USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 12
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
less lose my school. I now here promise myself, on this leaf of my day-book, that I will not drink liquor again, except given as a medical prescription."
It is possible that the foregoing incident was the orgin of the double entendre, "Too full for utterance."
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inclined to the support of the Democratic party, though only in recent tines has its fealty be- come reliable. The vot- ing population crystalized on party lines quite carly in the " forties." Before that time per- sonal qualities and a man's stand- ing in the community were of more importance than his politics. While the majority of the voters were Democrats, a Whig was oc- casionally elected without occa- sioning surprise.
The first clerk of the circuit court, Arthur Medaughey, was a Whig. He held the office twenty-one years; but since his day there has been an unbroken line of Demo- cratic clerks. William Lee, recorder from 1850 to 1855, was a Whig. In the sheriff's office, Edward R. Kercheval, Archibald John- son, Anderson Johnson, Joseph Siddens and Joseph Collier were Whigs, and John R.
UTNAM COUNTY was : Mahan was a Republican. Samuel Wood- from its organization ruff, an early auditor, was a Republican. The " Whig treasurers were Jolm Gillmore, Isom S. Wright, Samuel Woodruff and Edward R. Kercheval; and Samuel E. Parks, Joseph B. Sellers and Henry IL. Hillis were elected to that office on Republican tickets. These have been the principal exceptions to the rule of Democratic ascendeney in the county offices. In 1850 there was a moderate, but not reliable, Democratic majority, and the Whig's were yearly gaining.
By the new Constitution, which took effect in 1852, general elections were directed to be held in 'October of the even numbered years, thereafter, instead of in August of every year. This was a presidential year. Franklin Pierce was nominated by the De- mocracy, and the Whigs, appearing for the last time as a national party, championed Winfield Scott. Pierce was elected by a very large majority. Never was a candidate so overwhelmingly beaten who had entered the race with fair prospects of succeeding as Gen- eral Scott. In Clinton County this was the result of the election: Scott, 1,712; Pierce,
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1,466; Ilale (Free Soil), 22; Whig plurality, 246. At the October election preceding, a full State and county ticket was before the voters, and nearly 3.000 votes were polled, the Whig majority for Governor being 31, while the candidates for the county offices re- ceived all sorts of votes, ranging from nearly even to no opposition at all. In 1854 there was no Whig organization to speak of, and the Democratic majority in Putnam County was nearly 400.
The causes of the defeat of the Whigs in 1852 are well known. The anti-slavery people were suspicious of the party leaders, and finally were completely alienated; and the ; Bell (Union) Through the disagreement of party of Clay and Webster, falling into the Northern and Southern wings of the weaker hands after the death of those states- Democracy Lincoln was elected, though he men, was not only defeated, but killed for all time. In 1854 and 1855 the Republican party arose on its rains and absorbed the in favor of the Northern views of the pre- strength of the Whigs, the Free-Soilers, and after a few years many Northern Democrats. In the first national campaign the Republi- can party put forward as its first standard bearer General John C. Fremont, the popn- ; 1,347 for Douglas; 361 for Breckinridge, and lar Western hero, who was, however, defeated 123 for Bell; making the Republican plural- ity 141. At the October election the Repub- by the veteran statesman and politician,
James Buchanan, nominated by the Demo- lican majority for Governor was 49, and the
eratie convention. A large vote was polled in this connty-3,650; of which Buchanan received 1.882: Fremont, 1,345, and Fill- more, 423; Buchanan's plurality, 537. Mil- lard Fillmore was the candidate of the American, or " Know Nothing" party, an organization whose tenets included that of opposition to the giving of suffrage and franchise to recently arrived foreigners, and also hostility to the Roman Catholic church.
The Democratie plurality of 537 was the largest, up to this time, given any ticket in Putnam County. The party had not done nearly so well at the October election, when
Ashbel P. Willard's majority for Governor was in this county but 171, and the Repub- lican candidates for some of the district and county offices were successful.
The clection of 1858 was a very close one. The Democratic majority on State ticket was but 17, and the Republicans elected most of the county officers by small majorities.
In the memorable campaign of 1860, just before our civil war, the voters of the United States were called upon to choose between Abraham Lincoln (Republican), Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) and John
received but two-fifths of the total vote. The sentiment in Putnam County was strongly mailing political issues, and as a natural re- sult Lincoln carried the county. Most of the Democrats voted for Douglas. Of the 4,119 votes cast, 1.585 were for Lincoln; result for county officers was a partial victory for both sides.
The year 1562 was one of Democratic suc- cess in this county by about 300 majority, all the way down the ticket.
The next presidential election fell in the last year of the war. The Democracy placed in the field George B. Mcclellan, in opposi- tion to Lincoln, who was renominated. The sentiment of the North being emphatically with the administration, Lincoln was re- elected. In this county he received 1,968, to 2,156 for MeClellan; Democratic majority, 188. The October election was very close, the majorities ranging from 22 (Joseph E.
POLITICAL.
McDonald for Governor over Oliver P. Mor- , ballots for Charles O'Conor, the " straight ton) to 63 (for Representative).
Democratic majority for Secretary of State was 4, and for Congressman 2, in a total vote of 4,772. The Republicans elected Joseph B. Sellers, sheriff.
The reconstruction era brought another , Putnam County were probably 500 more than presidential contest in 1865. The Republi- [ usual. Greeley received 2,438 votes: Grant, cans nominated their war hero, Ulysses S. : 2,031; and ('Conor. 80; Greeley's plurality, 407. At the October election Governor Hendricks' majority over Thomas M. Brown was 508, and the figures on the county ticket were considerably higher. Grant, while the Democrats selected as their standard bearer the eminent New York Gov- ernor, Horatio Seymour. The result was a Republican vietory. This county went for Seymour by 348 majority. as follows: Sey- No special interest attached to the election of 1874. The Democratic majority on State not materially different at the October elee- ticket was 600, and less on county ticket, ranging from 96 for coroner to 755 for mour, 2,493; Grant, 2,115. The figures were tion. Since 1566 the Democratie ticket has been uniformly successful, and for twenty . sheriff. years there have been but slight variations in the total vote, or the majority of the domi- nant party.
In 1870 the Democratic majority reached high water mark, being 718 on State tieket. It was 932 for clerk, and 640 for sheriff, but only 115 for treasurer (Randel over Gilmore), and 164 for auditor (Mulholn over Colliver). The Republicans had made no nominations for Representative, recorder, coroner and surveyor.
Dissatisfied with Grant's administration, a number of Republicans calling themselves Liberals met in convention in 1572, and nom- inated the distinguished editor and philan- thropist, Horace Greeley, Grant having been renominated by the Republican convention. Disheartened, or rather hoping to achieve success by fostering a division in their rival party, the Democratic leaders, in convention assembled, indorsed Greeley. This was very unsatisfactory to a large percentage of the Democratie voters, who accordingly refused to vote on election day. A few cast their
ont" Democratie candidate, but they were
More even yet was the vote in 1866. The not sufficiently numerous to influence the result. Grant received an overwhelming majority, not so much by his own popularity, as from the half-heartedness of the Democrats in supporting Greeley. The stay-at-homes in
The Centennial year brought with it a political race, unequaled in history for close- ness and doubtful results. The choice was " between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican), Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat), and Peter Cooper, the candidate of a new political ele- ment styling itself the Greenback. or National party. This was never very strong in Put- nam County, its heaviest vote being in that year. That Hayes was declared elected was in no degree due to Putnam County, whose vote was: Tilden. 2,761: Hayes, 2,212; Peter Cooper, 151; Tilden's plurality, 519. The total vote of the county was now over 5,000. At the October election there was more than ordinary interest, and as full a vote was polled as in November, the result being slightly more favorable to the Democracy. James D. Williams (" Blue Jeans ") received 540 more votes in the county for Governor than Benjamin Harrison. The majorities on the county ticket were all higher, except for treasurer, in which case it was 26 6.
The year 1878 saw smaller majorities than
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
have been returned in the last twenty years in Putnam County. Shanklin's plurality for Secretary of State was 238; De La Matyr's or Congressman was 458, he having the freenback vote, as well as the Democratic. The figures on the county ticket were: Rep- resentative. 237; clerk, 14; sheriff, 214; treasurer, 26; auditor, 173; recorder, 257; coroner, 220; surveyor, 190.
General James A. Garfield, of Ohio, and Winfield S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania, repre- sented the two great parties in the presiden- tial campaign of 1880. The National party put forward General James B. Weaver, of lowa, and the Prohibitionists nominated Neal Dow, of Maine. Once more, but for the last time in a continuous line, the Republicans triumphed, and Garfield was inaugurated to enjoy for a few months the highest office in the land, before his vigorous life was cut short by the assassin's bullet. The vote in Putnam County was: Hancock, 2,850; Garfield, 2,539; James B. Weaver, 110; plurality for Hancock, 311. The majorities at the October election were all somewhat higher, except for treasurer, in which case the Republican candidate lacked bnt 211 votes.
No marked change in the political sitna- tion was discernible in 1882. The Democrats had no trouble in carrying Putnam County by majorities varying between 441 for Secre- tary of State and 750 for Congressman.
The warmly-contested campaign of 1884, with its disagreeable episodes and its many candidates, is fresh in the minds of all. First nominated was General Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, by the National party, and afterward by the Anti-monopoly and Labor conventions. The Republican convention at Chicago, in the month of June, nominated James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and John A. Logan, of Illinois, for Vice- President. In the same city, a month later,
the Democratic convention selected as its nominee for President, Grover Cleveland, of New York, and for Vice-President, Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. The Prohibition- ists put forward John P. St. John, of Kan- sas, and played a very important part in the campaign, to the delight of the Democrats, and the chagrin of the Republicans. In the State of New York they drew to St. John twenty times the number of votes by which Blaine was defeated in that the pivotal State. The campaign was warmly fought in Clinton County, and when the smoke cleared away it was found that the Democrats had carried everything but county treasurer, but by re- duced figures. The vote for President was: Cleveland, 2,951; Blaine, 2,574; Butler, 60; St. John, 8; Cleveland's plurality, 377. Gray, for Governor, received 323 more votes than Calkins. The majorities on the county ticket were all smaller, though substantial.
In 1886 the Democratie State ticket again led the county ticket, the majorities on the former being nearly 450, and on the latter averaging about 300.
The political leanings of the several town- ships are as follows:
Jackson is always strongly Democratic.
Franklin is generally with the dominant party.
Russell was a strong Whig township, and is now faithful to the Republican party.
Clinton is moderately Democratic.
Monroe is variable.
Floyd is a very close township. It has been at one time a tie, and at another was carried by a majority of one.
Marion is Democratic.
Greencastle has always been reliably Re- publican, since that party inherited the ma- jorities once given to the Whigs.
Madison is generally Democratic.
Washington is considered a Democratic
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township, but is sometimes uncomfortably close.
Warren has been a Democratic township, but by diminishing majorities, and it is now debatable ground.
Jefferson has usually gone Republican, but is of late one of the close townships.
Mill Creek is Democratic.
Cloverdale is usually Democratic.
Putnam County is now in the Fifth Con- gressional District, with Hendricks, Owen, Morgan, Johnson, Monroe, Brown and Bar- tholomew counties. This county elects a Senator with Montgomery and Clay counties (having been for a number of years previous to 1885 joined with Hendricks), and a Repre- sentative with Clay County, besides having one Representative of its own.
OFFICIAL REGISTER.
Below are given lists of the incumbents of the several county offices, with dates of con- missions. In most cases the time of service of each one extends to the date given for the commission of the next.
The first justices of the peace were four in number --- Arthur Mehorney, William Hamil- ton, John Hubbard and David Zwank, who were commissioned May 17, 1824. The fol- lowing are all the additional justices com- missioned before 1830: Thomas Heddy, September 8, 1824; James Wright, Febru- ary 15, 1825: George Mcintosh, January 9, 1826; Benjamin Wright, March 1, 1826; William Elrod, June 19, 1826; Alexander Galbreath, December 28, 1826; David Lind- ley, February 12, 1527; John Denny, Febru- ary 12, 1827; Eli Brackney, May 5, 1827; Joshua Gullett, June 27, 1827; John Reel, October 11, 1327; David Barns, December 9, 1828.
CLERKS OF CIRCUIT COURT.
10, 1822, April 10, 1829, and April 10, 1836 (the terms were then seven years in length); William S. Townsend, April 10, 1843; Jacob McGinnis, August 28, 1850, and August 1, 1855; Martin McKee, Novem- ber 1, 1859, and Angust 1, 1863; Henry C. Priest. November 1, 1867 (died in office); Milford B. Rudisill, October 27, 1870; Moses D. Bridges, November 4, 1874, and Novem- ber 4, 1878; John W. Lee, November 21, 1892, and November 21, 1886 (present in- cumbent).
RECORDERS.
Arthur McGaughey, April 10, 1822, April 10, 1829, and April 10, 1836; David Rudi- sill, April 10, 1843; William Lee, April 10, 1850; William H. Shields, November 1, 1855: Clinton Walls, November 1, 1859, and November 1, 1868; John Crane, Jr .. Novem- ber 1, 1867, and November 1, 1871; George Owen, November 1, 1875; Daniel Mahoncy, November 1, 1879, and November 1, 1883 (present incumbent).
SHERIFFS.
William W. McIntosh, September 8, 1822, and September 8, 1824; Daniel Sigler, Au- gust 19, 1826. and August 24. 1828; William W. MeIntosh, August 9, 1830 (removed from the county); George Seerest. March 25, 1832; James Mosler, August 21, 1832; Fielding Priest, Angust 9, 1834; David Radisill, Angust 14, 1836, and August 28, 1885; Edward R. Kercheval, Angust 7, 1840, and August 1, 1842; Archibald Johnston, August 21, 1844, and August 17, 1846; Joseph Collier, August 22, 1545, and August 28, 1850; Joseph Siddens, November 2, 1852; Anderson Johnson, November 11, 1854; William L. Farrow, November 15, 1-56; John R. Mahan, November 15, 1858; William S. Collin, November 15, 1860; John
Arthur McGaughey, commissioned April | McKee, November 15, 1862; Green Burrow,
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November 15, 1864; John S. Applegate, November 17, 1866; Levi Woodrum, ap- pointed to fill vacancy during part of 1865, caused by death of Applegate; George W. Sherrill, October 29, 1868, and October 29. 1870; James Stone, October 29, 1872. and October 29, 1874; Moses T. Lewinan, Octo- ber 29, 1876, and October 29, 1878; James Brandon, October 29, 1880, and October 29. 1882; Leander L. Louis, November 21, 1884, and November 21, 1856 (present incumbent).
AUDITORS.
Samuel Woodruff, November 1, 1855, and November 1, 1859; Elijah Keightley, No- vember 1, 1863; II. W. Daniels, appointed in November, 1866, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Keightley; William S. Mul- holn, November 1, 1867, and November 1, 1871; Harrison M. Randel, November 1, 1875; James M. Edwards, November 1, 1
1879; MeCamey Hartley, November 1, 1883, and November 1, 1887 (present incumbent).
TREASURERS.
James Talbott, Jr., appears as first treas- urer and collector, the duties of that office seeming, partly, to have been discharged by the sheriff for many years in the early history of the county. Samuel Woodruff succeeded Talbott. The treasurers since have been: Edward R. Kercheval, September 7, 1853; Isom S. Wright, September 7, 1855; John Gillmore, September 7, 1857, and September 7, 1859; Samuel E. Parks, September 7, 1861; James G. Edwards, September 7, 1863; William E. D. Barnett, September 7, 1865; Joseph B. Sellers, September 7, 1867; John Gillmore, September 7, 1869; Harrison M. Randel, September 7, 1871, and Septem- ber 7, 1873; Richard S. Farrow, September, 7, 1875, and September 7, 1877; Henry H. Ilillis, September 7, 1879; William R.
Grogan, September 7, 1881, and September 7, 1583; Ephraim Tucker, September 7, 1885, and September 7, 1887 (present incum- bent).
SURVEYORS.
Patterson, first surveyor; Jolm Baird, January 3, 1824; Robert Glidewell, Septem- ber 6. 1828; William HI. Shields, June 26, 1881; Samuel II. Catherwood, 1541-'43; William II. Shields, 1843-'51; John Me- Claskey, November 11, 1854; Lewis IL. Radisill, November 15, 1856; Jolm MeClas- key, November 15, 1858; Lewis II. Rudisill, November 15, 1860; Ilarrison M. Randel, November 15, 1862, November 15, 1864, November 15, 1866, and November 15, 1868; Philip Radisill, October 27. 1870; Joseph Frakes, October 29, 1872; William IL. Iledges. November 1, 1574; George Hen- dricks, November, 1876, and November 4, 1878; Ransom HI. Walls, November 4, 1880, November 4, 1882, and November 21, 1884; James F. O'Brien. November 21, 1886 (present incumbent).
CORONERS.
Ephraim Dukes, August 22. 1825; James Duffield, August 24, 1828; Greenberry Mul- linix, August 9, 1830. August 21, 1832, August 9, 1834, August 14, 1836, and August 18, 1838; William Ilogne, Angust 7, 1840; John Robinson, August 19, 1841; Green- berry Mullinix, August 1, 1842; Thomas Gibbs, August 21, 1844; John W. Nance, August 17, 1846, and August 22, 1848; Almon V. Hough, August 28, 1850, and November 2, 1852; James C. Lynch, Noven- ber 11, 1854; Andrew J. Smedley, November 1, 1855, and November 2, 1857; Almon V. Hough, November 15, 1858; George Rickett, November 15, 1859; Jonathan F. Duckworth, November 15, 1861; George A. Ricketts, November 15, 1862; Levi Woodrum, Novem-
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ber 17. 1866; Daniel D. Ricketts, November 17, 1868; John Lynch, November 17, 1870; Jolın E. Frank, November 17, 1874, and November 17, 1876; Columbus F. Frazier, November 17, 1878; Dudley Rogers, No- vember 17, 1880; Renben Pulse, November 21, 1882, and November 21, 1884; Ebenezer W. Smythe, November 21, 1886 (present in- enmbent).
PROBATE JUDGES.
Joseph F. Farley. August 20, 1829; John Cowgill, December 27, 1830; George F. Waterman. August 19, 1831. and September 20, 1838 (resigned); Reese Hardesty, August 26, 1842, and August 1S. 1843 (died);
William Lee, November 10, 1843, and August 21, 1844 (resigned); Robert Glide- well, September 7, 1846, and August 19, 1847. Office abolished by Constitution of 1852.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
John Sigler, September 8. 1824; William Elrod, April 10, 1829; David .Deweese, April 10, 1829; William Elrod, April 10, 1836; James Rankin, April 10, 1836; Moses T. Bridges, April 10, 1843; George Pearcy, April 10, 1843; Robert N. Allen, August 22, 1848, and April 10, 1850: William G. Duck- worth, April 10, 1850. Office abolished by Constitution of 1802.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
THE CIVIL WAR.
In the North the hope had been tenaciously elung to that the peace of the country was not to be disturbed. This dream was rudely broken by the siege of Fort Sumter. The North awakened suddenly to the awful eer- tainty that civil war was begun. There was a deep feeling of indignation at the traitors who were willing to ruin the country that slavery might be secure. There was a full apprecia- tion of the danger, and an instant universal determination that, at whatever cost, the na- tional life must be preserved. Personal sac- rifice was unconsidered; individual interests were merged in the general good. Political difference, ordinarily so bitter, was for the time ahnost effaced. Nothing was of inter-
ABOUT daybreak on the | est but the question how this auds- 12th of April, 1861, the cions rebellion was to be suppressed and the American nation upheld in the great place which it claimed among men. stillness of Charleston Bay was disturbed by the firing of a large mortar and the shriek of a shell as it rushed through the air. The shell burst over Fort Sumter, and the war of the great Rebellion was begun.
Two days after the fall of Fort Sumter, Mr. Lincoln intimated by proclamation the dishonor done to the laws of the United States, and called out the militia to the extent of 75.000 men. The free States responded enthusiastically to the call. So prompt was their action that on the very next day several companies arrived in Washington. Flushed by their easily won victory, the Southrons talked boastfully of seizing the capital. In a very short time there were 50,000 loyal men ready to prevent that, and the safety of Washington was secured.
The North pushed forward with boundless energy her warlike preparations. Rich men offered money with so much liberality that in a few days nearly 825,000,000 had been contributed. The school teachers of Boston dedicated fixed proportions of their incomes to support the Government while the war should last. All over the country the ex- cited people gathered themselves into crowd- ed meetings and breathed forth in fervid
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resolutions their determinations to spend for- tune and life in defense of the Union. Vol- unteer companies were rapidly formed. In the cities ladies began to organize themselves for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. It had been fabled that the North would not fight. With a fiery promptitude unknown before in modern history, the people sprang to arms.
Putnam County had at this time abont 20,000 inhabitants. With a population mainly devoted to agriculture, who knew nothing of war except by history or tradition, it could hardly be expected that a warlike spirit would soon disturb the peaceful popu- lation. But we know little of the fire that slumbers in quiet breasts until occasion calls it forth. Immediately after the news was flashed through this country that civil war was begun, publie excitement ran so high that it could no longer contine itself to pro- miscuons expression about the street corners, and people held informal and formal meet- ings in the city halls and country school- houses everywhere.
FIRST COMPANY FROM PUTNAM.
The first call of President Lincoln met with a ready response in Putnam County, and the citizens were even filled with re- gret that but one company could be accepted. But many other counties, equally patriotic, were so remote from the capital and lines of railroad that they were less fortunate than Putnam County, which was represented by nearly a hundred men in the three-months' regiments. One entire company went to In- dianapolis and became Company HI, Tenth Regiment. William Conklin was Captain of this company; E. R. Bladen, First Lienten- ant, and David N. Steel, Second Lieutenant. These men served the entire three months in those positions.
HISTORY OF THREE MONTHS' SERVICE.
The Tenth Regiment was organized and mustered into service for three months, at Indianapolis, April 25, 1861, with Joseph J. Reynolds, formerly of the regular army, as Colonel. This officer being commissioned a Brigadier-General of Volunteers on the 10th of May following, Major Mahlon D. Manson was promoted Colonel.
On the 19th of June the Tenth, accom- panied by the Eighth Regiment, left Indian- apolis for Parkersburg, West Virginia, by way of Cincinnati and Marietta. From Par- kersburg the Tenth marched to Clarksburg, and from thence to Buckhannon. After a few days' rest it took up its line of march as part of General Rosecrans' command, toward Rich Mountain, camping at its foot on the night of the 10th of July. Early the next morning the regiment marched by a narrow bridle-path a distance of nearly nine miles, when they were brought to a halt by the enemy's pickets, who fired and ran. The Tenth then took a position behind a hill until ordered to charge the enemy's works, which was done in gallant style, resulting in the rout of the enemy and the loss of his guns. After this the enemy were driven from their chosen position upon the mount- ain by the combined Union forces. After the battle the Tenth camped on the ground, and the next day marched for Beverly, where it remained in camp until the 24th of July. when it was ordered to Indiana. Reaching Indianapolis on the 25th of July. it was, in a few days afterward, mustered out of ser- vice.
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