History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 109

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

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The county officers then elected were: Clerk and Recorder, Conrad Overturf; Treasurer, Ros- well Johnson; Sheriff, Benjamin Kirby; Prosecut- ing Attorney, Nathaniel French.

The first grand jurors of the county were Hen- ry Banta, Jerry Salyers, Samuel Overturf, James Whitham, Wilson Buchanan. William Buchanan, Charles Divan, Jacob Roberts, Henry O'Neil, Jerry Talbot, Mathew H. Patton, Daniel Wooley, Jacob Kirby, John McDowell, Joseph Clark, Bart- less Brown, Carney Goodrich and James Steel. This grand jury met, and having no business, they reported to the court and were discharged.

The first attorneys admitted to practice law in the courts of Ripley county were Nathaniel French and William Hendricks.

Before 1876 politics in Ripley county was large- ly personal. Political campaigns were not con- ducted as they are today. County chairmen were not looked upon as of much importance, except to call the county convention, at which the ticket was named. After the ticket was in the field the candidates usually organized the campaign them- selves and worked in groups of twos and threes. For instance, the candidate for Sheriff and Treas- urer would work one end of the county, while the candidate for Auditor and Representative would be working some other part of the county. The plan was to work for the whole ticket as they went along. But if they found a voter who was displeased with any portion of the ticket they usually made a note of him and notified the can- didate who seemed to displease him. He in turn then called upon him and often succeeded in ad- justing matters. This method of campaigning was kept up to greater or less extent until pos- sibly 1880, when the county chairman and county organization became a more important factor, and the county began to be organized along lines in which politics is worked today.

No record was kept of the early county chair- men, but the following names have been preserved as chairmen of Ripley county, beginning back with 1882: George R. Griffin, T. L. Hughes, James B. Lloyd, John Spencer, James Lemon, James M. Singer, Nicholas Cornet, James E. Wright, O. R. Jenkins and W. P. Castner, the present County Chairman. During that time the Democrats won twelve complete victories out of seventeen campaigns. They elected the majority

of the county officers in 1886 and in 1888, when the State went Republican.

There is no record of the vote for President in Ripley county prior to 1876, but it is safe to as- sume that it gave a Republican majority. In 1876 Mr. Tilden carried the county by 215 votes, Mr. Hancock also carrying the county by seventy- one votes, Cleveland in 1884 by 127 votes, Cleve- land in 1892 by 192 votes, Bryan in 1896 by 19 votes, and Bryan again in 1908 by 89 votes, and Wilson in 1912 by 939 votes.

Ripley county has been represented in the State Legislature by the following Democrats: Thomas Sunman, Adam G. Hoyer, John B. Kennedy, James B. Lioyd, Davidson Ray, Chester R. Faulk- ner, Robert Creigmile, L. C. Tucker, Madison Hol- man, Frank Galbraith, George C. Bos, William Holland, F. M. Alexander, James M. Singer and Rowland Jackson. While none of these men have ever achieved any national prominence, they all served in the State Legislature with credit to themselves and honor to the party. Nor is it on record that any of them is the author of any great constructive piece of legislation. All of them were either farmers, lawyers or business men and returned to their former occupation after leaving the halls of the Legislature. To this general rule there was one exception, Ches- ter R. Faulkner, who became the private secre- tary of Hon. Daniel W. E. Voorhees, and also held a position as Chief of the Recording Division of the Pension Department, and at the time of his death was superintendent of one of the public buildings at Washington, D. C. Mr. Faulkner came into prominence in 1878 when Ripley, Dear- born and Rush counties were joined together, forming a representative district with a normal Republican majority of 1,000. The republicans had nominated Colorel Wolfe of Rushville, and it seemed almost a forlorn hope to take the nomi- nation against him. Mr. Faulkner volunteered to accept the nomination and make the fight. Of course, it was tendered him by acclamation. He set to work at once to make a personal canvass in the three counties, and imagine Colonel Wolfe's surprise, as well as the surprise of everyone else when Mr. Faulkner was elected. Nicholas Cor- net, one of the county chairmen of Ripley county, also served as Auditor of Ripley county for one term and is at present a member of the Joint Land Commission of Panama. One other Ripley county Democrat has also been successful in working his way up to a position in the national government, Kennie F. Rea, son of Davidson Rea, who was appointed a page in the House of Rep- resentatives through the influence of Hon. W. S. Holman and is today Chief Clerk of the Commit- tee on Appropriations.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

The people of Ripley county are practically an agricultural people, and there are no large cities. The early settlers were kept busy clearing away the forests and draining the "flats," as were also their immediate descendants, and but very little attention was paid to office holding. However, they were not indifferent to the great political questions of the day and kept themselves fully in- formed on them and the names of her citizens that appear on the roster of the country's de- fenders attest their patriotism. Ripley county has always kept pace with the other parts of the State in the development of her schools and her farming industries. Being a people devoted largely to agriculture probably accounts for the fact that none of her citizens have aspired to high political honors, and not because they lacked ability, but because their training and business interests led in ^ther directions. The result of their labors are seen today in the splendid farms and farm buildings, of which none better can be found anywhere in this section of our great State.

Ripley county has two Democratic newspapers. The Osgood Journal, at Osgood, which is the older of the two, was founded in 1868 by Adam Stock- inger and has been owned and edited by the fol- lowing gentlemen : Samuel Pappet, John B. Day, Nick R. Pappet, George R. Griffin, Charles Gray, Everett and Clarence Shockley, Shockley & Anger and by Richard J. Beer, who is the present owner

and editor. Charles Gray, one of the editors of the Journal, was a perfect double of William J. Bryan and was often mistaken for Mr. Bryan. The Democratic Herald, at Batesville, was estab- lished in October, 1892, and was owned by a stock company. Its first issue appeared on October 13 of that year. Its first editor was Robert Bragg. It was then edited successively by B. F. Jackson, Charles Johnson, Charles Ebel, Charles L. John- son, A. G. Nusbaumer, Peter Holzer and Peter Holzer and Charles V. Hirt, who are the present owners. Both newspapers enjoy wide popularity and are in excellent financial condition.

The present county officers are all Democrats. They are: State Senator, Rowland Jackson, rep- resenting the counties of Ripley, Switzerland and Jefferson; Representative, George Bos; Judge of the Circuit Court, Robert A. Creigmil, for Ripley, Jennings and Scott; Auditor, J. Francis Lochard; Clerk of the Circuit Court, Josiah P. Day; Treas- urer, John N. Hess; Recorder, Howard L. Akers; Sheriff, Henry Bultman; Surveyor, James E. Wright; County Superintendent of Schools, Charles R. Hertenstein; County Assessor, Frank Talbott; County Attorney, William Huntington; County Commissioners, Charles Mehrle, Henry Lemon and A. J. Chance; County Coroner, M. L. Samms. Ten of the eleven Township Trustees are Democrats.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF RUSH COUNTY

By Howard E. Barrett, Esq.

R USH COUNTY lies just a little southeast from our capitol city. Rushville, the coun- ty seat, located near the center of the county, is forty miles by rail. By the treaty of St. Marys, Ohio, October 2-6, 1818, the Delaware Indians ceded to the United States all their claims to land in the State of Indiana. Prior to that treaty the region now comprising eastern and central Indiana, from the Ohio northwest to White river, lay in the shadow of an unbroken forest, through which roamed bands of Indian hunters and warriors and the wild beasts native to it. The old boundary of this purchase was about half way between Connersville and the present east line of Rush county, which is a part of the terri- tory thus acquired.

The Legislature of 1821 passed an act for the formation of a new county west of Franklin and Fayette counties and at the suggestion of Dr. William B. Laughlin, who was then a member of the Legislature, the name of the new county was called Rush, in honor of his old preceptor, the dis- tinguished Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia.

Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of the State of Indiana, approved the act for the forma- tion of the new county December 31, 1821, and the act became effective April 1, 1822, at which time Amaziah Morgan, Jehu Perkins and John Julian, county commissioners, John Hays, sheriff, and Robert Thompson, clerk, met at Perkins' house five miles southeast of the present city of Rushville and proceeded to organize the new county of Rush and ordered an election to be held on the 27th of the same month.

At the second meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, held on the 10th day of May, 1822, tavern rates were fixed as follows: Whisky, per half pint, 12} cents; all foreign spirits, 50 cents per half pint; peach and apple brandy, 25 cents per half pint; gin, 25 cents per half pint; every meal, 25 cents; bed, 6} cents; corn or oats, 12} cents per gallon; horse standing at hay over night, 184 cents. To provide revenue for public expenses personal property was assessed as fol- lows: Every horse, mare, mule or ass over three years old, 372 cents; every yoke of oxen over three years old, 25 cents per head; every four- wheeled pleasure carriage, etc., $1.25; every two- wheeled carriage, $1.00; every gold watch, 50 cents; every silver watch, 20 cents; on each male person over the age of twenty-one years, 50 cents. The first allowance made out of the county funds

was $25.00 to Benjamin Sailors for listing the property of the county. The assessed valuation of the real estate in Rush county for the year 1916 was $14,769,125.00 and the personal property $5,947,810.00. The total amount of taxes collected for the last year was $616,050.99.

The early pioneers of Rush county came largely from the South, especially Kentucky and Caro- lina, and were from Democratic stock. At the first presidential election held in the county, in 1824, Andrew Jackson received 119 votes and Henry Clay received 108 votes. Fifteen votes were cast for Adams. During a period of sixteen years following, the total vote increased to 1,914 and the Democratic majority to 420. But the memorable campaign of 1840 carried the county into the Whig column, Harrison receiving a ma- jority of 356 over Van Buren out of a total vote of 2,696. It remained there till 1856, the birth year of the Republican party, when Buchanan had forty-one plurality over Fremont out of a total vote of 3,414. The fact that a majority of the men of Rush county had southern blood in their veins adds interest to the vote which reflected their political sentiments. In 1860 Breckinridge and Johnson, ultra southern candidates, received only 476 votes; Douglas and Johnson, 1,119; Lincoln and Hamlin, 1,757, and Bell and Everett, 35. With a few exceptions the county has con- tinued to be Republican the greater part of the time since the war, with varying majorities. The Democrats elected their county ticket in 1876, al- though Hayes received a majority of 266 over Tilden. In 1912 the Democrats elected their ticket and a part of it in 1914.

NEWSPAPERS.

· It is no longer possible to make an accurate list of Rush county's newspapers and their own- ers and editors in their proper order. William D. M. Wickham, the pioneer printer, printed the first paper, a small sheet, about ten by twelve inches, called the Dog Fennel Gazette. He printed it on a sycamore stump, using a pole lever to make the impression. Later he built a better one of timbers. In September, 1831, he issued the first number of the American, its neat appearance in- dicating better facilities. It had four four-column pages and lasted about two years. He soon made a third venture with a paper called the Gazette, of about the same size but not so attractive in appearance. His papers followed the policies of

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

Andrew Jackson. Following him Samuel Davis and Thomas Wallace started the Herald, a Whig paper. About 1840 Donovan and Tizzard bought it, changed the name to the Hoosier and Demo- cratic Archive and switched it over to the Democ- racy. Samuel Bratton bought them out and re- named it the Jacksonian. In 1873 George H. Puntenney and William E. Wallace bought the paper and successfully managed it, most of the time in partnership, for thirty-four years, Mr. Puntenney retiring in 1900. In July, 1907, Mr. Wallace sold the paper to a new company, the Democrat Publishing Company. The paper is now owned and published by R. W. Noyer and is run as a daily.

Surely the Democrats have good reason to be proud of the part played by members of their party in the history and development of this county. Among those who have taken a promi- nent part in this work the writer would mention the following:

Amaziah Morgan, of whom the late Dr. Arnold, in writing a history of Rush county, said: "I must notice a few of our early political leaders. Amaziah Morgan was the most able and distin- guished of these. He was one of the first county commissioners, and by his energy and executive ability did much to organize and put in motion the machinery of county business. He was really a great man, fully meeting the requirements of those days, and representing the wishes, wants and feelings of his constituents. He had a strong, practical mind, with all the qualities necessary for a leader in pioneer life. Brave, hospitable, gen- erons and public-spirited, he possessed a rough, earnest eloquence that produced a powerful in- fluence on his auditors, and gave him a wonderful popularity and influence. He served about one year as county commissioner and then resigned, and was elected the first representative of Rush county. He served in this office two years and was then elected to the State Senate, serving about nine or ten years. During this time he was unquestionably the most able and popular politi- cian of our county. He was one of the leading spirits of the Senate, and his influence was felt all over the State. Nature had been generous to him both physically and mentally. Tall and erect, with well-cut and strongly-marked features, a full and clear black eye, alike capable of express- ing the fiercest passion or the most tender emo- tion. A strong, clear voice, an earnest delivery and an imposing presence gave additional force to his impassioned utterances. . At home he was careless in his attire, generally wearing linsey pantaloons, a buckskin hunting-shirt, with a belt around the waist, a soft hat or coon-skin cap, no boots or shoes on his feet; with his long rifle on

his shoulder, he looked the genuine backwoods- man, ever ready to help to raise a house or roll the logs for his neighbors and to bear his part in the shooting matches, then so popular."

William S. Hall was elected a justice of the peace for Washington township in 1839 and served until 1847. In 1853 he was elected trustee of the same township and held the office until 1862, when he resigned and accepted the nomina- tion for representative in the State Legislature upon the Democratic ticket. He was elected by a good majority and served during the exciting session of 1863. At the close of his term as legislator he was once more elected trustee of his home township and served continuously until 1878. He was indeed a "forward looking Demo- crat." His heart was set upon the common schools as the best means of giving the boys and girls a good start in life. His interest in the country schools and the study of how to better them amounted to almost a passion with him. Feeling that the country child, even up to a few years back, was yet hampered as he had been in his chance for a good education, with prophetic fore- sight he early dreamed of creating a township central school that would, without private outlay, give an education the equal of any academy or high school in the city. He was the pioneer of the centralized county school system, and held the honor of having established the first school of the kind in the United States, and in the little town of Raleigh, Rush county, Indiana. He was the father of a large and influential family, among whom is Hon. Frank J. Hall, Lieutenant-Governor (1909-1913). Mr. Hall died May 5, 1905, at the age of ninety-one years.

One of the most positive and forceful char- acters among the Democrats of Rush county was George H. Puntenney, lawyer and editor of the Rushville Jacksonian from 1873 to 1900. He was known as a lawyer of much originality and marked ability. The Rushville Jacksonian while he was its editor was a power for democracy in this section of the State. His early training was according to the Republican faith, but after the Civil War, in which he served for three years, ranking as Sergeant Major, he espoused the cause of democracy and the fearlessness of his tongue and pen were recognized by all who came within the circle of his acquaintance. He was a close student of public questions and had the courage of his convictions. He was the first mayor of the city of Rushville.

So far as the writer has been able to learn, Mr. Puntenney was the first to offer proof, in the cam- paign of 1896, that gold and silver were coined at the ratio of 16 to 1 in the days of Abraham. From an article on this subject, published in his

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

paper in the issue of September 10 of that year, I quote the following:

"Now, the silver shekel weighed about one-half ounce. It was twice the weight of the golden shekel and worth 50 to 623 cents. Now, since the golden shekel was worth $4.00 and was only half as heavy as the silver shekel was, then two golden shekels were worth $8.00-sixteen times as much as the silver shekel and about its weight. That is sixteen to one. So the Hebrews came as near having the ratio of sixteen to one as we had before silver was demonetized."

Mr. Puntenny died on June 1, 1910, at the age of eighty-two years.

Ben L. Smith was another of the sturdy Demo- crats that have done much to make Rush county democracy what it is. A lifelong Democrat, born and reared in the county, educated in its common schools and at Asbury University, a soldier in the Civil War for three years, ranking as captain, prominent and successful as a lawyer for over forty-five years, member of the board of trustees of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans Home near Knightstown, in this county, for a number of years, where he served with honor and credit to himself and his party. He retired from the ac- tive practice of the law January 1, 1915, and died at his home here in Rushville on the 25th day of December, 1915, at the age of eighty years.

John L. Robinson was another of the prominent men in the early history of Rush county. He was elected clerk of the Circuit Court in 1843 and was afterwards elected to Congress from the fourth district when Rush county was in that district. He was United States Marshal for the district of Indiana from 1856 to 1860. During all of his long and useful career he was ever ready with voice and pen to advocate the cause of Democ- racy.

David S. Morgan of this county was one of the very truest and most consistent Democrats among the many that fought the battles of Democracy in this section. He was a prominent attorney at the bar of the Rush Circuit Court for many years and stood at the front rank among the lawyers.

To mention all those who are at present tak- ing an active part in the affairs of the Democratic party would be to practically make a list of the Democratic voters of the county, for Democrats here are awake and are as well organized as any other county in the State. Among those who have occupied positions in the party that gave to them more prominence, perhaps, than others, the writer would mention the following:

Hon. Douglas Morris, judge of the Circuit Court from 1898 to 1904, and judge of the Supreme Court from 1910 to 1916. Ever ready and willing

to do his part to further the interests of the party in any capacity he might be called to work.

Frank J. Hall, lifelong enthusiastic worker for democracy, Lieutenant-Governor from 1909 to 1913, a fearless and consistent Democrat, son of William S. Hall.

Cary Jackson, representative from this county in the State Legislature during the sixty-fifth session and trustee of Washington township from August, 1890, to August, 1895. Elected to repre- sent the district composed of the counties of Han- cock, Rush and Fayette, in the State Senate dur- ing the session of 1913.

Leonidas H. Mull, lifelong consistent Democrat, always ready with his money and his time to as- sist the Democrats of the county and the State to hold up the banner of Democracy. He was elected representative from this county to the State Legislature by a handsome majority when all the remainder of the county ticket was de- feated.

Will M. McBride, a Democratic descendant from the old stock. Made an enviable record as trustee of our Rushville city schools and was twice elected treasurer of this county, serving from 1910 to 1914.

John D. Megee, for many years past one of the most prominent lawyers of the county and at all times a Democratic worker. State committee- man from the sixth district for a number of years, appointed judge of the Rush Circuit Court by Governor Ralston and served for about two years, his term expiring the first of January, 1915.

Allen R. Holden, for three years a trustee of our city schools and auditor of Rush county from 1912 to 1916, and an enthusiastic Democrat at all times and under all circumstances.

Arie M. Taylor, a royal Democrat, one of the leading educators of the county for a number of years and elected clerk of the Circuit Court, serv- ing from December, 1912, to December, 1916, with much credit to himself, as well as his party.

Voorhees Cavit, county chairman for the last campaign, twice elected sheriff of this county and serving his second term at this time. Popular with all classes and a Democrat without apology.

James T. Arbuckle, Democrat of the old school, always a loyal and enthusiastic worker. Promi- rent lawyer for many years. Deputy prosecutor from 1900 to 1904, member of the city school board from 1910 to 1913 when he resigned to ac- cept an appointment as member of the State Board of Pardons. tendered him by Governor Ralston. Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1914-1915.

Benjamin A. Black, prominent business man for many years. Served as mayor of the city of

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

Rushville for four years, 1910 to 1914. Always an enthusiastic worker.

Adolphus Cameron, a young and enthusiastic Democrat. Twice elected county surveyor and served with much credit to himself and all his friends.

Oliver C. Norris, a Silver Republican Democrat since the memorable campaign of 1896, a loyal and enthusiastic worker. Elected to the State Legislature and served during the session of 1915. Great Sachem of the Imp. O. R. M., 1910 to 1911.

George W. Campbell, another Silver Repub- lican Democrat, and one of the prominent law- yers of this county for many years. One time prosecutor of the district composed of Rush and Decatur counties. An able and forceful advocate of Democratic policies.

Wallace Morgan, son of the late David S. Mor- gan, prominent lawyer at this time. Served as county chairman for two terms, city attorney for two years and county attorney for two years. Al- ways an enthusiastic worker for the Democracy.

Samuel L. Trabue, county chairman for two terms preceding the last campaign. A consistent, loyal and enthusiastic worker for the Democratic party at all times.

Samuel L. Innis, an able attorney and for three years a member of the Rushville city school board, and at all times a Democrat.

Donald L. Smith, an attorney, son of the late Ber. L. Smith and prosecuting attorney for Rush county, 1913-1915, by appointment by Governor Ralston.

W. L. Newbold, lawyer, Democratic county chairman for two terms, deputy prosecuting at- torney for one term, and afterwards editor and one of the publishers of the Rushville Jacksonian for several years.

John E. Gantner, present secretary of the Dem- ocratic county committee and for three sessions of the Legislature chief engrossing clerk for the Senate. John Kelley, Sr., chief doorkeeper for the State Senate, session of 1913.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 109

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