USA > Indiana > Memorial record of northeastern Indiana > Part 3
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Mr. Nuttman was a member of the
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First Presbyterian Church and was for many years a Trustee and its Treasurer, giving freely to the church his services in this capacity and also his zealous influence and tangible aid. His mortal remains were laid to rest in beautiful Lindenwood ceme- tery, and in the multitude which congregated to pay a last tribute to his memory sorrow was deeply manifest. Numerous friends united in their testimony to the worth of this honored pioneer, and to-day his name is recorded high upon the roll of the true and noble men who have passed away from the scenes of their labors and their ac- complishment.
Q OLONEL ROBERT S. ROBERT- SON .- An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public re- cognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the State to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent reference to the one whose name initiates this paragraph. Colonel Robertson holds distinctive preced- ence as an eminent lawyer and statesman, a man of high scientific and literary at- tainments, a valiant and patriotic soldier, and as one who occupied a unique and try- ing position during one of the most exciting epochs in the political history of Indiana, in which connection he bore himself with such signal dignity and honor as to gain him the respect of all. He has been and is dis- tinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. A strong men- tality, an invincible courage, a most de- termined individuality have so entered into his make-up as to render him a natural
leader of men and a director of opinion. The city of Fort Wayne may well accord honor to the subject of this review, and it is practically imperative that equal recogni- tion be granted him in this volume, which has to do with the consideration of the life history of the representative citizens of northeastern Indiana.
Robert S. Robertson is a native of North Argyle, New York, where he was born on the 16th of April, 1839, being descended from sturdy Scotch ancestry. His grand- father, Robert Robertson, was born in Scot- land, in October, 1756, and in the latter part of the eighteenth century he emigrated from Kinross-shire to the United States, lo- cating in Washington county, New York, where he remained until the hour of his death, which occurred on the 6th of No- vember, 1840. The father of our subject was Nicholas Robertson, and he too was born in North Argyle, Washington county, the date of his nativity having been May 12, 1803. He became a man of much influ- ence in the community and was called upon to serve in offices of public trust and re- sponsibility. He was Justice of the Peace for many years, and was also the incumbent as Postmaster of North Argyle. He still lives there, mentally vigorous. Nicholas Robertson was united in marriage, May 27, 1831, to Miss Martha Hume Stoddart, who was born in New York city, on the 20th of March, 1812. Her lineage traces, on either side, to prominent Scottish families, -the Humes and the Stoddarts. The latter fam- ily was one of illustrious record, its name being derived from the term "standard," inasmuch as the first of the name went to England with William the Conqueror, as standard-bearer for the Vicompte de Pulesden. The death of our subject's
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mother occurred on the 20th of January, 1867.
Colonel Robertson was reared in the rather austere faith of the strictest Scotch Presbyterian religion, and into his mind were early instilled the lessons of upright- ness, honor and industry which have borne fruit throughout all the years of his active and useful career. It is evident that the predominant characteristics of the Scotch type have manifested themselves in his every action. His has been a distinctive appre- ciation of honor and integrity, a somewhat pragmatic and practical view of the affairs of life, and he has been enabled to judge of men and to anticipate results from the sub- sequent mature judgment which has come to him. His preliminary educational disci- pline, acquired in the common schools, was effectively supplemented by a thorough course of study in Argyle Academy, and dur- ing his vacations he worked in his father's saw- mill and grist-mill until 1859. A young man of very clearly defined views, and one whose ambition had been quickened by his study and by his connection with practical busi- ness affairs, he early formulated his plans for his future career. He determined to prepare himself for the practice of law, and with this end in view, in the year 1859, he became a student in the office of the Hon. James Gibson, of Salem, New York. He later prosecuted his professional studies under the preceptorage of the Hon. Charles Crary, of New York city. In November, 1860, he was admitted to the bar, success- fully passing a rigid examination. The young attorney at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Whitehall, New York, but when the lurid cloud of Civil war flew athwart the national horizon he could not longer content himself with civil pursuits,
his loyal nature being roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, as he became cognizant of the higher duty which faced a patriotic son of the Republic. He at once began raising a company. As soon as recruits were secured they were quartered in barracks at Albany, and in the winter of 1861-2, when an order was received to consolidate all parts of companies and regiments and repair with them at once to Washington, they became part of Company I, Ninety-third New York Infantry. The men, however, refused to go unless Mr. Robertson remained with them. His recruiting service was not completed, but nevertheless, at this demand, he at once joined the ranks as a private and went to the front with his regiment. Here he soon rose from the ranks, being made Orderly Sergeant at an early date, commissioned Sec- ond Lieutenant in April, 1862, and while acting as Adjutant of his regiment in Febru- ary, 1863, was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant of Company K, this latter occurring during the Gettysburg campaign. Mr. Robertson participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and frequent skirmishes. He became aide-de-camp on the staff of General Nelson A. Miles, who at that time, 1863, was in command of the famous fighting First Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, and during his staff duty there he was twice wounded, once in the charge of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, when struck by a musket ball on the knee, and again on the 30th of the same month at Totopotomy creek, where he was shot from his horse in a charge, a minie ball passing through his abdomen from the front of the right hip to the back of the left. At this time he was reported as being among the fatally wounded, but his vigorous constitu- tion enabled him to rally, and he recovered
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sufficiently to enter the siege before Peters- burg. Here, however, his wounds broke out afresh, and he was discharged Septem- ber 3, 1864, "for disability from wounds received in action." For his distinguished services he was made the recipient of two brevet commissions, -one from the president of the United States conferring the rank of Captain, and another from the governor of New York, according him the honorable rank as Colonel. Both of these commis- sions as granted give evidence of their justi- fication in the words, "for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Spott- sylvania and Totopotomy creek." The Colo- nel was always in the thick of the fray, remaining constantly at the front and never being off duty until after he had received his second wound. Such a record is one that stands to his perpetual honor and will so do long after the last of the brave boys in blue have joined the ranks of that grand army of honest men and true who have passed into the life eternal.
Upon his return from the South Colonel Robertson made ready to resume his efforts in that profession for which he had prepared himself and in which his efforts had been so summarily interrupted. Locating at the national capital he was there engaged in the practice of law for a period of two years. The year 1866 stands as the date of his ad- vent in Ft. Wayne, and here he forthwith entered into a professional association with Messrs. Lindley M. Ninde and Robert S. Taylor, under the firm name of Ninde, Taylor & Robertson. This representative combination of talent and forces maintained until 1868, when the senior member retired from active professional labors by reason of impaired health, while Mr. Taylor's retire- ment was incidental to his appointment as
Judge of the Common Pleas Court. Subse- quently our subject consummated a partner- ship with David P. Whedon, with whom he was associated until 1871, when Mr. Whedon transferred his base of operations to the Territory of Utah. Colonel Robert- son continued to be associated with men who were representative in their profession, for soon afterward the firm of Lowry, Robertson & O'Rourke became prominent in the legal circles of Fort Wayne, their connection continuing until the Centennial year, 1876, when the last named was elected Judge of the Circuit Court of Allen county, while in the succeeding year the senior partner received the preferment as Judge of the Superior Court. Thereafter Colonel Robertson was for a full decade associated in professional work with Judge James B. Harper, and early in the year 1894 W. S. O'Rourke became his coadjutor in practice, -the gentleman being a nephew of his former partner, Judge O'Rourke. It is needless to say that the present firm takes leading rank at the bar of the State. It is not mere partisan praise or adulation, nor is it over-estimation to say that Colonel Robertson is at the present time one of the best equipped barristers of the State. As a lawyer he is sound, clear-minded and well trained. The limitations which are im- posed by the constitution on federal powers are well understood by him. With the long line of decisions, from Marshall down, by which the constitution has been expounded he is familiar, as are all thoroughly skilled lawyers. He is at home in all the departments of law, from the minutiæ in practice to the greater topics wherein is in- volved the consideration of the ethics and philosophy of jurisprudence and the higher concerns of public policy. But he is not
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learned in the law alone, for he has studied long and carefully the subjects that are to the statesman and the man of affairs of the greatest import, -the questions of finance, political economy, sociology, -and has kept abreast with the best thinking men of the age. He is felicitous and clear in argument, thoroughly in earnest, full of the vigor of con- viction, never abusive of adversaries, imbued with highest courtesy and yet a foe worthy of the steel of the most able opponent.
During his residence in Indiana Colonel Robertson has been recognized as the leader of the Republican party in the State, and he was first called to office by his election to the position of City Attorney, in 1867, for a term of two years. The following year he was the nominee of his party for State Sen- ator and at the ensuing election greatly de- creased the normal and large majority of the opposition. In 1871 he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy and also United States Commissioner, serving in the former office until 1875 and in the latter until 1876, when he resigned. At the Republican State convention which met in the Centennial year he was again forced forward in being nominated, without solicitation, for the office of Lieutenant Governor. He made a strong and dignified canvass in thirty-one counties, after which he contracted malarial fever, which prostrated him for more than a month. In 1886 General M. D. Manson, who held the office of Lieutenant Governor, resigned the incumbency, and in the election which followed Colonel Robertson became his suc- cessor. At the time prescribed by law he was declared elected and took the oath of office as Lieutenant Governor in the presence of the General Assembly. Then followed what eventually proved to be one of the most critical and exciting periods in
the political history of the State. The De- mocracy had decided to regard the election as unauthorized by law, and having a ma- jority in the Senate, forbade him to assume the duties of presiding officer in that body, a position prescribed as the function of the office to which he had been elected. At- tempts were made by the opposition to secure a judicial decision, by means of two injunction suits, but the outcome was a rul- ing by the Supreme Court to the effect that the Legislature had exclusive jurisdiction in the premises. Upon making a second formal demand for his rights as Lieutenant Governor, Colonel Robertson was forcibly excluded from the Senate chamber. This action caused the wildest excitement, but our subject's calm, dignified and courageous bearing had great influence in averting a calamitous and disgraceful outcome of this deplorable affair. He counseled that no at- tempts by force be made in his behalf, but that the question be submitted to peaceful arbitration of the people. His attitude and wise conduct undoubtedly prevented a serious outbreak, which might have proven disas- trous to the welfare and dignity of the State. In all other functions of the office to which he had been elected the Lieutenant Govern- or performed his duties without hindrance, and the people at large recognized his loyal- ty to the best interests of the State. While in that office he was for two successive years elected president of the State Board of Equalization, a position which had hither- to been invariably filled by the Governor. Like all who enter political life, Colonel Robertson has enemies among the opposi- tion, yet the general public accord him re- cognition as a just, able and progressive citizen and capable official, who has ear- nestly labored for the welfare of his adopted
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State. The cause of popular education is largely indebted to him for active service in its behalf. From 1883 to 1894 he was one of the trustees of the Indiana University, and when the library was destroyed by fire, within the former year, he put forth every effort to secure its replacement by one of even superior order, and as chairman of the library committee he secured 16,000 admir- ably selected volumes, and likewise planned for the erection of the beautiful library build- ing which is now an ornament to the State and a credit to the intelligence of its en- lightened populace.
Soon after the inauguration of President Harrison, Colonel Robertson was tendered the position as Judge of the Indian Terri- tory, but declined the honor, and in May following accepted the unsolicited appoint- ment as member of the Board of Registra- tion and Elections of the Territory of Utah, serving in this important capacity until April, 1894. In the same year he was the nominee of his party for the office of Circuit Judge, and at the polls succeeded in reducing the Democratic majority of 4,650 (of two years previous) to 826, a fact of much sig- nificance and testifying to his personal pop- ularity and the confidence and esteem in which he is held in the community where he is best known. What greater fidelity to the high duties of citizenship can have been shown than that so signally manifested by the honored subject of this review? His is a broad mentality, a strong, loyal and sym- pathetic nature, and his aim has unmistak- ably been to live as nearly to his possibili- ties and ideals as has been in his power, both in private and public life. Such men deserve more than a modicum of respect and honor, and that these are not denied to Colonel Robertson is evident to one who 2
has marked, even in a cursory way, the de- tails in his career.
We turn in conclusion to the domestic pages in the history of Colonel Robertson. His marriage was celebrated at Whitehall, New York, on the 19th of June, 1865, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth H. Miller, whose maternal grandfather, Alex- ander Robertson, emigrated to the United States from Blair-Athol, in the year 1804. To Colonel and Mrs. Robertson have been born two sons and three daughters, namely: Nicholas A., Louise, Robert S., Mabel and Anna M. The attractive family home is adorned with the choicest works of art and literature, thus attesting the cultivated and refined tastes of the inmates. The Colonel also has a most interesting collection of minerals, fossils and prehistoric curios of great value, and he has for many years de- voted much attention to historical and scien- tific studies, being especially interested in the advancement of educational interests. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of the In- diana State Historical Society and of the Congress International des Americanistes, of Europe. He has written many able and valuable articles pertaining to the results of his scientific research, and these have ap- peared in the reports of the Smithsonian Institution, in the North American Review, the Magazine of American History and other publications. He has also made valuable contributions to the war history publications of the Loyal Legion, of which he is an hon- ored member. He is also most prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Re- public, and in a fraternal way has advanced to high degrees in the noble order of Free- masonry, having attained to the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite.
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ON. J. W. ADAIR .- In the legal profession, which embraces some of the most brilliant minds of the nation, it is difficult to win a name and a place of prominence. Many aspire to it but few attain it. In commercial life one may start out on a more advanced plane than others. He may enter into a business already established and carry it still further forward; but not so in the legal profession. One must commence at the very beginning, must plead and win his first case and work his way upward by ability, gaining his rep- utation and success by merit. People do not place their legal business in unskilled hands; it is the man of power before judge and jury that commands public patronage. Of this class Judge Adair is an illustrious type. He began as all others do in the practice of law, and his present prominence has come to him as the reward of earnest endeavor, fidelity to trust and recognized ability.
A native of Noble county, Indiana, he was born November 29, 1843, and is a son of Joseph E. and Elizabeth (Winders) Adair, the father a native of Ireland and the mother of Maryland. With his parents, the former came to America during his early childhood, the family locating near New London, Ohio, upon a farm where the young lad grew to manhood, becoming fa- miliar with all the duties that commonly fall to the lot of the agriculturist. From the Buckeye State he removed to Indiana, ar- riving in Washington township, Noble coun- ty, on the first of January, 1837. From the Government he entered 400 acres of land, which was heavily timbered, and there, in the midst of the forest, he built a little log cabin, which was covered with clapboards, daubed with mud and had a puncheon floor.
It stood on the banks of the Tippecanoe river and was frequently visited by Indians who were still numerous in the neighbor- hood. Wild game of all kinds was plenti- ful, and Mr. Adair, who was a great hunter, brought down many a deer with his trusty rifle. Wild animals of a more ferocious nature were also frequently seen and made it quite unsafe to wander through the forest unprotected. Mr. Adair cleared his land, made fine improvements and transformed the once wild place into a tract of rich fer- tility. He also dealt in stock, which he drove to Cincinnati or Columbus for sale, carrying on that branch of business until his death. In 1849 he started with a drove of cattle for Cincinnati, but while on his way was stricken with the cholera and died at Wilshire, Ohio, on the 9th of October, 1849.
In the family of Joseph and Elizabeth Adair were thirteen children, five of whom are still living: Mary Correll, Elizabeth Burke, George W., the Judge, and Dr. Thomas E., who is now located in Moline, Kansas. For her second husband the moth- er married C. B. Wood, but both have now passed away.
In taking up the personal history of Judge Adair we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in this section of the State. He was reared on the old home farm, and aided in clearing away the trees of the forest and making the land tillable. His early education was ob- tained in the district school, and at the age of seventeen he began teaching, which profession he followed through the winter season, while in the summer months he at- tended college. He was for one year a student in the Methodist Episcopal College I at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and spent two
It Base
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years in Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana. The law, however, attracted him, and he prepared himself for the legal pro- fession in the office of Hon. H. D. Wilson, of Columbia City, now Judge of the Thirty- fourth Circuit, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1870.
Mr. Adair at once opened an office in this city, and from 1873 until 1883 was as- sociated in partnership with James S. Col- lins, since which time he has been alone. He has been retained as counsel on most of the important cases which have come up for hearing in Columbia City, but probably the most important was that in which Dr. Gotwand of Springfield, Ohio, was charged with heresy in teaching and preaching. He was, however, acquitted, largely through the earnest efforts of Mr. Adair.
In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia M. Young, of Wolf Lake, Noble county, Indiana, and they now have two children, Jessie, wife of E. K. Strong, and Josephine. The home of this family is noted for its hospitality, and the members of the household occupy a most prominent posi- tion in social circles.
The Judge finds pleasure and recreation from his professional duties in agricultural pursuits, and owns a half-section of highly improved land. He takes great interest in its cultivation and in the raising of stock, and gives it his personal attention as much as possible, while a superintendent looks after it during his absence. He is also actively interested in educational and church work, and for twelve years has been a direct- or of Wittenberg College, of Springfield, Ohio. For twenty-two years he has had charge of the same class in Sunday-school, and during all this time his place has never been empty, nor has he reached the school
after the exercises were begun. Upon the minds of the young he has left an influence that will be felt by many throughout life, and his consistent Christian character com- mands the respect of all. He has been honored with election to several positions of public trust, having been elected County Superintendent of Schools in 1880 for a four-year term, while in the spring of 1889 he was elected Mayor of Columbia City, fill- ing both positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In the same year he was appointed Judge over the dis- trict comprising Kosciusko and Whitley counties, and in 1890 the district was changed to Whitley and Noble counties. In 1890 he was also elected Judge of the Thirty-third circuit, which position he is now filling. The language of his decisions is al- ways plain, simple and clear, vigorous and decided. The decisions themselves are models of perspicuity and judicial soundness. The Judge is a Knight Templar and Scot- tish-rite Mason, is Past Master of his lodge, and was High Priest of the chapter for thir- teen years.
J 'OHN H. BASS .- This gentleman is entitled to distinction as one of the most progressive and enterprising men of northern Indiana, and has for many years been identified with the inter- ests of Fort Wayne. Upon the commercial activity of a community depends its pros- perity, and the men who are now recognized as leading citizens are those who are at the head of extensive business enterprises.
A native of Salem, Livingston county, Kentucky, John H. Bass was born on the 9th of November, 1835, and descended from honored pioneer ancestry connected with
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the history of the Virginias and the Caro- linas from early Colonial days. The paternal grandfather, Jordan Bass, was born in Vir- ginia in 1764, and in 1805 removed to Chris- tian county, Kentucky, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The father of our subject, Sion Bass, was born in North Carolina, November 7, 1802, and when only three years of age was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood. He became prominent- ly connected with the business interests of that locality, carrying on both mercantile and agricultural pursuits, and becoming the possessor of much valuable property. His intrinsic worth as a citizen was also widely recognized. He married Miss Jane Dodd, daughter of John Dodd, and a native of Charleston, South Carolina, born June 19, 1802. In 1866 he removed with his family
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