USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 39
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he repelled an attack on Indiana law that might have reduced the state to an- archy. Some man had tried to enjoin the holding of an election on the grounds that a legislative apportionment had been illegal. Judge McCabe showed that if sucli could possibly be the case, then the very argument of the petitioner would be illegal for the same reason and he denied the right of the plaintiffs to be heard on the question. These three decisions, even if sup- ported by none of the scores of others, would have marked Judge McCabe as an unusually strong lawyer.
As a public speaker, Judge McCabe had few equals, his oratory being of a style that et:" anced those who heard him. His diction was perfect, his logic irresistible, his illustrations well chosen, while his well modulated voice, graceful gestures, and charm of manner, all contributed to a most remark- able success in the legal and political forum. Some of his most pleasing and effective speeches were made extemporaneously, for his general knowledge was so broad and comprehensive, his grasp of a subject in all its aspects so quick, and his talent as a speaker so natural, that he could easily, without preparation, make addresses that would have been creditable to most men after careful preparation.
After his retirement from the bench Judge McCabe practiced law with his son, tinder the firm name of McCabe & McCabe. He enjoyed a wide and lucrative practice and served many times as special judge.
The death of Judge McCabe occurred on March 23, 1911, at his beauti- ful home in Williamsport, Indiana, after an illness of long duration.
Judge McCabe left, besides the faithful wife, three children, namely : Nancy Ellen, the wife of J. B. Gwin, of Indianapolis; Edwin F., a well known and successful attorney at Williamsport ; and Charles M., a successful lawyer of Crawfordsville, of the firm name of Crane & McCabe. There are twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. McCabe is the daughter of Mathias and Nancy (Nicholson) VanCleve and she was born in Ross county, Ohio. Mathias VanCleve was born near Shelbyville, Kentucky, in 18Jo, and he was educated mostly in his native state. He was a Baptist min- ister of considerable reputation, and he finally came to Indiana and estab- lished the family home near Crawfordsville, where they continued to reside for nearly a half century. He was primarily a self-made man, and most of his higher learning was obtained by home study. His family consisted of six children, Mrs. Serena McCabe having been the third in order of birth.
The bar of the Warren circuit court held a memorial service, at Williams- . port on May 7, 1911, when the last tribute of respect and honor to his men- ory was paid by an immense crowd of neighbors and friends. Quite a num-
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ber of prominent and distinguished jurists and state officers was present. The Judge's desk was massed with beautiful floral decorations and all the ar- rangements befitted the occasion, at which former Appellate Judge Joseph M. Rabb presided and he spoke at length concerning Judge McCabe as a friend and as a lawyer. Addresses were also made by others, the principal speaker being William J. Bryan, the great Nebraska Commoner having been a close personal friend of Judge McCabe and the two men had been active associates in national politics. Mr. Bryan's speech was an eloquent and complete tribute. He spoke of the late jurist's struggle with poverty to obtain education; of his indomitable energy in pursuing the law ; of his industry and perseverance in preparing his cases for court, relating that he would sometimes sit up all night to get up the decisions bearing on the case and thoroughly inform himself upon the case. He said that Mr. McCabe was not deceitful, that he did not know what deceit was, his nature being so high and noble. He spoke of the Judge's rulings while on the supreme bench, said they had become national and had been copied in England. He spoke touchingly of his friendship for the Judge and of his love for him, his friendship being of fifteen years' standing and was one of the pleasantest things of his life. He never needed an invitation to the home at Five Points, for he always found a welcome there whenever he was able to stop and see the Judge. He built his remarks on the four cornerstones essential to form a character like that of Judge McCabe's. They were God, home, society and government., Had he been called upon to speak of a man who did not believe in God he would not know what to say, and could have said but little. Such a belief was necessary for the building of the pure, noble, philanthropic character of Judge McCabe. His next cornerstone was home. For fifty-eight years the Judge had enjoyed and loved his home and it had been a tower of strength to him. The world was richer for him having lived in it and for his children having lived in it. The next cornerstone was society. If you would go over the Great Divide and cross the Rocky Mountains in the place you would be most likely to come to them you would look down into the Grand Canyon eight miles across and almost perpendicularly down a mile and you would see the narrow river that through the ages had been cutting its way down through the massive rocks. Every stream and every rain drop helped to make this river and bring about this result. So every deed of a noble man had its influence on succeeding generations, on and on down the river of time. We owe much to those who were before us. Our society and our government we inherit from our fathers. No man has a right to draw from society without giving back measure for measure. Mr. McCabe knew the demands of society and gave back as much as
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he drew from it. He chose his champions among the highest and the best in society and society welcomed him. The last cornerstone of his character was government. He did not believe in a government of force, a government forced upon those who do not participate in the government, but a government of the people and by the people. He believed that this form of government gave the highest form of citizenship, and gave the greatest possibility of progress to those who stand by their convictions. Judge McCabe stood by his principles, al- though living in a community where he was in the minority. It must have taken a strong character to have stood alone in this community, and his stand showed him to be such a character. Truth is always alone. The man who first advances a truth is called a fanatic. After a few can see as he does he is called an enthusiast. When all believe as he does he is called a hero. Judge McCabe was a man of honest and independent conviction and he stood by his colors, though at times it appeared that he was fighting a lone battle. To recapitulate, Judge McCabe was not afraid of the people, but believed in them. He believed in popular government. He had a big heart and purity and good- ness beamed from his countenance. He believed in the highest form of citizenship and a great government and he looked forward to a life beyond.
The following memorial was prepared by the local bar association, the committee drafting the resolutions being William H. Durborow, H. D. Billings, Victor H. Ringer and Chester G. Rossiter; part of the memorial, bearing on the life of the decceased is omitted, to avoid repetition from fore- going paragraphs in this sketch :
"From 1861 until his elevation to the supreme bench of the state, Judge · McCabe's career as a lawyer was one of unremitting labor, crowned with remarkable success. By his power of oratory, he could sway a jury as few lawyers could. When espousing a client's cause he never rested from his efforts in his behalf. He had a large, varied and widely extended practice, and could and did meet the most distinguished lawyers on equal terms. Dur- ing his term of six years on the bench, the opinions prepared by him have be- come masterpieces of profound learning, many of them on public questions of lasting benefit to the people of the state at large. But his life work is finished. It was well and ably done. In summing up the professional career of this honored and honorable gentleman, it can be truthfully said, that :
"As an advocate he possessed a remarkable power of clear statement and convincing logic. As a counselor he was exact, careful and carried his re- searches into the remotest sources of the law. As a public orator, he swayed men with force of argument, and molded their ideas to coincide with his own.
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As a judge, he was upright, masterful and added luster to the bench of a miglity state; therefore be it
"Resolved by the bar of Warren Circuit Court that in the death of Judge James McCabe our bar has lost the guidance of its oldest and wisest member; with reverence we will be guided by his precept and example. That his family has lost a devoted and loving husband and father and they have the sympathy of our bar. That the state has lost a wise and able jurist, the community a popular and distinguished citizen. Be it further
"Resolved, that the memorial and these resolutions be spread on record in the order book of the Warren circuit court, a copy thereof be furnished by the clerk, under his hand and the seal of the court, to the family of our de- ceased member, and that a copy be published in the county papers."
As a further insight into the character of Judge McCabe, the following letter from United States Senator John W. Kern, of Indianapolis, written to the son of the subject of this memoir, will be of interest :.
"I learned this morning of the death of your father, and hasten to express my deep sympathy and to assure you that I am one of his many friends who are today mourning his many noble qualities of head and heart.
"I had known James McCabe since the days of my early manhood, and my admiration for him increased as the years rolled by until it amo .nted to genuine affection. He was a man of sterling qualities. His convictions were positive and always expressed fearlessly, though he always manifested a rare spirit of charity towards those who honestly differed from him in opinion.
"He was a just judge, whose first ain was the security of justice to the litigant, and to maintain at the same time the dignity of the high judicial office which he so long honored.
"As a lawyer, he threw his whole soul into his work and to his great legal knowledge 'he added the saving grace of common sense' in such a degree as to make him a most formidable adversary.
"As a citizen, he stood for the highest ideals and his voice was always to be heard in behalf of temperance and morality. But it was as a friend, true, loyal, and devoted, that he won my personal affection, so that I now mourn with you as a kinsman."
ELWOOD CARLSON.
The subject of this review is a young man of high standing to whom has not been denied a full measure of success, at an age when others are just getting a start in life's affairs. He is distinctively one of the representa-
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tive citizens of his township and is widely recognized as a factor of importance in connection with agricultural and coal operating interests of the county of Warren, being a native son of the same, and here he has been content to apply himself to life's labors, wisely deciding that for him here existed all the opportunities necessary to a successful career in a business way.
Elwood Carlson was born on July 11, 1889, on the old Carlson home- stead in this county, and he is still residing on the old home farm. He is the son of John T. and Hadda (Jones) Carlson, both natives of Sweden, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married and there began house- keeping. The father finally emigrated to America and established the family home in Warren county, Indiana, then sent for his family and they joined him here. A fuller notice of the Carlson family will be found on another page of this volume, , Suffice it to say here that they have been known during the past half century of this locality's history as industrious, law-abiding and honest people, ranking with the best families of the county.
Elwood Carlson grew to manhood in his native community and when but a boy he assisted with the general work on the home place, and during the winter months he attended the district schools, taught at the Fink school house, but he has principally educated himself, having always been a wide reader of miscellaneous subjects and a close observer. . He is associated with his brother, Albert Carlson, in the general merchandising business at the town of Carbondale, and also operates the home farm, keeping it well improved and well tilled, so that it has retained its original fertility, and in connection with his other business affairs he engages in coal mining, operating the Carlson mine, which has long been a very paying proposition. He sell's coal to the farmers and also furnishes coal under contract to Dr. W. H. Dinsmore at Mudlavia. He is a young man of much business ability and the future prom- ises much for him.
Fraternally, Mr. Carlson belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 143, Lafayette.
THOMAS PURDUE.
· Shawnee township is among the best of the farming districts iu Fountain county, but that alone does not explain the success of Thomas Purdue. For his farm, though naturally productive, shows clearly to even the casual passerby the evidences of careful, systematic and scientific farming, and also the evidences that such farming pays, in the appearance of prosperity which
THOMAS PURDUE.
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surrounds the handsome home and commodious and substantial farm build- ings situated on the well-cared-for acres about them. Mr. Purdue can posi- tively demonstrate to any man that farming pays, when rightly conducted, and that the farmer's life is an independent one and offers as many opportunities for contentment as any other.
Thomas Purdue was born in Centreville, Appanoose county, Iowa, on February 13, 1856, the son of Abraham and Margaret (Byers) Purdue. Three brothers, Abraham, Richard and Jackson Purdue, were the first three settlers in Appanoose county and cast the first ballots in that county. They were Democrats. Abraham Purdue was a native of Warren county, Indiana, and at an early age went to Iowa. Possessed with the pioneer spirit, he later went to Colorado, where he died. He spent his life in farming and the mer- cantile business. He was a man of great force of character, whose opinions were felt in whatever community he lived. His family consisted of six chil- dren, namely : Sarah, the wife of Eli Graves, a merchant of Zinc, Arkansas; Thomas; Mary, who married A. W. Helms, of Shawnee township; and Mar- tha, Celia and Richard, deceased.
Thomas Purdue attended the common schools of Shawnee township, where he came when seven years old, and has been a fariner ever since leav- ing school, by his keen observation and practical acumen obtaining many a lesson from his experiences which were lost to others more obtuse, and which have enabled him to make his farming operations so profitable. He is now the owner of three hundred and forty acres of land, all but sixty of which is under cultivation. He has improved his farm and brought it in every respect up to the highest modern standards of farming efficiency, while the ample and attractive residence which he designed and built might well be taken as a model farm house.
On March 26, 1880, Mr. Purdue was married to Eva Hatfield, the daughter of Horace Hatfield, originally from New York. To this marriage was born one child, Sylvia, who married Frank A. Campbell, a progressive young farmer of Shawnee township. She is the mother of one child, Evelyn Elizabeth. Mr. Purdue and his family are members of the Christian church, and he is active in all church affairs and strong in its support. For several years he has been a deacon. In politics he is independent, choosing to form his judgments of men and measures untrammeled by lines of party allegiance. He was appointed a member of the advisory board of Shawnee township. Fraternally, he is a Mason. Mr. Purdue is a man who depends on his own judgment, which has rarely failed him, but in all his successes he has never failed to have the welfare of others at heart, for he is a thorough believer in
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the practicability of the brotherhood of man and is always willing to help some weaker brother or to aid in any enterprise which promises good to the whole brotherhood. He and his handsome and faithful wife to whom he owes much of his prosperity live a life almost ideal in their pretty residence situated in the midst of the farm which they have given many of their efforts in order to bring it to its present excellent condition.
GEORGE DICE.
The occupation of farming, to which the subject has applied his time and attention since reaching his majority, is the oldest business pursuit of man- kind and the one in which he will ever be the most independent. Of course when this is said reference is made to civilized man, because hunting and fishing were the primitive pursuits of man before he reached the civilized state. Unfortunately and for some unnecessary and unexplainable reason, there was a time when the tiller of the soil was not regarded by some as their equal in social standing. But that time has past, and farmers now stand just as high as merchants, doctors or any other class of bread winners. In addi- tion, the farmer is far more independent than any of his fellow workers. If he is out of debt he can laugh at panics and periods of tight markets. Thus is situated the subject of this sketch.
George Dice, one of the leading agriculturists and well known citizens of Van Buren township, Fountain county, is one of the worthy native sons of this locality, his birth having occurred in this township and county on De- cember 27, 1839. He is the son of George and Jane (Hopp) Dice, a well known and prominent pioneer family, a fuller record of whom will be found in the sketch of William Dice, in this volume, hence need not be repeated here.
George Dice, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the old home place and there he worked hard when a boy, and in the winter time he attended the district schools of his neighborhood, receiving a fairly good education for those early times. When a young man he took up general farming for a livelihood and this has continued to occupy his time and attention to the present day. He has managed well and applied himself closely and prosper- ity has attended his efforts, until he now ranks among the leading farmers and stock raisers of this part of the county, and is the owner of one of our finest farms, which consists of seven hundred acres of well improved and
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valuable land, all under cultivation but eighty acres. He has a pleasant home in the midst of attractive surroundings and has a number of good outbuild- ings. A good grade of live stock is always to be found in his fields and barns, and formerly he made a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs, which, owing to their superior quality, always found a very ready market. He is not so actively engaged as formerly, but still manages his extensive farm and keeps a number of men employed in the regular work of the same.
Mr. Dice was married in 1867 to Mary Brown, daughter of Jolin Brown and wife. Mr. Brown is an old settler of the eastern part of this county, still living on his excellent farm near Newtown, Richland town- ship. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dice has been without issue ..
Politically, the subject is a Democrat, but he has never been much of a public man and has never held office. He is a liberal contributor to the church.
ALBERT CARLSON.
The record of Albert Carlson, well known merchant at Carbondale, Warren county, Indiana, shows that he occupies a conspicuous place among the leading men of his locality and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. His record demonstrates that where there is a will there is a way and that obstacles to success may be overcome by courage and self- reliance. His career, though strenuous, has been fraught with good to his fellow men and his example is cordially commended to the youth of the land whose life work is yet a matter of the future, for it shows what one may ac- complish while yet young in years, through persistence and rightly directed efforts.
Mr. Carlson was born in 1886 in this county, on a farm. He is the son of John T. and Hadda (Jones) Carlson, his father being now a retired far- mer and coal operator. He was born in Sweden, emigrating to America when a young man; however, he had been married previously, and when he had made enough money he sent for his wife and two children and they joined him here. John T. Carlson landed in Attica, Indiana, on July 5, 1868, and began working on a farm near there at eighteen dollars per month. Being a hard worker and economical he saved enough money to purchase one hundred acres, which he managed well and it yielded large annnal returns, so that he later added to it another one hundred acres, also became owner of a nice piece of property in Carbondale, besides his beautiful residence on Pike street
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in Attica. His family consisted of five children, namely: Albert, of this re- view ; Elwood, Anna, Minnie and Lena.
The subject first attended the Fink schools in his native township, where he grew to manhood on the home farm, and lie finished his education at La- fayette, Indiana, taking a business course. All through his school period lie worked on the home farm and about the coal mine which his father was in- terested in. The father and son bought out the general merchandise store at Carbondale about three years ago, and Albert Carlson has since been man- aging the same in a very able manner, with ever-growing success, building up a large and satisfactory business with the town and surrounding country. He has greatly increased the stock from time to time and his ability as a busi- ness man of modern ideas is marked and gives promise of future success. He is also associated with his brother in farming and coal operating.
Albert Carlson was married on July 3, 1906, to Zue Berkey, daughter of Mrs. Lydia Berkey, her parents having come from Kansas, where Mrs. Carlson was born. The Berkeys have devoted their lives to agricultural pur- suits. Three children have been born to Albert Carlson and wife, namely : Fern, Ollie and Vivian.
Fraternally, the subject belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 143, at Lafayette.'
M. W. SNODDY.
The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and their influence such as to mold their characters and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the subject of this sketch in the ranks of such men, justice is rendered a biographical fact universally recognized throughout Fountain and adjoining counties by those at all familiar with his history. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public leadership, he has contributed much to the material advancement of the community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life have tended in no small de-
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gree to the moral standing of the circles in which he moves and have given him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct.
M. W. Snoddy, proprietor of one of the best known and most popular flouring mills in this locality, and a representative of one of our best old fam- ilies, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, on February 22, 1858. He is the son of Samuel I. and Susan (Koons) Snoddy, the father born in Pennsyl- vania in 1828, and the mother was also born in that state. There they grew to maturity, received such education as the early schools afforded and there they were married. They came overland in 1849 to Fountain county, In- diana. The older Snoddy first worked in the Parke county mill at Rockport, where he remained three years, then moved to Wabash township, Fountain county, where he purchased what is now known as the Snoddy mills, there being on the place he procured at that time a saw-mill and a corn crusher. These he operated for seven years, when his plant was all washed away dur- ing high water. He later rebuilt the saw-mill, which he continued to conduct until 1869, this having been the best known saw-mill in this part of the state and here a vast amount of hardwood timber was converted into lumber. Avail- able timber becoming scarce and there arising need of a flouring mill in this vicinity, Mr. Snoddy built the present flouring mill in 1869, which he con- tinued to run successfully until 1887, when his two sons bought out his in- terests and a year later they remodeled the mill and installed up-to-date ma- chinery, with a capacity of fifty barrels per day, which was a good record for a water-power mill. The quality of flour was the finest, it having always been universally agreed that the best flour is obtained from a water-mill. In 1898 M. W. Snoddy, of this sketch, purchased the interest of his brother and since that time has operated the mill alone, having enjoyed an excellent patronage, running the business under his own name. He understands thoroughly every phase of the milling business, having grown up in the same, for when but a boy he began assisting his father in the old mill during the months that he was not attending the public schools in his district.
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