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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