History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 54

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 940

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the conviction that labor is honorable and that success in any line of endeavor must be the result of patient, energetic individual effort. While still a mere lad he entered the district schools, where he pursued his studies until the age of seventeen, when by reason of his advancement he engaged in teaching. which profession he continued during the winter seasons for several years, meeting with success as an able and painstaking instruct- or. During this period he manifested a de- cided taste for books and such was his desire to add to his store of knowledge that he eagerly read every book and periodical to which he could lay his hands, and in this way not only laid broad and deep the foun- dation of his subsequent career as student and lawyer, but also became widely in- formed in general literature and the leading questions of the times. His early and strong manifestation for learning induced him at the close of his first term as teacher to strive for still higher intellectual attainments. As- cordingly, he entered a college in the city of Fort Wayne, under the auspices of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, where he remained one year, and subsequently prosecuted his studies for two years in Wabash College, Crawfordsville, the meanwhile devoting the winter months to the work of teaching. Having a decided preference for the law, which early attracted him, he decided to make the profession his life work and in due time he entered the office of Hon. H. D. Wilson, of Columbia City, subsequently judge of the thirty-fourth judicial district. under whose instructions he continued until his admission to the Whitley county bar in 1 869.

Judge Adair brought to his chosen call-

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ing a mind well disciplined by intellectual and professional training and it was not long until his abilities were duly recognized, as is attested by his rapid rise at the Co- lumbia City bar. He practiced alone until 1873, when he became associated with Judge James S. Collins, the partnership thus formed lasting until 1883, during which time it achieved marked success in the courts of Whitley and other counties, the two gen- tlemen being retained as counsel in the ma- jority of important cases adjudicated in this section of the state. Discontinuing the firm at the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Adair has since been alone and before his elevation to the bench it is not too much to assert that he easily stood at the head of the bar to which the major part of his prac- tice was confined, and for a number of years there was seldom a case of any import in which he did not appear either for plaintiff or defense. Perhaps one of the most noted cases in which he was engaged was the trial of Doctor Gotwald, of Springfield, Ohio, for teaching and preaching doctrines contrary to the accepted creed of his church and for which he was called upon to face a charge of heresy. Judge Adair appeared for the defendant and it was through his efforts mainly that the accused was acquitted, but not until after a most interesting and in not a few respects sensational trial. As already indicated, Judge Adair stands in the front rank of his profession in his native state and his record as a practitioner is not only brilliant, but is above the suspicion of any- thing savoring of dishonor. In the com- mencement of his legal studies he made a thorough elementary preparation and hav- ing a retentive and disciplined memory, com-

bined with remarkable quickness or readi- ness of manner, he is enabled instantly to render available all his learning and expe- rience. It is in a great measure owing to these and other equally fortunate circum- stances that he was enabled so soon to at- tain a commanding position in the profes- sion and to win a reputation such as few achieve in a much longer and more varied period of practice. His highest ambition has been to excel in the line of his calling. to attain a thorough mastery of the legal science, and to this end he has with single- ness of purpose directed the untiring indus- try and energy of a lifetime. Shrewd, keen, ever on the lookout to detect the weak points in an adversary's position, his ready expos- ure of the weakness frequently gives force and influence favorable to his cause beyond the power of the severest logic or closest reasoning. Careful and judicious in the preparation of legal papers, painstaking and thorough in their presentation to the court, he leaves nothing undone in matters con- fided to his charge and frequently secures verdicts at the hands of juries by skillful. and elaborate arguments, presented with power and great magnetic force. Another marked feature in his professional career is his faithfulness and untiring devotion to the interests of his client, no matter how trifling the amount or how uncertain the prospect of remuneration for his services, he works just as hard and with the same zeal as though the case involved large interests and abundant rewards.

In addition to the position the Judge now holds and so faithfully fills he has at differ- ent times been chosen to other stations of honor and trust, having been elected super-

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intendent of the Whitley county schools in 1880 for one term, and in 1889 was made mayor of Columbia City, filling both offices with credit to himself and to the entire sat- isfaction of the public. In the latter year he was appointed judge of the district com- posed of the counties of Whitley and Kos- ciusko, and in 1890 was elected judge of the thirty-third judicial circuit, which position he has held by successive re-elections to the present time, his record since entering upon the discharge of his judicial functions, fully sustaining his erstwhile reputation as an able and brilliant lawyer and justifying the people in the wisdom of their choice. Judge Adair came to the bench eminently qualified for its many high and arduous duties and he has admirably tried to prove worthy of the important trust reposed in him and meet the wants of the people of the circuit in all mat- ters of law, justice, and equity. Methodical in the disposition of business, fair and es- sentially impartial in his rulings, clear and unequivocal in the enunciation of his deci- sions, and withal gentlemanly and courteous to members of the bar and to all having busi- ness in court, he has deported himself with such becoming grace and dignity as to adorn the high station to which called and earned an honorable reputation among the most dis- tinguished jurists of Indiana.

It would indeed be anomalous if, with such an intellect as Judge Adair possesses, he did not with the varied subjects that have engaged his attention, deeply study and care- fully weigh the claims of revealed religion. This he has done with the happy result of strengthening and every day making bright- er and surer his faith in an all-wise Father who doeth everything well and in his son. Je-

sus Christ, through the atoning merits of whose sacrifice he expects ultimately to en- joy in a far greater degree the consolation and solace which have been such potent fac- tors in moulding his character and shaping lis destiny. not only for the life that now is, but for the far more abundant life be- yond death's mystic stream. For many years he has been a firm believer in the Christian faith and as a faithful and zealous member of the Lutheran church has made his influence felt in every laudable activity for the moral and spiritual advancement of his fellowmen. For thirty-two years he has had charge of the same class in Sunday school and during this time has never been absent from his place nor reached the school after the exercises had begun. Upon the minds of the young he has left an influence for good which time will never erase and by his consistent Christian life and upright course of conduct. as well as by honorable professional and official career. he has won and retained the warm and abiding friend- ship of all classes and conditions of people with whom he has been brought in contact. Amid the multifarious and exacting duties of the bench the Judge finds pleasure and recreation in agricultural pursuits, owning a half section of fine tillable land, on which he has made many valuable improvements. He takes great interest in the cultivation of this place and in the raising of fine breeds of stock and in all that pertains to advanced agricultural methods he is justly considered an authority.

On July 27. 1867. Judge Adair was united in marriage with Miss Amelia M. Young, of Wolf Lake, Noble county, daugh- ter of John and Sarah Young, the union be-

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ing blessed with two children, Jessie, the wife of E. K. Strong, and Josephine, now Mrs. Clyde Kein, of Kendallville, Indiana, The home of the Judge and his estimable wife has long been noted for its free-handed. open-hearted hospitality and their children, as well as themselves, occupy prominent po- sitions in the best social circles of their re- spective places of residence. Judge Adair is essentially a man of the people, with their interests ever at heart, and proud of his dis- tinction as a citizen of a country for whose laws and institutions he has the most pro- found admiration and respect, while his strong mentality, ripe judgment and unim- peachable integrity demonstrates to the sat- isfaction of all his ability to fill honorably important official station and to discharge worthily high trusts. In the larger sense of the term he is a politician and gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, but at no time has he been a partisan or resorted to the questionable methods of those who make politics their chief aim in life. Like many truly great men, he shrinks from, rather than courts, notoriety, his becoming modesty and desire to keep as much as pos- sible from the public gaze being among his most pleasing characteristics. He has long been a prominent member and active worker in the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to high standing, being past master of the lodge to which he belongs, besides hold- ing for a period of thirteen years the posi- tion of high priest of the chapter, and is also a Knight Templar and a member of the Indianapolis consistory, S. P. R. S.

Thus, in a brief and cursory manner have been set forth the leading facts and char- acteristics in the career of one of Indiana's

eminent jurists and distinguished men of affairs who, by a life of integrity, laborious study, energy, activity, and devotion to duty, has been honored by his fellow citizens and who occupies to-day a first place in their affection and regard. Beloved with a fer- vent warmth of attachment by all who know him personally and respected by men of all parties he now, in the prime of life and the vigor of his mental powers, stands at the head of his profession in the northern part of the state and an acknowledged leader in matters of public import. In the future. should he see fit, there are no honors to which he may aspire and no place which he would not fill with dignity and honor to himself and credit to his state and country.

SAMUEL P. KALER.

The family of this name originated in Switzerland, where its representatives fig- ured conspicuously in political and industrial life during the first half of the nineteenth century. We first hear of John Kaler as a member of the legislative body of the Swiss Republic, in which he was evidently a man of influence as he served as its president dur- ing three consecutive terms. He seems to have held other important official positions and to have achieved reputation as a prac- tical statesman in the affairs of his native country. His son Henry emigrated to Amer- ica near the close of the Revolutionary war and as a servant of Gen. Nathaniel Green was a participant in the stirring scenes that preceded the final triumph of the American arms. After the cessation of hostilities.

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Henry Kaler located at Baltimore, Mary- land, and through the influence of General Green was enabled to secure special employ- ment in the weaver's trade, in which he had become proficient before leaving his native land. He married in Baltimore and some years afterward removed to York county. Pennsylvania, where his remaining days were passed. He had three sons, but the only one to reach maturity was John Kaler, whose activities found an outlet on the west- ern shore of Maryland. We find him during the war of 1812, established as proprietor of a large boot and shoe store at Havre de Grace, which did an extensive business in supplying the government with foot-wear for the army. This commercial enterprise, how- ever, seems to have met with eventual fail- ure and the proprietor returned to his old home in York county, Pennsylvania, where on October 3. 1821, the family records men- tion the birth of a son named George Kaler. The latter learned the shoemaker's trade in youth and followed this calling for many years, but finally abandoned the bench to be- come a farmer. In March, 1875, he came to Whitley county and located upon a farm near Larwill, where he spent the subsequent fourteen years in agricultural pursuits. At length feeling the approach of age, he decid- ed in 1889 to give up active business and re- tired to a home in Columbia City, where his

career was closed by death in 1892. In early life he had married Kate Traub, a lady of talent and honorable lineage, who through all the years of trial or triumph proved a loyal and loving companion. Her grand- father. George Traub, was one of the clerks of the Continental Congress and later served as private secretary to Thomas Jefferson, by

whom he was tendered a diplomatic position of importance which, for some unexplained reason, he declined. Other members of this connection achieved political influence at dif- ferent times and places and the family was always regarded favorably. George and Kate (Traub) Kaler had three sons : Samuel P., Dr. William A., now deceased. and James B., a leading business man of Columbia City.

Samuel P. Kaler, eldest of this family of promising boys, was born in Crawford county, Ohio. February 17, 1853, and spent his boyhood in the place of his nativity. Be- ing ambitious to learn he made the best of the opportunities afforded by the common schools of his neighborhood and at the age of seventeen began teaching. He devoted the next nine years to this vocation, in Ohio and Indiana. but meantime worked on the farm during the summer vacations and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1879. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Kaler was appointed deputy sheriff of Whitley county, served two years in that position and then received an appointment as deputy auditor, to the duties of which office he devoted his time until the expiration of the four-year term of his prin- cipal. It is evident that he had attracted at- tention and gained popularity by his method of discharging these deputyships, as we find that they resulted in a promotion of impor- tance. In 1886, he was nominated by the Democratic party as candidate for the office of clerk of Whitley county, and after a vigor- ous campaign he was elected by a decidedly complimentary vote, his majority exceeding the largest obtained by any other candidate. He served acceptably for four years and dur- ing this time greatly extended his acquaint- ance and knowledge of public affairs. It is

442

WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.

Thus, in a brief and cursory manner have been set forth the leading facts and char- acteristics in the career of one of Indiana's

SAMUEL P. KALER.

The family of this name originated in Switzerland, where its representatives fig- ured conspicuously in political and industrial life during the first half of the nineteenth century. We first hear of Jolin Kaler as a member of the legislative body of the Swiss Republic, in which he was evidently a man of influence as he served as its president dur- ing three consecutive terms. He seems to have hield other important official positions and to have achieved reputation as a prac- tical statesman in the affairs of his native country. His son Henry emigrated to .Amer- ica near the close of the Revolutionary war and as a servant of Gen. Nathaniel Green was a participant in the stirring scenes that preceded the final triumph of the American arms. After the cessation of hostilities,

443

WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.

Henry Kaler located at Baltimore, Mary- land, and through the influence of General Green was enabled to secure special employ- ment in the weaver's trade, in which he had become proficient before leaving his native land. He married in Baltimore and some years afterward removed to York county. Pennsylvania, where his remaining days were passed. He had three sons, but the only one to reach maturity was John Kaler, whose activities found an outlet on the west- ern shore of Maryland. We find him during the war of 1812, established as proprietor of a large boot and shoe store at Havre de Grace, which did an extensive business in supplying the government with foot-wear for the army. This commercial enterprise, how- ever, seems to have met with eventual fail- ure and the proprietor returned to his old home in York county, Pennsylvania, where on October 3, 1821, the family records men- tion the birth of a son named George Kaler. The latter learned the shoemaker's trade in youth and followed this calling for many years, but finally abandoned the bench to be- come a farmer. In March, 1875, he came to Whitley county and located upon a farm near Larwill, where he spent the subsequent fourteen years in agricultural pursuits. At length feeling the approach of age, he decid- ed in 1889 to give up active business and re- tired to a home in Columbia City, where his career was closed by death in 1892. In early life he had married Kate Traub, a lady of talent and honorable lineage, who through all the years of trial or triumph proved a loyal and loving companion. Her grand- father, George Traub, was one of the clerks of the Continental Congress and later served as private secretary to Thomas Jefferson, by

whom he was tendered a diplomatic position of importance which, for some unexplained reason, he declined. Other members of this connection achieved political influence at dif- ferent times and places and the family was always regarded favorably. George and Kate (Traub) Kaler had three sons : Samuel P., Dr. William A., now deceased, and James B., a leading business man of Columbia City.

Samuel P. Kaler. eldest of this family of promising boys, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, February 17, 1853, and spent his boyhood in the place of his nativity. Be- ing ambitious to learn he made the best of the opportunities afforded by the common schools of his neighborhood and at the age of seventeen began teaching. He devoted the next nine years to this vocation, in Ohio and Indiana, but meantime worked on the farm during the summer vacations and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1879. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Kaler was appointed deputy sheriff of Whitley county, served two years in that position and then received an appointment as deputy auditor, to the duties of which office he devoted his time until the expiration of the four-year term of his prin- cipal. It is evident that he had attracted at- tention and gained popularity by his method of discharging these deputyships, as we find that they resulted in a promotion of impor- tance. In 1886. he was nominated by the Democratic party as candidate for the office of clerk of Whitley county, and after a vigor- ous campaign he was elected by a decidedly complimentary vote, his majority exceeding the largest obtained by any other candidate. He served acceptably for four years and dur- ing this time greatly extended his acquaint- ance and knowledge of public affairs. It is

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carrier on the rural mail delivery service of the county. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served throughout that struggle as a member of the Seventy-fourth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, becoming lieutenant of his company. Burdette F. Mc- Near, son of Josiah F., was born at Doug- las. Kansas, January 7, 1872. His mother died when he was thee and a half years old and for a while he was entrusted to the care of his grandfather. For six years he was in the family of George Dice. west of Churu- busco, and attended school at the latter place for two years, during which time he lived with an uncle. Subsequently he attended school at Columbia City, took a course in a business college and was for a while in the commercial department of the Valparaiso Normal. At intervals he clerked in a hard- ware store, acted as reporter for the "Mail" and made himself useful in whatever his hands could find to do. For a year he was a commercial traveler, selling hardware over Indiana for a Fort Wayne firm, and event- ually entered into the partnership above de- scribed. a line of trade to which he seems peculiarly well adapted.

October 31, 1900, Mr. McNear married Miss Edith, daughter of Alfred Ale, a cabi- netmaker. Mrs. McNear, who is a native of Kosciusko county, is a popular lady, tak- ing active part in the Coterie Literary Club.

FRANKLIN PIERCE BRIDGE.

The Bridge family has been identified with Washington township for more than half a century, and different members of it

have made their influence felt in connection with farming interests. It was in 1845 that Levi and Rebecca ( Hines) Bridge arrived in Whitley county, coming from Cleve- land, Ohio. Five years later they bought a farm in Washington township near the present village of Laud, and their remaining years were devoted to the active work of improving the property. The father died at the age of sixty-two, while his wife sur- vived until her seventy-seventh year. Of their nine children to reach maturity, three sons and two daughters are living in 1907. Franklin Pierce Bridge, now deceased, was born at Cleveland, Ohio, January 1. 1853. When about coming of age he learned the carpenter's trade, but after working at the bench several years took charge of his moth- er's farm and managed it until her death, nearly eight years later. Upon the settle- ment of the estate he bought out the other heirs. He made expensive improvements. including an open ditch through the place, beside laying a great deal of tile, thus mak- ing it one of the most productive farms in the township. He died May 7. 1899, as the result of a kick from a horse received twenty-seven hours previously. In politics he was an ultra Republican and was also an active member of the Knights of the Mac- cabees, whose impressive burial service was used in paying the last sad rites to one highly respected by all.

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History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 54

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth Publication date: 1907 Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 940

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 940