USA > Indiana > Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana > Part 39
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vitation to the real enjoyment of the since famed Adirondack Mountains, was the Blue Mountain Lake House, in all its appointments fitted for rest, comfort and pleasure. It was projected in 1855, and popularized by the successful manage- ment of James P. Lawrence, whose guests spread far and wide the pleasures and in- spirations of the Adirondacks, and the generous hospitality of the genial host of the Mountain House. And here was the beginning of an eminently successful bus- iness life. He was a man a little above 200 pounds avoirdupois, fine physique, by nature courteous and generous almost to a fault. The poor had in him a prince. His charities extended to such breadth that in a time of distress, in the town of Moores, which claimed him as its leading citizen, he took upon himself the burden of supplying all the necessities of its poor during an entire season, and to the present day the living revere him for his charities and pay tribute to his memory. In politics he was a Whig, un- til the dissolution of his party, after which he allied himself with the Demo- crats and served them faithfully during the remainder of his short life. Thus, briefly told, was the history, and such the character of the father from whom was inherited the business tact, perse- verance and many of the virtues that characterize the son, Henry W. Lawrence, whose life dates from 1851. Duane, New York, is his birthplace and in its public schools he was prepared for an academic course at Plattsburg Academy, where he
graduated. His business life commenced in Moores, where he became the trusted assistant to his father in the management of the Junction Hotel. At the early age of nineteen he was given full control, un- der a lease from his father, of the hotel hearing his name, then commencing the active and prosperous hotel life for which he is so fittingly equipped by Nature's gifts and business education. The Cap- ital Hotel, at Houston, Texas, and the La Mars, at Dallas, Texas, both came under his management before his father's death which occurred in 1878, after which he assumed the management of his father's hotel at Moores. Three years later, in 1881, he was tendered the management of the St. James Hotel, at Denver, Colo- rado, which he accepted, but after re- maining a year, a business opportunity was presented to him in the position of material agent for the construction of the Mexican National railroad; extending from Corpus Christi to Monterey. He resigned his hotel management and ac- companied Mr. W. W. Hungerford to Mex- ico, and remained with the road until its completion. He then returned to his old home at Moores, and the Junction Hotel, of which he became proprietor, and re- mained there until the destruction of the hotel by fire. The business habits and ac- tive life of Mr. Lawrence would not brook inactivity, and in a short interval of hotel management he conducted a high class restaurant in the city of Chicago; but he soon found his place again as landlord of the Spencer House at Indianapolis, under
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Chas C. Spener
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a lease made in 1889. To it he afterwards added the Bates House in the same place, which, under his genial management has drawn to it a liberal share of the com- mercial traveler's patronage, and taken prominent position among the most pop- nlar hotels in the West. On January 1, 1881, Henry W. Lawrence and Addie E., daughter of James P. Cunningham, of Ogdensburg, New York, were united in marriage. In social as well as in business life Mr. Lawrence takes active part and holds membership in the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias, and in the Board of Trade and Commercial Clubs. In politics he is a faithful adherent to the Demo- cratic faith, and a staunch supporter of a sound money currency. In his business life, success has crowned every effort ; and for his accumulations he finds in- vestment largely in Indianapolis, while outside opportunities are not neglected. His home city has the benefit of his pub- lic spirit and conservative enterprise which add to its prosperity, and while still in the prime of his manhood the fu- ture is full of promise and bright with possibilities.
CHARLES C. SPENCER.
The name of Spencer was, in the early annals of this family in England, written "Spenser." Just when and how the "S" was exchanged for "C" is not disclosed, but it was some time prior to the advent of the family in America. About a century
ago, Thomas Spencer, the great grand- father of Charles C., left England in com- pany with Lord Baltimore, and, crossing to this country, established a home in Maryland. Subsequently the family re- moved to Ohio, and thence, in 1829, pro- ceeded to Indiana, settling permanently in that State. On the father's side Charles C. Spencer inherits only English blood. With this is intermingled a Teu- tonic element from the mother's side, his maternal grandmother having been born of German parents. The subject of this sketch was born on Jannary 6, 1868, in White county, Indiana, his parents, being Calvin C. and Sarah J. Spencer. Up to the age of thirteen years he attended the country schools, although somewhat ir- regularly. He then entered Purdue Uni- versity, at La Fayette, Indiana, to pre- pare for a regular college course. After a year and one term of this preparatory work, he left Purdue for Asbury, (now DePauw) University, at Greencastle, In- diana. Here he remained four and one- half years, and by means of constant and earnest work he was able, in 1889, to graduate from the seven years' course of study in the Department of Liberal Arts, the degree of Ph. B. being conferred npon him. Ile completed his studies in the law department of the university, also, the same year, and upon graduating from that department he obtained the degree of LL. B. Before the close of 1889 he had been admitted to the bar, both in Indiana and Illinois, and had opened an office for the practice of law at Chicago.
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For two years he carried on an individual practice in that city, then, in October, 1891, entered into a partnership with Mr. T. F. Palmer, the location of their office being at Monticello, Indiana. After two years of joint practice, Mr. Palmer was elected Judge of the 39th Judicial Cir- cuit. Since that time, November, 1894, Mr. Spencer has conducted the business alone, the entire practice of the firm hav- ing devolved upon him after the dissolu- tion of the partnership with Mr. Palmer. During the ten years of his professional labors Mr. Spencer has been indefatigable in his devotion to his legal duties. As the reward of this faithful application he holds to-day, although thirty- one years of age, an enviable and honored place in the profession. He enjoys an extensive and re- munerative private practice. He served as city attorney of Monticello many years, but recently declined re-ap- pointment owing to the attention de- manded by other clients and business in- terests. He has been engaged in many important cases in the State Federal Courts, involving large interests and in- tricate and constitutional questions of law. Fortune, so much maligned for a fickle dame by the thriftless, seldom fails of kindly responding to him who thus persistently wooes her. Mr. Spencer is unmarried, and has as yet taken no active interest in political affairs. He is a member of the University Club of Indian- apolis, and the Iroquois Club of Chicago, and he belongs to a college fraternity
designated by the Greek letter appella- tion of Phi Kappa Psi.
JOHN B. COCKRUM.
John Barrett Cockrum is of the third generation of Cockrums which has claimed Indiana for its home. James W. Cockrum, the grandfather of John B., was one of the pioneers of Southern In- diana, coming from North Carolina and settling in Gibson county, where he en- tered large tracts of Government land. The town of Oakland City was laid out by him and he was a prominent citizen of it until his death. He served in the Gen- eral Assembly of Indiana as a representa- tive from Gibson county in the session of 1851. William M. Coekrum, his son, con- tinued his residence at Oakland City as a well-to-do farmer. He has an honorable war record as lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At Chickamauga he was badly wounded and after remaining on the field in a temporary hospital for seventeen days, he was removed to Libby Prison, remaining there for seven months. He was then ex- changed at Columbus, Ohio, and subse- quently had charge of the Post Military Prison at Nashville, Tennessee, for about a year, after which he resumed command of his regiment. Governor Matthews ap- pointed him a member of the Indiana Commission having in charge the erect- ing of the monuments for the Indiana regiments at Chickamauga Park, which
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position he still holds. John B. Cockrum, his son, was born at the old home in Oak- land City, September 12, 1837. When but four years of age he entered a coun- try school and from that time secured whatever educational facilities presented themselves. As Oakland increased in size and importance, it obtained a public school, of which John B. Cockrum be- came a pupil, graduating finally at the high school. After this he read law with Hon. J. E. Mccullough, at Princeton, In- diana, teaching school in winter, study- ing at night, as has been the record of so many successful men. After preliminary work of this kind, he entered the Cincin- nati Law School, from which he gradu- ated April 14, 1879, with the degree of LL. B. Soon afterward he removed to Booneville, Indiana, and formed a law partnership with Charles W. AArmstrong. In 1882, Judge John B. Handy retired from the bench and the firm of Handy, Armstrong & Cockrum was formed. In this firm Mr. Cockrum remained until March, 1889, being at that time appointed as assistant to the United States attorney for Indiana, by Hon. W. II. H. Miller, At- torney General, Hon. Smiley N. Chambers being district attorney. March 1, 1893, Mr. Cockrum received the appointment of assistant general attorney to the Lake Erie and Western Railway company, Mr. W. E. Ilackedorm at the time being gener- al attorney. His efficiency in this capac- ity met with a just acknowledgment in 1895, when he was made the general at- torney of the Lake Erie and Western and
the lines operated by it, a position which he still fills, and in the management of which he has acquired a wide and envi- able reputation. A prominent member of the Indianapolis bar says of him: "As a citizen John B. Cockrum is publie-spirit- ed and progressive, always interested and active in the prosecution of the public good. He is a member of many charitable organizations and influential in their councils. As a lawyer he is endowed by nature with great qualities. Before juries he is especially strong, being ready, aggressive and resourceful. His courage is equal to any emergency, while his tact saves his client from disaster. Honest, earnest and clear-headed, he shines easily among the first lawyers of this State." Mr. Cockrum has always been a Republi- can. Every campaign since that of 1880 has been assisted by his energy and in- fluence. Pure patriotism has been his in- centive, as he has not been an office-seek- er, having never held any official position except that of assistant United States dis- triet attorney for Indiana during the ad- ministration of Gen. Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Cockrum is a member of the Loyal Legion by inheritance. Of the city of In- dianapolis, Mr. Cockrum is a well-known and popular citizen; a man of large ac- quaintanceship and of much influence in many lines. He is an important member of the Columbia Club, being a member of the board of directors and chairman of the house committee. He is also a mem- ber of the Marion Club, the Commercial ('lub, the North Side Republican Club,
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the Dentsche Club, the Maennerchor So- ciety and the Country Club. In short there is no better-known club man in the city than Mr. Cockrum. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having held the office of Grand Patriarch of the State and is a Past Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. At the present time he is Grand Marshal of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. Mr. Cockrum belongs not only to all branches of Odd-Fellowship, but to all branches of Knights of Pythias as well, and is at this time (1898) Chief Tribune of the Grand Tribunal of Indiana. The Elks also claim him as a member and he is a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. In January, 1880, Mr. Cockrum was married to Miss Fannie C. Bittrolff, daughter of George A. Bittrolff, of Evansville, Indiana. They have a daughter, Miss Freda, aged seventeen, and a son, Oatley B., fifteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Cockrum have a pleasant home at 1405 College avenue, where they dispense the hospitalities acerning to their large acquaintanceship.
WILLIAM C. VAN ARSDEL.
William C. Van Arsdel, general man- ager of the New York Life Insurance Company for the State of Indiana, was born near Darlington, Montgomery coun- ty, Indiana, on the 19th of December, 1849. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Van Arsdel, and his remote ancestors on
the father's side, as the name indicates, were from Holland. In 1653, four broth- ers left Holland and came to this coun- try, settling in New Amsterdam, New York, and from this stock grew the branches of the Van Arsdel family. The paternal grandfather was a native of New Jersey, and was killed in the battle of Trenton in the Revolutionary War. The father of the subject of this sketch was born Jannary 3, 1795, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was the fath- er of a large family, and at a very early age became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was for over fifty years a local preacher in that denomina- tion. He spent the greater part of his life on a farm, in which he took a great interest. In 1856 he left the farm and re- moved to Thorntown, Indiana, to give his children better educational advantages. Mr. Van Arsdel was a pronounced Aboli- tionist, and participated with his party in the early agitation of the questions which eventually brought about the free- dom of the colored race. He was a sol- dier in the War of 1812, and was a mem- ber of Captain Zenor's company, guard- ing block-houses in Southern Indiana while General Harrison was engaged with Indians in the battle of Tippecanoe. Elizabeth, the mother of our subject, died in 1889. William C. Van Arsdel acquired a good common school education in the schools of Montgomery county and at Thorntown Academy. In 1870 he entered Asbury University, where he remained a short time. In the spring of 1871 he went
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to Indianapolis and began the study of law in the office of Walker & Ritter, where he remained three years. After- ward he traveled for fourteen years in the wholesale clothing business. He they be- came connected with the New York Life Insurance Company as special agent, thus beginning his successful career in the business in which he has shown special adaptation and proficiency. He was pro- moted by the company in 1897 to the position of agency director for the State of Indiana, with headquarters at Indian- apolis. Under his careful management the company has prospered, and no life insurance company surpasses it in volume of business done in the State. Mr. Van Arsdel inherits many of the characteris- ties of his father. Scrupulously honest in all his dealings, commanding confidence in all his personal engagements, he has made a host of friends throughout the State. For many years he has been an active member of the Methodist Church, and is now a member of the Broadway M. E. Church of Indianapolis. Mr. Van Ars- del is thoroughly domestic in his tastes, and in his home, Mrs. Van Arsdel joins him in dispensing a gracious hospitality. William C. Van Arsdel has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Frankie E. Hawk, whom he married in Indianap- olis May 13, 1874. She died in 1893, leav- ing no children. He was again married, March 12, 1895, to Miss Emma P. Parr, a daughter of Rev. P. K. Parr, of Frank- lin, Indiana, and two children were born of this union, a son and a daughter. Since
reaching his majority, Mr. Van Arsdel has been a staunch Republican, and is strong in the advocacy of the principles of that party. In 1894 he was elected to the General Assembly of the State of In- diana, from Indianapolis, of which body he was a conspicuous member, and was chairman of the Fee and Salary Commit- tee. He was the author of the Fee and Salary bill, which became a law. This law is now saving $75,000 per year in the State-house alone. He was elected pres- ident of the Commercial Travelers' Re- publican Club in 1890, and held that po- sition several years. Mr. Van Arsdel has been a close student of human nature all of his life, and to this fact may be attrib- uted his great success in his chosen call- ing
CHARLES R. HENDERSON.
Professor Charles Richmond Hender- son, D. D., Chair of Sociology, University of Chicago, was born at Covington, Foun- tain county, Indiana, December 17, 1848. His parents were Albert and Lorraine (Richmond) Henderson. The rudiments of his education he obtained in the public schools of his native town, after which he attended the high school of La Fay- ette, Indiana, preparatory to entering col- lege. His first year of collegiate work was spent in Michigan, at the Kalamazoo college. He then entered the old Chicago University, from which he graduated in 1870, with the degree of B. A. Three years later he graduated from the Baptist
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Union Theological Seminary-now Divin- ity School of the Chicago University- with the degree of B. D. He was now ready to begin his labors, in his chosen field-where he was called before gradu- ation-the First Baptist church of Terre Haute, Indiana. He entered upon his duties in May, 1873, and for nearly ten years continued to shepherd his first flock. In August of 1882, he accepted a call. to the La Fayette Avenue Baptist Church, of Detroit, Michigan. This church was, like that of Terre Haute, the scene oï his labors for ten years, and under his guidance flourished almost phenomenally, until its congregation ranked among the foremost in the country in numbers and strength. Finding its old church inade- quate to its purpose, it erected a spacious and splendid edifice on Woodward ave- nue, and during the ten years, expended upwards of half a million dollars in philanthropic work. In August, 1892, he bade farewell to the church to which he had been so great an inspiration, and which, in turn, had supported him so loy- ally, and entered a new, and much broader field of activity in the University of Chi- cago. Here he has since remained, doing high credit to each of the several capac- ities in which his versatile abilities have found employment. He is at once an earn- est student and faithful instructor in the vast and intricate problems of Sociology; as Chaplain directs the religious work of the institution; and as a member of its senate and council helps turn its govern- mental wheel. Prof. Henderson is a
writer of no ordinary ability. Ever since his student days at the old university he has contributed to periodical literature, and during the tenure of his present po- sition, he has earned a reputation as an authority on sociological questions, and has given to the world a number of im- portant works, the titles and publishers of which are: "Social Elements"- Charles Scribner's Sons; "Social Spirit in America"-Chautauqua Press; "Social Settlements"-Lentilhon & Company; "Introduction to the Study of Depend- ents, Defectives and Delinquents"-D. C. Heath & Co .; "Development of Doctrine in the Epistles"-American Baptist Pub- lication Society. He contributes occasion- ally to the Dial, a progressive Chicago publication, and is associate editor of both the American Journal of Theology and the American Journal of Sociology. Mr. Henderson is noted for the zeal and productiveness of his philanthropic work. For a number of years he has of- ficiated as chairman of the executive com- mittee of Chicago's Bureau of Associated Charities. He is a member of the Ameri- can Academy of Political and Social Science, of the American Economic Asso- ciation, of the National Prison Associa- tion, honorary member of the New York Prison Association and President of the Twenty-sixth National Conference of Charities and Correction. On the four- teenth of May, 1873, Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Ella L. Levering, a sketch of whose father, William H. Levering, of La Fayette, appears in another part of
Daniel Stewart
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this volume. Of their union was born one son, christened Albert L., who was taken from them by death at the age of three years. Mr. Henderson has always cast his vote with the Republicans, al- though of independent tendencies. He has never entered largely into politics, or, rather, he has never entered into them narrowly; for the scientific student of so- cial conditions is a politician in the larg- est sense-the sense which consists less with two hostile parties than with one great fraternity, and a patriotism that is broadened to include all human relations. A member of the faculty of the Univer- sity of Chicago, who is in a position to know whereof he speaks, says of Mr. Hen- derson: "He is eminently open-minded -- able to appreciate every point of view, and holding opinion in reserve until he has patiently investigated all the facts which can be reached. He is profoundly sympathetic. His single motive is to find out the truth, to be just, to help those who need help. This is the key to his character. As an instructor and col- lege officer, he wins the unwavering re- spect and love of his associates, both among the faculty and students. As an author, his work is modest, but solid. He is one of the strong men of our country, and one whose strength is used with no stain of selfishness."
DANIEL STEWART.
To have achieved success in any walk of life is a distinction, whether it be in a
professional, political or business career. A success in the mercantile line is what Daniel Stewart accomplished, and that through his unaided exertions, using simply the energy, industry, integrity and sagacity that distinguished him as much before as after he became the head of one of the largest and best known whole- sale drug houses in the country. He did not acquire his success by mere drudgery, but by his executive ability. He had keen judgment and quick decision, and a chief factor in his success was his insight into character, which amounted almost to the intuition of a woman. The story of his life makes the heart beat more warmly, as in his life-time many and many a heart was warmed by his genial smile and the friendly pressure of his hand. His ancestors, who were of Scotch descent and followers of King Charles, fled to the hospitable land of Holland, and from there sailed on the ship "Caledonia," to New Jersey, where they settled on the Raritan river. They became later pioneers in Pennsylvania. The records of that State show that his ancestors, belonging to both the Stewart and Hendricks families, were distin- guished in politics and war. Many mem- bers of these families still retained these characteristics when they removed to In- diana, where they represented their State in Congress, and two filled the office of Governor, and another the office of Vice President of the United States. The early home of Daniel Stewart was Greensburg, Indiana, where he was born
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February 3, 1824, and in the development of which town his immediate ancestors had taken an active part. The tract of land covered by Greensburg was once the property of Mr. Stewart's maternal grandfather, Abraham Hendricks, and the infant town was given its name by Mrs. Hendricks in honor of her own na- tive Greensburg in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Strongly attached to the place of his birth, Daniel passed a happy boyhood in Greensburg, attending its schools. In his first efforts at self sup- port, made when a mere boy, he found employment in a printing office, where he
gained some proficiency as a compositor.
This was but a temporary occupation, and not the one he would have best enjoyed; yet with his habitual sanguine view of things, he managed to get some satisfac- tion out of the situation, congratulating
himself upon this rare opportunity to be- come an accomplished speller. At the age of sixteen he began his business ca- reer as a clerk in the drug store of Sam- uel Bryan. Three years later, in 1843, his father joining with him, he bought out the business of Mr. Bryan, and for several
years father and son carried it on as part-
ners. Daniel being unmarried, however, while his father had a family to sup- port, the inequality in their expenditures resulted in a corresponding inequality in favor of the younger man, in their re-
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