History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 100

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Indiana > History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916 > Part 100

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January 7, 1829, Holman sold to William N. Hood 210 acres off the east end of the section of land purchased from Richardville for the sum of $500, a sum equal to the purchase price of the whole section. Here Holman laid off the town of Peru. Sessions of the county commissioners were held at Miamisport until May, 1835. On June 9, 1841, the plat of Miamisport was vacated by the county commissioners, and thereafter Peru be- came the county seat. On the night of March 16, 1843, the court house was completely destroyed by

fire, together with all the records; consequently no official data of the election returns or politi- cal affiliations of the candidates can be obtained, if such records were kept.

No files of the Miami County Sentinel or other Democratic newspapers are obtainable antedat- ing 1872, hence the names of the Democratic chairmen of the central committee previous to that time are not obtainable. Following is a list of the Democratic county chairmen from that time to the present :

1872, 1874, Henry Dutton; 1876, John M. Jack- son; 1878, George H. Geves; 1880, Ed Wile; 1882, David H. Armantrout, who resigned, and Orson Durand; 1884, John R. Porter; 1886, Joseph A. Faust; 1888, Moses Rosenthal; 1890, 1892, 1906, 1908, Frank K. McElheny; 1894, Charles A. Cole; 1896, Andrew J. Parks; 1898, 1900, Joseph N. Tillitt; 1902, Philip S. Sullivan; 1904, Charles S. Dunn; 1910, 1912, 1914, William H. Auger. Mr. Auger, having been appointed postmaster, re- signed as chairman and thereafter Homer Jenkins became chairman. In 1916 Albert H. Cole served as chairman and was again chosen in 1918, but re- signed, enlisting in the navy, Vites E. Kagy now serving in that capacity.

Following is the presidential vote of Miami county from 1844 to the present time:

1844, Polk, Dem., 517; Clay, Whig, 569.

1848, Cass, Dem., 770; Taylor, Whig, 730.

1852, Pierce, Dem., 1,196; Scott, Whig, 968.

1856, Buchanan, Dem., 1,513; Fremont, Rep., 1,390.

1860, Breckinridge, Dem., 26; Douglas, Ind. Dem., 1,608; Lincoln, Rep., 1,835.

1864, Mcclellan, Dem., 1,717; Lincoln, Rep., 1,831.

1868, Seymour, Dem., 2,271; Grant, Rep., 2,193.

1872, O'Connor, Dem., 50; Greeley, Dem. and Lib. Rep., 2,119; Grant, Rep., 2,535.

1876, Tilden, Dem., 2,785; Hayes, Rep., 2,724.

1880, Hancock, Dem., 3,006; Garfield, Rep., 3,016.

1884, Cleveland, Dem., 3,310; Blaine, Rep., 2,996.

1888, Cleveland, Dem., 3,491; Harrison, Rep., 3,042.

1892, Cleveland, Dem., 3,433; Harrison, Rep., 2,974.

1896, Bryan, Dem., 3,602; Mckinley, Rep., 3,293. 1900, Bryan, Dem., 3,849; Mckinley, Rep., 3,812. 1904, Parker, Dem., 3,605; Roosevelt, Rep., 4,124.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

1908, Bryan, Dem., 4,176; Taft, Rep., 3,821.

1912, Wilson, Dem., 3,366; Taft, Rep., 1,426; Roosevelt, Pro., 1,995.

1916, Wilson, Dem., 3,854; Hughes, Rep., 3,380. Other parties, Liberty, Free Soil, National, Pro- hibition, People's, Socialist and Socialist Labor, received scattering votes, ranging from one vote for the Liberty party in 1844, the lowest, to 423 for the Socialist party in 1912, the highest.

A perusal of the presidential elections 1844 to 1916, inclusive, shows that Miami county gave a Democratic majority in fourteen elections out of eighteen. The vote for state officers was in the same proportion. In 1916 the entire Democratic county ticket was elected with the exception of representative.

Miami county has been represented in the State Legislature by the following named Democrats: 1845, Benjamin Henton; 1848, 1866, Nathan O. Ross; 1850, 1862, Richard F. Donaldson; 1856, Reuben C. Harrison; 1868, 1870, Jonathan D. Cox; 1876, William Zehring; 1880, Charles A. Cole; 1884, 1892, 1900, Henry V. Passage; 1886, Jabez T. Cox; 1888, 1890, William W. Robbins; 1896, David Haifley; 1898, John Cunningham; 1906, Burton Green; 1910, William A. Hammond; 1912, 1914, Jacob A. Cunningham.

Miami county has never had a representative in Congress, nor has any Democrat from the coun- ty been elected to any state office or held any prominent position in the public service, either domestic or diplomatic, with the single exception of Charles R. Hughes, who was appointed a mem- ber of the Industrial Board by Governor Ralston on March 16, 1915.

Benjamin Henton, James B. Fulwiler, John A. Graham, Henry Dutton, Richard B. Runyan, Richard F. Donaldson, Jonathan D. Cox, John Mitchell, Darius C. Darrow, William S. Todd, Wil- liam Zehring, Eli J. Jameson, Henry V. Passage, John L. Farrar, Josiah Farrar, John R. Porter and Michael Horan, all deceased, are a few of the old-time Democrats who never wavered in their allegiance to the Democratic party, and who at all times contributed their time and energies for the success of the same.

Other states have had barbecues in their politi- cal campaigns, but no city in any state ever had barbecues of such magnitude as the city of Peru, aided by the loyal Democrats of Miami county. A barbecue is defined as "An open-air social or po- litical feast, of which the chief feature is a barbe- cued animal," generally a beef, hog or sheep, dressed and roasted whole. These were donated by the farmers in each township, all striving to do the most. The committee in charge attended to the roasting, which was superintended by an ex- pert, with able assistants, over trenches filled with

a bed of live coals from hard wood. Buns, pickles, etc., with the barbecued meat, were served on long rows of tables, thoroughly enjoyed by the thousands of visitors which thronged the city. Pa- rades of big wagons from the county, filled with pretty girls, industrial floats, brass and martial bands, were features of these barbecues. The first barbecue was on the 23d day of October, 1884, at which Thomas A. Hendricks, Joseph E. McDon- ald, Judge Thurman, Jason D. Brown, Durbin Ward and other distinguished Democratic ora- tors spoke. The barbecue day of 1888 was a dis- mal, rainy day, converting the streets into mud, and the indications were that there would be only a small crowd, but notwithstanding the dismal weather trainloads upon trainloads of people ar- rived from within a radius of two hundred miles, bringing enthusiastic delegations, which marched behind their bands through the slush and mud, presenting a mass of drenched humanity. Um- brellas, raincoats, oil cloth and anything that would shed water were eagerly purchased by the wet throngs from the merchants, and soon noth- ing of the kind was obtainable anywhere. As the rain poured down incessantly until far into the night, open-air speaking was an impossibility, necessitating the use of the court house and all other public halls, which were crowded to over- flowing. The old Roman, Allen G. Thurman, vice-presidential candidate; Daniel W. Voorhees, Joseph E. McDonald, Isaac P. Gray, C. C. Matson, David Turpie, Robert Miers, A. N. Martin and other speakers were here on this occasion.

In 1892 another mammoth barbecue was held, but in 1896 a Democratic clam-bake and fish-fry took the place of the barbecue. Lack of money and the fact that the "Gold Bugs" withheld their sup- port was the cause of the clam-bake not being the success of previous efforts, but the barbecue of 1904 brought its thousands of enthusiastic Democrats to the city, together with the "Gold Bugs," who had returned to camp. William Jen- nings Bryan, Judge Gannon of Chicago, Doctor Sebring of Kingston, N. Y., Congressman Burgess of Texas and Major Menzies were the speakers on this occasion. In 1912 it was not deemed neces- sary to have a barbecue as the Republican party was hopelessly divided, and the Democrats a solid unit. Presidential candidate Wilson, William Jen- nings Bryan and other prominent men spoke here during that campaign.

The first Democratic paper published in Miami county was published by James B. and John H. Scott, brothers, known as the Peru Gazette-Peru Democrat, one-half sheet Whig, the other half Democratic. Six months, lacking one day, was the life of this venture-April 14, 1842, to Octo- ber 15, 1842. The Peru Herald was the next Dem-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

ocratic paper, November 28, 1846, to May 20, 1848, edited by John H. Scott.

June 28, 1848, John A. Graham commenced the publication of the Miami County Sentinel and published the same for a period of thirteen years, until 1861. W. B. Lockridge was the next owner of the Sentinel, followed by Thomas J. McDowell, Lockridge & Foley, Foley, Jameson & Conner, J. A. Miller, Foley & Miller, J. C. Maxey, Miller & Maxey. In 1874 the daily and weekly Times, T. J. McDowell & Sons, was consolidated with the Sen- tinel under the name of Times-Sentinel, which continued for a year, when the firm dissolved, each party retaining his paper and its name. The Sentinel was then conducted by Ewing & Maxey, later by Samuel F. Winter until 1879, Fulwiler & Cole until 1889, C. N. Kenton, April to November, 1889, followed by F. D. and F. A. Haimbaugh; then F. D. Haimbaugh sold his interest to T. J. Finch. The Sentinel up to this time had been Democratic, but in 1896 supported and advocated the election of Palmer and Buckner. This action resulted in a loss of patronage, and after the cam-

paign a company was incorporated for its publi- cation by W. H. Zimmerman, and it was pub- lished under his management until his death, No- vember 22, 1913, from injuries received in an automobile accident. Frank K. McElheny, his as- sociate for years on the paper, and now county auditor, and Claude Kiser are the publishers at present. It is a bi-weekly and under the name of Miami County Sentinel is in its seventy-first year.

The Peru Daily Chronicle, now in its twenty- sixth year, ably edited by Samuel F. Winter, a veteran journalist of the Wabash valley, and his son Charles, is recognized for its stanch support of the Democratic party and its principles at all times.

Persons holding public office are liable to criti- cism, and especially so if they faithfully and con- scientiously perform their duties. Miami county has been fortunate in its Democratic officeholders, as no grave charges have ever been filed against any Democratic official. One and all have been and are held in the highest esteem by all of their fellow citizens.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF MONROE COUNTY

M ONROE COUNTY was organized under legislative act approved January 14, 1819. The first election was held in that year under the supervision of John W. Lee, appointed sheriff for that purpose by Governor Jennings. Bartlett Woodward, Michael Buskirk and James Parks, all founders of distinguished Monroe coun- ty families, were the first commissioners. Wil- liam Lowe, who had represented the county, then a part of Lawrence, in the constitutional conven- tion of 1816, was clerk and auditor. The two offices were held in common at that time. The first meet- ing of the county commissioners was held at the home of Abner Blair, April 10, 1918. Monroe county has thus had a full century of political struggles.

In the early years of the history of the county, at least down to 1828, there were no sharp divi- sions in politics. All the voters were Jeffersonian Republicans, or, as we generally know them now, "Democrats." It would have been worth almost as much as one's life at that time to have avowed himself a Federalist. In fact, Federalists, horse thieves and counterfeiters were all classed to- gether on the lowest level. It is not to be under- stood from this, however, that there were no po- litical fights in the early days. Baynard Hall has left us a picture of local politics unexcelled in literature, a picture that will answer just as well for any other county in the state of Indiana.

There were two sections in local politics as early as 1820. One of these was led by William Lowe, assisted by Jacob Lowe; the other by Dr. David Maxwell. Maxwell is charged with being the leader of the aristocrats-a charge, perhaps, originating from the fact that he brought some colored servants with him from Kentucky. The Lowes were the leaders of "the common people." When the division came between Clay and Jack- son, in 1824 and 1828, the party led by Maxwell became "Whigs" and that led by Lowe became "Jacksonian Democrats."

Practically all of the settlers of Monroe county came from the South, and a substantial majority of the voters up until 1856 were followers of Jack- son. This, however, does not mean that the county always went Democratic. About as many state representatives and senators were Whigs as Dem- ocrats during this period.

The fight between the Clay and Jackson men was always won by the followers of "Old Hick- ory." 'On the other hand Maxwell, when a candi- date, was invincible, serving a large part of the time from 1818 until his death as a member of

the legislature. During this time he was the best known man in Monroe county. Following the Lowes were Parris C. Dunning and James Hughes as county leaders of the Democracy. Dunning, from 1835 to the time he became governor, 1848, was the best known Democrat in the county and was everywhere recognized as the party leader. He was known likewise as the leading Democrat of the state, serving most of the time in the legis- lature. With him were David McDonald, a cir- cuit judge, and Delana Eccles, well known throughout the state and later a United States judge.

James Whitcomb, ninth governor of the state, serving from 1843 to 1848, also began his career in Monroe county. It is probable that in Monroe county he learned to be, as he later was, one of the best campaigners the state has ever produced.

Monroe county was forty years old before a Monroe congressman was elected to represent it. In earlier years it had been represented by such men as John Carr from Clark county, John W. Davis of Sullivan county, once speaker of the house of representatives, and George G. Dunn of Lawrence county. It was not until the convention of 1848 that Willis A. Gorman, a lawyer of Bloom- ington, and colonel in the Mexican war, was elect- ed from Monroe county to represent the sixth In- diana district. He served two terms and then be- came territorial governor of Minnesota under President Franklin Pierce.

Until this time the county had always been represented by Democrats, except the one term, 1847 to 1849, when George G. Dunn was repre- sentative. He was elected as the result of a bitter three-cornered fight in the Democratic convention between George W. Carr, Dr. John W. Davis and James Hughes. The next representative to be elected from Monroe county was Judge James Hughes, also a lawyer from Bloomington; Hughes was a very strong man but a bitter partisan, and would not take kindly to political advice. More than to any other person, it is due to him that the Democratic party lost its grip on Monroe county. In the anti-slavery fights then going on in Congress he acted with the administration and in opposition to the counsels of his party at home.

One one occasion in congress, when discussing the Lee-Compton constitution bill, he declared that if every Whig in Monroe county were to scourge . the slave to his daily toil he would still support the Lee-Compton measure. Most of his Presby- terian constituents resented his extreme stand on the slavery question and when the Republican

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

party was organized he united with it. Hughes, hence, was defeated in 1858, and became a Repub- lican, or at least said he would, and stood for the United States senatorship, on that ticket.

In later years Daniel W. Voorhees represent- ed the county, though, of course, he was not a native of Monroe. Some of the most interesting political combats ever staged in Monroe county were between Voorhees and Judge Morton C. Hunter of Bloomington. In 1896 Monroe county again broke into the Republican lists when con- gressman Robert W. Miers of Bloomington was elected to represent the 2nd district, a posi- tion which he held for four successive terms, 1897 to 1905.

A few statistics from this period will show the political alignment of this county. In 1840 Van Buren received 715 votes, Harrison 951. Four years later Polk received 1,118 votes, Clay 721. In 1856 Buchanan received 1,191, Fremont on a Re- publican ticket 498, and Fillmore on the Ameri- can ticket 392. Here is where the break came. In 1860 Douglas received 716, Breckinridge 395, and Lincoln 1,198, the last receiving 87 more votes than both the Democratic tickets and carrying the county over all by a majority of 33. Since that time usually the county has gone Republican under the national ticket. However, in 1864 the Demo- crats carried it by eight majority out of a total vote of 2,412.

During the Civil war and down until his death the local leader of the party was Judge Samuel H. Buskirk. He learned politics in the office of Parris C. Dunning; served in the legislature almost continuously from 1848 until 1863, becom- ing speaker during the latter year. In 1870 he was elected to the supreme bench where he served six years. He was recognized throughout the state as one of the most effectual stump speakers, as well as one of the most brilliant lawyers in the

state. Since the death of Judge Buskirk, the most prominent Democratic leader has been congress- man Robert W. Miers, who served four terms in congress; was a member of the state house of representatives in 1879, and later served as prosecuting attorney, circuit judge, and made a number of races for state offices in which he was unsuccessful.

John R. East, who was a member of the In- diana house of representatives in 1897, was one of the leading orators of the state. In his early manhood he was elected clerk of the Monroe coun- ty circuit court. As a "spellbinder" he had few superiors in the state. Richard A. Fulk, a mem- ber of the state senate, 1890-95, was prominent as a campaigner. Edwin Corr was assistant dis- trict attorney; deputy attorney-general; a mem- ber of the senate, 1899-1901; a member of the house in 1911; later a member of the public serv- ice commission; and for more than twenty-five years a member of the board of trustees of Indi- ana University.

John W. Cravens was superintendent of the Monroe county schools, 1887-90; clerk of the cir- cuit court, 1890-94; county chairman, 1890-96; member of the house of representatives, 1889-91; district chairman, 1916-18. Thomas J. Sare was active in Democratic circles, was chairman of the city central committee in 1915, and was a member of the Indiana house of representatives, where he was chairman of the judiciary committee. Others who have been prominent in the party affairs of Monroe county, are: Oscar H. Cravens, editor of the Bloomington World, postmaster from 1914; John G. Harris, a member of the legislature of 1907, and mayor of the city 1910 to 1918; Rufus H. East, postmaster from 1904 to 1908; Walter E. Hottel, member of the legislature in 1907; and John C. Dolan, member of the legislature in 1889.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

By Justin J. Molony

M ONTGOMERY COUNTY was organized March 1, 1823, and consists of a rectangu- lar area of land. Originally it measured twenty-four miles wide by twenty-four miles long, but the Legislature of 1826 reduced it by allotting to Fountain county a strip of land three miles wide by twenty-four miles long. Montgomery has an area of 504 square miles.

The year of the founding of the county saw the planning of the town (now city) of Craw- fordsville, which was laid out by Major Whitlock and which became the county seat.

The early history of the boundary lines of the territory which comprises the present limits of Montgomery county is uncertain, but duly authen- ticated history shows that in 1790 this territory was under the jurisdiction of Knox county. In the year 1817 Sullivan county was designed and the area of Montgomery passed under its con- trol. In 1818 Vigo county became a separate entity and this county came within its limits. In 1821 Parke was set off, including the northern territory to the Michigan-Indiana State line. In 1822 Putnam was set off and its limits ran to the lake. The following year Montgomery was desig- nated and thus came into being as a governmental subdivision.

Montgomery county occupies a central position on the west side of the State. The general eleva- tion of the surface above sea level is between 735 feet in Wayne township and 838 feet in Wal- nut township. The county is well drained nat- urally and is chiefly an agricultural district.

The origin of the Democratic party as an organ- ization has long ago passed into history. Stories of its birth form the mythology for this genera- tion. That it was built upon a substantial foun- dation is attested by the fact that the continuing fight against unequal odds has swung Montgom- ery county into the Democratic column and at the present time boasts that it has placed into every county office substantial, reliable and effi- cient business and professional men of its polit- ical faith.

We, who are today in the majority in this county, find it extremely easy to enter the polit- ical fray for an election battle, but the pleasure of doing so is attributed to those (many of whom have passed away) who fought against ridicule, sarcasm and on the minority side of the battle in days gone by.

Statistics of early county organization have not

been compiled and memory is too uncertain for historical data. But of this we are sure: this party began an aggressive campaign in 1888, with Charles Johnston at its helm as county chairman. It was through the efficiency of his labors as well as the following who took up where he left off that the present success can be cred- ited. Following him in their order came:

1890 James M. Seller.

1892 Will H. Johnston.

1894 Jeff J. Mills.

1896 Taylor Thompson.

1896 Will H. Johnston (district chairman).

1898

H. D. Vancleave.

1900

A. W. Henry.

1902 Clyde H. Jones.

1904 J. S. Zuck.

1906

J. Harvey Canine.

1908

J. Harvey Canine.

1910 Basil T. Merrell.

1912 Basil T. Merrell.

1914

Q. E. Bundy.

The following tabulation shows the vote of Montgomery county for and in support of the national head of the ticket:

Year. Democrat. Republican.

1892

3834

3832

1896

4124

4342

1900

4082

4493

1904

3726

4620

1908

4227

4426

1912

3821

2747

1914

3722

3314 (vote for Senator)

Montgomery has sent as Democrats to the State Legislature men who have by their activity and vote brought honor to the party as well as those whom they represented. Among that list and the years they served can be found the fol- lowing:

1841 Philip Engle.

1843-44 James Seller.

1846 S. Hostetter.

1849-50 James F. Harney.

1850-51 R. W. McMakin.

1851 Mahlon D. Manson.

1869

James G. Johnson.

1873 Jesse Y. Durham.

1877 Henry Hulett.

1879 Maurice Thompson.

1891

Alfred N. Higgins.

1893

D. V. McCallister.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

1909 M. J. Murphy. 1911-13 S. E. Voris.

The Democracy of Montgomery county has been especially fortunate in having within its ranks men as party workers and former officials whose activities and earnest participation in the affairs of the organization have been the cause of the suc- cess which Democracy has obtained here. Among the list, too numerous to mention, can be found many on the honor roll, who, when called upon for support, it made but little difference whether day or night the task assigned was carried to comple- tion, the following:

Allen Byers, Waynetown.

Stout Zook, Waynetown.

Vern Livengood, Waynetown.

William Mullen, Wayne township.

Lennie Osborn, Wayne township.

Richard Cording, Wingate.

Melvin Hatton, Wingate. Etna Curtis, Wingate. Ora Mason, New Richmond. T. J. Jones, New Richmond. Charles Foley, Coal Creek township.

James Parlon, Coal Creek township. Dan Harrigan, Madison township.

John Harrigan, Madison township. Fred Shanklin, Madison township. Otis Thompson, Madison township. Henry Shobe, Madison township. Lewis Kirk, Sugar Creek township. William Bundy, Sugar Creek township. Charles Clouser, Sugar Creek township. George Deck, Sugar Creek township. John Graham, Sugar Creek township. V. Craig, Franklin township. Wallace Buchanan, Franklin township. Joseph Ragsdale, Franklin township. Wallace Cashmer, Franklin township. Charles Shannon, Franklin township. Sam Shaver, Franklin township. John Lane, Scott township. Thomas Foster, Scott township. Alonzo MeLain, Scott township. George McLain, Scott township. Charles Buser, Scott township. Dr. Batman, Clark township. Will N. Goodbar, Clark township. Wallace Foster, Clark township. Cliff Hill, Clark township. Ben Clark, Clark township. Dave Sparks, Walnut township. Harvey Morris, Walnut township. Robert Galloway, Walnut township. Will Loop, Walnut township. O. N. Eddingfield, Walnut township. Ed. Laurence, Brown township. Charles Johnson, Brown township.

Tom O'Connor, Brown township. Bruce Pope, Brown township. Irwin Deer, Brown township.

Charles Canine, Brown township.

James Roberson, Brown township.

Ed. Etter, Ripley township. John Hopping, Ripley township.

James Elmore, Ripley township.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 100

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104