Clark County, Indiana - Chapter 29: The Bench and Bar of Clark County, 1909 (part 2 of 2)

He received the Scottish Rite grades, including the thirty-second degree in the \'alley of Indianapolis in May, 1867, in the class with Hazelrigg, Howk and others. In .\ncient Craft Masonry lie was particularlv wed versed. He served on the committee on correspondence in the Grand Lodge of Indiana for four terms, from 1886 to 1890. and had the happy faculty to condense a report so that the average Mason could find time to read it. This epitome of Brother Johnson's Masonic record gives but a faint idea of his services for the good of ]\Iasonry for nearly half a century. His zeal and work did not abate in the least on retiring from official position, and he attended regularly all the bodies in which he held membership and cheerfull\- assisted in every way to promote the best interests of all of them. His thorough knowledge of the jurisprudence of Masonry made him a wise and safe counsellor at all times, both in the grand and subordinate bodies. His Masonic record, which has been duplicated in but few cases throughout the United States, indicates to what extent Masonry had entered into his life and to what extent it was appreciated by the craft.

Sketches of the Judge of the Clark Circuit Court and his two predecessors will be found in the biographical part of this volume. Judge Montgonierv". Judge Marsh and Judge Giljson have maintained the high standard of service, character and attainments, which was set in earlier days, but as the scope of this chapter is not intended to include the present membership of the bar of Clark county, a future historian must record their acts. However, one exception may be made to this determination. The Hon. Jonas G. Howard, the dean of the profession, for nearly sixty years a member of the bar. since 1850 prominently connected with nearly every great public movement in the county, and at present a vigorous and enthusiastic leader in public questions, deser\-es special mention. Jonas G. Howard was educated at Greencastle, read law with John F. Read and was admitted to the bar in 1852. In i860 he and Simeon S. Johnson practiced together. In 1866 Air. Howard and John F. Read formed a partnership for the practice of law and for certain enteriirises in which they were both engaged. To recount the various enter- prises in which he and Mr. Read became interested would be to recount the history of Jeffersonville for the last half centur_\ . One of the most important undertakings with which he was connected was the movement to span the river with a bridge. Against overwhelming odds the promoters of this enterprise had to contend : every river man on the Ohio river fought it ; the ferry company and other transportation companies controlled the testimony of pilots and other employes, and this, together with affidavits and depositions of connected interests, presented a front well-nigh insumiountable opposition. The Big Four bridge stands today as a monument to the effectiveness of the work done by its promoters.

As a lawyer Mr. Howard will always hold a high place in the history of the Clark County Bar. He was especially noted for his fidelity to his clients, and even after an adverse verdict he was usually found redoubling his energies in endeavoring' to secure a new trial. He was never known to give up a legal battle that he felt should be won. His arguments of questions of law were usually based on fundamental principles rather than on case law, and in his arginnents before the jury he was particularly effective, oftentimes in an extended argument when warmed up he would take off his coat and continue his speech in his shirt sleeves. He hatl great success in defending criminal cases, but would never prosecute one. In the great controversy concerning the removal of the county seat from Charlestown to Jeffersonville in the seventies he was one of the leading lawyers on the winning side. In the practice of law the success of his case was his first consideration, the matter of fees being a minor and secondary matter. During the time he practiced law he was extensively engaged in farming, and even at the age of eighty-three he would frequently ride to his farm on horseback, as erect as a cavalryman, where during the harvest season he would be in the field helping to stack his hay. He retired from the practice of law several years ago, but still takes an active interest in politics. He has always been a strong and uncompromising Democrat, and during the third Bryan campaign was one of the most energetic men on the stump ni the state, although in his eighty-third year. He still keeps posted on the political issues of the day, and at his present age there is not a better informed man on political affairs in the state. He sen-ed in Congress for four years as the Representative from the Third Indiana district, and has held other minor offices in Clark county.

Mr. Howard is public spirited and is interested in all the public enterprises which are for the advancement of the interests of Clark county or of Jeffersonville. Personally he is a most agreeable companion, very sociable and always with a good story to tell. His supply in this line seems to be inexhaustible, and his excellent memory never fails to furnish him with scenes and incidents of the early history of the county and state, especially of lawyers and public men. Physically Mr. Howard is of medium build, a fine specimen