USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana > Part 17
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As a tribute of respect to the memory of a dutiful son and worthy citizen, we append the following biography of
THOMAS J. McMILLEN.
He was born in Cass County, Ind., where he received his early education, and where he passed the days of his youth and early man- hood, until he volunteered his services in defense of the nation's honor during the days of the rebellion. A wound received during a battle with the enemy rendered him incapable of performing further . military duty, in consequence of which he was honorably discharged from the service. He then returned home and engaged in the drug business, which he abandoned several years later, and removed to Cincinnati, O. On the 11th day of July, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie B. Moore, daughter of C. Moore, Esq., of Cincinnati, whose untimely death he was called upon to lament two years later, Feb. 12, 1866. He then removed to Idaville, Ind., and engaged in the practice of medicine, and was engaged in that profes-
sion a number of years. On the 6th day of January, 1869, he was a second time united in marriage, Miss Adelia Wickersham becoming his bride. On the 6th day of November, 1875, the community was shocked by intelligence of the sudden death of this worthy citizen. He returned from a funeral and complained of feeling ill. He walked to the table, upon which were two vials, and administered a dose of what he supposed to be the necessary remedy, after which he went to the barn to feed the horses. His agony was increased, and, returning to the house, he discovered, to his horror, that he had taken a violent poison instead of the supposed medicine, which was in the other vial. Antidotes were immediately administered, but without avail, and death ensued in less than half an hour. He was an esti- mable citizen, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of his neighbors, and his sad and sudden death caused universal grief throughout the com- munity.
JAMES M. JUSTICE, M. D. BY T. B. HELM.
Dr. Justice was born in Fayette County, Indiana, September 21, 1817. His father, Joseph Justice, a native of Pennsylvania, was one among the first settlers near Connersville, then only an Indian trading post, in that part of Indiana Territory now occupied by Fayette County. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, having been in service during the seven years of its continuance.
The maiden name of the mother of Dr. Justice was Delilah Fuel, a native of Virginia. After her marriage, she came west with her husband, who, having selected a choice tract of land, improved it with great care. He was a painstaking man, active in the develop- ment of every interest necessary to the well-being of society.
James M., the subject of this sketch, began life on a farm, and passed there his boyhood days, acquiring the rudiments of his early education in an old log school house, no teacher being employed, ex- cept during the Winter season. Until he reached his 20th year, no other or better opportunities were accorded him. At that age, he attended one term at the High School at Connersville, Ind., after which he was prepared to enter upon his professional career. Then, with a fixed purpose in his mind, he entered the office of Dr. Jeffer- son Helm, of Rush County, Ind., as a student of medicine. While there, he pursued his studies with unremitting energy, until the com- pletion of his course, when he received a license to practice his profe-sion. In order, however, to qualify himself more thoroughly, he subsequently entered the Ohio Medical College, from which insti- tution he graduated, with the highest honors.
He was married in December, 1841, to Miss Z. A. Norris, daughter of the late Capt. Norris, of Kentucky, by whom he had three children-two sons and one daughter, to whom he has given the highest educational privileges.
Dr. Justice first located for the practice of his profession, in Camden, Carroll County, Ind., where he enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice, for a period of twenty years. Removing thence, he came to Logansport in 1861, where he has since continued to reside, identifying himself fully with all the material interests of the city and county, practicing his profession and at the same time superintending and managing his extensive farming interests.
Aside from his professional and social relations, he has always taken an active interest in the political affairs of the country-local as well as State and National; affiliating, first, with the old Whig, and later the Republican party. He was first elected a member of the City Council of Logansport in 1862, serving, almost successively, nine years, as a member of that body.
In 1864, he was a delegate to the National Convention at Balti- more, which nominated Mr. Lincoln a second time for the Presidency. He was District Elector for General Grant, in 1868, ably and thor- oughly canvassing the district.
In stature, Dr. Justice is full six feet ; of commanding appearance and well developed physique ; positive in manner, of active energy and acute sensibility.
COL. T. H. BRINGHURST, LOGANSPORT.
Thomas H. Bringhurst was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in the year 1819. He was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinet maker, and served five years, that period being considered necessary in those days for the acquisition of a mechanical art.
In 1840, he emigrated to Alabama; but, in the following year, returned to the North, and located in Dayton, O., where he remained until 1845. In that year, he came to Logansport and built a saw-mill
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
at the mouth of Eel River, where he engaged in the manufacture of walnut veneer.
In 1846, he enlisted in the First Indiana Regiment, and served one year in the war with Mexico. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he returned to Logansport and resumed his former occupa- tion, in which he remained engaged until the year 1849. In that year, he bought the office of the Logansport Telegraph at a cost of $350, and, with a cash capital of $30 (which he received from the Government for extra pay as a soldier), established the Logansport Journal, which he conducted, as editor and proprietor, until the year 1870, a period of twenty-one years. In the year 1853, he was elected Mayor of the city of Logansport, and served in that capacity three years.
In 1861, he assisted in enlisting the Forty-Sixth Indiana Regiment, and was appointed Major. After a service of eight months in that capacity, he was promoted to the office of Lieutenant Colonel, and, later, to the office of Colonel of his regiment. His regiment figured prominently in the campaigns of the Mississippi River, and in the States of Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. He was mustered out of service, with his regiment, in 1865.
He was appointed Special Agent for the Post Office Department in 1869, and continued in the office until May, 1875, at which time he resigned.
He has been identified with the business interests of this city many years, and in many ways. In 1874, he became identified with the Logansport Manufacturing Company, and is now Vice President of that corporation.
MAJ. S. L. McFADIN, LOGANSPORT.
Samuel McFadin, the father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was a native of Bedford County, Pa. He moved to Fairfield County, O., where he married Mary Graybill, a native of Washington County, Pa., in the year 1825. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. John Wright, father of John W. and Williamson Wright, of this city. Mr. McFadin and his faithful wife have long slept the sleep which knows no waking. Their son, Samuel L. McFadin, was born in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, O., Oct. 4, 1826, on the banks of the Hockhocking, and in the vicinity of "Mount Pleasant," or "Standing Stone," as it was called by the Indians-a romantic spot, beautifully described by Emerson Bennett in his story, "The Forest Rose;" a land of rocks and hills, where the laurel, mountain tea and birch bark abound. In April, 1839, he came with his parents to the flowery prairies of Indiana, and settled on a farm a few miles north of Logansport. For a number of years he worked on the farm, and then entered upon an apprenticeship as a carpenter. After acquiring pro- ficiency in that trade, he began to apply his knowledge to practical use, and there are still a number of buildings in this city which attest the excellence of his workmanship-notably Israel Johnson's warehouse and Philip Pollard's residence.
In the year 1846, during the war with Mexico, he enlisted with the Cass County Volunteers, and was elected Corporal of his com- pany, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. The record of this company is a brave one, and one of which the survivors are justly proud.
In 1850, he began the study of law with the late Hon. W. Z. Stuart, and in the same year became a candidate for the State Legis- lature, in opposition to the late Hon. D. D. Pratt, but was defeated in the race.
Two years later, he received the Democratic nomination for Pros- ecuting Attorney, and at the following election received a handsome majority over his opponent, filling the office faithfully for a term of two years.
In 1856, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and served in that capacity four years.
He filled the responsible office of Mayor of the city of Logans- port during four terms; was repeatedly chosen to represent his county in the State Legislature, and while serving in that capacity during the session of 1869, was re-elected Mayor of the city of Logansport. He resigned his seat in the Legislature, and returned home to assume the duties of that office.
In 1876, he was elected Clerk of Cass Circuit Court, and is ex officio Clerk of the Superior Court of Cass County.
He became a member of Tipton Lodge, No. 33, F. and A. M., in the year 1849, and is still an active working member of the fraternity.
Throughout his official life he has discharged his duty with com- mendable fidelity, and has proven himself worthy of the confidence
of his fellow citizens, and competent to fill the offices bestowed upon him.
SAMUEL JACOBS, MAYOR.
The parents of Mr. Jacobs were of German extraction. They were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, where they resided until their death. Their son, who is the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1821. During his youth, he was engaged in farming with his father, who followed that occupa- tion. He afterward came to the State of Indiana, and for a period of twenty years has been a resident of this State.
In 1856, he wrote and published a volume of 200 pages, entitled "The Seventh Angel," which returned him a handsome compensation for his labors, as it met with very ready sale. While this fact could fail to be flattering to the author, it served, at the same time, to prove the merits of the work. This volume received the highest commen- dation from George D. Prentice, probably one of the most competent and thorough critics of the country.
For two years he was engaged as editor and publisher of the Logansport Sun.
He married Miss Abbie J. Lindley, a native of Ohio, and by this marriage is the father of two children-Clarence L. and Ida May.
As a public speaker, Mr. Jacobs is very popular ; producing a sound, logical and comprehensive argument, whenever called upon to address a public assembly ; at the same time possessing the faculty of adducing facts and points without a superfluity of words.
In the Spring of 1877, he was the choice of his party for the office of Mayor of the City of Logansport, and was elected over all opposition, by a handsome majority, for a term of two years.
He is a gentleman of more than ordinary ability, and, but for his extreme modesty, might have filled a higher position than he occupies at present.
During his administration of the city government, his impartial dispensation of justice has won the confidence of all classes, and the good will entertained for him by the German residents found expres- sion on Christmas, 1877, in the presentation of a handsome gold headed cane, of which the recipient is justly proud.
MERRIAM, RICE & CO., LOGANSPORT, IND.
Mr. John C. Merriam, the senior partner of the above firm, came from his native town of Brandon, Vt., to Logansport, in Au- gust, 1843, being then 24 years old. He accompanied Mr. Henry Martin from Vermont, who opened a store in Logansport after their arrival, in which young Merriam was employed as a clerk until the Spring of 1844. In this year, Mr. Martin started a branch store at Monticello, and placed Mr. Merriam in charge of the establishment.
In 1845, he was married to a lady who was a native of Vermont, but was then residing in Kentucky.
Soon after his marriage, he formed a copartnership with Isaac Reynolds, in Monticello, and they continued together in business until the Spring of 1848. He severed his connection in this with Mr. Reynolds, and returned to Logansport. He then associated with William Chase and George P. Smith, to engage in the mercantile trade in this city, and they bought the stock of goods belonging to the firm of Taber & Chase, becoming their successors in the business.
In 1853, the firm of Pollard & Wilson was dissolved, and Thomas H. Wilson, of that firm, and Mr. Merriam, E. S. Rice and Meredith H. Thomas combined under the name of Wilson, Merriam & Co. In addition to the stock of the old firm of which Mr. Merriam was a member, they bought that of Pollard & Wilson, combining the two as one stock.
Mr. Thomas withdrew from this firm previous to 1857, and in that year, Mr. Wilson also retired, leaving Messrs. Merriam and Rice with the stock. They were then joined by John E. Howes, and the name of the firin became Merriam, Rice & Howes. This part- nership continued without change until 1865, when Mr. Rice bought the interest of Mr. Howes. These two gentlemen, Mr. Merriam and Mr. Rice, continued the business until 1872, when Mr. E. L. Metz- ger became a partner, and the style of the house was altered to Merriam, Rice & Co., which title it still bears.
They are popular and extensive dealers in dry goods and general hardware, and occupy two large salesrooms. The rooms are in the same building, adjoining each other, and are connected by arched openings at front and rear, so that the partners have individual over- sight and supervision of both establishments.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
ELIHU S. RICE,
of the firm of Merriam, Rice & Co., was born in the town of Pavilion, Genesee County, New York. He came to Logansport in 1839, and began his business experience in 1843, at the age of 16 years, as a clerk in the house of Henry Martin & Co. He remained with them until they closed their business, in 1844.
In 1845, he engaged with Pollard & Wilson, and remained in their employment until the retirement of Col. Pollard in 1852.
In 1853, he joined J. C. Merriam and others, organizing the firm of Wilson, Merriam & Co., as the successors of Pollard & Wilson and of Taber & Chase.
Through all the business changes of the various firms with which they have been connected since 1853, he and Mr. Merriam have been constant associates and partners.
HISTORY OF THE BROWN FAMILY, LOGANSPORT.
Frederick Brown, the father of the gentleman for whom this biography is prepared, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, April 23, 1799. His father, Frederick William Brown, was born in Hamburg, Germany, in the year 1731. When Frederick was 3 years of age, he moved with his parents to St. Clairsville, Bel- mont County, Ohio, where his father died in 1818. His mother, whose maiden name was Dorathy Haues, was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1802, and died at Alexandria, Kentucky, in the year 1834.
On the 5th day of July, 1821, Frederick Brown married his present wife and companion, Miss Mary Strawn, at the homestead of her parents, near Alexandria, Kentucky. In the year 1823, they moved to West Carlisle, Coshocton County, Ohio, where they resided seven years. In the Spring of 1830, they removed to Alexandria, Kentucky. In November, 1865, they came to Logansport, where they still reside. Mary Brown, the wife of Frederick Brown, is the daughter of John and Elizabeth Strawn. She was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1801. When 3 years of age, she moved with her parents to Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1820, to the homestead purchased by her parents near Alexandria, Kentucky, where her father died in 1834, at the advanced age of 89 years. Two years later, her mother died at the age of 75 years.
John Brown, for whom this biography is written, was born in West Carlisle, Coshocton County, Ohio, on the 13th day of February, 1825. In the Spring of 1830, he removed with his parents to Alexan- dria, Campbell County, Kentucky, where he resided until the Summer of 1857. He enjoyed a good common school education, and at the age of 17 years, entered his father's general merchandise store as book- keeper and salesman ; and in that capacity remained employed seven years. During this period, he married his present wife, on the 3d day of January, 1847. In the Spring of 1850, his father gave him and his younger brother, James, an equal interest with him in his store. The business was then conducted under the firm name of F. Brown & Sons. This relation continued, and the business prospered under the new management until the Spring of 1857, when John withdrew from the firm, and the copartnership ceased so far as he was concerned. During the existence of this firm, he was the general manager and financier of an extensive business carried on by them. His main object in severing this connection was to seek a new and more prosperous location for business. After a tour of investigation to several prominent places West, to which he had been referred, he decided to make Logansport his future home and place of business. He purchased the well known business property on the northwest cor- ner of Market and Third streets, which had been built and occupied by his uncle and cousin several years previous. About the 1st of August, 1857, he brought his family to this city, and one month later a large stock of goods consisting of general merchandise, which he opened first in the three-story stone front building, three doors west of the corner, and about a month later, removed the stock to his own building, which he continued to occupy for a period of more than eighteen years.
In November, 1875, he sold his corner property, and about a month later, removed his stock to the premises now occupied by him, at No. 100 Market street, when he associated with him his son Will- iam H. Brown, and since that time the business has been transacted in the firm name of John Brown & Son. They carry a large and complete assortment of dry goods, boots and shoes, which they buy and sell exclusively for cash, at the lowest possible living profit.
Mr. Brown has proven himself to be one of the substantial and enterprising merchants of Logansport and has contributed largely
toward its public and private improvements, since he has been identi- fied with it. His success in business may be attributed to the assiduity with which he has always applied his energies to his mercantile pursuits, living strictly within his income, and being prompt in meeting all business obligations.
His wife, Ellen Brown, is the daughter of Jonathan and Susanna Horsfall. She was born in the town of Winters, Yorkshire County, England, on the 10th day of December, 1826. When Ellen was six years of age, her mother, with a family of eight children, left her native place for this country, to join the father, who had preceded them two years, for the purpose of selecting a desirable location for their future home. They sailed from Liverpool on the ship "Jubilee," for New York City, and were eight weeks in making the trip across the ocean. They were met by the father, on their arrival, and, after a sojourn of two months in that city, they removed to a point about twelve miles from Philadelphia, in Montgomery County, Pa., where they resided three years. They then moved westward by wagon, over the Alleghany Mountains to Pittsburgh ; thence by steamboat to Newport, Ky., which point they reached in the Spring of 1834. Five years later, her father purchased a farm near Alexandria, Ky., where the parents, with the younger portion of the family, moved, and continued to reside, until the death of the father, which occurred in the Fall of 1842, and in the 60th year of his age. The mother died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Clemons, at Alex- andria, Ky., on the 19th day of December, 1863, at the advanced age of 77 years. They were both devoted members of the Baptist Church, to which they united themselves when quite young. Ellen, their daughter, experienced a clear change of heart, in her seventeenth year, and became identified with the same church to which her parents belonged. In the year 1856, she united with the M. E. Church of Alexandria, and later, by letter, with the Broadway M. E. Church, of Logansport, in which she has continued to be a faithful and zealous laborer, until the present time.
William H. Brown, the only son and living child of John and Ellen Brown, was born in Alexandria, Ky., May 23, 1850. His time, from eight to twenty years of age, was passed, principally, in the schools of Logansport. During his vacations, he improved his time in his father's store, acquainting himself with the business, and preparing himself for an honorable and useful manhood. While in school, he made rapid advancement in all his studies, and in the store acquired good business habits, and evinced an especial taste for book- keeping.
In the Summer of 1872, when 22 years of age, he accepted the proffered position of Auditor of the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railway Company, and, while in their employ, filled the responsible offices of Treasurer and Paymaster, to the entire sat- isfaction of the company. In the Fall of 1874, he resigned his position on account of impaired health, precipitated by the arduous labors connected with his office. He passed the Winter of 1874 and the Summer of 1875 on the Pacific Coast, with a view of recuper- ating his health. He returned home about the 1st of August, 1875, and, on the 29th of December, of the same year, he was united in the holy ties of matrimony, with Miss Otie W. Hamilton, of Chilli- cothe, Ohio.
On the 12th day of January, 1876, he purchased an interest in his father's store, and is now established in business with him, under the firin name of John Brown & Son.
FATHER FRANCIS LAWLER.
The subject of this biography is the Pastor in charge of St. Vin- cent de Paul Church, the first Catholic society organized in the city. He was born in Ireland in the year 1822, but when he was two years old his father's family emigrated to America and settled at Hogans- burg, Franklin County, N. Y. He remained there assisting his father upon the farm until he was 14 years of age. In the year 1836, bis father became impressed with the greater chances of success offered in the Western States, and as Kentucky was then being rap- idly populated by a tide of emigration flowing to its borders, he removed his family there and located at Frankfort.
Soon after their arrival in their new home, Francis was placed as a pupil in St. Thomas Seminary, located near Beardstown. It was during the three years spent in this institution that he laid the founda- tion for an education which has since brought him many honors.
At the close of his studies here, he went to St. Mary's College to enter upon the study of the higher branches of science and literature. After two years spent here, he again returned to St. Thomas, com- pleting his course of study, and graduated with honors in 1844.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
He was ordained priest on the 26th of December, 1845, and was at once placed on missionary duty in the State of Kentucky, remain- ing so employed until 1847. In this year, he accepted the station of instructor in St. Joseph College, and performed the duties so accepta- bly that at the end of one year his merits as an instructor attracted the attention and favor of the officers of St. Mary's College, and they chose him Vice President of that institution, he being then only 26 years of age. He was continued in this capacity for four years, at which time he had so identified himself with the proper success of the College that he was promoted to the highest honors, and called to the chair of President, filling this position of trust and responsibility until 1856.
At this period in his history, he removed to Indiana and was made an officer of Notre Dame College, the largest Catholic institution of learning in the West, located in St. Joseph County. After two years thus spent, he was recalled to Kentucky to take control of Bishop Carroll's Seminary, but returned again to Indiana in 1859, and was placed over the congregation of La Porte and its missions as Pastor.
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