USA > Indiana > Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana > Part 16
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BIOGRAPHY OF INDLIN.A.
spontaneously gave pictures of his many- sided character, touching in their simple pathos. W. H. H. Miller, as chairman, referred thus to the early trade of Judge Taylor: "During early life, in his trade. he learned that any material structure of lasting value must be upon a firm foundation-must be strong, true and plumb that every brick must be set with reference to the inexorable laws of mat- ter. By the same rule he builded his life, and as a result we have a character founded upon principles, squared by truth and justice, a character which is a legacy to his family to be cherished with pride-a character to be emulated with pride by us who were his associ- ates." Addison C. Harris, as chairman of the committee on memorial, read an eloquent tribute. "As a citizen"-so reads the memorial-"Judge Taylor stood with those who looked ahead and far beyond the petty struggles that con- fuse many men and engross their time. He stood for the good order of society, for temperance, for purity-political, moral and religious. He measured his acts on the Golden Rule. His keen per- ception of the right, his untiring energy and courageous labor in behalf of justice to all, gained for him the complete re- spect and confidence of the entire com- munity. His life was animated through- out with the wholesome faith of the Christian." General Coburn, his inti- mate friend and partner, gave a pleasing resume of their lives together in boyhood, dwelling lovingly upon the perfections of
his character: "He was an exceptional man in his energy, in his mental ability, in his quiet reserve, in his lack of desire for display, in his studious habits, in his constant devotion to duty and in his scrupulous care and integrity in every step he took." Lewis C. Walker said: "Judge Taylor's life was dominated by the principles of courage and honesty ; he lived a beautiful and an upright life be- fore us. He died as he had lived. A short time before he died he said to a friend that 'he had worn his life out and was ready to quit.' Gentlemen, it takes a man of mighty faith, a man of undaunted courage to step out into the shadows without hesitation and without fear. Judge Taylor was such a man, a man of mighty faith and so he walked without hesitation and without fear, knowing the lights by which his life had been led." On the occasion of his obsequies Rev. . 1. R. Benton paid him this tribute: "He was not only a just judge, but also an ideal one according to the lofty standard of the great Hebrew law-giver. For the chosen people of God, Moses was com- manded to choose able men-such as feared God, loved truth, and hated covetousness.' N. B. Taylor was a man learned in the law and the history of man; he had a deep and sacred reverence for God and a sense of his accountability to Him; he had un- sullied purity of purpose and his hands were never polluted by a bribe, nor did he ever pervert justice for a reward. The root of all his disinterested virtues, his
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courage, his sense of justice, duty, and the brotherhood of man will be found in the principles of Christianity decisively adopted in early life. He was firm in Christian faith. His assurance of the truth of our holy religion never faltered and his trust in its saving power never wavered. 'I am not afraid to die' were among his last remembered words."
The poet has averred that the "evil men do lives after them-the good is oft interred with their bones." The passing of Judge Taylor has proven a marked exception to this poetical bit of philos- ophy, leaving, as he has, sentiments of love and respect in the hearts of all who knew him: the good that he did will go on indefinitely and the memory of his character will be the heritage most vahi- able to his family.
WILLIAM H. SMYTHE.
The biography of a man who, begin- ning life in poverty and misfortune, at- tains in maturity to culture, character and social prestige, is not only interest- ing, but, for the thoughtful, is fraught with a benign significance and influence. Such a biography is that of William Henry Smythe. He comes of Southern stock, his maternal grandfather, Julius Glazebrook, of Charlottsville, Virginia, having been a patriot soldier in the Revo- lutionary War and his grandparents on both sides having removed from Virginia to Kentucky, where his father was born,
and later settled in Indiana, the native State of his mother. William H. Smythe was born on a farm in Putnam county, In- diana, July 2, 1846. He was but nine years old when his father died, leaving his mother with scanty means and seven children, four younger than William, who, child though he was, soon developed a sense of responsibility for the mainte- nance of the family. At twelve he be- came permanently crippled by an injury to his knee, yet with unshaken courage persevered in his plans for present and future helpfulness. He worked indus- triously at whatever he could get to do, the willing spirit, that disregarded his infirmity, winning sympathy everywhere and gaining for him the envied privilege of work. This enabled him both to assist his mother and attend a good school, which was supported by subscription. At sixteen he learned the shoemaker's trade continuing to practice it until twice that age at Greencastle, Indiana. Thus he earned his own living and a comfortable support for the family at home. Mr. Smythe had capacities, however, which were not to be sacrificed at the shoe- maker's bench, and when the field of larger opportunities was opened to him, with responsibilities involving a bond of $30,000, the whole city was ready to vouch for his abilities and uprightness. To realize the esteem in which he is held and the fullness with which he merits that esteem needs but to glance at the following list of his official honors in the varions societies to which he has be-
Miliane Ho Sing the
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longed. On March 23, 1869, Mr. Smythe was initiated as a Mason in Applegate Lodge, No. 155, Filmore, Indiana, was passed April 20, and raised June 1 fol- lowing. In December he was elected Sec- retary, as which he served two years. In 1877, having passed the intermediate chairs, he became Worshipful Master, re- maining such until October, 1879, when he dimitted and joined Temple Lodge, No. 47. He has been Secretary of Penta !- pha Lodge, Indianapolis, since its organ- ization, and in 1878, at its annual meet- ing he was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, in which post he is serving his twenty-first term. On April 24, 1871, he was made a Royal Arch Mason in Greencastle Chapter, No. 22, in 1874 becoming High Priest of that Chapter, serving as such for four years, and since November 10, 1888, he has been Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter. On October 22, 1874, he attained to the order of High Priesthood; April 6, 1874, he was made a Royal and Select Master in Greencastle Council, No. 17, and as Illustrious Master presided four years, and since November 10, 1888, he has been Grand Recorder of the Grand Council. June 16, 1876, the order of Knighthood, Greencastle Commandery, No. 11, was conferred upon him and during the year 1878 he was Eminent Commander; re- ceived appointment as Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery November 10, 1888, since which time he has been an- nually re-elected; received grades A. 1. Scottish Rite in the Valley of Indian-
apolis, reaching thirty-second degree Feb- ruary 20, 1884, and received thirty-third degree at meeting of Supreme Council at Chicago in 1886. In the order of the East- ern Star Mr. Smythe has been an active worker for twenty-five years. From 1876 to 1893 he served continuously as Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter. He then declined to hold that office any longer, being succeeded by his wife, Lizzie J. Smythe, who held the office for a year. He did three years' service as Patron of Queen Esther Chapter, No. 3, and in 1896 was Patron of Naomi Chapter, No. 131, Indianapolis. Mr. Smythe was treasurer of the Masonic Mutual Benefit Society of Indiana for ten years, his voluntary re- tirement from office occurring in 1893; and he is at present treasurer of Key- stone Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., and Raper Commandery, No. 1, K. T. Mr. Smythe is the author of a new work on Masonic Law, entitled, "Indiana Masonie Law and Forms of Procedure," for the use of Free- masons and Masonie Lodges. On October 4, 1870, Mr. Smythe was married to Miss Lizzie J. Williams. Their children are: Dr. Elmer A., a successful dentist, lo- cated in Indianapolis, and senior warden of Pentalpha Lodge, No. 564, F. and A. M .; Miss Myrtle, a high-school graduate and organist of Naomi Chapter, No. 131, O. E. S .; and Donn V., a clerk in the New York Store at Indianapolis. The family home, at No. 2029 North Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, is an hospitable one and is often the rendezvous of a goodly circle of congenial spirits. Nor is it only to his
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BIOGRAPHY OF INDIANA.
social peers that Mr. Smythe is gracious. He is a self-made man and his realization of the effort and sacrifice that such self- making implies, added to the broadened sympathies engendered by the tenets of Masonry, make him keenly alive to the struggles and needs of many who find in him a generous and helpful friend. With all his kindliness, Mr. Smythe is most resolute in the defense of his theories and acts wherever a question of duty or jus- tice is concerned, yet is ever open to con- viction if in error. It is men of such moral fiber who constitute the backbone of our national prosperity.
FRED FAHNLEY.
This family of Fahnley numbered twelve children, of whom Fred and three others are now living. Their father, Conrad Fahnley, was German by birth and a resident of Wurtemberg, Germany, where Fred Fahnley was born on Novem- ber 1, 1839. At fifteen years of age he came to America, locating in Medway, Clark county, Ohio. Here he entered into business, beginning near the foot of the ladder as clerk, on a small salary, in a store which supplied the general trade. This position he held for three years, dur- ing which time he was able, by dint of frugal living, to lay by a small sum of money. Then, in 1857, he went to Day- ton, Ohio, and obtained employment in a wholesale millinery concern, where he gained his apprenticeship in the line of
work in which he was eventually to real- ize a most gratifying success. Impatient of the slow promotion which awaited him here, however, and possessed with an en- terprising spirit which chafed under the limitations of a mere clerkship, he sev- ered his connections with the firm after about three years of service and returned to Medway, where the kindly interest of many friends was already assured him, and launched out for himself in a store similar to the one in which he had pre- viously clerked in Medway. His under- taking throve from the start, and after four years he was able to sell it out, move to Indianapolis, Indiana, and establish himself in the wholesale millinery busi- ness. His location was on South Merid- ian Street, opposite the site of the pres- ent house of Falinley & McCrea. Mr. Fahnley was a pioneer in this line of trade in Indianapolis, and the dimensions to which it has developed under his pro- pelling hand do great credit to his busi- ness ability and thrift. He has earned a right to the enviable title of self-made man. Beginning his career with but a common-school education, he has ac- quired during his busy life a fund of gen- eral information and an interest in the advancement of his city which places him among the most progressive and helpful of her citizens. In politics he has always been a Republican. He became of age just in time to add his vote to the ballot that elected Lincoln to the Presidency. Pre- vious to the union of the Meridian Na- tional and Merchants' National Banks of
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BIOGRAPHY OF INDIANA.
Indianapolis, Mr. Fahnley was the presi- dent of the former institution, and he is now the vice-president of the consolidated concern. He is also vice-president and one of the directors of the Indiana Trust Company. In 1863 Mr. Fahnley was mar- ried to Miss Lina Soehner, daughter of Charles Soehner. Of the four children born to them two survive.
HENRY C. MARTIN.
Alexander Martin, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Ireland, born in the county of Omagh in 1800. He emigrated to the United States when nineteen years of age, landing in Philadelphia and going thence to West- chester, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained until about the year 1826, when he went to East Poultney, Vermont, where he followed his trade as a weaver for several years. Here he was married to Lucy Marshall, who became the mother of Henry C. Martin, the only surviving child of his marriage. Shortly after his marriage he, with his family, removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, which was then a new portion of the country and considered as being in the very far West. Alexander Martin lived to be about eighty years of age. Henry C. Martin was born April 15, 1833, in Erie county, Penn- sylvania. The ancestors of Henry C. on the mother's side are traced back to the Sternes family in England, of which the author of "Tristam Shandy" was a mem-
{ ber. He availed himself eagerly of the advantages offered by the public schools of his State, and after finishing the usual course, attended an academy in his own county in Pennsylvania for one year. By his studious and persistent efforts he fit- ted himself for a teacher, following this profession for a number of years in his native county and in Vermont near his mother's early home, and where he took a two years' academic course in Troy Conference Academy. In 1853, having reached the age of twenty years, he began the study of medicine. For two years he had as his preceptor Dr. Alexander, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the State of Vermont. In 1856 he en- tered the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of New York, and graduated from that institution during the same year. In 1857 he was married to Miss Hannah K. Marshall, daughter of Ichabod Marshall in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Miss Marshall had lived in Vermont and the marriage was the result of a long acquaintanceship of six years. The only surviving child of this marriage, Mr. Louis H. Martin, is now engaged with his father in business. For about seven years Dr. Martin pur- sued his profession in McGregor, Iowa, though during the last three years of this period he was employed by the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, now the Northwestern Mutual Life, as its Special Medical Examiner and Solicitor, and in 1865 he was appointed by that company as its general agent for Indiana, in which State, at that time, the company
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had done no business whatever. He con- tinued to represent the company until 1878, making an unusually successful record. His undivided energies, coupled with his thorough management and dis- cretion, largely increased the business of the company, which, during the twelve years he was its manager in Indiana, be- came one of the leading life insurance companies in the State in point of magni- tude of business and profits thereon. It was during this period and at the ear- nest solicitation of Dr. Martin that the company elected a trustee for Indiana and commenced making loans on Indiana real estate-a branch of the business that as- sumed large proportions and, despite the real estate boom and panic which fol- lowed, yielded a return of all the money invested and upwards of six per cent in- terest thereon, after deducting all ex- penses and the cost of foreclosures and sales of property taken under foreclosure proceedings. For twenty-one years he was connected with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Mil- waukee. In 1880 he decided to take up a different, though not entirely new, line of work. He began the publication of an insurance and literary magazine in In- dianapolis, Indiana. This magazine- "Rough Notes"-he is still publishing, it having been changed to a weekly insur- ance journal and has attained a wide cir- culation. In addition to this work he is ex- tensively engaged in the publication and sale of insurance law publications, blanks and insurance supplies of all kinds. For
several years Dr. Martin was a Demo- crat, having been reared in the political faith of that party, but during the criti- cal years of the War of the Rebellion, he transferred his allegiance to the Repub- lican party, in which he has steadfastly continued. Dr. and Mrs. Martin have been devout members of the Baptist church for many years. Dr. Martin at present holds the position of trustee of the First Baptist Church of Indianapolis, of which board he has proved himself a valued member.
EDWARD G. CORNELIUS.
Among the best known and most suc- cessful business men of Indianapolis the name of Edward G. Cornelius stands pre- eminent. Mr. Cornelius started in life with the prestige of good birth, the heredity of honesty and industry. His father, George Cornelius, was born in 1787, in Virginia, his great-grandfather having come to America from Wales dur- ing the sixteenth century. He married a lineal descendant of the Willises, a noted family that has produced many distin- guished men. By trade he was a tanner. Emigrating from his native State, he set- tled in Boone county, Kentucky, where lie remained until 1834, when he removed to Shelby county, Indiana. For two years he devoted himself to stock-raising and afterward removed to Dearborn county, Indiana, where he bought a large tract of land. He engaged extensively in the pro-
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duetion of hay, which he baled and shipped to New Orleans. Mr. Cornelius was one of that fine class of men, known as "Henry Clay Whigs" in his early po- litical life-a class that did much to give character and political integrity to the party into which the Whigs naturally evolved. He was an active member of his party and had the courage to maintain his honest convictions. He was looked to by his friends as a stalwart and inspired them with confidence in himself and his party. Mr. Cornelius was in 1844 elected to the Legislature by a large Whig ma- jority in a district which had formerly given a Democratie majority of from five to six hundred. He removed to Shelby- ville, Indiana, in 1865. After two years' residence in that city, he went to Vermill- ion county, Illinois, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. His death occurred in Fairmount, Illinois, in 1868. Only three children survive him of his once large family. Pembroke S. is now living in Indianapolis; Matilda Gaines, nee Cor- nelius, resides in Saline county, Missouri, and Edward G., the subject of this sketch and the tenth child of the family, is also a resident of the capital city. Having completed the necessary course at the distriet school, Edward G. Cornelius en- tered Franklin College in 1853, remain- ing there for two years. No sooner had he reached his majority than he entered upon a business career, destined to de- velop into one of great success. He went into a general store in Shelbyville, as salesman, and for four years filled that
position. During these years his entire remuneration did not exceed four hun- dred dollars. The experience gained, how- ever, was not to be valued in dollars and cents. Ile came in contact with the peo- ple, acquired business habits and devel- oped in mental capacity. Having changed his residence to Indianapolis, he engaged in the millinery business in 1864, the firm name being Jeffries, Seeley & Co. The next year, however, he disposed of his interest in this firm and entered the firm of Tousey, Byram & Co., retail dry goods. In 1865, under the firm name of Byram, Cornelius & Co., he engaged in the wholesale dry goods business in South Meridian street. In 1888 D. P. Erwin suc- ceeded the firm in this business. Mr. Cor- nelius began the manufacture of chairs during this same year. This proved to be one of the city's most flourishing indus- tries, giving employment to a large num- ber of men and their trade eventually ex- tending throughout the entire country. This business is still actively condneted by Mr. Cornelius. In 1857 he was married to Miss Anna E. Mayhew, at Shelbyville, Indiana, and to them one child was born, the mother surviving but a short time. A second marriage occurred in 1860, the bride being Miss Melissa Jeffras, of Shel- byville, a daughter of Asbury Jeffras of Butler county, Ohio. Of the six children born to them, three are now living, viz .: Jessie D. (Mrs. Myers), Mary S. (Mrs. Hel- weg), and Sarah S. (Mrs. Parker). Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius have been devout members of the Methodist Episcopal
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church for over forty years. The beau- tiful Roberts Park Church is their place of worship and they are among its most generous contributors. They have a hand- some home in North Meridian street, whose doors are hospitably open to those whose fortune it is to call them friends.
JOHN L. RICHMOND.
The name of John Lambert Richmond should be an inspiration to every young man. He was born in Chesterfield, Massa- chusetts, April 5, 1785. He was descended from the founders of Taunton, Mas- sachusetts, and through them from old English ancestry dating back to Roaldus de Richmond, a Norman noble who com- manded under William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings. In early life his father moved to Onondaga county, New York. His early life was spent on a farm. He never had but twelve days' schooling in his life. His education was obtained by his own efforts and his mother's in- struction. He obtained what books he could with money earned from chopping cord wood at the Onondaga Salt works, then learned his lessons at night by the light of a burning pine knot, after a hard day's work. The labor of studying and thinking it out for himself gave him unusual mental drill. When quite a young man he joined the Baptist church, and not long afterward was ordained a minister of that church, as was the cus- tom in those pioneer times if a young man
possessed fine natural powers of oratory as he did. He was married in his twenty- first year to Lorana Patchin, a lady of education and refinement, who ever as- sisted him in his studies and self-im- provement. The doctor commenced the study of medicine with a neighboring phy- sician before he left the State of New York. He learned Latin and Greek from his lesson pinned on his sleeve while he was plowing the fields. His wife taught the neighborhood school. In June, 1817, in company with his father's family, he started West in wagons. When they reached the head of navigation on the Al- leghany river, he built a flat boat and came down the river to near Cincinnati, where he taught school and preached in a Baptist church. By the spring of 1822 he graduated at the Ohio Medical col- lege and began the practice of medicine. He was naturally one of the most skilful surgeons of his time, and was the first man west of the Alleghanies, if not in the United States, to perform the "Cæsar- ean" operation. This was done in 1824 with a pocket case of instruments, by candle light, and with the aid of a woman. He operated and saved the woman's life. In 1826 he removed to Cincinnati, engag- ing in the practice of medicine and lee- turing in the Medical college. After passing through with unremitting labor, the siege of cholera which prevailed in that city, he was stricken down by the dread disease, and his health was so impaired that he removed to his father's farm at Pendleton,
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BIOGRAPHY OF INDIANA.
Indiana, where he remained two years, after which he settled in In- dianapolis, and became one of the leading minds in the State, standing forward in every progressive movement for the civili- zation and culture of the new common- wealth. He practised medicine and preached for the Baptist church. His friend, Henry Ward Beecher, was the young pastor of the Presbyterian church at the same time. In 1835 he entered into partnership with the eminent physician, Dr. George Mears, and his own sons, Dr. Corydon Richmond and Dr. Orsemus Richmond. As soon as the struggling church was strong enough to support a pastor, he gave up the pulpit and devoted himself to his medical practice and lec turing to young students. He and his brother, Rev. Nathaniel Richmond, were two of the founders of Franklin College, intended as an opportunity for education in this frontier State. In 1842, while vis- iting a patient, he was stricken with par- alysis. His recovery was in doubt for many weeks. He finally recovered his speech but never regained the use of his side. He finally retired from the prac- tice of medicine, but often sat and lec- tured or preached for large audiences of people whose poverty of opportunities in this new country made them eager to sit at his feet and learn from this man of wide experience, deep learning and fertile mind. His reading extended through the fields of theology, medicine, surgery, the classics and general literature. His memory was phenomenal and his mind
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