USA > Indiana > Marshall County > History of Indiana : containing a history of Indiana and biographical sketches of governors and other leading men. Also a statement of the growth and prosperity of Marshall County, together with a personal and family histry of many of its citizens, Vol. I > Part 28
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it was while holding the latter office that he laid the foundation of his political career. In the forties, he made the race for the state senate, against Williamson Dunn and Shadrack Wilber, whom he defeated, and in that body was soon recognized as the leader of the party. In fact, he was a born leader of men, and always stood at the fore-front of the line. In 1843 he was lieutenant governor on the ticket with James Whitcomb, and such was the ability he displayed in the dis- charge of the duties of that position, that the senators and representa- tives, with all of whom he sustained relations of the warmest friend- ship, afterward elected him to the senate of the United States. At this time, he was barely eligible to a seat in the senate, on account of his age, being the youngest man ever elected to that distinguished body . In 1850, he was a candidate for re-election against Hon. Robert Dale Owen, who subsequently withdrew from the contest, thus making Mr. Bright's election without opposition. In 1856, his term having expired, he again sought a re-election, which was granted him after a memorable contest which was decided by the United States senate in a strictly party vote. In the senate, Mr. Bright ranked high as a committee worker, and enjoyed great personal popularity. Such was his standing that on the death of Vice President King in 1853, he was elected president pro tempore of the senate, which he filled with ability until the inauguration of John C. Breckenridge, in 1857. In the latter year, when forming his cabinet, President Buchanan offered Mr. Bright the secretaryship of state, which position he saw fit to de- cline. He continued a senator until 1862, when he was expelled for disloyalty, by a vote of thirty-two to fourteen. The principal proof of his crime was in recommending to Jefferson Davis, in March, 1861, Thomas Lincoln, of Texas, a person desirous of furnishing arms to the confederacy. Mr. Bright organized and led the Breckenridge party in Indiana in 1860, and in stumping for the brilliant young Kentuckian gave the movement all the force and vitality it had in this state. He left Indiana soon after the legislature of 1863 refused to return him to the United States senate, and took up his residence in Kentucky, in the legislature of which state, he subsequently served two terms. In 1874, he removed to Baltimore, in which city he died on the 20th of May, 1875, of organic disease of the heart. Mr. Bright had a splendid physique, and weighed about 200 pounds. He had a good head and a good face, but was imperious in manner and brooked no opposition from either friend or foe. "He was the
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Danton of Indiana democracy, and was both loved and feared by his followers."
JOHN PETTIT was born at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., July 24, 1807, and died in Lafayette, Ind., June 17, 1877. After receiving a classi- cal education and studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1838, and commenced the practice of his profession at Lafayette, Ind. He soon became active in state politics, was in the legislature two terms and served as United States district attorney. He was elected to con- gress as a democrat in 1842, re-elected to the next congress and served with distinguished ability in that body from December 4, 1843, to March 3, 1849. He was a democratic elector in 1852, and in Janu- ary, 1853, was chosen United States senator to fill the unexpired term, occasioned by the death of James Whitcomb, serving as such until March 3, 1855, during which time he earned the reputation of an able and painstaking legislator. In 1859 he was appointed by James Buchanan, chief justice of Kansas, and in 1870 was elected supreme judge of Indiana. He was a delegate to the Chicago demo- cratic convention in 1864, and as a political leader, wielded a strong influence in Indiana in a number of state and national contests. He was renominated for supreme judge in 1876, but owing to scandals connected with the court, which excited popular indignation, he was forced off the ticket and the name of Judge Perkins substituted.
CHARLES W. CATHCART, of whose public and private history but little is now known, was born on the island of Madeira, in 1809. He received a liberal education and early in life shipped as a sailor, and after a number of years spent on the sea, located in 1831, at La Porte, Ind., where he engaged in farming. He served several years as land surveyor, was a representative in the legislature, and in 1845, was an elector on the democratic ticket. He was elected to the congress of the United States in 1845-47, re-elected the latter year to serve until 1849, and was afterward appointed to the United States senate to fill the unexpired terin occasioned by the death of James Whitcomb. He served as senator from December 6, 1852, to March 3, 1853, and at the expiration of his term returned to La Porte county, where his death subsequently occurred.
GRAHAM N. FITCH was born in LeRoy, Genesee county, N. Y. on the 5th of December, 1810, and is said to have been the first white child born in that town. His grandfather was a soldier in the revo- lutionary war, and his father, a soldier in the war of 1812, was
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wounded at the battle of Queenstown. Mr. Fitch received a liberal education, and in early life, chose the medical profession for a life work, and completed a course of study in the same in the college of physicians and surgeons of western New York. He came to Indiana in 1834, and settled at Logansport, where his successful professional career soon won for him the reputation of one of the most skillful surgeons and thorough practitioners in the west. In 1844 he ac- cepted a professorship in Rush Medical college, at Chicago, and occu- pied the chair of theory and practice during the years 1844-1847. Though not naturally a politician, Dr. Fitch, from force of circum- stances, was drawn into the arena of politics, where his commanding talents and energy marked him as the people's choice. In 1836 and again in 1839, he was chosen to represent Cass county in the state legislature. Subsequently at the election in August, 1847, he was chosen to represent his district in the lower house of congress, hold- ing that responsible position until 1852. During his membership he was active and efficient in the discharge of his duties, earning the repu- tation of a good legislator. His legislative capacity was further tested by an experience in the senate of the United States, commenc- ing in 1860-'61. The honorable distinction acquired in subordinate legislative positions was not dimmed by his senatorial experience, and he left that distinguished body with a record of which posterity need not be ashamed. Although a democrat in political affiliations, he al- ways esteemed principles above mere partisanship and was not slow to manifest disapprobation when his party seemed disposed to pursue a course of policy in antagonism to his better judgment. In the tri- angular contest for the presidency between Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Doug- las and Mr. Breckenridge, he gave his undivided support to the last named gentleman, influenced thereto by a belief that his election would prevent the threatening civil war. Again when his party rallied to the support of Mr. Greeley, he manifested his dissent by supporting Mr. O'Connor for the presidency. When the war came on, he raised a regiment, the Forty-sixth Indiana, and at its head en- tered the federal service. He did brilliant service in several cam- paigns, but owing to an injury received by the falling of his horse, was compelled to leave the service before the expiration of the war. Since the close of the war, he has continued to practice his profession, not interfering in political affairs except to preserve the integrity of his inherent ideas with the vigor of his palmier days, opposing whatever
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he conceives to be wrong in civil and political affairs. In personal appearance, Dr. Fitch is a remarkable specimen of physical manhood, having a well knit frame and a courtly dignity which bespeaks the polished gentleman. In his prime he appeared a knight among men, and while a member of the United States senate, is said to have been the finest looking man of that body.
DAVID TURPIE was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1829, graduated at Kenyon college, studied law, and began practice at Lo- gansport, Ind., in 1849. He was a member of the legislature in 1852, was appointed judge of the court of common pleas in 1954, and of the circuit court in 1856, which post he resigned. He was again a member of the state house of representatives in 1856, and was elected to the United States senate from Indiana, as a democrat, in place of Jesse D. Bright, who had been expelled, serving from January 22, to March 3, 1863. Nearly twenty-four years afterward he was again called on by his party to represent them in the senate, to which body he was elected by the Indiana legislature, at the session of 1886-7, after a memorable struggle. His opponent was Benjamin Harrison, afterward elected president, and he was defeated by the votes of one or two independents in the legislature, who held the balance of power between the two great parties, which were almost equally divided in voting strength among the members. Mr. Turpie enjoys the repu- tation of being one of the ablest constitutional lawyers in Indiana, and is also graded high as a man of literary entertainments.
DANIEL D. PRATT was born at Palermo, Maine, October 24, 1813, and died at Logansport, Ind., June 17, 1877. His father was a physi- cian and the son of David Pratt, a revolutionary soldier, of Berk- shire county, Massachusetts. Mr. Pratt's early years were years of excessive toil, necessitated by the circumstances of his father's family. His early education was acquired in the district schools of Madison county, N. Y., and in 1825 he entered the seminary at Cazeno- via, that state, and two years later entered Hamilton college, from which he graduated in 1831. He was a natural orator, and as a classi- cal scholar was rarely excelled. Immediately after graduating he accepted a professorship in Madison university, and with the means thus earned began the study of law. In the spring of 1832, he decided to move west. Accordingly he set out for Cincinnati, mak- ing a part of the journey on foot, and later made his way to Rising Sun, Ind., where he taught a term of school. Subsequently he en-
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tered the law office of Calvin Fletcher, at Indianapolis, and in 1836 located in Logansport, at that time a mere opening in the wilderness. The bright promises of his early youth were soon fully realized, for no sooner was he admitted to the bar than he rapidly rose in his profession, and in a few years the fame of the eloquent young advocate resounded throughout northern Indiana. He was one who never courted notoriety, but he made himself a necessity in the field of action, and it was often a race between litigants to see who could reach his office first. At the time of his election to the United States senate in 1869, he was recog- nized as the ablest lawyer in northern Indiana, and his fame was not confined to this state alone, but extended throughout the western country. For twenty-five years he was without a rival in northern Indiana, before a jury. Gov. Hendricks and Secretary Thompson divided the palm with him in the south and west parts of the state. His eminent merits were recognized, and in 1847 he was nominated for congress, but was defeated by Charles Cathcart. In 1848, he was one of the presidential electors, and in 1851-53 was elected to the legislature, and soon became the leader in the house. In 1860 he was secretary of the national convention at Chicago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and attracted great attention by his eloquence and commanding presence. During the war Mr. Pratt was a zealous and patriotic advocate of the Union cause. In 1863 he received the unanimous vote of his party, then in the minority, for United States senator, and in 1868 was elected to congress by a hand- some majority. In 1868 the legislature without solicitation on his part, promoted him to the United States senate. It was unfortunate that he entered that body so late in life, as he was then fifty-six years of age, and with the exception of two terms in the state legislature was without public training. The artificial restraints thrown around him in the national capital disgusted him, and interfered with his splendid oratorical powers. As it was, however, he was recognized as one of the ablest men of that body during the period of his ser- vice, and although he made but few speeches, those he delivered were sound, logical and comprehensive. For six years he was a member of both claim and pension committees, and for two years was chairman of the pension committee. Millions of dollars were allowed and dis- allowed on his recommendation. So conscientious was he that Wendell Phillips once remarked that "Pratt is the most absolutely
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honest man I ever knew." Upon the expiration of his term as sena- tor, at the solicitation of President, Grant, he took charge of the in- ternal revenue department. In 1876, the republicans urged Mr. Pratt to become a candidate for governor of the state, but he declined. Personally Mr. Pratt was one of the most cheerful and genial of men, and in his social life, and in all his associations, shed an influence around him which was like sunshine. Although he never sought literary honors, his talents could not pass unappreciated, and in 1872 Hamilton college conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D. In appearance he was above the average height, being over six feet, and correspondingly portly. His presence was dignified and he moved among men as one born to command. In his death the nation lost one of its faithful public servants, the state a great man, the legal profession one of its ablest members and the community one of its best citizens.
JOSEPH E. MCDONALD was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 29, 1819, the son of John McDonald, a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. Maternally, Mr. McDonald is descended from French Huguenot ancestry. His mother, Eleanor (Piatt) McDonald was a native of Pennsylvania and a woman of superior order of intellect. Seven years after the death of John McDonald, she married John Kerr, who moved with his family to Montgomery county, Ind., in the fall of 1826. Joseph McDonald was seven years of age when the family moved to Indiana, and until his twelfth year he lived upon the home farm. In his twelfth year he became an apprentice at the saddler's trade in Lafayette, in which capacity he served over five years, studying law in the meantime, for which he early manifested a decided taste. At the age of eighteen he entered Wabash college, began the study of the higher branches, supporting himself mainly by plying his trade when it was possible for him to do so. He after- ward became a student in the Asbury university, and in 1842 began the systematic study of law at Lafayette, Ind., in the office of Zebulon Beard, one of the leading lawyers of the state. He was nominated for the office of prosecuting attorney before his admission to the bar, and was elected to that position over one of the prominent lawyers of Lafayette. He was re-elected prosecutor, and discharged the duties of that office for a period of four years. In the fall of 1847, he moved to Crawfordsville, which place was his home until 1859. In 1849 he was elected from the old eighth district, to the twenty-first congress,
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and served one term, and in 1856 was elected attorney general of In- diana, being the first chosen to this office by the people. He was re-elected in 1858, and served two terms. In 1864 he was nominated for governor of Indiana by the democratic state convention, and made a joint canvass with Oliver P. Morton, the republican nominee. At the election he received 6,000 more votes for governor than the state ticket did in 1862, but Mr. Morton was elected by nearly 20,000 votes. Throughout his entire life he has strictly adhered to his resolution to follow the law and make a success of the profession, and as a lawyer he has for years ranked among the most successful and profound in the nation. He was elected to the United States senate for six years, to succeed David D. Pratt, and entered upon the duties of that position March 5, 1875. While a member of that body he was chairman of the committee on public lands, a member of the judiciary committee, took a conspicuous part in the debates on finance, and ranked as one of the ablest lawyers in that body of distinguished men. He served with distinction until 1881, since which time he has given his atten- tion principally to the practice of his profession, though taking an active part in political affairs, being one of the recognized leaders of the democracy in the United States. He made the principal argu- ment for the objectors in the count of the electoral vote of Louisiana before the electoral commission appointed to determine the result of the presidential election in 1876. In the national demo- cratic convention, held in Chicago in 1884, Mr. McDonald's name was presented as a candidate for the presidential nomination, and he had a strong following in the delegation from a number of states. He is and always has been a representative democrat of the Jefferson- ian school, and believes that the true idea of democracy is to preserve unimpaired, all the rights reserved to the states respectively, and to the people, without infringing upon any of the powers delegated to the general government by the constitution. "He believes in the virtue of the people, and in their ability and purpose to maintain their institutions inviolate against the assaults of designing men." " As an orator, both at the bar and on the hustings, he is cool, logical and forcible, and as a citizen, he has the confidence and respect of all who know him, regardless of political creeds." " His views are broad and comprehensive on all questions of public interest, and his stead- fastness of purpose, his honest desire of accomplishing what is best
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for the people, have given him a home in their hearts and won for him the greatest honors they had to bestow."
DANIEL W. VOORHEES was born in Butler county, Ohio, Septem- ber 26, 1827, and was brought to Indiana by his parents when two months old. The family settled in Fountain county, where Mr. Voorhees grew to manhood on a farm about ten miles from the town of Covington. His father, Stephen Voorhees, was a native of Mer- cer county, Ky., and a descendant of an old Holland family, many representatives of which were among the early settlers of the eastern states in the time of the colonies. His mother was Rachel (Elliot) Voorhees, born in Maryland of Irish ancestry, and married Stephen Voorhees in the year 1821. The early farm experience of Mr. Voorhees proved of great value to him in after life, and served to bind him in ties of sympathy with the common people. He graduated from the Asbury, now DePauw, university, at Greencastle, in 1849, and soon afterward entered the law office of Lane and Wil- son, Crawfordsville, and on his admission to the bar, began the prac- tice of his profession at Covington, Fountain county, where he soon effected a co-partnership with Hon. E. A. Hannegan, in 1852. In June, 1853, Mr. Voorhees was appointed by Gov. Wright, prosecut- ing attorney of the circuit court, in which position he soon estab- lished a fine reputation as a criminal lawyer. In 1856 he was nominated by acclamation, democratic candidate for congress, but was defeated by 230 majority in a district previously republican, by 2,600. In 1857 he removed to Terre Haute, and the following year was appointed United States district attorney for the state of In- diana, by President Buchanan. He was elected to congress in 1860 and 1862, and in 1864 was again a successful candidate, but in the last election his majority of 634 votes was contested by his competi- tor, Henry D. Washburn, who obtained the seat. He was again elected in 1868, re-elected in 1870, but in 1872 was defeated by Hon. Morton C. Hunter. In 1859 Mr. Voorhees was retained as counsel to defend Col. Cook, who was arrested with John Brown, as an ac- complice of the latter in the celebrated Harper's Ferry raid, and his speech at the trial was one of the greatest ever delivered before an American jury, and it gained him a national reputation. It was lis- tened to with rapt attention by a vast audience, and was afterward published all over the country, and in Europe in several different languages. Mr. Voorhees was appointed November 6, 1877, to suc-
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ceed Gov. Morton in the United States senate, and has served by successive re-elections in that distinguished body until the present time. From his entrance into public life he has occupied a con- spicuous place in the eyes of the public and at the bar, on the stump or in the halls of national legislation, he has been a man of mark. His powers as a parliamentary orator and a statesman are a portion of the history of the nation, and as a party leader few if any have ex- ercised as great an influence upon the people of Indiana as he. "From the sobriquet of the Tall Sycamore of the Wabash, so often applied to him, it will be inferred that he is of tall stature, which is the case, as he is over six feet in height and weighs over 200 pounds. He carries himself erect, and his commanding presence and dignified bearing make him a conspicuous figure in the senate chamber." During his term of service in the senate he has been assiduous in his attention to the public needs. He is always present and allows no measure of his political opponents to pass without the severest scru- tiny, and with him vigilance is the price of liberty.
BENJAMIN HARRISON, one of the ablest and most successful of In- diana's party leaders, and the only one that has succeeded in reaching the presidency, was born in North Bend, Ohio, August 20, 1833. His father was John Scott, brother of President William Henry Har- rison. The future senator and president was graduated at Miami university, Ohio, in 1852, studied law, and in 1854 removed to In- dianapolis, where he has since resided. In 1862 he entered the army as a second lientenant of volunteers. After a short service he or- ganized a company of the Seventieth Indiana regiment, was com- missioned colonel on the completion of the regiment, and served through the war, receiving the brevet of brigadier-general of volun- teers on January 23, 1865. He then returned to Indianapolis and resumed his office of supreme court reporter, to which he had been re-elected during his absence, in 1864. In 1876, Godlove S. Orthe, the republican nominee for governor of Indiana, was compelled to with- draw from the race on account of his connection with what was known as the " Venezuela claims," and the nomination was unani- mously offered to Gen. Harrison. He accepted reluctantly, made a gallant race against heavy odds, but was defeated by " Blue Jeans " Williams by a small plurality. The republicans obtaining a ma- jority in the legislature in 1880, Gen. Harrison was unanimously nominated and elected by his party to the United States senate, in
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which body he served from March 4, 1881, until March 4, 1887. He was defeated for re-election after a bitter struggle, by a majority of two votes on joint ballot in the legislature, and to this circumstance, was largely due his subsequent nomination for the presidency. At the national republican convention held in Chicago in June, 1888, after a protracted and exciting struggle, the great prize was awarded to the Indiana politician and soldier, over a host of distinguished competitors. At the subsequent election in November of that year, Gen. Harrison was successful over his competitor, Grover Cleveland, and was inaugurated president of the United States on the 4th of March, 1889.
DR. DAVID J. JORDAN .- The above named gentleman is one of the most prominent of that coterie of scientific writers who have done so much to attract attention to the physical resources of Indiana. For many years Prof. Jordan has been president of the state uni- versity. He was educated at Cornell university, and afterward stud- ied biology under the famous Agassiz, in his celebrated summer school on Penikese island. Coming west, Prof. Jordan taught his specialty in the university of Wisconsin, Indianapolis high school, Butler university and finally the Indiana university, of which his talents eventually made him president. Prof. Jordan devoted most of his attention for many years to the study of the habits and classi- fication of the fishes of North America. On this subject he has pub- lished over 200 papers, besides a large work which has become a standard authority on ichthyology. In enthusiastic pursuit of his favorite study, Dr. Jordan made a fine and extensive collection of nearly ten thousand specimens of fishes, reptiles and birds, but un- fortunately these were all destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1883. With characteristic energy he set to work to repair the damage, and soon had a better collection than ever. He has been a voluminous writer on scientific subjects; the greater part being devoted to his specialty, the fishes of the western states. He has gathered around him at Bloomington, a school of students who have grown up under his care, imbibed his tastes, and greatly assisted him in his scientific researches. The result of their conjoint labors and writings has been to make the state university the center and authority on sub- jects relating to biological work.
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