History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 120

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

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The Enquirer began its existence in Newburg, Warrick county, where it was known as the Trib- une, but it was moved to Boonville in 1857. At first it was owned by a stock company. Edward White was its editor for a while, but he was soon succeeded in that capacity by Charles Dalrymple, who, after a short time, sold the Tribune to John Fleming, a printer, and Judge J. W. B. Moore. The name of the paper was then changed to the Boonville Enquirer, and Judge Moore assumed editorial control. The paper advocated the prin- ciples of the Democratic party thereafter and ac- cordingly prospered. In December, 1865, John Fleming was succeeded by E. L. Crawford, the paper being then conducted by the firm of Moore & Crawford. In January, 1868, Judge Moore being in feeble health, he retired from the editorial management of the Enquirer and sold his interest in it to Thomas H. Martin. Crawford and Martin continued its publication, with Martin as editor. In March, 1870, William Swint purchased the En- quirer from them and assumed full control as edi- tor and publisher. Mr. Swint owned, operated and edited the paper for several years, when G. H. Hazen, then a young lawyer, purchased the stock

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

and has been its owner and manager ever since. The paper is fearless and prosperous and influ- ential and no one has ever dared to begin or even suggest a competitor. It is the only democratic paper in the county, and the counsel of its edi- torials has assisted in shaping the destinies of the Democracy in Warrick county for the last forty years.

Not only has the Democracy of Warrick county had an able party organ to pilot it through the gloomy as well as the bright days of campaign strife, but the party was fortunate in having wise leaders to direct the party activities. Such old families as the Moores, the Harts, the Roths, the Taylors, the Fullers, the Scales's, the Wilsons, and many others, were pronounced in their belief in the principles of the party of Jefferson and they fought year in and year out for the success of their beloved party.

Some biography of prominent Democrats of the early days is essential in a work of this kind, and one of the early leaders of the party was Judge J. W. B. Moore. Judge Moore was born near Waterloo, Seneca county, New York, on No- vember 5, 1801, but moved to Rockport, Spencer county, in 1827, later moving to Warrick county, where in the course of years he was elected Pro- bate Judge of the county, which he held until elected Clerk of the Warrick Circuit Court. In 1844 he was re-elected Clerk and Recorder for seven years, and it was universally conceded that he was the best Clerk in Southern Indiana. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Common Pleas District, composed of Warrick and Vanderburgh counties, and served a term of four years. In 1861, when President Lincoln issued his first proc- lamation for 75,000 men, it created intense excite- ment in Warrick county. The President was pro- nounced a tyrant and a usurper, and the call was characterized as unconstitutional and an outrage upon the South. Judge Moore took the side of his country, procured posters to be struck and put up, calling meetings all over the county, at which he appeared, justified the action of the President and urged young men to enlist to main- tain the integrity of the Union. In 1862, notwith- standing his age, he enlisted as a private in Cap- tain Pace's Company, First Indiana Cavalry, Gov- ernor Baker commanding, and went with his regi- ment to the Southwest and participated in the battle of Fredericktown. He remained with his regiment nearly two years, but a soldier's life proved too much for his constitution, and he was compelled to accept a discharge, much against his wishes. He was a man of great firmness of will and energy of purpose and strong intellect, and was one of the types that gave courage and strength to the Democracy of the county. He left

two sons, Isaac S. and R. D. O. Moore, both promi- nent in later politics, as will appear in this his- tory, and the latter being the father of Robert S. Moore, a prominent attorney of Boonville, who died following a sudden illness in July, 1915, in the prime of life before he had a full opportunity to give to his community the fruits of his educa- tion, training and experience. R. D. O. Moore, the youngest son of Judge J. W. B. Moore, was born in Boonville, February 25, 1848, and his per- sonality in Democratic politics in the county, though less active, is as forceful in counsel today as it was strong in energy ten and thirty years ago. His education was limited to such advan- tages as were afforded by the local schools of that time, which were comparatively poor, owing, in part, to the unsettled condition caused by the war. However, he spent one year at Asbury Uni- versity, now DePauw University. In 1869, he commenced the study of law in the office of his brother, Hon. Isaac Moore, one of the ablest law- yers in the State, and in 1872 was admitted to a partnership. In 1878 he was nominated by the democratic primary election for Clerk of Warrick county and was elected. In 1904 he was elected Auditor of Warrick county, winning in the face of pronounced opposition, and he made an obliging and careful officer. Among the minor offices he held was that of Clerk of Boonville in 1869; Town Treasurer from 1871 to 1875, and Town Attorney two or three years. He wielded great influence in the councils of his party.

There is no better democratic blood in the county than that found in the well known Scales family. Hansel M. Scales, Treasurer of Warrick county from 1880 to 1884, deserves special men- tion as a prominent democratic leader. He was a self-made man. He was born in Lane township, Warrick county, on November 30, 1841. His father, John Scales, was a son of William Scales. William Scales was a very prominent man in his day. He was twice Assessor of Warrick county. In 1843 he was elected Sheriff of the county and held the office two years. He was elected Treas- urer in 1847 and was holding that office at the time of his death. He reared a family of sixteen chil- dren. Hansel M. Scales was elected Township Assessor two or three times, and later elected Trustee. He is the father of Luther M. Scales, Clerk of the Warrick Circuit Court at this time, and one of the stanchest Democrats of the county. Raymond Scales, a close relative, served as Sheriff of the county from 1906 to 1910, and it has been said that never was there a more popu- lar or obliging man in office. The Scales family also includes another prominent man in the State in the person of Dr. T. D. Scales, of Boonville, State Tax Commissioner. Dr. Scales began his

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

political career as one of the best county chairmen the county ever had and was elevated to the dis- trict chairmanship. As an evidence of his wonder- ful power as an organizer it may be stated that when he assumed work as district chairman, near- ly every county and city officer, the Congressman and all legislative officers, were Republicans, and when he laid down his work as District Chairman, every county and city officer, including the Con- gressman and every legislative officer, was a Dem- ocrat. Dr. Scales has long been worthy of a seat in Congress and his friends say that he shall go, as the county is in need of a lawmaker of the caliber of Dr. Scales, whose ability and in- tegrity is of the highest grade.

As a producer of high-grade lawyers, Warrick county has taken a front rank among the counties of the State. Some have gone to Indianapolis, others to Evansville, while still others have gone to faraway States. "Abe" Martin, of the Indian- apolis News, in commenting on this fact, once said, "Lots o' good men come from Boonville. None o' them ever stay there." But among the leading lawyers and jurists who felt that Boonville was good enough should be mentioned John Bracken- ridge Handy, as able a jurist as could be found anywhere in his day. He began the practice of law with George W. Brackenridge, in 1862, but the partnership lasted only a year, Mr. Bracken- ridge removing to San Antonio, Tex., where he has amassed an immense fortune as a banker and ranchman. In October, 1872, Mr. Handy was nominated by the Democratic party and elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the dis- trict comprising the counties of Warrick, Van- derburgh, Gibson and Posey. In 1876 he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected Judge of the Second Judicial District, composed then of Warrick, Spencer, Perry and Crawford counties. He wielded great power as a Democratic leader in his day.

A character who stood out prominently in his day as one of force and influence was John L. Taylor, a lawyer, of Boonville, and a member of a very influential democratic family. He was born August 30, 1850, in Anderson township, Warrick county, and was the eldest son of Peter and Jane Taylor. Following a course at Indiana University he returned home and during the winter of 1875- 76 taught the graded school at Lynnville, this county. During the intervals of school hours he read law, and at the close of his school in the spring of 1876 he entered the office of Judge John B. Handy and pursued the study of law with avidity.

It was during this year that he first took an active interest in politics, canvassing the county in company with Hon. Benoni S. Fuller, then a

candidate for re-election to Congress, and speak- ing in the interest of Tilden and the Democratic party. Following this, he was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with John T. Thomp- son, with whom he studied law in Judge Handy's office. After practicing about a year the partner- ship was dissolved, and in October, 1877, Mr. Taylor entered the Cincinnati Law School, which he attended regularly until his graduation on the 20th of May, 1878. He returned home and two weeks afterward was nominated by the Dem- ocratic party for representative of Warrick coun- ty. He was elected by an overwhelming majority. Returning home, he formed a partnership with W. H. Patterson. He held the office of Clerk of Boon- ville for two terms. In 1876 he was appointed deputy prosecutor for Warrick County by G. L. Rheinhart, but on entering law school in 1877, re- signed. On his return home from the legislature in 1879 he was reappointed to the position. In 1880 he was appointed contingent president elec- tor for the First Congressional District by the Democratic State Convention. He served the party as county chairman and gave a good part of his life to the democratic cause. Later in life he fell into habits which led away from the field of active work. His party nominated him Prose- cutor, but he was defeated. He died in 1915 at Newburgh, after living several years of retired life.

The Taylor family, as previously mentioned, always has been and is today, one of the main spokes in the wheel of the Warrick county De- mocracy. The Taylors of today are the same set of brilliant and influential men that the old ones were, such as Robert Taylor and Gurley Taylor, each of whom were honored by their party with county offices and enjoyed a wide range of influ- ence.

Today we have such prominent members as Isham Taylor, who represented the county in the lower house of the State legislature, with credit and honor; Lewis Taylor, his brother; Simon W. Taylor, a member of the State Board of Agricul- ture; Charles H. Taylor and William Taylor.

The county democracy has furnished one Con- gressman to the district in the person of the Hon. Benoni S. Fuller. He was born in 1825 in Warrick county. His father was elected Repre- sentative from Warrick county in 1842 and held the office for six consecutive years. Benoni S. Fuller began his public life when he was about thirty years old. At this time he was elected Sher- iff of the county and served two terms from 1857 to 1861. In 1862 during the beginning of the troubles in the South he was sent to the State Senate. After this he was twice elected to the Lower House, once in 1866 and again in 1868.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816 -1916

The last time he went he was unanimously chosen Democratic Caucus Chairman. In 1872 he was again elected to the State Senate. In 1874 he was chosen Congressman, and again elected two years later. In 1878 he declined renomination. Only one other man before him from Warrick county had ever represented the district in Congress and he was Ratliff Boon. Therefore, the election of Fuller was a remarkable victory for the Democ- racy, and it had great influence in cementing the party members into a compact organization for future political conquests.

Most of the old Democratic leaders of forty, thirty, yes, twenty years ago, are either gone to the great beyond, or else are retired to private life, and have left the political work for younger minds. There is one exception in the person of Senator G. H. Hazen, the veteran editor of the Boonville Enquirer, who takes great pride in say- ing that he is a better man and a better Demo- crat today than he ever has been before. Senator Hazen was born on October 26, 1847. He began reading law with Galen Spencer in Newburg in 1868. He entered the law office of Warren and Mattison, of Evansville, in 1869, and remained with them one year. He entered the law school of the State University in October, 1870, and grad- nated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1871. In 1880 Mr. Hazen began the prac- tice of law in Boonville, forming a partnership with the Hon. S. B. Hatfield. In 1885 Hatfield withdrew from the firm. Hazen continued the practice until 1893 when he bought the Boonville Enquirer which he has been editing ever since. He held the following positions of trust: Prosecuting Attorney, twelve years; he was Probate Commis- sioner one term under G. L. Rheinhardt; served seven years as County Attorney for Warrick coun- ty and one year as attorney for the town of Boon- ville. He was the nominee of his party for Prose- cuting Attorney of the Second Judicial District in 1888 on the Democratic ticket, but went down in defeat with his party. In 1914 he was nominated for Joint Senator from Warrick, Spencer and Vanderburg counties, and was elected, leading

his ticket in every county. Senator Hazen is prominent in State politics.

Another such character and companion is Sid- ney B. Hatfield, of Boonville, who is still actively engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Hatfield lived in Perry county before removing to Warrick, but when he came he brought all his energy and per- sonality with him. He preferred the free lance work in politics seldom seeking political office, and being defeated when he was honored by his party in making the race for Judge of the Second Judicial District by a narrow margin of six votes. Mr. Hatfield feels the burden of declining years, but his wise counsel and weighty influence still continues in the personalities of his two sons, Frank H., of Evansville, and William S., of Boon- ville, two of the most prominent lawyers of Sonth- ern Indiana.

The history of politics of a generation ago and of today are different in many ways. The lead- ers of the old days are gone and sons, grandsons and great-grandsons are now carrying on the gospel of Democracy which was begun back in the days of Jefferson more than a hundred years ago. Warrick county had her share of spellbinders, a worthy press, and able leaders, and has left a heritage of great worth to the generation of to- day. The work is in good hands and includes such persons as the following: Frank Phillips, Sheriff and County Chairman; Ivor Robinson, Ray Cher- ry, Ex-Auditor; Dr. J. T. Samples, William Sam- ples, Frank Koegel, ex-Deputy Treasurer; Jacob Eifler, Postmaster; Melborn Gebtry, Sheriff ; Hen- ry Fulling, Caleb Lindsey, Ora Davis, James R. Wilson, Thomp Owens, Rufus Cherry, Dr. N. Spradley, Gaines Bass, County Auditor; Charles H. Bone, County Assessor; William H. Putler, County Treasurer; Raleigh Perigo, County Re- corder; Andrew J. Hopkins, County Superintend- ent; John W. Wilson, Dr. P. E. Wilson, Henry Whittinghill, Dr. N. M. Spradley, Dr. Walter P. Robinson, Louis Meyer, and many others. In short, the Democracy of Warrick county is on the firing line and let the enemy come, she is pre- pared.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF . WASHINGTON COUNTY

A N act of the Legislature, approved Decem- cember 21, 1813, permitted the organiza- tion of Washington county, and pursuant to that act, on the 17th day of January, 1814, Washington county was created from the territo- ries of Harrison and Clark counties. At the time of its creation it was composed of much of the territory which is now contained in the counties of Jackson, Orange and Scott.

In 1850 and 1851 the chairman of the Demo- cratic Central Committee was Jehu Hungate and the other members composing such committee were D. C. Shanks, O. Thomas, John Hardin, Jr.,. C. Prow, David Mull, T. D. Weir and Evans Wright.

Other chairmen of the Democratic Central Com- mittee were W. J. Brown, J. A. Cravens, John L. Menaugh, Hamilton S. McRae, Christian L. Payn- ter, Lewis N. Smith, Samuel B. Voyles, Virgil Hobbs, Andrew B. Davis, Eli W. Menaugh, Sam- uel H. Mitchell, John R. Sutherland, George M. Morris, William H. Paynter, Warder W. Stevens, Charles T. Schlagal, Charles R. Morris, Lewis C. Smith; present chairman, Harry C. Barnett.

The county, shortly after it became active as a part of the State, began to send to the Legisla- ture representatives the greater part of whom were Democrats. The following list are Demo- crats who were members of the lower branch of the Legislature: Samuel Milroy, Alexander Lit- tle, Marston G. Clark, Noah Wright, Robert Mc- Intire, Abraham Sargent, John DePauw, John Kingsbury, Ezekial D. Logan, Rodolphus Scoon- over, Henry C. Monroe, Woodbridge Parker, Gus- tavius Clark, Levi P. Lockhart, Valentine Baker, John L. Morrison, William Shanks, George May, John Kelly, Cyrus L. Dunham, Thomas Green, James A. Cravens, William Thompson, John L. Menaugh, James T. Campbell, Henry Paynter, John Hartley, John A. Bowman, William Han- cock, Christian Prow, Horace Heffron, Jamison Lee, Aaron L. Hardin, John Lemon, Erasmus W. Shanks, Frederic W. Matthis, John C. Lawler, John H. Oatley, James Rudder, Alfred B. Collins, Samuel H. Mitchell, William E. Patton, Aaron A. Cravens, Asa Elliott, Zach M. Scifres, Robert C. Brown, Emmet C. Mitchell, and the present rep- resentative is John Ryan.

In the Senate the county has been represented by the following resident Senators: John De- Pauw, Marston G. Clark, Samuel Milroy, Ezekial D. Logan, Henry W. Hackett, William Shanks, John I. Morrison, James A. Cravens, Horace Hef- fron, John A. Bowman, Samuel B. Voyles, Eras-

mus Shanks, Jeptha H. Garriott, John C. Lawler and William E. Patton; Wm. A. Arnold, Senator- elect.

James A. Cravens was sent from this county as a representative in Congress for two terms, during which time he was an associate of Vories and Hendricks.

On two different occasions Washington county has furnished the candidate for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor for the State of Indiana, being John C. Lawler and Warder W. Stevens. At the present time one of the State offices is filled by a resident of Washington county, being Hon. Milton B. Hot- tel of the Appellate bench.

Among the prominent Democrats of the earlier period we find Isaac Blackford and John I. Mor- rison. Blackford was a Judge of the Supreme Court for thirty-five years. John I. Morrison was Treasurer of State and was one of the foremost educators of the time. He was the founder of Morrison academy at Salem, Ind., which bore a national reputation and where many noted schol- ars sought an education. He was the tutor of such scholars as John Hay, Secretary of the In- terior; Newton Booth, who was elected Senator from California to the United States Senate, and later made Governor of the State of California.

The first Democratic newspaper published in the county began about January 1, 1827, and was known as the Annotator. It was edited by John Allen until 1829, when William Tannehill be- came the owner and it was changed to the Salem Literary Register, a literary paper. In Novem- ber, 1847, Morrison and Taylor founded the Washington Democrat and sold it in 1849 to Wil- liams and Owens. T. W. Jordon was editor for a few issues, then Williams became the sole own- er. In 1852 Horace Heffron became associated with Williams as joint editor and remained so until after the presidential election. Z. S. Gar- riott then became joint editor and in 1857 he be- came the proprietor and editor and sold the paper to Levi D. Maxwell, who later disposed of it to Horace Heffron, and Thomas Telle became pub- lisher. In 1861 G. Y. Johnson took charge of the paper because of army service of the owners and issued the paper under the name of Demo- cratic Banner of Liberty.

The title of Washington Democrat was resumed in 1862, when O. T. Kennedy associated himself with Heffron as editor and publisher. In 1863 George Fultz and William P. Green became the proprietors and in 1872 Stevens and Cravens be- came the owners, and in 1874 Cravens disposed

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

of his interest to Warder W. Stevens, who then became the sole owner, and after which time the paper has been known as the Salem Democrat. In 1883 Stevens sold the paper to Dr. R. J. Wil- son, who for eight years was the sole owner and editor of the Salem Democrat, known as the Dem- ocratic organ of the county. After successfully running the paper during that period he disposed of the same to David A. Jennings, who ran it for six years. The paper was then bought by Men- augh brothers, who were the publishers and ed- itors for more than ten years, during which time the circulation continued to increase until it car- ried the principles of Democracy into nearly every household of the county.

On December 21, 1898, Henry E. Smith and Charles R. Morris, two of the hustling young Democrats of the county, purchased the paper with Morris as editor and Smith as business man- ager. The paper is still in the hands of Smith and Morris, being the Democratic organ of Wash- ington county and is recognized as one of the leading Democratic newspapers of southern In- diana.

Washington county has always given a Demo- cratic majority for the presidential electors, and since 1844, with but one or two exceptions, has filled the county offices with Democrats. Close organization was a rule back in the forties and fifties, with each township having a Democratic chairman and committee, who had frequent meet- ings to further Democracy, hence the Democratic majorities in the county.

In 1844 Polk and Dallas received a majority of 511.

In 1848 Cass and Butler received a majority of 495.

In 1852 Pierce and King received a majority of 509.

In 1856 Buchanan and Breckinridge received a majority of 656.

In 1860 Douglas and Johnson received a ma- jority of 531.

In 1864 Mcclellan and Pendleton received a majority of 557.

In 1868 Seymour and Blair received a major- ity of 388.

In 1876 Tilden and Hendricks received a ma- jority of 716.

In 1880 Hancock and English received a ma- jority of 811.

In 1888 Cleveland and Thurman received a ma- jority of 539.

In 1892 Cleveland and Stevenson received a majority of 206.

In 1896 Bryan and Sewall received a majority of 232.

In 1900 Bryan and Stevenson received a ma- jority of 515.

In 1904 Parker and Davis received a majority of 113.

In 1908 Bryan and Kern received a majority of 505.

In 1912 Wilson and Marshall received a ma- jority of 284.

In 1916 Wilson and Marshall received a ma- jority of 543.

At the present time the county offices are all filled with Democrats. William H. Paynter is Judge of the Forty-second Judicial Circuit and Thomas P. Masterson is Prosecuting Attorney for the same district. William A. Arnold is Clerk of the Circuit Court; Eli E. Batt, Auditor; Otto C. Zink, Treasurer; Thomas J. Walker, Recorder; Harry C. Barnett, Sheriff; Dr. James F. Kelley, Coroner; John C. Prow, Surveyor; William B. Wright, James S. Hall and James B. Brown, County Commissioners.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WAYNE COUNTY

By Joshua H. Allen

W AYNE COUNTY lies on the eastern boundary line of Indiana, directly east of Indianapolis, the State capital.

Wayne county was born in the early dawn of the last century and was settled by a people whose love of peace and the principles of arbitration was equaled only by their aversion to war and human slavery, i. e., by so-called Quakers-members of the religious Society of Friends. The name of the county, however, was chosen in honor of that fear- less and desperate Indian fighter known in his- tory as General Wayne, but then famous as "Mad Anthony," who had so recently succeeded General St. Clair in command of the United States forces and precipitated the decisive battles which re- sulted in the Greenville Treaty.

The articles of peace were signed by General Wayne and the Indians of the Northwest Terri- tory, August 3, 1795. Indiana Territory was cre- ated pursuant to the act of Congress of May 7, 1800, dividing the Northwest Territory, and Wayne county was formed in 1810 from part of Dearborn, the county seat of which was at Law- renceburg. It, with Clark and Knox, then consti- tuted the single trio of counties in the Territory.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 120

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