USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 45
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orator, a brilliant advocate of democratic principles, but fair, courteous, and considerate to adversaries. In 1868 Mr. Cauthorn was married to Margaret C. Bayard, and was the father of eight children, of whom seven-three sons and four daughters-are living, viz. : Henry S., Jr., Robert G., Francis, May, Clotilde, Martha and Alice (Mrs. Potter). Mr. Cauthorn was an active member of the Catholic church, and was serving on the board of trustees of St. Francis Xaviers cathedral at the time of his death, and had held the office of supreme president for Indiana of the Catholic Knights of America. He was a pleasant and entertaining conversationalist and speaker, courteous and obliging, and deservedly popular.
Hon. O. F. Baker was one of the most gifted orators at the Knox County bar-a fluent and graceful speaker and a beautiful writer, expressing his thoughts in the purest and choicest English. His delivery was impressive, his voice and gestures often dramatic. He had a keen and penetrating mind, which enabled him to rapidly form opinions and reach conclusions in theo- rizing on a case without apparently giving any reflection or thought to the subject-matter involved. Mr. Baker was born in Paoli, Orange County, Ind., August 4. 1843. He was educated by a private tutor, and later attended the state university at Bloomington, from which institution he graduated in 1864. In connection with his other studies, he studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Jasper, Dubois County, Ind., in 1863, while in his nineteenth year. In May, 1859, he came to Vincennes, and in 1863 was elected city attorney, an office he held for two years. In 1866 he represented Knox County in the general assembly of Indiana. but declined reelection in 1868. With the ex- ception of two years (1869 to 1871, when he resided at Indianapolis as a law partner of Judge Samuel E. Perkins), his home from 1859 until Sep- tember II, 1888, the date of his death, was at Vincennes.
John M. Boyle was probably as well posted on municipal law as any man in Indiana. He was a diligent student and possessed a fine analytical mind ; but he had a modest, retiring and unassuming disposition, not calculated to impress one with the idea that his knowledge of legal lore was profound. He, nevertheless, was an able and learned lawyer. He was a native of Vin- cennes, having been born here in March, 1837. His earlier education was acquired in Danville, Ky., where lived his grandfather, John Boyle, the first chief justice of the court of appeals of Kentucky. Later he graduated from the law department of the state university at Bloomington, and was admitted to the Knox County bar August 7, 1866. He was elected city attorney of Vincennes in 1871, and reelected successively until 1890. During all these years he applied himself diligently to legal questions likely to engage his offi- cial attention, and thus became thoroughly conversant and familiar with the minutest details of corporation law. He was a rebel democrat, and, while it is not generally known, was a member of Quantrell's band during a period of the civil war. He died at Hot Springs February 4, 1891, and his remains were brought to Vincennes for interment.
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Hon. Thos. R. Cobb, father of Judge O. H. Cobb, who for many years represented the second congressional district in the national congress, was born near Springville, Lawrence County, Ind., July 2, 1827. He attended the country schools, taught school in the rural districts, and later attended the state university, at which institution he began the study of law in 1853, and the same year was admitted to the Lawrence County bar. He practiced his profession at Bedford until 1867, when he moved to Vincennes, which was his home up to the time of his death June 22, 1892. He was one of the leading democratic politicians of the state and figured prominently in public affairs. In 1852 he was appointed a commissioner of Indiana militia; was a member of the Indiana legislature from 1858 to 1860; a democratic candi- date for elector in 1868; was chairman of the state democratic central com- mittee in 1876; a delegate to the democratic national convention that nomi- nated Tilden and Hendricks in 1876; was elected to the forty-fifth, forty- sixth and forty-seventh sessions of congress, and reelected to the forty-eighth and forty-ninth sessions. He gained a national reputation during his con- gressional career, and served on many important committees. While chair- man of the committee on public lands, during the forty-seventh congress, he introduced a bill forfeiting the lands of railway corporations for non-fulfill- ment of contracts, by the operation of which millions of dollars were saved to the people. In the forty-fiftli congress he introduced a bill, which became a law at the succeeding session, providing for the sale of a tract of land, extending from the Wabash river to the eastern limits of the city, by which the site of Harrison Park was given gratuitously to the city.
Capt. Geo. G. Reily, who acquired his military title during the civil war as an officer in the Fourteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, gained an enviable reputation as a soldier during his four years' service. He was among the best trial lawyers of his time. His presence was commanding, his voice musical, his speech fluent and his gestures graceful. There were no prob- lems of a legal nature too intricate for him to solve ; and as a cross-questioner he had few equals. He was a native of Martin County, Indiana, where he was born in 1841. He lived at Petersburg, Pike County, for a while, but came to Vincennes soon after the close of the war, and formed a partnership for the practice of law with the late James C. Denny. Subsequently W. C. Johnson became a member of the firm, which was well established and en- joyed a large practice. In later years Capt. Reily and James Wade Emison comprised the firm, and did a large amount of business. Capt. Reily died on February 10, 1899, leaving to his wife and daughter a handsome estate, the result of his indefatigable labors as an attorney at the bar. As a political speaker and as a pleader, Capt. Reily was attractive and interesting. He was a high-minded politician, a polite, dignified and courteous antagonist, but republican to the core. In 1884, when the district was overwhelmingly democratic, he made the race for congress on the republican ticket and re- ceived a vote that was decidedly flattering.
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William H. DeWolfe was another brainy lawyer, and an accomplished and polished gentleman. He was born in Fairhaven, Mass., September 30, 1832, and came to Indiana in the fifties, locating at Petersburg. In 1863 he removed to Vincennes and began the practice of law in partnership with Judge Niblack. He had a most pleasing voice, and in the presentation of his case never lost sight of the facts by attempting an indulgence in glittering generalities. Naturally mild-mannered, he was always courteous toward the opposing counsel, and never attempted to harass or confuse a witness by re- sorting to tactics that had the semblance of rudeness. Mr. DeWolfe was very prominent in Masonic circles, and, at the time of his death, which occurred February 23, 1902, was a Royal Arch Mason. He was also a consistent member of the Odd Fellows lodge, having been grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Indiana. An Odd Fellows lodge in Wheatland is named in his honor. He is survived by a wife and three children-two daughters and a son, Edgar H., one of the prominent young lawyers of Knox County, who became heir to his father's practice and complete library. Mrs. De Wolfe and her eldest daughter, Miss Clara, are residing in New York city. The younger daughter, Anna (Mrs. Mack), is living at Cleveland, O.
Hon. Frederick W. Viehe ranked with the leading lawyers of the state. and was frequently consulted by some of the ablest practitioners from abroad concerning legal questions of importance that came up for consideration, both in and out of the courts. He was a Prussian by birth, and was born in West- phalia, September 2, 1832. He came to America with his father's family in 1845, and took up his residence at Freelandsville. Shortly afterward he moved to Vincennes, and was admitted to the Knox County bar in Septem- ber, 1859. His knowledge of law was thorough, and while he made no pre- tensions as an orator, he had a wonderful faculty of presenting his cases to the judge and jury in the clearest, concise, and most convincing manner. For several years he practiced law in partnership with Hon. Mason J. Nib- lack, and amassed a fortune in pursuing his chosen profession before he had advanced far beyond the meridian of life. Wiehe & Niblack, in 1884-5, were of counsel who successfully defended the will of William J. Wise, involving nearly a million dollars, which members of the Wise family not named as beneficiaries sought to have set aside. In 1870, by appointment, Mr. Viehe acted as prosecuting attorney for the twelfth judicial circuit. For several terms he represented Knox County in the house and senate of the Indiana legislature, and at one time was chosen president pro tem of the senate. Dur- ing the construction of the present city hall, Mr. Viehe was a member of council and chairman of the committee on public buildings. As such he carefully watched the progress of the work, inspecting material and scruti- nizing the workmanship, reporting for duty regularly twice a day until the building got under roof. As a reward for his faithfulness, after the job had been completed, the council set off a room in the building for his private
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office. which he occupied and greatly enjoyed up to the time of his death, which occurred suddenly on November 28. 1888.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE KNOX COUNTY BAR.
The names of the present active members of the Knox County bar are as follows : Henry W. Alexander, Wm. McClellan Alsop, John L. Buckles, Wil- liam F. Calverley, Robt. G. Cauthorn, Arthur A. Clark, Thomas B. Coulter, D. Frank Culbertson, Sherman G. Davenport. Charles E. Daily, Richard F. Davis, Edgar H. DeWolfe, John Downey, James Wade Emison, Samuel M. Emison, James Garrarde, Joseph M. Glenn, Hugh M. Goodwin, James M. House, A. Lincoln Harbison, George B. Hazleton, Wm. H. Hill, Hamet D. Hinkle, Wm. S. Hoover, Charles B. Judah, Wm. C. Jolinson, W. W. John- son, Francis A'. Johnson, Clarence B. Kessinger, Harry R. Lewis, James A. McClure, Charles G. McCord, Shuler McCormick, Louis A. Meyer, Mason J. Niblack, James S. Pritchett, Wright B. Pritchett, John P. Ramsey, Ster- ling H. Royse, Curtis G. Shake, LeRoy M. Wade, James P. L. Weems, John Wilhelm, Benjamin M. Willoughby, Wm. A. Cullop.
Nearly all of the gentlemen above named are members of the Knox County, Bar Association, which was instituted in December, 1900, with Samuel W. Williams president, and Robt. G. Cauthorn secretary. The object of the organization is for the mental improvement, advancement and protection of its members. Sociability and good fellowship are encouraged, and the an- nual banquet, which has been a great feature of the association since the first year of its formation, is always looked forward to with much pleasur- able anticipation. At present the association is officered by William S. Hoover president, and Curtis G. Shake secretary.
OFFICIAL HEADS OF COUNTY FROM DATE OF ITS ORGANIZATION
But once, since the formation of the republican party, has the official household of old Knox been other than democratic. In 1886 the discovery of irregularities in the treasurer's office, under the regime of S. S. Hollings- worth, caused the defeat during that year of the entire democratic ticket. The republicans made a clean sweep-and for the first time in the county's history, took possession of all the offices, except representative, for which place they failed to name a candidate. The following is a list of names of the men who have occupied the various offices, not hitherto mentioned :
Clerks-Robert Buntin, 1796-1818; Homer Johnson, 1818-22; H. L. Withers, 1822-26; Homer Johnson, 1826-30; Daniel C. Johnson, 1830-33; Alexander D. Scott, 1833-38; Wm. R. McCord, 1838-51 ; William Denny, 1851-59; Henry S. Cauthorn, 1859-70; A. P. Woodall, 1870-74; William B. Robinson, 1874-82 ; Geo. R. Alsop, 1882-88; Albert G. Sloo, 1888-92; An- thony M. Telton, 1892-1900; James F. Lewis, 1900-08; Frank G. Reiter, elected in 1908, and reelected in 1910, hokls over until February 24, 1916.
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Sheriffs-William Prince, 1796-98; Christian Wyant, 1798-1801 ; Wil- liam Prince, 1801-04 ; Daniel O. Sullivan, 1804-09; Parmenas Beckes, 1809- II ; John Myers, 1811-13; Benj. V. Beckes, 1813-19; John Decker, 1819-24; Seneca Almy, 1824-30; John Purcell, 1830-35 ; Zachariah Pullman, 1835-39; Abraham Smith, 1839-44; Isaac Mass, 1844-48; Wm. T. Scott, 1848-52; R. J. Beeler, 1852-56; Martin Anthis, 1856-60; James Reynalds, 1860-64; James C. Lahue, 1864-68; James A. Reynalds, 1868-72 ; Simon Payne, 1872- 76; James H. Shouse, 1876-80; James E. Kackley, 1880-84; M. L. Seddle- meyer, 1884-86; Samuel McClure, January 1, 1887 to September 27, 1887; Mordecai M. McDowell, 1887-93; John L. Buckles, 1893-97; Howard Orn- dorff, 1897-99; John C. Cox, 1899-1901 ; Louis C. Summitt, 1901-05; Abra- ham Westfall, 1905-09; Frank Byers, present incumbent, who has held office since January 1, 1909, was reelected in 1910, and holds over until January I, 1913.
Auditors-S. W. Elliott, 1845-55; J. B. Patterson, 1855-63; Hiram A. Foulks, 1863-70; A. J. Thomas, 1870-74; Gerhard Reiter, 1874-82; James A. Dick, 1882-87 ; Clinton H. DeBolt, 1887-91 ; Samuel A. Jordon, 1891-95 ; Jas. D. Williams, 1895-1904; John T. Scott, present incumbent, by appoint- ment filled out the unexpired term of Williams, which ended in 1906. He was subsequently elected and held office from 1906 to 1910, and was re- elected to succeed himself at the November election of the year last named.
Recorders-W. D. Hay, 1814-16; John Gibson, 1816-18; Robert Buntin, 1818-22; William R. McCall, 1822-23; Samuel Dilworth, 1823-30; William Ruble, 1830-39; Nicholas Harper, 1839-51 ; Elihu Stout, 1851-59; R. T. Cad- dington, 1859-63; James Beck. 1863-67; Emanuel Meisenhelter, 1867-70; James J. Mayes, 1870-78; Fred Hall, 1878-87; John G. Bailey, 1887-91 ; Robt. B. Patterson, 1891-99; Frank P. Emison, 1899-1907. Guy L. Shepard, present incumbent, entered upon his duties 1907. He was reelected Novem- ber, 1910, to serve until November, 1915.
Treasurers-John W. Cook, 1852-54; William Williamson, 1854-56; A. L. Cornoyer, 1856-60; Jolin W. Cannon, 1860-62; W. W. Berry, 1862-66; Henry Knirihm, 1866-74; Jamies Reynolds, 1874-78; Christian Hoffman, 1878-82; S. S. Hollingsworth, 1882-86; B. F. Polk, 1886-88; Geo. W. Don- aldson, 1888-92; Christian Hoffman, 1892-94; Wm. T. McClure, 1894-96; Wm. H. Vollmer, 1896-1900: Chas. A. Weisert, 1900-04; Richard M. Rob- inson, 1904-08; Ed. W. Dreiman. present incumbent, was elected in 1908, and reelected in 1910. His present term expires in 1912.
Surveyors-Stephen Benton, United States deputy, 1805-14; Benton also held the office in 1815, and had as his assistants, Daniel Sullivan, William Harris, Robert Buntin and Arthur Henry; Samuel Emison, 1816-37; George Calhoun. 1837-54; Andrew Armstrong, 1854-57 ; Samuel E. Smith, 1857-59; Wm. P. Roberts, 1859-61 ; John Armstrong, 1861-63 ; C. S. Kabler, 1863-66; George Calhoun (Jas. E. Baker, deputy), 1866-70; James E. Baker, 1870- 76; John C. Hennon, 1876-82 ; Robt. P. Mayfield, 1882-86; John C. Hennon, 1886-88; Jacob S. Spiker, 1888-90; Richard L. Bailey, 1890-02; Josephi V. Vol. I-24
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Hershey, 1892-98; John E. Rogers, 1898-1903; Elijah C. Williamson, 1903- 07; John E. Rogers, 1907-11 ; Robert E. Lind, 1911, present incumbent.
Assessors-John N. Shepard, 1892-94; Wm. H. Pennington, 1894-98; Jolın M. Stork, 1898-1906; Lee J. Dellinger, 1906-10, reelected for four years, November, 1910.
Coroners-Joseph Roseman, 1824-26; Daniel Wilton, 1826-28; Abraham Rodarmel, 1828-32; William Bruce, 1833-35; H. P. Brokaw, 1835-39; Wil- liam Bruce, 1839-42; Isaac Mass, 1842-44; F. J. Meyers, 1844-54; J. W. Emery, 1854-56; F. J. Meyers, 1856-60; T. A. Smith, 1860-62; J. S. West- fall, 1862-64; B. V. Thorn, 1864-66; James Bliss, 1866-74; John Reiter, 1874-76; Fred. Hellert, 1876-78; Chas. M. Cornoyer, 1878-80; Ed. Cooper, 1880-84; Alfred Merchant, 1884-86; Dr. S. C. Beard, 1886-88; Dr. L. M. Beckes, 1888-92; Dr. P. H. Caney, 1892-98; Dr. II. W. Held, 1898-1902; Dr. D. M. Buley, 1902-06; Dr. Norman E. Beckes, 1906-10; Dr. Eugene Bowers, 1911, incumbent.
Superintendents Public Instruction-E. B. Milam, 1881-85; Wm. H. Pennington, 1885-89; Thomas J. Crosson, 1889-91; W. H. Johnson, 1891- 93; Peter Phillippe, 1893-1903; Wm. McC. Alsop, 1903-09; Edgar N. Has- kin, 1909-11, incumbent.
Representatives-Isaac N. Eastham, 1858-60; Cyrus M. Allen, 1860-62; W. E. Niblack, 1860-64; John B. Patterson, 1864-66; O. F. Baker, 1866-68; James D. Williams, 1868-70; H. S. Cauthorn, 1870-74; Charles E. Crane, 1874-76; F. W. Viehe, 1876-78; H. S. Cauthorn, 1878-82; S. W. Williams, 1882-84; Jas. D. Williams, 1884-86; Mason J. Niblack, 1886-92; Wm. A. Cullop, 1892-94; Benj. M. Willoughby (joint), 1894-96; Basil Gaither, 1894- 96; Maitland Claycomb, 1896-1900; Dr. J. L. Reeve, 1900-04; Basil Gaither, 1904-06; James Garrard, 1906-10; W. S. Racey, 1910, incumbent.
Senators-James D. Williams, 1858-66; William Turner, 1866-70; James D. Williams, 1870-74; Henry K. Wilson, 1874-78; Frederick W. Viehe, 1874-82; J. Ernest, 1882-86; W. W. Berry, 1886-90; Royal E. Purcell, 1898- 1902; M. M. McDowell, 1906-10.
CHAPTER XXII. THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF LAND AROUND THE OLD POST.
TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS OF KNOX COUNTY-THEIR EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS- OLD-TIME INDUSTRIES-MERCHANTS OF PIONEER DAYS AND THE PRESENT- THE SHAKERS OF BUSSERON TOWNSHIP-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN INDIANA BUILT IN PALMYRA TOWNSHIP- TIIE OLD MARIA CREEK BAP- TIST CHURCH-BRIEF MENTION OF THE COMMERCIAL, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS AND FRATERNAL LIFE OF BUSSERON, BRUCEVILLE, BICKNELL, DECKERS, DICKSBURG, EMISON, EDWARDSPORT, FREELANDSVILLE, FRICHTON, MONROE CITY, OAKTOWN, PURCELL'S, SANDBORN, WHEATLAND AND WESTPHALIA.
There is sufficient interest connected with the several townships, and the towns belonging to them, to admit of their treatment under separate heads. But, before indulging in individual descriptions of localities, it may be well to give the reader a hurried glimpse of the county in its entirety, its soil, fertility and products, with a general view of the country lying adjacent to Vincennes as the same appears towards the close of gentle spring. The landscape that environs Vincennes, with modern farms of progressive farmers, is as beautiful as a pastoral picture painted by deft hands.
The green earth sends its incense up from every hilly shrine. From every flower and dewy cup that greeteth the sunshine. The mists are lifted from the rills like the white wing of prayer. They lean above the ancient hills as if doing homage there. The forest tops are lowly cast o'er breezy hill and glen, As if a prayerful spirit passed on nature as on men.
Beautiful scenery and husbandry are compatible. The presence of the former dissipates largely the thoughts of drudgery and feelings of unrest that come to the husbandman who plies his vocation remote therefrom. The hills, decked in vestments of green or gold, the crystal river, wending its serpentine course through woods and meads of luxurious vegetation, flowing 'neath the shadows of stately trees from which issue the sweet carols of native songsters, and a canopy of ever-changing skies, are elements that tend to cheer the heart and lighten the work of the husbandman. While scenic beauty is not necessarily essential to farming, it improves the mental
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and physical condition of the farmer, imparting to his mind higher ideals of life and bringing him in closer contact with all creation, impelling him "to look up thro' nature to nature's God."
He looks abroad into the varied field
Of nature; and, though poor, perhaps, compared
With those whose mansions glitter in his sight,
Calls the delightful scenery all his own. His are the hills, and the valleys his, And the resplendent river ; his to enjoy
With a propriety that none can feel,
But who, with filial confidence inspired,
Can lift to heaven an unpresumptuous eye, And smiling say, "My Father made them all."
A ride in any direction out of Vincennes in automobiles, in which ve- hicles it is said the people of the city and county have invested more than scant $700,000, will reveal a net work of graveled roads having delight- fully smooth surfaces. A splendid idea may be obtained by trips over these avenues of travel of the topography of the country, the richness of its re- sources and the unrivalled beauty of the landscape. A jaunt to the south- west and northeast will present the beautiful and fertile prairie lands, pro- ductive beyond compare with other favored localities, adorned with giant trees of dense foliage and flowers of exquisite bloom; and to the south- east a panoramic view of level country (over which the jack snipe fisks and the meadow lark sends forth his silvery notes), having here and there a range of hills partially covered with forest trees, can be obtained. Pro- ceeding in the same direction for a mile or two, three picturesque mounds, the handiwork of a prehistoric race, rear their summits above the level plain, lending an additional charm to the physical contour of the locality. Myriads of wild flowers of variegated hues send forth cheerful greeting from woodland or glen, or salute the wayfarer from either side of the road; and across the plain, diverging from all points of the broad expanse, shiny brooks, whose sources are crystal springs, run in zig-zag lines like silver snakes through fertile fields, to lose themselves in the recesses of the shadowy woods or become hidden beneath the folds of fair Flora's resplendent robes. To the north and south, along the west bank of the Wabash, lovely driveways parallel the river for a distance of five or six miles. The route southward is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic roads leading out of the city and has been admired by thousands of visitors having occasion to sojourn at Vincennes. A friend of the writer, who has traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and visited many climes in the Old World, declares that it is as beautiful as any natural drive- way he has ever seen in all his travels. To the north, for a distance of two miles, the road-canopied at certain sections by lapping of leafy branches along either side-extends beyond Robeson's Hill, a range of miniature mountains, studded with great trees, presenting a picture rare and beauti-
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ful, with a faint suggestiveness of the foot-hills of an Alpine country. But the placid Wabash, more classic and picturesque than any, and more beau- tiful and romantic than all other rivers, while brightening and enhancing the scene of loveliness, is a dream in itself, as any one who has ever viewed the banks of either side while gliding o'er its wimpling waters in the bright- ness of day, or, after nightfall, when the moonbeams bathe the landscape in a flood of soft and mellow light, will attest.
Nature, science and wealth, have combined to make industrial farming in this community a calling out of which the producer not only gets big production, but which enables him to follow his vocation with profit and pleasure. The wonderful possibilities of scientific agriculture in this re- gion cannot be exaggerated. The unprecedented crop yields are so enor- mous as to seem incredible to one not acquainted with the topography of the country, the climatic influences of river vapors on vegetation and the adaptability of the soil for their advantageous assimilation. One reason why the farms in this section are so attractive and productive is because they are nearly all owned by the men who till them. Diversified farming is quite extensively carried on, and as a producer of cereals, all kinds of grain and every known variety of vegetables and fruits, the soil of Knox county is exceptionally fine. Especially in the production of corn, oats, wheat, clover, rye, timothy, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, strawberries, etc., is this true. Alfalfa, the staple crop of Kansas, Washington, Oklahoma and Texas, can be raised in many sections of the county, where the ground has been properly fertilized, almost as well as in any of the states named, as has been demonstrated by William H. Brevoort, one of the largest land owners in the county, by practical ex- periments on several of his farms just below the city limits. Live stock farming, too, can be, and is, profitably carried on here to a very large ex- tent. The natural water courses running throughi, and the smaller streams traversing or lying within the confines of the farming districts, and the ex- cellent quality of grass for grazing purposes, which grows abundantly way into the winter months and remains green and nutritious almost the year round, are advantages which make the business at once inviting, pleasur- able and profitable. Cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry are raised in unlimited quantities in Knox county, and for all of them there is always a ready home market. Some of the finest-bred stock to be found in the country is raised in the pastures and on the fields adjacent to Vincennes.
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