History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I, Part 32

Author: Powell, Jehu Z., 1848- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago and New York. The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 763


USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I > Part 32


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Where wandering Peres love to rest, Where the sky and the earth are softly fair, Bury her there-bury her there.


Miss May Dodds, daughter of John F. Dodds, was born in this city in 1853, educated in the public schools and taught school for many years. She became an invalid and had to give up teaching, but her bright intellect remains clear and she has devoted some time to writing short stories for eastern magazines and a number of short poems pub- lished in the Indianapolis papers.


Jesse C. Douglass was born in Ohio, 1812, and came with his father, David Douglass, a Revolutionary soldier, to Logansport about 1832 and engaged in the newspaper business, as editor of the Logansport Herald. He was a brilliant writer and wrote some witty rhymes that were pub- lished in "Notes and Queries," a magazine then published in London, England. Mr. Douglass was a brother of Wm. Douglass, deceased, and died October 12, 1845, and lies at rest in the old cemetery.


Joseph Elpers, a grocer on the west side, has on numerous occasions contributed articles to farm journals, of real practical merit, which are read with interest and profit to our farmers.


Miss Abigail H. Fitch, daughter of Henry Fitch, and granddaughter of Dr. G. N. Fitch, was born in New York, but was reared and received her education in Logansport, which was supplemented by studies in Europe. Miss Fitch accompanied her uncle, Chas. Denby, when he was minister to China. While in Pekin she wrote many short stories that were published in the Century Magazine, 1903, which are filed with the Historical Society. Miss Fitch now resides at Englewood, New Jersey.


Dr. G. N. Fitch was a forcible writer and speaker and has written many medical lectures and articles for journals. His speeches when United States senator are models of terse English, as shown by the Con- · gressional Record.


Graham Denby Fitch, son of Henry Fitch, was born in Logansport in 1860, is a graduate of West Point Military School, 1882, and has since served in the United States corps of engineers and now ranks as lieutenant colonel. Colonel Fitch has written much along military, en- gineering and scientific lines. In 1909 the Scientific American offered a prize of $500 for the best essay on what is known in mathematics as


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the "Fourth Dimension." The prize was open to the world, and Colo- nel Fitch won the first prize in this world-wide contest. His article ap- peared in the Scientific American July 3, 1909, and is on file in the Cass County Historical Society.


Aaron M. Flory, for many years a prominent lawyer of Logansport, born in 1833, died at Emporia, Kansas, 1893. He was united in mar- riage to Elizabeth Funston of Cass county and had three. children who are still living. Mr. Flory was a soldier in the 46th Indiana Regiment, and became its lieutenant colonel. He was captured at Sabine Pass, Louisiana, in 1863, and escaped from the rebel prison in Texas and wrote an entertaining booklet of his experiences in prisons and his es- cape, entitled "Prison Life in Texas," printed by the Logansport Jour- nal in 1865.


Mrs. Emma Leaming Forman was the wife of George Forman and lived in Logansport, 1870 to 1880. After Mr. Forman's death she moved to Petoskey, Michigan, where she died. Mrs. Forman wrote on a variety of subjects for the press, some of which appeared in the Logansport Journal under the "nom-de-plume" of "Domino Noir." She traveled abroad and was entertained while in London by "George Eliot," (Mary Ann Evans).


Prof. Lewis Forman, son of Geo. Forman, a Logansport merchant, was educated in our city schools, attended Wabash College, studied in Leipsic, Germany, and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Johns Hopkins in 1880 and is now professor of Greek in Cornell Univer- sity. Professor Forman is author of the following text books and translations : "A First Greek Book;" "Index of Attic Orators;" "Se- lect Dialogues of Plato."


Chas. O. Fenton, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, was for many years editor of the Times, and wrote not only editorials for the Times, but also for other publications. Some very clever poems from his pen have appeared in the Chicago Record Herald and other papers. Mr. Fenton died October 31, 1912.


Harry M. Gardner, born in New York, 1880, educated in University of Buffalo, New York, came to Logansport 1901, since which time he has been editor of the Reporter. In addition to his regular newspaper work he has contributed to the Indianapolis News and short stories to several magazines. He is a Democrat and his party honored him in 1912 by sending him to the lower house of the legislature.


Thomas D. Goodwin, a native Logansport boy, born here in 1879, has contributed many short stories to Chicago, New York and Boston magazines and his productions are high class, as evidenced by the jour- nals publishing them.


Joseph Grimes, a pioneer of Cass county, having been born in Miami township in 1838, a school teacher for many years, has a reflective mind and has composed many essays on philosophic and semi-religious sub- jects, as "Mystery of Our Being;" "Death;" "Mother's Love;" the latter in rhyme. Mr. Grimes although advanced in years, expects to collect and publish his writings in book form.


Perry S. Heath, a printer on the Pharos, 1877 to 1879, first assistant postmaster-general, 1897 to 1900, and now a newspaper correspondent in Washington, D. C., has traveled, written and published many arti- cles, pamphlets and books. When in Russia he wrote a book entitled a "Hoosier in Russia," a copy of which he presented to the Cass County Historical Society.


Thomas B. Helm, born in Fayette county, Indiana, 1822, came to Logansport in 1832, and died, 1889. He was a student and a scholar, and interested in educational work; a surveyor and civil engineer, a


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teacher and the first superintendent of the city schools. He was a contributor to the local press, writing chiefly on scientific, educational and historic subjects. He wrote most of the text for Kingman's Cass County Atlas, published in 1878, but his greatest work was the "His- tory of Cass County," published in 1886, consisting of 976 pages.


Mrs. Sarah E. Henderson, widow of Joseph Henderson, and for- merly a professor of English in Preston College, Kentucky, has con- tributed many short stories and poems to the American Tribune, In- diana Woman, and local papers. Her great work is "Jelard," a book of 553 pages, published in 1892. It is a story of southern life and the name, "Jelard," is made up from the initials of the principal charac- ters described in the story.


Robert Hessler, A. M., M. D., an erudite physician of Logansport, is a thorough student of science and medicine, and is a contributor to many scientific and medical journals, some of the articles appearing in pamph- let form. In 1912 he published a popular medical work entitled "Dusty Air and Ill Health," consisting of 352 pages, which contain many origi- pal ideas on this subject of which Dr. Hessler is the original investigator. He has other works nearly ready for the press.


Miss Lizzie Higgins, born in Logansport in 1853, died, 1902, and her sister, Miss Ella Higgins, born, 1851, and died, 1907, daughters of Capt. A. M. Higgins, were ardent lovers of literature and wrote short stories for eastern magazines and were the authors of "The Court of King Christian," a local play.


Alvin Rayburn Higgins, son of Alvin Higgins of Noble township, now a teacher in the Louisville, Kentucky, high school, wrote the class poem for the Logansport high school class, 1906, which received merited praise at the time. Since then he has written a few other poems and contributed a number of articles to eastern magazines.


Warren P. Higgins, also a son of Alvin Higgins, a Noble township farmer, where he was born 1874, and graduated from the Logansport high school 1895, should be congratulated on remaining on the farm and study nature in its truest sense, from its fountain source. He is a con- tributor to the Birds and Nature Magazine, and the world would be better if more of our college boys would remain on the farm as Mr. Higgins has done. Cass county should feel proud of such men, and en- courage farmer boys to become thoroughly educated but remain in the country, put brains into farming, breathe pure air and commune with nature and nature's God.


Rev. Wm. R. Higgins, born in Logansport, 1838, died at Terre Haute, Indiana, 1895, and lies at rest in Mount Hope cemetery, was educated in the Logansport schools, Wabash College and Lane Theological Seminary. Reverend Higgins is the author of many short stories of a religious character, published in magazines and church papers. He published a book entitled "Cardinal Points," a religious work especially for min- isters.


Mrs. Rosa Birch Hitt, daughter of Rev. Wm. L. Birch, former pas- tor of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal church, but now a resident of Washington, D. C., was married in Logansport, 1889, to Isaac R. Hitt, a lawyer of Chicago. She is the author of a popular hygienic work entitled "The Instrument Tuned," published in 1904, consisting of 100 pages, a copy of which the author presented to the Cass County His- torical Society. Mrs. Hitt is also a contributor to magazines.


Rev. A. M. Hootman, pastor of the Christian church 1901-1904, is the author of a number of printed addresses and many short poems, to- wit : "Our Thoughts," "Dialectic Poems," "Longing for Home," "Fond Memories," "Song of the Heart," "When Dad Brings Home the Coin." etc. Mr. Hootman has also written numerous songs set to music.


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Edward Stanton Huntington, born in England and educated in the east, served as captain in the Eleventh Regiment, United States regular army, with James Pratt, son of Daniel D. Pratt. After the war of the rebellion, Captain Huntington located in Logansport and married Julia A. Pratt, only daughter of Senator Pratt. About 1880 they moved to Boston, where he died 1895. Captain Huntington was a contributor to the Boston papers and is the author of a book of 268 pages entitled "Dreams of the Dead," under the nom-de-plume of "Edwin Stanton," published in 1890. He attempts to depict the transition state of the spirits of the dead and their communication with the living. The book is in the public library.


Samuel Jacobs, born in Pennsylvania, 1821, moved to Logansport, 1871. In his early manhood was religiously inclined and wrote a book of 200 pages, entitled "Seventh Angel," published in 1856, which was highly complimented. Mr. Jacobs was for a time editor of the Logans- port Sun, and three times elected mayor of the city, 1877 to 1881. He died and was buried at Goodland, Indiana, 1891. He was married and left one son, Clarence L., and one daughter, Ida May Keys, now living in Peru, Indiana. Before coming to Indiana, Mr. Jacobs was a Pres- byterian minister, and a forceful speaker and writer in the church, but then he left the church and became a man of the town.


Rev. Thomas J. Johnson was a Methodist minister at Galveston, In- diana, from 1893 to 1897, and published two very excellent religious books: "Do Christians Believe in the Scriptures?" and "What Will You Do With Jesus ' Reverend Johnson was united in marriage to Cora Thomas of Galveston, 1894. They have four children and now live in Muncie, Indiana.


Rev. Amos Jones, born in Massachusetts, 1821, graduated from Dart- mouth College, 1843, and Lane Theological Seminary, 1846, came to Cass county, 1881, where he resided until 1896, then became a disciple of Alexander Dowie and moved to Zion City, Illinois, and died there, 1903. Reverend Jones was twice married, the last time to Miss Mary H. Mar- tin of Logansport in 1882. Reverend Jones was the author of a 250- page book of poems entitled "The Great Builder." In it he portrays God's providence in building up and preserving our nation. He also composed many miscellaneous poems published in religious and secular papers.


James Monroe Justice, for many years an attorney at the Logans- port bar and prosecuting attorney, was born in Connersville, Indiana, 1838, came to Cass county with his parents in October of that year, and settled in Clinton township. He was educated at Hanover College and University of Michigan Law School and located in Logansport, 1865, where he resided at 1015 North street until his death, August 20, 1889. Mr. Justice was married, 1870, to Grace E. Heicks of Dayton, Ohio, and has two daughters, Miss Maibelle Heicks and Mrs. Anna Justice Pat- terson, both of whom are authors of note now residing in New York, and his widow was remarried and lives in Quincy, Illinois. Mr. Justice was a fluent writer and contributor to metropolitan papers, chiefly on poli- tics, economics and poetry.


Miss Maibelle Heicks Justice, daughter of J. M. Justice, was born in Logansport 1871, and educated in the city schools and in New York, paying especial attention to literature. In 1899 Miss Justice went to Chicago, and later to New York, where she now resides. She has been a liberal contributor to Chicago and St. Louis papers. In New York her literary productions are in great demand by the New York Sun, Herald, and the leading magazines. "Brothers in Bravery" appeared in Les- lie's Weekly in 1898; "The Regimental Greenhorn," in the Red Book


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in 1905; "Miss Winwood's Cousins," in the Green Book Magazine, Au- gust, 1907; "The Wasp," in the Blue Book, January, 1908; "The Or- deal," in the Columbian, November, 1910. These are only a few sam- ples of Miss Justice's writings, which have become so voluminous that they cannot be noticed in this work. She is a member of the Authors Guild, Gotham Club and other literary societies in New York. Miss Justice possesses a vivid imagination and excellent ideas and her literary style is admirable and she is rapidly gaining a national reputation.


James Leroy Justice, a son of Frank L. Justice, of Washington town- ship, received an injury a few years ago that left his lower extremities paralyzed, since which time he has turned his attention to literature, and has written some most excellent short stories and composed a number of creditable poems, which have been published.


Enion Kendall is Logansport's pioneer poet, although he could nei- ther read nor write. He was a wood sawer and lived in a shanty at the corner of Ninth and High streets, where he died in 1856. He wrote a lengthy rhyme, entitled "History of Kansas and March of Western Army to Santa Fe and San Diego," which was published in the Delphi Times in 1854 and now found in volume 14, Biddle Miscellany. He also wrote, or rather dictated, as he could not write, a poem on the great cyclone of 1845 and reproduced in the Logansport Journal August 4, 1907. His rhymes, if not elegant, displayed some original poetic genius.


Arthur R. Keesling, son of B. F. Keesling, was born in Logansport August 29, 1877, educated in our public schools and Howe Military Academy, and engaged in newspaper work in Cincinnati, correspondent during the Spanish-American war, in 1896 traveled in Europe and con- tributed to American publications; was editor and proprietor of the Logansport Journal for ten years prior to its consolidation with the Tribune, and is now on a trip around the world and contributing to various publications. Mr. Keesling was married in Boston, Massachu- setts, to Miss Mabel E. Gates, January 20, 1902.


Frederick Landis, son of Dr. A. H. Landis, was born in Ohio 1872 and three years later moved with his parents to Logansport; educated in the Logansport schools and the law department of the University of Michigan; was a member of the lower house of congress 1902-1906; mar- ried to Bessie Baker of Logansport, 1909, and is blessed with one son at this writing. Mr. Landis is a fluent writer, an eloquent speaker and has written a popular novel: "The Glory of His Country," which appeared in 1909, and a short story, "The Angel of Lonesome Hill," published in Scribner's, March, 1910. Mr. Landis has composed one or more plays, and has other works in preparation.


Charles B. Lasselle, born in Vincennes, 1819, moved with his father, Gen. Hyacinth Lasselle, to Logansport in 1833 and lived here until his death, 1908. Educated in the old seminary and Indiana University, studied law and admitted to the bar, 1842; was prosecuting attorney, 1847, in the legislature, 1862-4-8; editor of Logansport Telegraph, 1844, and devoted much time to literature, especially historical matters and wrote many articles on the early history of Cass county and Indiana, published in the Pharos in the fifties. He published a critical article on Maurice Thompson's novel, "Alice of Old Vincennes," as he was familiar with the characters therein depicted, and gave the writer much data for that book. Mr. Lasselle had preserved a valuable collection of papers, manuscripts and other literature, which was purchased by the state library, which should have been retained in Cass county.


Mrs. Nancy Polk Lasselle, wife of Hyacinth Lasselle, a resident of Logansport for many years, but moved to Washington in 1849, and died there in 1866, was editor of a society magazine, The Metropolitan, pub-


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lished in Washington. She also wrote a book entitled "Anna Grayson," a society story, and "Hope Marshall," or "Government and its Officers," which were popular in their day. She had nearly completed another work, but death prevented its publication.


Benjamin F. Louthain, son of Wm. P. Louthain, a pioneer of Tip- ton township, a sketch of whom appears on another page, has been edi- tor of the Logansport Pharos since 1879 and has contributed not a little to the literature of Cass county. Mr. Louthain has written on a variety of subjects, mostly on politics, economics and civics and deserves hon- orable mention in the literature of Logansport.


Rev. James Matthews, pastor of the Broadway Presbyterian church, 1871-74, head of the Presbyterian Academy (northeast corner Market and Seventh streets), from about 1867 to 1873, was an erudite man, a good linguist, and deep thinker. He wrote much for religious papers and some of his sermons are models of good English; "Divine Judg- ments," "Providence in the Chicago Fire," in 1871, published in book- lets, were widely circulated. Rev. Matthews was from Kentucky, was married and had one son, Breckenridge, and three daughters. He died in Lafayette about 1892.


Dr. Charles H. McCully, now a resident physician of Logansport since 1901, was born in Idaville, Indiana, 1868, attended the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical School and Indiana Medical College, 1897, married Florence H. Vernon, of Huntington, Indiana, 1909. Dr. McCully has composed some very clever short poems and published a book in 1906, "Sanitation and Disinfection;" and in 1899, "Chemistry of Embalm- ing" and "Shadows of Futurity," a booklet of semi-scientific nature. Samuel McGuire, an insurance agent who was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, came to Cass county in 1865, and died November 17, 1904, pos- sessed a meditative and reflective mind and wrote an article, "Immortal Mind," published in the College News, now found in Biddle Miscellany, volume 71. He also wrote many short articles and composed a number of short poems some of which possessed real merit.


Thos. H. McKee, son of Robert McKee, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, educated in the common schools; served in a West Vir- ginia regiment during the Civil war; came to Cass county in 1868, lo- cating in Bethlehem township, and Logansport has been his home ever since, althoughf in the government service in Washington for many years and at present is warden of the federal prison. Mr. McKee was married to Nancy M. Funk of Clay township in 1869. He was clerk of the house of United States senate for many years, and edited and com- piled a large number of books, mostly of a political nature, some of which are: "Forty Thousand Questions Answered," published in 1875; "His- tory of Inaugurations of Presidents," published 1888; "National Con- ventions and Platforms," 1888-1904; Manual of Congressional Prac- tice," 1891; "Text Book National Republican Committee," 1896; "Com- pilation of Reports of Committees, 1814 to 1890, 585 volumes;" "Pub- lic Addresses," in pamphlet form, etc.


H. J. McSheehy, born in Lafayette, 1854, came to Logansport in 1875, died suddenly February 21, 1911. Mr. McSheehy established the Logansport Chronicle in 1875, and continued as its editor until his death. He was an eccentric, versatile, yet brilliant writer and in addition to his editorial work on his own paper, contributed to the metropolitan press and also wrote a very readable book of 135 pages entitled a "Hunt in the Rockies," published in 1893, describing his experiences while on a hunting expedition in Colorado. Mr. McSheehy presented a copy of his work to the Historical Society.


Mrs. Laura Fitch McQuiston, daughter of Henry Fitch, was edu-


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cated in Logansport, united in marriage to Captain McQuiston of Fort Wayne, a West Point graduate, who was killed in the Philippines. Mrs. McQuiston was an accomplished writer and was a regular contributor to Harper's Young People and Youth's Companion from 1880 to 1894. Some of her stories are entitled: "Adventures of Uncle Sam," "Lost in Pekin," "Child Singers," "Blonde and Brunette."


Joaquin Miller, the pen name for Cincinnatus Heine Miller, while not a permanent resident of Cass county, yet when he lived with his father on the Tippecanoe river north of Rochester about 1850, was a frequent visitor in Logansport, hauling grain and was intimate with Robert Reed and wrote some verses for the latter. No extended notice of Joaquin Miller can be made here, but mention him as an interesting historical fact. He was born in Indiana, 1841, went west in 1851, and spent most of his active life there, and died in 1913 in his cabin home near Oakland, California. His writings are too numerous to mention here and too well known to require it.


A favorite stanza of Joaquin Miller given to Robert Reed is as fol- lows :


All hail to him who shall win the prize, The world has cried for a thousand years, But to him who tries and fails and dies, I give great credit and glory and tears.


Great is the man with sword undrawn, And good is the man who refrains from wine, But the man who fails, and still fights on, Lo, he is the twin born brother of mine.


Robert Mitchell is the son of Wm. Mitchell, a pioneer school teacher of Harrison township, where Robert was born and reared, and later at- tended the Logansport schools, and taught school for some years, but some time in the seventies he moved to Duluth, Minnesota, where he edited and published the Duluth Times, until his death in 1907. Mr. Mitchell was an exceptionally bright and able writer and contributed to the columns of other papers and magazines. His parents were members of the Broadway Presbyterian church and died here many years ago.


Mrs. Sarah C. Murphy, daughter of Capt. A. M. Higgins, born in Logansport 1841, educated in the public schools, married Wm. Murphy January 1, 1861. She died February 12, 1890, leaving two sons. Alvin and Paul. Mrs. Murphy, like her two sisters, devoted some time to literature and wrote short stories for several magazines and composed a number of hymns that were published in the standard hymnals.


Willard G. Nash is a native of Maine, where he was born July 18, 1833, and died at Addison, that state, October 11, 1893, and lies at rest in Mt. Hope cemetery. He came with his father, Addison Nash, to Lo- gansport in 1843; was educated in our city schools; married Mary J. Aldrich of Logansport November 17, 1855. Of this union six children were born. Mr. Nash was sheriff of Cass county 1862-66 and county auditor 1866-70. He became afflicted with heart disease and spent much of his time in later years on the Maine coast. He was editor of the Pharos from 1871-75, and was a fluent and caustic writer. In 1896 he published a novel of 334 pages, entitled a "Century of Gossip," por- traying characters in a New England village of which a miserly parson was the central figure. Mrs. Nash and her daughter are at present liv- ing in Maine and presented a copy of this book to the Historical Society.


Mrs. Flora Trueblood Neff is a native Hoosier, educated in the Ko- komo high school 1878: married to Dr. J. N. Neff 1895, and at once Vol. 1-16


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moved to Logansport, where she has since resided. Mrs. Neff is active in the cause of temperance and moral reform and has written stories and some short poems for the local press. In 1911 she published a book of poems entitled "Along Life's Pathway," in four cantos, a very cred- itable work relating to humane, temperance and moral topics, a copy of which was presented to the Historical Society by the author.




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