USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 58
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Mr. Brown was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of David and Catherine (Mast) Brown, both parents natives of Pennsylvania where they grew to maturity, were edu- cated and married, and there the father spent his life, dying there. The mother came to Bluffton, Indiana, after the death of her husband and spent her last years in that city, dying there several years ago. She first settled in Murray, this state, when her son, the subject, was six years old, but they did not remain there long.
J. L. Brown was a fine type of the self-made man and de- served a great deal of credit for what he accomplished. He grew to manhood in Bluffton and received his early education up to the time he was fourteen years old, and at that early age counneneed farming. He was a hard worker and managed well, consequently he met with a larger degree of success than falls to the average
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man and at the time of his death was one of the men of wealth in Bluffton. For many years he owned on . of the model and choice stock forms of Wells county, just south of Bluffton, on which he kept a superior grade of live stock, and carried on stock raising and general farming on an extensive scale. While he superin. tended the management of the same he and his family always re-
harness store for years, enjoying a liberal patronage with the city and surrounding country. He carried a large and carefully selected stock of up-to-date goods and his hundreds of customers always received uniformly kind and honest consideration. Mrs. Brown still owns and manages the farm, besides other valuable real estate in Bluffton.
Mr. Brown was a great home man, very much attached to his family. Politically, he was a Republican, but was never very active, preferring to give his attention to his extensive business interests and to his home. He had been engaged in the mercan- tile business in Bluffton si re 1874 and was exceptionally success- ful from the first. He was a worthy member of the Baptist church and a liberal supporter of the same. Mrs. Brown also holds membership with the same, having long been very active in the work of the local congregation. She is also a prominent member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
J. L. Brown was married on September 19, 1872, at Murray, Indiana, to Nancy Carolyn Miller, who was born there in 18-19. She is the daughter of Jacob Miller, who was born in Maryland. He was a miller in his younger days, and he came to Indiana and operated a grist mill at Murray, he being a miller by trade. How- ever, for many years he engaged in farming, and at the time of his death he owned a large ant valuable farm near Murray. He was an active Democrat, and was a member of the Lutheran church. HIe was one of the substantial men, financially, of his locality. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Mary Ann Sutton. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Rev. Elijah Sutton, a Baptist minister, who was born in Wales. Eleven children were born to JJacob Miller and wife, namely: Elijah Frederick, of Celina, Ohio; Benjamin Fitzallen is deceased; Charles M. lives in Bluffton; James M. also lives in Bluffton; Jacob Mills is deceased; John Ebner i .: deceased; Mrs. Diana S. Park lives in Bluffton; Rhoda Catherine lives in Bluffton; Miss
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Arthalletta makes her home in Bluffton, also; Josina Cochran, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Nancy Carolyn, who married J. L. Brown of this review.
The Miller family came to Bluffton and vicinity among the earliest settlers and here they have always taken a conspicuous part in the upbuilding of the locality, have borne excellent repu-
... " 1 ... 1 loyal Democrats.
One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Brown, whom they named J. Lloyd Brown. His birth occurred on August 9, 1885, and he was reared in Bluffton and was given excellent educational advantages. Ile succeeded his father in the management of the farm and, being a young man of exceptional business ability and promise, was making a pro ounced success of his work, being in every way a worthy son of a worth, sire. He was graduated from the Bluffton public schools and was taking a general course in the State Normal when taken sick, and he never returned to his text books. Ile was a very active member of the Bluffton lodge of Benevolent and Protectiv Order of Elks. He was also a loyal Democrat, opposite to his ather in political views. He came to a tragic death, being killed at Kingsland in September, 1910, in a collision of trolley ears, at which time several other prominent people of Bluffton met death. The funeral of Mr. Brown was held under the auspices of the Elks lodge. He was known to all as a model young man, genial, obliging and popular with all who knew him. Perhaps a greater or more beautiful floral display was never offered at a young man's funeral in the history of Bluffton than was seen at his.
The death of J. L. Brown, the immediate subject of this mem- oir, occurred at the beautiful family homestead, No. 220 East Washington street, Bluaton, Indiana, on April 17, 1911, after a long, useful and honorable life, fraught with much good to him- self, his family and the world.
WILLIAM THOMAS PRITCHARD.
In phuving the name of the late William Thomas Pritchard before the reader as one standing in the front rank of the water- pricingE Grof affairs and a leader of the bar at Franklin, Indiana, whose influence tended to the upbuilding of the city of his resi- dence and the advancement of the affair, of his native county of Jolmson, simple justice is done a biographical fact, recognized throughout the community by those at all familiar with his his- tory and cognizant of the important part he acted in the circles with which he was identified. His career presents a notable ex- ample of those qualities of mind and character which overcome obstacles and win success, and his example is eminently worthy of imitation by those dissatisfied with present attainments who would aspire to higher and more useful positions of honor and trust.
Mr. Pritchar I was born in Nineveh township, Johnson county, Indiana, September 25, 1817. He was a son of William McGuire Pritchard and Margaret (Featherngill) Pritchard, both natives of Kentucky, in which state they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and from there they emigrated to Jolinson county, Indiana, and spent the rest of their lives in this state. They were the parents of six children, only two of whom survive at this writing, James A., of Franklin, Indiana, and Mrs. Sarah Bolilen, of Indianapolis; one son, Dan W., who was a soldier in the Federal army, was killed at the battle of Winchester; William Thomas is the subject of this memoir; David, the elde t, died at about twenty-one years of age; Mary Frances died at the age of eleven years.
The father of the subject died when the sou was seven years old, the mother surviving until 1898, passing away at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. When the Civil war broke out Daniel W. Pritchard enlisted in Company F, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, leaving the subject, then only fourteen years old, at home, to care for the mother, who for over eighteen months at this time was bedfast, and a younger brother and sister. The subject was determined to secure an education, and he walked
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three miles to Nineveh school daily, working about the home farm from daylight until time to start to school, and in the evening .. lle often studied by firelight until twelve and one o'clock. He worked one year in Franklin and studied at the college here. Ile began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed for a period of twelve years in Rensselaer and one year in Franklin. He had the distinction of being elected to five different schools in Jasper county in the same year. During his teaching days in Jasper he lived about twelve miles from his home and this distance he walked at the week's end and Monday morning again to re- sinne his school work. About 1855, on the death of the father, the family moved to Franklin and while teaching in Johnson county Mr. Pritchard read law in the office of Miller & Barnett, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He then formed a partner- ship wit' D. A. Leach, and fitting up an office in what is now the Stewart building on the east side of the square, where they re- mained amber of years, their partnership continuing with much success until 1883, Mr. Pritchard then opening an office alone. He served the first ward as councilnan in 1881 and 1882, and was city attorney from 1891 to 1897. He was also elected to two terms as trustee of Franklin township, and he was honored upon his retirement in 1890 from this office by the teachers of the town- ship presenting him with a valuable gold-headed cane. He was appointed by President MeKinley as postmaster of Franklin and moved the office to its present location where he served four years with eminent satisfaction to the people and the department. For ten years or more he had been an attorney and ahstractor for the Mutual Building and Loan Association. In all his public and private business he was strictly reliable, never entering into any transaction until assured in his own mind that he was absolutely right.
In politics Mr. Pritchard was always a leading worker and for a number of years was the chairman of the Republican county committee. ITis acquaintance in the county was extensive. For years he operated a threshing outfit. He was a man who loved his home life and was devoted to his wife and children. He was very snecessful in a business way and acquired a goodly share of this world's goods through honest effort and frugality. He was liberal to civic and Christian work.
Mr. Pritchard was married in 1878 to Emma Depue, in Frank-
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lin, the home of the Depue family for years, she being a daughter of William Harri. on Depue, a first consin of Channeey M. Depew, the noted New York statesman.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard, named as follows: Mrs. Margaret M. VanRiper, wife of the present super- intendent of Franklin public schools; Norman IL., an attorney at law and instructor in LaSalle Annoy Oliang, Un. Entity, Teli, wno is at home; and Ruth, who is a student in Franklin College.
The death of William T. Pritchard occurred on Sunday, September 6, 1908, at his summer home on Blue river, near Edin- burg, after an illness extending over several years. Early in the summer of 1908 he gave up all active business affairs and in the hope that his health would be benefited he took a cottage on Blue river near Edinburg, but his condition did not improve, and his death closed a career that was in every way most honorable and creditable, in view of his carly discouraging and unpromising environment.
GEN. THOMAS J. MA .RISO.T.
Out of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote: " flis- in this File. there is a sound reason for the compilation of books of the char- acter of this one. Indiana has sustained many men who have been prominent in history from the earliest territorial epoch, the annals teeming with the records of strong and noble womanhood, and, as Summer said, "The true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the true greatness of the individual." The final canses which shape the fortimes of individual men and the destinies of states are often the same. They are usually re- mote and obscure, their influence wholly unexpected until de- clared by results. When they inspire men to the exercise of cour- age, self-denial, industry, and call into play the higher moral ele- ments; lead men to risk upon conviction, faith-such causes lead to the planting of great states and the perpetuation of great na- tions. That nation is greatest which produces the greatest and most manly mer, and the public safety depends not so much upon methods and measures as upon that true manhood from whose deep sources all that is precious and permanent in life must at last proceed. One of the most distinguished citizens of the state honored by his citizenship during a past generation was he whose name appears at the head of this memoir. A man of great native ability, liberal education, stanch patriotism, invincible courage, high personal character and keen business instinets-he not only carned for himself. by distinguished military services, a high place on the roll of his state's honored dead. but he exhibited in other lines of effort qualities which would have insured the high- est measure of success to their possessor had he lived to carry his plans to their full fruition.
Gen. Thomas J. Harrison was a native son of the old Bhie Grass state, having been born in Shelby county, Kentucky, on June 8, 1821, and his death occurred at Nashville, Tennessee, on September 28, 1871, at the age of forty-seven years. His parents were Joshua and Sarah Harrison. When Thomas J. was but six years of age, the family removed to near Gran fordsville, Indiana.
(42)
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and settled on a farm, with the hard labor of which the lad belle familiar as soon as large enough. The elder Harrison was a man of sound common sense and high ideals and he determined to give his son every educational advantage possible at that period in this commandively new Warten state. To this end, after securing what instruction was obtainable in the common and subscription schonla nf + posso, lomas . Harrison became a stu- dent in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville. Here the ambitious student made the most of his opportunities, though he did not complete the course, leaving college in 18-19, at the age of twenty- five years. Going to Kokomo, he engaged in teaching school, for which he was by nature well adapted, and at the same time, under the wise direction of Judge Nathaniel R. Linsday, he took up the study of the law, into the practice of which he was ambitions to enter. He thus put npon himself a double burden of work, teach- ing and studying simultaneously, but he was by nature endowed with a splendid physique, which, with a vigorous and active mind, enabled him to accomplish quickly and easily tasks which would have discouraged others of less hervie mold or natural and eulti- vated ability. Upon the completion of his studies, Mr. Harrison was admitted to the bar and, entering into a partnership with Judge Linsday, his former preceptor and now his father-in-law, he at onec applied himself with energy and enthusiasm to his pro- fession. His abilities were quickly recognized and his success as a legal practitioner was assured. His reputation as a man of abil- ity and integrity commended him to the suffrages of the people of his district and in 1858 he was elected a member of the lower house of the Legislature, where he acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. At the end of his legislative term he returned to his practice and devoted himself to it without in- termuption and with pronounced success until the outbreak of the great Southern insurrection. In April, 1861, when the toesin of war was sonnded throughout the land and President Lincoln is- sued his call for volunteers to defend the national honor and integ- rity, Thomas J. Harrison was among the first to offer his services. Ile was commissioned captain and served in the three-months service, at the expiration of which he returned home and raised the Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commissioned colonel. The regiment was at once sent to the front and was assigned to the Army of The Cumberland, where
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it acquitted itself during the ensuing three years in a manner that won for it an enviable reputation throughout the army and a high place in military annals, few commands becoming as well known for its courage, valor and fighting qualities. During the year 1862, the regiment took part in a number of hotly contested engagements, opening the campaign of that year with the en- gagement at Mill Spring and closing u with the terrible struggi at Stone River. In the spring of 1863 the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Infantry was mounted and became the Eighth Indiana Cavalry Regiment, in which branch of the service it remained during the balance of its enlistment period.
As a testimonial of the splendid service rendered to the na- tional cause by Colonel Harrison's regiment, the following ex- cerpt is taken from the report of the proceedings of the fifth re- union of the Army of the Cumberland, held at D . roit, Michigan, in 1871: "In the reports made by the different commanders, of the scouts, skirmishes, mareles and battles of the cavalry troops of the Army of the Cumberland, the name of Colonel Harrison fre- quently appears, always coupled with terms of commendation. Thus we hear of him during the night after that dreadful second day at Chickamauga, supplying the jaded and worn infantry with water. Again, during the winter and spring of 1: 4, we find him quieting guerrillas and restoring the outlying regions, away from the great lines of operation, to comparative repose. Then, picket- ing the country in the immediate vicinity of the enemy with such vigilance and thoroughness as to leave no fear of surprise. Or. leading his command on a long, tedious and dangerous expedition, into the very heart of the enemy's country, and retiring, success- ful, with losses so trifling as not to be mentioned. Then we hear of his covering the retirement of our troops before the advancing forces of Hood's army as they move to their destruction at Nash- ville-bravely and warily resisting every step of their progress, while the concentration is taking place which is to overthrow them utterly. And at last, we see him heading the triumphant pursuit of the shattered remnants of the same army whose ad- vance only a few weeks before he had been just able to check for a few minutes at a time. This is the record which one reads of Colonel Harrison in the published reports of the commanding generals. How much such mention implies of the possession of
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endmance, comage, skill, energy and self-reliance. a soldier neal not be told."
Colonel Harrison was a man of large and commanding pres ener and possessed a magnetism that, added to the many high personal qualities that chans teriaed him, gained for him the love and loyalty of his men. He was always at their head and where he led that I De " man, is example inspiring them to deeds that deserve to be preserved in story and song. Possess- ing military and strategie skill of a high order, he performed the tasks allotted to him in a manner that not only insured success, but gained it with a mininnun of sacrifice and cost. Ilis ability and valable service was recognized by his government before the close of the war, when he received the commission of brigadier- general, a fairly won and justly merited promotion.
At the conclusion of peace and the termination of his mili- tary services, General Harrison turned his attention again to the pursuits of peace. During his military service in Tennessee he had become acquainted with the country and as soon as possible he settled in one of the fertile villages in the center of the state. and there, securing a large tract of land, he gave his attention to its improvement and enltivation. He brought to bear upon it Northern energy and Northern methods and under his skillful management and direction the land began to assume a new aspect. Waste fields began to produce bountiful crops, barren hillsides became fruitful and the influence of his advanced methods on the community about him was noticeable. He also became interested in a material way in several manufacturing industries, in the management of which he exhibited administrative ability of a high order and in the operation of which he met with pronounced success. About a year prior to his death, General Harrison was appointed United St: tes marshal for the middle district of Ten- nessee, the appointment coming to him entirely unsolicited. Ile entered upon the discharge of the duties of this position with the same energy and faithfulness with which he performed every task to which he set himself, and his administration was emi- nently satisfactory to the government. He was the incumbent of this office at the time of his death.
General Harrison's death, which was sudden, was a profound shock to his thousands of friends everywhere, for he seemed to be destined for many years of activity and successful effort. His ro-
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mains were brought to Kokomo for burial and were laid in the cemetery where his four children had been internet. The esteem in which he was held where he was best known is shown by the fact. that never before in Howard county was so large a mumber of per- sons assembled at a funeral as at his.
The following pen picture of General Harrison is by one who knew him well m life: "In person, General Harrison was of cont manding stature. His body was a fair reflex of his mind. He was strong, vigorous, tenacions, not specially quick to move, but, once in motion, almost resistless in weight and power, Hearty and robust, he won all men to him by his ready sympathy and by a kindliness of spirit and gentleness of manner scarcely to be ex- pected in one of so powerful a frame." Ilis entire life was char- acterized by a devotion, courage and honor that diseon. aged any- thing of a degrading or evil nature, and his influence was always uplifting on the community and the individual. A man among men, and "standing four square to every wind that blows," he leaves behind him the richest legacy a man can leave-the mem- ory of a life filled with nothing but good, both in thought and ac- tion.
On February 28, 1853, Thomas J. Harrison was united in marriage with Louvisa E. Linsday, the daughter of Judge Na- thaniel R. Linsday, one of the eminent lawyer . and jurists of his day. Judge Linsday was born in Canandaigua county, New York, in 1815, came when a small child to Madison county, Indiana, and was left fatherless when but seven years old. His mother returned East with the other children and he was thuis left practically motherless. He made his home with an unele, who gave him scant attention, and he was, in the strict use of the term, self- made. He was studions and by economizing his time in reading and study he became well educated. He farmed, bocan . justice of the peace, where he gained an enviable reputation, and took up the study of the law, opening an office in Pendleton in 1811. In 1843 he was defeated for the Legislature on the Whig ticket, but he became a power among the people and was soon recognized as the head of the Howard county bar. In 1851 he was the joint representative in the Legislature from Cass, Tipton and Howard counties. In 1856 he was elected judge of the court of connon pleas, and in 1861 was elected judge of the judicial district com. posed of Howard, Tipton, Clinton and Grant counties, resigning
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the position after holding one term of code, because of the heavy and bundensome duties of the position. From 1869 to 1876 the Judge resided on a beautiful farm about a mile west of Kokomo, but in the latter year removed to that city, where he resided dur- ing the remainder of his life. He was married in 1836 to Rachel Shaul, of Pendleton, and to this nion were born four children, Bundy. Lottvina, widow of the subject of this sketch; (lemen- tine, who makes her home with Mrs. Harrison; Aaron 11., de- ceased; Ella, also deceased. After the death of his first wife, the Judge married Mrs. Julia Fondray, of Indianapolis, who died three years later, and in 1876 he married Mrs. Melvina C. Sher- man Fowler, who survives him and is living in Kokomo.
Louvisa E. Linsday Harrison was born in Pendleton, Madi- son county, Indiana, on January 13, 1837. She received her early education in a private school at Indi mapolis, conducted by Eliza Rielmond, where she remained two years taking a general course. Iler marriage to General Harrison occurred a short time after she left that school. During the war Mrs. Harrison ex- hibited that same spirit of loyal dew tion to her . ountry as ac- thated her husband and she was active in her efforts to ameliorate the condition of "the boys at the front," making stockings and other necessaries and caring for sick soldiers, every movement having for its object the defense of Co national integrity meet- ing with her instant response and support. She is now a mem- ber of the Woman's Relief Corps, of which s) . has been elected president several times, but has always declined the office. She has been member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Kokomo since 1815, attending services when the church was first organ- ized in a log cabin. She is a member of the Ladies Aid Society and, notwithstanding her age, she takes an active interest in all good works. The old homestead is located at No. 416 West Syca- more street and is in one of the choice residence sections of the city, being a valuable property. Though not rich in material things, Mrs. Harrison steadfastly refuses to sell the old home, about which are clustered so many hallowed memories of former days and experts to spend her remaining days here. In the spacious ground are some magnificent old forest trees, most of which were planted by her own hands, and near the house stands a large walnut tree which started from a pile of walnuts which had been gathered by Mrs. Harrison's son the fall before he died.
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