USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 35
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Personally, Mr. Jacobs is a man of pleasing address, courteous, sociable and business-like, and he and his estimable wife are popular in the best local society. Plain and unassuming, they make friends readily and their pleas- ant home is known as a place of hospitality to a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
REV. BENJAMIN WILSON SMITH, A. M.
Rev. Benjamin Wilson Smith, A. M., of Indianapolis, was born in Har- rison county, (West) Virginia, near Clarksburg, January 19. 1830. Abel Timothy Smith, his father, came from a long line of Smiths dating back to the earliest settlements in this country and the records remain of many Eng- lish generations still beyond. By inter-marriage of the Virginia line of
B.Wilsonsmith 4 11
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Smiths he was directly descended from the Parke (of the Parke-Custis fam- ily), the Allen, Walmsley, De Lay and other well-known Virginia and Penn- sylvania families of English, Dutch and French extraction. Joshua Smith, the father of Abel T. Smith, was a man of large influence and one of the first of the five trustees of the Northwestern Virginia Academy, associated with such men as Judge Duncan, United States Senator Camden and Con- gressman George W. Summers. It was popularly said of him that he was the handsomest man, had the best horse and wore the finest clothes of any man who rode into Clarksburg. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and built a large church for the people in his neighborhood, in which edifice he saw his son, Abel Timothy, and his wife and two of their children converted, as well as his brother and all of his family.
His mother, Deborah Spencer Wilson, was the daughter of Col. Ben- jamin Wilson of colonial Revolutionary life and distinction, who was the first clerk of Harrison county, Virginia, holding the office until his death, a period of nearly forty years. His duties as clerk, however, did not withdraw him from other public duties nor from politics. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, coming from the well-known Wilson family which was prominent in the troublous times in Scotland nearly two centuries ago, and which was identi- fied with Scottish university and literary life. After the Scotch rebellion of 1715, David Wilson, with many co-patriots, was compelled to take refuge in the province of Ulster, Ireland, from which place his son, William Wilson, Colonel Wilson's father, came to Virginia in 1736, where he married Eliza- beth Blackburn, also of Scotch-Irish birth. In 1774 Colonel Wilson, then a young man, was attached as a lieutenant to the right wing of the army of Lord Dunmore, the last colonial governor of Virginia, serving as aide to Lord Dunmore, the commander-in-chief. "serving with an efficiency, zeal and at- tention that won the confidence of his superior officer." He was present as Lord Dunmore's aide at the treaty of Camp Charlotte when John Gibson, first secretary of Indiana Territory, brought to Lord Dunmore the celebrated speech of Logan, chief of the Mingoes, beginning, "I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him not meat" (which is found in the old school readers), and from his records there ob- tains a thrilling and authentic account of this important and picturesque scene in American history, and from him the historian, Alexander Withers, se- cured much of the data for his graphic description of the Shawanoe chief, Cornstalk, and many other details made use of in his "Border Warfare." "Early in the Revolution he was appointed to a captaincy in the Virginia
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forces * and to the close of the Revolutionary struggle through which most of the military and civil business of the part of the state in which he resided was transacted. * * And in all these affairs and expeditions he was prompt and conspicuously courageous as well as prudent and judicious. His distinguished abilities secured him a colonel's commission in 1781." He served for several sessions in the Virginia house of burgesses, in 1784 se- cured the organization of Harrison county, being appointed the first clerk, and in March, 1788, as a member of the convention of Virginia, was one of the ratifiers of the constitution of the United States. His relative. James Wilson, of Philadelphia, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was one of the framers of the constitution. "Colonel Wilson was a Federalist in politics and was one of the acknowledged leaders of the Federal party in western Virginia." His first wife was Ann Ruddell, a daughter of Colonel Ruddell, the founder of Ruddell Station, Kentucky, who with his whole family was taken prisoner when the Indians and British cap- tured Ruddell's Station in 1780. Sometime afterward all regained their lib- erty except one son, Stephen, who was with the Shawanoes seventeen years. The latter was about the age of the Great Chief Tecumseh and being very closely associated with him during most of his captivity he was able to leave to posterity an intimate biography of this chief. He, Anthony Shane and John Connor were the favorite scouts and interpreters of Gen. William Henry Harrison. Colonel Wilson's second wife, Mr. Smith's grandmother, was Phoebe Davison, whose father was sheriff of Rockingham county, Virginia, being appointed by King George, but who, on the breaking out of the Revolu- tion, joined the patriot forces and served until the end of the war, taking part in several engagements, among them the battle of the Cowpens. The Davisons came from Scotland. They took a prominent part in the earliest history of Virginia, one of them being one of the first secretaries of the colony.
A son of Col. Benjamin Wilson, Dr. Noah L. Wilson, was a resident physician of Lafayette from 1858 to 1862. He was sent by President Lincoln first to Tabasco, Mexico, and later to La Union, San Salvador, in Central America. His mission in both cases was to prevent the fitting out of rebel privateers. His arduous duties in those torrid and unhealthy countries, coupled with his delicate constitution, exhausted his strength and he died on his way home, between La Union and Panama, and was buried in the Pacific ocean, a victim of the rebellion as much as if he had died on the battlefield.
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Mr. Smith's parents were much interested in the education of their chil- dren, inspiring them with noble aspirations, teaching them honesty and true greatness by the Christian character they maintained and always laying be- fore them a worthy motive. The course of reading of their son, Benjamin Wilson Smith, was as extensive as his circumstances would allow, one little public library in which his father was a stockholder and the limited supply of books of his friends were all to which he had access. Often he would walk many miles to borrow a single book, and that, too, perhaps after a day's hard work. All forgetful of weariness he would read late into the night until the imperious mandate of father or mother would send him to bed. Many thousands of pages were read by firelight, and many hours spent lying on his back holding the book to catch the full glare of the feeble light. "My desire for knowledge," says he, "was a quenchless thirst." At the age of sixteen his education was only that afforded by the common schools. His parents removed to the wilds of Indiana and settled in White county where, away from teachers and libraries, away from the refinements of liberal education, in the labors of the field and forest abundant opportunities were given for reflection on the subjects considered in school and remembered from his pre- vious course of history. On the day that Indiana cast her vote for Zachary Taylor for President, Mr. Smith engaged to teach a school. It was a sub- scription or rate-bill school. He was to receive all the public money which at the end of thirteen weeks was to be reckoned as so much paid by the patrons. It was an old log house in Princeton township, White county. He received ten dollars from the public fund, while by dint of collecting closely he suc- ceeded in getting five more. His next school was in the old court house in Rensselaer, Jasper county. The edifice served the triple purpose of school house, church and temple of justice. He subsequently taught in Medina township, Warren county, but was previously examined by Col. J. R. M. Bryant of that county, who was really the author of the Indiana school law of 1852. After a term in Fountain county in the autumn of that year he en- tered college, Asbury (now DePauw) University. By hard study he had alone prepared himself in natural philosophy, chemistry, algebra, geometry and elementary Latin. A six-years course met him at the threshold, which he completed with an attendance of but three and one-half years; and so hard pressed was he for means that he labored for wages, kept bachelor's hall in college, taught a year and half during his course (in Tippecanoe county, the Buckeye school, Sugar Grove, and near Newtown in Fountain county, a second time) and even then was often compelled to borrow money with which to get his letters from the postoffice. Though his home was distant eighty-five
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miles (the postoffice and station now at the old farm home in Smithson, White county ), he made two round trips on foot. He speaks of his college life as an exquisite dream and his teachers are remembered with great re- spect. The classics opened afresh the fountain of history, poetry and art; the science, the field of experimental philosophy; the literary societies, the arena of forensic effort. On the 19th day of July, 1855, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later his alma mater con- ferred upon him the Master's degree and the faculty honored him by select- ing him to deliver the Master's oration. His subject was "Justitia Fiat, Coe- lum Ruit" ("Let justice be done though the heavens fall").
The conflict leading to the Civil war was just opening. Mr. Smith had voted for General Scott in 1852; he was a Whig of the straitest kind, but upon the organization of the "People's party" in 1854, on the basis of pro- hibition and the freedom of territories, he stood with them, early taking sides with a few gallant men who became the founders of the Republican party. He has ever since held to the doctrines of that party. On graduation he found many places open to him. He was elected superintendent of the city schools of Lafayette, which office he accepted, but upon reconsideration and with the consent of the trustees he resigned. He accepted the chair of ancient languages in the Iowa Conference Seminary, now Cornell College, and at the organization of that institution was chosen professor of natural sciences. After two years he returned to Indiana, assuming charge of the Manchester Collegiate Institute, and subsequently was for two years superintendent of the public schools at Aurora. While there, feeling it his duty to serve the church more closely, he entered the Northwest Indiana conference (Mr. Smith has been appointed to preach the conference sermon of this body at Laporte, in the fall of 1910, at its annual session, when he will have been a member of it for fifty years), and took Monticello and Valparaiso stations in succession, at the latter of which his health failed, and after a few months he was elected to the chair of ancient languages in Valparaiso Male and Female College, in two years succeeding to the presidency. During this period he was for four years trustee of the public schools of Valparaiso and two years superintendent (examiner) of the schools of Porter county. Never during his connection with this college did a soldier's or a widow's child have to leave school because of straitened circumstances. He appropriated and paid from his own scanty means not less than one thousand dollars to assist in their education. In 1863, at the meeting of the State Teachers' Associa- tion. Mr. Smith and four other members were appointed a board of directors to organize and conduct a state normal institute for a term of one month.
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This institute was organized and carried on at Knightstown, Henry county, in August, 1864, being the first ever organized and conducted in the state. It was the initial step toward the State Normal School and a great forward stride toward institute work in the state. Having resigned the presidency of the Valparaiso College, Bishop James at that year's conference appointed him to Centenary Methodist Episcopal church at Terre Haute. This was an important charge and so successful was Mr. Smith that in his two-years pas- torate the membership increased over two hundred and this church, though young, stocd at the front in the conference.
But again illness laid its heavy hand upon Mr. Smith, and he was com- pelled to superannuate. Withdrawing from the ranks of his profession, he began traveling, studying the school systems of several states in all their minor details of structure and peculiarity. In 1872, while a resident of In- dianapolis, he was nominated for the office of superintendent of public instruc- tion on the first ballot, over several distinguished competitors, though he had been a candidate but few weeks. The contest was a close one. Mr. Smith's opponent was a very popular man, and by a combination of circumstances was elected by a few hundred votes. It cannot be doubted that had Mr. Smith been elected he would have done honor to himself and to the state, for it was conceded that his liberal scholarship, thorough acquaintance with the public schools and the law, his knowledge of the history of the system and of the detail work of the office would have placed him in the foremost ranks of those most worthy to fill the place. His health, which was almost broken by the labor of the campaign of 1872, being now impaired, forced him to decline many offers of honorable positions, notably the superintendency of the Craw- fordsville schools, and professorships in several prominent educational insti- tutes. The care of churches and schools, with prostrated health, prevented his taking part in the Civil war, but no more active or earnest Union man was there to be found than Mr. Smith. Though attending to his pastorate at the breaking out of the war, he took a zealous part in raising troops and, on behalf of the ladies of Monticello, presented a flag to the first company leav- ing there for the camp. The address made upon that occasion will long be remembered. One sentence had a thrilling effect. "Brave defenders of a nation's life in which are shrined the safety of hearth and home, take this banner wrought by loving hands. In the storm and smoke of battle, these stars and stripes shall be a harbinger of victory; and to him who falls, its glorious folds shall be a royal shroud and winding sheet." When offered the chaplaincy of the Ninth Indiana Regiment his physician advised him not to go, believing he would live scarcely three weeks in the service, and hence it
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was reluctantly declined. From Indianapolis Mr. Smith went to Richmond to live and in 1877, in order that he might take a little rest, he moved to Brookston, Indiana, near his farm and former home in White county. His life there is an example of his executive ability, his powers of application and endurance. He not only took charge of the academy there as superintendent and principal, but when many of his old friends came to him requesting that he take the pastorate of their church, he did so, but unexpectedly to him two other appointments were coupled with it. So that for an entire year he devoted six hours each day to his school, preaching three times every Sab- bath, had charge of the Sunday school, and in addition completed and pub- lished a full series of official books for township officers and teachers which are pronounced by the highest authority to be the best works of the kind ever offered to the public. They are known as the Indiana Series of Official Books and Blanks.
From Brookston, in 1878, Mr. Smith moved to Lafayette, casting in his lot with the people of this county. In 1882, in his absence from home, he was, unexpectedly to himself, nominated for the legislature. It was a cam- paign of the fiercest political character, and though the combined power of the saloon and brewery interest were united against the legislative ticket and the candidate for the senate was defeated and more than half the Republican candidates went down in defeat, Mr. Smith was elected hy a good majority. In this campaign he made thirty-five speeches in the county, establishing for himself the reputation of an able debater and thoroughly equipped political leader, and an honest, wise and fearless expounder of Republican principles and policies. In debate, in counsel and in contribution to the press, Mr. Smith is always the same honest, frank and open man that he is in the common walks of life.
During the legislative session of 1883 Mr. Smith took an active part in educational matters and county and township affairs. He also especially championed the cause of Purdue University and a special appropriation for the Battle Ground. All of his bills- he got through the house, but the Battle Ground appropriation was lost in the senate. On the floor of the house he was a strong debater, speaking often but always to the point. His wide informa- tion, extensive knowledge of the state and its history and institutions made him an authority, rarely questioned. He claims to have had ninety-nine friends in the house, and one tolerable friend-himself.
Again in 1884 Mr. Smith was a candidate for the lower house and elected. His majority in the county was nearly equal to that of James G. Blaine's, notwithstanding the saloon and brewery interests were still against
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him. His greatest work during the session was his championship of Purdue University. The battle was one of giants, and it raged for twenty-one days. It was memorable, but was won at last, Mr. Smith's last speech was a notable one. It was argumentative, it was conciliatory, it was adroit, it was in all its details masterful. The fight was won and Mr. Smith had the proud sat- isfaction of bringing home an appropriation of one hundred thousand five hundred dollars. Mr. Johnson in the senate was alert and active, but there was no contest in the senate. It was of Mr. Smith's great speech at that time that Vice-President Hendricks, who with his wife was on the floor. said: "It is very fortunate that Purdue University had such a resourceful champion as Mr. Smith. His speech was a masterpiece of argument and eloquence."
In 1888 Governor Gray appointed Mr. Smith at the head of the com- mission on the part of the state of Indiana to participate in the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the civil government in the Northwest Ter- ritory at Marietta, Ohio, July 16, 1788. Later the Governor requested Mr. Smith to deliver the address in the former's place, as, owing to the national convention at St. Louis, he was prevented from attending the celebration. Mr. Smith went to Marietta, and delivered the address. He also attended the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Marietta in April, 1888. Both were noted gatherings and it is needless to say that In- diana was well represented and that Mr. Smith's address was worthy of this great occasion. It is published in the official proceedings of this great cen- tennial anniversary. It was in the campaign of 1888 that his political ca- pacity was demonstrated. It was supposed that the Gresham influence would sweep Tippecanoe county. It was reported at Indianapolis that there were no Harrison adherents there except John W. Heath, James M. Reynolds, and B. Wilson Smith. But B. Wilson Smith had promised General Harrison the county of Tippecanoe by a "quiet, peaceful canvass if possible, but anyhow the county." Toward this he bent his energy and tactful management, an- tagonizing no one, shunning all controversy, so that there should be no occasion for "sore spots" after the district convention was over. The result was a surprise, for out of twenty-five delegates from Tippecanoe county, twenty- four voted for the two Harrison delegates to the national convention in Chicago. Mr. Smith presided at the district convention at Frankfort and wrote the resolution endorsing General Harrison. It was a straight, un- equivocal declaration of loyal endorsement of choice. No "first, last and all the time" endorsement, which binds delegates and deprives them of freedom of action in the emergencies that may arise. It was desired by General Har-
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rison's friends that Mr. Smith should be a delegate to the Chicago conven- tion, but he said, "No, we have won the fight; let the boys have all the honors from the beginning to the end." Few people know how large a factor he was in that contest. He seemed to know more delegates from different states than any one there. He labored day and night, was on visiting com- mittees of two's to a great number of state delegations. His cousin, Hon. Creed W. Haymond, was the chairman of California's delegation. His cousin told him, confidentially, early in the contest, that if Blaine could not be nominated, that California and the Pacific coast would be wheeled into line for Harrison. On Monday, on the seventh ballot, Colonel Haymond on the call of his state rose and declared, with a voice that thrilled the convention, that "California casts her sixteen votes for the grandson of the hero of Tippe- canoe-Benjamin Harrison," and leaving his seat he carried the California banner and planted it by the side of the Indiana banner, held by the veteran Col. R. W. Thompson. Then the break began and at the end of the roll call a large majority of the banners of the states were clustered around the banner of Indiana. General Lew Wallace confidently affirmed that General Harrison owed his nomination more to B. Wilson Smith than to any other one person. Under the Harrison administration, not caring to go from home, Mr. Smith was appointed postmaster of Lafayette. His policy was a business administration. Before he had been in office one month, he had personally inspected every mail-box in the city and on the West side. Hc ordered a large supply of new boxes to replace the old and insecure ones. He selected good men for the different positions. and the number of his old appointees still in office testify to their efficiency. The present postmaster, T. W. Burt, was his chief of carriers. He found the mail facilities very poor in the city. No letters could be mailed after nine o'clock at night unless they were carried to the train and mailed on the postal cars. The postoffice closed at 9 P. M. and the night clerk closed up business and went to bed. Even the mail pouches were brought to and taken from the postoffice by an omni- bus man, who had a key to the postoffice, which he carried day and night and he was not even a sworn mailcarrier. In three days all of this was changed. The keys were called in and, lest some might still be out, new locks were put on the doors and new railings set up on the inside so that the mail depart- ment was as private as the postmaster's private office. As soon as Mr. Smith could go to Washington, he secured an arrangement by which any mail de- posited by the patrons in the boxes in the hotels and about the public square, should be taken up by a mail clerk at 10 o'clock P. M. and dispatched by the first mail going toward its destination. This continued during his in-
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cumbency, but was abandoned by his successor soon after coming into office. He devoted his whole time to the office, and was familiar with every depart- ment. Twenty-six railway mail clerks were paid at the Lafayette office during his term. His personal demeanor toward the postoffice employes was kindly and confidential. He never declined information or proper advice from any of them. At his request this postoffice was placed under civil service rules and after that every and all appointments were made according to the rule of three names being certified to him. He never failed to appoint the first one on the list, even though he were a Democrat. He often said, "Politics is one thing, but the running of a postoffice quite another." His bond as postmaster was thirty-two thousand dollars, and he inaugurated a new policy requiring every appointee to give indemnifying bond, except the carriers, who were all bonded by the government, bond one thousand dollars. The aggre- gate of the bonds, excluding the carriers, was twenty-eight thousand dollars. During his term there was not a defalcation of employes, not a dollar lost in the office, and the office was inspected but once, and then the inspection and the office account tallied to a cent.
A. E. Shearman was assistant postmaster, the best assistant that any postmaster ever had, and Capt. A. L. Stony, another Civil war veteran, was money order clerk. His son, Guy McIlvaine Smith, though youthful, rendered valuable service in several departments at different times. When Mr. Smith closed his official term, he had the proud satisfaction of knowing that his sixteen quarterly reports were never off balance a cent, and when his money order receipts were finally reported, the general government owed him four cents.
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