USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Sketches of prominent citizens of 1876 : with a few of the pioneers of the city and county who have passed away > Part 47
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Munson, Johnston & Co. In 1870 Johnston Brothers bought the entire establishment and added to the stove and tinware the manufacturing of galvanized iron work and slate roofing. They are now the largest wholesale and retail establishment of the kind in Indiana; their sales now reach two hundred thousand dollars per year and are steadily in- creasing.
ELIJAH TIMOTHY FLETCHER.
Mr. Fletcher was born in Indianapolis on the 21st of August, 1824, in the first frame building erected in the place. This house was owned by the late James Blake and stood where is now the stove and tinware store of R. L. McOuat. He received his early education in the com- mon schools of the place; from his birth he was a feeble and sickly child. In 1843 he entered Brown University, at Providence, Rhode Is- land, then under the presidency of Dr. Wayland. He entered a class with young men who have since made their names known in the world, among whom are Prof. George Park Fisher, of Yale College, and Mr. Stoddard, an eminent lawyer of Worcester, Massachusetts, and several others who have risen to distinction. In 1846 he returned to Indianapo- lis in feeble health. In order that his health might be improved by the trip his father gave him letters to friends in Missouri, where he engaged in a mercantile establishment at Independence, where were fitted out those immense caravans that crossed the plains to New Mexico. Find- ing that in-door work was very detrimental to his health, he determined to accompany one of their expeditions himself, and, in August, 1846, set out on this long and perilous journey. Mr. Fletcher just set out as an employe ; he was soon promoted and became the secretary of the manager, Mr. Gentry, who, in the end, acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr. Fletcher's diplomatic tact that they escaped from confinement in prison at Chihuahua, and Mr. Fletcher was handsomely rewarded for it. After visiting in connection with this business the chief cities of Mexico, north of the capital, he and his companions experienced great difficulty in getting out of the country. In 1847 he returned to Indianapolis and remained until the spring of 1848, when he went east and for the third time commenced his college studies, taking them up where he left off two years before. Apart from his studies at Brown University he found time for writing, and at the solicitation of Mr. H. B. Anthony, since Senator Anthony, contributed to the Providence Journal many graphic sketches of his travels in Mexico, and continued for years to contribute to that paper. In 1848 he labored with his brother, the Rev. James C.
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WILLIAM HENDERSON.
Fletcher, in New Hampshire, in the interest of the American Sunday School Union, and acquired a faculty for public speaking which was of great benefit to him afterward in the ministry. In 1850 he graduated and was inducted into the sacred work of the ministry in connection with the conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. After twelve years of labor in the ministry, by reason of bad health he was laid aside from the ministry but continued his connection with that church until his death. At the time he entered upon the full ministry he was mar- ried to Miss Eunice Allen, of Providence. By her he had one child, F. Allen Fletcher, who is yet living.
He has occupied pulpits in the following places: Fall River, Mas- sachusetts ; Phoenix, Rhode Island ; New Bedford, Massachusetts ; War- ren, Rhode Island ; Pittsburg and Wellsville, Pennsylvania ; Wellsburg, Virginia ; Wesley Chapel, Indianapolis and New Albany. His first wife died at Indianapolis in 1855. In 1856 he was married to Mrs. Catharine Carnahan, widow of A. M. Carnahan, a lawyer of Covington, Indiana, and second daughter of Daniel Yandes, of this city.
After Mr. Fletcher's health precluded the possibility of his laboring in the ministry, he occupied a portion of his time in contributing to the press. After the death of his father this he had to relinquish to a cer- tain extent ; the labor incident to settling that immense estate occupied his whole time. For six years before his death he was a confirmed in- valid.
A great characteristic of Mr. Fletcher's was he delighted to make those around him happy. Between his step-son and his own there was no dif- ference in their treatment, and they knew no difference in a father's love. Indeed, his kindness extended to all his household, from the lowest to the highest employe. He was governed by a fixed principle and dealt justly with all. His life passed sweetly away on the 25th of August, 1877, without a struggle, or even conscious of the change that trans- ferred him from the sufferings of earth to the joys of the immortal state. Such was Elijah Timothy Fletcher, second son of Calvin Fletcher.
WILLIAM HENDERSON.
Mr. Henderson was born in Lawrence county, Alabama, on the 20th of October, 1820. His mother died when he was quite young; his father then removed the balance of the family to Mount Sterling, Ken- tucky, and remained but a short time, he then removed to Grant county, Kentucky, thence to Morgan county, where Mooresville now stands; this
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was Mr. Henderson's home seven years-working on farms in summer, in the winter going to school-he always walked to school, it, part of the time, being five miles from his residence ; in order to be in time he had to rise in the morning at three o'clock and do the chores before he left. In August, 1837, he came to Indianapolis and worked on the National road, then being constructed through Indiana. He worked two months on that part of the road between the city and where the Insane Ayslum now stands. While here Mr. Henderson was sorely afflicted with rheumatism and his fellow-laborers gave him the sobriquet of Limber Jamie. After finishing the work, he tied all his earthly goods in a handkerchief and started east on foot, his object being to learn some mechanical business. He at length reached Richmond, Indiana, having found no work on the road. Not finding employment at the latter place, he continued his march until he reached Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, and there hired as a hostler to a hotel-keeper named Thomas Morgan, at ten dollars per month. Here he worked sev- eral months, and then apprenticed himself to a saddler for a term of four years.
When he first entered Eaton his highest ambition was to learn the saddlery business and he embraced the first opportunity to carry out his wishes. When he went to the shop the proprietor surveyed him from head to foot ; after he had made this minute examination of his person, Mr. Henderson inquired if he wished to hire a boy. He replied sharply, "No, sir; there are so many worthless boys running about the country I am determined to keep my shop clear of them." Young Henderson then offered to stay a week on trial and if he did not suit him he could then discharge him ; if Mr. Henderson did not like the situation he re- served the right to leave. He received no answer from the proprietor and turned to leave; the saddler called to him, "Young man, call again, I rather like your way of talking." In the course of a week Mr. Hen- derson called and the saddler told him he would give him a trial as soon as his month was up at the hotel. The first year he was to get twenty- five dollars, the second year thirty, the third year thirty-five, and the fourth year forty dollars; the saddler to board him, and Mr. Henderson was to clothe himself. This man proved to be a very kind one, and instead of compelling him to work after night gave him that time to attend night school.
After Mr. Henderson had completed his four years of apprenticeship he determined to study law, and went into the office of J. S. and A. J. Hawkins, prominent attorneys of Eaton, and read law and taught school
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WILLIAM HENDERSON.
until the spring of 1844. He then left, intending to go to Newcastle, Henry county ; on his way he stopped at Centerville, where Judge Elliot was holding court. As he was anxious to get license to practice, he entered a class of eleven to be examined by a committee appointed by Judges Kilgore and Elliot. If it had not been for the above gentle- men, Judge Smith and the Hon. Charles H. Test, now of this city, Mr. Henderson would have had a hard time in getting a license, as there was a disposition manifested by some of the examining committee to withhold the same from him on account of non-residence Mr. Henderson was the only one of the class that received a license and succeeded as a lawyer. Judge Test always stood by him in this trying ordeal, for which Mr. Henderson will ever remember him with gratitude, as it was the turning point of his laborious and eventful life. He then commenced the prac- tice of law in Newcastle, with eleven dollars borrowed money in his pocket. During his stay in Centerville, he roomed with the Hon. Sam- uel E. Perkins, now of this city. Judge Perkins was the prosecuting attorney for that district, and told Mr. Henderson that he could use his name as a law partner. Mr. Henderson caused a sign to be placed at his office door, "Perkins & Henderson, Attorneys-at-Law."
At that time there was very little legal business to be done, and for a while Mr. Henderson's share was quite small. The only tavern in the town was kept by the sheriff of the county; Mr. Henderson boarded with him, paying one dollar and twenty cents per week and paying that by writing legal notices for him, and by this means kept his board bill paid and even with the world. At that time there were only two courts held a year, each term lasting two weeks. His first term in court was in May, 1844. The lawyers then would come from all the surrounding counties, some on foot, others on horseback, arriving on Sabbath in or- der to be present when the court convened Monday morning. Among the lawyers were several that have since held high positions, such as Caleb B. Smith, Samuel E. Perkins, John S. Newman, Charles H. Test, Nimrod Johnson, Judge Perry, Jacob B. and George W. Julian, Judge Jeremiah Smith, Samuel W. Parker and Judge March.
During the term of court that Mr. Henderson was to make his debut a man wished Judge Perkins to have a person indicted for saying that his father had stolen hogs. The Judge remarked that he could not in- dict the man for that, but he could take him to a young man who would bring a slander suit for him. This Judge Perkins did. Mr. Henderson drew up the papers for two suits, which were set for the fall term. Be- fore that time came the plaintiff and defendant compromised. This was
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Mr. Henderson's first case and he charged his client thirty dollars. He married the next winter and expected to get this fee to pay a portion of the expense. He had hard work to collect it, frequently walking eight miles, sometimes only collecting fifty cents-the most he ever received at one time was two dollars. The last payment was made but a few days before his marriage, which he says if he had not received he could not have been married when he was, and he thanks Judge Perkins for it and never lets an opportunity pass to manifest his gratitude. Mr. Henderson used the same sign (Perkins & Henderson), until Judge Per- kins was appointed judge of the Supreme Court. The influence of the judge's name brought Mr. Henderson considerable business. When Judge Perkins and Mr. Henderson dissolved the judge would take noth- ing of consequence as Mr. Henderson did the whole business. Mr. Hen- derson continued to practice law at Newcastle and Centerville; at the latter place in connection with M. S. Ward and M. L. Bundy, all the time having a fair share of business. Mr. Henderson finally concluded that if he had all the business of the county he could not make such a living as he desired, and determined to find a better location. In the winter of 1850 he came to Indianapolis and bought property on South New Jersey street, near Pogue's run, for $950, on credit, and subsequently paid it all. He moved to his house in April, 1851, and took an office in Johnson's block, and re-commenced the practice of law. The follow- ing fall he formed a partnership with W. A. Mckenzie. They did a large collecting business, mostly for merchants in the east. In 1853 Judge David McDonald became connected with the firm. In 1854 Mr. Henderson withdrew from the firm and again began business on his own account. His business increased and has been worth as much as fifteen thousand dollars per year. He was for many years the manag- ing agent at this place of the Atna Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut.
In 1865 Mr. Henderson was elected president of the Indianapolis Insurance Company. He then abandoned law and devoted his time ex- clusively to banking and insurance. The charter of this company was amended and called Bank of Commerce; it is now a bank of discount and deposit on a solid basis. Mr. Henderson was Mr. Buchanan's pen- sion agent at this place. His success is a fair illustration of what can be accomplished by a determined mind, and frugal and industrious habits. From a poor boy he has risen to wealth and influence. He now owns and lives in one of those fine residences on North Meridian street, at No. 710. He has two children who were born when he lived at Newcastle.
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JONATHAN W. GORDON.
The son has charge of the Presbyterian church at Danville, Kentucky. The other, a daughter, is the wife of Mr. J. P. Wiggins, of this city. Mr. Henderson is full six feet in height, with a strong, muscular frame ; his hair, originally as black as the raven, is now tinged to silver gray ; with a keen, black eye. The appearance of Mr. Henderson indicates perseverance, endurance, and a firm and determined purpose to.carry any point he may undertake.
JONATHAN W. GORDON.
Mr. Gordon was born on the 13th of August, 1820. His father, William Gordon, emigrated from Ireland, in 1790, and settled in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania. On the 18th of August, 1795, the elder Gordon was married to Miss Sarah Watton, a native of Virginia, by whom he had fourteen children, of whom Jonathan W. was the thirteenth. In the spring of 1835 the father migrated westward with his family and settled in Ripley county, Indiana, where he resided up to the time of his death, January 20, 1841 ; his wife survived him until 1857, and died at the residence of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Kelley.
Jonathan W. Gordon married Miss Catharine Overturf on the 3d of April, 1843, and entered upon the practice of law on the 27th of Febru- ary, 1844. On the 9th of June, 1846 he went to Mexico in the 3d regiment of Indiana volunteers. By exposure in that campaign he lost his health. On his return he studied medicine and received the degree of doctor of medicine in 1851. In 1852 he removed to Indianapolis and resumed the practice of law. In 1856 he was elected to represent Marion county in the lower branch of the Legislature, again in 1858, and was twice elected speaker. In 1860 he was elected principal clerk of the House of Representatives.
At the breaking out of the rebellion he was one of the first to an- swer his country's call, and served in one of the Indiana regiments as major, hence Major Gordon. Major Gordon is emphatically a man of the people, and is well acquainted with their wants because he mingles with them. In 1876 he was nominated by the Republican convention as a candidate for Attorney-General, but with the balance of the ticket was doomed to defeat. Since he became a resident of Indianapolis he lost his first wife; he then married the daughter of the late General Ebenezer Dumont.
Major Gordon is one of the best jury lawyers of the State, as a criminal lawyer has but few equals. He is generally employed in the
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defense, and like Henry Clay always prefers the side of mercy ; indeed a criminal prosecuted by Jonathan W. Gordon would have but little show for acquittal. As a lecturer he is possessed of far more than ordinary ability ; he is concise and fluent, also instructive. He is alert and pro- gressive, and seems always ready with fresh ideas for any occasion, hav- ing a cultured mind and inexhaustible fund of entertaining matter which renders him a popular speaker; at times he is sarcastic, also humorous. His integrity as well as his industry is duly appreciated.
JONATHAN S. HARVEY.
Mr. Harvey was born in Wayne county, Indiana, on the 16th of Jan- uary, 1817. His father, the late Robert Harvey, of Hendricks county, was a farmer, and Jonathan S. was used to farm labor until he was in his nineteenth year. At that age he was married to Miss Martha E., daugh- ter of Jonathan Line, Esq., of Wayne county. In May, 1836, he re- moved to LaPorte county, where he turned his attention to the study of law, to aid in which he taught school. In 1837 he was admitted to the bar, and moved to Plymouth, Marshall county. Here he met with suc- cess, considering the small amount of litigation then had in that part of the State. In 1843 he removed to Danville, Hendricks county, and met with success beyond his most sanguine expectations. In the years 1845-46-47 he was elected to the Legislature on the old Whig ticket, and in 1848 was elected to the Senate from the same county. A Sena- tor's term of office was at that time three years or three regular sessions. In 1852 he removed to Indianapolis and entered upon the practice of law, remaining here until 1858, when he was elected president of the branch of the Bank of the State at Jeffersonville. At the Republican State convention in 1860 he was nominated as the candidate for treas- urer of State, and elected over Nathaniel T. Cunningham the incumbent. He was a delegate in 1856 to the Republican national convention that nominated General John C. Fremont for president. He entered in that canvass with vigor, and at the session of the Legislature that convened in 1857 was elected principal clerk of the House of Representatives. Politically, Mr. Harvey is candid and honest in his views and seems to be actuated by a love of principle above all other considerations. As a legislator he was ever watchful of the interest of his constituents. As treasurer of State his course was marked with the same degree of con- sistency.
Mr. Harvey's early school education was principally obtained by his
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own exertions, but he has had a practical education in the line of his profession and in the ways of the world. Mr. Harvey does not belong to that class of politicians who have obtained place and distinction on account of family worth, but through merit. Mr. Harvey is now practicing his profession in this city in connection with Mr. Galvin, a young lawyer of great promise, the firm being Harvey & Galvin. If the winds have blown roughly in Mr. Harvey's business affairs, he al- ways had philosophy enough to enjoy the calm. Nothing disconcerts him or moves him from the even tenor of his way. He is always the same Jonathan S. Harvey.
OVID BUTLER, SENIOR.
The subject of this sketch is one of a very small class of men who would rather do good than to be known to do it. No man in the city has been more efficient, and few less conspicuous in all good works than he; not a little of it has been of a character that necessarily made it public, but more has followed closely the scriptural injunction and come from one hand without the knowledge of the other. He has always used his power for the service and not for the credit there was in it, and the possession of an ample fortune has enabled him to find the service just where more conspicuous philanthropists fail. He has never hesi- tated to put his money where his convictions directed, and has thus been the real prop of public efforts that bore the names of other men. He has been a "reformer" in all senses, from religion to politics. His first religious connection was with a denomination known distinctively as Reformers, and his first political association was with the anti-slavery sentiment and against the servility of northern feeling. Wherever he has seen evil he has fought it; and like Sidney Smith, what he thought evil in the outset of his career, he thinks evil now. To him is mainly due the philanthropic organizations of the Christian church in this State, especially its most permanent and pervading achievement, the university, appropriately named for him ; and to him is due the first steps in the construction of that political force which first overthrew the slavery subservience of Indiana. He projected the university, perfected its plans, and presided over it development; and he led the way in the summons that arrayed the People's party, as it was called in 1854, against the abuses of that time. Historians record the first of these efforts, but nothing preserves the memory of the other but this notice. No one will imagine that the People's movement would not have taken
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place by a spontaneous impulse, if there had been no leader to solidify the feeling into action by showing the way to act, but the movement was all the more effective for being so promptly organized-and that was the suggestion of Mr. Butler. That temporary party was the pre- cursor of the Republican party two years later.
In a quiet way, which alone would be in harmony with his retiring, unobtrusive disposition, he has ceaselessly been engaged in some work or other of disinterested service ever since he gave up his private busi- ness thirty years ago. For nearly a whole generation his occupation has been for the good of other people.
Ovid Butler, Senior, was born on the 7th of February, 1801, in Augusta, Oneida county, New York. His father and grandfather were from Vermont, and preachers of the Baptist persuasion. The former, the Rev. Chauncey Butler, however, entered what was called the Refor- mation, in later life, and died as the first pastor of the Christian church in this city, in 1840. The latter, Captain Joel Butler, was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and served in the disastrous Quebec expedition ; he died in Jennings county, in this State, in 1822.
Mr. Butler received only a common school education in his youth- when comman schools were by no means what they are now. His father removed to this State in 1817-one year after its admission into the Union-and settled in Jennings county, where his grandfather was living. In 1822, when just of age, he went to Illinois, to try his fortune but failed, and returned to Vernon, where he kept a dry goods and grocery store for a year or two. In 1824 he quit trade to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1825, subsequently getting admission to the Supreme Court and the Federal Courts at Shelbyville, where he went in the fall of 1825. In Shelby county his ability and high character gave him an early and considerable prominence, and he held several minor offices ; was a candidate for the Legislature, but beaten by his anti-slavery views, and was also beaten for the county clerkship. He regards these defeats and his consequent exclusion from politics as blessed dispensations, and justly enough. Many a good man has been spoiled into a politician by the bad luck of success at the outset.
In 1833 he joined the Reformed or Christian church, having been a little inclined to skepticism in his early life. His wife, Cordelia, a daughter of Judge Cole, of New York, whom he had married in 1827, joined with him. Early in 1836, on the invitation of Calvin Fletcher, Senior, he came to this city and formed a partnership with that gentle- man, which was maintained with great success and mutual respect
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and good feeling for eleven years, when in 1847 ill-health compelled Mr. Butler to retire, and he has since lived, as already remarked, more for the benefit of others than himself, at his beautiful residence called Forest Home (then a primeval forest), at the corner of Home and Cen- tral avenues. In 1838 his wife died and in 1840 he married Mrs. Elgin, a daughter of Thomas McOuat of this city. His eldest daughter, Cor- delia, by his first wife, married William Wallace of this city in 1847, and died in 1866; his second daughter, Maria, married Dr. P. H. Jam- eson in 1850, and with his son Ovid, Junior, by his first wife, and Scot, by his second wife, are still living, as are also several younger children. One daughter of the second wife died some years ago and the "Demia Butler Chair " was endowed with ten thousand dollars by her father in memory of her.
Although Mr. Butler never held a political office and has never been known as a politician, in fact, has never in the ordinary sense been a politician, he has always retained a lively interest in political movements and measures. He has not held it a proof of religious devotion that he should feel no concern for his mortal welfare, and has never spared time, talent or money in what he thought was for the public good. In 1848 he was made an electoral candidate on the Free Soil ticket, and again in 1852. About the year 1854 he furnished most of the means to establish a paper as the organ of the anti-slavery sentiment of the State, and the Free Democrat, under the direction of Mr. Rawson Vaile, was the re- sult. In the fall of 1854, having formed an association to purchase the Journal of John D. Defrees, he allowed the new organ to be absorbed into the new purchase, and the Journal, under the direction of Berry R. Sulgrove and Mr. Vaile, became the leading anti-slavery paper of the State, the organ of the People's party and later of the Republican party, a position which it still holds. In 1857 he sold his interest in the Jour- nal to Mr. Sulgrove at a serious sacrifice, thus illustrating anew his in- disposition to make money of an enterprise conceived for public good. Besides this investment in political sentiment he contributed largely to starting an anti-slavery paper in Cincinnati, mainly with a view to repel the pro-slavery influence, then strong, if not dominant, in the Christian church. Upon his purchase of the Journal, he, as already remarked, took the first step in the organization of the People's party, a union of all elements that opposed the Democracy. By dint of hard argument and obvious facts he and his immediate friends forced some old Whig leaders into the movement, carried it through successfully to tumble to pieces
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