History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 107

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

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Hon. James W. French represented the county in the House of Representatives of the State in 1885. He was a member of the Committee on Education. He was chosen to the State Senate in 1887, where he served on the Committee on Education and was chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and State Library, and of Finance. He was afterwards appointed warden of the prison at Michigan City and, because of the excellent record which he made in that po- sition, President Cleveland appointed him warden of the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Judge Herdis F. Clements was a representative in the Legislature for one term (1899-1901). He was a professor in the law department of the Indiana State University during the years 1901- 2-3. In the House of Representatives he served on the following committees: Education, Judici- ary, Phraseology of Bills and Engrossed Bills. He was elected Judge of the Posey Circuit Court and commenced his first term in October, 1909. He is the nominee of his party to succeed himself and no one has been nominated in opposition to him.

Hon. George William Curtis, age thirty-six, represented the counties of Gibson and Posey in the Indiana State Senate (1911-1913). He was chairman of the Committee on Education in both sessions. He wielded a potent influence in se- curing the advanced legislation on education that characterized those sessions of the legislature. In collaboration with the leading educators of the State, he prepared and secured the passage of

a bill providing for uniform text books in the high schools of the State. He was instrumental in framing a child labor bill which became a law and has taken its place among the best that have been passed in the United States. In the session of 1913, he was President pro tem. of the Senate and, as such, was leader on the floor. He devoted much time to the consideration of the Public Service Utilities, Vocational Education and other educational measures, and his activities were in line with those of the best representatives of the county in the past. He was distinguished for his public duties. Mr. Curtis died October 25, 1917.

Hon. Charles A. Greathouse, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana, was born in Posey county in 1869. He was educated at Indiana Uni- versity. He was County School Superintendent of Posey county from 1895 to 1905. He was first nominated for Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion in 1900. He was nominated by the Indiana Democratic convention for the position in 1910 and elected and re-elected in 1914.

There is a peculiar fitness in selecting the head of the education system of the State from a coun- ty that has done so much for the cause of edu- cation in the State. The first manual training school in the West was located in this county; the Pestalozzian system of instruction was first employed here; its legislators, from Robert Dale Owen to the present time, have been watchful and earnest in their efforts in behalf of education; one of its sons was for many years a distinguished member of the faculty of Indiana University; oth- er sons are scattered throughout our country, occupying high positions in the higher institu- tions of learning .. After ninety years of advanced and notable effort in the cause of education Posey county places one of her sons at the head of the educational system of the State.

Some of the things that have been accomplished during Mr. Greathouse's first term of office may be briefly stated, as follows:

(a) The office of high school inspector was created, for the better supervision, organization and equipment of the high schools of the State, that they may be made more profitable to a larger number of young people. By means of this office uniform inspection of high schools will be brought about through the services of one man, with a salary of $2,500, instead of ten, who were allowed five dollars per diem and five cents per mile for traveling expenses.

(b) Uniform text books for the high schools were adopted, to lessen the cost of text books and provide against an expenditure for new books every time a family moved from one corporation to another.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

law, raising the age limit to sixteen years, un- less children have passed the fifth grade in school work and are employed in gainful occupation.

(d) The vocational law was enacted to provide for the very large per cent. of young people who are not reached by our present curriculum of study and drop out of school unprepared to be- come useful members of society.

(e) Amendment of the minimum wage law to provide more amply for the teachers of longer experience.

(f) Providing a definite income for the higher institutions of learning, which does not mean an increased expenditure for those institutions, but provision for a regular yearly income that will allow plans for their improvements and enlarge- ments in advance and in accord with a known income.

President Wilson has appointed Mr. Charles A. Greathouse a member of the Federal Board of Vo- cational Education. The board consists of three members. Their duty is to give form and effect to the federal law extending financial aid to voca-

tional education in the States. This law was passed by a Democratic Congress, signed by a Democratic President and a Posey county Demo- crat, whose early life was given wholly to pro- moting the educational interests of his county, is chosen as one of the executive agents to effect the operation of the law.

After the lapse of more than seventy years the idea which Robert Dale Owen of this county un- successfully sought to make one of the features of the Smithsonian Institution in his bill in Congress establishing that corporate body, has come into fruition, and a member of his own party, from his own county, is chosen to give substance and effect to the federal act.

This is the crowning achievement in the efforts of Posey county Democrats to further the cause of education.

With a record of undeviating loyalty to the Na- tional ticket for over three-quarters of a century, Posey county sends greeting to the Democracy of the State.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PULASKI COUNTY

P ULASKI COUNTY is located in ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4 west, and townships 29, 30 and 31 north. It is eighteen miles by twenty-four miles, including 432 square miles, in twelve town- ships. The population in 1910 was 13,312.

The political features of the county may be summed up in a few words. It has been stated frequently, and is so understood and maintained in the county, that at no time in the past has the opposition to Democracy succeeded in carrying an election; but when the tally-sheets, which are yet in existence, though yellow and faded by the pas- sage of time, are examined a different tale is told. That the county, even from its organization in 1839, when out in full strength, may have been Democratic, does not alter the fact that at two general elections the Democratic candidates have been retired by small majorities. On the other hand, it is known that the full Democratic strength was not out. Still, owing to the small majority which the successful candidates received there is serious doubt whether the Whigs, in view of the superior numerical strength, were justly en- titled to their victory.

At the gubernatorial election in August, 1840, when the polls were opened in but two townships in the county, and when the enthusiasm of the Whigs over the approaching presidential cam- paign was deep and universal, the county went Whig by the following small majority: For Gov- ernor, T. A. Howard, Democrat, 58; Samuel Big- ger, Whig, 59. In 1843, at the August election, the following votes were cast: Samuel Bigger. Whig, 99; James Whitcomb, Democrat, 95. In the presidential election of 1840 we find that 60 votes were cast for Van Buren, Democrat, and 51 for Harrison, Whig. In the election of 1860 Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat, received 632 votes; Lin- coln, 488. In 1864 McClellan received 718, while Lincoln received only 488. In the election of 1868 Seymour received 928 and Grant, Republican, 648. In the election of 1880 Hancock received 1,004 votes; Garfield, Republican, 897. Since that time Pulaski county has always been placed in the Democratic lists, the majorities running from 150 to 700.

This county has never produced a national nor a state officer. Medary M. Hathaway was at one time the Democratic nominee for Congress against A. L. Brick from the Thirteenth Congressional District, but on account of the overwhelming Re- publican majority in St. Joseph county, was de- feated.

Former Superintendent of Schools J. H. Red-

dick was a candidate for the nomination of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, but was de- feated in convention.

Judge George L. Burson was an elector when Tilden was a candidate for President.

The following men were considered as leaders for the party from 1880 to 1900: M. M. Hatha- way, Joseph Steis and Henry Steis. J. H. Reddick, T. B. Hedges, John L. Burton, Judge Burson, J. J. Gorrell, Drs. G. W. and H. W. Thompson, and many others from various parts of the county whose names cannot be recalled.

The recent leaders of the party were M. M. Hathaway, Joseph Steis and Henry Steis, all of whom are deceased, and the present leaders are Ellis Rees, W. B. Henry, T. B. Hedges, William Wendt, H. L. Rogers, Peter Follmar, J. J. Blas- sar, J. D. Gettinger, Burt Burson, Clarence Paul, E. C. and J. J. Gorrell, A. C. James, Frank Dukes, William March, D. E. Skillen, E. S. Deck, John Burton and John C. Reidelbach, together with many others, whose loyalty to the party has never been questioned.

Among the Democratic legislators of this county we find the following enrolled in the House of Rep- resentatives: E. P. Washburn, Peter Follmar, George L. Burson and Felix Thomas, and in the Senate Dr. H. W. Thompson, William C. Barnett and John C. Reidelbach.

The spirit of loyalty to the county, state and nation has always been shown by the Democracy of Pulaski county. As long as the party lasts that same spirit will be shown. She has faced defeat with that unflinching courage that made her pre- pare for the next contest; her victories have al- ways been celebrated with that manner that made her friends rather than enemies.

Homer L. Rogers was born September 30, 1885, on a farm in Starke county, where he was reared, attending the county schools and graduating from the Knox High School in 1904. He became a stu- dent at Valparaiso University and the Indiana State Normal School, after which he taught for five years and was elected county superintendent of schools of Pulaski county December 26, 1908, which position he held until August, 1917, when he voluntarily retired and moved to his farm.

Mr. Rogers was a delegate to the Democratic state convention in 1912 and 1914.

He is married and has one child.

Mr. Rogers is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows and is a member of the Methodist church.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PUTNAM COUNTY

By Courtland P. Gillen

seems that the territory now comprising Putnam county was originally a part of Knox county, which in the early history of Indiana, extended as far north as the northern boundary of what is now Putnam and Parke counties. In 1816 the counties of Daviess and Sullivan were formed out of the northern part of Knox county. Later. on January 21, 1818, Vigo county was formed out of territory cut off from Sullivan coun- ty, and on December 21 of the same year Owen county was cut out of territory then comprising the counties of Daviess and Sullivan. Before the close of the year 1821, Putnam county was formed out of a part of Vigo and Owen. On December 21, 1822, the boundary l'nes of Putnam county were changed to the present lines, with the ex- ception of Mill Creek township, which lies north- west of Eel river in Townships 13 and 14 north. in Range 2 west of the second prime meridian, which was annexed from Morgan county in March, 1861.

Putnam county was, from its organization in 1822, inclined to the support of the Democratic party. The voting population crystallized on par- ty lines quite early in the forties. While the ma- jority of the voters were Democrats a Whig was occasionally elected. The first Clerk, Arthur Mc- Gaughey, was a Whig, but since his day there has been an unbroken line of Democratic Clerks, ex- cept in 1850 to 1855 the office was held by a Whig. In the early 1977 the Sheriff's and Treasurer's offices were occasionally captured by the Whigs, and since 1860 the Treasurer's office has been oc- cupied four terms by Republicans. With these and a few minor exceptions Putnam county offices have always been occupied by Democrats, and it is to he said to the credit of Putnam county that she has never failed since 1852 to return a Demo- cratic plurality or majority for a Democratic can- didate for Governor of the State or President of the United States.

Unfortunately, no records have been kept of the various Democratic county organizations in the early days; not as much importance attached to the county chairman and his executive com- mittee as at present. The voting population was much less and each voter was wide awake and made himself a committee of one to further the principles in which he believed and for which he so zealously fought.

The Democrats who have served as county chairmen of the Democratic party for Putnam

county since 1860, and within the memory of some of the old-time Democrats now living, are as fol- lows, in the order named: Clinton Wails, Melvin McKee, Henry B. Martin, Moses Lewman, M. D. Bridges, Willis G. Neff, James J. Smiley, Harri- son M. Randel, Pressly O. Colliver, Jacob C. Rat- cliff, John R. Gordon, Frank D. Ader, William B. Vestal, John F. Cooper, Alec A. Lane, Arthur J. Hamrick and Wm. M. Sutherlin, who is the pres- ent county chairman.

Among many prom'nent Democrats of Putnam county there stands the name of Courtland C. Matson, without special mention of whom the history of the Democratic party in Putnam county . would not he complete. Colonel Matson, as he is more familiarly known, was chairman of the Dem- omatic Stato Committee in 1878 and as such did great work for his party. In 1881, 1883, 1885 and 1887 he was elected to Congress from the Fifth Congressional District of Indiana, and served his constituents with much credit. He took a great interest in pensioning the old soldier, and while in Congress was chairman of the committee on invalid pensions. In the forty-ninth session he introduced a bill and had it passed under a sus- pension of the rules, known as the "Dependent Pension" bill. In 1888 he received the nomination for Governor of the State of Indiana, but was de- feated in the election. He served on the Board of State Tax Commissioners from 1908 to 1912 under appointment of Governor Thomas R. Mar- shall.

The Democracy of Putnam county has not been so fortunate in electing Democrats to the State Senate as it has to the House of Representatives. This has been due to the fact that Putnam county has nearly always been joined with an adjoining county whoss Republican majority was always large enough to offset the Democratic majority in Putnam, consequently the joint Senators have been mostly Republican. Just two Democrats have been elected to the State Senate from Put- nam county: Archibald Johnson, who served from 1857 to 1871, and Francis C. Tilden, who served from 1908 to 1912.

That Putnam county is a banner Democratic county will be seen from the long list of members of the House of Representatives of the State As- sembly elected from that county. The names of the Democratic Representatives and the order in which they served are as follows:

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

1831-32. Henry Secrest.

1832-33. John McNary.

1835-36. Daniel Harrah.

1838-39. Joseph F. Farley and John McNary.

1840-41. Daniel Harrah.

1842-43. William D. Allen, John Reel.

1848-49. William D. Allen, Archibald Johnson.

1845-47. Henry Secrest.

1850-51. Bradford Glazebrook, Archibald John- son.

1857. William F. MeGinnis.

1863. Austin M. Puett.

1865-67. Austin M. Puett, Samuel Colliver.

1869-71. Willis G. Neff.

1873. Weller B. Smith.

1875. James G. Edwards.

1877. George W. Priest.

1879. Russell Allen.

1881-83. Willis G. Neff.

1883-87. John R. Gordon.

1889-91. Frank D. Ader.

1893. John Q. Vermillion.

1897-01. John H. James.

1903-05. Jackson Boyd.

1907-09. David B. Hostetter.

1911-13. John B. McCabe.

1915-17. Andrew E. Durham.

There has been no elective State office filled by a Democrat from Putnam county.

James Athey, the first white person to settle in the county, 1818, was a Democrat. He, together with many more of the early settlers, were Demo- crats, and it was from these that most of the Democrats of today in Putnam county have de- scended. Among the old-time Democrats may be mentioned the following: Edward Silvey, George and Harvey Jeffries, Jacob Crosby, William Mil- ler, Thomas Batman, Joseph Lafollett, Jesse Hymer, Philip Carpenter, William Sutherlin, John Fosher, Edward Newgent, Eli Brackney, Andrew Sigler, John Sigler, Thomas Heady, William Ran- dall, William Todd, Samuel Shinn, Thomas Jack- son, James Grooms, John Matson, Henry Secrest, Samuel Wright, John Reel, Thomas McCullough, Daniel Hepler, George Hurst, Absalom Hurst, Thomas Broadstreet, Melville McHaffie, Judge De- lano R. Eckles, Judge Solon Turman, James J. Smiley, Willis G. Neff, Tarvin C. Grooms, H. M. Randel, Elijah Grantham, Lewis H. Stewart, Solo-

mon Marshall and many others just as prominent in party affairs, but who cannot be named here for lack of space.

The first Democratic newspaper was the Press, published at Greencastle, the county seat, which was established in 1858 by Howard Briggs. He continued its publication until 1887 when it was purchased by Frank A. Arnold who was then publishing the Star, and who merged the two under the name of the Star-Press. The Star had originally been founded by Mr. Arnold and Henry J. Feltus in May, 1874, as an independent paper. When the Star and Press were united it was announced that the paper would support the principles of the Democratic party. In 1903 it was consolidated with the Democrat, a weekly established by H. B. Martin about 1893, and sub- scquently owned by F. D. Ader and R. P. Car- penter in succession, after which the name was changed to the Star and Democrat. A short time after Mr. Carpenter disposed of his holdings in the paper to Charles J. Arnold, who is now sole owner and editor and publishes the paper weekly under the title of Herald-Democrat. Mr. Arnold also publishes a daily called the Herald. It is said that Putnam county has never failed to re- turn a plurality for a Democratic candidate for President. At least this is true since the election of James Buchanan to the Presidency, for whom a plurality of 537 was given. Other Democratic Presidents, of whom we have any record, gave Grover Cleveland, in 1888, 445 plurality, and in 1892, 465 plurality. In 1912 she gave a plurality to Woodrow Wilson of 1,568 votes.

The present office holders are all Democrats and are as follows: James P. Hughes, Judge; Courtland C. Gillen, Prosecuting Attorney; An- drew E. Durham, Representative; Harry W. Moore, Clerk Putnam Circuit Court; Joe M. Al- len, Auditor; Howard M. Harris, Sheriff; Henry H. Runyan, Treasurer; John W. Shannon, Record- er; Sylvan A. Vermilion, Assessor; L. G. Wright, Superintendent of Schools; Arthur Plummer, Surveyor; J. C. McCurry, Coroner; Charles W. Daggy, H. Witt Sutherlin and Reason E. Larkin, Board of Commissioners; John H. James, County Attorney; Dr. Jerome M. King, County Health Officer; Frank Davis, Clay Bridges, John Sinclair, E. McG. Walls, David Skelton, J. B. Burris and Ora Day, members County Council.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

By J. L. Smith

T HE county of Randolph was organized Jan- uary 12, 1818, thirteen months after the ad- mission of the State of Indiana into the Federal union. Prior to this date, the land com- prising this county and a vast deal more to the northward and westward had been a part of the county of Wayne. After the organization was effected, the northern point extended as far as the present city of Fort Wayne. Indeed, the in- corporation papers of that prosperous city are to be found in the records at Winchester. The early comers were settlers from the Carolinas, Mary- land and Virginia. The name of the county was bestowed upon it by some of the pioneers in honor of Randolph county, North Carolina, their old home.

A glance backward through the vistas of one hundred years gives one a thrill of inspiration- of aspiration. James Monroe was then Presi- dent. The "era of good feeling" had broken down all partisan barriers. The party of Jeffer- son, Madison and Monroe was supreme. They called themselves Republicans throughout the first two decades of the nineteenth century. During Monroe's second term the party was called Dem- ocratic-Republican, and a little later the party name of Democrat became firmly established.

Men of fine mettle, rugged in physique, great in intellect, forceful in character, were dominat- ing factors ir the young republic. President Monroe surrounded himself with men of unques- tioned greatness. John Quincy Adams, past master of diplomacy, who had been called "Wash- ington's Boy Minister," was made Secretary of State, having renounced Hamiltonian ideas. Wil- liam H. Crawford, a man of sterling patriotism and fluent tongue, was Secretary of the Treas- ury. John C. Calhoun, the master logician, was Secretary of War. William Wirt, brilliant in oratory and the author of the "Life of Patrick Henry," was Attorney-General.

legislation as was embodied in the doctrine of the protective tariff.

These great men were all imbued with an un- wavering zeal to make good the declarations of the preamble to the Constitution. The star of each man was not yet midway to its zenith. An- drew Jackson was the idol of heroism-the soldier behind the cotton bales at New Orleans, who brought low the banner of the haughty Packen- ham, and at th's particular time was driving the Seminoles into the Everglades of Florida.

In 1818 a new flag was authorized by Congress, providing for thirteen bars and a star for each State. Indiana's star was there. William Hen- dricks was our sole representative in the lower House, and James Noble and Waller Taylor were the United States Senators. All were Democrats. The county remained under Democratic control until the rise of the Whig party in 1840.

During those years party spirit was but little in evidence among the pioneers of Randolph coun- ty. They thought much more of carving out habitable homes for their families than they did of political affairs. There was little to divide the voters. Hamilton's concentration idea and Jefferson's "rule of the people" were practically the only antagonisms in the young Republic. The slavery question was just beginning to effervesce. When Monroe was re-elected in 1820 there was only one electoral vote cast against him, and that was cast by an elector from New Hampshire, who sa'd that he so voted to keep any other candidate for President from rivaling Washington.

Men were usually elected to county offices with- out references to party fealty, although the great- er number of them, if pressed for their views, would have proclaimed themselves disciples of Jefferson.

Charles Conway, an avowed Democrat, was the first clerk of the court elected in 1818. He was regularly re-elected and served until 1839, per- forming not only the duties of that office, but the duties that now belong to the auditor's office, and also of the recorder's office as well. The same rule of service was frequent with other county offices, particularly the county commissioners.

Henry Clay was speaker of the House and was acting in harmony with the party in power. Our great Chief Justice, John Marshall, famed also as author of an extended "Life of Washington," was at the head of the Supreme Court, and although Ephraim Overman was the first representative to the General Assembly, serving jointly for Wayne county, with Joseph Holman and John Scott. In 1827 Daniel Worth was the sole mem- ber from Randolph, but also representing Allen a former Federalist, was now in concord with Democratic principles. Daniel Webster had been four years in Congress, and at this period was making learned addresses, setting forth the dire evils resulting to the people from such class of county and the territory north of Madison and

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

Hamilton counties not attached elsewhere. An- drew Aker, in 1831, was the first to represent Randolph county in the Legislature. In 1834 Andrew Aker represented Randolph, Delaware and Grant counties in the State Senate. In 1840 his brother, Michael Aker, was State Senator. The Aker families were uncompromising Jack- sonians in that day.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 107

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