USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 67
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In his domestic relations, Prof. Butler has been called upon to suffer the deepest grief, having twice felt the icy hand of death severing the ties that bind the hearts of husband and wife. He was firat married, on the 19th of Angust, 1861, to Misa Matilda M., daughter of Jamea Sample, a pioneer citizen of Hancock County, Ind. On the 3d of November, 1863, his wife died, leaving one child and many friends to mourn her losa. September 17, 1869, Mr. Butler was united in marriage with Mias Susanna A. Davenport, who died March 8, 1876, leaving three children. On the lat of June, 1879, he wedded Miaa Clara B. Richardson, his present com- panion. By this union, they are the parents of one child. His wife ia an excellent lady, and the favorite of the circle in which she moves, shar- ing with her husband the regard and affection of numerous friends.
215
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
walk in the footsteps of their progenitors. Such are Col. M. B. Miller, Willim K. Smith, John Dye Smith and others whose fa- thers before them were sterling Democrats, "all of the olden time," and whose children worthily and sturdily sustain the flag and uphold the banner beneath whose gallant folds so many State and national victories were, in years gone by, triumphantly gained in this grand old commonwealth of ours. All honor to men who have the courage of their, principles, and who cling to what they believe to be right in the clouds of defeat as cheer- fully as in the sunshine of victory.
SONS OF LIBERTY.
The Sons of Liberty are understood to have found adherents in this county in the civil war of 1861, and it is affirmed, with confidence, that lodges were formed and meetings held in secret places within our borders, under night and darkness, and the obligations of a solemn oath to secrecy and obedience. But the result of the war crushed all such movements and attempts, whether real or only imaginary, under the heel of popular indigna- tion. And it is the truth, doubtless, that, in the heat of those troublous and terrible times, the men who leagued together to undertake to "stop the war " verily thought, within themselves, like Saul of Tarsus of old, that they were doing God and their country great service.
It is one of the fearful evils of such convulsive times that sincere and well-meaning citizens become arrayed in fierce hos- tility, and not seldom in deadly conflict.
The wars of the Roses in England found good men in both armies.
John Wesley and his worthy wife were on opposite sides as to who was the propor heir to the English throne, and that differ- ence at one time threatened serious results.
The Whigs and the Tories, in our Revolution of 1776, were equally good and equally sincere. To the Tories, the Whigs were rebels, and deserved the fate of rebels. The Loyalists were simply fighting for their Government and their King.
The Unionists and the "Copperheads " (to use an opprobri- ous name without its opprobrious meaning), aud even the "Se- cessionists," were doing, in their several ways, what they really supposed to be right, and demanded by the exigencies of the hour.
. And it is indeed a very sad thing when sincere and upright aud earnest men are set thus in hostile or even deadly array.
Would to God the time might come when all good and pa- triotic men should be able to " see eye to eye " upon the great fundamental questions of national weal, and to unite in one solid, world-wide, invincible phalanx of liberty and justice, whose power should be put forth like the strength of one man, everywhere and always, to suppress the wrong, to maintain the right, to protect the poor, the needy and the weak; to create and increase comfort and happiness among men; to discourage vice and to foster virtue; to spread knowledge throughout the world; to perfect the reign of love and good will among men; and to bring to pass that happy, glorious day in which men shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks, and men shall learn war no more; and none shall hurt nor destroy throughout earth's wide domain!
"13TH ARTICLE."
Another fact worthy of note is that upon the question of the thirteenth article of the constitution of 1851 (against persons of color), while the State as a whole voted therefor, and gave for the article a majority of nearly 100,000, Randolph County alone, in all the State, refused her assent, and cast a majority against the thirteenth article aforesaid.
OFFICE HOLDING.
Randolph County has furnished a moderate number of office- holders for the State at large and for the nation.
Hon. W. A. Peelle, Secretary of State, 1860-1862.
Hon. J. E. Neff, Secretary of State four years; Democrat.
Hon. Isaac P. Gray, Lieutenant Governor and Governor (by the death of Gov. Williams), 1879-1880.
Hon. Thomas M. Browne, United States District Attorney, and member of Congress (the latter for three terms-six years --- elected by a good, and, the last time, an immense majority).
Hon. Silas Colgrove, twelve years Circuit Judge. Hon. Jeremiah Smith, Circuit Judge.
Hon. L. J. Monks, Circuit Judge at the present time.
Hon. Stanton J. Peelle, present member of Congress from the district containing Indianapolis, and nominated for a second term in the summer of 1882.
There may have been others not now recollected.
CHAPTER XVIII. PERSONAL.
OFFICIAL-ATTORNEYS-PHYSICIANS-PRESS.
TN the following article we furnish an account of various classes of persons -- officers, attorneys, physicians, and also a brief history of the press in Randolph County, with sketches of some of the men connected therewith, as also biographies of per- sons belonging to some of the classes above mentioned.
(For other biographies, look under clergymen, military, town- ships, towns, business, etc.)
CONGRESSMEN.
William Hendricks, 1817-1823, First District-one district in the State.
John Test, 1823-1827.
Oliver H. Smith, 1827-1829; John Test, 1829-1831; Jona- than McCarty, 1831-1833-Third District-three districts.
Jonathan McCarty, 1833-1837; James H. Rariden, 1837- 1841; Andrew Kennedy, 1841-1843-Fifth District-seven dis- tricts.
Andrew Kennedy, 1843-1847; William Rockhill, 1847-1849; Andrew J. Harlan, 1849-1851; Samuel Brenton, 1851-1853- Tenth District -- ten districts.
Samuel W. Parker, 1853-1855; D. P. Holloway, 1855 1857- Fifth District.
David Kilgore, 1857-1861-eleven districts.
George W. Julian, 1861-1871; Jeremiah M. Wilson, 1871- 1873-Fourth District.
Jeremiah M. Wilson, 1873-1875; William S. Holman, 1875- 1877; Thomas M. Browne, 1877-1883-Fifth District --- thirteen districts.
RECAPITULATION.
William Hendricks, six years; John Test, six years; Oliver H. Smith, two years.
Jonathan McCarty, six years; James Rariden, four years; Andrew Kennedy, six years.
William Rockhill, two years; Andrew J. Harlan, two years: Samuel Brenton, two years.
Samuel W. Parker, two years; D. P. Holloway, two years. David Kilgore, four years.
George W. Julian, ten years.
Jeremiah M. Willson. four years.
William S. Holman, two years; Thomas M. Browne, six years. Total, sixteen Congessmen in sixty-six years-1817 to 1883
SENATE.
1816-24-Patrick Baird, Wayne and Randolph.
1825-James Rariden, Wayne, Randolph, Allen; Centerville. 1826-28-Amaziah Morgan, Rush, Henry, Randolph, Allen. 1829-31 -- Daniel Worth, Randolph, Allen, Delaware, Cass Huntsville.
1832-33-Samuel Hanna, as next above -- Fort Wayne, St Joseph, Elkhart.
1834-35-Andrew Aker, Randolph, Delaware, Grant; Win chester.
1836-39 -- Andrew Kennedy, Delaware, Randolph; Muncie. 1840- Michael Aker, Delaware, Randolph, Winchester.
216
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
1841-42-Michael Aker, Randolph, Blackford, Jay; Winches- ter.
1843-45-Isaac F. Wood, Randolph, Blackford. Jay; Spar- tansburg.
1846-48-Dixon Milligan, Randolph, Blackford, Jay; Port- land.
1849-50-Jacob Brugh, Randolph, Blackford; Jay. 1851-52 ---- Longshore, Randolph, Jay; Deerfield.
1853-56-Theophilus Wilson, Randolph, Jay; New Corydon. 1857-60-Daniel Hill, Randolph; Jericho.
1860-62-Asahel Stone, Randolph; Winchester.
1862-64-Thomas M. Browne, Randolph; Winchester. 1864-68-Thomas Ward, Randolph; Winchester.
1868-72-Isaac P. Gray, Randolph; Union City. 1872-76-Andrew J. Neff, Randolph; Winchester.
1876-80-Nathan Cadwallader, Randolph; Union City. 1880-84-E. H Bundy, Randolph, Henry.
1882-86-Marcus C. Smith, Randolph, Henry, Delaware; Muncie.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The following list gives name, residence and counties repre- sented:
1816-Joseph Holman, Ephraim Overman (Randolph), John Scott, Wayne and Randolph.
1817-Holman, Scott, Robert Hill, Wayne and Randolph.
1818, 1819, 1820, 1821-Supposed to have been represented with Wayne County.
1822-24 -- John Wright (Randolph), Wayne and Randolph. 1825 -- Daniel Worth (Randolph), Randolph and Allen.
1826-Samuel Hanna (Allen), Randolph, Allen, and all the territory north of Madison and Hamilton Counties to the Wabash not attached elsewhere.
1827-28-Daniel Worth (Randolph), as next above.
1829-Lemuel G. Jackson (Delaware), Randolph and Dela- ware.
1830 -- David Semans (Randolph), Randolph and Delaware. 1831-Andrew Aker (Randolph), Randolph alone.
1832-33-Eli Edwards (Randolph), Randolph.
1834-Zachariah Puckett (Randolph), Randolph.
1835-Eli Edwards (Randolph), Randolph. 1836-37 -- Zachariah Puckett (Randolph), Randolph. 1838-39-Miles Hunt (Randolph), Randolph. 1840-Smith Elkins (Randolph), Randolph. 1841-42-Robert W. Butler (Randolph), Randolph. 1843-Edward Edger, (Randolph), Randolph. 1844-45-Roylston Ford (Randolph), Randolph.
1846- - James Griffis (Randolph), Randolph. 1848-H. H. Neff, Asahel Stone (Randolph), Randolph. 1848-Isaac F. Wood.
1849 -- Elza Lank, Jr., James Brown.
1850-Elza Lank, Jr.
1851-52-John Wilson.
1853-54-Josiah Bundy.
1855-56-George W. Monks.
1857-60-Silas Colgrove.
1861-64-John A. Moorman.
1865-66 -- Thomas W. Reece.
1867-68-Enos L. Watson.
1869-70-J. T. Vardeman.
1870-72-Asahel Stone. 1872-74-Nathan T. Butts.
1874-76 -- Martin A. Reeder.
1876-78-John A. Moorman.
1878-80-Enos L. Watson.
1880-82- William E. Murray.
1882-84-Theodore Shockney (nominated).
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1851.
Randolph County, Beattie McClelland.
Randolph and Jay (Senatorial), Dixon Milligan, Nathan R. Hawkins.
CIRCUIT JUDOES.
John Watts, Miles Eggleston, Charles H. Test, Isaac
Blackford, Samuel Bigger, David Kilgore, Jeremiah Smith, Jo. seph Anthony, Jeremiah Smith, Jehn T. Elliot, Silas Colgrove, J. J. Cheney, Jacob M. Haynes, Silas Colgrove, Leander J. Monks.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
William Edwards, 1818; John Wright, 1818-46; John Sam- ple; William Peacock, 1834; Littleberry Diggs, Peter S. Miller, Stephen C. Stephens, John T. Mckinney, Daniel B. Miller, John Mock
It is possible that there may have been more than the ones named above.
PROBATE JUDGES.
William Edwards, Associate Judge; John Wright, Associate Judge; John Sample, Associate Judge; James T. Liston, sole Judge, 1831-33; Zachariah Puckett, sole Judge, 1833-34; Smith Elkins, sole Judge, 1834-36; E. B. Goodrich, sole Judgo. 1836-42; Beattie McClelland, sole Judge, 1842-49; George Debolt, sole Judge, 1849-51.
Closed August 16, 1852.
l'robate business was done at first by the Associate Judges, then by a single Judge, afterward by the Court of Common Pleas until that court was discontinued, and since that time by the Circuit Court.
(See Judges of Court of Common Pleas, and also of the Cir- cuit Court.)
JUDGES COMMON PLEAS COURT.
Nathan B. Hawkins, 1853 (died in office); James Brown, 1853-54; W. A. Peelle, 1854-60; Jacob M. Haynes, 1860-63.
Since that time, probate business has been done in the Cir- cuit Court.
The Court of Common Pleas was abolished (as also the Pro- bate Court had been), and the business of both was transferred to the Circuit Court, by which it is still transacted.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
The first Prosenting Attorney was James Rariden, appointed by the court. After him at various times were Bethuel Morris, John Gilmore, Lot Bloomfield, Oliver H. Smith, Amos Lane, Charles H. Test, Martin M. Ray, James Perry, William J. Brown, Caleb B. Smith, Samuel W. Parker, Jeremiah Smith, Andrew Kennedy, Jehu T. Elliott, John Brownlee (up to Octo- ber, 1839).
Elected --- William A. Peolle, Thomas M. Browne, Silas Col. grove, J. J. Cheney (Common Pleas), Enos L. Watson (Common Pleas), William Garber, Thomas M. Browne, Daniel M. Brad bnry, E. B. Reynolds, Alexander Gullett, A. O. Marsh, J. E. Mellette.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
The Court of Common Pleas was established under the con- stitution of 1851, and continued till a few years ago.
The Prosecuting Attorneys for that court were William Moor- man, elected 1852; J. J. Cheney, 1854; E. L. Watson, 1856, 1859, 1862; Thomas J. Hosford, 1860; Melletto, John J. Haw- kins.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Eli Overman, 1818-20; Benjamin Cox, 1818-20; John James, 1818-24; John Wright, 1820-22; Zachariah Puckett, 1820-22; David bowles, 1822-24; Daniel Blunt, 1822-24; David Stout, 1822-24; Board of Justices, 1825-31; William A. Macy, 1831- 34; John James, 1831-34; Elias Kizer, 1831-34; Thomas Bax- ter, 1833-36; Robison McIntyre, 1834-37; James Smith, 1835- 38; John Coates; George B. McNees, 1837-40; Abram Adamson, 1837-40; John L. Anderson, 1838-41; William Kennedy, 1839 -42; Samuel Pike, 1840-43; Nathaniel Kemp, 1845; Philip Barger, 1846; John M. Lucas, 1848; George W. Vandeburg, 1850; Emsen Wright, 1850; Andrew Devoss, 1851; Nathaniel Komp, 1856; Thomas Aker, 1856; Endsley Jones, 1856; Elihu Cammack, 1857: Hicks K. Wright, 1859; Arthur McKew, 1860; Clement F. Alexander, 1861; Andrew Devoss, 1863; Hicks K. Wright, 1865-73; Nathan Reed, 1865-68; Elihu Cammack, 1867 -- 73; Thomas Clevinger, 1868-77; Francis G. Morgan, 1873-76; Philip Barger, 1873-76; William M. Botkin, 1877-80; Wilson
I.f. Monks,
JUDGE OF THE 25TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF INDIANA
HON. LEANDER J. MONKS.
Leander J., eldest son of George W. and Mary A. Monke, was born July 10, 1843, at Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind. He attended the pub- lic schools of this county, where he acquired a good primary education, and in 1861 entered the State University, at Bloomington, Ind., where he remained during the school years of 1861, 1862 and 1863. He left the University in the Junior year, and in 1865 entered upon the practice of the law. He rose steadily in his profession froin the first, and in a few years was called upon to fill honorable and important positions. In 1870, he was chosen Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, of Ran- dolph County, and in 1872 was again called to the same position. In 1874, he was elected a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee, and again, in 1876, to the same position. In 1878, he was the Republican candidate for Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, com- posed of the counties of Randolph and Delaware, and in view of his can- didacy for this office, declined the position as a member of the State Central Committee. His nominatiou to the office of Judge of this cir- cuit was the spontaneous expression of the good will and confidence of the people of this district, and he was elected without an opponent. In the administration of this office he has proved himself a man of pro- nounced ability. He is prompt and energetic in the discharge of his du- ties, securing in the public business the ntmost dispatch consistent with accuracy and justice. By his prompt and wise conduct of the affairs of
the court, he has won golden opinions from all classes, and men of all parties, and in his profession he occupies a high rank as a lawyer and Judge. In the practice of hia profession, he has been associated with several gentlemen who are still identified with the bar of Randolph County. First, in 1865, he was associated with Col. M. B. Miller. This relation was discontinued some time during the year 1866, but re-estab- lished in the following year, and continued until 1871. Iu November of that year, he entered into partnership with Hon. E. L. Watson, with whom he practiced until July, 1875. He then formed partnership rela- tions with W. A. Thompson, which continued until he retired from the practice to enter upon the duties of the judicial office.
In his habits, Judge Monks is simple and regular, cordial and sincere in manuer, gentlemanly and unassuming, and courteous to all alike. And while he has established an enviable professional reputation, he has, by his noble and manly qualities, won his way to the hearts of all good citizens, and is highly esteemed as a gentlemen of integrity and honor. He is yet young, and may reasonably hope, should life be spared, for still higher advancement, in reward for duties fa thfully performed. He is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, and was elected by that body as a member of the Committee on Judicial Procedure, to serve during the current year (1882).
On the 2d day of August, 1865, he was united in marriage with Liz- zie W., daughter of Alexander and Margaret B. White. His wife is an excellent lady, and shares with him the regard of a large circle of friends. They have a neat, cozy home on Franklin street, made hapy, by the presence of their two daughters -- Maggie and Many D.
Marmun May ATTY, AT LAW
MOORMAN WAY.
Among the attorneys at the Randolph County bar, none, perhaps, was ever more widely known than Moorman Way, and none has attained greater eminence in the profession. He was born February 9, 1808, at Marlboro, S. C., and in his very infancy was thrown, to some extent, upon his own resources, as his parents died when he was very young. At the age of eight years (1816), he was brought by relatives to Randolph County, Ind., where he continued to reside until his death, which took place on the 17th of August, 1881. The only educational he enjoyed were those afforded by the early schools of this locality, which were extremely meager. Yet to these meager opportunities he owed only the hegio- ning of his education. He was a self-taught man; his leisure hours, long before he had entered an office or had thought of adopting a profession, were devoted to study and self-improvement. Before reaching manhood, he learned the art of cabinet making, and was engaged in that occupation and that of a carpenter until 1838. In the spring of that year, he became a law student in the office of Judge Perry, at Liberty, Union Co., Ind. He entered upon the study of this profession with a mind well trained, and in the following year (1839) he was admitted to the har at Winchester. The conditiona necessary to the admission of a law student in those daya were much more stringent than now, the applicant being subjected to a rigorous examination. His license bears the signatures of David Kilgore and Samuel Bigger, Judges of the Eleventh and Sixth Judicial Circuits. That he obtained a place at the bar at the end of so short a term of atudy proves that he had improved well hia opportunity, for at that period a thorough knowledge of the elementary principles of legal science was a condition precedent to admission. Of him it was said hy one who knew him well, and had practiced for years in the same courts: "As a lawyer he was self-possessed and methodical rather than aggressive. At the first, he was inclined to skirmish, rather than to come into close quarters and grapple his antagonist, but when the trial became inevitable he contested every inch of the ground and exhausted every legal expedient. His favorite method of defense was to object to every- thing, from the filing of the complaint to the motion for a new trial. In his great caution, he often vexed the court with objectiona more technical than sub- stantial. It was seldom that the mistakes of his adversary escaped his notice, and he rarely yielded an advantage when he had once obtained it. Hia fidelity to his client was never doubted. He sometimes continued the struggle too long, for he never surrendered until he was overpowered. In his nature-intellectual nature-he was essentially combative, 80 stubbornly so that he scarcely ever acknowledged himself fairly beaten. While he yielded to the adverse opinion of the court or verdict of the jury, he did so with the air of one, who felt that he was the victim of a wrong. If he ever surrendered an opinion, he did so reluc- tantly. He was not an orator, but he spoke well and to the point. At times, he indulged in invective and tried to beat down the opposing cause with a sneer. There was a vein of sarcasm in most all of his forensic efforts. Io his jury apeechea he seldom touched the fountain of tears, hut hia pungent thrusts fre- quently excited irrepressible laughter, and in making a mean action look meaner he was an artlat of rare akill. He was atrong in common sense logic, but his chief strength as an advocate, after hla unrivaled powers of ridicule, was his intimate knowledge of the currents of human thought and his power to play upon the prejudicea and passiona of the jury. He was eccentric rather than a
genius. With mental endowments of the highest order, and capable of great achievements, there were united eccentricities of character which impaired his usefulness. The action of his mind was hoth vigorous and analytic. He loved books nod study; he was a thoughtful reader; his discussions of abstruse philo- sophical questions were highly instructive. In his later years, he was deeply in- terested in the subjects discussed by our modern scientists, particularly the origin of human life, its mission and man's destiny. He was familiar with the writings of Spencer, Tyndall, Huxley and Darwin, but he repudiated utterly the whole doctrine of materialism, and never wavered for a moment in his belief in the immortality of the soul. He believed creation the result of an intelligent cause. He was a member of no church, although his sympathies were strongly with the Society of Friends. In his personal life, he was pure and singularly free from the vices that have debauched so many of our public men, aud we never heard a moral obliquity brenthed against his name. He had weaknesses that grently paralyzed the usefulness of his life, but they are now forgotten; he had faults (and who has not?), but these are laid with him in the grave." In early life, Mr. Way was identified with the Whig element in politics, and took an active part in the Harrison and Clay campaigns of 1840 and 1844. But he was always intensely anti-slavery in his convictions, and in 1848 gave in his adhesion to Mr. Van Buren and the Buffalo platform. He supported Fremont as his choice for President in 1856 and Lincoln in 1860, but never took an active part in a political campaign after the war. He was fitted by nature and education to occupy legislative or judicial positions, but, although frequently importuned to do so, he never per- mitted his name to be used in connection with the candidacy for any elective office. He chose to devote his life to the practice of his profession, and by faithful and industrious adherence to his calling amassed a comfortable fortune; yet he was never avaricious nor disposed to acquire wealth by exactions. He has been known to permit a tenant to occupy a farm for years, without paying any rent, provided he would pay the annual taxes, and macy an impecunious client has had reason to bless his generosity. Ha was married, in 1833, to Miss Eicanor Powell, an estimahle young lady and a noble wife. One child came to bless their union, but death claimed it in ita infancy, and in 1865 the dread pres- ence again invaded his home, claiming for his victim the devoted wife whose love had heen his stay and whose death left a void in his heart that was never filled and a shadow that followed all hia after life. On the 20th of August, 1881, the members of the bar met to give expression to their respect for their distin- gulshed associate, who, three days previously, had passed beyond the confines of time to the boundless shores of eternity. From the memorial address presented on that ocension we make the following abstract: "By the death of Moorman Way the profession of this county has lost not only its oldest, but its most notable character. For more than forty years he was closely Identified with the history of our courts and judicial proceedings, and during all this time there was scarcely an important legal controversy in which he did not take a leading part. He won a commanding position at the bar soon after entering upon professional life, and maintained it to the end. In learning, in ability, in fidelity to the interests of the client and all the elements that make the true lawyer, he was the acknowl- edged peer of his foremost associate. He was the contemporary of Rariden, Kilgore. Elliott, the Smiths, of Parker and of Morton; and now that he has fol- lowed them ia worthy to have his memorial put beside theirs on the records of the court of which he was a member and an ornament."
217
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Anderson, 1876-82; E. F. Holliday, 1876-82; W. R. Coggeshall, 1880-83.
NOTE .- To get an exact list of Commissioners from the first has been found nearly or quite out of the question.
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