USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 32
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" I ain't got any."
" Well you must get one, no one admitted here unless he has on a tie."
Pence, of course, provided himself with a necktie, which he wore on that occasion, but has laid it aside since returning to the land of the stars and stripes. He appeared before not- ables of all grades and titles during his stay across the Atlantic, but in a gambling house was the only place his attire was challenged.
A story is told of John when he was in Washington, D. C., getting his passports and letter, preparatory to leaving for his European trip. It is said he was in a group of prom- inent gentlemen, congressmen, senators, judges and depart- ment people, discussing his departure and the prospects of a pleasant time.
There was a congressman in the party who was a preacher. He at a proper point broke in :
" I suppose Mr. Pence, you will visit the Holy Land on your trip ?" "Oh h-1 yes. I wouldn't miss that." The party smiled a loud smile, but Pence didn't notice it, and felt just as good as if he had expressed himself in some other way; he said just what he meant and put the proper stress on it to emphasize his meaning. John Pence may be summed up as a man with a big head full of good, hard sense ; a noble heart full of good feeling for his friends, and a man full of glittering eccentricities. A man who is as ready to applaud the right as he is to denounce the wrong. He has held many places of honor and trust, and in all his dealings in public as well as in private positions, not a single cent has ever gone astray.
He was postmaster at Anderson under Cleveland, and held over for nearly a year under Harrison, when he resigned the place, not by invitation from the administration but as a matter of choice.
CHAPTER XLV.
REMINISCENCES AND PERSONAL SKETCHES.
A HERO OF THE BATTLE OF RICHMOND, KENTUCKY.
Robert Titherington is an old-timer in all that the word implies. He has been here through all of the ups and downs of Anderson. He has associated with all classes of men. Was one of the warmest friends and admirers of the late Col. T. N. Stilwell in his lifetime. It is quite a treat to take a leisure hour and listen to " Daddy ," as he is familiarly called, recite some of the lights and shadows of his career in An- derson.
He enlisted in the army for the defense of the old flag he so dearly loves, was out a few days in the field with his com- pany, and was hastened to the front of the enemy at Rich- mond, Ky. "They fought well but fell early ." They were unmercifully " licked " in less than no time. The company was ordered to retreat and they made haste to obey orders. When Daddy got to retreating he never stopped till he reached An- derson. It was said that he beat the telegraphic news home. The first the Anderson people knew that a battle had been fought was when he came to town. Ilis company never had his presence thereafter. He immediately resigned. One drub- bing was all he wanted.
One of the closest calls Robert ever had was when C. T. Doxey's heading factory blew up in 1870. He was boarding in a house that stood right up against the head of the boiler. The boiler jumped out of its bed and shot through the house like a cannon ball. There were six persons in the building. all in one room, when the boiler passed through, not one of whom was even scratched. The house was a total wreck. A pet coon was tied outside which was never seen or heard tell of again. Robert flew up town as soon as he recovered from the shock. Being met by some friends, he was asked what he thought had happened when the boiler went through the house. He said he thought " hell was up."
There is not a resident of Madison county who has lived here for any length of time who does not know the subject of
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this sketch. His business career and his years of practice of his profession, that of a doctor of medicine, endeared him to many of the households of the community ; besides, he was in his younger days a leading politician, and was honored by the people by being selected as school commissioner, a highly responsible place, being charged with the sale and accounting for, of a vast area of Madison county's domain, designated as "school lands," the same having been set apart by Congress for the purpose of creating a common-school fund for the edu-
INWesternfica
cation of the youth of the State. Every sixteenth section of land in each county was set apart for this purpose, and a com- missioner was elected to sell and convey the same to the pur- chasers, and to have charge of the collection and accounting for of the proceeds thereof. This duty Dr. Westerfield filled to the entire satisfaction of the people, who demonstrated 24
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
their appreciation by electing him to the office of county auditor, which place he filled for four years.
The Doctor was born in Preble county, Ohio, June 1, 1816, the year in which Indiana was admitted into the Union, being of German parentage. At the age of twelve years he came to this State, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 29th of September, 1895. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Bussell, of Rush county, on the 17th of March, 1842, who yet survives him, and lives at the old home on North Main street, in Anderson.
As stated in another part of this volume, Dr. Westerfield was the first druggist in Anderson, and had his store at the .corner of Eighth and Main streets.
In his early life he was a prominent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, but about the year 1850 he and Mrs. Westerfield began the investigation of Spiritualism, and bo- came devoted believers in that doctrine, and ever after lived in that belief, and the Doctor died firm in the faith.
Dr. Westerfield was the president of the State Associa- tion of Spiritualists at the time of his death, having served continuously in that capacity from the time of the organiza- tion of the society.
He and his estimable wife were fondly alluded to as the father and mother of Spiritualism in Indiana by the members of the association. Much of the wonderful growth of the be- lief and the success of this organization was due to the efforts of these two worthy people.
Although Dr. Westerfield had many neighbors and ac- quaintances who bitterly opposed his belief, there was never one who uttered a word against his sincerity or doubted his honor in anywise. His word was as good as gold, and his integrity as pure and as unsullied as the mountain snow.
CAPTAIN ETHAN M. ALLEN.
Captain Ethan M. Allen was a born gentleman. It was as natural for him to be polite as it was for a duck to swim. In all his intercourse with his fellow-men he never forgot to be suave in his manners ; even if he quarrelled with a brother or had an altercation with any person whosoever, if it became necessary to hurl epithets, it was done in the choicest language, and with the utmost politeness. He will be remembered by all the older residents of the county. He was born on the 26th of August, 1837, and died on the first day of August, 1879,
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at the age of 41 years. He was the only son of William B. Allen, ex-sheriff of the county. He attended the common schools in Anderson township, and became very proficient in the studies of that day, and later in life he became a great reader, informing himself upon all leading topics. He was a fine conversationalist, and it was a great treat to listen to him.
In 1860 he entered the law office of Hon. R. N. Williams, and began the study of law, but when the war broke out in the following year, he was among the first to enlist. He en- tered the service for three years as First Lieutenant of Com- pany G, of the 17th Indiana Regiment, and served through the campaigns of that organization, especially in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee. In 1862 he was promoted to the Captaincy of his company. His record as a soldier was above reproach. He was generally esteemed by all his comrades.
In 1863 he was detailed by Governor Morton as Provost- Marshal of this district, which position he retained until 1865, rendering efficient and valuable service.
In 1865, his time having expired, he returned to his home, and in the following year he was a candidate for township trustee against B. B. Campbell, the Democratic nominee, and although the township was largely in favor of the Democracy, his opponent carried the day with but few votes to spare.
In 1867 he purchased the Ross House, then the leading hotel of the city, which stood on the corner of Tenth and Main streets. He kept this elegant hostelry for several years, and then disposed of it to Mr. George R. Griffith, now de- ceased.
He was a lover of the beautiful in nature, poetry, music, and the fine arts, with a soul exuberant with wit and gener- ous impulses. In his friendships he was sincere and affection- ate; to his enemies, who were few, he was conciliatory and forgiving. He was an uncompromising Republican, and Inever failed to defend the doctrines of his party whenever oc- "Casion required it. His wife, who survives him, was a daugh- Cer of the late Seth Smith, at one time a prominent personage in Anderson, and the father of Thomas E. Smith.
During Captain Allen's incumbency of the Provost Marshal's office, he had a serious adventure in Anderson on the 4th of July, 1862, in the attempt to capture and place Zander arrest one Jonathan Benefiel, who had deserted from the army. The Democracy of the county on that day had a Large gathering and celebration, in what is now called Rud-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
dle's grove. Benefiel was in attendance. The meeting was addressed by the Hon. James W. Sansberry, a leading politi- cian of the day. Captain Allen, who had been on the lookout for him, spied him, and undertook to place him under arrest. Benefiel was a very powerful man, and fought his way to liberty through the crowd, many of whom had responded to Allen's demands for assistance.
Benefiel made his escape and was for a long time a fugitive, but was afterward arrested and returned to his com- mand, court-martialed and sentenced for a term to Ship Island, where he died.
In justice to Mr. Benefiel and his friends, we state, from what we can learn about this affair, that his leaving his com- mand was not from any disloyalty, or lack of true patriotism, but was the result of a disappointment in getting a place promised him when he enlisted. It is claimed that as an in- ducement to get him to volunteer, he was to be wagon- master of the regiment, and after being sworn in it was denied him. This so enraged him that he swore he would suffer death rather than the humiliation of being reduced to the ranks, which he fully carried out. Mr. Benefiel has many friends living in this county. Captain Allen's widow and her excellent and interesting family yet reside in Anderson.
WILLIAM CONNER, AN OLD-TIMER.
William Conner was an old-timer, of whom worthy men- tion must be made. He for many years lived down on White river, on the Perkinsville road, in an unpretentious house made of hewn logs, where he and his family lived as happily as man ever lives in this world.
Over the door of the entrance to the house were two little wooden forks, made from the limbs of a small dog-wood bush, in which was carefully laid an old-fashioned " long-range " rifle ; to it was also added a calf-skin pouch and a large cock-spur gun charger. These implements were not kept by William for offense or defense, but merely for the pleasure they offered him in hunting and trapping quail, squirrels, deer and other game. He was a crack shot and a " dandy " at a shooting- match. No man ever entered the cabin of William Conner who did not meet a hearty welcome and the warm hospitality of his generous heart. He had not an enemy in the wide world. A Saturday never passed during his long residence in
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
this county that he did not visit Anderson, unless he was sick and unable to come.
He was nearly six and a half feet tall and commanded the attention of every one as he leisurely stalked through the streets, with his linsey hunting jacket on, shot pouch around his shoulders and his old-time rifle across his back. He always brought his rifle, for it was nearly an every Saturday occur- rence to have a shooting-match in Anderson, and William was always "in it."
For many years he followed trapping along the river, which occupation, together with tilling a small farm, made him quite a good living. He and the Robinetts, Benefiels and Hoziers were great old chums. and had their good times together. Conner was a relative-perhaps a nephew-of John Conner, who, together with Col. Berry's father, laid out the village of Andersontown; they were the oldest families connected with the history of this city ; all of the south-west part of the old limits of the city stands on the grounds owned by John Conner. It has not been long since a suit was com- menced and maintained against the heirs of John Conner to quiet title to all of the lots laid out in the lands owned by him. The suit included certain grounds the county of Madison owns, and a large number of city lots owned by private parties. Edwin P. Schlater conducted the suit to a successful termination.
William Conner was an old hickory- Jackson Democrat. He was so built and constructed-he could not be otherwise. He never failed to attend all Democratic rallies, and to go to the polls on election day.
In 1868, the campaign was the hottest ever experienced in this county. The Democrats had the finest organization they ever had in the history of Madison county politics. B. B. Campbell, and A. H. Hellwig, his business partner in mer- Chant tailoring, were the leading spirits in the organization of The Democratic hosts that year. Along towards the winding up of the campaign, a grand rally was held at Indianapolis. -A prize was offered to the largest uniformed company present. Madison county, of course, competed. Campbell and Hell- wig scoured the country for recruits, which resulted in their leaving the Bee Line depot with one thousand men in line, attended with brass and martial music. The men were uni- formed in blue jackets and red zouave pants made of flannel. On the morning of their starting to the State capital, William
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Conner came to town and was at the depot to see the boys off. Hellwig noticed him there and tackled him to go,
" I've got no uniform," says William.
Hellwig looked at his watch and ascertained that the train was late.
"Come up to the store and I'll make you a pair of ' breeches ' before the train comes."
Off they went. Hellwig downed him on the table, marked around him with a piece of chalk, cut out the flannel and sewed it up on a sewing machine, and in less than twenty minutes William was rigged out in red flannel " pants." They were about six inches too short for him, and he had no socks on, which made him present rather a funny appearance, but Hellwig was after the prize and it mattered not to him as to looks. William was duly mustered in and on to India, napolis he went. While there, it rained and turned cold. William was a sorry looking spectacle, with nothing but his flannel " pants " between him and the elements, no socks and wet as a rat. The chilly winds turned him blue from the tip of his nose to the ends of his toes. He never missed a step nor lurked in the march, but kept right in line with the tramp, tramp, tramp of the martial music in front of the pro- cession. The company came home with the prize, and William was as proud of it as any man in the county. It was his nature to do his duty, regardless of wind or weather. Hellwig, no doubt, takes a quiet laugh to himself many a time about making those "pants " for Conner. The written history of that wonderful campaign with all its accidents and inci- dents would make a readable book.
WILLIAM WAGONER.
William Wagoner, who died in Anderson in the month of April, 1886, was one of the wealthy business men of the city and was conspicuous among his associates in more ways than one. He came to Anderson in 1858 and engaged in the manufacture of grain cradles, which he made wholly by hand. In 1862 he discontinued this business and engaged in the gro- cery trade, in connection with the O'Hara Bros., on North Main street, until he formed a partnership with Thomas C. Fisher and again entered upon the business of manufacturing grain cradles. Their place of business was in the basement of the old post office building, which stood on the corner of Eighth and Meridian streets, where the "Star Dry Goods."
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
store now is situated. Here, under the firm name of Wagoner & Fisher, was carried on the business for several years, the total product of the factory being made by hand. About the year 1872, Wagoner & Fisher, having so thoroughly estab- lished themselves in the grain cradle market that, unable to meet the increasing demands made upon them, they were compelled to enlarge their buildings. Accordingly they purt chased the ground upon which the present Bulletin office is situated, on Eighth street, and erected thereon a two-story brick building, in which they placed improved machinery. It became one of the greatest factories of its kind in the United States.
Mr. Wagoner continued this business until a short time before his death, when Mr. Fisher purchased his interest and became his sole successor. Mr. Fisher carried on the business in the same locality until it was destroyed by fire, after which the building was rebuilt, but he never again occupied it as a factory. He erected an establishment near the Pan-Handle railway, in the northern part of the city, which he still occu- pies.
Mr. Wagoner was a man of much influence in business circles. He was a man of very kind and charitable disposi- tion, and had a very tender heart for the poor. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and was influ- ential in that congregation. His widow and two sons and one daughter are yet living in Anderson, having a pleasant home on West Fifth street.
In politics Mr. Wagoner was a staunch Republican, but was always fair to his political opponents. He served ac- ceptably as a member of the City Council for one term, being elected to represent the Second ward of Anderson.
He was born at Shade Gap, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1824.
DR. B. F. SPANN.
For more than a quarter of a century the familiar form of Dr. B. F. Spann was daily seen upon the streets of Anderson, be being a prominent figure as a physician and politician. During his residence in Anderson he was appointed by the governor as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Central Hospital for the Insane at Indianapolis and was a faithful ser- vant in that capacity. After his term of office expired he was again called upon by the governor to act as a trustee to the Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, in which capacity
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
he served until the time of his death. He was an able physi- cian, an honest, upright citizen, but a man of strong prejudices, and generally liked by the community. Like other people he had some enemies from the fact that he was very free to ex- .press his opinion upon any and all subjects that came up for discussion, but what few there were in the community who had a dislike for him drew the mantle of charity over his faults when his remains were covered up in their last resting place in the cemetery at Indianapolis. Among Dr. Spann's promi- nent traits were his benevolence and charity for the poor. From the time he was first married, and kept a house, and as long as he lived, his roof was the shelter for friends and rela- tives who were less fortunate in the walks of life than he. Dr. Spann during his lifetime also acted in the capacity of coroner of Madison county for a number of years, being a very faith- ful and conscientious official.
On the 5th of November, 1889, while riding in his buggy along Main street, between Eighth and Ninth streets, on the public square a horse attached to a delivery wagon belonging to Dale Shanklin ran away, starting on Meridian street in front of R. P. Grimes & Co.'s store the horse dashed around the square at a furious rate, and on the east side, opposite the grocery store of of Geo. W. Kline the runaway collided with Dr. Spann's buggy turning it completely over. The doctor was thrown very forcibly from the vehicle and in falling re- ceived a fracture of the hip joint and other serious bruises about the back. He was picked up and carried to his home by sympathizing friends and from that time until the day of his death he was a cripple. He recovered after many months of close confinement, sufficiently to enable him to walk by the aid of crutches, but he never recovered the full use of his limbs. He lingered in this condition until the 2nd of Feb- ruary, 1894, and while sitting in his drawing-room pleasantly conversing with his family and friends who surrounded him, he suddenly expired without a groan or the movement of a muscle, being the victim of heart failure. His death not only caused a great shock to his family and immediate friends, but to the entire community as well. He was a prominent mem- ber of the order of Odd Fellows which association took charge of his remains and conducted the funeral ceremony. His wife yet survives him and resides in the old homestead at the cor- ner of Central avenue and Eighth street.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
His family friends were all interred at Indianapolis and his remains were taken to Crown Hill for burial.
ISAAC BOOCO, AN ECCENTRIC OLD-TIMER.
What old-timer does not vividly remember Isaac Booco? Isaac was what might properly be called a " daisy," by birth, education and occupation. His like was never produced before or since his demise. He came to this county many years ago, settling in the south-eastern part of Anderson township, where he remained until his death, which occurred about fifteen years ago. He raised a large family who did not always dwell in peace and harmony together, often resorting to the courts to settle their difficulties.
Isaac's oldest son, William, was the bane of his existence, and gave Isaac lots of trouble ; they were always at " outs " and at law. Isaac once declared on the witness stand, in court before Judge Craven, that his son William was a natural born d-d fool. This brought down the house, court, jury and all. Booco became enraged at their laughing at him, and came near cleaning out the house.
When A. C. Davis was deputy sheriff he visited Isaac with a fee bill and levied it on some property and advertised it for sale. Booco followed him to town and marched up and down in front of the court house a half day in a foaming rage, denouncing Davis and the whole sheriff's force as d-d " mal- feasers."
Every time Booco got sick he thought he was going to die, no difference how trivial his ailment. One time he had one of his periodical sick spells ; he thought his time had come. He sent for Isaac Clem, an old Dutch neighbor, to make his will. Clem came prepared with pen, ink and paper to per- form his solemn task.
" Vell, Booco, did you dink you vas goin' to die?"
" Yes, Isaac, I think my time has come."
" Vell, vat vas you vant to do, Booco?"
" Well, there is my son, Bill ; he always was a d-d mean scoundrel. I don't want him to have anything."
" Vell, vat next?"
"Well, I want to give my wife and the balance of the family all of my property, personal and real, equally."
Clem made out the will as dictated by Booco, setting out all the items and bequests, and read it over. It seemed to be
.
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satisfactory, and the old man turned his face to the wall and was ready to give up the ghost.
Clem thought the old man was not seriously ill, so he broke in :
"Vell, Booco, I dink dere vas someding vat you forgot."
" Oh, dear, Isaac, what is it?"
" Vy, vashn't you goin' to vill Shake Stanley your wind pipe for a flute?"
This had the effect of bringing Booco back to life. He bounded out of bed like a rubber ball. It took the whole family to keep him off of Clem, but he made his escape. Booco got well and lived many years afterwards. It is said that in Booco's early life in Ohio, he had some trouble about a hive of bees that followed him home. This tale followed him to Indiana. The boys used to get close to him, and " buzz, buzz, buzz." This was all that was necessary to get him in a rage, and the nearest man to him got knocked down, if he did not immediately "get up and get."
Booco was a great coon hunter and often had a grand hunt, calling on his neighbors to join, One time he and Hutch Stanley, and a lot of fellows, were out on a coon hunting ex- pedition. The boys kept talking among themselves, which very much annoyed the old man. He would whisper to the boys, "Boys, be still; you'll scare the coons." The boys would subside for awhile, soon breaking out again, laughing and talking loud.
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