USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 45
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"The future President's trip from Indianapolis was un- eventful almost all the way to Plainfield. Now it happened that the worst mud hole for miles and miles was at the south side of the old road, immediately east of the hamlet of Plainfield, now within the borders of the thriving town. There at the side of the road stood an elm tree which had not been cleared away with the rest of the virgin forest, and the story goes that this wonderful hole was so deep and so soft that many a horse had been all but buried in it. It was a treacherous hole, too, for at its bottom
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were the massive roots of the old tree, still more massive today as it stands to mark the spot where the accidents occurred. The arrival of the daily coach at Plainfield was the incident of the day; it was the principal happening, and, added to the usual crowd that awaited the passengers and the mail the Iumbering old wagon was to carry to them, the people who, having heard that Martin Van- Buren would arrive that day had lingered about the postoffice to see him and perchance to hear him, and you have a picture of the whole hamlet turning out into the streets. Traveling was hard in those days; there were no Pullmans, and a chance to see a real, live President, or even a man who might become President, was a thing much to be desired.
"The coach appeared between the great walls of trees through which the road had been built. At the top of the hill, half a mile east of the town, the driver bellowed forth his coming from the mouth of a great horn he carried for the purpose, and the good people of Plaifineld looked on expectantly. Down the hill the stage-coach came, the horses galloping and the heavy old wagon swaying and jumping until the passengers could barely keep their seats.
" 'He is a new driver; he is making straight for the big hole,' said someone. And he was right in all but the statement that the driver was new. The wheels of the coach went down and down, the horses came almost to a halt and then the coach turned over.
"The people of the village rushed breathlessly to the scene of the accident, for the driver said he accidentally forgot the mud hole, despite the fact that a tale was current for many years after- ward that he had wagered a beaver hat that he wasn't afraid to dump VanBuren into the mud as a practical lesson of the need of improvements.
"VanBuren, red faced in his embarrassment, completely out of patience, but silent and literally covered with mud, had scrambled out of the overturned coach and was standing some- what helplessly at the side of the muddy road when the first of the crowd that had witnessed the dumping arrived. And, as they gathered round, an old woman is reputed to have rushed from a nearby cabin, and, after leading the bespattered man to the side of the road out of the mud, to have scraped the mud from his broadcloth with a chip. Later he walked to the village inn, a man carrying his luggage for him, and he and the one or two other passengers left the driver and some of his unhappy friends to
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right the coach with fence rails and to drive it on to the stage- coach station in the town.
"There are not many who have been blessed with such lease of life as to remember the stirring event, but Dr. Jesse Reagan, of Plainfield, who has lived a long and honorable life, and now in his declining years has the well-earned respect of his fellow citi- cons of Plainfield, romambora it wall Un moule the swaggering driver, and the little old woman who cleaned VanBuren's clothes with a chip. But the names of both the driver and the old woman have faded away in the dim and distant past.
"What was the effect of this severe lesson on internal im- provements ? President VanBuren's first duty as he saw it was to put an end to the Seminole war, and the changes he made in the command of the men to whom it was intrusted and the plans he and his officers made for this campaign succeeded. The aborigi- nes were finally moved to the West. But long before the war came to a satisfactory end the VanBuren administration had been marked by one of the most serious panics in the history of the country. The goodly prosperity of the former times changed. During those times the national debt had been entirely wiped out and the national government had such a supply of surplus cash that forty million dollars was distributed among the states, and with this prosperity came speculation that was wild and disas- trous. The change, though it was not felt until after the new President had taken his high position, was really the result of an act of President Jackson. That President, realizing that bushels of worthless paper money was being issued, ordered that govern- ment lands be paid for only in coin. It stopped the purchase of land with worthless paper, and it stopped practically everything else. In the spring of 1837 the commercial failures in New York and New Orleans alone amounted to more than a hundred million dollars. And so a panic-one of the worst in the history of the country-undid whatever good the coach driver's lesson may have done.
"Now Plainfield was incorporated not so very long ago. A town board was elected, and with a zeal which so often character- izes the possession of a new power, the people of the town built cement walks. Incidentally, for the sake of the walks, the people of the place saw many fine shade trees that had for years beauti- fied the streets of the village, fall before the ax of the street con- tractors. A resolution was adopted for the improvement of East
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Main street. Main street in Plainfield is nothing more than Wash- ington street in Indianapolis extended westward, for both were originally the National road, and this improvement of Main street was to pass right through the VanBuren chu. But the good women of the place desired it not, and when a number of energetic women of the average Indiana town meet and say a thing shall or shall not be-well, they usually have their way. At any rate they did in this case. They presented to the officers of the town the folly of destroying the ancient elm, and they won their point. The plans for the sidewalk on East Main street were so made that the walk would miss the tree and it was saved. Standing as it does just at the edge of the old Friends churchyard, this old tree has seen every yearly and quarterly meeting since the beginning of the services there-and that has been a very, very long time, and it has seen more. It saw Benjamin Harrison, as a struggling young lawyer, go galloping into the town of Plainfield to make certain collections for his Indianapolis clients, and it has seen love affairs that were fostered in the shade of its massive branchies that were of so long ago that the children of these lovers and even the children of their children have come to its happy shade for the billing and cooing of happy loves.
"But despite the efforts of the good women to save it, the historie old elm is doomed. It is decaying; on one side there is a decayed area so large that it appears that the tree may not last many years to come. There has been talk of the possibility of pre- serving the tree by chopping out the dead wood and filling the cavity in the latest approved style with concrete, but there has been no movement of the kind started."
DAVID C. EAST.
A name known to every one who has the slightest acquaint- was with the business History of Amletzten, Indiana, is that of the late David C. East. During his active life he filled a large place in the industrial affairs of the city, and as an energetic, enterpris- ing, farsighted man whose judgment and discretion were seldom at fault and whose influence made for the substantial upbuilding of the locality honored by his citizenship he earned a reputation second to none of his contemporaries. He is remembered as a man who possessed a broad, inquiring mind, who was keenly alive to everything that tended to improve labor conditions and benefit those upon whose shoulders fell the burden of making possible the phenomenal progress resulting from the development and suc- cess of the industrial evolution of this section of the country dur- ing the past half century. Although modest and unassuming and always easily approached, he had a strong and vigorous person- ality and in the best sense of the term was a leader of men and well fitted to manage important enterprises. IIe was the repre- sentative of a sterling old pioneer family of Delaware county, this family having been influential in the general growth of the same from the early period of her history to the present time and they have borne untarnished reputations.
David C. East was born in Virginia, on January 27, 1833. He was a son of Anderson and Mary (Goings) East, who moved to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1834 when this country was a vast, sparsely settled wilderness, having made the long overland jour- ney from Virginia across the rugged Alleghanies. They settled in the woods, which were vast and dense, and began life in a typical pioneer manner, enduring the hardships and privations incident to such a life. They began at once to erect a brick house, burning their own brick, making their home in a small sheep- house that was on the place, and in this they continued to reside until their new house was completed. Anderson East never did much farming himself, but had the place farmed, and spent the major part of his time in his own private room, which no one other than himself was permitted to enter. He was a man of much tal-
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ent as a painter, and he devoted his attention to painting, many of his pictures being really meritorions and beautiful. This was his hobby and gave him great delight. He spent the rest of his life in this residence, dying there at the advanced age of seventy- eight years, his wife having preceded him to the grave when sixty- eight years of age. Ile was a strong Democrat, but not a public
Eight children were born to Anderson East and wife, namely: Elizabeth, who married Ezekiel MeCall, is deceased; James is deceased; David Clarkson, subject of this memoir; Crockett was a soldier in the Civil war and was killed in the service; Adeline mar- ried Benjamin Harter Andrew, who also was a soldier in the Union army, but is now deceased; Caroline is the widow of Will- iam Sparr; Isaac is the youngest of the children.
David C. East, of this sketch, was quite young when his par- ents brought him from Virginia to Delaware county. Here he grew to manhood and received his education in the district schools. When seventeen years old he made his first business venture by buying sixteen acres of timber land, going in debt for the entire amount, and in a short time, by teaching school and cutting railroad ties from his tract of land, he not only cleared his little farm, but paid for it while doing so. From that time on Mr. East was continuously engaged in business of some form. Being unusually successful in all his enterprises, having much natural business ability, he seemed to carry lightly the various burdens of the average business man, going about his work in a quiet, digni- fied and unassuming manner. When a young man he engaged in the dry goods business at Selma, Indiana, a village near Mun- cie, having had as a partner his brother James, and he was also extensively engaged in buying and selling wheat, live stock, etc., for many years shipping his stock to Eastern markets.
Selling his business interests at Selma, Mr. East came to Anderson in 1872, his brother-in-law, B. C. Harter, taking over his property, and he made his home in Muncie one year while he straightened up his business affairs. He purchased a residence in Muncie, although he remained in that city but a short time, always preferring to be under his own roof. On coming to Ander- son Mr. East had the sum of ten thousand dollars in cash, which he had made by his own efforts, through hard work and steady application to business. After purchasing a business block oppo-
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site the court house on Ninth street, he opened a dry goods store and took in as a partner his cousin, William Campbell. Tiring of the dry goods business five years later, he bought a lot on the corner of Main and Thirteenth street where he erected a mag- nificent residenec, after selling his business to Abner Siddell. Later he and Mr. Siddell bought one hundred and ten aeres of valuable land at the edge of the city, for which they paid the sum of six thousand dollars, which land they farmed for two years in partnership. Mr. East then bought Mr. Siddell's interest and built a home there, and made his residence at that place for ten years, until the gas boom, when he sold the farm at two hundred and twenty-five dollars per aere and bought the present East homestead at No. 1525 Ohio avenue, Anderson, where he spent the remainder of his days, this property at that time, twenty-four years ago, being a wheat field. He also built three houses on Jefferson street, at the same time moving to the present East homestead on August 10th.
Eventually Mr. East entered the hardware business, buying the stock of a firm that was about to go into bankruptcy, taking his son Charles in as a partner. This was practically a new busi- ness for Mr. East and his son, but the move proved a paying ven- ture and in a short time theirs ranked among the leading hard- ware stores in Anderson and northeastern Indiana, and they en- joyed a very wide trade with the surrounding territory. The busi- ness is still being ably conducted by Elmer East, son of the sub- ject, the East hardware store on Main street being one of the best mercantile establishments in the city. It was Mr. East's policy to give each of his children a five-hundred-dollar interest in the store. After spending several years in this line of endeavor the subject was succeeded by his sons, Charles and Elmer, and spent the last fifteen years of his life in retirement. He accumulated a handsome competency and was rated among the substantial busi- ness men of his chosen city. He ereeted the modern East block on Main street.
The tragic death of David C. East occurred on Saturday after- noon, May 15, 1909. We reprint the following article from the Anderson Morning Herald, under date of May 16, 1909:
"D. C. East was struck by a west-bound street car at Eleventh and Lincoln streets yesterday afternoon shortly after three o'clock and suffered injuries from which he died at St. John's hospital at four-twenty o'clock.
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"Mr. East was turning into Eleventh street from Lincoln, northbound, and it is thought he intended to eross the north side of the tracks. The Hazelwood car's gong failed to reach his ear in time to attract his attention, and he was almost on the tracks before he knew of its approach. Hle then made a desperate at- tempt to stop or turn to the south of the tracks. Instead his horse came to a dead stop on the track when the car was about ten foot from it.
"The horse was thrown to the south and was instantly killed and Mr. East fell to the north in front of the car, was rolled several feet by the cow-catcher of the car, and finally was rolled under it. When the car stopped he was directly in front of the wheels and it was with some difficulty that he was re- leased from the danger.
"An ambulance was called and he was taken at once to St. John's hospital where three physicians attended him, but nothing could be done. Ile remained conscious until a few minutes be- fore he died. The remains were taken to his home at No. 1525 Ohio avenue.
"It is stated by the family that Mr. East was taking a load of trash, which had been gathered from the lot at the home on Ohio avenue, to a dumping ground out on Madison avenue. At the noon hour he had expressed intention of hauling it away next week, and at the time his son Redmond asked that he leave it alone that he might move it for him. Mr. East evidently decided later in the day to move it yesterday.
"Mrs. East had gone about one o'clock in the afternoon to visit relatives at Farmland and she knew nothing of the accident until a friend went to Farmland and broke the sad news to her. She arrived here early in the evening in a state bordering on nervous prostration. A daughter, Mrs. Walker, was also in a very nervous state.
"The motorman and conductor in charge of the car stated that the car was going between six and eight miles an hour when the brakes were set. The motorman was watching a vehicle that was turning off of Lincoln onto Eleventh from the north and the motorman was sounding the gong and trying to prevent a colli- sion there. According to the motorman, Mr. East was hidden from view by a house on the south side of the street at the cross-
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ing and that it was impossible to see him coming until the car was upon him.
"Mr. East did not tell how the accident occurred, as his condi- tion was such that he could not explain, his body being badly mangled. Witnesses say the car was moving very rapidly.
"Redmond East, youngest son of the deceased, a senior in the High school, who graduated Muy 28th, was at the track and field meet at the fair grounds when the accident occurred, and he was hastily taken home in an automobile from officiating in the meet. The open house that was to have been held at the Anderson Country Club town house that night by the Clarion club in honor of the visiting teams and followers, was called off because of the death.
"Mr. East was seventy-six years old, having been born in 1833. He came to Delaware county from the East and about forty years ago came to Anderson where he has since resided. On coming to Anderson he entered business on the south side of the square, being a part owner of the Bee Hive. Later for a few years he resided on his farms east of the city. About twenty years ago he entered the hardware business on Main street under the name of D. C. East & Sons, which firm has since existed. Charles and Elmer E. East are the sons interested in the store. Mr. East owned several fine farms in the eastern part of the county, and had a number of residence properties in the city. He also built and owned the East block on Main street, where the Hitz com- mission house is located, south of Eleventh street. He was a member of no fraternal orders, but was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church.
"The family surviving consists of the widow and sons, Charles W. and Elmer E. and Redmond, all of this city, the latter the youngest child, and daughters, Mrs. Emma Hughel, Mrs. Bert Lowman, Mrs. Edward Riggs and Mrs. John Walker, all of this city, and Mrs. Minnie Rogers and Mrs. Bertha Henry, both of Wheeling, West Virginia. Thomas East, of Ohio avenue, and Isaac East, of Walnut street, are brothers of the deceased, and Mrs. Addie Harter, residing in Florida, and Mrs. Caroline Sparr of California, are sisters."
David C. East was a man of engaging personal characteristics and was a man of esthetic qualities, was widely read and familiar
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with current questions of the day in all lines and he was a writer of no mean ability. The following is a fair sample of his verse:
THE OLD FARM.
It's many long years since I lived on the farm, With its woodland and wild flowers so bright; Where I played with the kids on the lawn From carly morn until night.
It is the dearest spot on earth to me, With its orchard and beautiful lawn;
When I fed the cattle and sheep And hogs around the barn.
There have been many changes since, I have done some good and much harm Since I lived with father and mother Down on the dear old farm.
It was no uncommon thing Many years ago To see a bear, a deer or a doe When to the woods I'd go.
My father bought this farm In eighteen hundred and thirty-four, And it never changed hands since that time Until a few years ago.
This good old farm has been cultivated For a half a century or more, And still when we plough, plant and hoe The corn and wheat are sure to grow.
It is my desire when my time ends below, This good old farm shall not to strangers go; That my children will keep and love it As I have done before.
D. C. EAST, August 10, 1905.
JAMES D. WILLIAMS.
One of the most popular governors Indiana has ever had was James D. Williams, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 16, 1808, and moved with his parents to Indiana in 1818, settling near Vincennes. He grew to manhood there and upon the death of his father, in 1828, the support of the family devolved upon him. He received a limited education in the pioneer log school house, but being a close observer and a wide reader he later became unusually well versed for one in his circumstances. He was reared a farmer and naturally chose agriculture for his life work, and followed it with much more than average success, until the close of his long and useful life. He entered publie life in 1839, as justice of the peace, which office he resigned in 1843, in which year he was elected to the lower house of the Legisla- ture, and from that time until his election to the national Con- gress in 1874, he was almost continuously identified with the legislative service of the state. Few men in Indiana were so long in the public service and few have been identified with more popu- lar legislative measures than he. It is to him that the widows of this state are indebted for the law which allows them to hold, without administration, the estates of their deceased husbands, when they do not exceed three hundred dollars in value. He was the author of the law which distributed the sinking fund among the counties of the state, and to him are the people largely indebted for the establishment of the state board of agriculture, an institution that has done much to foster and develop the agri- cultural interests of Indiana. He was a delegate to the Demo- cratic national convention at Baltimore in 1872, and in 1873 was nominated for United States senator against Oliver P. Morton, but the party being in the minority he was defeated. He served in the national House of Representatives from December, 1875, to December, 1876, when he resigned, having been elected gover- nor in the latter year. The campaign of 1876 was a memorable one, during which the opposition, both speakers and press, ridi- euled the Democratic nominee for governor, making sport of his homespun clothes and plain appearance, but the Democracy
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seized upon his peculiarities and made them the watchwords of victory.
Governor Williams, or "Blue Jeans," as his friends were pleased to call him, was a man of the strictest integrity, and was known as a careful, painstaking executive, entering into the min- utest details of his office. He was self-willed and self-reliant and probably consulted fewer persons about his official duties than any of its predecessors. In personal appearance, Governor Will- iams was over six feet high, had large hands and feet, high check bones, long sharp nose, gray eyes, and a well-formed head, cov- cred profusely with black hair. IIe was courteous in his inter- course with others, a good conversationalist, and possessed in a very marked degree shrewdness and force of character. He died in the year 1880.
Orlando Allen Somers, 1912.
ORLANDO ALLEN SOMERS.
It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs who makes the real history of a community, and his influence as a potential factor of the body politie is difficult to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of cach to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting in even a casual manner to their achievements in advancing the interests of their fellow men and in giving strength and solidity to the in- stitutions which tell so much for the prosperity of the community. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of inci- dent and yet in summing up the career of any man the biographer needs touch only those salient points which give the keynote to his character. Thus in setting forth the life record of Hon. Orlando Allen Somers, sufficient will be said to show what all who know him will freely acquiesce in, that he is one of the repre- sentative men of Indiana. Such a life as his is an inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight when obstacles thwart their way, or their ideals have been reached or definite success has been obtained in any chosen field. In the life history of Mr. Somers are found evidences of character- istics that always make for achievement-persisteney coupled with fortitude and lofty traits-and as the result of such a life he has long been one of the best known, most influential and highly esteemed citizens of his county and state.
Orlando Allen Somers is a native of Henry county, Indiana, where he was born on the 24th day of January, 1843. He is the sixth in order of birth of the nine children (two of whom died in infancy) of Valentine and Mary McClain (Williams) Somers. These parents were, respectively, the son and daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Somers and Charles and Mary (McClain) Williams, and were born in Highland county, Ohio, 1808, and Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1811. With their parents they came to Indiana, 1829-30, settling at and near Middletown, Henry county, much of that town being situated upon the land owned and improved by Lewis Somers, and it was here that the parents of this subject
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