USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 43
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CITY OF LOGANSPORT.
JOHN W. BARNES, editor of the Logansport Pharos, is a na- tive Indianian, having been born in the city of Muncie July 7, 1855. His father, William Barnes, came from English ancestors; was born in Pennsylvania and settled in Indiana shortly after it became a State. The father still resides in Muncie, where he follows the business of a contractor and builder. His mother, Evaline Wachtell Barnes, is a native of Maryland, and is also living at this time. John W. Barnes was educated in the ward and high schools of Muncie. Upon completing school at the age of nineteen, he began learning the printing business in the office of the Muncie Democrat. He remained there two years, when the paper suspended. He then took service with the Liberal Republican, a paper established for the support of Horace Greeley for President, remaining there until he finished his trade, in the meantime doing considerable writing for the paper. During the campaign of 1876, Mr. Barnes was en- gaged on the Democrat, at Anderson, Ind. He remained there until 1878, when he came to Logansport and began work on the Pharos, where he has since labored uninterruptedly. In 1881 he purchased an interest in the paper with B. F. Louthain, and the two have since remained in partnership, each owning a half interest in the paper. The appointment of his partner as postmaster of Logansport in July, 1885, placed upon Mr. Barnes the sole responsibility of the editorial and business control of the paper. He comes from a Democratic family, his father having always been identified with that party. Mr. Barnes has shown rare ability in his successful management of the Pharos, and as a newspaper man stands high among the jour- nalists of northern Indiana. He was married September 30, 1885, to Miss Emma Grable, daughter of Jonathan and Hester Grable, of this county.
JOHN E. BARNES, contractor, was born in Newton, Devon- shire, England, September 8, 1841. He remained in his native country until 1853, at which time, in company with his parents, he came to the United States, locating temporarily in the city of Brook- lyn, N. Y., and the following year came to Logansport. His father was a contractor and builder, and did an extensive business in Cass and other counties until his death, November, 1865. John E. Barnes learned the stone and brick-mason's trade under his father, and, with the exception of a few years spent in farming in the State of Minne- sota, has followed the same with good success until the present time. He effected a partnership in contracting and building in 1877 with John Medland, and the firm thus formed has done an ex- tensive business throughout Indiana, erecting many of the large business houses and public works of Logansport and other cities. Mr. Barnes is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in the deliberations of his party in Cass County. He was elected councilman from a Democratic ward, a fact which attests his popu-
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larity with the people. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity and belongs to the Universalist Church. Mr. Barnes was married, August 1, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth J. Bates, daughter of James J. Bates, who came to Logansport many years ago. Seven children were born to this marriage, all living: Clara A., Charles J., Will- iam. James I., Benjamin F., George W. and Egbert.
JOSEPH BARRON was of French extraction, his ancestors, some two centuries ago, having come over from France and settled near Quebec, Canada, whither the tide of emigration from that quar- ter was then drifting. About the year 1749 the family moved west- ward and settled at Malden, in the vicinity of Detroit-the center of an extensive Indian trade carried on by the French population. Here, in the month of January, 1773, the subject of this sketch was born. From his surroundings in early life, and his natural aptness in the comprehension of language, in addition to a most retentive memory, it is not remarkable that he early became proficient in his knowledge of the dialect peculiar to the numerous Indian tribes of the locality. Trading along the route from Detroit to "Old Post Vincennes," he gradually became familiar with the language of the Wabash Indians. Finally he settled at Vincennes about the year 1790. Early attracting the attention of the civil and military au- thorities at the " Post," his services as an interpreter were in fre- quent demand. In the year 1798 he was married to Mrs. Barbara Jerceaux, sister of the elder Michael Brouillette, by whom he had one child. Mrs. Barron lived but little more than a year after her marriage, her child dying soon after. He remained a widower about one year and a half, and was then married to Miss Josephine Gamelin, daughter of Pierre Gamelin, Sr., one of the most promi- nent citizens of Vincennes. . By this marriage he was the father of seven children-five sons and two daughters. Of these, only the youngest two survive: Mary Ann, wife of the late Harvey Heth, an old citizen of this county, now the wife of Anthony F. Smith, Esq., formerly judge of the city court of Logansport, and Napoleon B., formerly one of the leading magistrates of this county, and now president of the "Old Settlers' Society," of this county. Upon the division of the Territory Northwest of the Ohio, including the State of Indiana, and the appointment of Gen. Harrison as Territorial governor, Mr. Barron was chosen one of the governor's official in- terpreters. As an evidence of the estimation in which he was held by the Government authorities, we find his name connected with nearly every important treaty and council with the Indians in the Northwest, from 1803 until 1843, as special interpreter. Gen. Har- rison, Gen. Hopkins and other officers, in their reports to the De- partment at Washington, speak of his qualities as an interpreter, and of the efficient services rendered by him, as unequaled in the accuracy of his knowledge of the language and characteristics of
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every Indian tribe on the Wabash. In the month of May, 1810, he was intrusted by Gen. Harrison with the execution of a most hazard- ous enterprise, that of conveying to the hostile Indians, assembled at the Prophet's Town, on the Upper Wabash, a talk, concerning the policy pursued by them. Having delivered his message, he was brought before the Prophet, who taunted him with being his pris- oner, and that he should be immediately put to death, at the same time pointing to an open grave, newly made, saying, "There is your grave." This threat would, no doubt, have been executed, but for the interposition of Tecumseh, who demanded his release, saying: " The flag of truce, borne by him, has always been respected, and shall be now!" Again, on the 13th of August, of the same year, he officiated as interpreter, at the celebrated council at Vincennes, between Gen. Harrison and Tecumseh, when the latter contradicted the Governor's statements, and, with his warriors present, in viola- tion of the terms of the conference, sprang up, with tomahawks raised, meditating an attack. The cool promptness of the Governor and his guards, however, soon put an end to the movements of the savages. On a subsequent occasion, when acting under the Gover- nor's instructions, in company with Gen. Walter Wilson, through the treachery of Tecumseh's brother, the Prophet, he and his com- panion were condemned to die, but were relieved from their perilous situation by the timely interposition of Tecumseh himself, by whom, also, they were guided out of danger. In the battle of Tippecanoe, which occurred on the 7th of November, 1811, he bore a conspicu- ous part, from the intimate knowledge of the character and move- ments of the savages. Many other striking incidents of his career might be related, but space will not permit. Mr. Barron was above the medium height, of affable manners, and easy address, honored and respected by all for the strict integrity of his life and his con- duct of public affairs. Although surrounded by numerous oppor- tunities for pecuniary gain, he yielded not to temptation, preferring to eat the bread of his honest toil. He died on the 12th of Decem- ber, 1843, at peace with all the world, having finished the work given him to do. He was buried with military honors.
J. C. BEATTY. The gentleman whose biographical sketch is herewith presented is a native of Philadelphia, Penn., and the fourth son of William and Fannie ( McMichael ) Beatty. William Beatty was born in Ireland, and came to the United States in early man- hood, settling in the city of Albany, N. Y. He subsequently moved to Philadelphia, where he remained until 1856, following the black- smith's trade during that period. In the latter year he removed to the city of Milwaukee, Wis., where he worked at his trade and kept hotel until 1869, at which time he came to Logansport, Ind. He en- tered the army in 1861, enlisting in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, with which he seved until the winter of 1862 .. He died in one of the
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Government hospitals, at St. Louis, that year. Mrs. Beatty is a native of Ireland also, and when quite young came with her parents to the United States, locating in Philadelphia. She was married in that city, and is still living, making her home in Logansport at this time. William and Fannie Beatty were the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: William (deceased), Robert, James ( deceased), John C. Emma and William H. The imme- diate subject of this sketch was born on the 5th of September, 1555. and spent the years of his youth in the cities of Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Logansport. His educational training, owing to the death of his father, was rather limited, and in early life he was obliged to rely in a great measure upon his own resources. He im- proved such opportunities as presented themselves, however, and by close reading and intelligent observation, aided by a busi- ness experience, has obtained a practical education, such as schools fail to impart. He began the painter's trade at the age of eighteen, and one year later began life upon his own responsibility. He soon acquired great proficiency in his vocation, and for a period of thir- teen years has been working in Logansport, where he now has a large and constantly increasing bussiness. He does general paint- ing. graining, paper-hanging and decorating. in all of which he has been reasonably prosperous. Mr. Beatty is an active member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Eel River Lodge, No. 417. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, and in religion holds to no creed, being liberal in all that term implies. On the 20th of Decem- ber. 1881, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Alice M. Witters. daughter of James and Elizabeth Witters of Harrison Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have one child: William C. born February 6, 1883. They reside in a neat home on Chippewa Street, West Side.
MAJ. DANIEL BELL. "Maj." Bell, as he was familiarly known, was born in Washington County, Penn., on the 7th of March 1758. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, and, with a view to bettering his own and the condition of his family, moved thence to Bourbon County, Ky., in the fall after Daniel's birth. At the date of his settlement, Kentucky was but sparsely settled, adventurous pioneers only being drawn thither by the pros- perous advantages offered. The father, in this instance, was not an exception, and was willing to risk the contingencies of Indian war- fare. depending upon his own strong arm and trusty rifle to main- tain the equality of right. With the surroundings incident to pio- neer life in Kentucky, the early experiences of Maj. Bell eminently fitted him to become a participant in the progress of settlements in Indiana Territory. With these qualifications, he moved with his father, and settled in Corydon. Ind., in the spring of 1811. About this time, there was great excitement growing out of the numerous
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Indian depredations committed along the line of frontier settlements by the hordes under control of the Shawnee Prophet, whose village was on the north side of the Tippecanoe, a short distance above its mouth. Mutual defense was the order of the hour among the hardy pioneersmen of this locality. Capt. Spencer had raised a company of mounted men to go with the expedition against those Indians. Young Bell at once enlisted, and soon after the expedition started, the Prophet's Town being the objective point. At the battle of Tip- pecanoe, on the 7th of November following, their company (the "Yellow Jackets") acquitted itself with distinguished honor, more than half the number being killed or wounded. Among the killed was the gallant captain. Maj. Bell was unhurt. After that time, he participated in numerous minor engagements with the Indians, in which he bore himself with the courage characteristic of the true backwoods soldier. After the return of the expedition from Tippe- canoe, in the month of December of the same year, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Spencer, daughter of the late captain. Having resided in the vicinity of Corydon until some time in the year 1824, he removed thence to Putnam County, Ind., remaining there until the early spring of 1827, when, with his family, he again moved, settling on the north side of the Wabash, within the present boundary of Logansport, landing here on the 27th of March, 1827. Maj. Bell's cabin was the first ever erected within the limits of our city. In 1830, having purchased an interest in the Louison Reserve, north of Eel River, he moved to that point, and made an improve- ment on his land. Five years later, he made a further settlement at Georgetown in this county, being the proprietor of that place. Two years after the death of Gen. Tipton-his brother-in-law-Maj. Bell returned to Logansport, and took control of the General's dom- icile, at the request of his children. He remained in charge until 1845, when the Miami Reserve (recently purchased from the In- dians) began to be settled. The pre-emption law was then in force, and, following the bent of his inclinations to become a pioneer again, he took a claim, and settled on the border of a prairie in Jackson Township, since known as "Bell's Prairie," in the immediate vicin- ity of Galveston. On this tract he remained the balance of his life. For twenty years prior to his death, Maj. Bell had directed his efforts toward the organization of a society composed of the remain- ing "old settlers " and their immediate descendants. In the course of time such an association became a necessity, and, accordingly, on the 26th of March, 1870, such a society was formed, and the Major made president for life. Naturally possessing a strong physical or- ganization, with a fair intellectual development, at the age of more than fourscore years, his mind was still active, and the fire of his eye remained undimmed. From that time, however, his strength began to give way; having endured the frosts and snows of eighty-
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three winters, his mind. also, became impaired, and he was again a child. Thus he passed to his final rest, on the evening of Novem- ber 7, 1874, on the sixty-sixth anniversary of the battle of Tippe- canoe.
ISOM N. BELL, editor and proprietor of the Logansport Times, was born in Ripley County, Ind., September 8. 1861, son of William and Nancy (Custer) Bell, natives of Kentucky and Indi- ana, respectively. Subject's paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Bell, was one of the pioneers of Indiana, settling many years ago in Jef- ferson County. James Custer, grandfather on the mother's side, came to Jefferson County many years ago, and is still living there. William Bell came to Cass County in 1871, and settled in Boone Township, where he is still living. He is the father of fourteen children, subject of this sketch being the fifth in number. Isom Bell grew to manhood in Cass County, and passed his youth on a farm, attending the county schools at intervals, until his eighteenth year. He began life for himself at the early age of fifteen, and three years later engaged in teaching, which profession he contin- ued four years in Cass, Fulton and Lake Counties. In 1881 he entered the Valparaiso Normal School, attending the same two years, and in April. 1885, began publishing the Galveston Times, Galveston, Ind., which he issued until March, 1886. In the latter year he established the Logansport Times, with which he has since been identified, and of which he is at the present time sole editor and proprietor. Mr. Bell is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Onward Lodge.
WILLIAM H. BEVAN. The gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch is a native of Toronto, Canada, born June 15, 1834. His parents, George and Elizabeth Bevan, were born in England, and immigrated to Canada about the year 1833. The father was a lumber dealer, and died in Canada; the mother died in Logansport, Ind. William Bevan passed the years of his youth in his native country, and early learned the saddlery trade, at which he worked for some time. He subsequently took up the carpen- ter's occupation, learning the same under his brother, George Bevan, and worked at the trade with good success until 1862. He came to Logansport in 1852, and ten years later engaged in the lumber and coal trade, which he continued until 1876, at which time he ceased dealing in lumber and established his present business-wood and coal. He afterward went into partnership with Geo. W. Connalley in the manufacture of mineral water, which he now carries on in connection with his other business. Mr. Bevan has met with en- couraging success in his various enterprises, and is in the enjoy- ment of a large and constantly increasing business. On the 6th of November, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Crid- land, of Dayton, Ohio, a union blessed with the birth of the follow-
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ing children: Harry T., Maude, May, Charley, Earl, Ethel and Nellie, living; Willie and Louie, deceased. Mr. Bevan belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and in politics votes the Republican ticket. HORACE P. BIDDLE, LL. D., Ph. D., and ex-judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana, was born on the 24th of March, 1811, about twenty miles below Lancaster, Ohio, on the Hocking River. He was born near what is now Logan, the county seat of Hocking County, though at that time the county (which has since been di- vided ) was a large one, and all went under the name of Fairfield. His father was Benjamin Biddle, who came from Connecticut in 1789, under the protection of Gen. Israel Putnam, to look at the coun- try, while that chieftain was making his tour among the Indians and arranging treaties with them. Benjamin Biddle settled at Mari- etta that year, removing to Waterford in 1791, and finally, in 1802, to the place on the Hocking River. His wife was Abigail Converse, who died in 1817, leaving Horace, the youngest son, at the age of five years, to the care of a sister twelve years older. His father died in 1829. There were nine children-the subject of this sketch, as before stated, being the youngest. He worked upon the farm, go- ing to school as occasion afforded, which was rather infrequent, un- til he was sixteen years old, when he went to Muskingum County and clerked in a country store for an elder brother, Daniel C. Bid- dle. From there he, after a time, returned to the old farm, where he remained until 1836. He was then in his twenty-fourth year, and had read and digested everything he could get his hands on. He had a quick perception; was noted as a fluent talker, and had a deeply analytical mind. With these advantages in his favor, he determined to study law, and applied to Thomas Ewing, Sr., at Lancaster, who recommended the aspiring young farmer to Hock- ing H. Hunter, one of the most striking men Ohio ever produced. In Senator Ewing and Mr. Hunter Mr. Biddle found fast friends. and his progress in the law was rapid. He was admitted to the bar (State courts) in Cincinnati, April, 1839, and in the same month was admitted to practice in the Federal courts. From April until October of that year he traveled the circuit with the old lawyers, among whom were Ewing, Hunter, Stanberry, Brazee, and Medill, all prominent in the history of their State. The circuit extended over the counties of Fairfield, Hocking, Perry and Licking, and the training enabled the young lawyer to go to Logansport, Ind., on the 18th of October, 1839, and there hang out his shingle with some de- gree of assurance. In 1840 he had a full and lucrative practice, and, growing in favor with his new neighbors, was in 1844, placed upon the Whig electoral ticket, and stumped the northern part of the State for Henry Clay, meeting in debate upon the political questions of the day such men as Hon. G. N. Fitch and the eloquent Charles Cathcart. Judge Biddle was a warm personal friend of
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Henry Clay, and after his defeat left the field of politics with sad- ness and disgust, though in 1845, while attending the Supreme court, at Indianapolis, he was, without his sanction, nominated by Whigs of Cass County for the Legislature, but was defeated at the ensuing election. In December, 1846, by the joint ballot of the Senate, he was elected president judge of the then Eighth Circuit for a term of seven years. He held the office six years and re- signed, having been nominated (1552) for Congress against the late Dr. Norman S. Eddy, by whom. the district being largely Demo- cratic, he was defeated. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850, and participated in the debates on all the lead- ing questions. In 1857 he was elected supreme judge by 25,000 majority, but the supreme court held that at the time there was no vacancy. He was therefore not commissioned. From 1852 until 1860 he devoted his full attention to his practice, which yielded him a yearly revenue of nearly $8,000. In the latter year, wishing to retire from the practice which had become exceedingly laborious, he accepted the nomination, and was elected to the cir- cuit bench, being re-elected in 1866-the last time, without a vote against him. In 1872 he declined a re-election, and from that time until 1874 he gave the greatest part of his time to literary pursuits. He was then nominated for the supreme bench by two State conven- tions. the Democratic and Independent, and elected by the largest majority ever given to any candidate in the history of the State, his majority reaching 33,000. Mr. Biddle held the office of supreme judge for a period of about eighteen years. Judge Biddle is not only foremost among the jurists of Indiana, but is a thoroughly educated man, although he has not had the benefit of a college course, nor attended any but the ordinary country schools. He has supplied the deficiencies by a long and rigid course of self-instruction. He has a full knowledge of Latin, and is thoroughly conversant with German and French, from all of which he has made translations, weaving some of the poems of the two modern languages into spark- ling gems of verse. In former years he was a frequent and valued contributor to several of the leading magazines, but not recently. In 1840 he published his first volume of poems, sending the book into the world with the modest title of a "Few Poems." The work was highly complimented by Irving, Longfellow, Charles Mackay, and others. In 1858 another and larger volume containing 240 pages. was issued under the same title. In 1849 he wrote his work on "The Musical Scale," which was not published until 1860. Oliver Ditson, of Boston, purchased the copyright, and has since published two or three editions. In this book the Judge differs regarding the musical scale from preceding authorities, not only in the analysis of harmony, but in the combination of harmon- ies and the arrangement of some of the intervals of the scale. Re-
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cently, in London, the Judge's theory was proved correct by the mi- crophone, in opposition to Tyndall and Helmholtz in their recent works, and is now accepted as authority. In 1864-65 he wrote "Glances at the World," his third volume of poems, a book of 370 pages, published in 1874. In 1876 he published another vol- ume, a poem entitled, " American Boyhood," in which are por- trayed American boyhood with its surroundings as found in the West in the early part of the nineteenth century, with all its joys, sorrows, hopes, fears, trials and ambitions incidental to the early settlement of the country. The Judge has contributed several pam- phlets to the literature of the country, prominent among which are " A Discourse on Art," "The Definition of Poetry," "A Review of Prof. Tyndall's Work on Sound," " The Analysis of Rhyme," " An Es- say on Russian Literature," and " The Tetrachord, a New Musical In- strument." The Judge's last literary productions were: "Elements of Knowledge," 1881; "Prose Miscellany," 1881; and "Last Poems," published in 1882. In addition to the publications named, Judge Biddle had printed a number of years ago a volume in scrap- book form, for distribution among friends, but not intended for gen- eral circulation. In 1873 a beautifully bound and elegantly gotten up volume, entitled " Amatories by an Amateur," was printed by a house in Cincinnati, only ten copies comprising the edition. Yet this volume is the chef-d'œuvre of Judge Biddle's pen, the anacre- ontics being exceedingly beautiful. Surrounded by books, birds, paintings, music and flowers, Judge Biddle lives on what is known as Biddle's Island, in the Wabash River, opposite the city of Lo- gansport. The house in which the Judge resides was built in 1836 by the late Gen. John Tipton, then United States Senator from Indi- ana. The library in this fine old mansion is the largest private li- brary in the State, containing over 7,000 volumes, many of them extremely rare and curious. After the defeat of Clay in 1844, Judge Biddle ceased to be a partisan, and paid little or no attention to politics, dividing his attention between his profession and liter- ature. When the old Whig party disintegrated he stood on nen- tral ground, with but one violent and deep-rooted antipathy-an uncompromising opposition to Know-nothingism. When the flag went down at Sumter he was with the Government-a Repub- lican or War Democrat until the conclusion of the struggle. Af- ter the abolition of slavery and the adoption of the amendments, he saw no great difference between the parties, though differing with the Republican party in its reconstruction measures. The Judge has a kindly and genial disposition, and many young aspirants for fame in literature or law attribute their success to his generous encour- agement and kindly sympathy. His mind contains vast stores of useful knowledge, acquired partly in the course of his professional experience in courts and legislative bodies, and partly gathered by
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