History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 138

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

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For eight years, beginning with 1879, he served as auditor of Franklin county, and in the year 1896 he was elected county treasurer, in which capacity he served for four years. Then followed an- other term of four years as auditor, after which he retired from public life. His father, William H. Jennings, also was a prominent citizen of Johnson county, having served as sheriff, county treasurer, joint senator from Johnson and Morgan counties, and finally as mayor of Franklin, which position he held until his death.

FREDERICK H. JESSUP

Since the beginning of its political history, Howard county has been noted as a Republican stronghold, and few indeed have been the official positions held by Democrats; so it is a matter of no small moment and a cause for congratulation when the important position of prosecuting attor- ney of the county is held by a young Democratic worker. Frederick K. Jessup, of Kokomo, is perhaps the first Democratic incumbent of this position, and is justly proud of the honor. He assumed the duties of the office on the 1st day of January, 1913.

Mr. Jessup was born in the village of Greentown, Howard county, and attended the schools of his home town. Later he took a full law course at the law school of Indiana University at Bloom- ington. On January 20, 1912, he was united in marriage to Miss Ina Velaer.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Jessup has taken an unusual interest in political and munici- pal affairs, and is deeply interested in the various movements for the growth and development of the community in which he lives. During the various campaign activities he has given freely of his time and services for the furtherance of the cause of Democracy, and is recognized as a coming factor in the councils of the party organization in Howard county.

JOSEPH L. JOHANNIE

Joseph L. Johannie, a prominent citizen of Laporte county and a well-known public official, is a true son of northern Indiana and devoted to the interests of his community.

Mr. Johannie was born in Indiana on March 31, 1873, and here his boyhood was spent. He attended the schools of his home district, and at an early age mastered the principles of agriculture and engaged in its pursuit. Since then Mr. Johannie has found his greatest pleasure in tilling the soil, and even when engaged in the greater responsibilities of public life maintained his interest in agricultural affairs and takes pride in the fact that he has "split more rails than Abraham Lincoln."

In the year 1902 Mr. Johannie assumed the duties of township assessor, serving in that capacity for four years, at the expiration of which period he was elected township trustee for a further term of four years, this period of service ending in 1910. In the fall of the following year he was elected county treasurer for a two-year term, assuming the duties of office on January 1, 1912. At the close of this period he was re-elected to this position to serve until January 1, 1916.

On September 9, 1909, Mr. Johannie was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Ward.

JOHN W. JOHNSON

The present treasurer of Greene county has, since his youth, evinced remarkable energy and abil- ity to accomplish an unusual amount of profitable work for himself and for the community in which he resides.

This gentleman, Mr. John W. Johnson, is a native of Greene county, having been born within its confines on the 20th day of May, 1854. Here, also, his education was received, in the common schools of his district and later at the Bloomfield Normal School. Following his graduation from this latter

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institution he engaged in educational work, teaching school in the winter and farming in summer; nor was this double labor all of the accomplishment of this young man, for, out of the fifteen years thus employed, six years, from 1880 to 1887, were devoted also to the performance of the duties of township assessor of Cass township.

On the 6th day of December, 1890, his marriage to Miss Caroline Blackmore was solemnized.

In the fall of 1912 he was elected treasurer of Greene county, assuming the duties of his posi- tion on the first day of January, 1913.

Throughout his life, Mr. Johnson has been a consistent Democrat, voting the ticket and laboring zealously for the furtherance of the interests of the party.

BENJAMIN B. JOHNSON

Perhaps no man in the state could be found who is better equipped for the posi- tion of private secretary to the governor than is the incumbent of this position, Ben- jamin B. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson was born on a farm near Marlboro, Stark county, Ohio, but at the age of fourteen years accompanied his parents to Kokomo, where he completed his schooling in the high school of that city. In the year 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Clara C. Albaugh, and to them have been born two children, Miss Edna and Fred Bates Johnson.

During their residence in Kokomo Mr. Johnson served for three and one-half years as deputy postmaster, and for six years as bookkeeper of the First National Bank. For six years, also, he discharged the duties of deputy and county treasurer, and was editor and proprietor of the Kokomo Tribune for over two years. In the year 1891 he assumed control of the Richmond Item and for eight years was editor of this paper. He was also a member of the Richmond board of works for three and one-half years and president of the commercial club of that city. He became affiliated with Indiana Democracy in 1900, opposing high tariff and imperialism; and in Janu- ary, 1913, was appointed private secretary to Governor Ralston.

McCLEAN JOHNSON

McClean Johnson was born in Putnam county, Indiana, September 12, 1864. While still a small boy, his father, Oliver B. Johnson, moved to Clay county, where he resided the rest of his life.

McClean attended the public school. He was a bright, apt pupil and learned readily. He later attended the Indiana State Normal at Terre Haute, fitting himself for teaching, which profession he followed from the time he was sixteen years old until within five years of his death.

When a mere boy of eight years he acquired a fondness for politics and a political career by often making the trip to Bowling Green with his father, who was ther county commissioner, and loitering around the various rooms of the old court house. He often attended the various sessions of court and intently listened to the men and their discussions of political situations.

He was married to Margaret L. Boyd in 1886. To this union three girls were born, only one of which is now living. In 1888 he settled on a farm adjoining his father's, where he lived, managing the farm, and teaching during the winter until 1910, at which time he moved to Brazil to assume his official duties.

During his entire life he was a loyal, stanch Democrat and a hard worker for the party of his choice. For years he was precinct committeeman and certainly watched everything carefully. In 1907 he made the race for recorder, but was defeated in the primary, only to rise above it and be elected county treasurer in 1910 by an overwhelming majority. He was re-elected treasurer in 1912 with a still larger majority.

He died December 3, 1915, of angina pectoris. He had finished his day's work and lacked just four weeks of having completed his second term as county treasurer. By his death the county lost a good citizen, active in civic and political affairs and always supporting those things which were honorable and upright. He was a progressive man and one of high ideals and sterling worth.

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WILL H. JOHNSTON

For many years a prominent attorney of Montgomery county and known throughout the legal profession of the state as jurist and legis- lator, the name of Will H. Johnston is held in high esteem by the citizens of his home county.

Mr. Johnston is a native of this state, born on the 9th day of June, 1858, in Putnam county. He attended the common schools of his district and the academy of Darlington. Later a special course and a course in law was taken at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 1881. In the same year he was admitted to the bar of Montgomery county and entered into the active practice of his profession at Crawfordsville. His firm has acted as county attorney continuously since 1907. To this work he brought unflagging energy, keen insight into complicated questions and conscientious loyalty to his clients, which soon placed him in the front rank of the profession.

In the year 1886, on the 20th day of January, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Ella May McMullen, and their home, then established in Crawfordsville, has since extended hospitality to many devoted friends.

Politically, Mr. Johnston has, since his boyhood, been a stanch adherent of the cause of Democ- racy, and has loyally devoted his time and energies to the promulgation of the principles taught by Jefferson. He has served the party, at various times, as precinct committeeman, as chairman of the county committee (from 1890 to 1892); and in the campaigns of 1896 and 1898 was a member of the state central committee. In the year 1900 he was elected state senator from Montgomery and Put- nam counties and in the assemblies of 1901 and 1903 was an active participant, rendering efficient service. He is an exceptionally fluent speaker, and both as politician and jurist ranks as a leader. Indeed, he is known as the leading Democrat of Montgomery county. January 5, 1916, Mr. Johnston was appointed postmaster for the city of Crawfordsville, Indiana, which position he still holds.

JOHN F. JOYCE

Few adherents to the cause of Democracy have contributed more largely toward its advance- ment in Vigo county in past years than has John F. Joyce, clerk of the county.

Mr. Joyce's life has been spent in his present environment. Born in Vigo county, December 20, 1863, his education was received in St. Joseph's parochial school at Terre Haute. On June 1, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss May Levan.

In the fall of 1906 Mr. Joyce was elected to represent Vigo county in the state legislature, and in the assembly which followed and in the special session of 1908 he was an active participant, in- troducing more bills which became enacted into laws than any other member, notwithstanding the fact that it was a Republican body. He was also a member of the sub-committee which drew up the public depository law. In November, 1908, he was elected clerk of the county, and after four years of service in this capacity was elected for a further term of four years. He enjoys the distinction of being the first Democratic incumbent of this office in sixteen years.

During the past twenty years Mr. Joyce has been a delegate to nearly every state convention of the party, and has at all times labored diligently for the furtherance of the cause throughout his district. Fraternally, he is allied with the orders of Knights of Columbus and Red Men. He is a member of the Catholic church.

JOHN P. KEMP

John P. Kemp, son of David and Mary A. (Price) Kemp, was born in Jefferson township, Tipton county, December 14, 1854. He had the advantage of being reared on a farm, attended the neighboring schools, later going to DePauw and the Normal College at Valparaiso, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1878. After teaching school five terms he located at Tipton, where he began the study of law under Judge Dan Waugh, and was admitted to the bar in 1880, from which time he has continued in the practice of his profession.

On April 11, 1882, Mr. Kemp was married to Miss Belle Cox, a sister of Judge J. E. Cox of

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Peru and of Judge Charles E. Cox of Indianapolis, justice of the Supreme Court. To this union have been born three children-Charles, Walter J. and Ralph.

Mr. Kemp has been a director of the Citizens National Bank of Tipton since its organization. He is a member of Austin Lodge No. 128, F. & A. M .; Kempton Lodge No. 482, I. O. O. F., and of the Elks, and is a stanch Democrat.

HORACE MILTON KEAN

Horace Milton Kean, son of Milton W. and Virginia C. Kean, was born at Ireland, Dubois county, Indiana, on April 29, 1868. He was educated in the public schools and taught school in Dubois county for nine years.

He read law during his spare time while he taught and in 1899 grad- uated from the Chicago Correspondence School of Law, and practiced his profession in Jasper, Indiana, until December 1, 1914.

He served for 10 months as county assessor of Dubois county. For twelve years he was deputy prosecuting attorney of that county. He was elected joint representative for the counties of Dubois and Pike for one term and served in the 1905 session of the general assembly of Indiana. He was grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Indiana in 1908- 1909, and was grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the World.

He was married June 14, 1908, to Lula B. Miller (nee Bretz) of Hunt- ingburg, Indiana. They have one son, Horace M. Kean, Jr., who was born October 12, 1913. Mrs. Kean was president of the Rebekah Assembly (I. O. O. F.) of Indiana, 1910- 1911, and was a delegate to the Association of Rebekah Assemblies at Winnipeg, Canada, in 1912.

Mr. Kean was appointed assistant attorney-general of Indiana January 1, 1915, by Richard M. Milburn, attorney-general. Upon the death of Mr. Milburn he was retained in said position by Hon. Evan B. Stotsenburg, who was appointed to succeed Mr. Milburn.

SENATOR JOHN WORTH KERN

The story of John Worth Kern is necessarily the history of the In- diana Democracy for at least seventeen years; also of the first administra- tion of President Wilson, during which he was leader of the United States Senate. To even skim the surface of such a crowded life in less than a volume is impossible. His early life and struggles and triumphs in Howard county, where he was born, his commanding position at the bar first in the county of his nativity and later at Indianapolis, his brilliantly promis- ing political activities in early manhood must be dismissed with a mere mention. In 1884 he first became a state figure when he was elected reporter of the supreme court, in which capacity he served for four years, and the seventeen volumes of the reports bearing his name are a monument to this period of his life. Even this early he was marked for leadership. Thomas A. Hendricks about this time predicted a future of distinction predicated upon the young man's eloquence, courage, political acumen, and ardent attachment to the principles of his party. On the termination of his term he formed a law partnership with Leon O. Bailey and resumed the practice of law in Indian- apolis. In 1892 he was elected to the state senate; where his commanding political capacity was in- stantly conceded and where he especially distinguished himself in the fight for the employer's liability law. On the election of Mayor Taggart he was appointed corporation counsel, in which capacity he was called upon to deal with many knotty problems and enhanced his reputation as a lawyer by the manner in which he met them. This closes the first or preparatory period of his great career- a period rich in historical incidents that cannot be touched upon in an ordinary sketch.

In 1900 Mr. Kern reluctantly consented to make the race for governor at a time when there was little hope of carrying the state. He was easily nominated and immediately plunged into the cam- paign with characteristic vigor and enthusiasm, stumping the state from lake to river, and, while suffering defeat along with the rest of the ticket, running ahead of the national ticket. In 1904

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there was another practically unanimous demand that he head the ticket in Indiana. He steadfastly adhered to his determination to fight in the ranks until Alton B. Parker, the nominee for President, summoned him to New York and made an urgent personal appeal on the ground that no other man would add so much strength to the party in Indiana. Again he consented to the sacrifice. In 1908 he was nominated at Denver for Vice-President on the ticket with Mr. Bryan and in that campaign he covered the country in a speaking tour which made him friends and admirers who were to serve him later. From that year, and some time before, he came to be accepted as Mr. Bryan's chief lieu- tenant in Indiana and as one of the Nebraskan's principal champions in the nation.

In 1910, at a time when he had firmly determined, for financial reasons, to retire from politics, and notwithstanding his positive declination personally expressed twice to the convention, he was nominated for the United States Senate. In response to the urgent pleas of all the candidates voted for in the convention he again, with reluctance, resumed his old position as the head of the ticket; and in a campaign brilliantly contested by Senator Beveridge, his opponent, was elected. This marked the beginning of his career as one of the nation's leaders.

No other man has ever attained so soon the commanding position that was instantly accorded Senator Kern in the senate. He became immediately the nucleus around which all progressive move- ments within the party in the senate gathered. Within a week he was leading the fight against the then reactionary organization of the party, and, while he failed this time by a narrow margin, he forced a personal recognition in his selection as one of the members of the steering committee charged with the duty of determining party policies and plans. During the first congress in which he served he particularly distinguished himself as the leader in the long-drawn-out battle to unseat Lorimer, planning the uncovering of the evidence of corruption, acting as leading cross-examiner of witnesses, preparing in large part the minority report, and in a three-days' speech summing up the evidence with such mastery that no other speeches were made and Lorimer was expelled.

He carried the prestige thus won to. the Baltimore convention, where he was to play a dramatic and important part as chairman of the committee on platform and as Mr. Bryan's candidate for tem- porary chairman. He became one of the potential forces working for progressive principles and a pro- gressive ticket, and when the inner story of that remarkable convention is finally written it will be found that no man played a more important part in the result.

At the beginning of his third year in the senate he was elected without any effort on his part to lead the Democratic majority-a meagre majority, upon which rested the heavy responsibility of en- acting the Woodrow Wilson policies into law. The next four years of his life were years of ceaseless, life-sapping activity, and the story of these years is the history of the greatest constructive admin- istration in the life of the republic. But for his diplomacy, tact, patience, tireless energy, sleepless vigilance, genius at conciliation, many of the Wilson measures now indelibly stamped upon the coun- try would have failed of passage. Upon no man in public life did the President lean more heavily, to none did he turn more frequently, and the senator's nights as well as days were given ungrudgingly to the public service. The story of the part he played during these four years in the nature of things was not given to the public, but time will disclose the intimacy of his connection with the phenomenal success of the first Wilson administration. It was he to whom the President turned to pilot the child- labor law through the senate, and upon him that the President depended for the management of the eight-hour law, which prevented the most disastrous railroad strike in history. His greatest personal, as differentiated from party, triumph during these four years was his successful fight for an investi- gation into the unthinkably brutal conditions in the coal mining district of West Virginia-the first signal triumph ever scored by labor in the senate when all the powerful interests were aggressively arrayed upon the other side. In six years he made a record in actual achievement surpassing that of many who have served a generation.

But he paid the penalty in a physical breakdown which came upon him a little before the cam- paign of 1916, when he came up for re-election. He went through the fight in a sadly broken condition and was defeated along with the rest of the ticket in Indiana.

Broken in health, his voice almost gone, he returned to Washington for the short session begin- ning in December with the intention of resigning the leadership, but upon the insistence of his col- leagues and the president he retained his post and fought the good fight through to the expiration of his term, leaving the senate with the affectionate admiration and respect of his colleagues on both sides the chamber.

Although impressed with the necessity of giving up all labors and recovering his health, his rest- less nature would not acquiesce, and in May he started out to deliver a patriotic war message in a lecture given on thirty-one consecutive nights in eight southern states. This was followed by a

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collapse from which he never recovered. He died at Asheville, North Carolina, in August, 1917, and his body was taken to his country home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia, where he had hoped to spend his closing years in the seclusion of "Kerncliffe." On the edge of a cliff, the termination of his favorite walk, he was buried with simple and impressive services, just as the sun dropped behind the mountains.

Of all the leaders of the Indiana Democracy since the Civil war, Senator Kern was the only one who occupied the position of leadership in the national congress when his party carried the responsi- bility of power in every branch of the government, with the exception of Voorhees during the dis- astrous last Cleveland administration. Where Voorhees failed, Kern succeeded. That this was not due to mere accident but to his personal qualities of leadership will be disclosed in due time when the historian pushes back the curtains for the truth.

JOSEPH C. KIMMELL

A prominent citizen of Noble county, a loyal worker in the ranks of the party and a trusted official in the service of the commonwealth is Joseph C. Kimmell of Ligonier.

Mr. Kimmell is a native of this state, born on the 28th day of April, 1872. He attended the common schools of Noble county and later entered the Tri-State Normal College of Angola for work in the higher branches and along educational lines.

On the 18th day of May, 1893, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Lena A. Keehn of Ligonier, and she has since presided over his home and extended its hos- pitality to the many friends which they have drawn about them.

In the year 1906 he was elected representative from Noble county to the legis- lature of the State and served in the following assembly, and also in the special session of 1908. In 1911 he assumed the duties of county auditor, having been elected to this position for a term of four years.

Mr. Kimmell has maintained his interest in the pursuit of agriculture and is the owner of a quar- ter-section of fine land near Ligonier, the cultivation of which he personally superintends.

FRANK H. KIRKHOFF

Frank H. Kirkhoff, an active worker for the furtherance of the interests of the Democratic party, was born in Hancock county on the 18th day of March, 1863. He attended the schools of . his home district and later pursued his studies at the German Science School. On June 20, 1886, he married Miss Annie Eagan of Cambridge City, and established his home in the city of Indian- apolis, where he became engaged in business as a steamfitter. In this work he has been quite suc- cessful, building up a lucrative business and establishing a reputation as an expert in his line. In the year 1914 he was appointed engineer of the state house, a position requiring real ability.

Mr. Kirkhoff is a member of the Indiana Democratic club and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. His entire family are stanch Democrats.

JUDGE LEX J. KIRKPATRICK

"A just judge" is a term truly applicable to the subject of this article, this repu- tation having been won by the fairness of his decisions from the bench.

Judge Lex J. Kirkpatrick was born in Rush county on the 6th day of Septem- ber, 1853, but was brought to Howard county when but three months of age, his parents settling upon a farm near Greentown. In 1871 he came to Kokomo. He at- tended the common schools of the county and Howard College, later pursuing his studies at the College of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and finally graduating from the Central Law School of Indianapolis in 1875. In the year 1881 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Emma Palmer of Holloway, Michigan. In 1890 he was elected circuit judge of the Thirty-sixth Judicial Circuit, composed of Howard and Tipton counties, serving in this capacity for six years. In 1909 a new court was established in this circuit, Howard county be- ing made the Sixty-second Judicial Circuit, and he was appointed judge of the new circuit by Gov- ernor Marshall, serving for two years, since which time he has practiced law, a member of the firm of Bell, Kirkpatrick and Voorhis.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 138

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