USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 56
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DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS.
Up to the present time the most distinguished citizens of the county have been :
Colonel Thomas N. Stilwell, member of congress from 1864-6, and United States minister to Venezuela from 1867-8.
Hon. M. S. Robinson, member of congress from 1874-8, and Judge of the Appellate Court of Indiana (by appoint- ment ) from 1891-2.
Hon. W. R. Myers, member of congress from 1878-80, and twice elected Secretary of State of Indiana.
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Hon. Charles T. Doxey, member of congress from 1883-4. Mr. Doxey was elected to serve the unexpired term of Hon. Godlove S. Orth, who died in office.
Hon. Charles L. Henry, elected to congress in 1894 and re-elected in 1896. He is now serving his second term.
Hon. W. T. Durbin, present Eminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Indiana, and member of the National Republican Committee.
In this connection the fact is worthy of mention that two of Indiana's most distinguished citizens were at one time residents of Anderson, namely : General Lew Wallace and James Whitcomb Riley. The former resided in Anderson at an early day, but only for a short time; the latter was con- nected with the Anderson Democrat in 1877.
THOMAS J. FLEMING.
No death ever occurred in Anderson doubtless that occa- sioned more profound regret than that of Thomas J. Fleming, which took place on June 11, 1894. While his demise was not sudden, it was unexpected and consequently a great shock not only to his immediate family and friends, but to the com- munity at large. Mr. Fleming was born in Henry county, Indiana, in 1835, and came to Madison county when he was sixteen years old. In 1867 he was appointed deputy clerk of the Circuit Court by his brother, the Hon. W. C. Fleming, which position he held until 1870, when he was elected Clerk on the Democratic ticket. Ile served a term of four years, and immediately upon retiring was appointed Deputy Sheriff under J. W. McCallister. In 1881 he was appointed Deputy Assessor of Anderson township and served four years, when he was elected Assessor. His administration of the affairs of this office was highly satisfactory to the people and he was re- elected. It was while he was attending to the duties of this office that he was taken severely ill and before the community was aware of his serious condition his eyes were closed in death. After the announcement of his demise had been made a meeting of the older residents of the city was held in the Circuit Court room at which a number of prominent citizens and old-time friends paid their last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased in sentiments of highest praise. Ap- propriate resolutions were also passed and pall-bearers selected for the obsequies.
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Memorial meetings have been held in Anderson by frater - nal societies, churches and other organizations, but this was the first one ever held by the people to take action over the death of a citizen. Mr. Fleming was not a member of an society, secret or otherwise, and the meeting, therefore, wa as great a tribute as could have been paid to his memory. H was an upright man, generous, modest, sincere and cordiall - Although a strong partisan in politics, he was never offensiv , and hence he was popular with all classes and condition in life.
Besides his widow, he left one son and three daughters O mourn his demise.
HON. WILLIAM C. FLEMING.
Among the older residents of the county none is better known or more highly respected than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Fleming was born in Marion county, West V T- ginia, January 18, 1825, and came with his parents to India ma in the spring of 1831. Excepting the time devoted to acqu i r- ing an education his early days were passed upon the far Im. During the years 1848-19 he read law in the office of Judge David Kilgore, at Muncie, Indiana, and was admitted to @ The bar, but never actively engaged in the practice. In 1850 The was the Democratic candidate for member of the convent -le-
that framed the present constitution of Indiana, but was feated by the late Judge John Davis. Two years later he was a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected by az na- jority largely in excess of his party's strength. In 1854 he was again nominated for the same office, but declined t he nomination on account of business engagements. In 1857 he
removed from Madison county to the territory now compris- ing the State of Nebraska, and in the following year elected to the territorial legislature by a highly complimentary vote, there being five hundred and twenty votes cast in his
district, of which he received four hundred and twenty-four. When the Legislature convened he was made the Democr- a tic candidate for speaker of the house, but failed of election on account of the absence of a number of members who could not be present. Shortly after the house was organized the speaker was granted a leave of absence for several weeks, and Mr. Fleming was unanimously chosen speaker pro tem. In 1861 Mr. Fleming returned to Madison county, where he has resided ever since. He was elected real-estate appraiser for
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the county in 1863, and in May, 1865, was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court to serve the unexpired term of Joseph Pe- den, who deceased in office. In October, 1866, he was elected Clerk, and served until 1870. Ile was honored with the nom- ination for a second term, but declined to run for the office, although his election was assured. Mr. Fleming was at one time editor of the Anderson Democrat, but disposed of his in- terest in the paper after a brief experience and purchased the Moss Island mills, west of Anderson, which he operated for several years. In 1888 he was appointed Justice of the Peace of Anderson township to fill the vacancy in that office caused by the death of Enoch M. Jackson. At the expiration of the term Mr. Fleming retired from active business, and is now living quietly at his home on West Fourth street, Anderson. In his day no man in the county exerted a greater influence in politics and affairs generally than Mr. Fleming. His integrity was never impugned and his official acts seldom criticised even by the bitterest partisans of the Republican party. He is a gentleman of the old school, quiet but cordial with his friends, and always unassuming. Men with much less ability have attained to higher station in life, but none has enjoyed a higher degree of respect among his fellow-citizens than he.
Mr. Fleming was married to Miss Catherine Thumma in 1855. Of this union three children were born, all of whom are living. Mrs. Fleming died in 1893. She was a woman of many excellent qualities, and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of friends.
RANDLE BIDDLE
Was born in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, September ber 12, 1827, and came to Madison county with his parents at an early day. His father settled in Adams township, and . was one of the honored pioneers of that locality. Randle was reared on a farm and devoted the greater portion of his life to agricutural pursuits. He always took an active part in politics, and in 1864 was elected Trustee of Adams township on the Democratic ticket, which office he held with credit to himself and acceptably to the people until 1864. In 1874 he was appointed a deputy by Sheriff J. W. McCallister and re- moved to Anderson and took charge of the jail. After the death of Mr. McCallister, which took place soon after his election, Mr. Biddle was appointed a deputy by A. J. Griffith. who succeeded Mr. McCallister. He also served as a Deputy
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Sheriff under T. J. McMahan. In 1880 he received the Democratic nomination for Sheriff, and was elected. After retiring from the Sheriff's office he was employed at various times as a police officer, and up to the last two years of his life served as a merchant policeman. About two years pre- vious to his death he received a stroke of paralysis while dis- charging his duties as night watchman, and from that time on his health was feeble until his demise, which occurred April 15, 1895.
Randle Biddle was what might be termed, without levity. " a hale fellow well met." Ilis disposition was as sunny as a summer day, and everybody was his friend. If he had a fault it was that one which is considered a virtue in others-gener- osity. No one ever appealed to him in vain for assistance in time of distress, or after the assistance had been rendered, heard him speak of it. He was as modest in his manners as he was unostentatious in his generosity, and always uncon- scious of either. He was a sincere friend, a kind neighbor and an upright citizen. His remains repose beside those of his wife in the Baptist cemetery at Ovid.
DR. GEORGE F. CHITTENDEN.
The subject of this biography was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, December 25, 1830, and is a lineal descend- ant of Thomas Chittenden, who served as governor of the state of Vermont for twenty-one consecutive years.
The Chittendens are a large . and influential family of English descent, and among the first settlers of Connecticut, having founded a colony at Old Guilford, on Long Island Sound 257 years ago. A beautiful home was located here which has remained in the Chittenden name to the present time, and at which the Chittendens throughout the United States are always made welcome and treated as members of the family. One branch of the family subsequently emigrated northward and settled in Vermont, where it became promi- nent in the professions, politics and affairs generally. It is to this branch of the family that Dr. Chittenden belongs. His father, John Chittenden, was a farmer who immigrated to this State from New York in 1821, locating at Vevay, Swit- zerland county.
Dr. Chittenden was educated principally in the common schools and at Corydon Academy, attending the latter institu- tion two years, after which he began the study of medicine at
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Madison, Indiana, in the office of Dr. Benjamin Leavitt. At the expiration of three years of diligent study including a course of lectures in the medical department at Ann Arbor University, he entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Louisville, where he graduated in 1855. He then began the practice of his profession at Milford, Decatur county, In- diana, where he remained three years when he removed to Anderson, locating here in 1858. He at once entered upon a
DR. GEORGE F. CHITTENDEN.
successful practice which kept on increasing until May, 1861, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the 16th Regiment, Indiana volunteers. During the following year he was pro- moted to the surgeoncy of the regiment, a position that he filled with eminent credit until the spring of 1864 when he tendered his resignation and returned home.
In 1868 Dr. Chittenden was elected Joint Representative from the counties of Madison and Henry to the Lower
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House of the State Legislature, on the Republican ticket, and served one term. He was honored with the position of Chairman of the Committee on Corporations and was also a member of the Committee on Benevolent Institutions, in both of which positions he served his constituency and State accept- ably. In 1878 he was elected a Commissioner of the State Hospital for the Insane, by the Legislature, and rendered able service during his term. He was twice elected to the City Council of Anderson from a Democratic ward, and during his incumbency rendered efficient service in the interest of tax payers. In 1880 he was selected as the delegate from the Ninth Congressional Republican convention to the National Republican convention at Chicago, which nominated James A. Garfield for President.
He has been a member of the Madison County Medical Society for twenty-five years, also a member of the District, State and National Medical Associations, in the affairs of which he has taken an active and prominent part.
At one time he was associated with Dr. John Hunt, re- cently deceased, in the practice of medicine, and in 1875 entered into a partnership with Dr. H. E. Jones, which continued for nineteen years, when the partnership was dissolved. The . Doctor is still actively engaged in the practice and has associ- ated with him his son, Dr. Edgar W. Chittenden.
Dr. Chittenden was united in marriage to Miss Amanda B. Branham at Vernon, Jennings county, in 1858. Three chil- dren were born of this union : Carrie B., Edgar W. and Mat- tie V .. all of whom are living. Carrie is now the wife of M. M. Cronyn and resides at Indianapolis. The good mother deceased in 1889, beloved by all who knew her.
In 1891 Dr. Chittenden was inarried to Mrs. Catherine L. Brown, a lady of many enviable graces and varied accom- plishments.
No citizen of Anderson or Madison county is held in higher esteem than Dr. Chittenden. Of irreproachable char- acter, he stands second to no man in his profession, to which he has devoted his life with untiring assuidity and eminent ability. In every sphere of endeavor in which he has taken a part, socially, politically or professionally, his unpretending bearing has elevated him in the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and while not ostentatious in the observance of the tenets of that denomination, is in the highest sense a Chris-
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tian. He enjoys a good book and loves his home, where he can always be found surrounded by its comforts when not at- tending to the duties of his profession.
GEORGE NICHOL.
The first merchants of Anderson and Madison county have long since gone to their reward. But few even of the men, engaged in mercantile pursuits no farther back than the early '50s remain. Prominent among those who still survive, however, is the subject of this sketch.
GEORGE NICHOL.
Mr. Nichol was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 14, 1830. His boyhood was passed upon a farm where he enjoyed but meagre opportunities to acquire that which he so much de- sired-a superior education. A number of terms in the com- mon schools and one year at Farmer's College, near Cincin- nati, ended his school days.
In 1854, he located in Anderson and engaged in the hard- ware business, having for a partner the late Amos J. King. In 1855, he was married to Miss Harriett Robinson, oldest sister of the late Colonel M. S. Robinson. This estimable
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
woman deceased on the 25th of May, 1896, lamented not only by her immediate relatives but by a large circle of friends. In 1861, Mr. Nichol was appointed Quartermaster of the Forty- seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, in which position he served until the regiment veteranized in 1864, when he re- turned home having been a participant in all of the severe campaigns in which his regiment was engaged up to that time. While active in business, Mr. Nichol is an ardent Republican and has devoted much of his time and means in advancing the interests of his party. In return he has been honored with various positions of prominence and trust as a partial reward for his services. He was a member of the first City Council elected in Anderson, and in 1870, was elected on the Repub- lican ticket to the office of County Auditor, being the first Republican elected in the county to that important office. This was one of the most hotly-contested elections ever held in the county, his opponent being the late Neal C. Mccullough, a man of acknowledged integrity and ability, besides having abundant resources from which to draw in such a contest. The county at that time was safely Democratic by 600 ma- jority and Mr. Nichol's success was regarded as complimen- tary in the highest degree. He is at the present time serving as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of the county.
Mr. Nichol, in recent years, has been connected in an offi- cial capacity with nearly every enterprise having for its object the promotion of Anderson's interests and development of the county. Ile was chosen President of the Anderson Board of Trade at the time of its organization and served acceptably as long as it was in existence.
Mr. Nichol is a member of the Presbyterian church, but not fanatical in his religious views. He is consistent in his daily walk and conversation, stands deservedly high as a busi- ness man and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens.
BIOGRAPHY OF BAZII. NEELY.
Bazil Neely was a farmer and one of the early pioneers of Madison county. He was born in Ohio county, West Vir- ginia, August 16, 1810. Ilis parents were Thomas and Eliza- beth (Seamon) Neely. His grandfather was Jonah Seamon. In 1812 the parents of our subject emigrated with his family to Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1816 the father returned to
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Virginia on business where he died and was buried, leaving his wife and six children, of whom Bazil was the fourth, with but little means of support. The widow removed to Fayette county, Indiana, with her children, and in 1827 Bazil, who was but seventeen years of age, started out to seek his own fortune in the primitive wilderness. He went to Delaware county where he did general farm work at three dollars a month, and occasionally made rails at twenty-five cents per hundred. Farming implements in that day were few and un- wieldy and his first plowing was done with a wooden mold-
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BAZIL NEELY.
board plow and four yoke of oxen. In 1833 Mr. Neely was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Suman. Of this union there was but one child, Miss Hester A. Neely, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. On the 10th of July, 1833, he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 35, in Union township, Madison county, nine acres of which were cleared and improved by a hewed-log house, the remainder being cov- ered by a dense forest. On this tract of land he located, and
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not being afraid of work, in the course of time acquired an ample competency. He was resolute, persevering and ener- getic, in every way suited to the pioneer's arduous task of clearing up the wilderness. He was also fond of athletic sports and was an unerring shot with a rifle. He hunted fre- quently and in 1849, within one mile of his home, shot two deer while their horns were locked together.
In politics he was a supporter of Democratic principles, his first vote being cast for Andrew Jackson in 1832. In re- ligious belief his predilections were inclined to the Christian Church, with which he united in 1898. Without ostentation he was benevolent. It can be truly said that no man ever lived in Union township who was more attentive to the sick and distressed than Bazil Neely. He was honest and true as the day was long. His wife passed away on September 7, 1856, mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Neely remained on his farm from 1844 to June 14, 1893, when he took up his residence with his daughter, Miss Hester Neely, in Anderson. During his later years his health was quite feeble, and on the 4th day of August, 1894, after a lingering illness, he went to his reward. He reposes in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Delaware county.
JUDGE JOHN F. M'CLURE.
John F. McClure was born near Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, December 24, 1852, and is the oldest of nine children, five of whom are living. His father, James McClure, was born in Ireland in 1818, and came to this country when he was two years old. His mother, Ann McClure, was a daugh- ter of David McCall, one of the pioneers of Franklin county. The father is still living. but the mother recently deceased.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, where he devoted his time to the labors incident thereto until he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered De Pauw Univer- sity, taking a classical course. His career at this institution was marked by close application to his studies and in 1879 he graduated with high honors, being selected as salutatorian of his class. Immediately after his graduation he entered the law office of Berry & Berry at Brookville, and at the expira- tion of two years came to Anderson, where he formed a part- nership for the practice of law with Isaac Carter under the firm name of Carter & McClure. This partnership lasted but a short time, however, as Mr. McClure was elected Principal
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of the Anderson High School in 1883 and taught one year, when he formed a law partnership with the Hon. F. P. Fos- ter. In 1886 he received the Republican nomination for Mayor of Anderson and was elected.
It was during his incumbency that natural gas was dis- covered at Anderson and it was largely through his untiring efforts that many of the large business enterprises which now contribute to the city's importance were located. His serv-
JUDGE JOHN F. M'CLURE.
ices as an active, faithful official were appreciated by his fel- low-citizens and he was re-elected in 1888. Upon retiring from the office of Mayor he purchased an interest in the An- derson Herald which property he managed for one year. Dur- ing his connection with the paper he was elected Councilman from the First ward and being thoroughly acquainted with the duties of the position, on account of his previous experience as Mayor, rendered valuable service in the administration of the city's affairs. In 1894 he was elected City Attorney by the common council and served two years. He was thrice honored
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by his party by being selected as chairman of the Republican Central Committee for the county and served in that capacity for six years. In 1896 he was honored by his party with the nomination for Judge of the Circuit Court and elected, being the first Republican chosen by the people to fill this responsi- ble position since Madison county became a judicial jurisdic- tion. He has just entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office and gives promise of justifying every hope and ex- pectation indulged by his friends. Judge McClure is unas- suming both in his bearing and conversation, liberal in his views but firm as need be in matters when decision is necessary. He is candid and cordial, but under no circumstances forgets that he is a gentleman. His present ambition is to discharge the duties of his office acceptably and if conscientious endeavor will accomplish this end there is no doubt of his success. He owes no allegiance to any particular sect or religious society, but is prominent as a Knight of Pythias, having occupied the highest office to which a member can be elected in a subordi- nate lodge.
Judge McClure was married to Miss Mary Falknor Dec- ember 12, 1888, and resides on West Seventh street.
HOWELL D. THOMPSON.
The subject of this sketch was born May 6, 1822, in Center county, Pennsylvania. In 1829 his father removed to Clinton county, Ohio, and here the son passed his boyhood, attending school whenever it was possible until it became time to select a trade, when he went to work at carpentry and fol- lowed it until 1844, when he came to Indiana and began teaching school. Randolph and Grant counties were the scenes of his labors in this vocation until 1857, when he en- tered Farmers' College, near Cincinnati. He devoted himself assiduously to his studies and graduated from this institution in 1849. After graduating he returned to Indiana and taught a select school at Pendleton. In December, 1849, he com- menced the study of law under Judge David Kilgore and afterwards completed his preparatory course under the late Judge IIervy Craven. In March 1851, he was admitted to the Anderson bar : May, 1851, to the Supreme Court of the State, and in November of that year to the Circuit Court of the United States. It was also during this year that he re- moved to Marion, Indiana, where he began the practice of his profession. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861
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he enlisted a company of which he was captain in April of that year, but being in feeble health he was compelled to resign in the following November and return home. In May, 1862, he removed to Anderson and formed a partnership in the practice of his profession with the late Judge W. R. Pierse. This firm remained in existence for many years and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. In 1871 Mr. Thompson was elected County School Superintendent and looked after
HOWELL D. THOMPSON.
the duties of that office for two years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public. No citizen of the county, perhaps, takes deeper interest in the education and proper training of the young than Mr. Thompson. Ilis influence has always been exerted in behalf of good schools, as it has in the interest of every enterprise having for its object the general diffusion of knowledge and the welfare of society.
For a period of thirty five years Mr. Thompson has been identified with the Madison county bar as one of the ablest and most honored members. Ile is still actively engaged in
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