USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 89
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
In politics and religion Mayor Warder might be termed in the true sense and meaning of the word, a liberal. He was, in infancy and early life, taught and trained by his father in the Jef- fersonian school of Democracy, but on account of his devotion and service in the cause of the Union, he cast his first vote in 1863 for the Re- publican party, and continued to act and vote with that party until the memorable campaign of 1872, when he declared for Mr. Greeley, in whom he had great confidence, and for whom he did valuable service in the contest. He still believes that Mr. Greeley was not only one of the greatest and truest and best men America has produced, but that his nomination at that time by the Democratic party did more to liber- alize their party and restore it to the confidence of the country than any other event in its history. Since that time Mr. Warder has belonged to that party, and been elected mayor the fourth time as the nominee of the Democratic party, always leading his ticket, and the last time
the only Democratic candidate on the ticket who was elected, the majority being nearly two hundred. He also took an active part in all the campaigns, both State and National, ren- dering much valuable service to his party.
He is a forcible speaker, and possesses rare talent for organizing and conducting campaigns. His energy and zeal when confronted by strong opposition is the more earnest and aggressive, and his political sagacity and personal popularity combined, render him a potent factor in the politics, not only of the city and county, but of his Congressional district. In his administra- tion of city affairs he has never been controlled or influenced by politics, and has as many warm friends among the Republicans as he has in his own party.
He does not belong to any religious denom- ination, has no creed or tenet in his views of Christianity-believing that religion consists in doing right and all the good we can for the hap- piness of our fellow-men. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church, to which he is a con- tributor on her account. He has two daughters and two sons, none of whom have been baptized in any church.
The history of Mayor Warder's administration would not be complete without allusion to the removal of the county-seat. The county gov- ernment had been located at Charlestown, twelve miles northeast of Jeffersonville, for sixty years, and this township containing nearly one-half of the population of the county the citizens naturally desired the seat removed to this city. For many years the project had been discussed, the transfer asked for, but the political expediency had always interfered. But Mr. Warder's bold and fearless spirit, his devotion to the interests of the people, were just the qualities necessary for a leader in the removal. He was further supported by the consciousness that removal would be eventually to the interest of the entire community. Accord- ingly, calling a meeting of the leading citizens, he infused his dauntless spirit into the people, set the ball rolling, and the contest commenced in 1876, and it was long, bitter, and fiery, and was costly to both sides, the city expending $70,000.
The long fight entailed upon Mayor Warder prodigious labor, and a constant stream of har- rassing anxiety, which a man of less physical health could not have endured. The result of
6I*
482
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
this movement is another enduring monument to Mayor Warder's ability as a public executive, and, with the other public-spirited acts of his, help to link his name with the most important events in the history of this beautiful and pros- perous city.
JAMES WILLIAM THOMSON,
the present clerk of the city of Jeffersonville, Indiana, is a descendant of the earlier settlers of the Ohio Falls cities. His mother, Amanda Shannon Thomson, was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, October 12, 1813. Her parents moved to New Albany, Indiana, in 1814, where they raised a large family. Amanda Shannon was married to William S. Thomson, November 11, 1832. Soon after marriage Mr. Thomson established a residence in St. Louis, Missouri, and engaged in mercantile pursuits.
James William Thomson, the subject of this sketch, was born in that city June 4, 1835. In the year 1844 the family returned to Jefferson- ville, and the father shortly afterwards died in Helena, Arkansas. The mother, Amanda Thomson, applied herself to providing for the. support and education of her four children, and by energy and toil she succeeded in establishing a lucrative notion and millinery business, by which she acquired some property.
James William Thomson, who is now the only survivor of the family, received a fair English education at St. Aloysius college, Louisville, Kentucky. In 1855 he became connected with the clerical department of the Jeffersonville rail- road. His services in this capacity were highly appreciated by the management, which was man- ifested by his rapid advancement in the line of promotion. In 1861, being an honest sup- porter of the Government in its acts for the sup- pression of the rebellion, he gained considerable notoriety by informing the Government authori- ties of the manner of smuggling contraband sup- plies passing over that road into Kentucky, and by aiding in the capture of the same. His action in this matter, however, caused unfavorable criti- cism by the officers of the railroad company, which so conflicted with his ideas of duty as a citizen of the United States that he at once sev- ered his connection with the railroad company
and shortly afterwards enlisted in the volunteer service and turned his whole attention to assist- ing in raising and organizing the Forty-ninth Indi- ana volunteer infantry. He was commissioned second lieutenant by Governor Morton, October 18, 1861, was promoted and commissioned cap- tain February 2, 1862. Being on duty in south- eastern Kentucky about this time, he was selected to command one hundred picked men, who, together with a force under the command of Colonel Carter, made a perilous and fatiguing night march across the Cumberland mountains, surprising and capturing a Confederate force, which was encamped near Big Creek Gap, in Tennessee, after which he with his regiment par- ticipated in the capture of Cumberland Gap. While encamped here he contracted malarial fever, and being in the hospital at the time of the evacuation of that place by the Federal forces under command of General Morgan, he fell into the hands of the Confederate forces. After lin- gering for several weeks upon the verge of eter- nity he recovered, was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment at Young's Point, on the Mississippi river, in April, 1863.
The campaign against Vicksburg was now fully organized, and active operations were being inaugurated. Captain Thomson was not per- mitted to remain long with his regiment, he being detailed April 28, 1863, by Brigadier-general P. J. Osterhaus, then commanding the Ninth divis- ion of Thirteenth army corps, and put upon his staff as acting assistant adjutant-general and chief of staff. In this campaign he participated in the battles of Thompson's Hill, May Ist, Champion Hills, May 16th, Black River Bridge, May 17th, and the assault on Vicksburg, May 19th and May 2Ist. He was complimented for meritorious conduct on the fields of Thompson's Hill, Baker's Creek, and Black River Bridge by General Osterhaus, in his official reports of those engagements. After the surrender of Vicksburg he, as acting assistant adjutant-general of the Ninth division, took part in the movement which resulted in driving Major-general J. E. Johnston's command beyond Jackson, Mississippi, and the capture of that place. He then returned to his regiment, which was now in the Department of the Gulf, under command of General Banks. Here again he was at once ordered on staff duty and accompanied the reinforcements to the Red
.
J Ul. Thomson
-
Reuben Baileys
483
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
River campaign. His duties here were perilous and arduous, he being placed in command of the pickets and outposts of the retreating army of General Banks, upon which the Confederate forces, flushed with success, were vigorously pressing. He was soon afterwards transferred to Kentucky, where he remained until the close of the war. When mustered out he returned to Jeffersonville, where he has since lived. He was married to Miss Jennie Campbell, August 22, 1866, and now lives in the central part of the city in a modest home, his family consisting of a wife and two children. He was elected clerk of the city in May, 1879, and re-elected May, 1881, by creditable majorities, considering that he is in politics a consistent Republican, and the Demo- cratic party having at that time a conceded ma- jority of about one hundred and fifty votes. In his present official relations to the city he has made for himself a commendable record. He has not only been efficient in his prescribed duties, but has been earnest and aggressive in introducing reforms and systems which are felt and appreciated throughout the various depart- ments. It is principally due to his earnest ap- peals "that the city provide for itself a suitable, safe, and convenient place of business, where its books and valuable papers could be securely and systematically kept," that steps were taken to build the present city hall, which is a credit to the city. He is a long sufferer from dyspepsia, and delicate in constitutional vigor, which at times makes him appear morbid and morose, but when aroused is equal to the emergency, either in business, politically or socially. This charac- teristic the biographer is confident will be in- stantly recognized by Captain Thomson's inti- mate friends.
REUBEN DAILEY.
Reuben, son of Nicholas A. and Hannah Dailey, was born in Tottenham, Middlesex coun- ty, England, March 6, 1844. His maternal grandfather was William Bird, an Englishman, and shoemaker by trade, of a very religious character, and composer of sacred music. Wil- liam Bird's wife was Sarah Singleton. His paternal grandfather was Michael Dailey, a native of Queens county, Ireland, and a pronounced
Roman Catholic. Michael Dailey's wife was Miss Gibson, a strong Protestant, who reared all her boys in the Protestant faith.
Reuben was one of a family of eight boys and one girl. Four of the boys reached maturity with the sister. Each of the boys had peculiar talents, all of which were duly encouraged, with the exception of Reuben's. This was not be- cause of any favoritism, but simply because the bent of his mind was early directed towards the ministry, and his father was violently opposed to educating a preacher, believing implicitly that if a man was called to preach the gospel he would receive supernatural aid, and therefore education was entirely superfluous; certainly a very errone- ous opinion.
While at school he received such impressions in favor of American citizenship that he became ardently attached to his adopted country, and frequently expressed his regrets that he had not lived in the Revolutionary days that he might have been a participator in the struggle for American Independence.
Having come to this country in 1848, living from that time variously at Cincinnati, Ohio; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Newport, Ken- tucky, up to the outbreak of the war, the time at length came when his patriotic yearnings were to be fully satisfied. And upon the very outbreak of the war he was among the first to march to the tread of war's dread alarm. He first joined company G, Fifth Ohio infantry, but on account of his youth, being only seventeen, he could not pass muster, but managed by a tight squeeze to get into company F of the same regiment, under Captain Theophilus Gaines.
Although slender and without robust constitu- tion, and very light of weight, he endured the hardships of a soldier's life much better than many men of large stature and symmetrical pro- portions, whose very appearance would seem to promise all the traits and abilities of true soldiers. On the march, with but one exception, he never failed to keep up, and in addition to his accou- trements and rations, carried with him many hun- dred miles a set of short-hand books. These he studied often at a temporary halt, and continu- ously in camp, determined to fit himself for a re- porter by the time he should receive his honora- ble discharge. A marked trait of his character while a soldier was his devotion to the Christian
484
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
religion ; and because of his determination in this respect, he avoided cards, drink, profanity, and all associations calculated to taint his char- acter with immorality, and besides, frequently tried to return good for evil, and he was an object naturally of ridicule, and not infre- quently imposed upon by swine before whom he had unwisely cast his pearls.
During his three years and two months service he was frequently employed as company clerk, and was a good part of the time clerk to the surgeon-in-chief of the brigade, and after being wounded in the face, August 9, 1862, at the bat- tle of Cedar Mount (Culpeper Court House), he was detailed from the Armory Square hospi- tal as a clerk to General Halleck.
During his stay in Washington he professed religion in the Methodist church, with a request for immersion, and was subsequently baptized into the Christian church at Fulton, Cincinnati, Ohio. He never had any fixed denominational belief, regarding one branch of the Christian church about as good as another, and for this reason generally united himself with any church most convenient.
From the age of fourteen he never relin- quished the hope of being a minister of Christ, and was, after the war, at Memphis, Tennessee, before the deacons of the Baptist church for license as a local preacher. His examination was not satisfactory because he was indoctrinated with the "soul-sleeping" doctrine, and did not believe in everlasting punishment. It was under- stood that he was to be instructed and set right upon this point, when he was to receive license. The delay was fatal. In the meantime his brother John had sent him Theodore Parker's works, which entirely changed his views, and to this was added Paine's Age of Reason, which entirely destroyed his faith in the supernatural nature of the Christian religion, and left him a Unitarian for awhile, but the bonds being loosed he at length became totally skeptical as to any form of worship whatever, believing that all man's thoughts and energies should be devoted entirely to the glorifying of man, to the developing of his moral and intellectual faculties, and to a reason- able, healthful, and decent enjoyment of every faculty which man possesses.
Mr. Dailey is agnostic in his views, neither affirming that there is a personal God, nor that
there is not, holding that the subject is too deep for him, and that the more a man tries to obtain a tangible idea of Deity, the worse and worse he flounders, and furthermore, there is plenty of room for the exercise of human intellect, and human goodness in this world. "One world at a time, and that world done well," is his motto.
Mr. Dailey entered the field as a journalist, after being engaged some time as official short- hand reporter of several courts-martial and mili- tary commissions, as river reporter of the Mem- phis Argus in April, 1865. When he entered the army in 1861, he had not finished even a common school education, having preferred to go to work as an errand-boy or in any other capac- ity; in Pitman's Phonetic Institute as a "devil," and also as a sales-boy in a dry goods store. But there were two things he possessed, first, sense of his lack of education, and second, industry and energy. With a natural disposition to acquire knowledge, as illustrated by the fact that when but ten years of age, while working as errand- boy in a shoe store in Pittsburg for fifty cents a week, he attended night school, and again, after partially recovering from his wound, and while acting as nurse in Armory Square hospital, at Washington, District of Columbia, he there attended night school.
He began reporting without even having read such well known works as Macauley's History of England, Shakespeare, or any of the standard poets; indeed, in his youth his parents had di- rected his mind entirely to the reading of works of religion, and forbade the reading of fiction of any kind. Nevertheless, he possessed a natural aptness of speech, remembered words well, and being fond of elocution, frequently memorizing choice compositions, which, with the reading of Macauley's elegant diction, gave him the basis of style which he now possesses as a writer, that always makes him clear, perspicuous, and forci- ble, and at times, when deeply interested, elo- quent.
Mr. Dailey says he now often wonders how he ever managed to hold a position as a reporter, when he knows how very scant was his knowl- edge of the English language ; how entirely un- versed in the principle of the laws of his coun- try he was at the time he first entered upon the duties of river reporter. For this reason he says no youth who has industry and determina-
485
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
tion need fear of success, if to this he add a life of virtuous habits and unbroken sobriety.
Mr. Dailey remained but three and a half years in Memphis, and becoming disconnected with the press there, first, because of the desire to devote his energies to short-hand reporting, and second, on account of prejudices which he had inherited from his father, an old-line Aboli- tionist of the most radical type. He was once a magistrate in the city of Memphis, and also held the position of United States Commissioner by the appointment of Judge Trigg, but being a pronounced radical, young and ardent, and ex- pressing himself openly, the Memphis climate was uncongenial, and he left there determined to locate at Cincinnati and there seek a position on the press as reporter. By a mere accident he obtained a position on the Courier-Journal as re- porter, and in January, 1869, was made the New Albany and Jeffersonville reporter for that excel- lent paper.
By this time his constant reading began to give him a good style of writing, and his industry had not forsaken him. Mr. Norman, editor of the Ledger, pronounced him the most energetic reporter the Louisville papers ever had in New Albany. His idea of reporting was to fill his columns with personal as well as the other class of news. Hitherto only generals, colonels, ma- jors, or prominent citizens were "personaled," but Mr. Dailey insisted on making brief, spicy personal notes of all classes of citizens. The columns of all papers, especially Sundays, now attest that his ideas were correct.
He read law for a period of eighteen months in spare hours, and intended to make that his profession, but in an evil hour he bought the National Democrat at Jeffersonville, under the hallucination that he could edit a paper and study law at the same time. The paper took the field entirely.
November 18, 1872, he started the Evening News in a hand-bill form, about 6x10, since which time he has been engaged as a journalist, editor, and publisher. The News was the first daily paper published in Jeffersonville. The idea of publishing small local dailies had not occurred to publishers of weekly papers in small towns, but since the establishment of the News by Mr. Dailey, this idea has been adopted, and in all the cities in Indiana of five thousand and upwards
there has grown to be little local dailies. His success has always invited opposition, and one after another his journalistic competitors have fallen. In 1878 he publicly avowed through his columns his skeptical views, which excited the most intense opposition from the churches, and a strong attempt was made to crush him by the establishment of a rival Dem- ocratic paper, but Mr. Dailey has thrived on op- position, and the attempt to destroy him has only developed him more, and made him a better journalist and more careful economist, and dem- onstrated that in his position he is impregnable. He is a practical temperance man, but at one time greatly excited the opposition of the tem- perance people because he would not support the crusade. He would be for prohibition if pro- hibition would prohibit, believing the great good to be derived from the banishment of intoxicat- ing drink would more than compensate for the infringement on personal liberty. On this ques- tion an attempt was made to run him out, but this likewise failed.
Mr. Dailey changed his politics when he left the South, because he believed the party in power to be corrupt, and because he fully be- lieved all the objects of the war were secured, and that to keep the Republican party in power was to continue sectional questions in politics and to materially injure the whole country. He fully accepted the teachings of Jefferson, and felt that the war demonstrated that even with the most ultra States Rights doctrine, the people were capable of preserving the Union against the assaults of ambitious and disappointed men. As to the war for the Union, he was for it in 1860, and would be for it again under the same cir- cumstances. But he did not regard the people of the South as traitors. They acted from the same impulse the North did. The leaders were to be blamed for their haste, but nothing was more natural than for the slaveholders to fight to sustain the institution that was to them a source of such great profit and power. All the great questions at issue before the war were open ques- tions. They are closed now. They were ques- tions on which men could honestly differ and did differ, and the prowess and bravery of both North and South in that unhappy struggle is the common heritage of the great people who are destined yet to accomplish greater things for
486
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
humanity, who are yet to demonstrate the capac- ity of man for self-government, whose contribu- tions to the world of literature, science, juris- prudence, and statesmanship, and fraternity will eventually extinguish race distinction and ulti- mate in the entire concord of all nations.
Mr. Dailey was married December 26, 1865, to Ann Eliza Devinney, at Newport, Kentucky. His wife is a native of Louisville, and the only surviving child of Captain Madison Devinney. She is thoroughly Democratic and Southern in all her principles and sympathies. They have two living children, Mahura and Clarence, a girl and boy, aged respectively eleven and eight years.
We do not know of a man in the cities of the Falls who is more generous than Mr. Dailey. While he is very exact in business, and said to be the best and closest collector in Jeffersonville, yet he will give more than his share to a charita- ble purpose. No needy person has ever been turned away from his door without receiving lib- eral assistance. The moral character of Mr. Dailey is as bright and pure as good people could wish. He has never been addicted to any vice, and in this respect he is the peer of the best citi- zens in and out of the church. In all of his writings he has advocated sobriety, honesty, and virtue, and has written hundreds of columns of good moral advice to the rising generation, which, if accepted, would make many young men happy and prosperous. Indeed, all of his lectures con- tain the best moral and wholesome thoughts, and prove conclusively to the reader that his moral character is without a blemish.
Mr. Dailey has many peculiarities, but none of them can be justly regarded as offenses. His greatest fault, or rather it might be called weak- ness, is his misguided judgment in "affairs about town." All of a sudden, like unto a clap of thunder in a cloudless sky, he will startle the politicians and the community by taking an ex- traordinary and radical position upon some pub- lic question. He will make an earnest and brilliant fight for his own peculiar views of the subject matter. In the meantime, those who do not agree with him in his opinions have only to convince him that he is wrong, which is not such a hard task, as he is very susceptible to influence, and he will turn his paper square around and make as good a fight on the other side.
He is perhaps one of the most conscientious men alive, and therefore easily imposed upon. Let the most unprincipled scoundrel in the country go to Mr. Dailey, and, with tears in his eyes tell him that he is the victim of persecution, and he will immediately gain his sympathy, and he will write a card vindicating him from any aspersions that may have been made upon his character.
It is hard to find a man who has more energy than Mr. Dailey, and with his energy he has wonderful capacity. He has been known to put in twelve hours at his business and then go home and study until past midnight. This he would do day after day and apparently suffer but little from the exertion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.