History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 87

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

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Factions arising and various elements combin- ing in the Republican party, resulting in the for- mation of the Progressive party, gave the Demo- cratic party a "walk-over" in 1912. But, because of the return of the Progressives to the Repub- lican party and the dissatisfaction arising among Democrats from the disposition of the patronage after the election of 1912, in 1916 the opposition had returned to an old-time majority of about 1,500. In short, to be a Democrat in Hamilton county required some nerve and self-abnegation in days past, and it is the boast of the author of this sketch that men of Hamilton county are "Democrats from principle and not for revenue only."

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

H ANCOCK COUNTY is located in the cen- tral part of Indiana. It is bounded on the west by Marion county. Greenfield, the county seat, is on the National Road, about twenty miles east of the city of Indianapolis. In size it is an average county of the State, being composed of 307 square miles and containing 196,480 acres. It was originally a part of Madi- son county, and was organized as a separate county in 1828 and named in honor of John Han- cock, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The industrial pursuits of the people are pre- eminently agricultural. The land is level or gently rolling. The soil is fertile and will produce in abundance any crop adapted to this climate. In fact, Hancock county is regarded by its people as the garden spot of the earth, and the sentiment prevails that whoever cannot "make it" on a farm here need not attempt farming elsewhere.

The county has a population of a little over 19,000. Greenfield, the only city, has a popula- tion of about 5,000. New Palestine, Wilkinson, Fortville and Shirley are incorporated towns with from 450 to 1,500 inhabitants, respectively, ac- cording to the census of 1910.

Politically, the county has for more than a half century had a strong Democratic majority. The county offices during this time have practically always been occupied by Democrats. In one elec- tion, 1886, the offices of auditor, clerk and re- corder were lost by the Democrats, but with this exception the administration of the county affairs has been entrusted to Democratic officers. In only one township, Blue River, have the Democrats al- ways been in the minority, and only twice has this township elected Democratic township trustees- James New in 1863 and Harry L. Fletcher in 1914. In each instance the opposing party was divided into two camps, thereby enabling the Dem- ocrats to elect their candidate. In Jackson town- ship the Democrats have generally been consid- ered the minority party, but the margin has al- ways been so narrow that it has frequently been overcome by a careful selection of men in mak- ing up the Democratic ticket. The following Dem- ocratic township trustees have been elected in Jackson township:

Burd Lacy 1859

Philip Stinger 1867

James B. Clark 1871

A. V. B. Sample. 1874

James F. McClarnon 1880

A. V. B. Sample. 1882

George C. Burnett 1904

In Brandywine township the history of Democ- racy has been unbroken in local affairs. All of the township trustees have been Democrats. In Brown, Buck Creek, Center, Green, Sugar Creek and Vernon townships the administration of local affairs has been under the control of the Demo- cratic party, with but very few interruptions, since the organization of the county.

DEMOCRATIC MASS CONVENTION, 1843

In an old copy of the Greenfield Reveille, pub- lished in April, 1845, we have possibly the oldest report of a political mass convention in the county. It was a Democratic convention, but the Reveille was a Whig newspaper, and, of course, the pro- ceedings of the convention are made to appear as ridiculous as possible. It is worthy of notice, however, that even at that early date there was opposition within Democratic ranks to local dele- gate conventions. Following is the report:

"In accordance with a previous notice a mass convention was held on the 26th inst., the pro- ceedings of which would no doubt be interesting to our friends generally and edifying to our readers.

"About 10 o'clock a. m. the untiring Democ- racy were seen emerging from the beech woods which surround our peaceful village. True, the woods were not entirely darkened by their num- bers, yet every avenue leading to the neighbor- hood of Esquire Franklin's restaurant was not unbroken.

"On the arrival of a number from the country we heard an eternal warfare sworn against the proposal for a convention to nominate county of- ficers-dissensions that at first view seemed in- curable presented themselves from different points. Independence of opinion and action was asserted, and how well maintained will appear in the sequel. Against 2 o'clock the refractory por- tion. being whipped into the traces, the Democ- racy retired to the court house. General Milroy being called to the chair, he endeavored to explain the object of the meeting, which he, however, failed to do to the satisfaction of some of his friends.

"On motion a committee of three were ap- pointed, but their duties not explained. After some misunderstandings had been explained, the said committee was increased to five; again after another consultation it was thought best to have a committee from each township in the county. When the townships were called four were un- represented. (Afterwards one or two were rep-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

resented.) The committee were then ordered to retire, consult and report to the meeting. But when about retiring one of the committee, more thoughtful than the rest, called on the chair to know what they should report, as he had yet to learn what duties were assigned to the committee. The chair endeavored to explain by informing the committee that 'the enemy was abroad in the land,' that 'those levelers, the Whigs, were on the alert and must be kicked sky high!' (He did not call them public defaulters, as we awfully feared he would do in the warmth of his feelings.) He said he was a Democrat, commencing with the days of Jefferson, and was still a Democrat, and the committee could retire.

"The committee, although their duties did not seem explained by the chairman, retired to guess at them, we suppose.

"Whereupon Dr. Hervey moved, 'Dr. Cook make a remark.' Dr. Cook was excused for the time, and Dr. Hervey proceeded in effusing the most - . He is a whole menagerie, and kicks, pushes, strikes and everything else manfully. He brings to our mind that beautiful line of the poet : 'Bulls aim their horns and asses lift their heels.'

"He said that 'before the presidential election the Whigs were opposed to annexation,' but asks with an air of triumph, 'Where is now one found to oppose the admission of the State of Texas? If such an one could be found he could be laughed at till he put comic almanacs out of fashion.' We leave others to judge of his political discoveries. But he proceeded: 'No, Democracy, like the roll- ing stream' (casting up its filthy sediments) 'has an onward (progressive) course, and in fifty years there will be fifty united states.'

"The doctor is evidently a man of deep research. He spoke of Cæsar crossing the 'Rubico,' and of the 'navigable ocean,' asked where is the man in Indianner that would say he was a 'reprudreater'? (We thought of his friend Chapman, an avowed repudiator, but no difference, all discordant ele- ments harmonize in the general name of Democ- racy !)

"W. H. Anderson, a gentleman particularly dis- tinguished for advocating the sentiment 'that God is a Democrat,' and therefore wants his friends 'to be on the Lord's side,' was called on to address the meeting, but declined doing so.

"R. A. Riley was then called and responded in a short address, endeavoring to justify the acts of violence done to the people's will and a total disregard of their rights by the State Senate in staving off the U. S. senatorial election.

"A series of resolutions were introduced by Esquire Riley, proposing to hold a convention on the first Saturday in June to nominate county offi- cers, which were adopted.

"We, however, discovered some of the old and anti-progressive Democrats whose arms and voices were raised in opposition to this proceed- ing. One of them explained the 'Almighty made everything else, but never made a convention' to dictate. They were opposed to it because it was anti-Democratic because it was dictating to and whipping Democrats into the traces contrary to their better judgment. They were opposed to it because two individuals assumed to control the whole matter, made every motion of importance, and that with an eye to their own particular in- terests-because the county was not represented; whole townships being without a voice in the mat- ter, and at no time more than sixty persons pres- ent, including Whigs, Abolitionists and little boys; because two individuals acting in concert for their mutual interest, should not dictate to, control and rule at pleasure seven hundred freemen!

"But our opinion is that the Democracy will hold a secret caucus and back out from this one- sided convention. It matters not, however, as the Whigs will make a clean sweep this year in Han- cock. Chapman will crow no longer, although in his concluding remarks he offered the olive branch to the Whigs! We know how to meet that old arch-intriguer. We have not time for a further account this week. More anon."

Among the men who were active in the inter- ests of Democracy in the very early days of the county Joseph Chapman should probably be named first. Joseph Chapman came to this county from Ohio in 1829. In 1832 he was elected county clerk and served his county as representative in the Lower House of the Legislature in 1837, 1839, 1840, 1842 and 1843. He was an astute politi- cian, of magnetic personality, and a gifted speaker. He not only stumped this county in cam- paign after campaign, but with his oratorical power he rendered his party invaluable service in all parts of the State. The Democracy of Han- cock county found efficient leadership in him, and it is difficult to estimate now how much the con- tinued loyalty of the county to Democratic stand- ards is due to his early enthusiasm and his untir- ing efforts in behalf of his party.

To Chapman belongs the honor of having given to the party its national emblem, the rooster. It was in the campaign of 1840, after the financial panic in Van Buren's administration, when things looked gloomy for the Democracy of the country, that George Pattison, editor of The Constitution, a Democratic newspaper of Indianapolis, heard of a serious defection from the Democratic ranks of Hancock county. He wrote William Sebastian, postmaster at Greenfield, and one of the Demo- cratic leaders of the county, the following letter :

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

"Indianapolis, June 12, 1840. "Mr. Sebastian :

"Dear Sir-I have been informed by a Demo- crat that in one part of your county thirty Van Buren men have turned for Harrison. Please let me know if such be the fact. Hand this letter to General Milroy. I think such a deplorable state of facts can not exist. If so, I will visit Hancock county and address the peo- ple relative to the policy of the Democratic party. I have no time to spare, but I will refuse to eat or sleep or rest so long as anything can be done. Do, for heaven's sake, stir up the De- mocracy. See Chapman; tell him not to do as he did heretofore. He used to create unneces- sary alarms; he must crow; we have much to crow over. I will insure this county to give a Democratic majority of 200 votes. Spare no pains. Write instanter.

"GEORGE PATTISON."

This letter accidentally fell into the hands of the Whigs, who published it on June 16, 1840, in the Indianapolis Semi-Weekly Journal, the lead- ing Whig newspaper in the State, for the purpose of ridiculing the Democrats. In this it failed ut- terly. "Crow, Chapman, crow!" became the slogan of the local Democracy in that campaign. It soon spread over the State, and when the Indi- ana State Sentinel, a Democratic State newspaper, was launched on July 21, 1841, it contained at the top of the front page the picture of a proud rooster and under the picture the words, "Crow, Chapman, crow!" The phrase caught the popu- lar ear, and the rooster was soon adopted as the emblem of our great Democratic party. The story of our national emblem is full of interest and should be read by every loyal Democrat. Its fuller history, together with letters, photographs and newspaper clippings of the time, has been written and published in very artistic form by John Mitchell, Jr., of the William Mitchell Printing Company, of Greenfield, Ind. It is only fair to say of that loyal Democrat, Joseph Chapman, however, that he was just as patriotic and loyal to his country as he was to his party. For many years now he has rested in an unmarked grave on one of the battlefields of the Mexican war.

Among the wheel-horses of the Democracy of that time should be mentioned John Addison of Jackson township; Joseph Wright of Buck Creek township; William New of Blue River township; Benjamin F. Reeves of Brown township; Welling- ton Collyer of Brandywine township, and John Dye of Sugar Creek township. All of these men, and many others, were active in the interest of Democracy in that early day, and up until the time of the Civil war. True, party lines were not as closely drawn in the thirties and forties as they

are now, and men who were well known over the county were elected to office regardless of party affiliations. In 1856, however, the county went solidly Democratic and remained Democratic un- til during the Civil war. With the Civil war came a new alignment of parties. The leadership of the old alignment of the Democratic party was left in the hands of such men as Thomas D. Wal- pole, George Atkison, Morgan Chandler, Berry W. Cooper, John C. Atkison, William New, James L. Mason and their co-workers, while a wing of the Democracy of the county, known as the War Dem- ocrats, or Union men, was led by David S. Good- ing, Henry Swope, Lysander Sparks and others. The War Democrats allied themselves with others of their own political convictions and formed the Union party. In 1863 the Union party put a ticket into the field made up as follows:

For Auditor-Lysander Sparks, Democrat. For Clerk-Henry Swope, Democrat.

For Treasurer-Nelson Bradley, Republican. For Recorder-Amos C. Beeson, Republican. For Sheriff-William Caldwell, Republican.

This ticket was elected. But with the close of the war all party factions disappeared. War Democrats and Democrats were again amalga- mated into one Democracy, whose strength has always been such in this county that the nomina- tion of its candidates has been equivalent to elec- tion. In 1896 the party aligned itself with much enthusiasm under the banner of William J. Bryan and ever since that time has given the principles enunciated by him the most ardent and loyal sup- port.

During the Civil war period, and for many years prior thereto, David S. Gooding was one of the most prominent party leaders of the county. He was portly, of strong personality, an able law- yer and a powerful speaker. He was chairman of the County Democratic Central Committee from 1856 until 1863. As an orator he was in demand in all campaigns from Maine to California. As early as 1847 he represented his county in the lower branch of the State Legislature. In 1848 he was elected county prosecuting attorney. In 1852 he was elected common pleas judge, in 1856 state senator, and in 1861 was again elected com- mon pleas judge. In 1866 he was appointed United States marshal for the District of Columbia, which position he held until 1869. Upon return- ing to his home at Greenfield he again became an active worker in the interests of Democracy and stumped the State in every campaign for another quarter of a century. Among the co-workers of Gooding in county politics during and immediately after the Civil war mention should be made of Henry Swope, who was the Democratic county chairman for a period of eight or ten years, who

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

was also clerk of the common pleas court, and who was prominent as a Democrat and a citizen of this county for many years. Among others were Dr. Noble P. Howard, Sr .; Noble Warrum, Adams L. Ogg, Dr. S. A. Troy, E. H. Faut, Alex K. Bran- ham and Jesse Allen.

Among the younger men who grew into promi- nence in the councils of the party after the Civil war Charles G. Offutt served his county with dis- tinction in the Lower House of the State Legisla- ture in 1872 and as judge of the Hancock circuit court, 1894-1900; Ephraim Marsh served as clerk of the Hancock circuit court, 1874-1882, was the Democratic county chairman for several years and was later secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee; Stokes Jackson, one of the most untiring Democratic workers in the county, was the Democratic county chairman for several years, was chairman of the State Democratic Cen- tral Committee and was sergeant-at-arms of the Lower House of Congress at the time of his death in July, 1912.

Among the Democrats now living who have been elected or appointed to positions of honor and trust are Edward W. Felt, on the appellate bench, and Omer S. Jackson, a deputy in the office of the Attorney-General, both of the State of Indiana. At present Mr. Jackson is chairman of the State Democratic Speakers' Bureau.

For more than a half century the party has had the advantage of a strong local press. During the fifties The Hancock Democrat was founded by a stock company with David S. Gooding as its editor. In 1859 William Mitchell, master printer and publisher, bought out all the stockholders and took full charge of the paper. Since that time the Democrat has remained in the family of the Mitch- ells. In 1876 John F. Mitchell, an elder son, after a long apprenticeship, assumed the management of the plant. In 1907 John F. Mitchell, Jr., en- tered the firm with his father, and they now own and publish the paper.

From the day that William Mitchell bought the establishment to the present its columns have been full of bristling Democracy. Under the efficient management of the Mitchells the Democrat is much quoted by other papers and is recognized as one of the leading Democratic papers of the State.

Another Democratic newspaper that was pub- lished in the county was The Jeffersonian. The first issue of The Jeffersonian was printed in June, 1878, by R. G. Strickland. The policy of the paper was well expressed in its name. Mr. Strickland remained its editor and proprietor un- til 1890, when he sold his interest to Eugene Lewis. Later the paper changed hands several times, and after 1897 it was published as The Herald. Its publication was discontinued in 1907.

Among the men who have directed the local pol- icies of the party as chairman of the County Dem- ocratic Central Committee since 1860 are the fol- lowing :

1860-J. A. Hall.

1861-Benjamin F. Caldwell.

1866-John W. Ryon.

1867-Alfred Potts.

1868-M. L. Paullus.

1868-Jacob Slifer.

1870-William Frost.

1870-Jacob Slifer.

1872-George Barnett.

1874-George Barnett.

1876-George Barnett.

1878-Morgan Chandler.

1880-Ephraim Marsh.

1882-Ephraim Marsh.

1884-Andrew Hagan.

1886-Andrew Hagan.

1888-U. S. Jackson.

1890-U. S. Jackson.

1892-I. A. Curry.

1894-E. W. Felt.

1896-George W. Ham.

1898-E. W. Felt.

1900-Charles J. Richman.

1902-George Crider.

1904-H. D. Barrett.

1906-Lawrence Wood.

1908-Lawrence Wood.

1910-Richard Hagans.

1911-Clint Parker.

1912-William Service.

1914-Thomas Seaman.

1916-R. L. Ogg.

1918-Plutarch Montrose.

The following are the men now entrusted with the administration of county affairs:

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

Roland Jessup, Eastern district.

John Burk, Middle District.

Pleasant T. Paush, Western district.

Representative-George H. Cooper.

Judge of Hancock Circuit Court-Earl Sample.

Court Bailiff-Ed. Hope.

Court Reporter-Charles Walker.

Prosecuting Attorney-George L. Tindall.

County Attorney-John Hinchman.

Auditor-Harvey J. Rhue.

Clerk-Horace E. Wilson.

Treasurer-Thomas A. Seaman.

Recorder-John T. Rush. Sheriff-John Mulvihill.

County Assessor-Eli A. Parish.

County Surveyor-Charles Boone. Coroner-J. B. Ellingwood.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

County Health Commissioner-Dr. William H. Larrabee.

County Road Superintendent-Charles N. War- ren.

County Superintendent of Schools-George J. Richman.

The following are the Township Trustees, who by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of 1911, have continued in office for a term of six years :

Blue River Township, O. J. Coffin.

Brandywine Township, William A. Scott.

Brown Township, Ord Kuhn.

Buck Creek, John F. Wallace.

Center, Abram W. Frost.

Green, Daniel J. Warrum.

Jackson, William T. Orr.

Sugar Creek, John Burkhart.

Vernon, R. C. M. Smith.

All of the men named above except the Trus- tees of Blue River and Jackson Townships are Democrats. John F. Shelby and Clarence Luse have both resigned from the office in Buck Creek Township, and John F. Wallace finished the term.

The following men were elected to the office of Township Trustee and assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1915:

Blue River, Harry L. Fletcher.

Brandywine, Orlen F. Thomas.

Brown, James A. VanDuyn.

Buck Creek, William Humfleet.

Center, Rufus Temple. Green, Walter A. Jackson.

Jackson, Marshall N. Hittle.

Sugar Creek, Scott Brandenburg.

Vernon, William C. Vanlaningham.

All are Democrats except the Trustee of Jack- son Township, who is a Republican. Though the county is strongly Democratic and the Republican Trustees are in the minority, the County Board of Education, composed of the Township Trustees and others, in the management of school matters and in the general execution of its duties is non- partisan. The Board considers all matters on their merits, and acts as a unit, without thought or consideration of politics, for the best interests of the schools.

BRYAN AND FREE SILVER.

Following the nomination of Bryan at Chicago in 1896 the Democracy of the county rallied en- thusiastically to his support. Stokes Jackson was delegate to the national Democratic convention and was also a member of the "notification com- mittee" that brought to Mr. Bryan the news that he had been nominated for the presidency by the Democratic party. No party in the county has ever given any candidate a more enthusiastic and

more loyal support than the Democracy of the county has given to Mr. Bryan in each of his campaigns.

The Democrats of the county were thoroughly imbued with the idea of free silver, and on June 6, 1896, just a few days prior to the Center Town- ship Democratic convention, copies of the follow- ing notice were sent to practically all of the Dem- ocratie voters of the township:

"Greenfield, Ind., May 30, 1896.

"Dear Sir-The township Democratic conven- tion for the selection of delegates to the state, congressional, senatorial and joint representative conventions will be held at the court room in the city of Greenfield, on Saturday, June 6, 1896, at 2 o'clock p. m. You are earnestly requested to see your friends and neighbors and urge them to be present, as it is important on account of the action which is desired to be taken, instructing all delegates to vote for platform and candidates who are in favor of the restoration of silver to the position it occupied before its demonetization in 1873 by the Republican party. Free and un- limited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 is the battle-ery of the Democracy for 1896. There is likely to be an effort made to carry the conven- tion for a gold standard, but if all of the friends of silver attend this convention and do their duty silver will win the day.

"FRIENDS OF SILVER."

All the Democratie township conventions adopted resolutions during the summer of 1896 in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, and the defeat of Mr. Bryan at the polls did not shake the faith of the county. "Sixteen to One" was affectionately remembered for many years and the "peerless leader" remained the idol of the party. Through the influence of Mr. Jackson Mr. Bryan was brought to Greenfield on July 27, 1899. Great preparations were made for his reception. The city was decorated, a large cannon was pro- cured and it seemed that the entire county turned out en masse to hear him. He spoke at the fair- ground, and it was estimated that 20,000 people were present to hear the address. On June 22, 1903, Mr. Bryan again made two addresses at Greenfield, one on the east side of the court house and another at the opera house. On October 3, 1906, he spoke at Fortville, and then with a party came to Greenfield by automobile. The city was again decorated and an immense throng filled the streets on the east side of the court house to hear him. It is most likely true that Mr. Bryan has not had a more loyal county in the United States than Hancock.

A few Democrats in the county, including Eph- raim Marsh, Judge Offutt and E. H. Faut, were

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 87

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