USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 12
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came to Decatur county, Indiana, where he started in business, but later turned his attention to the medical profession, studying under his father-in-law, he and Clarissa Lewis having married after he came to that county, and to thein two children were born, Dr. Lewis N., of this memoir, and William O., who died when he was about thirty years old.
Dr. Edward Howard took up the practice of his profession at Greensburg, moving to Knightstown a few years later and there practiced until 1854, when he moved to Indianapolis, the popula- tion at that time being about twelve thousand, and there he met with his usual large success as a general practitioner, spending the rest of his life in the capital city, dying in December, 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His widow is still living in Indianapolis, being now nearly the age attained by her husband when he was called from earth. She is a consistent Presbyterian, as was also the elder Doctor Howard. The latter was very suc- cessful in the treatment of cancer, which he made a specialty, his fame in this particular branch of the science transcending the bounds of Indiana and pervading many states.
George Howard, paternal grandfather of Dr. Lewis N. How- ard, was a native of Pennsylvania and was of English descent. After his marriage he settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he died at the age of ninety-four years. His family consisted of nine children. He devoted his life to farming and according to family tradition, he built the first brick house in Cincinnati.
Nathan Lewis, the maternal grandfather of Dr. Lewis N. Howard, was a native of Virginia. For a time lie lived in South Carolina, then went to Kentucky, from which state he moved to Decatur county, Indiana, where he practiced medicine until his death, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. There were eight chil- dren in his family.
Dr. Lewis N. Howard, of this review, spent his early boyhood in Decatur county, accompanying his parents to Knightstown, Henry county, when he was about twelve years old and spent the ensuing four years. Coming to Indianapolis when sixteen years old, he spent the rest of his life in the capital city. His education was begun in the common schools and continued in the old semi- nary that stood on what is now University Park. He then at- tended Hanover College, from which he was graduated in the year 1857, then began the study of medicine and surgery under his father. After studying medicine for a while in the Eclectic
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Medical College, of Indianapolis, in 1859 he entered the Transyl- vania Medical College at Lexington, Kentucky, which at that time was ranked among the leading medical schools of the West. The Civil war coming on, the Doctor cast his fortunes with the South- ern Confederacy, serving faithfully as surgeon through the en- tire conflict, which practical experience had much to do with his great success in later years. Hle won the admiration of his superior officers and the respect and friendship of his comrades.
Returning home after the war, he practiced his profession for a time with his father, and in 1873 was graduated from the Mis- sonri Homeopathie Medical College at St. Louis. During his stay in that city he maintained an office and devoted part of his time to practice. After completing his course in that institution, he returned to Indianapolis, where he spent the rest of his life, mak- ing a specialty of orthopedie surgery and the treatment of cancer and chronic diseases, in all of which he won well merited success, the last quarter of a century of his practice being confined to office practice. He accumulated a competency, leaving a valuable estate, including a beautiful residence in East Fifteenth street at the time of his death. He was a Democrat and an Odd Fellow, and belonged to the State Homeopathie Medical Society.
Dr. Lewis N. Howard was married on February 22, 1859, to Mary, a daughter of George and Ethelinda (Keen) Keen, of Lex- ington, Kentucky. She died in 1868. This union resulted in the birth of two children, both being now deceased. In 1873 Doctor Howard was united in marriage with Margaret McGouldrick, daughter of Dennis and Margaret (Lancaster) MeGouldrick. Her death occurred in 1877. Doctor Howard was married in 1894 to Mrs. Allie Crawford, widow of Samuel Crawford. She was born in Franklin county, Virginia, and is a lady of culture and refinement, a favorite with a wide circle of friends. She is a representative of an excellent old Southern family, the daughter of Dening and Frances (Deering) Hodges, the father born in Nashville, Tennes- see, and the mother a native of Franklin county, Virginia. Mrs. Howard, who is the second of a family of five children, was born on December 5, 1848. She has one sister living, Mrs. Ella Hender- son, of Mead county, Kentneky. Lewis Deering, grandfather of Mrs. Howard, was born in England, and was the youngest of a family of ten children, who emigrated to America with their father and located in Franklin county, Virginia.
Two children were born to Mrs. Howard by her marriage
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with Mr. Crawford, namely: Davis A. Crawford, a well known business man of Indianapolis, and Ella May (Crawford) Norris, who died August 24, 1899. She was a talented, highly educated and cultured lady who was a social favorite in Indianapolis. She was graduated from St. John's Academy with high honors, and, being a woman of marked esthetic tastes, she was a painter of rare ability, her work being greatly admired by art crities and ad- mirers wherever shown. She also possessed exceptional musical ability and her superb performing in this connection delighted thousands. She was an exceptional beauty and added to a natural personal charm of feature was a grace, magnetism and sweetness of spirit that readily won and retained friends by the scores. Her untimely death brought sorrow to many hearts. Her whole na- ture was deeply artistic; there was a mysterious melody in her heart, as if that young heart had wandered down from heaven and was moaning for its home as the sea shell moans for its parent sea. She never uttered a thought that was not fitted to purify and beautify and make better every heart into which it sank, never a thought that might not be cherished and spoken by an angel in the midst of the shining hosts of the Eternal City in the skies. Mrs. Norris had an extraordinary genius, and up to the time of her death she cultivated it with diligence and suceess. She was rising to fame when her gentle heart sank down into the relentless tomb. She was a true lover of nature, hence in her art creations there were birds, flowers, sunsets and everything that entered into the makeup of her beautiful world. Hers was not a little rippling stream of thought, but a rushing current seemingly foreshadowing the all too short time she had to give out the beau- tiful ideals that filled her soul. To look at her work is but to renew one's recollections of childhood, watching the robin build its nest, chasing the butterfly, gathering spring flowers, playing in tiny streams, each scene awakening response to all alike, rich and poor, rustic or city bred. It seems such a mysterious dispensation of Providence that the little amount of breath necessary to the life of a glorious young lady is withdrawn while enough of zone-per- vaded aid to make a tornado is vouchsafed to the physical being of tens of thousands of the worthless and the vile. And how poor seems the rich gift of genius when it lies, like the adventur- ons bird that has outflown its strength upon the sea, a thing the thrush might pity, as she hroods quietly on her sheltered nest.
Samuel Crawford, mentioned above, was a man of excellent
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business capacity, sound of judgment and rare foresight, and at the same time he built up a reputation for high grade citizenship, having always stood ready to assist in furthering any laudable undertaking for the betterment of his community, whether ma- terially, politically or morally. He carried the principle of the Golden Rule into his every-day life and therefore was trusted, ever enjoying the good will of those with whom he came into con- tact. He was genial, obliging and kind-hearted, a man of correct habits and charitable impulses, a manly man, whom to know was to admire and respect. During the dark period of the Civil war he was one of Kentucky's prominent and influential men, doing his full share in the support of the federal government. At that time he was a man of wealth, but the major part of his fortune was dissipated as a result of the war; however, nothing daunted, he being a man made of an indomitable spirit, forged ahead and he left his widow well provided for. He was a very active member of the Masonic fraternity and stood high in that time-honored body. Samuel C. Crawford and Allie Hodges were married on April 5, 1863. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and is an active and consistent church worker, a worthy member of Howard Place Methodist Episcopal church, which was named after him. She is a pillar in this church and a liberal supporter of the same. Much of the success of its various societies has been due to her efforts. She is a woman of pleasing personality and her home has long been the mecca for a wide circle of close friends who find there a spirit of good cheer and old-time hospitality.
HON. CHARLES C. BINKLEY.
Human life is like the waves of the sea; they flash a few brief moments in the sunlight, marvels of power and beauty, and then are dashed upon the remorseless shores of death and disappear forever. As the mighty deep has rolled for ages past and chanted its sublime requiem and will continue to roll during the coming ages until time shall be no more, so will the waves of human life follow each other in countless succession until they mingle at last with the billows of eternity's boundless sea. The passing of any human life, however humble and unknown, is sure to give rise to a pang of anguish to some heart, but when the "fell destroyer" knocks at the door of the useful and great and removes from earthly scenes the man of honor and influence and the benefactor of his kind, it not only means bereavement to kindred and friends, but a public calamity as well. In the largest and best sense of tlfe term, the late Senator Charles C. Binkley was distinctively one of the notable men of his day and generation, and as such his life record is entitled to a conspicuous place in the annals of the state of Indiana. As a citizen he was publie-spirited and enterprising to an unwonted degree; as a friend and neighbor, he combined the qualities of head and heart that won confidence and commanded respect; as an attorney, who had a comprehensive grasp upon the philosophy of jurisprudence and brought honor and dignity to the publie positions he filled with such distinguished success, he was easily the peer of his professional brethren of the Indiana bar, and as a servant of the people in high places of honor he had no superiors. It is scarce less than supererogation in outlining the leading facts in his life to refer to him as a lawyer in the ordinary phraseology which meets requirements when dealing with the average member of the legal profession. He was indeed muel more than eminently successful in his legal career, as was indi- cated by his long, praiseworthy record at the bar. He was a mas- ter of his profession, a leader among men distinguished for the high order of their legal ability, and his eminent attainments and ripe judgment made him an authority on all matters involving a profound knowledge of jurisprudence and vexed and intricate
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questions growing out of its interpretation. He was also promi- nent fraternally and in business.
Charles C. Binkley was born July 20, 1833, at Tarlton, Pick- away county, Ohio. He was the son of George S. and Margaret (Lybrand) Binkley. The father was born in Hagerstown, Mary- land, and the mother was a native of Ross county, Ohio, both being of German descent, their respective grandparents having cmi- grated from the fatherland and established homes in America. Senator Binkley was one of five children, there having been two sons and three daughters in the family. It should be noted that all grew to maturity, that all married and all became successful, active and honorable in the earnest discharge of life's duties; only one sister now survives.
Charles C. Binkley was reared in his native village and there he received his early education in the public schools and prepared himself for entrance into the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Dela- ware, Ohio, where he prosecuted his studies for some time, later entering the Ohio University at Athens, where he completed his essentially literary course, having made a brilliant record for scholarship. Having long entertained a laudable ambition to enter the legal profession, he began reading law at Brookville, Franklin county, Indiana, where he became a student in the office of Hon. John D. Howland, who later became clerk of the United States court for Indiana. For a short period he was a deputy for Hon. John M. Johnston, clerk of the Franklin circuit court. Prior to entering upon the practice of his profession Mr. Binkley was elected elerk of Brookville township, and this preferment gave dis- tinctive evidence of his eligibility and personal popularity, for he was a loyal Republican in his political proclivities and his town- ship was strongly Democratic. He was admitted to the bar in Brookville, and was soon successfully launched upon his remark- able career.
Mr. Binkley was united in marriage with Georgiana Holland, the accomplished daughter of Hon. George and Elizabeth (Jolin) Holland, a prominent family of Brookville, and he subsequently entered into a business partnership with Judge Holland, with whom he was associated in Brookville until 1861, and thereafter at both Brookville and Richmond, Indiana, until the death of his honored colleague, November 30, 1875, offices being maintained in both places noted.
To Senator Binkley and wife four children were born, two
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sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and mar- ried; they are: Mrs. L. J. Templeton, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mrs. S. Edwin Price, of Baltimore, Maryland; George II. Binkley, of Chicago, and H. C. Binkley, of Indianapolis. These children received excellent educational advantages, and are all prominent in the various circles in which they move.
A man of broad mental grasp and marked business acumen, Mr. Binkley naturally became prominently concerned in many undertakings and movements which had distinct bearing on the material prosperity of castern Indiana. In 1865 he was an active participant in securing legislation that enabled the Whitewater Valley Canal Company to sell to the Whitewater Valley Railroad Company the right to build a railroad on the bank of the canal. About the same time he was elected president of the canal com- pany mentioned, and as such executive made the transfer to the railroad company of the right to construct its line as noted. He continued to ably discharge the duties of president of the canal company until its waterway was no longer in use as a means of traffic, having been superseded by more modern and effective methods of transit, he having been the last incumbent of the posi- tion of president.
From its organization until the time of his abandoning busi- ness associations in Franklin county, in the fall of 1875, he was the attorney for the Whitewater Valley Railroad Company, and was very prominently concerned in its construction and subse- quent management. As attorney he prepared the organization for the several hydraulic companies occupying the canal, from Cam- bridge City, Indiana, to Harrison, Ohio, the list including the Con- nersville, Ashland, Laurel, Brookville & Metamora and Harrison Hydraulic companies. In 1867, about the time he removed with his family from Brookville to Richmond, Mr. Binkley found the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad Company making a desperate effort to build its road. It had been struggling to accomplish its object since 1854, but its efforts had not been at- tended by any appreciable measure of success. In 1867 Mr. Binkley was elected secretary of the company, and shortly after- ward William Parry was chosen president. In these offices these gentlemen continued-Mr. Binkley subsequently becoming treas- urer also-until long after the road was constructed, and, in fact, for years after the time when its line was leased, in 1871, to the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, and the subject ro-
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mained a member of the board of directors of the company until his death. It is needless to say that he brought to bear his rare executive ability, his mature judgment and indomitable energy and enterprise in shaping the affairs of the company and gaining to it the object which it had so long struggled to attain. ITis efforts in this connection unmistakably had potent influence in placing the company and its properties upon a substantial basis.
In his political adherency Senator Binkley was ever stanchly arrayed in support of the Republican party and its principles, and it was but in natural sequence that he should become an active worker in the cause and one of the leaders of his party in this state. His peculiar ability and his loyalty to the party rendered him especially eligible for political positions of high public trust, but the conspicuous place he held in the councils of his party was evident when we take into consideration the fact that from the year 1860 up to his death he was a delegate to every Republican state convention in Indiana, with the one exception of that of 1898, when he was absent from the state. In 1872 he was a dele- gate from his district to the national Republican convention, held in Philadelphia, when General Grant was nominated for his sce- ond term as the nation's chief executive, and Henry Wilson for vice-president ..
It was in 1898 that Mr. Binkley was elected to the state Sen- ate from Wayne county, and in the session of 1899 was a member of ten, and chairman of two, of the important committees of the upper house of the state legislative assembly, where he made his influence felt for the good of all concerned, winning the hearty approval of his constituents. He prepared, and took a leading part in securing the passage of the bill providing for the return of the battle flag captured during the war between the states from Terry's Texas Rangers. The success of Mr. Binkley in a professional way afforded the best evidences of his capabilities in this line. He was a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. Much of the success which attended him in his professional career was undoubtedly due to the fact that in no instance would he permit himself to go into court with a case unless he had absolute confidence in the justice of his client's cause. Basing his efforts on this principle, from which there are far too many lapses in professional ranks, it naturally followed that he seldom lost a case in whose support he enlisted. He was not learned in the law alone, for he studied long and care-
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fully the subjects that are ever to the statesman and the man of affairs of the greatest importance-finance, political economy, sociology-and kept abreast with the thinking men of the age. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined indi- viduality and a sterling character so entered into his make-up as to render him a natural leader and moulder of public opinion. IIe was distinctively a man of high intellectuality, broad and human sympathy and clearly defined principles. These attributes im- plied predilections which naturally led him into associations aside from his professional, business and publie life. Such a splendid record did he make during his first term as state senator he was re-elected in 1902. He was elected a member of the board of trustees of DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, and was thereafter re-elected and served for twelve consecutive years, during the greater portion of which time he was chairman of the committee on finance. He always took an abiding interest in edu- cational matters, in fact everything which subserved the progress and well-being of his fellow men, and he was recognized as a power for good throughout the state. He became a member of the State Bar Association on July 7, 1899.
From his youth up Senator Binkley was a zealous and de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was par- ticularly active in Sunday school work. He was superintendent of the Sunday school at Brookville, and as soon as his family came to Richmond he was elected superintendent of the school of the Union Chapel, which subsequently became and is still known as Grace Methodist Episcopal church. With the exception of an interval of a few months, he was thus continued as superintendent for twenty successive years. He served as delegate to the gen- eral conference of the church at its session in 1880, having been elected to represent the North Indiana conference. In 1884 he was elected as one of the delegates to the conference composed of representatives from all the Methodist bodies in America to celebrate the elose of the first century of organized Methodism, attending the conference, which was held in Baltimore, Maryland, December 9-17, in the year mentioned.
In early life Senator Binkley was initiated into the myster- ies of that noble fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and in the same he rose to high distinction and ever main- tained a live interest in its affairs. In giving the chapter in his life record bearing on this phase, we could do no better than to
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take the following extracts from the Odd Fellow Talisman, which printed a lengthy biography of Senator Binkley in its issue for December, 1902:
"The last words uttered on the floor of the grand lodge at Indianapolis by Senator Binkley, were the closing ones of an exhortation to a lodge in trouble: 'Forget the past; and live in peace and harmony.' The records of his active life as an Odd Fellow will be searched in vain to find a sentiment out of accord with his last injunction. Thirty-nine years ago he came to this chamber as the representative of Penn Lodge No. 30, and it is doubtful if any of his co-workers have rendered to this jurisdic- tion a more useful or varied service. He was a member of several special committees, and of the standing ones he served on the committee of mileage and per diem, subordinate lodge constitu- tions, petitions and applications, finance and accounts, grievances and appeals, legislation, state of the order, degree of Rebekalı, redistricting the state and the Home. He was a faithful and able member of the executive committee on the entertainment of the sovereign grand lodge in 1891. He was elected to the office of grand warden, deputy grand master, grand master, grand rep- resentative and grand trustee. In the sovereign grand lodge he served with distinction on the committees of the degree of Re- bekah and grievanees and appeals. He was the devoted champion of the Rebekah branch of the order and of its treasure, 'the Home.' Ten years before he raised the flag on a completed structure he aroused the representatives in the Indianapolis hall to a sense of duty by declaring that the time had come when funds were more appropriate than resolutions. In his annual report he said: ‘If it is intended that we are to have such a home, there is vigor enough and money enough and benevolence enough in the order in this jurisdiction to secure it.' He lived to help with his vigor, to give of his money and to assist with his benevolence in building better than he dreamed. Many of us remember with what pride he held the silken emblem of the nation's sovereignty, and with what fervid eloquence he portrayed the constant, unswerving loyalty of the order to the nation. To those whose minds had conceived and whose united offerings had builded the retreat for our wards and dependents, he foretold the benediction that has come to him: 'In after years as the guests of this elegant home sit and enjoy the comforts and luxuries furnished, will not their hearts go out in gratitude and thankfulness to the loving women
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and noble men who thus provided for them? In that great day of reckoning may we not expect to hear, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me?" '
"The chronology of Brother Binkley's career as an Odd Fel- low came to us from his own hands, a few weeks prior to this writ- ing, after he had given up hope of recovery. It is as follows:
"In 1854-November 17, petitioned Tarlton Lodge No. 218, of Ohio, for membership. November 24, initiated. December 1, took traveling card. 1855-February, was given first and second degrees. February, was given third and fourth degrees. March 9, was given fifth and Rebekah degrees. 1861-April 6, took final card from Tarlton Lodge; deposited in Penn Lodge No. 30, of Brookville, Indiana, but date not certain as records were destroyed by fire. 1863-November 17, admitted to grand lodge as represent- ative of Penn Lodge No. 30. 187 -- - Took final card from Penn Lodge. 1876-February 4, petitioned Whitewater Lodge No. 41, of Richmond, for membership. February 11, elected, and on same date introduced to the members. 1887-November 17, elected grand warden grand lodge of Indiana. 1888-November 22, elect- ed deputy grand master. 1889-November 21, elected grand mas- ter. 1890-November 20, elected grand representative to the sov- ereign grand lodge. 1891-September, attended session sovereign grand lodge at St. Louis, Missouri. 1892-September, attended session sovereign grand lodge at Portland, Oregon. 1882-Febru- ary 14, elected member of Oriental Encampment No. 28, of Rich- mond. 1883-December 25, elected chief patriarch. 1886- November 9, elected representative to grand encampment of In- diana. For several years he served as district deputy grand mas- ter, of Wayne county, a position of honor and importance. IIe was repeatedly elected grand trustee of the grand lodge, and had a year to serve to fulfill the term of his last election. He was at this time, also, one of the two members appointed by the grand lodge on the Home committee. In whatever position he was placed, important or otherwise, he gave of his best ability and served with unquestioned integrity. In the report of the mem- orial committee of the grand lodge was also data with reference to his service in the order. We shall ever cherish a lively recol- lection of the virtues of this noble brother.
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