History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 85

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


USA > Indiana > History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916 > Part 85


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In the Marion city election in 1913 there were five candidates for mayor. James O. Batchelor was the Progressive candidate, receiving 1,722 votes, and having a plurality of 466; W. A. Mc- Kown was the Socialist candidate with 1,256 votes; the Democrats came third with A. E. Gib- son as their candidate, receiving 1,202 votes; Re- publicans were fourth with John O. Wilson, carry- ing 1,032 votes; James Rowan, on a ticket all by himself and designated as Independent, had 162 votes. The name of the Progressive party in that campaign was simply a convenience for indicating independence, and the dominant party was forced


into fourth place. It was only on occasions of this kind, and where Republicans had made noto- riously bad nominations, that the Democratic party in county and city campaigns was able to achieve any general victory since the great change came in the campaign of 1856.


The Jefferson club, however, long continued one of the thriving political organizations of the state. Similar organizations of the sort in other counties would mean an eternal recording of Democratic victories. Its efficient work, however, has resulted, naturally, in compelling a strong opposition from both Republicans and Socialists, the latter being for several years a quantity that must be reckoned with in all Grant county cam- paigns.


In the campaign of 1916, with Wilson and Marshall candidates for president and vice-presi- dent, and with John A. M. Adair candidate for governor, the party fared better than in almost any year since 1860. In the years preceding, when the Republican majorities were averaging from 1,000 to 4,000, and even more, the Demo- cratic presidential ticket received 5,827 votes, against 6,059 for the Republicans. Adair, the Democratic candidate, had 5,626 votes, against 6,049 for James P. Goodrich, the Republican nominee.


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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GREENE COUNTY


G REENE COUNTY was organized January 3, 1821, and named for General Nathaniel Greene of Revolutionary fame.


The county is bounded on the north by Clay and Owen; on the east by Monroe and Lawrence; on the south by Martin, Daviess and Knox counties; the west by Sullivan. The county is a parallelo- gram, being thirty miles east and west, and eighteen north and south. It is crossed from north to south by the west fork of White river, di- viding the county into two nearly equal parts.


The western half is mostly rolling prairie and drained marsh land of great fertility. There are extensive coal fields in this region underlying the entire western part of the county. The veins are four in number, and vary in thickness from three and one-half to eight feet. The eastern half of the county is very rolling, and contains much coal, iron ore and minerals. The land is excellent for grazing purposes, and noted for its fine fruits of all varieties, there having been more than 25,- 000 barrels of apples shipped from various points during the year of 1915.


The county has a population of 36,873 and has many thriving cities and towns, of which Linton is the largest, having a population of about 7,000, and located in the heart of the Greene county coal fields. Jasonville is situated in the north- west corner of the county, with a population of 4,000, and also has extensive fields of coal, which here reaches its greatest thickness.


Worthington has a population of 2,000, and is situated in the White river valley, in the cen- ter of a fine agricultural and stock-raising com- munity.


Lyons is situated in the marsh land region with a population of about 1,500. Here the land reach- es its greatest fertility.


Bloomfield, the county seat, has a population of about 3,000, and is located one mile east of White river, and is the manufacturing center of the county.


There are three railroads crossing the county from north to south and two from east to west, with branch lines radiating to the various mines and other industries. The county is entirely out of debt and had on deposit in the various banks on December 31, 1915, $151,406.22. The receipts for the year were $816,462.12.


POLITICAL HISTORY.


The political history of the county dates from its organization, January 3, 1821; however, inuch of it is obscure, as no complete records were kept


of the early actors. The records show that on January 5, 1821, commissions were issued to the following officers: Thomas Bradford, sheriff; Eli Dixon, coroner; John Stockley, surveyor; Cor- nelius Westfall, seminary trustee-all of whom were Democrats appointed by the governor. At an election held at the house of Thomas Brad- ford, one mile south of Bloomfield, the following officers were elected and sworn in March 6: Norman W. Pearce and John L. Buskirk, associ- ate judges; Thomas Warnick, clerk; George Shroyer, recorder. Shroyer did not qualify. The duties of his office were performed by Mr. War- nick, who was commissioned as clerk for seven years. Each officer swore he had in no way been concerned in dueling. These were also Democrats, and the county remained solidly Dem- ocratic until 1868 when Grant defeated Seymour by 73 votes, making a gain over the Democrats since the election of 1864 of 376 votes, McClellan having defeated Lincoln by 303 votes. In 1872 Grant defeated Greeley by 363 votes. In 1876 Tilden defeated Hayes by 96 votes. In 1880 the county fell back into the Republican ranks.


STATE SENATORS.


After the organization of Greene county it was placed in a senatorial district with Sullivan, Vigo, Owen and Parke counties, Thomas H. Blake be- ing its first senator, who served until 1822. He was succeeded by John Jencks, 1822-25. Then Putnam county was added to the district, which was represented by John M. Coleman from 1825 to 1826. During his term Hendricks, Morgan, Owen, Montgomery, Vermilion and Clay counties were added. David H. Maxwell was chosen sen- ator, 1826-30. During his term all the counties were dropped from the district except Greene, Owen and Monroe. James Whitcomb was chosen senator 1830-36; David M. Dobson, 1836-44; Monroe now being dropped, John F. Allison, 1844-47; Lovell H. Rousseau, 1847-50; Jesse J. Alexander, 1850-58; Jason N. Connelly, 1858-63; George W. Moore, 1863-67; John Humphreys, 1867-71; Wiley E. Dittemore, 1871-75; Andrew Humphreys, 1875-77; Owen now being dropped and Daviess added, David J. Hefron, 1877-83; Jacob F. McIntosh, 1883-86; Daviess now being dropped and Sullivan added to Greene, L. P. Mul- linix, 1886-90; Chas. T. Akin, 1890-94; Andrew Humphreys, 1894-98; Sullivan now being dropped and Monroe and Brown added, Edwin Con, 1898- 1902; Cyrus E. Davis, 1902-06; Brown now being dropped and Owen added, Oscar E. Bland, 1906-


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HISTORY INDIANA


10; Joseph Moss, 1910-14; Henry Humphreys, 1914.


STATE REPRESENTATIVES.


Hugh Barnes, 1822, was the first representative of the district composed of Greene, Owen and Morgan counties; Eli Dixon, 1823; David Harris, 1824; John Sims, 1825; (Clay was now added) Eli Dixon, 1826; (Clay was now dropped and Owen added) Thomas F. G. Adams, 1827; John M. Young, 1828; Eli Dixon, 1829; James Galletly, 1830; (Owen now dropped) George Baber, 1831; Drury B. Boyd, 1832; John P. Storm, 1834; Drury B. Boyd, 1837; John F. Allison, 1838; James S. Freeman, 1840; John F. O'Neall, 1841; Lovell H. Rousseau, 1844; John Jones, 1846; Stephen Lock- wood, 1847; Richard H. Rousseau, 1848; Andrew Humphreys, 1849; A. Ham, 1851; John W. Fer- guson, 1853; Andrew Humphreys, 1857; E. H. C. Cavins, 1858; William G. Moss, 1861; John M. Humphreys, 1863; Thomas Mason, 1867; James A. Minnick, 1871; John R. Isinhower, 1872; M. C. Fulk, 1875; James R. Baxter, 1877; Jacob P. Mc- Intosh, 1881; A. S. Helm, 1882; John D. Alexan- der, 1887; William N. Darnell, 1889; Richard Huffman, 1891; Thomas Van Buskirk, 1893; How- ard Bucher, 1895; Charles E. Henderson, 1897; Wilbur A. Hays, 1899; Cyrus E. Davis, 1901; Wil- liam J. Hamilton, 1903; C. C. Ballard, 1905; Wil- bur A. Hays, 1907; C. F. Myers, 1909; Jesse Wcis- man, 1911; Clyde Yoho, 1913.


TREASURERS.


John Owen. . April 6, 1821


Hallett B. Dean. February, 1824


Norman W. Peirce .January, 1827


Moses Ritter 1832


Samuel D. Chipman 1834


E. P. Cushman 1835


John Hill 1841


William Mason 1843


Joseph Lyons 1852 James Harrah 1856


J. B. Stropes 1858


D. A. Bynum 1862


Henry C. Owen


1866


David Butcher 1870


H. V. Norvell 1874


H. T. Neal


1878


E. R. Stropes 1882


J. E. Bull 1886


John French 1890


Noah Brown 1892


C. C. Ballard 1896


Joseph Moss 1902


B. B. Mitten 1906


Elmer Shirtz (died May 8) 1908


John Shirtz 1908


J. S. James 1909


John W. Johnson 1912


John W. Johnson 1914


CLERKS.


Thomas Warnick April 27, 1821-35


Samuel R. Cavins 1835-55


John M. Humphreys 1855-59


John L. Milam


1859-65


John T. Smith .1865-70


David S. Whittaker .1870-78


John F. Slinkard 1878-82


Henry Gastineau 1882-86


Frank Ramsey 1886-94


John W. Graham 1894-98


Joseph W. Yakey 1898-1907


Clyde Yoho


1907-15


Kerby Ashcraft 1915-


AUDITORS.


Thomas Warnick (ex officio) 1821-35


Samuel R. Cavins (ex officio) 1835-41


Thomas Carson (elected) 1841-46


Samuel R. Cavins (ex officio) 1846-53


John Jones (elected)


1853-59


Joseph Lyons 1859-67


O. T. Barker


1867-71


J. N. Connelly


1871-74


William P. Stropes


.1874-78


John L. Harrell 1878-86


James Harrell 1886-


Andrew J. Cox 1886-90


Thomas C. Owen


1890-94


Harvey L. Doney 1894-1902


William H. Deckard .1902-08


Peter M. Cook


1908-12


Caswell Jennings


1912-16


George E. Kidd


1916-


RECORDERS.


George E. Shroyer was elected in 1821, but did not qualify; duties were performed by Thomas Warnick till 1835.


Samuel R. Cavins


.1835-55


E. P. Cushman


1855-58


John B. Cushman


1858-59


Hugeo East


1859-67


J. T. Oliphant


1867-70


D. B. Hatfield 1870-78


John A. Pate 1878-86


Joseph G. Smith 1886-90


Charles B. Kemp


1890-94


James H. Persons 1894-1903


Edgar H. Sherwood 1903-08


Newton Vaughn 1908-12


Charles E. Fuller 1912-16


Charles E. Fuller 1916-


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DEMOCRACY-1816-1916


HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816 -1916


CORONERS.


Eli Dixon January 5, 1821


Cornelius Bogard August, 1821


J. B. Landers 1824


Vincent Lester 1825


Stephen Stalcup


1828


John A. Pegg


1830


Samuel Steel


1834


W. T. Wright


1836


W. C. Hicks


1837


Henry Kelsey 1838


W. C. Hicks


1839


Samuel C. Green


1843


John Cole


1845


Jacob Bland


1848


Eli Sparks


1850


Edward West 1852


W. W. Gainey 1854


John W. Osborn


1856


Wm. Flynn


1857


John Bledsoe


1860


J. G. Warnick


1861


Dr. Holt 1862


Geo. Steele 1864


Robert Baker 1866


Richard Hardesty


1870


Robert Baker


1872


David Armstrong


1876


Newton Heaton


1878


J. O. Burbank 1879


Wm. Ax 1884


Phillip Franklin 1888


James P. Denton


1890


John H. Ghun 1892


Wm. Ax 1896


Peter Oliphant 1900


Geo. B. Gray 1902


Chas. L. Bonham 1906


C. H. Jennings


1908


Ben MeLaughlin 1910


John E. Talbot 1912


C. B. Collins


1914


SURVEYORS.


John Stockeley 1821


Mark O'Neal 1821


Hans Stalcup


1831


Philander Burr 1853


Alexander Plummer


1855


C. M. Moss


1861


James D. Knapp


1865


Alexander Plummer


1870


W. W. Clogston


1876


Frank Shepherd 1878


F. M. Parker 1879


F. M. Parker 1884


W. W. Clogston


1886


E. Fide Cox


1890


W. W. Clogston 1896


Samuel N. Yeoman 1900


Roland H. Blacklidge. 1902


Chas. C. Parker


1904


Frank A. Gagby 1908


W. W. Clogston 1910


Thom Robertson 1912


Elmer O'Neal 1914


SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.


Carpus Shaw 1835


Wm. Mason 1842


W. D. Lester 1843


A. S. Rhodes 1847


John B. Stropes


1847


W. D. Lester


1848


E. P. Cushman 1850-53


This ended the school commissioners. In 1851 the county voted free schools by a majority of 623, having voted the proposition down on three previous elections.


SCHOOL EXAMINERS.


John R. Hudson June, 1853


E. H. C. Cavins December, 1853


Wm. Mack March, 1854


S. L. Stoddard


1856


A. P. Axtell 1856


1856


The last named three constituted the board for 1857.


David L. Osborn 1858


Wm. Mack 1858


A. J. Axtell 1858


A. C. Hill 1861


A. J. Axtell 1861


James A. Dagley


1861


John T. Smith June, 1861


Under the new law of March, 1861:


Henry C. Hill 1861


in place of John T. Smith, resigned.


John R. Isenhower 1864


Lewis B. Edwards 1867


R. C. Hilburn 1871-73


This was the end of examiners and the begin- ning of


COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.


Reason C. Hilburn June, 1873


S. W. Axtell


1876


Sherman Ogg 1885


John T. Lamb 1886


Wm. M. Moss 1889


John L. Cravens 1893


Harvey L. Cushman 1895


Newton V. Meredith


1903


Christian Danielson 1907


Daniel McIntosh


1909


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William Mack


HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.


Thomas Plummer March, 1821


David Deem 1821


Peter Herrington 1821


Jonathan Lindley 1822


Hiram Haywood 1823


The county Justices transacted business till


Nov., 1827.


Jonathan Lindley . Nov. 27, 1827


Benson Jones . Nov. 27, 1827


John Crooks Nov. 27, 1827


Stephen Stone 1828


James Warnick 1829


Samuel Simons 1830


Benson Jones 1830


Joel Sexson 1832


Benson Jones 1833


Samuel Simons 1833


The county Justices in September again trans- acted the business until 1837.


Samuel Simons 1837


Wm. O'Neal 1837


Jesse Rainbolt 1837


Wm. O'Neal 1838


Jesse Rainbolt


1839


Samuel Simons 1840


Wm. O'Neal 1841


Fred Slinkard 1842


James Fuller 1842


Samuel Simons 1843


1844


James Fuller 1845


Samuel Simons 1846


Alfred Kutch


1847


Jesse Rainbolt 1847


Adam Stropes 1847


Jeremiah Stone


1848


Samuel Simons 1849


Alfred Kutch 1850


Jeremiah Stone


1850


Samuel Simons 1852


Aaron Hagaman 1853


Abraham Spainhower


1853


Jeremiah Stone 1853


Aaron Hagaman 1854


Adam Stropes 1856


Andrew Raper 1857


Aaron Hagaman 1857


Aaron Bland 1858


Abraham Spainhower


1858


Aaron Hagaman


1859


J. F. Jamison 1860


Abraham Spainhower


1861 John Jones 1861


G. C. Morgan 1862


J. F. Jamison 1863


John Jones


1864


G. C. Morgan 1865


Wm. Hert 1866


John G. Owen 1866


David Bonham 1867


John R. Hudson


1869


Wilson Humphreys 1870


J. M. Cravens 1870


Jacob Nellinger 1872


Wm. C. Winters 1872


Frank Stalcup .1873


J. M. Cravens 1873


Elijah Robbitt 1875


Carpus N. Shaw 1876


Frank Stalcup .1876


John R. Hudson .1878


1879


Wilson Humphreys


1879


Moses Crockett


1881


John Miller, Jr.


1882


Robert T. McKee 1882


Moses Crockett 1882


Wilbur A. Hayes 1884


1885


John T. Breeden


1887


Simon Bland 1890


Wm. A. McCland 1891


Henry C. Owen 1892


Stephen Anderson 1893


Wm. Exline


1894


Lafayette Jessup


1895


Andrew Bucher


1898


Geo. W. Marshall


1899


James D. Haseman 1900


David L. Squires 1904


Horatio Hunt 1905


Theo. Carmichael 1906


James T. Roach 1907


George Davidson 1908


A. M. Bucher 1909


Theo. Carmichael 1910


Thom Henry .1911


John A. Poe 1912


Vincent Hoke 1914


Alonzo Miller 1916


COUNTY ASSESSORS


James L. Harrell 1892


John F. Freeland 1896


Andrew O'Donald 1900


Wm. O. Titus 1906


James Anderson


.1910


Lilburn Jackson 1914


JUDICIARY.


In September, 1821, J. Doty, as presiding judge and John L. Buskirk, associate judge, held the first session of the Greene circuit court at the house of Thomas Bradford, one mile south of where Bloomfield now stands. Henry Merrick was appointed prosecuting attorney. There were two


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Abraham Spainhower


David L. Osborne


Alfred Kutch


HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916


cases on the docket, both of which were dismissed. John L. Buskirk was allowed two dollars ($2.00) salary for one year's service. In February, 1822, the next term was held at the same place by Thomas Bradford and John L. Buskirk, associate judges. Addison Smith was prosecuting attorney. At this term Robert Anderson was naturalized, he being the first in Greene county. The August term was held by William Wick, as presiding judge, and Thomas Bradford, associate judge, at the court house in Burlington, the county seat at that time. The March term, 1823, was held by William Wick, presiding judge, and Martin Wines, associate judge. Smith Elkins was prose- cutor. At this term Richard Huffman was fined thirty-seven and one-half cents for fighting. The May term, 1824, was held by Jacob Call, presiding judge, and Bradford and Wines, associates. At the October term John R. Porter was presiding judge with the same associates. The May term, 1825, was held at Bloomfield, Judge Call presid- ing, with John Law prosecuting attorney, which place he held until 1830. Judge Porter was pre- siding judge of the October term, which place he held until 1830. This year, Wm. B. Morris ap- peared as associate judge.


In the year 1826 Levi Fellows and Robert Smith appeared as associate judges. There was no change in the officers for two years. At the June term, 1829, Samuel R. Cavins appeared as associate judge.


Probate Court.


Willis D. Lester was the first probate judge and held the office until 1843; was elected again in 1849 and held the office until the court was abolished, in 1853.


Circuit Court.


In 1830 John Law was elected by the legislature judge of circuit court, E. M. Huntington prose- cutor, each for a term of seven years. At the October term G. W. Johnson acted as presiding judge (Judge Law having legislated out of the circuit). Norman W. Pierce appeared as associate judge, succeeding Judge Fellows. In 1832 Emory Kinney appeared as presiding judge and held the office for five years. John Robison succeeded Judge Pierce as associate judge.


In 1834 William S. Cole succeeded Judge Robi- son and Judge Bradford again appeared as asso- ciate judge. David McDonald appeared as prose- cuting attorney at one term and John Cowgill at the other. In 1837 E. M. Huntington appeared as presiding judge and remained for two years. In 1838 Judge Fellows appeared as associate judge to take the place of Judge Cole, whose term of office had expired. During this period David McDonald seems to appear more frequently as prosecuting attorney; however, the record seems


somewhat confused and shows that C. P. Hester and D. R. Eckles sometime appear as prosecuting attorney.


In 1839 David McDonald appeared as judge and John S. Watts as prosecuting attorney, McDon- ald remaining in office until 1852. In 1841 L. B. Edwards and Joel B. Sexson were associate judges. In 1843 John R. Stone was probate judge and William G. Quick was prosecuting attorney for the two years following. In 1845 Craven B. Hester was made prosecutor and served until 1849. This year Augustus L. Rhodes was elected prosecuting attorney and Jesse Rainbolt asso- ciate judge, and continued in office until it was abolished. Judge William D. Lester was elected probate judge this same year.


At the September term, 1851, William M. Franklin appeared as prosecuting attorney and held that office until 1853. This year James Hughes appeared as judge of the circuit court- the first judge elected by popular vote in this cir- cuit.


Judge Prosecuting Attorney


James Hughes 1853 Wm. E. McLean


James Hughes 1854 A. B. Carlton


James Hughes 1855 Francis L. Neff


Jas. M. Hanna 1856 M. A. Osborn


Solomon Claypool 1858 G. W. Pierce


Solomon Claypool. 1860 W. G. Neff


D. R. Eckles 1864. Michael Malott


D. R. Eckles 1866 John S. Brodwell


D. R. Eckles.


1868 .John C. Robison


W. M. Franklin.


1870


John C. Robison


W. M. Franklin. 1873 A. M. Cunning


W. M. Franklin. 1874 .A. M. Cunning


John C. Robison. 1876. S. O. Pickens


John C. Robison. 1880 .John D. Alexander


A. M. Cunning. 1882 .John D. Alexander


Geo. W. Buff


1883. .John D. Alexander


Geo. W. Buff


1886 . Sam W. Axtell


John C. Briggs 1888 . Wm. C. Hultz


John C. Briggs 1892 W. L. Slinkard


W. W. Moffett. 1894 . Chas. D. Hunt


O. B. Harris 1900 E. W. McIntosh


O. B. Harris. 1902 John A. Riddle


O. B. Harris.


1804 John W. Lindley


C. E. Henderson


1906 J. B. Philbert


C. E. Henderson 1908 Walter F. Wood


C. E. Henderson. 1910 James M. Hudson


Theo. Slinkard. 1912 W. Ray Collins


Common Pleas Court.


Judge District Attorney


Wm. M. Franklin. .. 1853 .Fred Brown


Wm. M. Franklin. 1854. . Oliver Ash


F. T. Brown. 1856. Michael Malott


F. T. Brown. 1858 Geo. W. Throop


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.C. C. Matson


W. M. Franklin. 1872


HISTORY


INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916


Judge District Attorney


F. T. Brown. 1860. . Harry Burns


F. T. Brown.


1862 S. W. Curtis


Wm. M. Franklin. 1864 Patrick Haney


Wm. M. Franklin 1866 . John C. Robison


Harry Burns 1868 C. C. Matson


Harry Burns 1872. Samuel McGregor


(Court abolished.)


There have been in the history of Greene county only two Republican judges and two Re- publican prosecuting attorneys. At the present time-every officer in Greene county, both elec- tive and appointive, with the exception of repre- sentative, is a Democrat.


Some Eminent Members of Bar.


James Whitcomb was admitted in 1822; after- ward was governor of the state of Indiana.


John Law, admitted 1823; afterward judge of circuit court and served several terms in Con- gress.


Tilghman A. Howard, admitted 1831; after- ward went to Congress and was Democratic can- didate for governor.


In 1833 Paris C. Dunning and Delana R. Eckles were admitted. Dunning later was governor of state and Eckles judge of same court. This year David McDonald also was admitted. He also be- came judge of the same court and later judge of the district court of the United States and author of "McDonald's Treatises." In 1836 William A. Gorman was admitted; afterward colonel in the Mexican war, general in the Civil war, member of Congress and governor of Minnesota.


Wm. Huntington was admitted in 1837; after- ward appointed judge of the district court of the United States.


In 1839 Richard W. Thomson, George G. Dunn and John S. Watts were admitted. R. W. Thom- son afterwards was member of Congress and Secretary of Navy. George G. Dunn served sev- eral terms in Congress. John Watts was appoint- ed federal judge of New Mexico, where he re- mained during his life.


In 1841 Lovell H. Rousseau located at Bloomfield and was admitted to practice; was captain of a company of soldiers in the Mexican war; was pro- moted to major general in the Civil war; served one term in Congress, and at the time of his death was brigadier general in the regular army. In 1844 S. H. Buskirk was admitted and afterward was one of the ablest judges of the supreme court.


In 1849 Wm. M. Franklin was admitted. He afterward was prosecuting attorney, judge of common pleas and circuit courts, and commissioner of supreme court. Augustus L. Rhodes also was admitted this year; afterward was judge of the supreme court of California for sixteen years.


In 1851 W. P. Hammond was admitted, and afterward was governor of the state; also Daniel McClure, who later became secretary of state and afterward assistant paymaster-general in the army.


J. B. Usher was admitted 1852; later became Secretary of the Interior in President Lincoln's Cabinet.


James Hughes was elected judge of the circuit court in 1853. He was the first judge elected by popular vote. Afterward was elected to Congress; was appointed judge of court of claims by Presi- dent Buchanan. In this year Andrew Humphreys, the "Dean of Democracy" in Greene county, was admitted. He served in both branches of the Legislature and was elected to Congress. In 1858 J. M. Hanna resigned as judge of circuit court, having been elected judge of the supreme court.


BLOOMFIELD DEMOCRAT.


The Bloomfield Democrat dates its origin from 1860. However, it was known as the Greene County Times until 1864, when its name was changed to the Southern Indianian, with the motto: "The Constitution as it is. The Union as it was."


In 1867 its name was changed to the Bloomfield Democrat, which name it still bears. The first ed- itor was E. E. Rose, who edited the paper until 1861. James E. Riley was editor from 1861 till November, 1862, when Henry B. Woolls took charge of the paper with success till November, 1863. E. B. Barnard and James C. Nabb jointly edited the paper till 1864. Then Mr. Barnard be- came sole editor and manager, and continued the publication until January, 1866, when Clark B. Humphreys became editor until March, 1867, when James E. Riley again became editor and changed the name to Bloomfield Democrat. In 1868 J. R. Isenhower became editor and was suc- ceeded in November, 1868, by Ogle & Leek, who continued to edit the paper till 1873, when the management was secured by W. P. Stropes, who conducted the paper with considerable success till July, 1880. William M. Moss took charge until 1882, when he leased the paper to W. L. Slinkard and G. H. Hendren, who conducted it till 1895, when it was taken charge of by C. E. Davis and W. V. Moffett, who edited same till 1897. Then the paper was sold to - - Barron, who in turn sold to R. McNeil, he selling the same to G. H. Hendren in 1909. Mr. Hendren managed the pa- per till 1910, when he was succeeded by H. W. Moore, who edited the same till 1911, when W. L. Slinkard became sole editor and proprietor.


The Democrat has been a power in politics since its advent, always being true to the party prin- ciples, as well as being the newsiest paper ever edited in the county.


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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAMILTON COUNTY


By Hugh Anthony Maker


W RITING the history of the Democratic party of Hamilton county is a task sim- ilar to the one that devolved upon St. Paul when he was called upon to define "Faith." St. Paul defined "Faith" as "The substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."


The history of the Hamilton county Democracy for the last 60 years is but the annal of a suc- cession of defeats of as noble and self-sacrificing an aggregation of men as ever labored for the enforcement of what they thought to be right and best for the commonwealth in which they lived.




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