USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 51
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Ira W. Christian hardly could have failed to achieve success in life with such noble parents. Thrown early on his own resources and assuming a man's responsibilities when he was a mere youth, he quickly acquired that sturdiness of character which has made him the successful man he is today. He was reared and educated in the country and after finishing the course in the common schools of his county attended the Noblesville high school for two years, then took the complete four-year course at Butler University at Indianapolis and later entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1881 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the degree of Bachelor of Laws being conferred upon him the following year. He is a member of the Phi Delta Theta college Greek letter fraternity. Prior to this time he had read law in the offices of Moss & Stevenson, of Noblesville, so that he had a practical knowledge of law when he commenced his practice in 1882. He opened an office in partnership with his brother, James R., who had just retired from the office of county clerk. In the fall of the following
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year his brother, James R., retired from the firm and went on his farm. At the same time his brother, William S., came into the firm, he having just been graduated from Hanover College. The two brothers practiced together until 1886, when Ira W. was elected county clerk. He assumed his duties on November 2, 1887, for four years. At the expiration of his term he and his brother, William S., again resumed their partnership in the law practice. This partnership continued until October 19, 1903, when Mr. Christian was elected judge of the Hamilton circuit court for a term of six years. Upon retiring from the bench he resumed the practice of law with his nephew, Floyd G. Christian, who had succeeded his brother in the firm of Christian & Christian, William S. having died November 8, 1909. The firm has a growing practice in the state and federal courts. It is needless at this point to enter into a discussion regarding the ability of Mr. Christian, it simply being sufficient to say that nothing like weakness ever has appeared in either his official or professional life. His hand has been at all times vigorous and firm, and with his broad knowledge of jurisprudence in all of its ramifica- tions he has won high rank among the leading legal men of his community.
Mr. Christian was married September 19, 1883, to Mary Durbin, the daughter of Thomas J. and Martha (Deupree) Durbin, of Edinburg, In- diana. To this union have been born two children, Paul D., a farmer and stock raiser of Johnson county, Indiana, and Haddee, the wife of John A. Beals, of New Orleans, Louisiana. He and his family are members of the Christian church and always have taken an active part in the church and Sunday school work, Mr. Christian at present being a trustee of the church. He and his wife always have been active in all movements prompted by the local desire for the civic, moral or intellectual advancement of their home city.
Fraternally, Mr. Christian is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He also is a member of the Indiana Division of the Sons of Veterans and as such has been a teacher of patriotic principles for twenty-five years on Decoration days, at Sheridan, Rising Sun, Bloomington, Winchester, Wabash, Richmond, Fort Wayne in 1895, and also in 1905, and Terre Haute in 1914. His orations on these occasions are of a very high order. He is a Republican in politics and always responds to his party's call. He has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions, and his advice and counsel frequently have been sought by the leaders in state politics. Mr. Christian is a man of action and a man of worth, utilitarian rather than theoretical, a hater of shams, pretenses and subterfuge. His chief characteristics include force of character, persistence.
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unswerving integrity and unmatched energy, which have made him an in- fluential factor in his county. He always has played a leading part in the affairs of his city and county and through his persistent efforts he has made for himself a place in the history of his county which justly entitles him to a high place among the county's representative men.
JUDGE MEADE VESTAL.
Indiana always has been distinguished for the high rank of her bench and bar. Perhaps none of the newer states can justly boast of abler jurists and attorneys. Many of these have been men of national fame, and there is scarcely a town or city in the state that can not boast of one or more lawyers capable of crossing swords in forensic combat with any of the distinguished legal lights of the country. While the growth and development of the state in the last half century has been most marvelous, viewed from any stand- point, yet of no one class of her citizenship has she greater reason for just pride than for her judges and attorneys. In Judge Vestal are found united many of the rare qualities which go to make the successful lawyer and jurist. He possesses perhaps few of those brilliant, dazzling, meteoric qualities which have sometimes flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding the vision for the moment, then disappearing, leaving little or no trace behind; but rather has those solid and more substantial qualities which shine with a constant luster, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and con- tinuity.
Meade Vestal, the judge of the Hamilton circuit court of Indiana, and the son of George W. and Mary Elizabeth ( Maker) Vestal, was born Novem- ber 29, 1866, on a farm three miles west of Noblesville. George W. Vestal was born in 1835 in North Carolina and came to this county in 1860, where he followed farming and carriage making. After coming to this county he married Mary Elizabeth Maker, a native of this county. Later in life he engaged in the drug business for many years at Noblesville and died in that city January 27, 1913. His first wife died in December, 1873, and he later married Clista A. Maker, a sister of his first wife. His second wife died November 11, 1906. By the first marriage there were seven children, who grew to maturity. George W. Vestal was an influential man in Democratic politics during his life time and one of the leaders in his party in Hamilton county. He was a candidate for county auditor when the county was strongly
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Republican and was able to reduce the regular Republican majority more than one-half. Later he was elected city treasurer of Noblesville and held this position for several years.
Judge Vestal was reared in Noblesville, his parents moving to this city when he was only three months of age. He took a common and high school course at Noblesville and was graduated from the high school in 1885. He then entered the law office of Shirts & Shirts of Noblesville for one year, after which he entered the law department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, graduating with the class of 1888. He was admitted to the Hamilton county bar the same year and has been in continuous practice at Noblesville since that time. For the first three years of his practice he was in partnership with Shirts & Shirts, then, after practicing a year by himself, he formed a partner- ship with Joseph A. Roberts, which continued for the next seventeen years, or until Judge Vestal took the bench. His record as an attorney in this county has been one of exalted character and he has been honored in many ways by his fellow citizens. He is an able and reliable counselor and is thoroughly grounded in the principles of the legal practice. Broad and liberal in his views, with consideration for the greatest good of his fellow men ever before him, his conduct always has been that of a true and loyal citizen and he is ready at all times to make any reasonable sacrifice for the cause in which his interests are enlisted. He is withal a man of the people, proud of his distinc- tion as a citizen of the state and nation, for whose laws and institutions he has a most profound admiration and respect. With his strong mentality, wise judgment and unimpeachable integrity, he has demonstrated his ability to fill honorably the important official position which he is now occupying. From the point of critical legal scholarship, keen intellectuality and professional success, he easily stands in the front ranks, while in all that constitutes the upright man and public-spirited citizen, he stands today among the leaders of thought and the molders of opinion in his community. Politically, Judge Ves- tal always has been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party and always has been active in its councils. For ten years he was chairman of his party's county committee. During his long residence in the county he has been a frequent delegate to district and state conventions. He was elected in the fall of 1908 as circuit judge of the Hamilton circuit and went on the bench Octo- ber 19, 1909, for the six-year term, as provided by the constitution of In- diana. It is needless to add that he is performing his duties in this important office with that conscientious devotion to duty which has characterized his whole life.
Judge Vestal was married June 29, 1892, to Corinne Clark, daughter of
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Joshua A. and Mary Elizabeth ( Ross) Clark, of Noblesville. The Clark family were early pioneers of this county, and prominently identified with its early history. Judge Vestal and wife have two children, Harold, who is now a student in Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, and Mary Elizabeth, 'a student at Roanoke College, Roanoke, Virginia.
In his fraternal relations, Judge Vestal is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, also being a member of the Chapter, Council and Commandery. He has long been a close student of Masonry and has filled all of the chairs of the different degrees to which he has attained. He was prominently identified with the movement which resulted in the erection of the new Masonic Temple in Noblesville. Judge Vestal also holds membership in the Modern Wood- men of America. He and his family are members of the Christian church of Noblesville, and always have taken an active interest in church work, the Judge now serving the congregation to which he is attached as deacon. He is a. man of musical tastes and for many years has been the choir director of his church, as well as director of the Noblesville Military Band, an organiza- tion which for many years has had a state-wide reputation. He and his fam- ily have been prominently identified with the social, religious and intellectual life of the community and with all of the varied interests of his city during their residence here. He and his wife are prominent members of the Shakes- peare Club, one of the oldest literary organizations of the city. The record of Judge Vestal is an enviable one in every respect and this brief sketch is but a poor tribute to his worth as a citizen.
HENRY BROWN.
It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review a man who has led an active and eminently useful life and by his own exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of industry with which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history, as the public claims a cer- tain property interest in the career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes advisable to give the right publicity. It is, then, with a certain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has been that of Henry Brown, a man who has been a successful farmer and an efficient official of Hamilton county.
Henry Brown, whose term of office as sheriff of Hamilton county, In-
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diana, expired January 1, 1915, was born September 2, 1865, on a farm in Rush county, Indiana, the son of Nicholas and Catherine ( Beckner) Brown. Nicholas Brown was born in 1840 in Germany and came to America with his parents when he was thirteen years of age and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly afterwards his father moved to Rush county, Indiana, where Nicholas Brown grew to maturity and where he married Catherine Beckner, who was a native of Rush county. Nicholas Brown is still living in Rush county, this state, his wife having died in March, 1867, when Henry, whose history is here presented, was only two years of age.
Henry Brown received a good common school education in the country schools of Rush county, Indiana, and remained with his father on the farm until he was married, in 1891. After his marriage he settled in Rush county on a farm, where he remained until December, 1895, when he moved to a farm in Noblesville township, this county. Four years later he moved to Noblesville and engaged in the retail meat business, following this line of business until 1908, when he again moved to a farm in Wayne township, this county. In 1912 he returned to a farm in Noblesville township, where he was living when he was elected sheriff of Hamilton county. As a farmer, Mr. Brown had a reputation as one of the most progressive agriculturists of his county, being a hard worker, a good manager and a man of economical habits, and he made a success which was commensurate with his efforts, and at the same time so conducted himself as to win the hearty approval of his fellow citizens. The nine years which he spent in Noblesville conducting a retail meat market stamped him as a man of excellent business ability, and this fact, no doubt, had not a little to do with his election as sheriff of his county.
Mr. Brown was given the unique honor of being the first Democratic sher- iff ever elected in this county, and upon assuming the duties of this office, on January 1, 1913, he at once demonstrated his peculiar fitness for this import- ant office, giving it the same painstaking and conscientious attention which he has always given to his personal affairs, with the result that his administration met with the hearty commendation of every one with whom he was any way officially associated. Mr. Brown always has been active in public affairs, al- though he had never held a public office before, one reason being that Hamil- ton county has been for more than fifty years one of the Republican strong- holds of the state.
Mr. Brown was married March 8, 1891. to Cora Beckner, the daughter of Jasper and Mary (Edwards) Beckner, of Rush county, Indiana. and to this union have been born two children. Mary, the wife of Jesse Musselman, of Wayne township. this county, and Donald, who is still making his home
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with his parents. The family are members of the Christian church and take an active part in the various branches of the church work. Mr. Brown is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America, and takes an active part in the work of these fraternal organizations. Mr. Brown has been true to every trust which has fallen to him and is emin- ently deserving of the enviable position which he holds in the esteem of the citizens of his county. In the public life of his community he always has taken a deep interest and has given his support to such movements as would serve the best interests of his fellow citizens.
BUZAN E. PARDUE.
In the world of action, will is power; persistent will, with circumstances not altogether unfavorable, is victory; nay, in spite of circumstances alto- gether, persistency often will carve out a way to unexpected success. Read the life of Frederick the Great and you will understand what this means. Fortune never will favor a man who flings away the dice box because the first throw brings a low number. There is only one thing that can give signi- ficance and dignity to human life,-virtuous energy.
Buzan E. Pardue, the son of Francis M. and Maria Jane (McCray) Pardue, was born June 20. 1857. at Knightstown, Indiana. His father was a native of Richmond, Indiana, and his mother was born in Knightstown. Francis M. Pardue was a contractor and a man of influence in his community until his death, July 13, 1873. He and his wife reared a family of four chil- dren : Clara M., deceased ; Buzan E., whose history is here presented ; George, who died at the age of twenty: John C., a farmer in Hancock county, In- diana. The mother of these children died October 9, 1899.
Buzan E. Pardue was educated in the district schools of Hancock county and lived in that county until his marriage, in 1902. He then came to Hamil- ton county, where he has since lived. While living in Hancock county he was engaged in the mercantile business at Eden with Lee D. Olvey. Upon moving to this county Mr. Pardue lived one year in Noblesville, after which he lived on a farm for eight years, since which time he has resided in Noblesville. He has a fine farm of one hundred acres, which he rents out to responsible tenants but at the same time keeps under his general supervision.
Mr. Pardue was married February 19, 1902. to Martha E. Richwine, the daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Crim) Richwine, both of whom were
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natives of Virginia. The Richwines came to Hamilton county about sixty- five years ago and have been prominent factors in the life of the county ever since. Abram Richwine died April 26, 1896, and his widow passed away February 14, 1891. They were the parents of four children : Caleb, deceased; Mrs. Mary E. Essington, of Noblesville; George C., of Noblesville; Martha E., the wife of Mr. Pardue.
Mr. Pardue long has been actively identified with the Republican party and for years has been one of its leaders in Hamilton county. The party, recognizing his ability, chose him as the chairman of the County Republican Committee on February 10, 1914, and he is now making plans for the success of his party in the coming election. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and give generously of their means to its support. Mr. Pardue is an active, progressive citizen, always on the alert for any thing which will benefit his fellow men in any way, and consequently is well deserving of the high regard in which he is held by those among whom he is best known.
EMIL G. DECKER.
Fortunate is the county which has efficient county officials, and there is probably no county office which demands a more thoroughly competent man than that of assessor. There is a marked tendency in these days to elect only such men for our public offices as have the necessary qualifications, and when once a man shows that he has the necessary qualifications we keep him in the office. The position of county assessor is one demanding the knowledge of a large number of details such as can be learned only after a period of study. Every one must admit that there is a special training for this particular office, one of the most important within the suffrage of the people of Indiana today. The subject of taxation is one of the most trying forms of Indiana at the present time. If all public officials, and especially the assessors, were fully competent, this cry would not be so insistent. What has been said in regard to the qualifications of a public official has a special bearing upon the life of Emil G. Decker, who, during his recent incumbency, was recognized not only as the most faithful assessor Hamilton county ever had, but as one of the most capable county assessors of Indiana.
Emil G. Decker, the son of George and Christina (Seyfort) Decker, was born September 5, 1869. at Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Indiana.
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Both of his parents were born and reared in Germany and came to this coun- try in their youth. In 1806 they met in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where they were married and where Emil G. was born. George Decker was a tailor by trade, having learned this occupation in his native land. During the Civil War, when Governor Morton needed drill masters for his raw troops, George Decker volunteered his services and rendered efficient help in drilling the troops of the state. He had served in the German army and was an accom- plished drill master as a result of the many years of severe training which he had received in the Fatherland. He was not only a drill master during the war, but served in several inportant campaigns in Kentucky and along the border during the rebel raids. In 1887 George Decker came to Noblesville and became the manager of the tailoring department of the store of Ezra Swayne, at that time one of the leading merchants of Noblesville. Mr. Decker continued in the tailoring business until a few years ago, when he retired from active work and is now living a retired life in Noblesville. His wife died January 5, 1906.
Emil G. Decker received a good common school education in the schools of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and was equally well educated in the German and English languages. In accordance with the German custom, he learned the trade of his father and when he came to Noblesville with his parents, although he was only sixteen years of age, he was able to take his place in the tailoring establishment where his father worked, and continued to work at his trade until 1906, when he became the county assessor of Hamilton county.
It is in the office of assessor that Mr. Decker has rendered valuable service to the citizens of his township and county. His first work in the office was in 1898, when he became deputy assessor for Noblesville township under David Sopple. He served two years as deputy and in 1902 was elected assessor of Noblesville township, serving four years. He rapidly became ac- quainted with all of the multitudinous details of the office and upon retiring from his term was again made deputy under his successor, A. C. Wood. The Republican party, of which he has been a stanch supporter since coming to this county, recognized in him a man of superior ability along this particular line, and in November, 1906, elected him assessor of Hamilton county for a term of four years. At the expiration of his first term he was nominated and elected for a second term, being the only man in Hamilton county who ever was re-elected to this important office. His term of office expired January I, 1915. During his many years' service as assessor he has made a study of the subject and when the state board of assessors met in the annual meeting he was selected as a member of the committee to instruct township assessors.
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This committee, recognizing his thoroughness in township work, as well as the thoroughness of his supervision of township assessors when he was county assessor, made him chairman of the committee. In this capacity he served for five years, and it is not too much to say that Mr. Decker, during this five years, was really the controlling factor in the establishment of a system of instructions for assessing throughout the state. Mr. Decker always had been a Republican in politics until the summer of 1912, when he became affiliated with the new Progressive party, and in the new party, as well as in the old Republican party, at once forged to the front and became the first county chairman of the Progressive party in Hamilton county. Besides that he has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions, and in all has taken a prominent and active part.
Mr. Decker was married April 1. 1896. to Claudia, the daugh- ter of Edward and Sarah (Alfrey) McCord, of Fortville, Hancock county, Indiana, and to this union have been born two children, Esther and Edward, both of whom are now attending the schools of Noblesville. While not a regularly affiliated member of any church, yet Mr. Decker is a firm be- liever in the work of the church, and has been a liberal supporter of the churches in Noblesville. He is a man of charitable impulses and is always ยท willing to help anyone who is in distress.
In the fraternal life of Noblesville, Mr. Decker always has taken an active part. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is now serving his twelfth year as secretary of the Royal Arch Masons. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has been for several years the keeper of records and seals in that organization. He is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and in that fraternity has served for nine years as chief of records. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Haymakers, being treasurer of the latter order for eight years. At the present time he is secre- tary of the building committee of the new Masonic temple in Noblesville. For many years he has been manager of the Noblesville Military Band, one of the most popular military organizations of the state. It is a band of forty-five pieces and has won a reputation which is beyond the confines of Indiana. Mr. Decker was prominent in its organization in 1887, and has been actively identi- fied with it ever since. Sufficient has been said of the life of Mr. Decker to indicate that he is a man of much value to his community. In every capacity he has measured up to the full standard of American citizenship. The value of such men to a community cannot be estimated, and he stands today as one of the representative citizens of Noblesville and Hamilton county and emin- ently worthy of representation in this biographical volume.
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