of the resolutions was made by his successor, D. W. Voorhees, who used the following: "Senator Morton was without doubt a very remarkable man. His force of character cannot be over estimated His will power was simply tremendous. He threw himself into all his undertakings with that fixedness of purpose and disregard of obstacles which are always the best guarantees of success. This was true of him whether en- gaged in a lawsuit, organizing troops during the war, conducting a political campaign, or a debate in the senate. The same daring, aggressive policy characterized his conduct everywhere."

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 10

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474