USA > Indiana > Daviess County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Martin County > Living leaders, an encyclopedia of biography : special edition for Daviess and Martin counties, Indiana > Part 26
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Hiram McCormick, in consequence of his meager cirenmstanees and rural sur- roundings, did not obtain to exceed the most ordinary common school education. When he had reached his majority and en- gaged in business he located on a farm near his old home. In 1869 he was appointed by his brother as Deputy Sheriff of Martin County, the county seat being then at Dover Hill. He served in that capacity for three years, and upon retiring from office re- turned to the farm and was engaged in farming and in milling until the failure of his health, when in the hope of recovering the same he went west to Utah, Colo., and New Mexico, and traveled about for eight months. He regained his former self in his absence, and upon his return home he engaged in buying horses, shipping them south to Memphis and New Orleans. He undertook the practice of law following his retirement from stoek dealing, being ad- mitted to the bar before Judge N. F. Mal- ott. He has shown from his earliest ef- forts that he is by nature happily adapted to the profession he represents, and in the course of his connection of twenty-one 6
years with the bar of this and adjoining counties he has been connected with, either the proseention or the defense, in many criminal cases of prominenec. The notable ones in Martin County being the proseeu- tion of the Bunch murderer, resulting in con- vietion. He was defendant's attorney in the Brannon murder case and seeured an acquittal. Defended Miles, charged with murder in the first degree, and got his client off with a twenty-year sentence. He aided iu the defense of Jones, Stanfield, Archer, Stone and Quakenbush for the murder of Jack Ballard; and, although the evidence showed that they were the actual murderers the defense secured a verdict of acquittal. The same verdict was rendered in the ease of the Nolan brothers, charged with the murder of O'Brien, wherein Mr. MeCormick was attorney for the defense. Crabtree, for killing Stanford Freeman, se- enred an acquittal through the efforts of our subject. By appointment of the court Mr. MeCormiek defended W. B. Colvin, charged with the murder in the first degree, and got a twenty-year term for his client. Cobb, for killing Wagoner, his second man, was saved from the gallows and got off with a life term in prison through the exertions of Mr. McCormick and his colleagues. This case was on the criminal calendar in Law- rence county.
In politics Mr. McCormick was reared a Democrat and has been a leader in shap- ing the destiny of and in conducting the campaigns of his party in Martin County. He never asked his party for a favor that was not granted him, and never wavered in his allegiance to the time-worn principles enunciated by the founders of Democratic doctrines. He was forced to take issue with that wing of his party that framed the Chicago platform in the recent campaign and in order to encompass the defeat of what he believed to be a conspiracy against Republican institutions he joined forces with the Republican party and sup- ported MeKinley for the Presidency.
Mr. McCormick located at Shoals for practice in 1875. He was his party's can- didate in 1882 for District prosecutor in a district with 600 votes against him, but was defeated. In 1885 he was appointed to the same office by Governor Gray, and during his term worked up the Bunch mur- der case. He was the Democratic candi-
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date for State Senator in 1888, and for Representative to the lower house in 1894, but was defeated each time by a close vote. During President Cleveland's first term Mr. McCormick was appointed register of the land office at Seattle, Wash., but other engagements prevented his acceptance.
Mr. MeCormick has farming interests in Martin County, and is the manager of the Bear Hill Log Cab distillery, the property of his wife.
Mr. McCormick was married first in 1866, August 20, to Rebecca, a daughter of Malcom Davis, a tobacco manufacturer and a prominent farmer and trader. Mrs. Mc- Cormick died December 30, 1893, leaving the following children : Nancy C., wife of Sherman Forner; Stella, a stenographer and teacher ; Belle, Ephraim I., Anna M. and Grover. Mr. McCormick's present wife was Mrs. Matilda Zumfelde, daughter of Thomas Martin, an old settler of this coun- ty. They were married September 7, 1895.
Mr. McCormick is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
JAMES B. MARSHALL, Prosecuting At- torney for the 49th Judicial District of In- diana, and junior member of the prominent and able law firm of Houghton & Marshall, of Shoals, Indiana, was born on the 13th day of December, 1856, in Tuscarawas County, in the State of Ohio. He was a pupil in the common schools of his native county until 1867, when be came to Martin County, Indiana, with his parents, where his father had purchased a large tract of land, and engaged in farming. He attend- en the common schools of Martin County, and select summer schools, where he fitted himself for teaching, and became an in- structor in the schools of his own county in 1878. He was a close student in all his school work which added greatly to his fund of kuowledge; and in 1882 he com- pleted his education in the Southern Indi- ana Normal College. His commencement year seems to have begun a new era for him, taking him out of that work for which he had evidently so well fitted himself, and in which he had al- ready demonstrated his ability and fitness, and placed him in a new relation to the people of his county, that of a public officer. He was elected Surveyor of his county in 1882, and again in 1884, but be-
fore the expiration of his last term of of- fice, and while yet performing the duties of the same, undertook the publication of the Martin County Democrat, and was its edi- tor until the fall of the year 1887. The Martin County Democrat was published at Shoals, and was the successor of The Dem- ocrat at Loogootee, and The Herald at Shoals, he having purchased and combined the two, as the Democratic organ of the county.
Democratic politics, at this juncture in Martin County, was at a low ebb. There was no effective organization or positive and confident feeling among the party lead- ers, and the official patronage of the county was in the hands of the Republicans, save some of the minor offices. Mr. Marshall proved himself a success as an organizer, and expounder of Democratic principles, and largely through his personal effort, and that of his paper, the party was again placed in power in the election held in the fall of 1886.
At the time Mr. Marshall engaged in surveying he begun his preparation for the law, and continued his course of reading through his service as surveyor and editor, and afterward finished his pupilage with the old law firm of Clark & Dobbins, of Shoals, Indiana, in 1888, and at once en- tered the practice of his profession in the Martin Circuit Conrt. His first case of note was one against the Evansville & Richmond Railroad Company, for damages for personal injuries, as defendant's attor- ney, aided by general counsel for the com- pany, and defeated plaintiff in the action.
He formed his present partnership in law in June 1890, and the firm now stands at the front rank of the Martin County Bar.
Since engaging in the practice of law and as editor, Mr. Marshall has become promi- nently identified with the politics of the Second Congressional District, and has met the leaders of his party and his voice aud counsel has always been in keeping with the best interests of his country, and the common people.
He has twice been the candidate of bis party for the office of prosecuting attorney, and after his defeat by the great political land slide of 1894 by a small majority, in the election two years later, after having received the nomination unsolicited, and in
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his absence from the convention, was elect- ed by a majority of more than nine hundred votes, defeating the man who defeated him two years before.
The Marshall family are rather a historic family. We find from Paxton's history of the Marshall family, and other writers that the name Marshall seems to have originated from William LeMareschal, who came over to England with William, the Norman conquerer, and the name is more or less connected with English, Irish and Ameri- can history since that time.
Mr. Marshall is the third son of John G. and Nancy Sloan Marshall. His father was in early life a mechanic, but after his marriage engaged in farming, and dealt largely in stock in Eastern Ohio, but in In- diana, after operating a farm for a time, engaged in contracting, and the last years of his life were spent on a farm at Burns City, Ind. He was the only child of Will- iam Marshall, of Washington County, Penn., and was born January 1, 1825. He came to Ohio in early life, and was there married to Nancy Sloan, daughter of John Sloan, ex-Auditor of Harrison County, O., and a son of a wealthy north of Ireland gentleman, February 4, 1847. Her mother's maiden name was Kissiek. The father and mother both died at Burns City, Ind., at the old Marshall homestead, the former September 9, 1892, and the latter February 28, 1892, and were both interred in the Burns City Cemetery.
The great grandfather of this sketch was Thomas Marshall, of Pennsylvania, and it is claimed a cousin of Col. Thomas Mar- shall, of revolutionary fame. The great grandmother on the Marshall side was Hamilton, and the grandmother Marshall a Shaw. The grandfather and great grand- parents died in Washington County, Penn. The grandfather, William Mashall, was born October 11, 1794, and was the oldest of a family of ten children.
The family of John G. and Nancy S. Marshall are as follows : William S. Mar- shall, deceased, Rebecea J. Marshall, at the old home; Thomas J. Marshall, of Terre Haute, Ind .; Anna E. Marshall, at the old home, Burns City ; James B. Mar- shall, Mary L., wife of William HI. Wads- worth, Worthington, Ind .; Sarah , wife of Caswell Woodruff, of Odon, Ind .; JJohn K. Marshall, deceased; George W. Mar-
shall, deceased, and Seymour Marshall, of Burns City, Ind.
James B. Marshall was married in Mar- tin County, Ind., July 7, 1892, to Lillie M. Luzadder daughter of Alexander Lnzad- der, of West Shoals, Ind. Mrs. Marshall received her education at the State Uni- versity, Bloomington, Ind , where she was born and spent her early life, and is de- cendant from an old Pennsylvania family. Her great grandfather, Abraham Luzadder, was with Gen Clark at the cap- ture of Vincennes from the British, Feb- rnary 26, 1779, and was one of the pioneers of Ohio. He also served under Gen. Pnt- nam.
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall two children, both girls, Gail and Lois, the former born August 1, 1893, and the latter May 23,1896. They are unusnal- ly bright and full of promise.
Mr. Marshall, as a lawyer, is known in Martin and adjoining counties as an able and successful practitioner, and the firm is now the local counsel for the B. & O. S. W. R'y and E. & R. Ry.
He is connected with the city schools as trustee, and is the president of the Shoals Savings and Loan Association. As a citi- zen he enjoys in a high degree the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow townsmen.
As a public officer he is meriting the ap- proval and favor of the public, and is vin- dicating the anti-election promises of his friends. Socially, he is a pleasant and af- fable gentleman, and fraternally is a Mason and Past Chancellor of the K. of P.
JOSEPH CANNON, ex-Sheriff of Martin county, has passed his entire life a citizen of this county. He was born in Perry Township, August 14, 1844. He is a son of one of the oldest families of the county, his father, Joseph Cannon, being an em- migrant from Powell's Valley, Virginia, and become a resident of this county about the year 1816, being then a boy of perhaps five years. He married Mary Clements who became the mother of nineteen ehil- dren, 15 of them lived to be married and 11 of them still survive; viz : Jas., John, Julia Ann, wife of John Harvin, Elizabeth, wife of Allen Cannon, Joseph, Emily, wife of Hugh French, Nancy, wife of John Tink- er, William, Isaac and George W.
"Joe" Cannon got very little education. He remained under the parental roof till he
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married when he located near the old homestead and continued the occupation of farming. In 1879 he engaged in operating a coal bank, together with teaming and performing the Inties of Township Trustee to which he was elected that year. He farmed again in the year 1882 but the next year he was chiefly employed in wind- ing up his affairs as a grain thresher, a business he had followed for 15 seasons continuously.
In 1884 Mr. Cannon came into the sher- iff's office as deputy and in 1886 was nomi- nated by the Democrats for the chief of the office but was defeated and for the next two years was variously employed. In 1888 Walter Payton was elected sheriff and he appointed Joe Cannon as deputy and jailer. He remained in this capacity the four years that Mr. Payton was sheriff, and was again nominated for that office and was elected, served two years and was re- elected.
Mr. Cannon's connection with the sher- iff's office covers a period in which there were many notorious criminals rendezvous- ing and operating in Martin County, all of whom were either disposed of by the courts or the people themselves, and Joe Cannon was not one of the by-standers, while good people risked their lives to remove this great evil from their midst, but with the mandate of the court as his authority he has arrested and placed behind the bars some of the most heartless of criminals.
In 1862 Mr. Cannon enlisted in Compa- ny B, 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry un- der Col. Brooks and was out one year. He served in Kentucky during this period and participated in the battle of Perryville. He returned home in 1863 and on March 17, of the next year he married Mary E. daughter of Basil Clements. Their only child is a son, William I., a farmer near Loogootee, Ind.
Mr. Cannon's first office was that of as- sessor of Perry Township, then he was elected trustee and about that time he was also superintendent of roads of the town- ship. He owns a nice farm near Loogoo- tee besides other property and is at present deputy under Sheriff Sherfick.
ALEXANDER MARLEY, one of the lead- ing business men of Shoals and ex-County Clerk of Martin County, was born in the county of Lawrence, Ind., Aug. 30, 1842.
Before he was twenty years of age he en- listed in the Union army for three years, or during the war in defense of old glory. "He was mustered into Company G, 50th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. It was Sept., 1865, when his regiment was ordered to Indian- apolis to be discharged, and Mr. Marley returned to civil life after serving four years and nine days.
His first business venture was as a mer- chant in company with his brother at Trinity Springs, Ind., but in less than one year he changed to farming. The next year he engaged in merchandising at Huron, Ind., and some time later went to Freedom, Owen County, to carry on the same business, and finally lost his stock by fire. He then opened a store in Spencer, Ind., and conducted it one year, at the end of which time he returned to his native county and engaged in the saw-mill busi- ness. He disposed of this in time and turned his attention to shipping horses and mules south, following it for eight years and ending his connection with it by operating a plantation near Port Gibson, Miss., one season. On his return north he came to Shoals and sold goods for a time, then sold out and engaged in the hotel business. In November, 1886, he was elected to the office of Circuit Clerk of this county, and retired from the hotel to take possession of his office in March of the next year. Upon the close of his term he en- gaged in the flouring-mill business, and re- mains so at the present time.
Mr. Marley is an ardent Republican. He was elected Trustee of Halbert Township in 1880, and again in 1882. He was elected Clerk of the county by over forty plurality, and was the first Republican to be elected to that office. He entered the office with all eyes upon him for that rea- son, and when he left it he carried with him the confidence and the gratitude of his party and his people.
Mr. Marley is a son of Manley Marley, born in Buncombe County, N. C., in 1813. His grandfather was Benjamin Marley, who left the old North State and settled in Law- rence County, Ind., soon after the admis- sion of the State into the Union. He mar- ricd Sarah, a daughter of Robert Blair. Four of their seven children still survive: James, Jemimah, L. D. and Alexander. Mr. Marley's second wife was Elizabeth West.
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Her children are : Benjamin B., Walter T., Ella and Susie.
Alexander Marley was married in Mar- tin County, November 9, 1865, to Lavina Bell, whose father, Alex Bell, was born in Scotland, and whose mother, nee Catherine Thompson, was born in England. They came to Kent, O., soon after their marriage, and there Mrs. Marley was born March 29, 1845. Nine years later her parents came to this county and died here. Their children were 14; those living are: Wm. T., James T., Carrie and Richard R.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Marley, both of whom are deceased, viz : Harry E. who died in August, 1885, aged 19, and Effie C., who died at two month. Mr. Marley is a Master Mason and a mem- ber of the G. A. R.
HON. HILEARY Q. HOUGHTON is a gen- tleman who needs no introduction to the people of Daviess and Martin Counties, having been born and reared in the one, is a citizen of the other and a public servant of them both. Go back with me a quarter of a century and we find him an industri- ous farmer youth of 16 years, without especially promising prospects, with ambi- tion in no particular direction, but possess- ing strong physical and mental organiza- tion. His early education was such as the country schools afforded, and in his nine- teenth year he entered the preparatory de- partment of the State University of Indi- ana. He was a student continuously until his graduation from that institution with the degree of A. B. in June, 1880. He began preparation for the profession of law by systematic reading during his vacations, and in the summer of 1880 he was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Houghton located for practice in Loogootee, and while there formed a part- nership with ex-Senator G. W. Alford, which continued till December, 1884, when the former decided to remove to the coun- ty seat and the firm dissolved. Mr. Hough- ton then entered into a partnership with Hon. Ephraim Moser, and was associated with him till the latter's death. For the past five years he has been associated with J. B. Marshall.
In his profession Mr. Houghton has demonstrated peculiar fitness and adapta- bility. He is strong as a trial lawyer, and is reliable as a counselor.
His political career can be said to date from his entrance to the law. From that time forth he has done more or less cam- paigning in Southern Indiana. He is a strong, fearless and successful expounder of Republican doctrines, and in conse- quence of which he was named by his party as their candidate for State Senator June 7,1894. He was elected in Nov. followingby more than 600 plurality, as against a plur- ality of 4 for the Republican ticket two years before.
The Democratic Legislature had appor- tioned the State in 1891 so that the Re- publicans would have to carry the State by about thirty thousand to get the legisla- ture. This act was declared unconstitu- tional by the Supreme Court and the legis- lature of 1893 re-enacted substantially the same bill. The legislature of 1895 passed a bill, for the passage of which he signed the majority report of the committee, which would have given the legislature to the party that carried the state by three thous- and, and was drawn in line with the previ- ous decision of the Supreme Court. This act was attacked in the courts on the ground that the legislature had no couititutional right to pass such a measure at that session because the six years period had not elaps- ed. He held that the legislature did have that power for reason that the act of 1893 was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court sustained that position, but set the act aside because it provided for double districts, a point which had not before been raised.
Mr. Houghton was born June 16, 1855. His father was the late Wm. H. Houghton, a brother of the venerable pioneer, Aaron Houghton, of Martin County, and was born in Mason County, Ky., in 1809. At the age of 8 years he came with his father, Wm. Houghton, and settled in Barr Town- ship, Daviess County and grew up there "in the woods." He learned blacksmithing from his father and when a young man went to St. Louis and worked at his trade some three years. He theu joined the Illi- nois troops being raised for the Black Hawk War and while in that service be- came acquainted with Lincoln. He return- ed to Daviess County after the war and bought a farm near his father, married and reared his family. He was first a Whig, then a Republican, aud was one of the ear- ly commissioners of the county. He mar-
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ried in Mt. Pleasant, Harriet Poor, a daugh- ter of John Poor. She was born at New- berryport, Mass., and was a lineal descend- ent of John Poor, a passenger on the Mayflower. Mr. Houghton died in 1885 and his wife in 1883, being the parents of nine children, of whom Hileary Q. is the eighth.
October 19, 1892 Sen. Houghton mar- ried Ione, a daughter of Frank Baker. Their only child is Howard B., born May 19, 1895.
FREDERICK HOFFMANN, the newly in- stalled Treasurer of Martin County, is a worthy representative of the industrious, hardy German element, so numerous in Southern Indiana, and so valuable in the upbuilding of an honest and patriotic com- munity anywhere. He belongs also to that branch of the human family designated "the common people," who are the real bone and sinew of our common country and the source of all power in government af- fairs.
Mr. Hoffmann was born in Dubois County, Ind., on the first day of Novem- ber, 1857. His father, John L. Hoffmann, was a native of Greisen, Germany, and came to America in the year 1844. His place of settlement here was Dubois County. Farm- ing was his life pursuit. He became the husband of Barbara Huebner, and the father of the following children: Frederick, George L., Christian, Philip and Harry.
Frederick, the subject of this review, was reared on the farm and to him fell the usual task of a country lad. In the coun- try schools he obtained a fair common school education. He remained under the parental roof and served his father faith- fully until he arrived at the age of 21 years. In February of 1880, Mr. Hoffman mar- ried Evie, a daughter of John Kiefner, of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann's children are : Emma M., Barbara Anna, Barbara Caroline, John D., Henry C., E. Lorena and Philip W.
Two years prior to Mr. Hoffmann's mar- riage he became a citizen of Martin Coun- ty, and has continued his residence here, devoting his time exclusively to farming. He began his carreer as a farmer with quite limited means on a small farm, and by means of diligence and persistent and unremitting effort, together with the ex- ereise of frugal and industrious habits, he
has made a success of his undertaking. He is the owner of a farm of 360 acres in Rutherford Township.
In matters of public concern Mr. Hoff- mann has always manifested a spirit of progress. He has shown a readiness and adaptability in dealing with questions af- fecting the welfare of his country, and has been ever willing with word and deed to aid in securing to his fellow citizens the best possible condition of affairs.
Some twelve years ago Mr. Hoffmann became an active and influential worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He has been at various times a valuable member of the County Central Committee of his party, but never became a candidate for of- fice until 1896, when he was nominated for the responsible position he now fills. The campaign of 1896 was one of the most bit- ter contests, and resulted in his election by a majority of 218 votes. He entered upon his official duties November 18, following his election, and has given evidence of his ability to meet the most sanguine hopes of his supporters for this important office.
Fraternally Mr. Hoffmann is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and deserves appropriate mention among the prominent citizens of Martin County.
VALENTINE KIGER, of Shoals, Ind., is and has been for the past fourteen years a leading stave manufacturer of Martin Coun- ty, a well known and large buyer of timber, and perhaps he has made and shipped more staves out of Shoals during the past fourteen years than any other person or company in the business.
Mr. Kiger came to Martin County a good liver, with some means, but he worked by the day for awhile. His knowledge of machinery always demanded a good salary of from three to five dollars per day. He owned and operated a saw mill in Grant County after the war and accumulated con- siderable, but by mismanagement he lost most of what he had accumulated. He then removed to Muncie, Delaware County, Ind., and there again engaged in the mill- ing husiness, meeting with success and making considerable money. Again he lost what he had accumulated, on account of timber being scarce. It was in 1883 that he came to Shoals and secured em- ployment with the well known firm of Johnson & Chenoweth. One year later he
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