USA > Indiana > Henry County > History of Henry County, Indiana > Part 33
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In 1870 he was elected to the honorable and important position of Circuit Judge. The circuit-then the thirteenth-comprised the counties of Henry, Hancock, Grant and Delaware. This office he filled very ably for six years, then retired to devote himself to law practice, associating with himself Hon. E. H. Bundy, who still continues a member of the firm. Judge Mellett opened a law office in New Castle in 1848, and this place has since been his home. In every public position which he has been called upon to fill he
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has won honor and esteem. He was married in 1847 to Catharine Shroyer, daughter of John Shroyer, of New Castle, and has two children living Bettie, now Mrs. E.H. Bundy, and Harry S. had nellie c. in Cicero Baily SIMON T. POWELL, though best known as a successful business man, is nevertheless entitled to a place among the members of Henry County bar, with which he has long been connected. Mr. Powell was born in Wayne County, Ind., Aug. 21, 1821. His parents, John and Margaret (Huff) Powell, were natives of Kentucky. They moved to Wayne County in 1816 and settled upon a farm within the present limits of Cambridge City. Here the family re- mained several years, then removed to Illinois. Simon, when a boy, contracted a cold while bathing, the effect of which rendered him lame for life. After attending the common schools in Cham- paign, Ill., he entered St. Gabriels College, Vincennes, Ind., where he remained about three years. He then returned to Cambridge City and studied the languages under the well-known educator, Prof. S. K. Hoshour. In 1841 Mr. Powell came to New Castle, to take charge of the Henry County Seminary. This position he filled very ably for about four years, meantime devoting his spare time to the study of the law. He then became Deputy County Clerk, holding the place until 1850, when he was elected Clerk. At the expiration of his term of office in 1855, Mr. Powell entered upon the practice of law in which he was successfully engaged un- til the outbreak of the war. He was an earnest Union man, and an intimate friend of Governor Morton. Mr. Powell aided the cause of his country by every means in his power. Both of his sons entered the army; one, Adjutant Orlistus W. Powell, was killed at Chickamauga; the other, Henry L., was wounded at the battle of Rich Mountain and has never recovered from the effects of his injuries.
After the war Mr. Powell assisted in establishing the First Na- tional Bank of New Castle, of which he was made vice-president. In 1868 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which met in Chicago, and in 1872 he took an active part, as a del- egate at Philadelphia, favoring the renomination of General Grant.
In 1876 he was a delegate to the Cincinnati convention and earnestly advocated the nomination of ex-Governor Morton for the presidency. At Chicago, in 1880, he was one of the noted "306;" and being strongly in sympathy with that movement, he firmly supported the cause of General Grant.
In 1871 Mr. Powell was appointed by President Grant, Super-
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visor of Internal Revenue and for nearly five years he administered the duties of that responsible position faithfully and well. In 1877 he became President of the Bundy National Bank, in which posi- tion he served about four years. Since retiring from this office he has devoted himself to his many business interests.
Mr. Powell was married in 1842 to Elizabeth, daughter of Judge David Hooper, of Wayne County, who bore four children-Henry L .; Elizabeth, who died young; Kate, wife of W. H. Elliott; and Orlistus W., deceased. Mrs. Powell died in 1881. In 1883 Mr. Powell married Miss Melvina Conway, of Wayne County.
HON. E. B. MARTINDALE was born in Wayne County, Ind., Ang. 22, 1828. His parents moved to Henry County in 1832 and set- tled on a farm four miles east of New Castle, where he was brought up to farm life until the age of sixteen, when he was ap- prenticed to the saddler's trade. In attending school during the winter months, and afterward working at his trade on Saturdays, and attending the county seminary during the week, he obtained at twenty a fair English education. He studied law and practiced that profession in New Castle from 1850 to 1862, during which time he held one term the office of District Attorney and one term the office of Prosecuting Attorney for the counties of Wayne, Henry, Randolph and Delaware. In 1861 he was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas Court. In May, 1862, he removed to Indi- anapolis, and has from that time to the present been connected with many leading enterprises which have contributed to the growth and prosperity of the city. In 1876 Judge Martindale pur- chased the Indianapolis Journal which he conducted very ably un- til 1880. He is now engaged in the insurance business in Indian- apolis.
JAMES BROWN, a very able and successful attorney, was born in Henry County, Aug. 7, 1828. His parents were Isaac and Mary (Mendenhall) Brown, natives of North Carolina, who came to Lib- erty Township, Henry County, in 1825. James was reared on a farm, and after attending the pioneer schools, went to the Union Seminary in Wayne County. He learned the blacksmith's trade when a boy and worked at it for about five years. When about twenty-two years old he entered the office of Grose & Mellett as a student and remained about two years. Being admitted to the bar, he at once began practice, and soon after became the partner of General William Grose, a relation which continued until Mr. Brown was elected District Prosecutor. In this office he served
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two years, and subsequently was appointed to fill out an unexpired term. After this he resumed practice in partnership with Hon. R. L. Polk, with whom he continued about eight years. The partnership was dissolved on Mr. Polk becoming Judge. He next practiced in partnership with Joseph M. Brown, and is at present the senior member of the firm Brown & Brown, his son, W. A. Brown, being the junior partner. As a skillful and competent lawyer, Mr. Brown stands among the foremost in his profession. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth A., daughter of William Carpenter, Esq., of Wayne County, and has three children-Mary A., wife of William Albright; W. A. and Fannie A.
COLONEL GEORGE W. LENNARD, the subject of this sketch, was born near Newark, Licking Co., Ohio, March 5, 1825. De- prived by circumstances of early educational advantages, he reached the age of sixteen years without having learned to read or write. By determined energy, which so highly characterized him in later life, he made such use of his meager opportunities that in 1847 he was prepared to commence the study of medicine, a profession to which he then expected to devote his life. In March, 1850, he received the degree of Docter of Medicine from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Medicine of Cincinnati. He located at New Castle in 1851, to engage in the practice of his profession. Though young in years he became from the first a successful physician. He soon discovered that the practice of medicine did not open to him the field in which to gratify his ambition so he retired from it at the expiration of two years, and purchased the New Castle Courier office, and was connected with this paper as editor and publisher for some eighteen months. He next studied law and graduated with honor at the law school of Cincinnati, in 1855. In this profession he became a successful practitioner. He
was married June 10, 1852, to Miss Clarinda Woodward, a noble lady, daughter of Asahel Woodward, one of the first settlers of New Castle. In 1861, when the tocsin of war sounded through the land, he was one of the first to respond, and his energy and in- fluence were thrown at once into the cause and his labors from that time forth were earnest and untiring in behalf of his country. He was among the first to volunteer as a private soldier. On the organization of Company C, Thirty-sixth Regiment, he was elected its First Lieutenant, from which position he was shortly called to the Adjutancy of the regiment. His gentlemanly bearing, prompt attention to duties and fine soldierly qualities soon attracted the
5359 Rebecca
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attention of his superior officers, and he was tendered by General T. J. Wood, a position on his staff with the rank of Captain which was accepted, and for some time filled with such a degree of credit as won for him the unanimous and hearty encomiums of his brother officers. Because of his prompt and manly discharge of ev- ery duty, Governor Morton, Dec. 2, 1862, gave him a commission as Colonel and assigned him to the Fifty-seventh Regiment. In all the varied and responsible positions to which he was assigned, his career illustrated the highest type of our citizen soldiery. His duties were performed with skill, bravery and success. In all the engagements in which his regiment participated he was conspicu- ous for his gallant bearing and was highly complimented. At the battle of Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right leg from a musket shot which resulted in a tedious confinement, but from which he afterward sufficiently recovered to rejoin his regiment. He afterward led his gallant regiment in the hard-fought battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mis- sion Ridge, Rocky Face and Resaca. At the battle of Resaca, May 14, 1864, he was struck by a shell which shattered his right knee and inflicted a shock from which his system never rallied. Asbury L. Kerwood, one of his soldiers, in a well-written history of the regiment, gives the following account of his death:
"DEATH OF COLONEL LENNARD.
"There were probably few officers connected with the army who were more solicitous or took a deeper interest in every movement in which their command should participate than did Colonel Len- nard. Immediately after the last change of position, the Colonel advanced to the open ground in front, dismounted, and was en- gaged for several minutes in conversation with General Newton and other officers, concerning the disposition of the regiment. The consultation over, he turned to go back to the regiment; and just as he was in the act of mounting his horse a shell from the enemy passed through his right knee, shattering it to pieces and mangling it horribly. The horse, much frightened, dashed on toward the regiment, and in a few moments a pair of stretchers were provided on which to bear away the body of the Colonel. Gloom and sadness took possession of every man as he was borne back to take his farewell of the men who had almost learned to love him. 'Now, take good care of the boys, Major,' were the last words he ever said in hearing of the command. General Wagner,
Redding
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when he heard of the fall of the Colonel, was deeply moved, and was afterward heard to say he had lost his best man. Soon after- ward the Colonel was carried to a house three-quarters of a mile in the rear, and a member of the regiment, Sergeant W. W. Sims, remained with him until after his death."
Kind, courteous, and affable with all-one of Nature's own gen- tlemen. Never was man more popular among his neighbors and acquaintances than was Colonel Lennard. His friends were warmly attached to him and no man ever lived in Henry County who made a deeper impression upon her people, or whose death was more sincerely mourned. He was about five feet and ten inches high, well proportioned, always appropriately apparaled, dark hair, dark gray eyes-a handsome man. Just prior to his death he had been nominated to the State Senate and it was con- fidently predicted by those who knew him that he would have been transferred from the Senate to a seat in Congress. Hallowed indeed must be the cause which demands the sacrifice of such noble men. It is to be hoped that God in his infinite mercies will never again permit the day to come when our common country shall be divided, section against section, in terrible war. His widow remained single and died of brain fever at her home in New Castle, June 1, 1879, highly respected and loved by all who knew her.
THOMAS B. REDDING, a leading attorney and a very accomplished scholar, was born in Henry County, Dec. 27, 1831. His parents were Iredell and Anna (Nixon) Redding, who were among the early settlers of this county. Thomas B. Redding, after attending the common schools and the Henry County Seminary, entered In- diana Asbury University, where he took a full classical course, graduating in 1854. He received the degree of Master of Arts in course, and has since had the degree of Doctor of Philosophy conferred upon him by the Iowa Wesleyan University. He began his career as a school teacher at the age of sixteen. After leaving college he taught school in Richmond for one year. In the win- ter of 1854-'5 he was a reporter for the Sentinel of that city. He next took charge of the New Castle Seminary for a year, and at the expiration of that time became editor of the New Castle Cou- rier. Meantime he had been reading law, and having been admit- ted to the bar, he abandoned journalism to engage in his profession. In 1857 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney on the Republican ticket, but resigned soon after. In 1858 he engaged in the prac-
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tice of law in Chicago in partnership with Hon. G. A. Johnson. In 1860 he returned to New Castle, where his practice soon be- came extensive. Mr. Redding has steadily kept up his linguistic and scientific studies since graduating from college, and is a mem- ber of several prominent scientific and literary associations. He has served as a Trustee of Asbury (now De Pauw) University and has ever exhibited a deep interest in educational matters. Mr. Red- ding was married in 1858, to Sarah W., daughter of Rev. Elijah Corrington , of the Central Illinois Methodist Episcopal Conference, and has one daughter-Rosa M., a graduate of her father's Alma Mater, and now a teacher in the New Castle high school.
HON. DAVID W. CHAMBERS, senior member of the law firm Chambers & Hedges, was born in Union County, Ind., March 19, 1836. His parents were Alexander B. and Isabella (Mason) Chambers, natives of Scotland. They settled in New Castle, where the father died in 1867 and the mother in 1860. David W. Chambers passed his early life upon a farm. After coming to New Castle, he attended the schools of the town, and afterward entered the sophomore class of Indiana State University at Bloomington where he graduated in 1858, ranking second in his class. After studying law for about two years in the office of General Grose, he was admitted to the bar. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in the Eighth Indiana Regiment, in which he served three months as a private. He re-enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Indiana and was made First Lieutenant of his company. In November, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and so served until mustered out in September, 1864, participating in many battles and cam- paigns of the regiment to which he belonged. He was wounded twice: at Chickamauga and at Lookout Mountain. Returning to New Castle he was nominated and elected, by the Republicans, as Representative to the Legislature. In 1866 he was re-elected. In 1867 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the judicial cir- cuit composed of Henry, Hancock, Grant and Delaware counties, and, by re-election, held this position for five years. In 1872 Mr. Chambers was a delegate to the convention which nominated Greeley for the Presidency. In 1876 he was nominated for Con- gress by the Democrats and Greenbackers of the Sixth District; and although the district was then strongly Republican, lacked only 216 votes of being elected. In 1880 he was one of the Hancock electors. Mr. Chambers has held many local offices; he is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church; also of the Odd Fellows, and has
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held every grade of office in the lodge and encampment. In 1865 1-10 14 1923 he married Emma H., daughter of Hon. M. L. Bundy, by whom he has three children living-Mary C., Walter S. and Emma Lillian.
HON. EXUM SAINT, son of Exum and Mary A. (Pickering) Saint, was born in Henry County in 1838. His father died a few months before he was born. Mr. Saint received his education in the schools of New Castle and at Antioch College, Ohio. He then taught school, and after reading law in the office of Mellett & Martindale, was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he went to Iowa, where he enlisted as a private in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. By successive promotions he reached the rank of Captain of his com- pany. After being mustered out of the service in the fall of 1865, he returned home and was soon afterward appointed a clerk in the Pension Department at Washington. He served about twenty months as a clerk, and was then appointed a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue in the State of Iowa, in which capacity he served about eighteen months. He then returned to New Castle and en- gaged in the practice of law, which he has since followed. In 1873 he was appointed by Governor Hendricks Circuit Prosecutor for the circuit composed of Henry and Hancock counties, to fill a vacancy. In 1878 he was elected a Representative to the Legis- lature from Henry County, serving a term of two years. He is at present Commander of the New Castle Post of the G. A. R.
HON. ROBERT L. POLK was born in Henry County on the 12th of October, 1841. His parents were Robert H. and Hannah (Hod- gin) Polk, the former of Irish, and the latter of English descent. Robert H. Polk removed from North Carolina and settled in Henry County in the year in which the subject of this notice was born, and engaged in farming. The family removed to the town of New Castle when the son was eleven years old. Thenceforth he enjoyed good educational privileges, attending the Henry County Seminary for two years while Ferris and Abbott were its preceptors. Subsequently he attended the Bryant & Stratton Commercial Col- lege, Cleveland, Ohio, then entered Whitewater College, Centre- ville, Ind., which was then in charge of the well-known author and educator, Prof. W. H. Barnes. Here he remained one year, then returned to New Castle to carry into effect his long-cherished am- bition of becoming a lawyer. He was admitted to practice in the spring of 1863, and at the same time was taken into partnership by his preceptor, James Brown, Esq. This partnership continued un- til 1872. Mr. Polk was then elected Judge of the Court of Com-
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mon Pleas, and held the office until it was abolished in the follow- ing year. Resuming his law practice, he continued it until the fall of 1876, when he was elected Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, comprising the counties of Henry and Hancock. This position he filled with honor and credit until his death, May 7, 1881. Always à diligent student, and possessed of a mind of great brilliancy, his legal attainments were of the highest order. His decisions showed him to be a man of sound judgment, ready and skillful in analysis. Judge Polk was connected with the Republi- can party from the election of Lincoln in 1860. He was a promi- nent member and class-leader in the Methodist church, and all of his public and private life showed that he was a conscientious Christian. In 1865 he married Miss Harriet Mahin, daughter of Rev. Milton Mahin, D. D., and was the father of five children.
HON. MARK E. FORKNER, Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Cir- cuit, was born in Henry County, Jan. 26, 1846, and is a son of Micajah and Elizabeth (Allen) Forkner, early settlers of the county. His education was obtained in the common schools and at the New Castle Academy. At the age of eighteen he began the study of law with Hon. J. H. Mellett, and in 1866 he was admitted to the bar. He opened an office in New Castle and began practicing in the winter of 1866-'7, and during the same winter was appointed Deputy District Attorney for Henry County. In the spring of 1867 he became the law-partner of Judge Mellett, a relation which continued until 1870 when Mr. Mellett was elected to the Judge- ship. Upon the dissolution of this partnership, Mr. Forkner became associated with Hon. E. H. Bundy in practice and the part- nership continued for six years. Thenceforth, until called to the bench, Judge Forkner practiced alone. His career as a lawyer was successful from the beginning and his practice became very extensive. Taking an active part in politics, he gained consider- able reputation as a stump speaker. In 1874 he was elected by the Republicans a member of the State Legislature, in which ca- pacity he served one term. In 1881, on the 11th of May, he was appointed Circuit Judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Polk. In the fall of 1882 he was elected for a full term. As a Judge, he is able, efficient and popular. A sound and can- did reasoner and a ready speaker, he discharges the duties of his responsible position acceptably to all. Judge Forkner's success in life is due solely to his talents and his own exertions, and in call- ing him to the bench the people of Henry County conferred a mer- ited honor upon one worthy to bear it. On the 22d of June, 1869,
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he married Miss Rebecca Donahue, of New Castle, by whom he has had two children.
HON. EUGENE H. BUNDY, of the firm Mellett & Bundy, attorneys, was born in Henry County, Oct. 10, 1846, and is the son of Judge (Elliott) M. L. and Mrs. Amanda Bundy. He was educated at Miami Uni- versity and at Union College, New York. In 1869 he began the study of law and in 1870 he was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1870 he engaged in the practice of his profession in New Castle and has since continued it most successfully. Mr. Bundy was chosen State Senator in 1880, for a term of four years and has served with honor in that capacity. In 1870 he married Miss Bet- tie M. Mellett, daughter of Judge Joshua H. and Mrs. Catherine(Shroyer) Mellett. One daughter, Nellie C., has been born of this union. Mr. Bundy stands very high both as a citizen and a member of the legal profession. Nellie C b. 1.1.1875m.11.4.1925 Cicero m. Bailey
JOSEPH M. BROWN was born in Henry County, Ind., Aug. 10, 1841. His parents were Moses and Delphia (Dowell) Brown, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of North Carolina. Mr. Brown died in 1883; Mrs. Brown is still living. Joseph M. was reared upon the farm and educated in the common schools and at Henry County Seminary. He taught school several terms while acquiring his education. On arriving at his majority he entered the Union army, but falling ill was rendered unfit for duty. While teaching and attending school he read law under Messrs. Brown & Polk, and was admitted to the bar about 1870. In 1871 he began practicing at Knightstown where he remained two years. He then removed to New Castle where he has since pursued his pro- fession. From 1873 to 1877 he was the partner of James Brown, Esq. He served two years as Prosecuting Attorney of the Eight- eenth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Brown was married in 1874 to Miss Rachel Stout, daughter of David Stout, of Franklin County, by whom he has one child, a son, named Charles.
ADOLPH ROGERS, son of William A. and Rachel Rogers, was born in Henry County, Aug. 16 ,1847. His early life was passed on a farm. He received such instruction as was afforded by the district schools, but subsequently attended the New Castle Academy for several years. In 1866 he was appointed a cadet to the United States Naval Academy, and reported at Annapolis but failed to pass the required physical examination. When quite a young man he taught school for several terms. In 1869 he was ap- pointed Deputy Treasurer of Henry County, a position he filled for two years. A few years afterward he was appointed to the same
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position which he filled for a second term. On the 15th of Sep- tember, 1870, he was married at Albion, Iowa, to Miss Samantha Modlin, a worthy and excellent lady. In 1872 he was a candidate for Treasurer of. the county, and although he received a large vote was defeated for the nomination. On July 1, 1872, he purchased the New Castle Courier, the oldest newspaper in the county. The paper was shortly afterward consolidated with the Henry County Republican, Mr. Rogers and Elwood Pleas becoming joint propri- etors of the paper. In January, 1875, the paper was sold to a joint stock company and Mr. Rogers was selected as its business mana- ger and editor, a position he filled for two years. In January, 1877, he retired from the management of the Courier, and entered upon the study of the law in the office of James Brown. After two years' study he entered upon the practice of law in New Castle. In 1882 he was elected Clerk of the Henry Circuit Court. His term of office began Oct. 29, 1884. He has served as a School Trustee of New Castle, and as a member of the County Board of Education. Although still a young man he has filled various re- sponsible positions, and, we believe, has discharged every trust with fidelity, and with honor to himself.
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