USA > Indiana > Brief biographies of the members of the Indiana State Government : executive, judicial, and legislative, 1874-5 > Part 8
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
LEWIS C. LAW,
JOINT REPRESENTATIVE FROM SCOTT, JENNINGS AND JEFFERSON,
Was born in Graham township, Jefferson county, Indiana, February 14, 1838. His parents were native born. He spent all but the last four years of his life in his native county. Until he was of age he worked on his father's farm in summer and attended the district school in winter;
120
LEGISLATIVE.
and as his father's family was not of the office holding kind, little did he dream, as the country pedagogue applied the limp twig to train the youthful spine, that he would ever represent three such counties as Jefferson, Jennings and Scott in the halls of State at the city of concentric circles. But such is the history of current events, and so let it be recorded. Mr. Law has been a Democrat at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, and he is not ashamed of it. He has to take his mail at Graham post- office of a Grant Postmaster, however, which humiliation he hopes to do away with after 1876.
DAVID ROHRER LEEPER.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM ST. JOSEPH,
Was born in St. Joseph county January 12, 1832. His father, Samuel, is of English descent, and was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His mother, now deceased, was of German extraction, and was born in Montgomery county, Ohio. The father, an energetic, suc- cessful farmer, now lives in the enterprising city of South Bend, where the subject of this sketch also resides, and near which place he owns and carries on a farm. When seventeen years old, Mr. Leeper got the California fever, and among the earliest pioneers crossed the plains, with an ox team, to the Pacific Slope, where, engaged in mining and lumbering, he remained until 1854, when he returned via of the Isthmus, to his native home. He then attended school two years, in his county, at the Mishawaka Institute, (taught by Prof. Bellows, now of Ann Arbor University),
121
LEGISLATIVE.
where, with his former schooling, he acquired a tolerably fair English education. Montana Territory found him a citizen of her borders from 1864 to 1868. He was here engaged with twenty-five to thirty heavy teams, in freight- ing and in logging in the lumber woods.
Originally a Whig and Republican, Mr. Leeper now battles under the Liberal banner. His parents have never sat in official chairs, and the present Representative now, for the first time, sits in Legislative halls. Two years ago he was nominated by the Liberals and Democrats for Representative, but declined on account of his business relations. Again, last fall, he was nominated and elected by the same political elements. being the first Representa- tive ever elected in the county in opposition to the Whig or Republican party. The Democrats, having no candi- date of their own, generally supported Mr. Leeper, his opponent being the regular Republican nominee. The gentleman from St. Joseph is afflicted somewhat with a weakness for the quill, and. for the past fifteen or twenty years, has occasionally contributed to the local newspapers political articles, editorials, and letters of travel written while on his frequent pleasure rambles in various parts of the country.
JOHN CRAWFORD LINCOLN,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM WARREN,
Was born in Preble county, Ohio, November 20, 1819. His parents were English. When John Crawford was but ten years of age, his parents removed to this State. That was before Indiana had attained the celebrity of having the
122
LEGISLATIVE.
best common school system and the largest school fund of any State in the Union, and in fact long before she enjoyed that proud distinction by right. Therefore the subject of this sketch was able to acquire but a limited education. Since his sparse school days, he has been a farmer in War- ren county. By favor of the Republicans, to which party he belonged until recently, he has held the office of Truste? of township and county most of the time since 1863, though but one at a time, of course. He is now an Inde- pendent, and was elected to the Legislature on that ticket West Lebanon is where he lives.
JOHN S. MARTIN,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM FRANKLIN,
Was born in Brookville, November 24, 1835. His parents were of the old pioneers of Franklin county, having removed there early in life, from the Carolinas. With such surroundings, the son had but poor opportunities for securing even the semblance of a common school educa- tion. But he became an active student in the great school of practical life, a training that the collegiates of the pres- ent day lack. When his few school days, so far as books were concerned, had concluded, he did not, Macawber-like, and like the young men of this degenerate day, wait for something to turn up, but proceeded at once to turn some- thing up. He engaged in farming and turned up the soil of his native county, and he has been engaged in that pur- suit, with the purpose of making an honest living by the sweat of his brow, for seven years. He lives now where
123
LEGISLATIVE.
he has lived since his birth. His constituents, recognizing his honesty and integrity in private life, concluded last fall to call him into public prominence; so they elected him to the Legislature. He is and was always a Demo- crat.
AUGUSTUS NEWTON MARTIN,
JOINT REPRESENTATIVE FROM ADAMS AND WELLS,
Was born at Whitestown, Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1847. His parents were of American birth and Irish descent. His father was Auditor of Butler county, Pennsylvania, three years. Mr. Martin was educated at Witherspoon Institute, in his native county, and at Eastman's Commercial College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In the earlier part of the war he enlisted in the 58th Regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, and participated in the cheerful chase after John Morgan through the border States, and assisted in his capture in Ohio. He was then but 16 years of age. Soon afterwards, he entered the 78th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served therein until discharged for disability from disease, in August, 1865. In 1869 he came to Indiana and located at Bluffton, where he begun the practice of the law in 1870, and he now has a large practice and a large acquaintance throughout the section of the State where he lives. Con- sidering the vicissitudes in life with which Mr. Martin has had to contend, he is far advanced on the high road to prosperity. He was born a Democrat and never knew a change in political faith.
124
LEGISLATIVE.
HENRY M. MARVIN,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM BOONE,
Was born in Putnam county, New York, November 6, 1821. His father was of English extraction, and his mother of German descent. He was educated in the com- mon schools of New York, and at Vermilyea Academy, in Carmels. New York State. At the age of nineteen, he was released from the paternal apron strings, and slid out for New York city, to see the sights of that mighty metropo- lis. In two years he saw all the sights he cared to see there, and after a close communion with the columns of the Tribune, he concluded to come West. And it came to pass that in 1843 he was at the opening of the White Water Valley Canal, at Connersville. There he heard the first speeches, to which he listened in this State. The first was from Governor Biggler, a Whig, and he was fol- lowed by Governor Whitcomb, a Democrat, who was elected in 1843, the same year the Democrats first came into power in Indiana. Their motto then was retrench- ment and reform, and Mr. Marvin says that is the watch- word now, and if the party does not live up to it, it will have its reward. He claims that he was educated an old- fashioned Whig, but is a square-toed Democrat now. He represented Boone in the Legislature from 1850 to 1856. and has held many county offices, in which county he has lived since 1843. His address is Northfield.
125
LEGISLATIVE.
JESSIE MARVIN,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOUNTAIN,
Is a native of Mason county, Kentucky, where he was born May 17, 1807. His parents were of American birth and English extraction. They died when the son was not yet able to take care of himself on account of his extreme youth. For years afterwards he was buffeted about by the hard hand of fortune. All the education he was able to acquire was of that practical character that comes alone through the experience of the self-made man of the times. Mr. Marvin was always blessed with good health and amply able to care for his physical necessities. By dint of perseverence in labor and economy he has accumu- lated considerable property. Knowing how hard it is to earn money, he is not inclined to expend it lavishly. He is a firm believer in the principles that public business should be transacted on the bases of private business as to expenditures. His vote will be recorded accordingly upon all appropriations. While Mr. Marvin may not make many speeches during the session, he can be relicd upon for some substantial voting. Attica is his postoffice address, and he is a Democrat.
JOHN L. MEGINITY,
JOINT REPRESENTATIVE FROM ORANGE AND CRAWFORD,
Was born in Henry county, Kentucky, July 31, 1833. His father was of Irish and his mother of French descent. Having received a good common school education, he taught school in the counties of Henry, Oldham, and
126
LEGISLATIVE.
Trimble, in the State of Kentucky. In the meantime he read law. In 1861 he removed to Orange county, this State, and had been in the State but two or three years when he was elected surveyor of his adopted county. In 1864 he was elected to the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court, and in 1868 was appointed to fill a vacancy. In one way and another he continued to hold that office until October, 1874.
Since his removal to this State, when not engaged in the discharge of the duties of office, he has practiced the profession of law. He has been a Democrat all his life and he is so still. Paoli is his postoffice address.
-
JOHN R. MILLER,
JOINT REPRESENTATIVE FROM PARKE AND MONTGOMERY, Is a native of the first-named county. He was born in Raccoon township, February 10, 1825. He traces his lineage back to Germany and Ireland, though his parents were American born. They were among the earliest pio- ncers, of Parke county, and the Miller family is known all through Western Indiana and Eastern Illinois, and uni- versally respected. The elder Miller was a resident of Parke county for more than a half century, and did not die until some three years since. In his life time he was Justice of the Peace fifteen years, County Commissioner eight years, Township Trustee several years, and always a Democrat. General Jackson was his patron saint, politi- cally, and when Old Hickory died there was not one left to take his place. Mrs. Miller, the mother of John R., is
127
LEGISLATIVE.
still living on the old homestead and she has lived in Parke county longer than any other person now living in it. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native county and at Asbury University. He has always been a farmer, and now lives on the oldest settled farin in Parke county. The first and second houses ever built in Parke county were built on that same farm, the first in the spring and the second in the fall of 1816. Mr. Miller, was elected Treasurer of his native county in 1855, and so satisfactorily did he serve he was re-elected for the second term. In politics he, like his father, always was a Democrat. He avows himself now as not being in favor of return- ing to specie payments while such an enormous indebt- edness is hanging over the American people, especially since that indebtedness was incurred under a great greenback inflation. But he is in favor of a paper money issued directly to the people by the government, based on the faith and resources of the nation, to be made a full legal tender in the payment of all debts within the United States, both public and private (except such as were, by the laws or contracts originally creating them, made pay- able otherwise) ; the volume of such currency to be made adjustable to the business wants of the country. He inclines to the opinion that to make it interchangeable with government bonds, at an cquitable rate of interest, at the option of the holder, will determine the needed volume. As will be observed, Mr. Miller has a Plan, to which the writer would invoke the attention of Jefferson and Jack- son, if they can materialize. The address of the gentle- man from Parke and Montgomery is Bridgeton, Parke county.
128
LEGISLATIVE.
WILLIAM H. MILLER,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM VANDERBURGH,
Was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, of American ancestors, November 20, 1824. William only received a common school education, and so he concluded that he had best learn a trade, and selecting that of machinist, he applied himself closely and soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the business. During the war he served in the 24th Ohio Infantry, and was wounded three times, first at Green River in the side, second at Pittsburg Land- ing or Shiloh in the right arm, and third at Chickamauga, in the left arm. In 1864 he first came to this State, and in 1871 stopped for a season in Indianapolis, going to Evans- ville the same year. There he has been ever since engaged at his trade. Last fall, the Republicans, with whom he had voted previously, and the Independents, who had con- fidence in him, agreed among themselves to elect him their Representative, and they did. Though nominated without his knowledge and consent, Mr. Miller was elected by that coalition.
JACOB WARWICK MONTGOMERY,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM GIBSON,
Was born on the banks of Black river, February 11, 1811, within a mile and a half of where he now lives. His parents were prominent pioneers in that part of the great State of Indiana. His father had come from Virginia and his mother from South Carolina. Those were the days of hard work and poor schools, and he got more than his
129
LEGISLATIVE.
share of the former and less than his share of the latter. He did not even graduate from the old log school house. Having helped to clear a tract of land, it was lux- ury and ease to live the life of a farmer thereon, afterwards. So the subject of this sketch has always been a farmer, though of late years he has made a specialty of stock deal- ing. He was born and bred a Democrat, and was one of the faithful few during fourteen years of disaster and defeat, and now that the faith of his fathers has reasserted itself he can stand it still. True to party in times that tried the true Democratic soul, when the time of success had again arrived, it was fit and proper that Mr. Mont- gomery should be selected to represent the Democracy of Gibson in the halls of State. He was so selected. Owens- ville, Gibson county, is his address.
JAMES WESLEY MORGAN,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM HENDRICKS,
Was born in West Virginia, December 23, 1831, of Ameri- can parentage. The same year of his birth his parents removed to Indiana, and located at Danville, in Hen- dricks county, where the subject of this sketch has always lived, thoroughly identifying himself with the interests of the county. Trained a farmer, Representative Morgan has since followed that occupation, dealing largely in stock. He was educated in the common schools of that county. He professes and practices the political faith of the Republican party, and was elected under the auspices of the managers of that party in Hendricks county. Mr.
9
130
LEGISLATIVE.
Morgan is an energetic member and would be mistaken for a professional man when participating in legislative proceedings.
SMITH McCORD,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM HANCOCK,
Was born in Clearmont county, Ohio, November 12, 1819. Both his parents, though American by birth, were of Irish descent. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio and Indiana, removing to this State with his parents in 1831. Like other young men of the olden time he attended the district school in the winter and worked on his father's farm in the summer. When he had attained the age of maturity he engaged in farming for himself. Before his election to the Legislature he had never held any office except that of Justice of the Peace, which he has held since 1860. He professes the political principles of Democracy and his practice conforms thereto. His post- office address is McCordsville, in his adopted county, that town having been named in honor of the MeCords.
CORNELIUS MCFADDEN, REPRESENTATIVE FROM JOHNSON,
Was born of American parentage, in Boone county, Ohio, January 8th, 1832, and was educated in the common schools of that county and State. Having attained his majority in 1853, he left Ohio and came West to Indiana,
131
LEGISLATIVE.
where he has since been busily engaged in growing up with the country and with average success. He located, upon his arrival, in Johnson county, and lives there still. Farming is, and has always been his occupation. He was a Democrat until he could see no hope of relief from the administration of the party in power, through the old-time honored party of the past. He has been independent in politics of late years, and favored the organization of a new party on new issues. The majority of the people of Johnson, it seems, were of the same way of thinking, for they sent him to the Legislature on the Independent ticket. He lives at Trafalgar.
WILLIAM C. McMICHAEL,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM ST. JOSEPH AND MARSHALL,
Was born in Harris township, St. Joseph county, this State, April 27, 1841. His parents were pioneers of American nativity. The son had a hard row to hoe in early life, being the eldest of thirteen children. In his boyhood he had to work on his father's farm. In 1855 he discharged the duties pertaining to the position of devil in the print- ing office of the Mishawaka Free Press, with such skill and fidelity as won for him the confidence and kindly con- sideration of his employer, and he was privileged to attend school during the winter months of the year, which he did for four seasons in succession. In this way he got a start in literary life. Never neglecting an opportunity for study he succeeded so well in the acquirement of knowledge that he had the honor, in 1873, of having conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Laws, by Notre Dame
132
LEGISLATIVE.
University, at South Bend. He has never held any office before the one he holds now, is, and always has been, a Democrat. Present postoffice address, Mishawaka.
JAMES L. NASH,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM SULLIVAN,
Was born in Sullivan county, March 16, 1829. His parents were of Welsh descent, but American birth. The son was educated at Carlysle, in his native county and at home. There he engaged in the avocation of his father-agricul- ture. He has now one of the finest farms in Indiana, and is President of the Agricultural Society of Sullivan. It is said of him that ever since he stepped upon the stage of action, he has been an ardent and an active worker for the good of the community in which he lives, his efforts being the elevation of the standard of education, morality and religion. He has kept pace with the car of progress, and to-day holds a royal position among the workers and encouragers of education. He has had for his watchword, "higher, still higher ;" and he has so successfully managed his public career, that not a blot or stain can be found upon his public record. Yet Mr. Nash has held official : position for nearly a decade. He is and always was a Democrat, and time and again has he helped roll up the mighty majorities for Democracy that invariably come from old Sullivan county, rendering her a joy forever in the memory of the tried and true. The address of the gentleman from Sullivan, is Paxton.
133
LEGISLATIVE.
ALBERT OSBORNE,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM ELKHART.
Is a native of New York. He was born in Otesgo county, in 1824, of German and English ancestry. His father was a minister in the Methodist Church. In 1835 the family removed to Michigan, where the son was educated in the common schools. He remained in that State until 1863, when he came to Indiana. Since then he has been a resident of this State, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Politically he was first a Democrat, then a Repub- lican, and now a Democrat. He remained a Republican until 1872, when he became Liberalised, supporting Mr. Greeley for the Presidency. He was the Liberal and Dem- ocratic nominee for the position he now holds in 1872, but was defeated by the stay at home vote, though the majori- ity against him was not large. Being again nominated for that position at the last election, he was sent here by the votes of men of all parties, though he was most stren- neously supported by Independents and Republicans. Goshen is his address.
WILLIAM T. PATE,
JOINT REPRESENTATIVE FROM SWITZERLAND AND OHIO,
Was born in Dearborn county, of American parentage, April 17, 1815. His early education, such as he was able to secure, was acquired at the old log school house on Saugheny Creek. When he had graduated, Mr. Pate engaged in agricultural pursuits, and also in the distilling business, and yet follows those avocations. For four years,
-
ยท
134
LEGISLATIVE.
however, he was Sheriff of Ohio county. During the war he was a candidate for the State Senate, but was defeated by the Hon. A. C. Downey. In 1868 he was a delegate to the National Convention, and under instructions of his constituency supported Pendleton until his name was withdrawn, and he had the satisfaction of having his course in that convention indorsed, upon his return, a sat- isfaction that some did not enjoy. As appears above, Mr. Pate has been a Democrat, and he is faithful still. Patrol is his postoffice address.
WILLIAM PATTERSON,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM SHELBY,
Was born in that county, February 11, 1827, and has resided there all the time since the day of his birth. His father was of Scotch descent, but, like his mother, of American birth. William never enjoyed the educational advantage that the average youth of the present day regards so irksome, but he did precisely what many boys of the present day fail to do. He availed himself of all the advantages for acquiring an education that could be had, and now he has more to show for it than many men who have attended school all their lives. He is now repre- sentative of the county of Shelby in the Indiana Legisla- ture. This was a clear case of the office seeking the man, too. He had never before held an office and had no such aspirations. prefering the privacy of his farm in Jackson township.
In politics he is what he has been all his life, an
135
LEGISLATIVE.
- unflinching and a consistent Democrat. Mr. Patterson is a fit example for youth and manhood. He lives at Mt. Auburn.
NATHAN PEYEATT,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM WARRICK,
Is a native of Warren county, Kentucky, where he was born November 25, 1807. Hedescended from the French on one side, and from the Irish on the other. When ten years old he went to Illinois. He remembers distinctly to-day that the country was then a territory inhabited by wild beasts and Indians. He grew up with the country there until 1831. During his stay in the Sucker State he lived in the counties of Wayne, White, Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash. This was after the territorial government had given place to that of the State, and while the capital was at Vandalia. In 1831 he removed to Indiana, but in the following year he returned, married, and again repaired to Indiana and located on the farm in Warrick county, where he continues to date. From the densest woods he has fashioned a farm which it would excite the envy of an Eng- lish lord to look upon. Mr. Peyeatt was educated in the common schools of the State of Illinois, and advanced to the rule of three in arithmetic, though he never saw a grammar in his school days. Such books were wholly unknown to the common schools of that day. He has reared a family of seven children, however, whom he has educated up to the times. Several of them are graduates, one of the State University, and he is now a practicing lawyer. Like all the other members of his father's family
. " 136
LEGISLATIVE.
he lives in Warrick county. In politics Mr. Peyeatt has been a Democrat all his life. He cast his first Presidential vote for General Jackson, which should be a passport into any true Democratic caucus in the country. The gentle- man from Warrick lives at Yankeetown.
SAMUEL RAMSEY,
REPRESENTATIVE FROM HARRISON,
Was born in Whitley county, Kentucky, January 24, 1830, of American parentage and Irish descent. With his parents he removed to Monroe county, in this State, when he was but one year old. There they remained until 1836, when they again removed, this time to near Fairdale, Harri- son county, where the son still lives. He was trained to farm life, and continued to till the soil until he had reached manhood's estate; then he engaged in business as a mer- chant. Four years' experience in that business ended his mercantile pursuits, and he tried his hand at the mule and horse trade. That business he followed until he was thirty, when he began the study of law, which profession he practices now. He has hitherto held no office but that of Justice of the Peace three years, from 1855 to 1859. Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, steadfast in the faith, first, last and all the time. His legislative record is to make and to be written yet.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.