USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 30
USA > Indiana > Parke County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 30
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the Louisville Medical College, practiced here and in Eugene township, and in 1878 committed suicide in Kansas, at the age of fifty-eight years. Drs. Clark and P. H. Leavitt practiced here for a number of years, part of the time as partners. The former moved to Danville, Illinois, and the other died at Newport. Dr. E. Thompson moved to Illinois and died there. He left Newport in the autumn of 1874. Other doctors of the township were Drs. M. L. Hall, Lewis Shepard and James Wallace.
Among the early physicians at Eugene may be recalled the name of Dr. R. M. Waterman, who came in before 1837, and practiced until his death, about 1868, except a short time at Lodi, whence he entered the army. He was of the "regular" school of practice and came from Rhode Island. He established the first newspaper published in Vermillion county.
Dr. James McMeen practiced here many years, and in 1886 moved to Danville, Illinois. Another physician here was Dr. William C. Eichelberger.
At Perrysville the list of men who have practiced medicine is quite lengthy, and includes the following :
Dr. Dinwiddie, said to have been a surgeon of the regular army, was the first physician to locate at Perrysville. He left the place sometime in the forties.
Dr. Thornton S. Davidson came about 1839 and died here about 1852.
The next physician was probably Dr. Reynolds, about 1850.
Dr. R. M. Waterman, after practicing here a while, moved to Eugene, where he started the News-Letter, and then to Lodi, Fountain county, where a postoffice was named for him, "Waterman." He served in the army, as captain of Company A in an Indiana regiment, but contracted a disease from which he soon afterward died.
Dr. A. B. Small, not a regular graduate in medicine, was in partnership with Dr. Waterman and others, became feeble by reason of age and finally died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. John Stewart Baxter, from Virginia, was a good surgeon, in part- nership with Dr. Spotswood for a time, and died in Perrysville in 1853.
Dr. Dexter F. Leland, from some one of the Eastern states, arrived here about 1850, was a partner of Dr. Spotswood, a physician of gentlemanly manners, and died in three or four years after settling here.
Dr. Lewis Clark came in 1854, was an energetic man, practiced here three years and moved to Kansas, where he died.
Dr. Lewis Frazee, eclectic, was born in New Jersey in 1815, came to Perrysville in 1863, and died in December, 1881. His first wife and their (21)
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nine children all died before him. The son George began practice in Perrys- ville in 1870, dying in 1878.
Dr. J. M. Wilkerson arrived in Perrysville in 1852, and practiced a few years only, then removed to other parts.
Other doctors were: L. M. Meering; John Kemp, botanic; D. M. Bal- lard, from 1857' until his death; Joseph H. Olds, who came before the Civil war, entered the Union army, whence he did not return to this county. He was considered a physician of more than ordinary ability and skill.
Dr. Crooks, a young man in partnership with Dr. Clark for a period, moved to Lebanon, where he died.
Dr. B. I. Pollard, eclectic, from State Line (village), practiced in Perrys- ville in the early eighties and moved to Dixon, Illinois.
In 1888 the list of physicians at Perrysville included these: Drs. E. T. Spotswood, James T. Henderson, James Webb, J. W. Smith, D. B. Johnson.
A BLIND PHYSICIAN.
Dr. Cuthbert F. Keyes, deceased, was born near Dugee Ferry, in Indiana, in the year 1822, and in 1826 was brought by his parents to Vermillion county, where he was reared to manhood. His father was a gunsmith and wagon- maker and while he kept his slaves at work in the gun factory, the white men worked at the wagon yard and he himself ran boats on the Potomac river. After his father's death he lived with his mother and uncle, attending school at Clinton, riding to and fro night and morning. He spent a portion of his younger life clerking in a store for his uncle and passed from this to the study of medicine, with Drs. Kile and Palmer at Clinton. He studied medi- cine some time and during this time he had to work for his board, doing any little odd jobs he could find, but this only helped to make the man he after- ward became. He then went to St. Louis, where he attended one term of lectures. June 30, 1846, he married Miss Jane Bales, they beginning their married life on the farm. Here he began the practice of his profession, which he followed until he went to St. Louis to attend a second term of lectures. In this term his eyes began to fail and he became blind. He still continued the lectures, Professor Van Zant giving him the privilege of this term free and at the close commended him for his close attention and industry, although he was stone blind. His eyes were treated in the city at the same time. At the time of the birth of his son, Dr. O. M. Keyes (now of Dane), he was blind. When he returned to his home from St. Louis he found, by the care and in- dustry of his good wife that his affairs had been kept in good order. He sub-
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sequently moved to Clinton, but becoming dissatisfied, he returned to his farm, where he practiced medicine until his death. On the morning of that day he arose, ate a hearty breakfast and started for Bono, about three miles south of Dana, to see a patient. On his way he suffered a sudden and severe attack of congestion of the stomach and bowels. He succeeded in reaching Bono and, leaving his team unhitched, staggered into Frank Austin's store, where he fell on the floor, exclaiming, as he fell, that he had come there to die. He was taken to the house of Mr. Austin, where everything possible was done to alleviate his intense agony. Doctor Hall was sent for, but one hour before he arrived, and at ten o'clock that same evening, the restless spirit of the old veteran took its flight to that bourne whence no traveler returns. No man was more successful in the county than he in his methods of treatment of dis- eases, and none had a more extensive professional experience. He never re- fused a call because the patients were poor. He was one of the few who fol- lowed his profession not for the purpose of amassing a great fortune, but be- cause he took delight in alleviating the sufferings of his fellow mortals. He was a man of kind disposition and noble and generous impulses, and was ready to make any sacrifices for the accommodation of a friend or neighbor. Though somewhat eccentric in his style, his warm and sympathetic nature and his kind and generous disposition made him a host of friends. Dr. Keyes left a wife and three sons and two daughters, in sad bereavement by his death. Thus, one by one, the old pioneers pass away, leaving the world and the duties incumbent on life to the rising generation.
PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN 1912-13.
At the date above given the doctors practicing in this county were as follows :
At Clinton-Drs. G. W. Ashley, F. H. Beeler, E. A. Evans, W. D. Ger- rish, C. E. Ragan, Annabale Solarglis ( Italian), D C. Shaff, A. A. Washburn, Henry Washburn, I. D. White and Dr. Reese.
At Perrysville-Drs. Sanders and Loomis.
At St. Bernice-Drs. Green, Lonsdale and T. Newton.
At Universal (Bunsen)-One physician was in active practice.
At Newport-Drs. I. M. Casebeer, M. L. Hall and one other.
At Cayuga-Drs. E. A. Flaugher, M. P. and S. C. Darroch, M. R. Pol- lom.
At Dana-Drs. O. M. Keyes, D. S. Strong, W. C. Myers, G. C. Pritchett and Dr. Green.
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COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
Perhaps, outside of the efforts to keep alive a county agricultural society and hold annual exhibits of farm products, there is no other organization so hard to keep alive and in working order as a county medical society. This should not be so, but such is the almost universal fact, not alone in Indiana, but in every section of the Union. Just when the first attempt at maintaining such a society of the medical men in Vermillion county was made is not now known. It is certain, however, that more than forty years have elapsed since there was such an effort put forth. and it resulted in the organization of what was termed the Vermillion County Medical Society. It was in July. 1869, when a meeting was held at Newport, comprising James McMeen and Will- iam C. Eichelbarger, of Eugene; Hiram and Lewis Shepherd, of Quaker Point ; Henry C. Eaton, of Brouillet's Creek, and M. L. Hall and C. Leavitt, of Newport, for the purpose of organizing a county medical society. This meeting adjourned to meet again a week or two later, but no further account is found of the affair until in 1873. when they organized, electing Dr. I. B. Hedges, of Clinton, president. Subsequently the membership reached twenty- two, but the association was permitted to run down in the course of about four years.
The files of the Hoosier State, published at Newport, mention the fact that in April, 1904, state organizer, Dr. M. A. Boor, of Terre Haute, was in Newport and formed a county society, with officers as follows: President, M. L. Hall, Newport ; vice-president, W. P. Darroch, of Cayuga ; secretary, O. M. Keyes, of Dana; treasurer, O. A. Newhouse, of Hillsdale. This so- ciety, however, went down, as did all the others. One reason assigned is the fact that Clinton has most of the physicians in this county, and they are located at the south end of the county, nearer to Vigo county and Terre Haute, which is easier of railroad access than the northern and western part of this county, hence the doctors run down there and attend the society there, while on the northern strip of Vermillion county the physicians can easily go to Danville, Illinois.
CHAPTER XII.
NEWSPAPERS OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
For its size, Vermillion has always had as many, if not more, local newspapers than it could successfully support.
In Clinton the history of journalism may be summed up by the following changes in offices and editors, regardless of the many locations or buildings in which the offices were kept, which is of little account, as all business houses and street numbers are subject to changes, for which the ordinary reader cares little. One press printed all the earlier newspapers in Clinton, save the Argus alone. In 1873 the Clinton Exponent was established by B. S. Black- ledge and James R. Baker. It was decidedly a Republican organ. Its editor was F. L. Whedon, from Ohio. at first. Baker soon sold his interest to his partner, and Mr. Blackledge conducted the paper until November, 1876, when he sold to Lyman E. Knapp. In June, 1877, he sold to R. S. Knapp, but it is related that King Alcohol foreclosed a mortgage and it "went up the spout." It raised its feeble efforts at existence next at Perrysville, as the Exponent of that place. It only survived a short time, and some time in 1877 it was bought by an attorney of Clinton, named H. . \. White, who removed the material back to Clinton, and there started the Western Indianian, in the building later used as a meat market by Harry Dudley. It was not long before the politics was changed to that of National.
White sold to T. A. Kibby, H. S. Evans and John McMahon. In Sep- tember, 1879, Mr. Kibby leased the office to L. O. Bishop and others. In June, 1880, this firm purchased the Clinton Herald, to which the Western Indianian had been changed by Evans, and published it until July 1, 1882. when it was sold.
August 31, 1882, Mr. Bishop established the Saturday Argus. The Herald suspended after struggling hard for over a year and a half.
It was about this time that Alexander Myers entered the newspaper field, by establishing the Tomahawk and Scalping Knife, which he very soon changed to the Democrat, which died a natural death after six weeks' publica- tion. In June, 1884, there came out the Clinton Siftings, which had trouble to "sift" out a living for about three years, then went the way of all the earth.
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Among the pioneers in the newspaper field here, the Argus has pulled through to the present date, through storm and sunshine, ever advocating the honest, unbiased convictions of its editor. Lucius O. Bishop, who, through heated political campaigns and local bickerings, has steadily made new patrons and friends and held his old ones. He is a practical printer, and a writer of no uncertain language, hewing to the line, when the case demands it, but ever holding aloof from the low and sensational in the selection of his subject matter. The Argus comes forth on Saturday each week in the year, full of bright, sparkling news items, and editorials such as the pen of Mr. Bishop has been able to inscribe for so many years. He, having been raised in a print-shop, knows its every intricate detail. It may be said, as of another paper, "If you see it in the Saturday Argus it is true."
The Clintonian, daily and weekly, was established in the eighties and was the direct successor of the Clinton Republican, a four-page, six-column paper, Republican in its politics. The Clintonian is owned and edited by J. W. Pierce and is run on an improved Campbell press, by an electric motor. Sub- scription rate, one dollar and twenty-five cents per year. It is independent in politics. November 5. 1912, a daily edition was established, a six-column, four to eight-page, rate five dollars per annum. The plant is fully equipped with linotype, folder and jobbers, all run by electricity. The office has been twice enlarged in the last five years. The present publisher consolidated the Clinton Plaindealer (run here from 1906 to 1908 by C. G. Vannest and C. H. Vaughn) with the weekly Clintonian. The present publications are up-to- date in all features and voice the sentiments of the enterprising, progressive element in the community in which it circulates.
The Clinton Times ( weekly ) was established in the month of May, 1911, by S. E. Mendenhall, who was succeeded in October of the same year by the law firm of Johnson. Brigham & Zell, who still own and conduct the paper, hiring a foreman for the mechanical part of the business. It is a Re- publican paper, a seven-column folio in size, all home-print. The rate of sub- scription per year is one dollar. . \ fine job department is attached to the newspaper business. It is located on East Mulberry street, and the paper is published each Thursday, finding a good circulation in Vermillion, Parke and Vigo counties.
The Dana Notes, one of the county's reliable, readable local newspapers, was established by M. 1 .. Griffith, of Monticello, Illinois, as a Democratic paper, which it is at this time. The date of its establishment was October 1. 1885. April 15. 1887, he sold the paper to J. L. Smith, who sold to Miss Beatrice Taylor in 1894. She sold to G. W. Sturm in 1898, and in 1908 he
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sold to the present owner and editor, J. H. Jordan, who conducts a six-column eight-page paper, and has a subscription rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per year. The machinery in this office is now propelled by gasoline power, and has included within its equipment a good job office. The name of this paper has changed with the whims of every one who has owned the plant. First, the News; then the T'ermillion Democrat, under J. L. Smith ; the Record, under Miss Taylor ; the Vermillion County News, under George W. Sturm, and changed back to its original title, the Dana News, by its pres- ent editor.
The newspaper history of Newport is indeed replete with many excellent and unique features. The first paper established there was the Olive Branch, by A. J. Adams, later of Danville, Illinois, fame. Its editor was A. D. Patton. Nearly the first, if not indeed the first, issue of this paper was dated Decem- ber 29. 1853. Its head (like most papers in those days) had for a motto catchy words, "We hold the balance with an equal hand, and weigh whatever justice doth demand." Politically, the Olive Branch was Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party became its organ in this section of Indiana. The first numbers of this pioneer newspaper had but little original matter, save an occasional editorial. The salutatory occupied a column in length. It advertised with considerable gusto the fact that it had contribu- tors, naming these: Rev. David Taylor. Terre Haute: Robert Ross, princi- pal of the Terre Haute public schools; Samuel Taylor, principal of the New- port Seminary ; Dr. H. H. Patten, Princeton, Indiana, and J. S. Sawyer, of Vincennes.
The latest telegraphic news was dated December 17th, twelve days prior to the date of the paper's issue. Most of the advertisements were from Terre Haute business men. One item of real local news was that the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad had just been completed between the two points. W. A. Henderson had the only home advertisement in the paper, which occupied an inch of space in one column, telling the people that he kept drugs and patent medicines, groceries and flour. J. M. Hood gave notice that his telegraph office was situated on the east side of the Square with Mr. Henderson. The subscription price for this paper was one dollar and fifty cents if paid in advance, and two dollars at the end of six months, also another fifty cents was demanded if it was not paid within the year.
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THE HOOSIER STATE.
This old and universally well known publication was the outgrowth of the Olive Branch, and had its birth in 1855. It was published at Clinton for a time, but later returned to Newport, where it has ever since remained. The proprietors and editors include Pratt & Adams, James M. Hood, Samuel H. Huston ( 1855. at Clinton ), Mr. Campbell, Mitchell, Vaul ( 1858), a company with William E. Livengood, George W. English ( 1862-63), Col. H. D. Wash- burn. S. B. Davis, Joseph B. Cheadle, S. B. Davis (second time). Many of these men became state and national characters, in one field or another. The halls of Congress claimed Cheadle and the battlefield claimed Washburn, while Davis made a record as an editorial writer of more than ordinary note. Mr. Davis took the paper from Washburn in January. 1868.
In the winter of 1875-76 "Buffalo Bill" wrote a serial for the Hoosier State, entitled "Three Years in Utah."
Mr. Davis, so long connected with this paper, was the county treasurer of Vermillion county when the thirty-five thousand dollar robbery occurred. mention of which is given in detail elsewhere in this volume. S. B. Davis was, at the time he quit the paper, the oldest editor in Indiana in point of consecutive service, and he always ran a staunch, uncompromising Republican paper. He was fearless, but always fair. In 1893, on May Ist, he retired from the actual management of the paper, and took in with him his son, changing the style to S. B. Davis & Son. Three years later he again took charge, but had for his associates his sons, Bird H. and F. W. Davis, who assisted in the work of editing and publishing the paper, until the senior Davis' death, April 2, 1908, since which time the son, Bird H., has conducted the paper, which property was left to the wife of S. B. Davis, who is still residing in Newport. The name of the business has never been changed, but still runs as that of S. B. Davis & Son. Bird H. Davis, present manager and editor, commenced the printer's trade at the age of nine years, when he had to stand on a box to elevate him sufficiently high to set type from the cases. He knows all the ins and outs of newspaperdom and stands high among his fellow journalists. The circulation of the popular Hoosier State is extensive, going as it does into thirty-two states and foreign countries. It enters two hundred and twenty-five postoffices in this country. It is run on a power press, by gasoline engine. The Hoosier State is now a six-column quarto, thirty by forty-four inches in size, and an eight-page paper: its publication day is Wednesday, and its subscription rate is one dollar and twenty-five cents per
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year. Politics, Republican. Its special feature is all the printable news. It has long been known as "the old reliable."
The Newspaper Union a few years since had this concerning the present editor, Bird H. Davis: "He was born in Newport, Indiana, April 29. 1869. He has a common and high school education. He did his first work at the case when only nine years of age, when he had to stand on a box to reach the case. He would work in the office during the summer months and go to school in the winter time until 1887, when he became foreman of the office, which position he held until May 1. 1893, when he became manager and local editor, and has served in that capacity until the present day ( 1904). He is married and has three children."
What was styled the Vermillion Transcript was started at Newport in about 1872, as an opposition Democratic organ, by Harrison Jump. who ran it fifteen months, sunk one thousand nine hundred dollars and then sold the plant, which was moved away.
CAYUGA NEWSPAPERS.
May 14, 1887, the first paper of the place was issued, as the Cayuga Journal, James E. Whipple, editor and proprietor. The second paper in the village was the Herald, which was established about 1889. It was edited by gentlemen in the following order, as near as can now be determined: E. L. Hiberly, then Charles E. Cook, who sold to A. C. Confiff. the latter conduct- ing the paper until March 4. 1893, when it passed into the hands of Hemp- hill & Huls; Hemphill remained its editor until June 2, 1894, when the paper was bought by J. Wallace Miller, and was then published by the Miller Brothers till January 1. 1904, when it passed to its present owner and editor, A. Carter Hutchinson. It is now a seven-column folio, all home print : sub- scription price, one dollar and twenty-five cents, and in politics is Democratic. The printing machinery of the office is now propelled by a gasoline engine.
Through the kindness of the present editor of the Cayuga Herald we are , in possession of the following facts concerning other newspaper ventures at Cayuga. A copy of the Cayuga Times, dated September 5. 1889, is in exist- ence. John Wooldridge was its editor. The Tribune, another local paper of the village, made its appearance early in the nineties, and was published by Boone Gibbons. Its career was brief, dying for lack of financial support. Then came the Blue Pencil by "Bob" Osborn. It was conducted a short time at Cayuga and then moved to Perrysville, where it existed for about two years longer, when its owner moved the outfit to Clinton, this county.
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PIONEER NEWSPAPERS IN VERMILLION COUNTY.
The News-Letter, Vermillion county's first paper, was launched at Eu- gene in 1837 by Dr. R. M. Waterman and continued there six months. The plant was sold to J. R. Jones, who moved to Perrysville and there published the Perrysville Banner. Two years later Clapp & Roney owned the paper and called it the Vermillion Register. It was next the Perrysville Republican, with Austin Bishop as editor and proprietor. R. B. Dickason published at Perrys- ville the Eagle in the years from 1852 to 1855, selling out to a Mr. Robinson, and he to Benjamin Snodgrass, who finally let the paper go down. This was the earlier and later history of journalism in Perrysville. The attempts to make a success of the Register and Banner and all the rest proved a failure financially. The Democratic organ, the Bamier, was printed on a press first brought to Indiana in 1804, to Vincennes, whereon the Western Sun was also printed.
From the files of the old Perrysville Banner for February, 1839, the fol- lowing interesting items have been extracted, throwing light as they do on men and customs of that period :
J. R. Jones was editor and proprietor. This is the twenty-fourth number of its issue. It contains five columns to the page and was published at two dollars a year if paid in advance ; otherwise, three dollars. The number con- tained a large amount of congressional and legislative news of this state and but very little original or local matter.
Hiram Barnes, of Perrysville, advertises for a "professional" man to take charge of an ox team. Edmund James, a justice of the peace, of Helt township, publishes an attachment notice, on the affidavit of Silas Rhodes, against the chattels of Simon and Martin Gilbert. The name of Permelia Smith appears as the administratrix of the estate of Daniel Smith. George W. Palmer, justice of the peace, notifies the readers that Ephraim Driscol, of Highland township, had taken up an estray steer, four years old, which was appraised at twelve dollars by James Welch and Tom Lowers. James Thomp- son, school commissioner of the county, gives fair warning that he will sell fifteen tracts of land for taxes, if not paid before the day of sale. S. and B. Turman notify the people where they can procure cheap dry goods, etc. Will- iam Whipps gives notice of his appointment as administrator of the estate of Thomas J. Reed, lately deceased. Perrin Kent also gives notice to the effect that he has taken out letters of administration on the estate of John Taylor, late of Warren county, deceased. The widow and heirs of Jacob
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