USA > Indiana > Governors of Indiana, illustrated > Part 3
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THOMAS A.HENDRICKS GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1873-1877
JAMES D. WILLIAMS
J AMES DOUGLAS WILLIAMS, the seventeenth Governor of Indi- ana, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 16, 1808. His family removed to Knox County, Indiana, in 1818, and settled near Vincennes. Here he remained until January, 1877, when he removed to Indianapolis to take the Governor's chair. When Governor Williams first came to Indiana, the State was yet new and was sparsely populated. He underwent all the struggles and hardships of the pioneer and experi- enced the usual difficulties of a poor farmer's boy in getting an education. The little schooling he received was obtained in the log school house during short periods of his release from his labors on his father's farm. But if he failed to acquire much book learning, he was more successful in gaining an education of the ways of the world. While not learned or widely read, he was well. grounded in basic principles and had a good general knowledge of current events. He was known for his industry and enterprise and was held in the highest esteem by his associates. When he reached the age of twenty, his father died, and upon him devolved the care of the farm and the raising of his five younger brothers and sisters. Governor Williams entered public life in 1839 as Justice of the Peace. His knowledge of law was limited, but his decisions always showed rare good sense and undoubted fairness. In 1843 he resigned the office to take a seat in the State Legislature. There he served almost continuously until 1874, during which time he influenced the passage of many good and wise laws and was a member of many important committees. He was a candidate for United States Senator in 1872, but was defeated by Governor Morton. In 1874 he was elected to Congress. One morning while serving as congressman he received a telegram informing him that he had been nominated for Governor of Indiana. He was greatly sur- prised, for he had not been a candidate for the office. The ensuing cam- paign was a memorable one. His opponent was Benjamin Harrison. Governor Williams always dressed plainly, and in the heat of the cam- paign it was sought to ridicule him by calling him "Blue Jeans." Instead of creating disrespect for him, the name met the popular fancy and "Blue Jeans" clubs were formed thruout the State. To the surprise of almost every one, Williams was elected to the office, which he administered with excellent executive ability. He died before his term expired, on Novem- ber 20, 1880.
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JAMES D.WILLIAMS GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1877 1881
ALBERT G. PORTER
A LBERT GALLATIN PORTER, the eighteenth Governor of In- diana, was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, April 20, 1824. He was the second Indiana Governor to be born within the confines of the State. His early education was obtained in the public schools at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. His family early moved to Kentucky and Albert and a younger brother were entrusted with the running of a ferry boat across the Ohio river, nearly opposite Lawrenceburg. From his earnings he saved enough money to enter Hanover College. His slender means were soon exhausted and he was forced to return home, but he resolved to try again. Fortunately at this period an uncle came to his assistance and provided means to finish his course. He entered Asbury (now DePauw) University at Greencastle, where he graduated in 1843. He returned to Lawrenceburg and studied law with Philip Spooner, then removed to Indianapolis and opened a law office. He was successful from the start and soon his fine legal knowledge and affable manners won him a large practice. He was City Attorney from 1851 to 1853, when, a vacancy occurring in the office of Reporter of the Supreme Court, Governor Wright appointed him to the office. The following year he was elected to the same position. However, before the close of his term, the pro-slavery character and tendency of the Democratic party became so apparent to him that he renounced allegiance to it and joined the Repub- licans in their first national campaign, supporting General Fremont for the Presidency. In 1850 Porter was nominated by the Republican Con- vention of the Sixth district as its candidate for Congress, to which office he was elected by a large majority. He was again elected to the office in 1860 and 1862. He supported vigorously all measures for the prosecu- tion of the war. During his whole term he was an active member of the Judiciary Committee and drafted many of its reports. Upon the com- pletion of his term he declined re-election, as he desired to resume the practice of law and provide a competence for his family, for which the salary of a congressman was then utterly inadequate. For fourteen years following he applied himself closely to his profession, gaining a high reputation as a lawyer and amassing a comfortable fortune. He was especially successful as a jury lawyer where important rights were in- volved. He was a popular orator and his public speeches were models of effective and convincing argument. In 1877 he was appointed by President Hayes to be the first Comptroller of the Treasury. He resigned the office in 1880 to accept the nomination for Governor of Indiana. He was elected, his popularity being attested by his getting 2,000 votes more than any other candidate on the ticket. Governor Porter's messages and papers evidence a ripe judgment, and his conduct of the office was wise and beneficial to the State. In 1809 Governor Porter was appointed by President Harrison Minister to Italy, and for three years he resided in Rome. He died in Indianapolis May 3, 1897.
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ALBERT G.PORTER GOVERNOR OF INDIANA IBBI-1885
ISAAC P. GRAY
I SAAC PUSEY GRAY, the nineteenth Governor of Indiana, was born near Downington, Chester County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1828. When eight years old, his family moved to Ohio and settled at New Madison. Here Isaac grew to manhood and became proprietor of a dry goods store. In 1855 he removed to Union City, Indiana, where he soon became one of its leading citizens. He at first embarked in the dry goods business, but later went into banking. He studied law in his spare time and was admitted to the bar. After several years of successful practice and upon the breaking out of the war, he enlisted and became Captain of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry, but was forced to resign on account of ill health. He also raised and organized the 147th regiment of Indiana Volunteers and was Colonel of the 105th Indiana regiment (minute men). At the close of the war he returned to Union City and established the Citizens Bank. In 1868 he was elected State Senator from Randolph County on the Republican ticket. Becoming dissatisfied with the administration of President Grant, he joined the Greeley Liberal Movement in 1872, and from that time acted with the Democrats. He was in 1876 nominated by acclamation for Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana and was elected. In 1880 he was a candidate for the nomination for Governor, but lost it by four votes. He was Lieutenant-Governor under Governor Williams. When the latter died in November, 1880, Gray became Governor. He was nominated and elected to the same position in 1884 and served the full term. Governor Gray was highly respected and was the recognized leader of his party in Indiana. Four years after completing his term as Governor, he was appointed by President Cleveland Minister to Mexico. He returned to Indianapolis on leave of absence in 1895 to attend the farewell reception given by Governor Matthews. On the journey back to 1 Mexico he was stricken with paralysis and died soon after his arrival at the City of Mexico. The date of his death was February 14, 1895.
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ISAAC P. GRAY GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1885-1889
ALVIN P. HOVEY
A LVIN PETERSON HOVEY, the twentieth Governor of Indiana, was born in Mount Vernon, Indiana, September 6, 1821. There he spent his early life and suffered much hardship and deprivation. He attended the common schools in Mount Vernon and began life as a brickmason. By studying law after his day's work he qualified himself for admittance to the bar in 1843. He gave to his profession the same close application and habits of hard work to which he had accustomed himself at his trade, and his rise was very rapid, in politics, as well as at the bar. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850 and in the same year was elected Circuit Judge of Southern Indiana. In 1856 and 1858 he served as United States District Attorney for the State. He had a brilliant record as a soldier during the war, being appointed Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Indiana volunteers in July 1861; in 1862 was pro- moted to Brigadier General of volunteers, and in 1864 was for meritorious and distinguished services brevetted Major-General of volunteers. He was in command of the Eastern district of Arkansas in 1863, and of the district of Indiana in 1864-65. General Grant in his official report awarded to General Hovey the honor of winning the key battle of the Vicksburg campaign, that of Champion's Hill, conceded by military critics, in view of its vast consequences, to be one of the five decisive battles of the Civil War, and second only in importance to the battle of Gettysburg. General Hovey resigned his commission in October, 1865, and was appointed Minister to Peru, which office he held for five years. He then returned to Indiana and resumed the practice of law. In 1886 he was elected to Congress from the Evansville district, which previously had been strongly Democratic. In Congress he attracted attention by the earnestness with which he advocated more liberal pensions for widows, and he was always a stanch supporter of measures for the benefit of ex- Union soldiers. Largely to this fact was due his nomination for Governor in 1888. The soldiers of the State gave him their solid support and were a very important factor in his subsequent election to the office. Governor Hovey was a fine Latin scholar and an accomplished writer of both prose and verse. He was strongly partisan, but was never vindictive or abusive. In person he was dignified and imposing, in character he was self reliant and determined. He was always popular with the people, and without doubt would have won higher political honors had he lived longer. Gov- ernor Hovey was taken ill in Indianapolis and died November 3, 1891, before the expiration of his term of office.
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ALVIN P. HOVEY GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1889 - 1891
IRA J. CHASE
I "RA JOY CHASE, the twenty-first Governor of Indiana, was born in Rockport, New York, December 7, 1834. Most of his boyhood was spent in Orleans County, New York, where he attended the public schools. He later removed to Ohio, and there he attended the Milan Seminary and the Medina Academy. At the age of twenty he accompa- nied his father on a westward trip, driving a team thru Indiana and Michigan and landing in Chicago, which was then only a village. He worked on a farm and engaged in trading. In 1857 he joined the Chris- tian Church and became an enthusiastic worker. At the commencement of the war he was the first man to enlist from Barrington, Illinois. He assisted in raising a company, to which he was elected First Lieutenant. Enlistments were so numerous that the Government could not accept all, and the company was disbanded, or rather absorbed into Company C, Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers, in which Chase was made Sergeant. This regiment saw hard and continuous service thruout the war, serving in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, during the first year. Ill health caused Chase to be discharged in 1863. He then prepared himself for the ministry, and in 1867 became pastor of the Christian Church at Mish- awaka, Indiana. Later he had charges at Laporte, Wabash and Danville; also at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at Peoria, Illinois. He had a remarkable power to hold the interest of his audiences. He was earnest, generous, sympathetic, and was greatly loved by all who knew him. He was very prominent in G. A. R. circles, was twice Department Chaplain, and once Department Commander. In 1886 he was nominated by the Fifth district to a seat in Congress, and nearly defeated Colonel C. C. Matson, who was elected to his fourth term. Chase was prominently mentioned for the nomination for Governor in 1888, and got a substantial vote, but was defeated by Alvin P. Hovey. Chase was then nominated by acclamation for Lieutenant-Governor, to which office he was elected, and served two terms as presiding officer of the Senate. On the death of Governor Hovey he served as Acting Governor from November 24, 1891, to January 8, 1893. At the next convention he was nominated to succeed himself, but was defeated at the polls by Claude Matthews. After retiring from office Governor Chase again took up his ministry work, which he continued until the close of his life. He died at Lubec, Maine, May 11, 1895.
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IRA I CHASE GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1891-1893
CLAUDE MATTHEWS
C LAUDE MATTHEWS, the twenty-second Governor of Indiana, was born in Bethel, Bath County, Kentucky, December 14, 1845. His father was a prosperous farmer. Until he was sixteen years of age Claude attended the village school. Naturally the boy became familiar with farming and stock raising and was of great help to his father. When John Morgan raided Kentucky the elder Matthews was fearful of losing his herds, and despatched Claude with a drove of 500 mules to Ross County, Ohio. This trip proved a momentous one for the boy, for before he returned he met Martha A. Whitcomb, the fourteen- year-old daughter of Governor Whitcomb, of Indiana. Later, when Claude was attending Center College, at Danville, Kentucky, it happened that Miss Whitcomb was a student at a girls' school in the same town. The young people found many opportunities to be together, and the youthful attachment ripened into love. Claude graduated from college in 1867 and the year following married Martha Whitcomb and settled on a farm in Vermillion County, Indiana. Matthews soon established a reputation as a stock breeder and in a few years was recognized as an authority on the subject. He led in forming the Short Horn Breeders' Association of Indiana, and was the originator of the American Short Horn Breeders' Association of the United States and Canada. He began to take part in politics. In 1876 he was elected a Representative to the Indiana Legislature, where he exerted his influence in the interest of the farmers. His popularity increased steadily and he was nominated for State Senator, but was defeated at the election. In 1890 he was nomi- nated and elected to the office of Secretary of State, in which he acquitted himself so creditably that he came out for Governor in 1892. He was elected to this office by a majority exceeding that of any other candidate on the ticket. In his administration of the office he was wise and re- sourceful. He was conciliatory between factions, yet when occasion de- manded he did not hesitate to use the strong hand. During the great strike of the coal miners, when all other means of quelling disturbances failed, he promptly put them down by calling out the State Militia. The same means were used a short time later to control the lawless acts of the railway strikers. Yet the need was so manifest, and the Governor's motives so praiseworthy, that after their passions had subsided the strikers themselves conceded that the course adopted was fully justified by the circumstances. Governor Matthews was genial and lovable. He had friends without number. To know him was to like him. What wonder, then, that the whole State mourned when he was stricken with paralysis while addressing an old settlers' meeting, near Veedersburg, and died three days later, on August 25, 1898.
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CLAUDE MATTHEWS GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1893-1897
JAMES A. MOUNT
J AMES ATWELL MOUNT, the twenty-third Governor of Indiana, was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, March 24, 1843. He was one of twelve children and spent his early boyhood in the usual round of hard work on the farm. His only education was obtained in the district schools, but it was supplemented with hard study and extensive reading out of school. He early learned habits of frugality and thrift. He was an ardent patriot and when nineteen years old enlisted in the Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers, which became part of the famous Wilder's Brigade. . General Wilder himself has testified to his bravery at the battle of Chickamauga. At the close of the war, feeling the need of more education, he entered the Presbyterian Academy at Lebanon, Indiana. His limited means became exhausted after the first year, but during this period he applied himself so closely to his studies that he covered a two years' course. He then married and rented a small farm, where he began housekeeping in a very humble manner. For more than twenty years he applied himself closely to farming, with the result that he acquired a fine, fully equipped farm of more than five hundred acres, modern thruout, and a model to his neighbors. His great success as a far- mer led him to give his ideas in the form of lectures before farm institutes over the State, which won him wide popularity among the farmers. In 1888 he was elected State Senator and served four years. In 1896 his name was brought before the State Convention as a candidate for Governor, to which there were twelve prominent aspirants, and he was chosen on the seventh ballot. His unquestioned integrity and unimpeachable character won him the election by a plurality larger than was ever before obtained in Indiana for either a presidential or gubernatorial candidate. In direct- ing the affairs of the State and in the expenditure of the public funds he paid the same strict attention to details that he had always practiced in his own business. It was largely thru his efforts that the benevolent and penal institutions were placed upon a non-partisan basis. Governor Mount was always a devoted Presbyterian and was active in Sunday school work. He was an effective speaker, being very concise in his state- ments and convincing in his arguments. The cares of office undermined his health and two weeks after the expiration of his term of office he died in Indianapolis, January 16, 1901.
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JAMES A MOUNT GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1897-1901
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WINFIELD T. DURBIN
W INFIELD TAYLOR DURBIN, the twenty-fourth Governor of Indiana, was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, May 4, 1847. His boyhood and early manhood were passed in New Philadelphia, Indiana, where he attended the common schools. In the summer of 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteers Infantry, but owing to an injury to his left hand and arm he did not join the regiment at Camp Morton until October of the same year. He was refused muster on account of his injury, but insisted on accompanying the regiment to the front. He participated in the investment of Vicksburg, also in the battle of Arkansas Pass, but was soon compelled to return home on account of illness. The following spring he assisted in organizing Company K, 139th Indiana Volunteers Infantry. He refused a commission, as he pre- ferred to serve in the ranks. This regiment was mustered out in 1864. Returning to New Philadelphia, Durbin taught school and worked with his father at the tanner's trade. In Mr. Durbin's own pointed phraseology, he "tanned salt hides in the summer and fresh hides in the winter." In October, 1869, he went to Indianapolis and worked for a wholesale dry goods firm, and very soon rose to a responsible position. He removed to Anderson in 1879 and assisted in organizing the Citizens Bank. He embarked in other enterprises, in all of which he was eminently successful. He had always taken an active interest in politics and for six years was chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee. He was Presi- dential elector and delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1892, and also in 1896. On the breaking out of the Spanish-American War he was appointed by Governor Mount paymaster of the Indiana National Guard, with the rank of Colonel, and on June 18th of the same year was appointed Colonel of the 161st Indiana Volunteers Infantry, which regiment went into camp at Jacksonville, Florida, but did not take an active part in the war. Mr. Durbin was elected to the Governor's office in 1901 and served his full term of four years, afterwards returning to Anderson, where he now resides.
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WINFIELD 1. DURBIN GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1901-1905
J. FRANK HANLY
J AMES FRANKLIN HANLY, the twenty-fifth Governor of Indiana, was born near St. Joseph, Champaign County, Illinois, April 4, 1863. Young Hanly did not get much early education. His opportunities were few, for he went to work at a very early age. He was employed as a common laborer on various farms in his home county, and with his meager earnings he was able to contribute to the support of his parents. In 1879 he walked to Williamsport, Indiana, and was intermittently employed at sawing wood, between whiles attending school. By the strictest economy he managed to save up enough money to take a short course at the Eastern Illinois Normal School, at Danville. Thereafter for a number of years he taught school in the winter and worked at other employment in the summer. In 1888, while digging tile ditches, it was suggested to him by Judge Rabb of Williamsport that he take part in a local campaign and fill speaking appointments in Warren and adjoining counties. His speeches were a great success, and his friends wisely foretold a bright future for him. In 1889 he was admitted to the Warren County bar and began to practice law at Williamsport. A year later he was elected to the State Senate, where he at once took front rank as a forceful debater. In 1894 he was elected to Congress from the Ninth district. He served only one term in Congress, but made a good record and formed friendships that proved of incalculable value to him in his later career. He removed to Lafayette in 1896 and formed a law partnership with Senator Will R. Wood. Mr. Hanly continued to take an active part in public affairs, and was a formidable candidate for United States Senator, but was defeated by Senator Beveridge by only a few votes. In 1904 he was nominated for Governor of the State. After one of the greatest campaigns ever waged by a candidate for office, he was elected by the unprecedented majority of nearly 85,000 votes, the largest ever given to a gubernatorial candidate of either party in Indiana. Governor Hanly has always been a stanch supporter of prohibition, and in 1916 was the Prohibition candidate for President of the United States.
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IFRANK HANLY GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1905-1909
THOMAS R. MARSHALL
T HOMAS RILEY MARSHALL, the twenty-sixth Governor of Indi- ana, was born in North Manchester, Indiana, March 14, 1854. His father was a physician, a direct descendant of Chief Justice John Marshall, the Revolutionary patriot and jurist. On his mother's side he can claim relationship with John Carroll, of Carrollton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Marshall's early education was obtained at the public schools of his native town. He later entered Wabash College and graduated in 1873, at the age of nineteen. At col- lege he was painstaking and thorough and a leader in the debates in his college literary society. He began the practice of law in Columbia City and soon won recognition as a thoroughly competent lawyer. In his county few important cases were tried but that he was employed on one side or the other. He gained a reputation thruout the State and was elected Governor of Indiana in 1909, by a plurality of 8,000 votes, a result that was due largely to his striking personality. His record in office was such as to give him national prominence, and in 1912 he was elected Vice-President of the United States, an office which he now holds. He was renominated for the same office in 1916.
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THOMAS R.MARSHALL GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1909-1913
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SAMUEL M. RALSTON
S AMUEL MOFFETT RALSTON, the twenty-seventh Governor of Indiana, was born on a farm near New Cumberland, Ohio, Decem- ber 1, 1857. With his parents he removed to Indiana in 1865 and settled in Owen County. He had no opportunity in his youth to go to school, but in early manhood he realized that if he was to make his way in the world and achieve the position in life that his ambitions sought, he must have an education. He was largely self-taught, applying himself to his purpose with such earnestness that he was soon able to obtain a license as a teacher. For seven years he taught school in the winter months and attended summer school during vacation. He later entered the Northern Indiana School, at Valparaiso, and also attended the Cen- tral Indiana Normal School, at Danville, graduating from the latter in the scientific course in 1884. He then studied law in the office of Robin- son & Fowler, at Spencer, and was admitted to the bar January 1, 1886. He began to practice law at Lebanon, where he quickly established him- self. As a cross-examiner of witnesses he has few equals, and he is espe- cially strong in cases involving the rules of equity, or the constitutionality of statutes. He is vigorous in prosecution of cases and is regarded by many as one of the foremost defensive criminal lawyers of the State. He was President of the Lebanon School Board for a number of years and was presidential elector in 1892. Other than this he never held public office until he was nominated and elected Governor of Indiana in 1913, of which office he is the present incumbent.
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SAMUEL M.RALSTON GOVERNOR OF INDIANA 1913-1917
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