USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 12
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"Fearless in war and peerless in state,
He who waits for Stilwell, takes the train too late."
From thenceforward, he held the audience for two hours in breathless silence ; he demonstrated to a dead certainty by chalk and blackboard, that before the expiration of twenty years from that date, Lake Michigan would rise so far above its level, as it then stood, that Chicago would be submerged and wiped from the face of the earth. No one believed it, but he made it so plausible that he held them all down in silence.
Ile wound up by nominating himself for president in 1872, and stood at the door going out, to give every one a chance . to shake hands with the next president. And so ended the visit of George Francis Train to Anderson.
". MAM TAH," THE FIRST NEGRO IN MADISON COUNTY.
Away back, perhaps as early as 1823, a family removed to Indiana, and settled in the wilds of Madison county, by the name of Tharp. They were well-to-do people, being able to own slaves in the state from whence they came. Among the
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body servants owned by them, was a family favorite, a colored woman-" Mam Tah."
They brought her along with them and she lived and died in the service of the family. She attained the advanced age of 105 years. Indiana being a " free state," and slavery being prohibited, she could at any time, have left her old mas- ter and mistress, but she was so attached to them that she clung to them as long as they lived.
As she grew old she became childish and nearly blind, and would follow the folks around like some petted animal. She was a great worker, and was never satisfied unless at some kind of work. She was unable to do any work that was of benefit to her master ; but in order to keep her employed, she was pro- vided with an old basket that had no bottom in it. She would go to the chip pile and gather up chips and put into the basket, until she thought it was full, then start to the house with the basket, as well satisfied as if it was filled with chips. This she would go through with from morning till night, putting in her time, as she thought, for the benefit of those who had kept her all these years. The Tharp family owned what has for many years been known as the "old Jackson " farm, on which is now situated a beautiful suburb to Anderson.
They built and occupied the old brick house, that has since been remodeled and made into a handsome residence, known as the old Jackson homestead, that stands on the hill between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. There this old col- ored woman ended her life. Out of this farm was laid off a spot of ground for church purposes, to which, as was usual in those days, a " graveyard " was added. The " graveyard" was between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, west of Delaware, extending west to the west line of D. W. Storer's grounds. This served many years as Anderson's cemetery, many of the older citizens being buried there. Their bodies have since been disinterred and removed to the new cemetery across the river. The old graveyard is now covered over with handsome residences.
The old M. E. Church then stood on the lot east of the Storer mansion, between that and ex-County Auditor John E. Canaday's residence. Old " Mam Tah " died many years age, somewhere between 1849 and 1855. At that time there was great prejudice against the colored people. They were scarcely recognized as human beings and thought unfit for the
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society of the whites, while alive, and not allowed when dead to be buried beside the white people. Many people of that day did not believe that a negro had a soul. When the angel of death summoned " Mam Tah," and her spirit departed, there were objections raised to interring her body in the grave- yard with the whites, so her friends took her body and buried it just outside of the old graveyard on the Tharp farm, and while her spirit is now in the realms of the departed, her body lies in an unmarked grave, the ravages of time having long since obliterated it. She was, perhaps, the first colored per- son who ever lived in Madison county. The old inhabitants disagree as to who came here first, she or old " Black Jess," an old colored man who lived here for many years and was a curiosity to many white people when he first came. Old " Black Jess " has long since gone where all " good niggahs go."
ST. TAMMANY'S DAY.
The first observance of St. Tammany's day in Madison county took place in Anderson on Sunday, the 10th of May, 1896, when every tribe of Red Men in the city and many members from surrounding towns took part.
A street parade took place at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in which bands of music discoursed lively airs, to which the braves kept time with steady tread. The line of march was kept up until they reached the cemetery, where an address . . was delivered by Judge Alfred Ellison and Mayor M. M. Dunlap, after which the graves of the fallen chiefs, warriors, and huntsmen, whose spirits have departed and gone to the " happy hunting ground," were profusely strewn with flowers.
"Buffalo Bill's " wild west show was stopping over Sun- day in the city, and the Indians with his company took part in the street pageant, making a decided impression in their gaudy and picturesque apparel. They seemed deeply im- pressed with the ceremonies. Anderson in this proceeding. has, perhaps, witnessed what no other city has, a real Indian procession on an occasion of this kind. Large numbers of people from the surrounding country witnessed the parade and exercises incident thereto.
BURNING OF THE BIG FOUR DEPOT.
On the night of the 27th of February, 1873, the old " Bee Line " depot that stood at the crossing of Main street and the railroad tracks, was destroyed by fire, being the act of an in-
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cendiary. Just prior to the occurrence a handsome, well- dressed stranger made his appearance in Anderson and stopped at the Stilwell House. He wore diamonds and sported the finest of clothes. It was no time until he had society all shaken up, he was par-excellence the creature of the day. The young ladies of the city vied with each other in trying to look charming in his presence. Ile attended all the places of amusement, went to church and fancy balls. He had no visible means of support but plenty of money, which he freely spent among the young folks. He sailed under the name of Justinian P. Walters. Ile was finely educated ; had traveled all over the world, and knew all of the prominent people in the leading cities from Maine to Mexico. Ile wasa fine talker on any subject. The leading business men sought his company and made his stay a real pleasure to him. Ile was "stuck " on the town ; came here to live in quiet retire- ment.
One morning about 3 o'clock the " Bee Line " depot was discovered to be on fire. It was burned to the ground with all its contents. Upon looking around it was discovered that Walters was missing. Some folks suspected that it was he who had burned the building after robbing it. A great many hooted at the idea at first, but suspicion grew stronger until the railroad officials set ont to find him. Descriptive circulars were sent out all over the country after him. He had left some of his photographs with friends, which were procured and sent out to detectives. A conductor on the railroad re- membered a man filling his description getting on his train at the crossing of the Bee Line and Pan Handle, at 2 :30 o'clock, the morning that the fire took place, and rode to Cincinnati. Close watch and vigilant pursuit was made for him which re- sulted in his arrest at Crestline, Ohio, the next day after the fire occurred. A carpet sack or hand sachel was found in the depot where he was arrested, but he disowned it. He stuck to it that it was not his ; but it finally seemed to so fully iden- tify him that it caused his conviction. While he was in An- derson he wore a " storm overcoat " with a cape to it. The carpet sack was opened by the officers in which was found a number of railroad tickets and the cape to his coat or one made of the same kind of cloth. One of the tickets found was merely a stub torn off in an irregular manner, that fit to a ticket that had been taken up on the train on which he had ridden. This made a complete chain to the evidence, at least the rail-
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road people thought so, as well as did the Justice who held the preliminary hearing. He was held over and indicted by the grand jury and committed to jail, where he stayed until the June term of court following, when his trial took place.
Walters set up in defense an alibi, and to the minds of many it was clear. It was the closest question that ever occurred in a Madison county court. His conviction was purely on circumstantial evidence. No living witness saw him at the depot or knew of him being there that night. It was proven that he took the 2:30 afternoon train the day be- fore the fire to Cincinnati. Joseph Stein, who had seen him around Anderson and knew him, swore that he went to Cin- cinnati on that train and that Walters occupied the same seat with him from Anderson to the Brighton House. The hotel register showed that he was registered at the Brighton House that night. It was also proven that he was at the same place next morning. The theory of the prosecution was that he left here on the train as proven, went to Cincinnati, stopped at the Brighton House, registered his name and immediately took the train coming back to Anderson, where he arrived about [ o'clock in the morning. Then he went to the depot, robbed it, set fire to the building to cover his crime, then walked to the crossing and boarded the 2 :30 train again for Cincinnati, getting back there at 7 o'clock the same morning. After that he boarded a Bee Line train for Crestline, O., where he was arrested. John T. Dye, of Indianapolis, was employed by the railroad company to prosecute the prisoner.
The Hon. James W. Sansberry and Calvin D. Thomp- son defended Walters. John T. Dye made one of the best speeches in the prosecution that was ever made in Madison county. Ile is one of those close lawyers who never miss a point. Ilis argument was so scathing that he at times made Walters, with all his effrontery, blush before the jury. Mr. Sansberry was then at his best as a lawyer and contested every inch of the ground. Ilis able effort before the jury in winding up the' case was long the talk of the Madison county bar.
The trial having resulted in conviction the prisoner was sentenced to imprisonment in the Prison North for ten years. After the adjournment of court Sheriff A. J. Ross, one even- ing, handcuffed Walters and started to prison with him. Ile bade all his acquaintances, who went to see him off, good-bye in a light-hearted manner and took up his journey. On the road, near the village of Walkerton, not far from the prison,
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the prisoner was sitting in the seat beside the Sheriff when someone entered the car swinging the door shut after him, but the door failed to catch and swung open again. As quick as lightning Walters sprang like a cat to the door, out on the plat- form and off into a tamarack swamp. As soon as the sheriff realized that his bird had flown, he sprang to his feet and pulled the bell cord. The train was going twenty miles an hour. As soon as it could be stopped he gave the alarm and out into the darkness he went in pursuit of his prisoner, but no trace of him could be found. He went to the village and aroused the inhabitants, who scoured the country, but never found any trace of the prisoner. The Sheriff offered a reward for his apprehension, but every resource failed. Walters is yet at large, if he is still living.
A woman claiming to be his sister, who lived in Missouri, came to Anderson to see him once or twice while he was in jail, and also one from Decatur, Ilinois. Sheriff Ross got in- formation that he was skulking about the home of the woman in Missouri at one time, through Detective Rittenhouse, of Decatur. He went to the place and spent a night under a rose bush in the door yard eavesdropping and watching, with the hope of seeing Walters or hearing something of him. But he failed to find him, although there was evidence that he had been there at some time. Rittenhouse, the detective, knew Walters. Ile had made Decatur his headquarters at one time . and was known to be a crook. He had at one time a lot of fine paintings and a handsome sim of money. The woman who claimed to be his sister went there as his wife. Walters' business was that of a bank swindler, and many small drafts were found upon his person issued by various banks through- out the country, and a kit of tools and acids for raising checks were among his effects. John W. Pence, now cashier of the Citizens' Bank, was railroad agent at the time of this occur- rence.
.KILLING OF JAMES BENEFIEL.
On the evening of August 7, 1890, James Benefiel, a young man about twenty years of age, was shot and killed by John Davis, on old South Noble street. Benefiel and Davis' wife had been friends previous to her marriage. On the above date young Benefiel and a companion named Edward Brown visited Davis' house during the afternoon, and, the family being away, took among other things, it is alleged, a number
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
of magazines and a revolver belonging to Davis. They went a short distance from the house and loitered around until the family returned - that is, Mrs. Davis and her mother. Soon after, Benefiel went to the gate and called for Mrs. Davis, who refused to have anything to say to him. Ile insisted on her coming out in the street and she finally went out in the yard and asked him what he wanted. He said he had been sent by officers to search the house. In the meantime Davis had returned home and, anticipating trouble, had gone in search of an officer. Ile could not find one, but borrowed a revolver and went back to his home, entering the house the back way. Ilis wife told him to go out and see what Bene- fiel wanted. He went out and told Benefiel that someone had plundered his house, and that he wanted him to leave the premises. Benefiel muttered something and turned to go, but after taking two or three steps stopped, raised a revolver and fired, the ball taking effect in Davis' right side. Alnost at the same instant Davis fired at Benefiel, the ball entering just above the left eye and passing clear through the head. Benefiel lived until half past six o'clock the next morning, when he died, having been unconscious from the moment he was shot. Benefiel lived with his parents at Elwood and was regarded as a reckless young man. His parents are highly respected. Davis was exonerated by the Coroner's jury that investigated the case. Ile is still living, but carries the ball in his body that was fired from his assailant's revolver. Davis is a quiet, unobtrusive man, but of undoubted courage. Ile was a soldier in the regular army at one time, stationed in Arizona, and had the distinction of arresting unassisted the famous outlaw, Tarbel. He has the reputation of being one of the best marksmen in Madison county.
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 1871-8, 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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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Hon. Charles T. Doxey, member of congress from 1883-1. Mr. Doxey was elected to serve the unexpired term of IIon. 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. He 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 any society, secret or otherwise, and the meeting, therefore. was as great a tribute as could have been paid to his memory. He was an upright man, generous, modest, sincere and cordial. Although a strong partisan in politics, he was never offensive, and hence he was popular with all classes and conditions in life.
Besides his widow, he left one son and three daughters to 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 Vir- ginia. January 18, 1825, and came with his parents to Indiana in the spring of 1881. Excepting the time devoted to acquir- ing an education his early days were passed upon the farm. During the years 1848-49 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 1550 he was the Democratic candidate for member of the convention that framed the present constitution of Indiana, but was de- feated by the late Judge John Davis. Two years later he * was a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected by a ma- jority largely in excess of his party's strength. In Isal he was again nominated for the same office, but declined the nomination on account of business engagements. In 1957 he removed from Madison county to the territory now compris- ing the State of Nebraska, and in the following year was 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 Democratic 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 lem. In 1861 Mr. Fleming returned to Madison county, where he has resided ever since. He was elected real-estate appraiser for
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 615
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 cansed 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 1898. She was a woman of many excellent qualities, and enjoyed the respect of a large circle of friends.
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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 1861 was elected Trustee of Adams township on the Democratic ticket, which office he held with credit to himself and acceptably to the people until 1861. In 18744 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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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." His 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.
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