USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 16
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In the year 1856 Mr. Linsday was elected judge of the court of common pleas, which honorable position he held for four years. during which time he discharged his official functions in an able and satisfactory manner and won recognition among the distinguished jurists of the state. Retiring from the bench in 1860. he resumed the practice of his profession, but in 1864 was further honored by being elected judge of the judicial circuit composed of the counties of Howard. Tipton, Clinton and Grant. The duties entailed by this position were so numerous and arduous as to be burdensome. Ac- cordingly, after holding one term of court, he resigned the bench and again took up his practice, which had steadily grown in magni- tude until his legal business at the time indicated was second to that of few lawyers in the state.
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The Judge was an ardent friend of the Union during the Re- bellion and by his voice and influence contributed greatly to the strengthening of loyal sentiment throughout his own and other coun- ties and inducing young men to take up arms in defense of the na- tional honor. He traveled extensively over the country. holding meetings in school houses, churches and other places, and not in- frequently made strong and thrilling appeals from his buggy while en route to his various appointments. A powerful and eloquent speaker. he never failed to interest his auditors and often stirred them to such a pitch of enthusiasm that nearly every man within hearing capable of bearing arms signed the roll of enlistment and in due time went forth to fight, perchance to die for the honor of an insulted flag. From 1869 to 1876 the Judge resided on a beautiful farm about one mile west of Kokomo, but in the latter year removed to the city in which he continued to make his home during the re- mainder of his life. He erected a fine, modern dwelling in one of the best residence streets, which he furnished comfortably and beau- tifully and which soon became a popular resort for the most cul- tureil and refined circles of the community.
Judge Linsday was married in the year 1836 to Rachel Shaul. of Pendleton, who departed this life after a mutually happy and prosperous wedded experience of twenty years, leaving three daugh- ters and one son as pledges of her love and affection. Louvisa, the oldest of the daughters, married Thomas J. Harrison, of Kokomo. Clementine, the second in order of birth. makes her home with Mrs. Harrison. Aaron H., the son, who served with a creditable record during the war of the Rebellion, died in 1907, leaving a widow, who. prior to her marriage, was Elizabeth Armstrong. Ella, the young- est of the family. is also deceased. Some time after the death of his first wife the Judge entered the marriage relation with Mrs. Julia Fondray. of Indianapolis, who died three years later. the union
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being without issue. In 1876 he took a third wife and helpmeet in the person of Melvina Fowler, widow of Major Manning A. Fow- ler, of Kokomo, who survives him and is now one of the highly es- teemed and popular ladies of the city. Mr. Fowler, formerly one of Kokomo's prominent men of affairs, was major of the Seventy- second Ohio Infantry in the Civil war and distinguished himself by meritorious service during the three years he was at the front.
Full of years and rich in honors, like a sheaf fully ripened. Judge Linsday, on the 15th day of May, 1885. was called from the scenes of his earthly trials and triumphs. Ilis loss to the city where he had so long and arduously played a distinguished part in the af- fairs of men and where he achieved such signal success was felt as a personal loss by the entire populace. The memory of his deeds and the influence of his strong and virile personality, however will long live in the hearts of those he left behind. a monument far more enduring than graven shaft or stately obelisk.
Sufficient has been said to indicate Judge Linsday's high char- acter and eminent success in the profession to which he devoted his life and energies. In many respects he was a great lawyer in that he had broad views of the law, a profound knowledge of its basic principles and the ability and tact to apply the same in the trial of cases, both in the local courts and the court of last resort. . As a judge he brought to the bench a mind enriched by years of close study and profound research, which eminently qualified him for the duties of the position, and among lawyers and litigants as well as the public at large he was held in the highest esteem. Widely read and thoroughly informed on many subjects, he was an independent thinker and had the courage of his convictions on all matters and issues concerning which men differ and parties divide. His legal and judicial experience opened his eyes, as stated. to a number of time-honored customs in the interpretation and application of the
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law which he considered weak and faulty, one of which was the re- quiring of the unanimous assent of a jury to arrive at a verdict, in- stead of a majority vote. This custom, which has come down throughout the centuries as the surest and most satisfactory way of rendering justice and subserving human rights, he looked upon as illogical, and while in the legislature he thought to remedy the matter by introducing a bill embodying his ideas, but it found little favor with the committee to which it was referred and few if any advocates besides himself on the floor. He cared little for popular measures if founded upon false or incorrect principles, but stood firmly for the right as he saw and understood the right and fear- lessly assailed deep and long established prejudices at the expense sometimes of public favor and the sacrifice of personal friendships. It can truthfully be affirmed that Judge Linsday dignified every position to which called, and with a character above reproach and no stain upon his judicial ermine, "He stood alone, four square to every wind that blew," an upright. manly man of noble aims and high ideals, a progressive citizen with the welfare of his kind at heart and a splendid type of the broad-minded, virile Americanism which gives moral bone and sinew to the body politic and makes our country and its institutions among the nations of the earth. The biography of such a man as he may well serve for an example and inspiration to the youth who seriously meditate life, yet hesi- tate to lay the foundation for the stern realities of life which await them. He began his career under hard conditions, but with a per- sistence as rare as it was admirable adhered to his purpose, and in due time achieved notable success. The crude, inhospitable environ- ments of his youth, however, were not without their compensations. The usual and persistent effort required to obtain liberal qualifica- tions for professional pursuits, in spite of adverse surroundings, de- velop and strengthen the mind as labor hardens and renders flexible
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the muscles. Not satisfied with existing conditions, he determined to rise above them, and to this end he lost sight of every other con- sideration or made it subordinate to the one object in view. Every step in his progress was the result of matured plans and well de- fined purposes. By his courage and energy he climbed steadily and persistently and stood firmly upon each round of the ladder until he could reach the next above and plant himself thereon. Although beginning the study of law at an age when the majority are well set- tled in their life work, he determined, regardless of hindrance, to master the principles of his profession and rise above mediocrity, in- stead of being satisfied with a mere superficial knowledge, such as so many professional men under similar circumstances are content to acquire. Whatever success he achieved during his long, stren- tous and honorable career was due to careful preparation, a high sense of justice, candor as a counselor, a religious regard for the truth and courteous demeanor and gentlemanly conduct in all rela- tions with his fellow men. As a practitioner or on the bench no charge or suspicion of any wrongdoing ever tarnished his name or marred his official record, his personal honor was never compro- mised and his private life was always pure and free from fault. His friendships were warm, steadfast and never without the best causes were they marred or broken, while his sterling worth made him a power for good among all with whom he came in contact.
Judge Linsday was a believer in the Bible and a profoundly religious man, who measured his life according to the high standard of excellence which he found in the personality and teachings of the Man of Nazareth. A lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a pillar in the Kokomo congregation, he contributed lib- erally of his means to the support of the Gospel at home and abroad and was ever ready to encourage and co-operate in all lines of reli- gious and charitable endeavor or make any reasonable sacrifice to
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advance the moral interests of the community. An uncompromis- ing antagonist of the saloon, he strove long and earnestly to remove this plague spot from his fair city and save the young from its con- taminating influences, and to him as much perhaps as to any one man is due the credit of reducing the drink evil to a minimum and inspiring a wholesome regard for law and order in the municipality. Judge Linsday's life, though protracted beyond that of the majority, was replete with good to his fellow men, and the world was not only honored greatly but blessed by his presence and influence. He died as he had lived, at peace with his conscience and with his God. and entered the valley of shadows fearlessly, assured of the wel- come awaiting him on the other side.
FREDERICK C. BULK.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to command the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief. is the record of the well known agriculturist whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popu- lar man it woukl be difficult to find within the limits of Howard county, where he has long maintained his home and where he has labored not only for his own individual advancement and that of his immediate family, but also for the improvement of the entire community whose interests he has ever had at heart.
Frederick C. Bulk, who, because of his public-spirited nature. has been honored with the trusteeship of Ervin township, which position he very creditably filled for some time, was born in West- phalia, Germany, November 13, 1845. having come to America
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when only ten years old. His parents, who brought him to the new world, were not contented with conditions as they found them in the East and migrated to the West, settling in Indianapolis, where the subject remained until 1867. following the draying business with much success, but having been allured by the larger inducements of the newer county of Howard he came here in the year indicated above, settling in Ervin township, buying an eighty-acre farm at sixteen dollars per acre, which he has constantly improved and added to as his fortune increased until now he has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which ranks with the best in the county. being well tilled and so managed that the soil becomes richer from year to year. now producing more grain of all kinds than it did when he took possession of it. thus showing the occupant's great ability as a modern agriculturist. He has also erected excellent buildings on the place, which give the farm an appearance of evi- dent thrift and prosperity of the owner. Farming has been Mr. Bulk's occupation ever since he came to this county.
Mr. Bulk was united in marriage November 23. 1870, to Dora Pohlman, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was born July 19. 1849, the daughter of highly respected and influential parents. The already pleasant home of the subject and wife has been made more cheerful and happy by the birth of the following children : Lena, Sophia, Matilda. Anna, Ida, Clara, Fred. Elsie and Alma. Lena is now the wife of William Hartman, Sophia is the wife of George Schakel, Matilda is the wife of Henry Obermyre and Mary is the wife of Harvey Sedam.
All these children are examples of what wholesome home train- ing can do toward making the youth agreeable and worthy citizens and loyal Americans. The older ones are well launched in life. hay- ing married well and enjoying a comfortable living, while the younger ones give promise of equally successful futures.
Our subject, who has always been a very busy man, was pre-
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vailed upon by his neighbors and friends to accept the nomination for township trustee, which is a very important office in this town- ship, and which he held for two terms to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He has always been a loyal Democrat and seldom loses an opportunity to assist his local friends in securing what they desire at the conventions and elections.
Mr. Bulk and family are members and generous supporters of the German Lutheran church of Ervin township, in which congre- gation none stand higher in general esteem than this family.
LUTHER D. PRICE.
The student interested in the history of Howard county, In- diana, does not have to carry his investigation far into its annals before learning that Luther D. Price has long been an active and leading representative of its leading agricultural interests and that his labors have proven a potent force in making this a rich agri- cultural region. Through several decades our subject has carried on farming. gradually improving his valuable place, and while he has prospered in this he has also found ample opportunity to assist in the material development of the county, and his co-operation has been of value for the general good.
Luther D. Price was born January 22, 1852, in Preble county. Ohio, the son of Michael Price, who was born September 24. 1828. Charles Price, grandfather of the subject, was a native of Virginia. who went to Preble county, Ohio, and settled on Price creek, hav- ing been among the pioneers of that time, the creek having been named for the family. The grandfather was a hard worker, and after securing wild land set about making a good farm of it, clear-
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ing up and otherwise improving it. He married a Miss Vance, of Virginia. He died in 1842. Michael Price lived with his father in Preble county, Ohio, until 1851, when, on March 13th of that year he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Wysong. a native of Preble county, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine ( Oyler) W'y- song, both natives of Virginia, and also were pioneers of Preble county. He was a mason and made brick in the early days. He (lied in Preble county, as did also his wife. Michael Price, the fa- ther of our subject. came to Howard county, Indiana. in 1858, set- tling in section 31 Ervin township, having secured eighty acres of wild land, being compelled to clear a place on which to build his slab shanty, which had no windows or floor. Later he built a log cabin and added eighty acres more to his farm, clearing much of the land and making modern improvements in general: He was al- ways a hard-working man and successful. He was also a black- smith by trade and was regarded as a very skillful one. He was well known in his community. He was a Democrat but never as- pired to office. He was a member of the Dunkard church. His first wife died in 1876 and he married a second time, his last wife being Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, a widow, of Ohio, who is still living at this writing ( 1908). Michael Price died August 30, 1900. The following children were all born to Michael Price by his first wife: Luther D., our subject: William Leander, who was born September 17. 1853. is a physician living in Indianapolis: Mary Catherine was born September 6, 1855. and is the wife of Nathan Peters, of New Lebanon, Ohio: Rebecca was born December 23. 1857, and died February 1. 1861 : Levi Alexander was born March 19. 1861. and died February 14. 1907. He was a farmer and mar- ried Eveline Rinehart: Oretta, the sixth child, was born July 19. 1863. and married Charles Null, of Kokomo, Indiana : Asa V., who was born August 6. 1865. is now a farmer in Towner county, South Dakota, who married Alice Hurril.
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Luther D. Price, our subject, was educated in the common schools and lived at home until he reached the age of twenty-two. He was married on July 26, 1874, to Elizabeth Miller, a native of Ohio, daughter of Peter and Phæbe ( Brubaker) Miller, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio. Peter Miller was a young man when he came to America and settled in Ohio, where he married. In 1854 he came to Howard county, Indiana, and se- cured eighty acres of wild land in section 29. Ervin township. He added to this until he had a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. HIe cleared this himself and soon had a comfortable home. He was also a wagonmaker by trade and was considered a fine work- man. He was a Republican and a member of the Dunkard church. His first wife died in 1868 and he married a second time, his last wife being Catherine Woods, who died September 30, 1907. Peter Miller died in August, 1897. He had eight children by his first wife, namely: John B., who died May 6, 1908, was a teacher and farmer of Ervin township, this county ; Mary Phoebe is the wife of Noah Whistler, of Kokomo, Indiana ; Elizabeth, the subject's wife ; Harry C., a physician living in Greentown, Indiana: Sarah, de- ceased : Daniel owns the old homestead in Ervin township: George died June 24, 1907, at his late residence in Kokomo. He was county superintendent of schools, a prominent man and a well known teacher: Lydia, the eighth child, is the wife of Alonzo Simmons, of Kokomo.
Four children have been born to the subject and wife, as fol- lows: Armanda E. is the wife of Ora Wagner, living in North Da- kota on a farm. They have one child, Winfred; Pearl May is the wife of Charles Mason, a farmer living in Ervin township, this county. They have three sons, namely, Orvil. Claude and Glen ; Charles C., the third child of the subject, is connected with the Cit- izens' Bank at Kokomo. He married Grace Bock; John G., the youngest child of the subject, is living at home. These children
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were all well educated. Charles C. went to school two terms at Ma- rion and two at Danville and also at North Manchester. He taught several terms.
After his marriage our subject farmed for two years in Mon- roe township, Howard county, and then went to Carroll county. where he remained for four years, then returned to Howard county, locating in Ervin township, and in March, 1901, he bought the old place where he now lives, consisting of eighty acres, all of which are under a high state of cultivation with the exception of about eight acres. He raises all kinds of grain and the place is well im- proved and kept up to the standard of Howard county's best farms. He also devotes much time to his stock, always keeping an excellent variety of Shorthorn and Jersey cattle. He also owns a fine stal- lion named Pat and he raises some good horses. He has a comfort- able and nicely furnished residence and numerous convenient out- buildings. . Ile has always been a farmer, and a first-class one, too. as the fine appearance of his farm would indicate at a glance.
Mr. Price has never aspired for any public office, but his sup- port can always be depended upon in the furthering of any move- ment looking to the development of his community in any way. He is a member of the German Baptist ( Dunkard) church and he has a host of warm fiends as a result of his friendly disposition. his honesty and industry.
EDWARD SWEENEY.
Edward Sweeney is a name known to every one who has the slightest acquaintance with the business history of Kokomo and Howard county. During his active life he filled a large place in the
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industrial affairs of the city, and as an energetic, enterprising and far-sighted man whose judgment and discretion were seldom at fault and whose influence made for the substantial upbuilding of the community he earned a reputation second to none of his con- temporaries. Mr. Sweeney was born at Salamanca, New York, June 12, 1859, and spent his early life in his native place, receiving his education in the public schools. By reason of a change in the domestic affairs of the family, caused by his father's second mar- riage, the lad at the tender age of eleven years left the parental roof to carve his own way through the world, going first to Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, where he made his home with an aunt and turned his hands to various kinds of employment. When about sixteen years old he assisted in drilling gas and oil wells, and finding the work to his taste soon began the business upon his own responsibility in the Ohio field, operating for some time near Lima and Findlay, where hie drilled a number of wells and met with encouraging success. Later he became a leading promoter of the oil industry, and after doing a thriving business in various parts of Ohio sank the second gas well within the limits of Kokomo, doing the work for several local parties, whose influence did much towards inducing him to make this his field of operations. Subsequently, in partnership with Harry H. Stewart, he drilled a number of wells in the Howard county field and soon established a reputation as one of the most enterprising and successful men at the business in the northern part of the state. During the year 1887-88 he operated several strings of tools and in addition to developing many producing wells in va- rious parts of the country he drilled during the time indicated for the Plate Glass Works of Kokomo, besides carrying on his investi- gations in other and more remote territory.
Mr. Sweeney continued his operations as long as the Indiana field proved productive, but with the gradual decline of natural gas
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he turned his attention to other lines of enterprise, purchasing an interest in the Globe Stove and Range Company of Kokomo, of which he was made president and general manager, and which un- der his able direction soon became one of the leading and best pay- ing industrial enterprises in the city. While giving his personal at- tention to the large and important establishment he still kept up his interest in the gas and oil business, and upon the discovery of oil in Miami county transferred his operations to the Peru field, which he assisted in developing. Later he gradually withdrew from the line of work with which he had so long been identified and gave his entire attention to the building up of the stove industry in Kokomo, in addition to which he was also interested in several other concerns, having been a large stockholder in the Jenkins Plate Glass Company and an oil company at Peru. acting as receiver for the latter when it ceased to be profitable, and finally closing up the business.
Mr. Sweeney was long a power in industrial and business cir- cles and during his residence in Kokomo did much to advance the material interests of the city and promote the welfare of the pop- ulace. He was elected to the city council. but did not take very kindly to the municipal legislation, which he found irksome and by no means to his taste. Nevertheless he discharged his duty with conscientious fidelity, which won the respect of his constituents and of the city at large.
In his young manhood Mr. Sweeney became identified with the great Democratic party and in due time achieved considerable prom- inence as a shrewd and farseeing politician, having been a judicious adviser in the councils of his party and an earnest worker and able leader in a number of hotly contested campaigns. In later years he gradually discontinued active political work, the better to de- vote his talents and energies to his large and growing business af- fairs. Nevertheless he always kept in close touch with the leading
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issues of the day and fully abreast of the times in all that concerned the welfare of the public. While head of the important manufac- turing establishment in Kokomo, with which his name is so intimate- ly associated, he not only displayed executive ability of the highest order, but so managed the business as to retain at all times the con- fidence and good will of his employes, between whom and himself a mutual interest ever obtained. During the years of his active connection with the plant the most harmonious relations existed among all parties concerned, and while many other establishments suffered more or less from disturbed conditions resulting from fric- tion between labor and capital, no dissatisfaction whatever was man- ifested in the stove works, and such a thing as a strike or walkout was never for a moment seriously contemplated. He made it a point to retain on the payroll all of his old employes, and many of the latter refused advantageons offers from other establishments in their desire to remain with the man who had done so much to advance their interests and make them satisfied with their lot.
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