Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 28 of those read), 1908

Town

When Delaware county became an independent political division there were two national parties in the field - the Democrats and the Whigs. To follow the lines of party sentiment as it was manifested in the selection of county officials would be an impossible task. Considerations of fitness for office and personal popularity have always broken partisan lines. Notwithstanding that party feeling was shown with more passion and more uncompromisingly fifty and seventy years ago than now, population was less and people knew their neighbors perhaps better than they do now. So that while the party banner counted for more then than now, this fact was neutralized in local politics by personal considerations.

Before proceeding with the details of county politics it is proper to state the remarkable difference in spirit between political contests of this day and those of fifty years ago. In recent elections, especially since the exciting campaign of 1896, there has been a notable absence of excitement or tension among the people, local business goes on as usual, and if the surface of political sentiment is disturbed at all it is due to personal or practical reasons rather than to partisanship. Old-time rallies and political mass meetings have little vogue nowadays, and political speakers must be men of national importance to catch general attention. Half a century ago, and even twentyfive years back, a political campaign was attended with very different features. Partisan discussion, especially in presidential elections, often became virulent, and passionate invective was as frequent as calm debate. There was less discrimination between local and national politics, and the candidate for local office had to bear all the denunciation that was heaped upon his party in general. Processions, lxmfires, crowded meetings rapt to enthusiasm by fiery oratory, tense excitement for several weeks before election, characterized a campaign of that period and made it one of the most notable features of American life.

The newspaper and the quicker diffusion of knowledge have undoubtedly had most to do with changing politics from an absorbing excitement to a quietness that often seems apathy. The newspaper reporter with his "interviews" and summaries of speeches, and the editor with his logic, reach more people and appeal more convincingly than the campaign orator, so that now the average citizen sits at home and quietly forms his opinion with the aid of newspapers. Rural free delivery, carrying the daily news into the coun-. try districts, renders it unnecessary for the farmer to resort to political speakings to inform himself of the issues. As a result flamboyant oratory is going out, and solid facts arc now demanded by the voters as a basis for judgment of men and measures. Furthermore, the words "Democrat" and "Republican" arc no longer fetiches. Party name is ceasing to be the shibboleth of political campaigns. Popular conception of political and economic affairs is becoming broader and more analytical, and the party label is no longer a guarantee of the contents. Those engaged in politics find that they must appeal to practical reason less than to sentiment and party ardor, and they attract voters in proportion as they represent practical principles of statecraft.

A brief study may be made of politics according to party divisions in this county before giving the list of county and other officials who have served from time to time in positions of trust. Figures are not at hand to show the political complexion of the county during the earliest years. David Kilgore, who was a Whig, was elected to the legislature in 1832, and in 1S36 Andrew Kennedy, who was equally prominent as a Democrat, was elected to the state senate. For some years the two parties were about balanced in the county. In 1842 the Whigs had gained the ascendancy. The seat in the senate that year was contested by James Hodge, Whig, and Judge Buckles, Democrat. The vote by townships for these candidates follows:

In 1844, at the August election, the county was Whig by about 200 majority, and at the presidential elections in November Polk received 732 votes, Henry Clay, the Whig, 940, while Birncy, the Frce-soiler, got only three a plurality, but in this county the result of the ballot was 822 votes for General Taylor, the successful Whig, while Cass received 694 and Van Buren (Free Soil) 58.

In i8r>o, when the crisis of the nation had arrived and the Republican party first became dominant, Delaware county returned a large majority for Lincoln, the vote for the respective presidential candidates of that year being as follows: Lincoln, 1933; Douglas, 1029; Bell, 10; Brcckcnridge, 98.

In 1872, notwithstanding a decided change in political lines in other parts of the state, Delaware county supported Brown, the Republican nominee for governor, with 2743 votes, against 1557 for Hendricks, the Democratic candidate. In 1880 Porter, Republican, received 3614 votes in this county for the office of governor, against 1843 for Landers and 45 for Gregg. The Democrats were successful in the national campaign of 1884, but in this county the votes resulted as follows: Blaine, Republican, 3540; Cleveland, Democrat, 2016; Butler, Greenback, 88; St. John, Prohibitionist, 30.

In 1S8S, when the county gave a majority to Benjamin Harrison, it was found that the county contained more than a hundred veteran Whig-Republicans who either in 1836 or 1840 had voted for William Henry Harrison.

In 1890 the Republicans were easily victorious in the county, but it was noticeable that their losses in the off year were greater than those of the Democrats, taking the election 1888 as a basis. In 1891 the Democrats elected the majority of the city officers in Muncie, but with that exception they have had no important victory in city or county during all the remaining years, not even in the Democratic landslide in 1892. Republican majorities have prevailed at all the presidential elections, and it is unnecessary to give the figures in detail.

Note : - With a few exceptions the official lists for the years up to and including 18S0 have been compiled from the old history of the country. Dates before each name generally indicate year in which term of service began, not year of election necessarily.

-The 4Gth Judicial Circuit consisting of Delaware Countv was formed bv the legislature earlv in 1885. 0. J. Lotz, the defeated candidate the previous fall for Judge of the doth Circuit, was appointed Judge of the 4Gth Circuit by the governor.

1S55 - Abraham Shank. Geo. A. Hclvicf, Henry Hill. 1856 - Abraham Shank, Volney Willson, Henry Hill. 1857 - Abraham Shank, Geo. A. Helvic, Jos. Orr. 1858 - Abraham Shank, Geo. A. Helvic, Samuel Weidncr. 1859 - William Miller, Geo. A. Helvie, Samuel Weidncr. i860 - William Miller, Jesse Nixon,

-On account of defects and loss of records, the exact dates when the Commissioners entered upon their terms of office, after 1S27 and prior to 1847, can not bo ascertained.

"Prior to 1S41, tlie duties of Treasurer were discharged by Collector and Treasurer jointlv, the two offices being first merged into that of Treasurer in 1841.

J. F. Duckwall. Ed. W. Gilbert. Eugene W. Shipley. E. W. Shipley. S. F. Brady*. William L. Little. William L. Little. William L. Little. Calvin S. Wachtell. C. S. Wachtell. C. S. Wachtell. C. S. Wachtell. C. S.' Wachtell. C. S. Wachtell. C. S. Wrachtell. C. S. Wachtell. C. S. Wachtell. J. A. Brown. J. A. Brown. J. A. Brown, j. A. Brown. A. L. Shideler. A. L. Shideler. Frank A. Elrod. Frank A. Elrod. Frank W. Clevenger. R. G. Hickok. R. G. Hickok. John A. Jackson.

In 1890 the proposition to divide the fifth ward, creating ward 6, carried, the boundaries of the 6th being south of the Big Four track and east of Madison street. Election was held May 29, for one new councilman in each ward, James 0"Xeil being elected from the fifth, and N. B. Powers from the 6th. 1891 - ist, Tohn M. Graham. Jacob Dodson ; 2d, J. L. Streeter, Iiomer Highlands; 3d, J. C. Johnson, John J. Hartley; 4th, Philip W. Patterson, W. L. Little; 5th, Jesse Williamson, John O'Xeil ; 6th, N. B. Powers. W. B. Meeker. 1892 - ist J M Graham. O. W. Crabbs ; 2d, Homer Highlands. G. L. Lenon ; 3d, T. T. Hartley. W. E. Driscoll ; 4th, P. W. Patterson, A. E. Lyman; 5th, W. H. Moreland. B. F. Day; 6th. W. B. Meeker, Joseph Porter.

Durham, Peter K. Morrison. The Muncie city government as constituted in 1907, is as follows: Leonidas A. Guthrie, Mayor; John A. Jackson, City Clerk; H. C. Haymond, Controller; James M. Motsenbocker, City Treasurer; Robe Carl White, City Attorney; John O. Potter, City Engineer; Frank L. Gass, City Judge; Harry McCullough, Electrical Inspector; Van Benbow, Supt. of Police; Oscar W. Crabbs, Supt. of Cemetery; Harry L. Gallivan, Supt. of Fire Department; Albert Stephens, Supt. of Garbage Furnace; Harry Smeltzcr, Street Foreman.

Board of Public Works: Dr. George R. Green, President; Frederick F. McClellan, Francis J. Lafferty; John A. Jackson, Clerk; Milton thomas, Deputy Clerk.

Trustees of Public Schools : Theodore F. Rose, President ; \V. A. Mc- Naughton, Secretary; H. C. Haymond, Treasurer; George L. Roberts, Supt. of City Schools.

The Publishers take this opportunity, in the closing pages of this volume, to speak a few words in appreciation of the enthusiasm and painstaking interest displayed by the Editor, Dr. Kemper, in all departments of the work bv which this History of Delaware county has been perfected. By a long residence in the county Dr. Kemper has become identified not oiily in a prominent manner with the medical profession, of which he is now the dean of active practitioners, but also with the life and affairs of the county in general, so that he was a natural choice as editor of a work which has endeavored to include all the numerous interests of a city and county with a history extending back more than three-quarters of a century. A brief sketch of the life of the Editor will be of interest.

General William Harrison Kemper, named in honor of the first governor of Indiana, was born in Richland township, Rush county, Indiana, December 16, 1839. In the early pages of this history much was said about the sources from which the first settlers of the county came. It is notcworthv in this connection that Dr. Kemper is a member of an carlv Indiana family that came to the state from Kentucky, and originally from the state of Virginia, where John Kemper, the progenitor of the Kemper family in America, had settled in 1714, having emigrated to this country from his birthplace at Muesen, Germany.

Dr. Kemper's father was Arthur Smith Kemper, who was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, May 4. i/94. was a farmer, and followed that occupation after coming to Rush county, in 1834, where he died in 1849, when scarcclv more than fifty-five years of age. The mother of Dr. Kemper was Patience Bryant, who was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, February 9. 1802, and died at Muncie, October 30, 18S1. While her husband' was German, she was of English and French Huguenot stock, her grandfather, James Bryant, having come from England in 1700 and settled at Manakinton, Virginia. Her father, John Bryant, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war.

Dr. Kemper was reared on a farm, attending the schools at Clarksburg and Greensburg, and in 1856, when seventeen years old. went west to the comparatively new country of Iowa, where he lived for three years. Two years of this time he worked in a printing office, of the Montezuma Republican at Montezuma. Returning to Indiana in the fall of 1S59, on the first day of January, 1861, he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. W. Moodey at Greensburg. But this was a period of national trial and excitement conflicting with all the calm pursuits of men, and only a few days after the breaking out of the Civil war he had enlisted as a private (April 18, 1861) in Company B, Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, for a term of three months. His first engagement was the battle of Philippi, West Virginia, June 3, 1S61, and while a member of the Seventh Regiment he was also engaged at Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. On the expiration of his first enlistment, he re-enlisted and served as hospital steward in the Seventeenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, from September 25, l86l, to July 27, 1864. His experience in the war is outlined in the battles at which he was present during these three years, namely: Hoover's Gap, Chattanooga, Ringgold, Lett's Tanyard, Chickamauga, Thompson's Cove, Murfreesboro Road, Shelbyville Pike and Farmington, Missionary Ridge, Cleveland, siege of Knoxville, Charleston, Dallas, Big Shanty, Noonday Creek, Kencsaw Mountain, and the battles before Atlanta. Dr. Kemper is a member of Williams Post No. 78, G. A. R., being a past commander of the post, and is also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Insignia No. 4648.

Immediately after his return from the field of war, he resumed the study of medicine, attending lectures in the medical department of the University of Michigan during 1S04-65, and during the spring of 1865 at the Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was graduated in June of 1865. Two months later he had entered upon the practice at Muncie which lias been continued now for more than forty-two years. No other physician in the county is now in active practice who was here at that time. Success in his work and the high esteem of his colleagues have marked his career here, and the distinctions that have come to him in a professional way are too many to detail in this sketch. - In 1886 he took a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic, and has always been a close student of his profession. His writings on medical subjects are voluminous, over fifty articles having been read before medical societies or published in medical journals. He has also written for the layman from his professional standpoint, these writings entitling him to consideration among Indiana authors. His little volume, "Uses of Suffering," which appeared in 1S96, had been written as a lecture, and contains a proof of the goodness of God exhibited through suffering and disease. "The World's Anatomists" is another attractive brochure bearing the doctor's name. In 1898 the Indiana Commanderv of the Loyal Legion published, a volume of "War Papers" to which Dr. Kemper contributed the article "The Seventh Regiment." fie is a member of the Delaware County Medical Societv, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, lie was treasurer of the state society from 1879 t0 J^5 nn,J president in 1886-87. Lor many years he lias been local surgeon for the Big Lour and Lake Erie railroads.

In politics Dr. Kemper has in the main supported the men and measures of the Republican party. While he has not sought political honors, he has at several times been identified with local affairs outside of his profession. He served as coroner 1870-75, and during the '80s was a member of the city council. From 1872 to 18*93, wi[n tnc exception of two years, he was United States examining surgeon for pensions, and in 1902 was reappointed to this position, which he still holds. He has been an active member of the High Street Methodist Episcopal church for years, and has a record of twenty-one years' service as superintendent of the Sunday-school, from 1867 to 1888. 1 1 is fondness for travel has led him to many diverse parts of the world, to continental Europe, the Holy Land and other regions about the Mediterranean, besides extensive travels in his own countrv. The Kemper collection of historical relics, antiquities and curios is the result of many years of search, and is one of the most varied and extensive private collections lo l>c found anywhere. It will not be improper for the writer to say that such a long life of useful and varied activity lias produced, in addition to a well-rounded character, a certain richness of personal charm, a positiveness of judgment, and a readiness and elevation of discourse, that arc appreciated by all who have had the privilege of his acquaintance.

Dr. Kemper married. August 15, 1865, Miss Harriet Kemper, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Mrs. Kemper has for many years been prominent in woman's club work in Muncie. Their three children are Georgette Moodey, wife of John Lawrence Smith; Arthur Thomson and William Winton.

Arthur Thomson Kemper, M. D., who is one of the firm of Drs. Kemper, was born at Muncie, September 7, 1870, and after graduating from the Muncie high school in 1SS9 and from the Medical College of Indiana in 1897, has practiced his profession in association with his father. In 1906 he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Polyclinic. He is a member of the Delaware County and the Indiana State Medical Societies, is a Roval Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and is a member of the Methodist F.piscopal church ; in politics a Republican. He married, in 1S97, Miss EiTice Bradford, of Dayton, Ohio.

William Winton Kemper, M. D., also a member of the firm, was born at Muncie, June 13, 1877, and like his brother was educated in the city schools and graduated from the Medical College of Indiana in 1904, since which time he has practiced with father and brother, lie is a member of the county and state medical societies, and at the present time is a member of the Muncie board of health. He is a Mason, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, in 1906, Miss Helen, daughter of J. W. Garner, D. D. S., of Muncie.