History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 90

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

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No history of Jackson county would be true to political facts which omitted mention of Hon. Jason B. Brown, whose career, both professional and political, was largely confined to Jackson county. Born in 1839 in Dearborn county, he grew to manhood there. He went to Indianapolis before he was of legal age, where he studied law under Hon. Cyrus L. Dunham, who was then Sec- retary of State. In 1860 he engaged in the prac- tice of law in Brownstown, and soon became prominent at that bar. Six years later he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1862 and 1864 he was elected to the Legislature. In 1870 he represented his district in the State Senate. He was appointed by President Grant on March 26, 1873, Secretary of the Territory of Wyoming, which position he held until his resignation. In 1875 Mr. Brown became a resident of Seymour, where he made his home until he died, in 1899. Mr. Brown was elect- ed to Congress in 1888, 1890 and 1892, where his abilities received recognition by his appointment as chairman of the committee on elections. He was a candidate for re-election in the primaries in 1894, but was defeated by Mr. Stockslager, who was defeated in the election. Mr. Brown

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HISTORY £ INDIANA

DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

was always a Democrat, but did not support Hor- ace Greeley because he did not consider that nom- ination as consistent with his views as a Demo- crat.

Influential in local political history of Jackson county we name the following men and regret that space forbids more extended notice. Browns- town was the home of Judge Ralph Applewhite, a native of Mississippi, who spent a long and ac- tive life in the political affairs of Jackson county, contributing to Democratic policies at all times, but never a self-seeking politician.

John H. Burrell, a soldier in the Black Hawk war and in the Civil war, was long prominent in the councils of the Democratic party in Jack- son county and lived to a ripe old age upon his farm near Brownstown.

Others who were equally prominent were James F. Carr of Carr township, Judge Frank Emerson, Colonel John J. Cummins, James K. Hamilton, Hon. John R. Hamilton and several members of

the Robertson family, all of Brownstown and Hamilton townships.

Of the earlier Democratic politicians of Jack- son county none are now living. Hon. Alexander A. Davidson is perhaps the oldest and his mem- ory goes back over the greatest range of political activity. From him much of this material is gathered. He has been active in politics of Jack- son county for more than fifty years and is now living, sound, hale and hearty, honored by many citizens for his manifold talents and hearty good nature.

If space would permit extended notice would be given Hon. Thomas M. Honan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and later Attorney- General of the State; Hon. Joseph H. Shea, un- til recently Judge of the Appellate Court and now U. S. Ambassador to Santiago, Chile; Sen- ator Edward P. Elsner, Hon. O. O. Swails, now Judge of the Circuit Court, and Hon. S. A. Barnes, all of whom are now living in Seymour.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JASPER COUNTY

By William R. Nowels

D URING the session of the Legislature of 1834-35, the question of the disposition of the unorganized area of the Northwest Territory came up and after some discussion and investigation an act was passed forming the counties of Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, Starke, Mar- shall, Fulton, Adams, Wells, Whitley, DeKalb, Noble, Kosciusko, Steuben and Jay, of which the following is in relation to Jasper and Newton:

Section 12. That all the territory within the following boundary shall constitute a county to be known by the name of Jasper. Beginning at the southeast corner of Section 33, Township 24 north, Range 6 west, thence west to the line of the State of Illinois, thence north with the State line thirty miles, thence east with the line divid- ing Townships 28 and 29 north to the north- east corner of Section 4, Township 28 north, Range 6 west, thence south with the section line thirty miles to the place of beginning.

By these boundaries it will be observed that the original county of Jasper included the whole of Benton county, the present townships of Carpen- ter, Jordan and so much of Marion and Newton townships south of the line dividing Townships 28 and 29 north, together with the townships of Grant, Iroquois, Jefferson and Washington in the present limits of Newton county.

In 1836 Porter county was organized and in the year following Lake county, each of which took all the territory north of the Kankakee river.

In 1838 Jasper, which had been attached to White county, was organized as an independent county, Newton county being attached for some purposes and for others subject to White. In the following year, however, the Legislature passed "an act relative to the location of the county seat of Jasper, and for other purposes."

It was made the duty of the commissioners, in addition to the duties assigned them, to examine the survey of Jasper and Newton, with a view to their being consolidated, and if, after examina- tion the commissioners are satisfied that the in- terests of the two counties would be promoted by the union of the same, they are hereby authorized to fix the seat of justice in said enlarged territory, taking into view the peculiar situation of said territory in regard to prairie, timber, water privi- leges, and the known wishes of the citizens of dif- ferent parts of Jasper county being attached to other counties, and the seat of justice if consoli-

dated shall be called Newton. This act was ap- proved January 29, 1839.

The commissioners thus appointed found the plan of consolidating the two counties feasible, and accordingly located the county seat at the Falls of the Iroquois river with the name of Newton, thus striking the county of that name from the map of the State. In 1840 the county of Benton was formed, taking its territory from Jasper, the latter receiving by way of compensation thirty sections adjoining the southeast angle and now principally contained in Milroy township. In 1859, however, Newton county was revived, though shorn of much of its early dimensions, leaving Jasper in its present shape, and having a dimen- sion of 975 square miles.

AGRICULTURE.

The chief products are corn, barley, wheat and the usual varieties of vegetables found in this range of climate. Wheat was in early years sown upon the first plowing of the sod and bore good crops, but of late years this practice has not been successful. Wheat is not found so well adapted to the soil as to form a staple crop in recent years, and while it is still sown to a considerable extent, it is not the crop upon which the farmers place the most dependence. The county is especially adapted to the raising of stock. As a grazing county it has scarcely an equal. Grass grows here in abundance and truly cattle "lie down in green pastures."

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.

The first actual settler within the present lim- its of Jasper county was William Donahue. At- tracted by the fur-bearing game to be found here in great abundance and the prospect of trading with the Indians who possessed the land in con- siderable numbers, he came to what is now Gillam township as early as 1832. The next settlement was made at the falls of the Iroquois (now Rens- selaer) in 1834 by Jos. Yeoman, John and David Nowels, and in the latter part of the year a settle- ment was formed in the eastern part of the coun- ty by Thomas Randle and George Culp. Owing to a confusion of dates it is difficult to name all who might be considered pioneers.

Owing to the destruction of the records it is impossible to give a full and correct list of those

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

who have occupied official positions in the county. George W. Spitler (Democrat) was Clerk from 1838 to 1856 and was Recorder until 1856, serving as Clerk, Auditor and Recorder at the same time. Those who were elected as Democrats were Charles Price and John F. Majors. For Auditor since George W. Spitler have been Ira W. Yeo- man, Henry Barkley and Ezra C. Nowels, all Democrats. As Recorder since George W. Spit- ler is Judson Hunt (Democrat). Two Democrats have served as Treasurer, Jacob Merkle and Wil- liam Hoover, Sr. For Sheriff the present incum- bent is William I. Hoover, Jr.

Two Democrats have been Surveyors, Wesley Spitler and Daniel B. Miller. Four Democrats have held the office of county commissioners: George H. Brown, George Major, Charles F. Stackhouse and Hershman.

THE PRESS.

Up to 1853 political lines had not been closely drawn. At this date the Jasper Banner was es- tablished as a Democratic journal. In the cam- paign of 1856 the lines between Democrats and Republicans were sharply drawn and the Banner strongly espoused the cause of Democracy. The Jasper Banner ceased publication in 1861, and from this date until 1877 the county was without a Democratic organ. In 1877 the Democratic Sentinel was started by James W. McEwen, who continued its publication until the infirmities of old age compelled its suspension. In April, 1898, the Jasper County Democrat was established by Frank Babcock and is now the recognized organ of the party. The Wheatfield Review is published in Wheatfield, Ind., by John Buoey. Its politics is Democratic and the paper is ably edited.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JAY COUNTY

T HE history of a nation is ordinarily writ- ten around the lives of a few great men, and so it is with the history of Jay county De- mocracy. A few strong, rugged men, guided by the ideals of Jefferson and Jackson, have left an indelible imprint upon the political life of their county.

Probably the strongest individual force in the building of Jay county Democracy was Robert Huey. He came to Jay county in the early thir- ties, built his cabin in the clearing, where only the howl of the wolf or the scream of the panther broke the silence of the trackless forest. His was the spirit of the pioneer. Meeting every obstacle, enduring every hardship with indomitable cour- age, he assisted in the building of a civilization which is the greatest heritage ever bequeathed to the human race.

He was a physical giant and his defeat of "Wabash Jones," the then undefeated champion of eastern Indiana, is as famous in the annals of Jay county as was the overthrow of the giant Goliath by the youth David in the annals of biblical lore.

Bob Huey, as he was commonly known, sur- rounded himself with a group of men, strong both mentally and physically, who earnestly believed in the principles of Democracy as understood by Jefferson and Jackson, and who, during those early days, unselfishly and courageously main- tained and defended those principles, by physical force if need be. He was elected sheriff of Jay county in 1843, served three sessions in the lower house of the general assembly, one term in the state senate, and in 1868, when criticized upon his opposition to the granting of the franchise to the negro, he resigned from the senate, went back to the people upon that issue and was tri- umphantly re-elected. His life was unselfishly devoted to upbuilding his county and advancing the cause of Democracy, and has been a splendid inspiration to succeeding generations. Among his contemporaries who were most prominently as- sociated with him were: Samuel O. Shoaff, George W. Templer, Joseph J. Mckinney, John Coulson, Lott Coulson, John J. Adair, Daniel At- kinson and Jason Whipple.

Mr. Huey was also actively identified with all movements beneficial to his county, was trustee of Liber college and built the first court house for Jay county, for which he received the mag- nificent sum of $125.

With such a rugged character as Bob Huey as an example, it is only natural that Jay county

should develop a host of strong, capable Demo- cratic leaders, and Mr. Huey lived to see such men as John M. Smith, William Harkins, William Humphries, John Hayes, Palmer J. Smith, Joseph B. Wilson, John T. Hanlin, and many others take up the work which he had laid down. Probably the strongest character during this period was John M. Smith, who was elected to the state sen- ate in 1880 and served in the sessions of 1881 and 1883. He was later elected to the circuit bench, where he served with distinction, and later was elected to the lower house of the general as- sembly, where he served during the session of 1909.

Jay county democracy during her entire history has only had three representatives in the state senate, those being Bob Huey, John M. Smith and James R. Fleming, but all of these men have splendidly upheld the traditions of the Democratic party and have been recognized as leaders in their county and state.

Probably Jay county's most picturesque char- acter at the opening of the twentieth century was Jacob F. Denney, whose independent spirit has been a source of joy and sorrow to his many friends. As the Democratic nominee for Con- gress in 1916, he set an entirely new precedent by advocating the things he believed, instead of the doctrines which seemed to be the most popu- lar. This was such a radical departure that it encompassed his defeat; but, "Too fond of the right to pursue the expedient," he went down with colors flying and opinions unchanged. Possessing a rare degree of literary genius, he wrote a series of political articles for the city campaign of 1913, which displayed all the genius of a Swift or a Pope, and assisted materially in the election of the ticket. He believes, with Izaak Walton, that "Those who have eaten, and drank, and laughed, and angled, and sung, and slept securely, and rose next morn, and cast away care, and sung, and laughed, and angled" are those who enjoy the richest blessings which God, or this old earth, can bestow.

Probably no county in Indiana has produced a more virile and unselfish Democracy than Jay county. This may result from the fact that the party has never attracted to her ranks any men of great wealth. Thus the dominant control- ing factor has been the maintaining and advanc- ing of the principles of Democracy as understood by our forefathers. We have believed that the Democratic party could better serve our country than the Republican party, that a public office was

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

a public trust; and have insisted that honesty and efficiency should be the standard by which the acts of all Democratic candidates should be meas- ured. As a consequence, no Democratic offi- cial of Jay county has ever borne the stain of a dishonest official act. Thus the history of Jay county Democracy is a history of achievement, and, although Jay county down through the years has been normally Republican, the Democrats have elected a majority of their county candi- dates. In 1904, in common with almost every other county in the state, Jay county went Re- publican by a large majority, but in 1906, through the magnificent efforts of the county ticket, led by John A. M. Adair, as a candidate for Congress, Jay county went Democratic by a large majority; and since that time the Republicans have elected only a very few men to office. When the Demo- crats took charge of affairs on January 1, 1907, Jay county was deeply in debt, the tax rate was high and many public improvements were needed. Under Democratic management, all the indebted- ness was paid, many improvements were con- structed, the tax rate was materially lowered, and by the end of 1913 a surplus of more than $130,- 000 had accumulated in the treasury. By this time Jay county was feeling the need of a new court house, and a movement was started to pro- cure the same. Public opinion favored it, archi- tects were employed, plans were adopted, and in 1916 the contract was let to the Dawson Con- struction Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. This mag- nificent structure is now almost completed and is generally conceded to be the finest court house in Indiana. However, the thing most pleasing to Jay county Democrats is, that this splendid struc- ture was honestly built by Democratic officials without having to borrow a dollar, and for every dollar that was expended a dollar in value was re- ceived.

This same spirit has been manifest in the ad- ministration of the affairs of the city of Port- land. In 1908, although the city is normally about 300 Republican, the Democrats carried the city by a majority of approximately 500, electing Dr. C. A. Paddock mayor. When the Democrats took control, the city was in debt approximately $100,- 000; the electric light and water works, which was municipally owned, was losing money; thou- sands of dollars of city warrants were held by banks, marked unpaid for want of funds; and the financial future of the city seemed almost hope- less. During Mayor Paddock's first administra- tion, the electric light plant was rebuilt; many needed public improvements were made; the tax rate was materially reduced; more than half the city debt was paid; and the electric light and water plant from being a money loser had become

the best money earner in the city. At the close of the first term Mayor Paddock and the entire Democratic ticket were triumphantly re-elected, and at the end of their second term the Demo- cratic administration turned over the city to their successors with every penny of indebtedness paid and with $14,000 in cash in the treasury and a record of public achievement probably unexcelled by any administration in Indiana or elsewhere.

In recent years Jay county has developed a host of capable Democrats, the most prominent of which is John A. M. Adair. Elected many years ago as city clerk of the city of Portland, later as clerk of the circuit court, then a member of the general assembly of Indiana, and advanced to service in Congress, where he served for five successive terms, then as the nominee of his party for Governor of Indiana, his record has been one of brilliant achievements.

Another of our most prominent citizens is Judge James J. Moran, who has served as judge of the circuit bench, was appointed to the appel- late bench by Governor Ralston, and is now the nominee of his party for the supreme bench of Indiana. He is a jurist of recognized ability and a tower of strength to his party.

One of the most active figures in Jay county, since his nomination and election as prosecuting attorney in 1906, is Senator James R. Fleming. Re-elected to that office in 1908, he was elected to the lower house of the general assembly in 1912 and in 1914 was advanced to the state sen- ate, serving with distinction in the lower house in 1913 and in the sessions of 1915 and 1917 as state senator, in which capacity he was a recog- nized leader.

One of the strongest characters developed dur- ing this period was Matthew H. Hart of Dunkirk, whose chief ambition was not to serve himself, but to serve his country, his party and his friends. He was not politically ambitious, and the only po- litical office held by him was as mayor of Dunkirk, in which position he made the best mayor Dunkirk ever had. As a delegate to the national conven- tion at Baltimore he assisted in the nomination of Woodrow Wilson. He was intensely loyal to his party and to his friends. His heart was as big as the whole outdoors. He possessed that spirit of charity, kindness and sympathy which sweeps the existence of time and opens the gates to ever- lasting and eternal happiness. When he died, in September, 1917, Jay county Democracy lost a son whose kindness found an outlet in noble deeds.

Jay county for many years has had probably the most active Democratic party organization of any county in Indiana. As soon as one campaign is over, it begins to prepare for the next; as a con-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

sequence the county has been organized down to the grass roots and possesses more active fighting Democrats per capita than, probably, any other county in the state. This makes it impossible to mention all of our prominent Democrats in this limited space, because Jay county has developed not only one, but a thousand "village Hampdens who with dauntless breast" withstood the shock of the Republican columns and earned undying fame.

During the past decade, the men who have been largely responsible for the achievements and suc- cess of the Democratic party in Jay county are the following: Malcomb V. Skinner, now dis- trict chairman of the eighth district, and former- ly prosecuting attorney for two terms and city attorney under the last administration; Frank Gillespie, now county chairman and a member of the law firm of Moran and Gillespie, and former- ly clerk of the circuit court for eight years; Judge E. E. McGriff, who now occupies the cir- cuit bench; O. A. Rawlings, ex-county chairman and postmaster; E. A. McKee, the genial editor of the Portland Sun; Grover Bishop, clerk of the circuit court; John Bonifas, county auditor; Al- pheus A. Adair, ex-county chairman; W. Lea Smith, ex-county auditor; Samuel J. King, ex- county sheriff; Joseph B. Wilson, ex-county re- corder; Lawrence Hayes, ex-treasurer; R. H. Hartford, county attorney; Thomas Fleming, the present sheriff; John W. M. Cunningham, ex- sheriff, C. E. Schwarts; Dr. Schwarts; Dr. Mark M. Moran; Dr. J. E. Nixon; Clem Wilson, deputy auditor; John E. Adair, oil inspector; and many others. Jay county during this period has given to her county many of her favorite sons, and Cap- tain Ralph Ewry, Lieutenant John J. O'Neill (ex- prosecuting attorney) and aviators Fred Bech- dolt and Tod Whipple have enlisted in the hosts of freedom and soon

"Will strike for liberty blow on blow Where the battling war gods ride."

It is only natural that Jay county should have given birth to such a sterling Democracy, for in the early day Jay county was covered with track- less forests and impassable swamps, over which for years the hostile savage held undisputed sway. In those days, one of the most famous Indian bat- tles was fought near the eastern borders of the

county, the Battle of Old Ft. Recovery, the In- dians under Little Turtle and Tecumseh marching through Jay county to reach the battle-ground. The overcoming of these hardships, the build- ing of those frontier homes, each of which was a milestone that marked the pathway of human progress and advancement, made certain the de- velopment of a sturdy manhood and womanhood the like of which had never before been known. Realism or romance furnishes no more striking and picturesque figure than the early pioneer who builded those frontier homes.

It was due to their wisdom and courage, their faith and their virtue, that the spirit of liberty, equality and opportunity which had been planted in the virgin soil of the American wilderness was preserved to bear richer and riper fruit.

Those forests have now been cleared away. Those swamps have been drained. Where once the savage red man pursued his prey are golden fields covered with the ripening grain of a bump- er crop. On the site of those frontier homes, modern dwellings have arisen, containing all the conveniences of city life. The old prairie schoon- er has given way to the ubiquitous Ford or the six-cylinder touring car. The blazed trail through the wilderness was only a forerunner of the hun- dreds of miles of "ribbon-smooth" highways. The poetic Salamonia and Limberlost, which have been made historic in song and story, no longer wind and ripple through the overhanging elms and sycamores, but on either side, as far as the eye can reach, stretches forth the green and fertile fields of as rich and as happy a countryside as can be found under God's footstool. Those thou- sands of liberty-loving homes which dot this coun- tryside, many of them with a service flag in the window, bear silent promise to the fact that this nation, under God, and with the leadership of Woodrow Wilson, shall have a new birth of free- dom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.

In closing it is fitting to paraphrase the words of Dr. Boteler and say that

"Doubtless God could have made a better county than Jay county, or a more sterling Democracy than that of Jay county, but doubtless God never did."

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY

EFFERSON COUNTY was originally a part of Clark county-it was organized as a sep- arate county by Act of the Legislature of the Territory of Indiana in 1811-this new county then embraced the territory now composing the counties of Jefferson, Scott, Jennings, Ripley and Switzerland. In a few years these counties were set apart from Jefferson and made into separate county organizations, the last being Ripley county, which was organized in 1818. Since that time Jefferson county has not been changed in boundary. The town (now city) of Madison has always been the county seat of this county. It was laid out and platted by John Paul, a revo- lutionary soldier, a native of Pennsylvania, but coming to Madison from Hardin county, Ken- tucky.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 90

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