USA > Indiana > Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana > Part 30
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guilty man has escaped because of a par- tisan label. The paper has pursued the rascals and the pretenders of its own party as relentlessly as it has pursued those of the enemy. It has contended in a manly way for integrity in partisan management and honesty in elections. The Sentinel, guided by Mr. Morss, has been constantly progressive and eminent- ly the advocate and champion of clean politics, good government and civil ser- vice reform. It began in 1888 the agi- lation for election reform and kept it up until the Australian ballot law, in almost the exact form originally proposed by The Sentinel, was on the statute books. It favored the Barrett Law, which renders casier the payment of taxes on real es- tate for public improvements. It at- tacked the old school-book combine, which had been a power in Indiana for many years, and drove it out of the State. It made an earnest and a successful fight for pure gas at a lower price. It has ap- preciated the value of municipal fran- chises and pertinaciously opposed the granting of them to any individual or cor- poration without full compensation. It was the father and expounder of the new city charter, whose beneficent provisions have contributed so much to the beauty and comfort of the city of Indianapolis. It originated the movement for tax re- form, which resulted in the enactment of the existing law, a measure which has proved a great blessing to the State, and will soon wipe out the Indiana debt. It has befriended the working man, by op-
posing the political coercion of wage earners; by condemning the contract labor law; by leading in the relief of suf- fering miners, and by insisting upon or- derly methods on the part of laborers and. strikers in any effort to obtain relief from oppression or wrong. It has occupied a plane above the mercenary, and com- mands respect by the ability of its edi- torial utterance. Mr. Morss, although more or less active in politics, has never been a candidate for official position. He has been chosen to represent his party in local and State conventions, and in 1892 was unanimously chosen one of the dele- gates for the State at large to the Na- tional Democratic Convention held in Chi- cago, and served as chairman of the In- diana delegation in that body. He was an early and earnest advocate of the re- nomination of Mr. Cleveland, and under his direction the Sentinel gave Mr. Cleve- land a very vigorous support both for the nomination and election. A few days after his second inauguration President Cleveland tendered Mr. Morss the im- portant post of Consul-General of the United States at Paris, France. The ap- pointment came without solicitation, as Mr. Morss had not been an applicant for that or any other official position. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate with entire unanimity and Mr. Morss as- sumed the duties of the new position on the first day of July, 1893. He was a very capable representative of the Govern- ment in a post of large commercial im- portance; performed the business with
Mme English
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fidelity and promptness, and attended to the social functions with dignified hospi- tality and due regard for the punctilious requirements of international etiquette. He retired from the office June 1, 1897, returned to Indianapolis at once and re- sumed the active management of his newspaper-a work which has command- ed his undivided attention. Mr. Morss is a gentleman of large ability and wide in- formation. He is courteons in manner and a most genial companion in social intercourse. He is refined, but vigorous; cultivated, but aggressive. He rendered valuable and enduring service to the city of Indianapolis, as a member of the Citi- zens' Committee to devise and formulate a municipal charter, to which he devoted nine months. He has rendered honorable and important service to the State by his strong, persistent advocacy of whole- some election laws, honesty in the con- duct of elections, and the punishment of persons guilty of corrupting the fran- chise. Mr. Morss is now (1899) president of the Hendricks-Gray Club, a leading Democratic organization, is one of the di- rectors of the Commercial Club and a di- rector of the newly organized University Club of which General Harrison is presi- dent.
WILLIAM E. ENGLISH.
William E. English bears a name con- spicuous in the annals of the State for three generations. He is the only son of the late Hon. William H. English, whose
biography is published in Volume I of this work, and who died February 7, 1896. At the time the latter's biographical sketch was written and submitted to him, in 1894, he had a presentiment that the end of life was near, and in eighteen months from that time his work was fin- ished and the strong man remains only a memory. Ilis body lay in state in the corridors of the State House by order of the Governor, where it was viewed by ten thousand people. He was buried with Masonic rites conducted by Center Lodge of Indianapolis and the funeral was at- tended by a large concourse of citizens. William E. English, like his father, was born at Lexington, Scott county, Indi- ana, to which his grandfather, Elisha G. English, had removed from Kentucky in 1818. Both his grandfather and his father served the State with marked ability and usefulness as members of the Legislature. Both of them were mem- bers of the first General Assembly held under the new Constitution, his grand- father in the Senate and his father as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Both the great-grandfather and great- grandmother of the subject of this biog- raphy were natives of Delaware, born prior to the Revolution, who removed and settled in Kentucky before the opening of the present century. His lineage is traced through his father's mother, who was an Eastin, through Lieutenant Phil- lip Eastin, an officer of the Revolution, and Captain Charles Smith, an officer who served under Washington in the French-
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Indian war, and Col. John Hite, au offi- ver of the Virginia Colonial militia; to Jost Hite, a historic character who in 1732 was head of the first colony ever settled in the valley of Virginia. The ancestors of William E. English were strong and capa- ble men, distinguished for public service in war and peace. His activity in politics began early. Long before he was old enough to vote he was well informed upon the political issues and a leader among the youth of his own age. His taste for polities was hereditary and his talent for affairs has been exercised throughout his adult life. It would be difficult for him to believe any other political doctrine than such as bears the label of Jefferson- ian Democracy. He could not accept and contend for the principles and the success of any other party. His career has been exceptional in the unanimity with which he has been nominated for office by his party friends, whenever a candidate, and by the uniform success of his candidacy. An outline of his personal relations with local, State and National politics is in- teresting now, and may be important as a matter of biographical history. In 1872 he was treasurer of the Greeley Club. Four years later he was president of the Tilden Campaign Club, and president of the Hendricks Club in 1876-7. He was president of the Young Men's Democratic Club in 1878. He was nominated by his party as candidate for councilman in the Eleventh Ward of Indianapolis in 1875, but declined the honor. In 1882 he was chairman of the Center Township Demo-
cratic Convention; in 1885 and 1891 he was chairman of the Indianapolis Demo- cratic City Convention; in 1890 and 1896 he was chairman of the Marion County Democratic Convention. He was elected a vice-president for Indiana by the Na- tional Convention of Democratic Clubs held in New York in October, 1892, and was also chosen a member of the National Committee for the State to serve four years. He has served as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee and has been a member of the Democratic Committee of Marion county for twenty years continuously and was also for a long time a member of the city commit- tee. In 1878 he was chairman of the latter and managed the city campaign with such skill and shrewdness that he was later unanimously elected chairman of the Democratic County Committee. The same year he was elected a member of the Legislature to represent jointly the counties of Marion and Shelby, after a campaign which attracted much atten- tion throughout the State. At the last preceding election the district comprising these two counties had given a Republi- can majority of seven hundred, and yet Mr. English was elected by a majority of more than two hundred. He was the youngest member of the House of Repre- sentatives in 1879, but was at the same time one of the most influential and use- ful. He served as chairman on the Com- mittee on Affairs of the city of Indianap- olis and was a member of the committee to redistrict the State for the purposes of
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Congressional and Legislative elections and was author of the Congressional Ap- portionment bill which was enacted into a law. In all the business of legislation he was clear-headed, active, quick and ready either for debate or vote. Some of the important acts relating to fees and taxation were introduced and championed by him. One of these was a bill limiting the amount of indebtedness to be incurred by the city of Indianapolis; another re- duced official fees and salaries; another abolished the offices of city assessor and treasurer, because they were regarded as superffnous; another provided for the re- appraisement of real estate and the re- Juction of the rate of taxation. He was also the author of the bill providing for a metropolitan police system in the city of Indianapolis. Mr. English could have been nominated as the Democratic candi- date for Congress in 1880 on his record as a member of the Legislature, but he declined to permit the use of his name. Two years later, however, he was unani- mously nominated by his party in con- vention and was elected after a brilliant canvass, discussing the issues on the stump in every township of the district and mixing with the people everywhere when not engaged in public speaking. His competitor, who was a candidate for re-election, having been elected in 1880 by nearly one thousand majority, was Hon. Stanton J. Peelle, who is now a Judge of the Court of Claims at Washing- ton. As a member of Congress he was always attentive to the duties of the of-
fice, whether such duties consisted in sup- porting a measure which he approved, or opposing a measure which he disap- proved, or looking after the personal re- quests of his constituents. He introduced and advocated a bill providing for an in- ternational copyright law, thus proving himself to be nearly fifteen years in ad- vance of the public interest in Congress on that subject. At the close of his termi of service he retired to private life and could not be induced by his friends to stand for a second term. He was the youngest member of the House of Repre- sentatives in the National Congress and left that body with the respect and es- teem of all its members. He was a gen- erous opponent, doing battle valiantly for the principle which he favored or the man whose interests he championed; but never seeking to wound by aspersion and never actuated by malice. Mr. English was a delegate to the National Democrat- ic Convention in 1892, in which he was one of the strongest and most influential ad- vocates of the renomination of Grover Cleveland. He served as chairman of the Committee on Rules and Order of Busi- ness in the convention and on behalf of the State of Indiana he seconded Mr. Cleveland's nomination in an eloquent speech which ranked with the best ora- tions delivered during the session of the convention. In 1896 he was again nnani- mously chosen a delegate from the Indi- anapolis district to the convention which assembled at Chicago, in which he was one of the chief managers of the candi-
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dacy of Governor Claude Matthews of Indiana for the Presidential nomination. Although unsuccessful in this object he labored for it with his nsual fidelity, ear- nestness and ability. The political his- tory of Mr. English has been sketched first in this biography becanse to that per- haps his greatest prominence is attrib- nted. It must not be assumed, however, that he is a politician merely, or that he has not merited and received marks of distinction quite apart from his connec- tion with political affairs. Having re- moved to Indianapolis in early boyhood he was educated for the law. After a course of reading and study he was grad- nated from the Law Department of the Northwestern Christian University, and entered into practice with Hon. John R. Wilson, under the style of English & Wil- son. This partnership continued for a period of five years, when he retired to give his attention to business matters, especially to the management of Eng- lish's Opera House, of which he was pro- prietor. After devoting his time to bus- iness for six years he spent the next three in foreign travel, visiting every country of Europe and many portions of Asia and Africa, Mexico, South America, Cuba and other islands of the sea. He was not an idle traveler, seeking pleasure only, but a careful observer of countries and peoples; a student of natural and po- litical conditions; of manners and cus- toms; of civil governments and standing armies; of the comparative states of bar- barous tribes, semi-civilized, civilized and
enlightened nations. A report of his ob- servations in Africa, Palestine and Egypt was given to the public in a series of very interesting newspaper letters, writ- ten in the countries visited. Mr. English has been active and prominent in several fraternal and benevolent associations. He is a Mason and has served three times as Worshipful Master of Center Lodge No. 23, and is now the president of the Ma- sonic Relief Board of Indianapolis. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Indi- ana, held in 1898, he was appointed Grand Lecturer, in recognition of his knowledge of the tenets of the order and his ability to instruct others. His "History of Early Masonry in Indiana" has received the warm encomiums of his brethren through- out the State. He is Past Grand Ruler of the Benevolent Order of Elks for the United States; president of the Indiana Society of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution; Vice-President of the Indiana Historical Society and Vice-Pres- ident of the Indiana Humane Society. In addition to all these connections, which indicate his social disposition and benevo- lence, he is also a member of the Indian- apolis Board of Trade, Commercial Club, University Club, L. A. W. Club, etc. Will- iam E. English is one of the wealthiest citizens of Indiana, and while cherishing a pride of ancestry, is unwilling to rest his claims on a historic lineage. On the contrary, he is disposed to increase the luster of the honored name he bears by personal activities along useful lines. He has displayed a generous public spirit
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by the inauguration and completion of undertakings which indicate breadth of view no less than high regard for the welfare and progress of the capital city. In the construction of one mammoth block of buildings occupying an entire crescent, fronting the famous Monument Place, he has expended nearly a million dollars. This block, beautiful in archi- tecture and modern in all appointments, comprises English's Opera House, Eng- lish's Hotel and English's Apartment IFouse. It is a magnificent monument to the ambitious enterprise of a patriotic citizen, willing to expend a portion of his wealth for the adornment of the city. Mr. English has never in the slightest de- gree manifested a disposition to be ex- clusive, or join an aristocracy of wealth. On the contrary, he is a most congenial companion, a general favorite in society, and thoroughly democratic; a man of the people, whose inspiration is gained by mingling with the people and whose per- sonal popularity is as wide as his ac- quaintance. Ilis attachments are strong and his friendships durable. His genial- ity is prompted by a natural kindness of heart and not worn as a clever mask. His large and varied general information, toned and supplemented by the culture of association and travel gives him standing among the scholars of the State. As a political leader he studies the moods and temper of the people, as well as the ques- tions for discussion. With ability and shrewdness, with a happy blending of the enthusiasm of youth and the sagacity of
maturer years, fluency of speech and fas- cinating manner, graceful diction and charming personality, he captivates a popular assembly with his oratory, or en- dears himself to the friends of private life. At the outbreak of the Spanish-Am- erican war in 1898, Mr. English was ap- pointed a captain of volunteers by Presi- dent Mckinley, and went immediately to the front, being a member of the first ex- pedition that left the shores of America for Cuba under the command of Major- General Shafter. Captain English served during the entire campaign which resulted in the capture of Santiago, as an aid upon the staff of Major-General Wheeler, more commonly known as "Fighting Joe." In the battle before San- tiago, July 1, he was severely injured by his horse falling on him as a result of a shell exploding near by, which killed sey- eral men a few feet away. This injury being followed by serious complications of dysentery and malaria, Captain Eng- lish was declared by the surgeons in charge of the hospital in which he was located, as beyond probable recovery un- less promptly removed from the danger- ous climate of Cuba. He was therefore placed upon the hospital ship "Seneca," which sailed for America on the day fol- lowing the capitulation of Santiago. Ar- riving at his home in Indianapolis, where his death had shortly before been erron- eously reported, he was warmly wel- comed by his fellow citizens, and under careful treatment and good nursing, was soon restored to health. Captain Eng-
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lish had the distinguished honor of being the only Indiana volunteer who served in the Santiago campaign.
STERLING R. HOLT.
Sterling R. Holt, president of the Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company, of Indi- anapolis, was born March 26, 1850, in the town of Graham, Alliance county, North Carolina. In his boyhood he was deprived of the advantages and privileges which very moderate means assure to an ambi- tious youth to-day. Even the opportun- ity of a common school course of instruc- tion was lacking to him, his schooling being limited to such elementary knowl- edge as could be gleaned in a rude log school-house in the country. Although poor, however, he was well born. The name of Holt is a familiar one in the list of North Carolina's most respected fami- lies. His parents were Seymour P. and Nancy A. Holt, his father, who is living, being still engaged in business in his home State. At the age of nineteen young Holt left his native place, in obedience to that law of attraction by which energetic young men are drawn to rapidly growing cities, and came to Indianapolis, prepared to begin his business life at the foot of the ladder, and relying for advancement upon nothing but his own climbing quali- ties. Nor was he so poorly equipped with book lore as might be assumed from the premises. Although to so great an extent denied the stimulus and aid of class and
tutor, he had early determined to possess a liberal education; and the result of his resolve and persevering effort evidences the truth of the old adage, "Where there's a will, there's a way." From one source and another he succeeded in gaining a pretty thorough knowledge of the essen- tial English branches; and this was sup- plemented in Indianapolis by a practi- cal course in Bryant & Stratton's College, -at present known as the Indianapolis Business University. When first arrived at Indianapolis, his search for employ- ment was unsuccessful. He therefore left the city and went to work on a farm in the vicinity of Plainfield, where he remained about one year, receiving twelve dollars per month for his services. He then tried again for clerical work, and this time found employment in a country store. In 1872 he took a position with the dry goods firm of Muir & Foley of Indianapolis with which he was connected for three years. His next step was a long one in the direc- tion of the independence and affluence he was later to enjoy. He invested such cap- ital as his thrift and frugality had al- ready yielded him, in a drugstore located at 164 West Washington street, Iudianap- olis, forming a partnership with a drug- gist of practical experience. This busi- ness was conducted successfully for seven years, and during the last four years of this time Mr. Holt was also engaged in the ice business. In 1880 he sold his interest in the drug store and in con- nection with the Messrs. Armstrong or- ganized the Indianapolis Ice Company.
Sterling astock
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He continued at the head of this company until 1888, when the business was divided, the Armstrongs taking the retail depart- ment and Mr. Holt the wholesale. The success which has attended his under- taking throughout the course of its re- markable development, proves his adap- tation for the leadership in a vast enter- prise. Indiana can boast no other ice business comparable in either extent or completeness of equipment to that of Mr. Holt's natural ice plant, which is located on Lake Maxinkuckee and has an annual output of three thousand carloads of ice; while the Holt Ice & Cold Storage Com- pany, North and Canal streets, Indianap- olis, ranks among the largest establish- ments of the kind in the country. Pre- vious to its extension and improvement in 1898 the latter plant covered an area of 400 by 110 feet, with facilities for pro- ducing seventy-five tons of ice daily. Now it occupies one whole block, its refriger- ator having a capacity of one hundred tons, and one million cubic feet of cold storage. He has branch establishments also in Terre Haute, South Bend, Brazil, Crawfordsville and Logansport, besides the Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company of Evansville, Indiana (Incorporated), which mannfactures fifty tons of ice per day, and 500,000 cubic feet of cold stor- age, and in which Mr. Holt holds the con- trolling interest. These several forces combined, make up an ice producing or- ganization which has no competitor in the State of Indiana. The central and south- ern sections of the country are to a great
extent supplied by the Holt companies, while the territory furnished by them is constantly extending. Mr. Holt is like- wise the largest individual dealer in ice in the State of Indiana. The executive ability and persevering industry which have resulted in such vast achievement have yielded also a financial equivalent, and to-day, apart from his ice interests, Mr. Holt owns a large amount of valuable real estate, and may easily be reckoned one of Indiana's most wealthy residents. Latterly Mr. Holt has been drawn more and more into public affairs. In politics he has always been an ardent supporter of the Democratic idea as represented by such men as Hendricks, Tilden and Cleve- land. One of the earliest public offices held by him was a membership in the board of police commissioners of Indian- apolis, to which position he was elected by the officials of the State in recogni- tion of his standing as an able and enter- prising citizen; and he was continued in office on Mayor Sullivan's accession to power, as president of the board of public safety. After the election of the follow- ing October, however, he resigned his membership. In 1890 Mr. Holt was elect. ed chairman of the Marion County Cen- tral Democratic Committee; and two years later, at the November election, his party made him county treasurer. In 1895 he was elected chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, and presided until after the convention held in Chicago the following year, when he relinquished the office because of his dis-
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approval of the free silver plank of the Democratic platform. In 1889 Mr. Holt was elected president of the Hendricks Club, which is one of the leading clubs of a political character in the country. He also belongs to the Cleveland and Gray Clubs, is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and is a member of various other organizations. Identified with the activities of Indianapolis for nearly thirty years, Mr. Holt is a familiar figure in that city, where he has a host of friends and acquaintances. Warm and loyal in his attachments he appreciates and rewards fidelity in others; and he carries into all his undertakings a char- acteristic vigor and thoroughiness which make his personality recognized as a force in many realms. On November 18. 1874, Mr. Holt was married to Miss Mary J. Gregg, daughter of Martin Gregg, of Danville, Indiana. They have no chil- dren.
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