USA > Indiana > Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana > Part 13
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course and was graduated in 1880. Im- mediately afterwards he entered Jeffer- son Medical College at Philadelphia, in which he completed the regular course, securing his diploma in 1883. From there he went to the University of Berlin, Ger- many, in which he took a special course of instruction under Professors Virchow, Frerichs, Bergmann and Bardeleben. The following year he returned to Phila- delphia and became resident surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital for one year, and at the same time took a post-graduate course in histology and pathology in the University of Pennsylvania. After spend- ing several months in travel through South America and Cuba he returned to his home in La Fayette in 1886, where he began the practice of medicine immedi- ately, in which he has been engaged con- tinuously to the present time. Although conducting a general practice of medicine and surgery, he has special qualifications as an aurist and oculist, and therefore gives special attention to the treatment of the eye and ear. He is frequently called in consultation with other physi- cians in all classes of cases, not only in La Fayette, but throughout that section of the State. For three years, 1886-7-8, he was Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeuties in the School of Pharmacy of Purdue University. He is at present one of the surgeons of St. Elizabeth IIos- pital and lecturer in the training school of that institution. He is also one of the managers of the Home Hospital of La Fayette. Besides his membership in the
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local medical organizations he is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association and an honorary member of the Philadel- phia Pathological Society. His contribu- tions to current medical literature consist of four papers entitled "History of the Origin of Syphilis," "New Method of Treatment of Fracture of Fifth Meta- carpal Bone," "The Origin of Tumors," "Uniformity in Relative Position of Axes in Regular Astigmatism." Dr. Wetherill is a very agreeable gentleman, as well as a successful physician. His social traits are suggested by membership in several of the leading clubs of La Fayette. He is a member of the Lincoln Club and presi- dent of the La Fayette Club. In politics he is a Republican, but not an offensive partisan. In religion, a member of St. John's Episcopal church, upon whose vestry he has served for several years.
CRAWFORD FAIRBANKS.
Few families in the whole country are more thoroughly American than is this one of Fairbanks, whose branches have been spreading, through eight genera- tions, from their sturdy parent trunk in the quaint old town of Dedham, Massa- chusetts. There, still standing as a land- mark, and the goal of many a history- loving pilgrim, is the famous "Old Fair- banks Home." It was built in the year 1636 by Jonathan Fairbanks, who, three years previously, had left Sowerby, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and
crossed to the New World, landing at Boston. This ancient dwelling is distin- guished as being the only one of its age in New England which has never passed out of the possession of its founder's de- scendants nor been occupied by other than lineal blood. In fact, there are but few houses of as venerable years which are to-day in a condition to serve any more practical end than that of the pic- turesque. In 1835 Henry Fairbanks-a direct descendant of the pioneer settler of Dedham and father to this sketch's subject-emigrated from his native Mas- sachusetts to Indiana, where he bought and for years successfully carried on a large farm. At length he moved to Terre Haute, where his superior abilities soon brought him in touch with municipal af- fairs, and at the time of his death, in 1878, he had attained to the city's highest trust in the office of mayor. Crawford Fair- banks was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on April 25, 1843; but his boyhood was spent on his father's farm, and he at- tended the common schools of the coun- try. Before he had become of age, the War of the Rebellion broke out and he enterd the army, receiving from Governor Morton the commission of first lieutenant in the 129th Indiana Volunteers. Under the command of Sherman, he led his com- pany in the immortal march through Georgia, his men playing an active part in the numerous severe battles with which their line of advance was.marked. At the close of the war he returned to Terre Haute, where he has ever since re-
Crawford Faubanks
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sided. He was a dealer in grain for a num- ber of years, then engaged in the distilling business as a partner of H. Hulman, the style of the firm being Hulman & Fair- banks. This partnership had existed but . a few years, however, when Mr. Fairbanks bought out the entire interest of Mr. Hul- man and established the then most ex- tensive concern of its kind in the world, under the name of the Terre Haute Dis- tilling Company, with Mr. Fairbanks as president. The history of this concern has been one of phenomenal success, at- testing the rare business discernment and thrift which have directed it. Yet, al- though Mr. Fairbanks has been since its beginning, and still is, its president and the fountain-head of its vitality, he has always found himself possessed of a sur- plus of business energy, which has been devoted to a succession of enterprises, at present numbering not less than a score, operating in several different States and ranging in financial magnitude all the way from a merely nominal amount up to the six millions with which the American Straw Board Company is capitalized. Mr. Fairbanks takes an ac- tive interest in political matters, and has been an unwavering supporter of Demo- cratic principles. For several years he has rendered valuable service as a mem- ber of the State Executive Committee, and, at the time of Cleveland's first elec- tion as President of the United States, he was one of the executive committee ap- pointed to conduct the national campaign. Four years later he was chosen by the
State at large as alternate delegate to the National Convention, on which memor- able occasion there devolved upon him the duty of acting in the place of the late Senator Voorhees. During that same year, his district proposed him for its Democratic candidate for Congress, and urged him to run for that position; but,
although for his support was elected a majority of the delegates to the nominat- ing convention, he firmly declined the proffered honor, and prohibited even the mention of his name before the conven- tion, feeling compelled to this course by the numerous and ever-multiplying de- mands of business upon him. Mr. Fair- banks is a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic, and on the occasion of the funeral rites of the late General Grant, which took place in New York City, Ang- ust 8, 1885, he was in attendance as repre- sentative of the Morton Post, of Terre Haute. Mr. Fairbanks is a Mason, also a member of the Loyal Legion. In writ- ing the biography of a signally suc- cessful man, it is useful as well as in- teresting to sum up the qualities and in- fluences which have contributed to his success. Especially is this true when the subject has begun life with a meager equipment of money and external advant- ages. In Mr. Fairbanks' case we must look for the secret of his good fortune in the character of the man, which we find replete with business insight and thrift, self-reliance and that tireless energy which is so essential a factor in great achievement of any kind. It is these in-
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ternal forces which have brought him, in his prime, to the realization of a for- tune and social prominence such as but few men in the State enjoy. And in the disposition of his wealth he is notably generous, contributing freely to numerous public institutions; and throughout his long residence in Terre Haute he has been actively interested in furthering the de- velopment and prosperity of that city. On December 31, 1872, Mr. Fairbanks was married to Miss Clara Collett, a sister of the late Josephus Collett. A daughter, Sarah, who married Bruce F. Failey, of Terre Haute, is their only child.
JOHN E. LAMB.
Hon. John E. Lamb was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, December 26, 1852. He is the son of Michael and Catharine Lamb, both of whom emigrated to this country from Ireland when children, and were married at La Fayette, Indiana, in 1843. The father settled in Terre Haute in 1835, and continued to reside there until his death on the 8th of August, 1874. His mother's maiden name was Catharine Mc- Govern. After the death of her husband she lived with her son John until the date of her death, January 10, 1897. John E. was the fifth of eleven children. He was reared and educated in Terre Haute. Dur- ing his early youth he attended private schools, and was graduated from the Terre Haute High School in June, 1869. Before he was twenty years of age he was
appointed deputy county treasurer of Vigo county, and served in that capacity two years. While thus engaged he com- menced the study of law, and subsequent- ly he completed the course in the office of Voorhees & Carlton, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. In 1875 he was appointed prosecuting attorney of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, then composed of the counties of Vigo and Sullivan, and in 1876 was elected to the same office, serving a full term. In 1880 he was selected as one of the electors on the Democratic electorial ticket for Hancock and English, and in 1882 he received the Democratic nomination for Congress, being duly elected, overcoming a very large Repub- lican majority. He has since been twice nominated by his party, but was each time defeated, for the same office. In June, 1885, he was appointed United States district attorney for Indiana, by President Cleveland, which office he re- signed in 1886 to accept the nomination for Congress. In 1888 the Democracy of Indiana placed his name at the head of the electorial ticket of the State for Cleve- land and Thurman. In 1892 he was one of the delegates from his district to the National Convention which nominated Cleveland and Stevenson, and was chair- man of the committee on credentials in that convention. He was also a delegate from the State at large to the Democratic National Convention which nominated Bryan and Sewell. During all these years Mr. Lamb has been actively engaged in the practice of the law, and is now enjoy-
Junfor Collins
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BIOGRAPHY OF INDIANA.
ing a large and lucrative business as the senior member of the law firm of Lamb & Beasley. He is a sound lawyer, a strong and able politician and an elo- quent and logical speaker either at the bar or on the stump. His rapid rise to leadership and power, aided only by his own exertions, has been phenomenal. Hon. John E. Lamb married Miss Esther Kent, of Terre Haute, in 1890. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kent, one of the best known families of that city.
MAJOR COLLINS.
Major Collins, of Brazil, Indiana, was born November 29, 1834, at Springfield, Massachusetts. He is English on the paternal side, his father, James Collins, of Wolverhampton, England, having come to this country in 1818, locating at Springfield. Although young, he had al- ready become skilled as an iron worker, and soon found employment at the United States arsenal. He married a lady of Sharon, Vermont, named Celia Parker, daughter of Amos Parker, a Revolution- ary soldier who was in the battles of Bun- ker Hill, Lexington and Valley Forge, and who claimed a progenitor among the Pilgrim Fathers. The three brothers of Celia-Amos, Almon and Joel Parker- were soldiers, also, having fought in the War of 1812. In 1843 James Collins moved his family to Boston, and two years afterward removed to Worcester, Massachusetts. Here he became associ-
ated with the wire manufacturers, Icha- bod, Washburn & Co., and started a roll- ing mill for manufacturing wire rods. Shortly afterward-in 1846-he accepted a position with Corning, Winslow & Co., of Troy, New York. Six years later-in March of 1852-he crossed the continent to California, his family remaining in Troy, and the following November died at Sacramento. The subject of this sketch, in early youth following the for- tunes of his father, lived in various cities, in each of which he gained a portion of his common school education. While in Troy he served an apprenticeship as an iron worker with Corning, Winslow & Co., and became skilled in his trade. In 1857, now a married man, he returned to his native town of Springfield and placed the machinery for rolling mills in the new government arsenal. This work oc- cupied a year, and was followed by a con- tract for the construction of a plant for the manufacture of cast steel at Staten Island, whither he moved bis family, re- maining on the island for a little over a year, until he saw the plant working sat- isfactorily. This plant was among the first successful ones built for the produc- tion of cast steel in America. In 1859 Major Collins again moved, this time to Cleveland, Ohio, where he became mana- ger of the Railroad Iron Mill Com- pany's plant. In 1862 he qnitted this po- sition to build a mill for the production of bar iron and cut nails. This institution was styled the Cleveland Iron & Nail Company, and was the first of the kind
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established west of Pittsburgh and Youngstown. In August, 1865, Major Col- lins' mother, also a resident of Cleveland, died, and her death combined with other causes to determine him upon another re- moval. He accordingly disposed of his interest, which was a large one, in the mill, and, settling up his affairs in Cleve- land, moved his family to Brazil, Indiana. This was in 1868, and Brazil has since been his place of residence and business. Here, as a member of the firm of Garlick & Collins, he gave his attention to the double enterprise of manufacturing pig iron at the Brazil furnace, and mining and marketing block coal. This firm be- came known as the first producer of a pig iron suitable for conversion into Besse- mer steel, and the product of the Brazil furnace found a ready demand in Cleve- land, Ohio, Chicago and Joliet, Illinois, and was shipped east as far as Johns- town, Pennsylvania. Also, some of the first block coal consumed in Chicago was furnished by Garlick & Collins. From this block coal, mined near Brazil, was made the coke used in manufacturing the Bessemer iron, its home production mak- ing it much less expensive than Pennsyl- vania coke laid down at Brazil, while its quality insured better results. In 1882, Major Collins, together with John G. Bry- son and W. C. Hall, of Brazil, and D. W. Minshall, of Terre Haute, organized the Central Iron & Steel Company, for the purpose of consuming and placing upon the market the product of the Brazil fur- nace, which had become merged in the
new concern. Increasing success has at- tended the development of this enterprise from its modest beginning, the company, of which Major Collins is president and general manager, having repeatedly ex- tended its facilities for manufacturing, until at the present time its plant is among the largest of its kind in the State, producing, besides its complete assort- ment of bar iron, axles for railway cars and various kinds of forgings. In addi- tion to the main works, separate plants are employed in the manufacture of such specialties as railroad spikes, nuts and bolts, and turn buckles, the latter article finding sale throughout the United States and Canada and having a reputation as the best in the world. Although the Cen- tral Iron & Steel Co. has realized such gratifying results under the guidance of Major Collins, it has not monopolized his energies. He has officiated as president of the Indiana Car & Foundry Co., of In- dianapolis, since its organization in 1890, which company manufactures railway cars, wheels for same, and miscellaneous iron castings. He is president of the Terre Haute Brick & Pipe Co., of Terre Haute, Indiana, producers of vitrified brick, hollow brick and tiling, these sup- plies having an extensive sale for street and sidewalk paving. He has also been chairman of the Manufacturers' Associa- tion of Iron Goods of the United States since its organization in 1892. Mr. Col- lins is a Mason, a member of the Iris Lodge, of Cleveland, Ohio. Politically, lie is a Republican, and has always been
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a staunch adherent to the principles of his party. By his energy, thoroughuess of method and conscientious application, Major Collins has made himself master of the iron industry, and his life in all rela- tions other than commercial has been equally exemplary. He is an "all round" man-a man who enriches the community in which he lives, both by his presence as a genial and liberal-minded citizen and by his work as a promoter of all pro- gressive enterprise. In 1854 Major Col- lins was married to Miss Julia F. On- thank, whose father, William D. On- thank, was an iron worker of Troy, New York. Five children were born of this union-four daughters aud a son- as follows: Luella F., wife of O. G. Vanderhoff, of Brazil; Julia E., now deceased, who married M. P. Lynch, of Indianapolis; Cora E., resid- ing with her parents; Carrie B., wife of John T. Adams, of Brazil, and M. R. Col- lins, of Brazil, secretary of the Central Iron & Steel Company. Major Collins has one living sister, Mrs. M. A. Williams, also a resident of Brazil.
WILLIAM H. DURHAM.
William Holman Durham, of Craw- fordsville, Indiana, was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, April 12, 1827, and died in Crawfordsville, September 18, 1895. His parents were Jacob and Han- nah Durham, who came to Indiana in 1828, and settled in Russellville, Putnam county, where his father conducted a
farm and country store. His mother's maiden name was Hannah Spears. She was a woman of great force of character, and although she died when her oldest son, William, was thirteen years of age, she impressed her nature upon her son, who always remembered her as an ideal woman, and he inherited her energy and force of character. When William was eight years old he rode on horseback, in company with his grandfather, to his home in Perryville, Kentucky, where he spent two years in school. He then re- turned home and assisted his father in the store and on the farm and attended the common school until he was sixteen years of age. In the spring of 1843, he entered Asbury University, at the time Bishop Matthew Simpson was president of that institution, and remained there until he graduated in the class of 1847. In the following fall he went to Rockville, and was employed in the clerk's office under John G. Davis. Here he read law with the firm of Wright & McGuaghey until the spring of 1849, when, with a party of friends, he made the overland trip to Cali- fornia with ox teams, being six months on the way. He remained in California about three years, engaged in mining and mercantile pursuits. By prudent man- agement and close application to busi- ness, he accumulated some means, which, upon his return to Indiana, he invested in merchandising, in partnership with his father at Russellville, and was also ap- pointed postmaster of that place. He
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afterwards bought his father's interest in the store and continued the business alone until 1864. He then removed to Crawfordsville, and with Benjamin Was- son, organized the First National Bank, with which he was connected as president until the close of his life. Mr. Durham was the first president of the I., D. & S. railroad in its building from Montezuma to Indianapolis. During the war he was a captain of a company of the Indiana State Militia, and was secretary of the board of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for several years. He was large- ly interested in agricultural pursuits, and was far the largest stockholder in the Union Agricultural Association of Mont- gomery county, and was at one time pres- ident of the association. Mr. Durham will be long remembered for his generous sup- port of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of Crawfordsville. In the erection of the Y. M. C. A. building, he sold the land on easy terms, and loaned over $30,- 000 to the association. His purpose was to present the entire amount to the asso- ciation and let it be a monument for him- self and his family, and a testimony of his kindly interest in young men. Though his purpose was not carried out accord- ing to his desires, yet the building will ever stand associated with his name as one who did much for the welfare of young men and the cause of Christian manhood in Crawfordsville. Mr. Dur- ham was a man of strong mental powers and capable of planning and conducting large enterprises. Though greatly af-
flicted, being a sufferer from sciatica and rheumatism, his strength of will, remark- able energy and high ambition, made him eminently successful, and he was widely known as one of the first men of the State in financial affairs. Mr. Durham, in his college days, revealed elements of super- ior strength and foresight. In his gradu- ating oration, delivered in 1847, he arose above the platitudes of common thought, and discussed coming events that then seemed almost impossible, and expressed his faith in their future accomplishment. These three things he declared would be- come history: "The success of the cause of foreign missions until the beathen would know the blessedness of Christian- ity; the freedom of the slaves in the United States and throughout the world, and a commercial progress that should connect the Atlantic and Pacific by rail- road and exterminate distance and sur- mount barriers that hindered the unifica- tion of the Nation." All of these things he lived to see accomplished, and much more than he ever dreamed of in his col- lege days. From an editorial at the time of his death we quote the following:
"The character of William H. Durham can be seen in its full strength by look- ing into the events of the last three years of his life. A splendid fortune had been accumulated by devotion to business. But investments were made that brought disaster. The circumstances were beyond human control. Just when he thought he was about ready to retire with the ambi- tions of life satisfied, the unexpected and unforeseen came like a sudden storm and swept the accumulations of years before it. By this sudden calamity he was great- ly prostrated and grieved. Yet in the
Joseph Martin
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midst of it he was able to say, 'If this is necessary, in the Providence of God, for the salvation of my soul, I will bow be- neath it submissively, and will say, Amen.' His confidence in men and things of the world was shaken, but his trust in God made stronger. He sought the re- tirement of his home and lived a simple, trusting life. He did not regret the in- vestment made for the Y. M. C. A., but regretted that he had delayed the comple- tion of his cherished plans."
In the life of Mr. Durham he lived up to his motto: "The greatest good to the greatest number," and bestowed his char- ity in many cases to the undeserving; but he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had a host of warm friends who ap- preciated his kindly help in time of need. In politics Mr. Durham was a Democrat up to the time of the war, when he be- came a Republican. But in his latter years he was independent, voting for the candidate in either party whom he thought best suited to further the inter- ests of the common country. William H. Durham was married February 10, 1857, to Sarah M. Evans, daughter of James Evans, a farmer and a native of Ken- tucky, who came to Indiana in 1826, and entered a large tract of land in Putnam county. She was the youngest of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Durham were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them were born two children, George Theodore, a resident of Craw- fordsville, and Lillie (deceased.)
JOSEPH MARTIN.
Joseph Martin, of Rosedale, Indiana, is an Englishman, born at Congressburg,
near Bristol, Somersetshire, on October 9, 1839. His parents, Richard and Fannie (Hall) Martin, were both natives of the same place, his paternal ancestors having lived there for upwards of two centuries. His father was engaged in the mercantile business in Somersetshire, where he re- sided until his death, in 1865. Mrs. Mar- tin had died nearly twenty years earlier, when Joseph was a lad of seven; and five years afterward, at the tender age of twelve, the boy set out to seek his for- tune, destined to be found at the end of a long series of journeyings. He first went to Wales, and labored in the iron mines for eight years. At twenty he en- tered the English navy, and the route of his ship took him to Vancouver Island. Here he abandoned naval service and pro- ceeded to Washington (then a territory), obtaining work in a saw-mill at a place called Port Gamble on Puget Sound. He remained here several months, then went to San Francisco, and thence to Mount Diablo, where he secured employment in the coal mines. In 1864 he fell a victim to the gold mania and left the coal mines for more alluring diggings in the placer mines of Sierra and Plumas counties. This venture not fulfilling his anticipa- tions, he evolved a new plan: He went to San Francisco, and thence, in May, 1865, set out for the East. On July 14, he arrived in New York City. This me- tropolis he left for Alleghany county, Maryland, from whence he removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he worked as a common laborer in the coal mines. Braid-
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