USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 15
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shown by the adjutant general's report and the county records, is three thou- sand and forty-two men, a splendid showing, and one of which Daviess county shall always be proud.
DAVIESS COUNTY SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
When the Children of Israel, after their forty years of wilderness wan- dering, had finally reached the Jordan and were about to enter the Prom- ised Land, a chosen man from each tribe was directed to take up a stone from the bed of the river that was made dry for their passage. These stones were carried to the place of their first encampment, and there piled into a heap, to remain as a memorial. "And Joshua spake unto the Children of Israel, saying: When your children shall ask their fathers in days to come, What mean these stones; then ye shall say, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. That all the people of the earth may know, the hand of the Lord it is mighty; and that ye may fear the Lord forever."
Monuments and memorials characterize every age and every people in sacred and profane history. From the time of the proud and rebellious Absalom, who sought to perpetuate his memory by the erection of a monu- ment in his name in the king's dale, down to the latest time; wherever heaves the turf or rises the lettered stone, in every receptacle of the dead in all ages ; by the towering monuments of granite, by the mighty pyramids of the desert, in all the ways known to art and science since the beginning of time, we hear man's voice protesting against death and crying for immortality.
"WHAT MEAN THESE STONES?"
There are some events in the history of individuals, and of nations and communities, that may well be and should be perpetuated by the erection of monuments. To this end the stones were gathered from the bed of the river Jordan, that historical inquiry might be excited among the children of generations to come. To this end monuments and memorials have been established in towns and cities all over our land, as a testimony of the hero- ism and sacrifice of those who offered their lives to save the flag from dis- honor, and to preserve a nation threatened with destruction. To this end the citizens of Daviess county have contributed of their means for the erection of a monument to preserve and perpetuate the memory and achievements of those from this county who responded to their country's call; who, in the clays of the Civil War, gave the supreme test of patriotism. Daviess county has honored herself in dedicating this monument in honor of her sons who
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, WASHINGTON.
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have fought her country's battles. Its value is not to be reckoned by the cost of material and construction, but rather for the purpose it will serve the generations to come who shall make inquiry as to its meaning. As in the case of the rude pile of stones by the river Jordan, it will serve as an answer to the inquiry of children of future generations, when they shall ask, "What mean these stones ?"
PRELIMINARY STEPS FOR THE ERECTION OF A MONUMENT.
The initiatory steps for the erection of a soldiers' monument were taken by the local Grand Army post in the early part of 1911. In order to secure an appropriation from the county for that purpose it was necessary to have a petition signed by a majority of the legal voters of the county, in accord- ance with the provisions of an act of the Legislature. This petition, duly signed and verified, being presented to the county commissioners, that body could ask the county council for an appropriation for the specified amount for the specified purpose. A committee was appointed by U. S. Grant Post No. 72, Grand Army of the Republic, to make a canvass of the county to secure the required number of signers to the petition. This committee was composed of the following persons: P. H. Ragsdale, Philip Hart, W. S. Waller, James Wykoff, John M. Jackman, John Russell, George W. Fyffe, Abner Colbert, D. J. Murphy and Benjamin Folson. By the latter part of October, 1911, a sufficient number of signatures to this petition had been obtained and, on November 7, 1911, the petition was presented to the board of county commissioners. The following from the official proceedings of the commissioners show the further progress of the work :
"November 7, 1911. Comes now U. S. Grant Post No. 72, Grand Army of the Republic, and through its committee presents a petition request- ing an appropriation of $40,000 for the purpose of erecting a soldiers' monument, the petition being presented, on behalf of the committee, by P. H. Ragsdale, W. P. Gardiner, Mayor John W. McCarty, J. Earl Thomp- son and Elmer E. Harstings. After fully examining said petition the board finds the petition is signed by more than a majority of the legal voters of the county, and therefore refers the same to the county council and recom- mends an appropriation of $40,000 for the purpose of erecting a soldiers' monument."
It seems the county council was not inclined to grant the full amount of the appropriation requested. That body made an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars, as is indicated by the next action of the commissioners, at
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their January meeting, 1912. At that meeting they gave notice that they would receive designs and plans for a soldiers' monument, with samples of granite to be used, including walks and approaches, the cost not to exceed thirty thousand dollars. Bids to be submitted March 6, 1912.
On March 6, 1912, in connection with the Grand Army committee, the commissioners examined designs and plans submitted and after due con- sideration accepted the plans submitted by the Washington Monumental Works, and the auditor was directed to advertise for bids for the erection of a monument according to these plans.
At their meeting on May 9, 1912, the commissioners ordered the issu- ance of bonds to secure funds for the erection of the monument, said bonds to be in the amount of eighteen thousand dollars, and to bear four per cent. interest ; bonds to be in series of one thousand dollars each, payable on the 15th of May and the 15th of November, each year.
On June 4, 1912, the contract and bond of Wey & Backus, of Terre Haute, for the construction of the monument were accepted and approved by the commissioners.
On October 7, 1912, the work of construction of the base of the monu- ment, done by Noah Bogard, sub-contractor, was accepted and Wey & Backus, contractors, were directed to settle for the same.
On November 4, 1912, the bid of the Washington National Bank for bonds to the amount of eighteen thousand dollars was accepted.
On November 14, 1912, George W. Correll, of Odon, was appointed to- inspect the sample of Barre granite, submitted by Wey & Backus. Correll reported on November 16, stating that he had inspected the material in the sample submitted and found it to be first quality, fine-grained, light Barre granite.
On January 6, 1913, at the joint meeting of the commissioners and the Grand Army committee, Wey & Backus submitted photographs of statuary for the monument, and the same were approved.
On July 2, 1913, the auditor presented to the commissioners the written acceptance of work done by George Correll, superintendent of construction. The Grand Army committee also filed a statement of its entire satisfaction with the work done and the material used.
DESCRIPTION OF MONUMENT.
The material used in the construction of this monument is Barre granite, of fine grain and whitish gray color. The design of the monument is a.
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massive, rather than a stately structure. The base is about thirty feet, and the dies of the shaft are massive blocks of granite about six feet square. On the top of the shaft is the figure of a soldier, representing a color-bearer, holding a flag. On the pedestal on the east side of the shaft is the figure of a soldier representing an infantry sentinel with martial equipment. On the west side is the figure of an artilleryman. All this statuary is carved from Barre granite and is a most artistic production of the sculptor's skill. From the base to the top of the figure surmounting the shaft the height is about forty feet. The monument stands in front of the south entrance to the court-house lawn, facing Walnut street. The approach to the monument is by wide stone steps from the street sidewalk. Around the base of the monument is a wide space paved with concrete, and on either side is a settee made of granite. On the face of the lower die fronting the street is this inscription :
"This Memorial is the Tribute of the People of Daviess County to the Memory of her brave Soldiers who endured the hardships and fought the battles of 1861 to 1865, that the Union might be preserved."
On the opposite side of the monument, facing the north, is a panel bearing this inscription :
"This panel is dedicated to the memory of the Pioneers who blazed the way and cleared the fields. To the brave hearted Soldiers of the Indian Wars who fought the battles of Civilization upon Indiana's soil, and to all who answered the call of Patriotism upon the Nation's battlefields."
On the face of a granite block standing at the edge of the pavement, on each side of the approach to the monument, is a bronze tablet on which is inscribed the names of those who had official direction of the construction. On one of these tablets are the following names of the monument committee :
P. H. Ragsdale, chairman; Philip Hart, secretary; William S. Waller, John Russell, Benjamin J. Tolson, John W. Kellams, Abner D. Colbert, John W. Jackman, James W. Wykoff, George W. Snider.
On the other tablet are the names of the board of commissioners and of the county council, who were officially connected with the monument con- struction, as follow :
Board of Commissioners: Robert J. Barr, Richard McDonald, James T. Sause, John M. Meads.
County Council : Hugh McKernan, Haman Woodling, John H. Arvin, James Porter, William G. Scudder, Simeon Martin, Arthur H. Trueblood.
The total cost of the monument was about eighteen thousand dollars.
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DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT.
The dedication of the monument took place on Wednesday, October 8, 1913, an occasion long to be remembered by all who participated in the event. To the veterans of the Civil War, especially, it was a memorable day, not only because it marked the consummation of a long-desired wish, in the completion of a soldiers' monument, but also, by some who participated in the dedication ceremonies it was recalled that this date was the anniversary of the battle of Perryville, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Daviess county soldiers bore a conspicuous part in that battle, and many fond hearts of friends at home were broken with grief because of sons, brothers and husbands who fell in that battle.
The following account of the dedicatory ceremonies is reproduced from the Daviess County Democrat, of October II, 1913 :
"The beautiful soldiers' and sailors' monument on the south lawn of the court house, Daviess county's tribute to the love and memory of her repre- sentatives, both living and dead, in past wars, was dedicated today with im- posing ceremonies. It was the biggest day in years for the old soldiers. They were here from all parts of Daviess county and many attended from adjoining counties.
"The Grand Army post room, in the basement of the court house, and the lawn in front, was the scene of the greatest activity, from early in the morning. The veterans gathered in groups, chatting over present and past times, and the feeling in their hearts seemed to be one of thankfulness that they had been allowed to live and enjoy the pleasures of this day. Around these groups of veterans were large crowds of spectators, among whom were many children who for the first time, and probably the last time, had the opportunity of hearing the story of the war as told by these veterans, and to hear the music of the fife and drum as played by those whose hearts were stirred by the thrilling music.
"The stores along Main street were handsomely decorated, as were many private houses. The big parade was the feature of the morning exercises. Undoubtedly it was the greatest patriotic pageant ever seen in the city. About two thousand children took part in the parade and made one of the prettiest sights in the entire parade, with their flags waving and the sounds of happy cheers.
"The parade was headed by the city officials, followed by the fire depart- ment with decorated wagons. Following them came the county officials and
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the two thousand children of the public and parochial schools, cach carrying a flag. Company D), Indiana National Guard, with the flag it used in the Spanish-American War in 1898, came next and they were followed by the pupils of the high school, two hundred and fifty strong. The Grand Army post, headed by Kiefer's band, was next. Some of the veterans had the uni- forms that they had worn in the service and this gave the age-broken veterans a more patriotic appearance. There was a large turnout of veterans and they marched the entire distance, though with halting step. Following the Grand Army, came the Ladies Circle of the Grand Army of the Republic, and then the Eagles, led by "Uncle Sam" and his banner and a drum corps. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows brought up the rear, with a large delega- tion. The line of march was from the court house east on Walnut to Seventh, south to Main, west to Meridian, north to Walnut, east to the court house. The streets were lined with spectators along the way.
"The parade disbanded at the court house, at the base of the new monu- ment, which the school children and lodges saluted with three cheers. After the crowd had assembled, the school children sang 'The Battle Cry of Free- dom.' Rev. J. W. Darby, pastor of the Christian church, gave the invoca- tion, followed by music by Kiefer's band. The presentation of the monu- ment to the Grand Army post was then made by Mayor John W. McCarty in a very appropriate speech. The veterans accepted the monument and then proceeded with its dedication, according to the prescribed ritual of the order,. which was very beautiful and impressive. Following the dedication, the school children sang 'The Star Spangled Banner,' and then the Ladies of the Circle gave their flag drill, a very pretty and patriotic exercise. The morn- ing exercises closed with the singing of 'America' by the audience.
"The exercises of the afternoon were held in the First Christian church, which was well filled with those eager to hear the addresses of Hon. Ezra. Mattingly and Judge W. R. Gardiner. After a selection by a mixed double- quartet, Mr. Mattingly made a short address, reciting the part that Indiana. had in the Civil War. Mr. Mattingly is thoroughly familiar with the war history of Indiana and his remarks were listened to with great interest.
"Hon. W. R. Gardiner was the principal speaker of the afternoon. His speech was a gem, both in thought and in rhetoric, and is classed as one of the finest patriotic addresses that the local Grand Army ever listened to. He paid a fine tribute to the veterans of '61 to '65, extolling them for their valor and praising them for their pluck in enduring the hardships which they had to face during the war. The afternoon program ended with the benediction by A. E. Johnson, chaplain of the post.
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THE OLDEST VETERAN.
"John Harris, a member of Company D, Eightieth Indiana, was the oldest veteran in attendance at the reunion and dedication. He is past eighty- eight, but is still spry. He marched with the rest of the veterans in the parade. His home is near Alfordsville and he lives on the same farm on which he lived before he enlisted in the army. He has made that place his home ever since he returned from the war. Frank A. Evans, of McCormick avenue, this city, was the youngest veteran to register. He served in Com- pany B, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana. James Sinclair, aged sixty-six, of Company D, Eightieth Indiana, and R. H. Bell, sixty-five years old, of Company I, Tenth New York Artillery, were other young veterans in attendance."
CHAPTER XI.
DAVIESS COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
The first journalistic venture made in Daviess county was by William C. Berry & Son, who started a paper called The Philanthropist in 1836. Either because of its high-sounding name, or for some other reason, this paper did not long survive. It ceased to exist within a year and the same parties afterward made another attempt to establish a newspaper under the more modest name of The Chronicle. This latter paper continued until 1840. This was the year of intense political excitement, when the Whig party was much in evidence, and there was a demand for a paper advocating that political faith. This demand was supplied by Terry & Smith, who established The Harrisonian, supporting Gen. William Henry Harrison for president. Definite data is lacking as to the length of existence of this paper, but it certainly lived to celebrate the election of its favorite candidate.
The Harrisonian, however, did not have a monopoly of the political dis- cussion incident to that campaign. Another paper, called The Jacksonian Democrat, published by Jeremiah Young, came into the field in advocacy of the opposition party. The Jacksonian Democrat made a vigorous fight for the principles of the party it espoused, but the success of the Whig party accomplished its quietus.
The Hoosier was published during the year 1842 by James J. Marts. The Pilot was established in 1843 by Charles G. Berry, but it only lasted for a few months. It was succeeded in the same year, first by The Saturday Morning Expositor, published by Jones & Trowbridge, and this by The Literary Journal, published by John Brayfield & Co. This last newspaper venture was the first to approach anything like success. It was continued until 1853, when, on account of the death of Mr. Brayfield, it was sold and the name changed to the Washington Telegraph, with J. M. Mason as editor. Mr. Mason continued the paper until 1855, when it was again sold to James Stell, who published it in support of the Know-Nothing, or American, party until 1858. In that year the Telegraph passed into the hands of S. F. Hor- rall, who continued as editor and publisher until 1861, when the paper was sold to Lewis & Gardner.
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NUMEROUS FUTILE VENTURES.
In the meantime some other efforts had been made in the attempt to establish a newspaper in Washington, and these efforts generally resulted in failure. Rev. Hamilton Robb, a Baptist minister, started a Democratic paper called The Sun, but this paper with luminous title had scarcely begun to shed its rays upon the community when James Wilkins obtained posses- sion of the plant and changed the name of the paper to The Bee, whereupon The Sun went into an eclipse. But The Bee soon followed its predecessors. In 1856 it came into the hands of Oliver P. Baird, who changed the name to the Washington Democrat. Lewis & Gardner came into possession of the Democrat, in 1861, and consolidated that paper with the Telegraph, changing the name to the Washington Conservator, on an independent policy. This consolidated independent paper died a natural death inside of six months.
The Washington Telegraph was revived in the early part of 1862, by Dr. W. A. Horrall and William Chapman. Horrall disposed of his interest to Jacob Covert in 1863; Chapman did likewise a few months later, and Covert continued the paper alone for about a year, at the end of which time he retired. Finally, the plant came into the hands of J. M. Griffin, who, in 1865, removed it to Mitchell, Indiana, and the Washington Telegraph ceased to be.
Jasper H. Keys & Co. published The True Union Spirit for about ten weeks, in 1865; in 1873 The Age was published for a few months by Sam- uel Sawyer; The Enterprise, published by John Geeting; The National Ven- tilator, published by Parks & Sanford, in favor of the Greenback party; the Washington Commercial, published a few months in 1881, by S. F. Hor- rall, and the Washington Republican, by Dr. W. A. Horrall, in 1883, were all started to fill a long-felt want. Generally, the want was the most dis- tressingly felt by the venturesome publishers.
THE WASHINGTON HERALD AND GAZETTE. By Charles G. Sefrit.
The Washington Herald (daily) and the Washington Gazette (weekly) are published in Washington by the Gazette and Herald Company, a corpo- ration that was organized with a capital stock of twelve thousand dollars in 1905, which organization was effected to promote the consolidation of the Herald and the Gazette, at that time separate publications, the Herald being
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owned by a stock company, of which Charles G. Sefrit was the manager, and the Gazette by Paris A. Hastings. When the consolidation was made the name Gazette and Herald was adopted for the new paper, but in a short time this was discarded and the daily edition was printed as the Herald and the weekly edition as the Gazette, thus retaining both the original names. Mr. Sefrit became the managing editor of the new paper and Mr. Hastings the business manager. Seven years later, in August, 1912, there was a reor- ganization of the company. Mr. Hastings sold his interest to Mr. Sefrit; the capital stock was increased to sixteen thousand dollars, and Mr. Sefrit became the general manager and editor, with John T. Harris as general fore- man and advertising agent, which organization of the office has continued since 1912. The Herald now is one of the most influential of the country newspapers of the state, and its editorial expressions are generally quoted over Indiana.
The Gazette was established in February, 1865, a weekly paper pub- lished by two printers, Jacob Covert and George W. Colbert. Its publication has been continuous since that time. The first office of the Gazette was in a small frame building on Fourth street, owned by Col. John Van Trees, which stood on the opposite side of the street from the present office of the Gazette and Herald Company. Covert sold his interests to John A. Ro- darmel in 1868. Both Rodarmel and Colbert were scarcely out of their. 'teens, and the editorial work of the paper was done by John Evans and William Thompson, lawyers, and Dr. W. A. Horrall, all of whom, with the first proprietors and Mr. Rodarmel, long have been dead. Spillard Fletcher Horrall, a Union army captain who had done much correspondence. while at the front for the old Evansville Journal under the pen name of "Q. K. Ju- niper Wiggins," bought the Gazette in 1870 and published and edited it until 1876, when he sold out to Malachi Krebs, who kept the paper for. some eighteen months. Krebs was a vitriolic writer; kept himself in hot water most of the time because of his caustic criticisms of his political adversaries, and had two or three personal encounters, one of them with Col. Samuel H. Taylor, when a cane and an ink-well were used by the belligerents as wea- pons, without particular damage to either of the gladiators, however.
MAYOR KNOCKS EDITOR DOWN.
Fist fights were not uncommon among the politicians in those days. While Captain Horrall had the paper, William D. Bynum, now of Indian- apolis, then mayor of Washington, incensed at some sulphuric editorial
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comments on him, met the editor one Saturday evening and knocked him down a time or two in order to even up. Malachi Krebs was a firebrand. He did not get along well with many of his own partisans. Nevertheless, the Republicans, while Krebs was editor of the Gazette, elected, in 1878, the greater part of their county ticket for the first time after the war. The county campaign of 1878 was conspicuous for extreme bitterness and acrid exhibitions of political animosities. Most all of the leading spirits of that savagely-contested campaign have been returned to the mother dust. Col. Sam Taylor, John Henry O'Neall, David J. Hefron, Col. Steve Belding, Capt. Samuel H. Mulholland, Samuel E. Kercheval, Capt. Green McDonald, Henry C. Brown, Malachi Krebs, Joseph Wilson, Edward F. Meredith, all have passed among the shades. A few of their contemporaries, yet waiting at green old ages, are Judge William R. Gardiner, Col. N. H. Jepson, Capt. Zack Jones, who was elected sheriff on the Republican ticket, and William Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for county clerk, who was defeated by Joseph Wilson.
Malachi Krebs retired from the Gazette after the election of 1878, and the paper became the property of his sureties, Moses L. B. Sefrit, Henry C. Brown, Oliver H. Brann, Henry H. Hyatt, N. H. Jepson and William Arm- strong, who continued its publication, with John A. Rodarmel as manager, until 1880, when it was bought by Rodarmel, William Martin and Henry C. Brown. Later Frank A. Myers bought Martin's interest and became the editor. Then Elisha Hyatt purchased Brown's share, and this finally fell into the hands of Heber H. Allen, who owned it for a short time. After the death of Rodarmel, the paper passed to Moses L. B. Sefrit and Charles G. Sefrit, in 1887. Mr. Sefrit, the elder, died in 1892, and the Gazette for several years was published by Charles G. Sefrit and his brother, Frank I. Sefrit. Charles G. Sefrit left the paper in 1896, and for some two or three years it was owned by Frank I. Sefrit and Paris A. Hastings. Frank I. Sefrit was appointed postmaster in 1897, and two years later sold out to Mr. Hastings, who was the owner of the paper from that time until its consoli- dation with the Herald in 1905.
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