Randolph County, Indiana - Chapter 17: Political, 1882

Chapter 17: Political

Charles Conway, Clerk and Recorder for twenty-one years, was a Democrat. Jeremiah Smith, long a prominent official; Beattie McClelland, Daniel B. Miller, George Debolt, James Brown, Andrew Aker, etc., were Democrats, and they all were elected to office.

But, however it may have previously been, 1840 saw a complete change, for the "hero of Tippecanoe" swept the county and the region like a whirlwind. The country never witnessed such another campaign as that of 1840. Not even during the war, nor since, was the nation so lashed into fury as it was by the simple song of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."

The rise of the Liberty party came near giving Randolph County to the Democrats again. The canvass of 1844 found but nine majority for Clay. And for years the Anti-slavery vote, which came very largely from the Whig side, kept the county nearly upon a balance. But when the Whig ranks broke, never

Two townships have formerly been, and are to this day, very strongly Democratic - Jackson and Ward. Nettle Creek and Franklin have a large Democratic vote, but the other townships are overwhelmingly the other way. Some of the precincts have scarcely any Democratic voters.

Harrison Campaign

"The country was wild with enthusiasm. A company of men went by wagon and via Indianapolis to the Harrison meeting at Tippecanoe battle-ground. We were gone three or four weeks, camping out every night. On the way, as we went, one fellow, a long distance away, showed a petticoat. (Old William Allen, an Ohio Democrat, and not very long ago Governor of Ohio, had charged that Gen. Harrison was so cowardly that the ladies of Chillicothe had presented him a petticoat, and the thing was seized on as a campaign argument, and asignal that maddened the Whigs, moreover, as a red rag is said to infuriate a raging bull.)

'* This fellow flaunted a petticoat, and we went for him across lots. He was caught after a long chase, and he begged pitifully, making all sorts of pleas and promises, and was let go.

"Another .charge, made against Harrison by way of sneer, that he lived in a log cabin and drank hard cider, was turned by the popular enthusiasm into a token of honor ; and 'log cabins' and ' hard cider' became the watchwords and party signals of the time.

set forth in every conceivable way. Old men would have miniature cider barrels as heads to their canes, and show them proudly as they came to vote.

"Thousands and thousands of poles were erected, insomuch that the towns and villages seemed like a harbor, filled with masts of every height and size.''

The assembly at Greenville, before mentioned, is said to have numbered 100,000 persons, and the enthusiasm and labor expended in gathering such a crowd then would more easily gather a million now.

Ose delegation froma river county came with a monster canoe on wheels, drawn by ten white horses and containing twenty-. seven young ladies.

The chief speeches were made by Tom Corwin, the '' Buckeye wagon-boy," then in his prime, and the best stump speaker in America; and Gen. Harrison, who was a good, though not a great speaker.

Mr. Stone says: ''Fully one thousand people went from Randolph. A company of 100 men in uniform marched under command of Josiah Montgar. 'The trip took three days, and we were a jollycrowd. There came near being a tragedy, however, at Jehu Robinson's (on the Kemp place). He was a hot Denocrat, and put up the petticoat. Theboys'wentfor'therag. The Robinson company undertook to keep itup, and for a brief space, matters looked serious. They got it down, however, and it stayed down while the procession passed. :

''As we passed a fine mansion, some ladies were gathered, and they marched down to greet us in a large group, singing as they came, and carrying 'Tippecanoe' flags. As they got near us, we were ordered to salute our visitors, which was done by a drawing of sabers. The movement made such a racket that the ladies, not knowing what it meant, were scared nearly to death, running, screaming, hiding behind trees, etc. The men were greatly chagrined to think they had frightened away their gentle visitors, and rode off completely cowed."

One very important factor in the accomplishment of the sweeping political revulsion of that year was a speech in Congress by Mr. Bond, a member from Ohio, purporting to show in detail the immense extravagance of the party then in power. Those speeches were scattered by the million, "thick as leaves in Vallambrosa,'' and they were read, and the people were wild with indignation, and the old and whilom honored Democratic party was crushed as with a resistless whirlwind under the tempest of popular indignation that tore through the land.

Mass Meetings

In later years, immense political gatherings have been had in Randolph. Among them have been the rally at Union City to hear Gov. Morton in 1876; the rally at Winchester, in the same campaign, to listen to Robert G. Ingersoll, a most famous orator; the monster rally at Winchester to welcome Hon. A. G. Porter, Republican candidate for Governor in 1880, ete.

A most interesting occasion was the meeting to listen to the speech of Gen. Ben Harrison at Union City in 1880, on the eve of the election. Though not intended for a rally, and though held at night, yet the people gathered in acrowd of three to four thousand, coming for miles and miles, and showing immense enthusiasm.

Of course, the Democratic party made rallies also, and did well, but they could not rival the Republicans in such a county as old Randolph. They showed their pluck, however, bravely holding their ground in the face of overwhelming odds and do- | ing their best in the State campaign which came so near being a success that half a dozen votes in each township would have turned the scale and given them the Presidency.

Greenbackism

It is a peculiar feature of Randolph political methods that the nomination of candidates for offices among the Republicans has been, for twenty years or more, effected by direct popular primary elections.

Many voters are yreatly dissatisfied with the method, thinking that it aggravates the evils it was intended to cure; and strong efforts were made, at the primary elections in the spring of 1880, to change the method; but-without success, since a majority of several hundred was cast in favor of the continuance of the system.

Episode

A somewhat remarkable episode in politics occurred in 1878, in this county. Two of the successful candidates of the nominating election of that year were singled out and charged, though probably without good reason, with having used unfair means to secure their nomination. A concerted movement was set on foot for their defeat, and the disaffected joined with the Democrats in a convention which named one Democrat and one Republican for the two offices referred to above. The movement was so strong that the ordinary Republican majority of seventeen to eighteen hundred was cut down to some three hundred or thereabout, as to these two candidates.

Tenure Of Office

Charles Conway was Clerk twenty-one years. W. C. Willmore was Recorder fourteen years. George W. Monks w: ; Clerk for fourteen years. Many have held their positions for six and eight years.

But the business has grown soimmensely, vastly increasing the fees and salaries of the various offices, that a single term, even of two years, is thought to be enough to make a man rich. And so the fashion now is to give each fellow ''one pull at the teat,'' and choke him off to give ''the next pig a chance."

The salaries have been, indeed, and still are, far too high, and many think that the fact is injurious to the public service. Certainly the ignoring the value of experience in official station is a reversal of all recognized rules of business in private life, and can scarcely fail to inflict serious and permanent loss upon the public interest.

Know-Nothingism

Know-Nothingism took a brief and evanescent hold in Randolph County. Lodges of '' Native Americans' were formed in several places, soon, however, dying out.

It is worthy of remark that a gentleman who, for many years, has been a prominent and influential Democrat in the State of Ohio, who was also of genuine Democratic stock, was an active member of a Know-Nothing lodge in Randolph County during the summer of 1854 or thereabout.

The anti-slavery cause took very strong hold upon the public heart of Randolph. The Free-Soil movement made still greater headway, and the Republican party swept away all opposition; and for almost a generation, Randolph County has been overwhelmingly Bepublican, giving, at the last Presidential election, about twenty-two hundred majority for that party. A few men have stood firm as Democrats, though it must be said thal. some of the chief partisans of that side in Randolph at the present time, are gentlemen who were, years ago, anti-Democratic.

John Milton Hodson was born August 24, 1839, in Clinton County Ohio. remained there until 1852. In that year, he removed to Hancock County, Ind., and in 1867 to Rush County, Ind., where he died in 1873, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a member of the Society of Friends, He acted in often sheltered fugitive slaves, and assisted them on their way to liberty He was a man who always occupied a high place in the estimation of those who knew him, and was always recognized as a good citizen and an honorable man. His son, J. M., was reared on the farm, and gained a good English education in the common schools. Subsequently, he attended an excellent school at Westland, Hancock Co., Ind., conducted by the Friends, and later was a student in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, completing the scientific course. By his previous.preparation, he was well qualified for the profession of school teaching, which he adopted in 1856. He taught two years in Hancock County, Ind., and was similarly engaged for a year in the adjoining county of Hamilton, and for a period of sixteen years, was engaged in teaching in the counties of Hancock, Hamilton, Rush, Henry, Hendricks and Randolph, respectively. From 1867 to 1869, he held the office of School Examiner of Rush County, Ind.; he was Superintendent of the Schools of Knightstown, Ind., for one year, having under his supervision seven teachers and 500 pupils. He served two years in the same capacity at Plainfield, Ind., where there were six teachers and 450 pupils. As a teacher, he always ranked highly, and gained the good will of the scholars, while under his supervision the

In 1872, Mr. Hodson came to Winchester, and in July of that year purchased a half interest in the Winchester Journal, of which he was joint proprietor for nine years, or until July, 1881, when he sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Beeson.

Mr. Hodson is yet comparatively a young man, but his life has been a busy one, and the energy and enthusiasm with which he has entered into his labors have been fairly successful and repaid from a financial standpoint. He is not a member of any religious denomination, is a Unitarian in belief, yet most liberal toward all candid opinions of

He is an active member of the Masonic order. He was made a Mason in 1865, and took the Master Mason's degree later in the same year; and in 1869 took the Chapter, Council degrees, and, in 1870, Knights Templar degrees. In politics, he is an enthusiastic Republican, having been identified with that party ever since he was old enough to vote. He is an uncompromising temperance man, and has rendered effective service to the cause by precept and example. He is in all

On the~17th of October, 1861, Mr. Hodson was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Rawles, of Stark County, Ohio. After twenty years of devotion and affection, she was called from earth, in the winter of 1881, while sojourning in Florida with the hope of recruiting her health. She was an excellent Christian lady, an ornament in society, and the favorite of all who knew her and felt her gentle influence. Three of their children preceded the mother to the home beyond the grave, while one, a bright little girl, gives fine promise for the future.

Ek. H. Butler

'a H. Butler was born August 12, 1841, in Hancock County, Ind. His parents were natives of Virginia; but emigrated to Indiana at an early day, and were prominent among the early settlers of Hancock County. They had a family of ten children, of whom five sons and three daughters now survive. Of the sons, two are practicing physicians, one an engineer, one 8 sewing machine agent, another a farmer, and the fifth a successful school teacher and superintendent. The latter is the subject of this sketch. His early life was passed like that of the average farmer boy of early days, excepting that the schools which he attended in the winter were of a higher order than was customary at that period - algebra, geometry aud the higher mathematica being among the studies pursued. In early life, he decided to adopt the teacher's profession, and that his choice was well taken, the after years proved. At the first, school teaching was the medium through which he acquired the means for continuing and completing his studies. He was seventeen years old, when he taught his first school, and for three or four years following, he taught in the winter, attending Spiceland Academy during the summer. After leaving the academy, he was engaged as a teacher in the graded school at Milton, Wayne Co., Ind., in which.capacity he acted from 1867 to 1869 He then became Superintendent of the public schools at Lawrenceburg Ind., the school having twelve grades. He discharged the duties of this position satisfactorily to all, for a period of five years, and at the end of that time removed to Attica, Ind., where he accepted a similar position in a school of nine grades, and in addition, acted as Deputy County Superintendent for one year. In 1877, he took charge of the public schools of Winchester, and so ably has he discharged his duties as Saperintendent, that his continuance in this capacity is by the universal wish of the public, and all who enjoy the benefits of the measures and improvements he has instituted in the schools of this town. He. seems to be peculiarly qualified for the profession he has adopted, and his work has been crowned with success, which will continue to blossom and bear fruit as long as his pupils survive. He is zealous and energeti¢ as a teacher, and by his mild. yet firm manner, has won the regard and confidence of all, both teachers and scholars. As:a neighbor and citizen, he is highly esteemed by all who know him, for his sociability and amiable bearing toward all. -He is an active and earnest Republican, and has done He is also actively identified with the Masonic fraternity, and has taken all the degrees, up to that of Knight Templar.

In his domestic relations, Prof. Butler has been called upon to suffer the deepest grief, having twice felt the icy hand of death severing the ties that bind the hearts of husband and wife. He was first merried, on the 19th of August, 1861, to Miss Matilda M., daughter of James Sample, a pioneer citizen of Hancock County, Ind. On the 3d of November, 1863, his wife died, leaving one child and many friends to mourn her loss. September 17, 1869, Mr. Butler was united in marriage with Miss Susanna A. Davenport, who died March 8, 1876, leaving three children. On the 1st of June, 1879, he wedded Miss Clara B. Richardson, his present companion. By this union, they are the parents of one child. "His wife is an excellent lady, and the favorite of the circle in which she moves, sharing with her husband the regard and affection of numerous friends.

walk in the footsteps of their progenitors. Such are Col. M. B. Miller, Willim K. Smith, John Dye Smith and others whose fathers before then were sterling Democrats, ''all of the olden time," and whose children worthily and sturdily sustain the flag and uphold the banner beneath whose gallant foldsso many State and national victories were, in years gone by, triumphantly gained in this grand old commonwealth of ours. ll honor to men who have the courage of their principles, and who cling to what they believe to be right in the clouds of defeat as cheer: fully as in the sunshine of victory.

Sons Of Liberty

The Sons of Liberty are understood to have found adherents in this county in the civil war of 1861, and it is affirmed, with confidence, that lodges were formed and meetings held in secret places within our borders, under night and darkness,'and !the obligations of a solemn oath to secrecy and obedience. But the result of the war crushed all such movements and attempts, whether real or only imaginary, under the heel of popular indignation. And it is the truth, doubtless, that, in the heat of those troublous and terrible times, the men who leagued together to undertake to "stop the war" verily thought, within themselves, like Saul of Tarsus of old, that they were doing God and their country great service.

It is one of the fearful evils of such convulsive times that sincere and well-meaning citizens become arrayed in fierce hostility, and not seldom in deadly conflict.

John Wesley and his worthy wife were on opposite sides as to who was the proper heir to the English throne, and that difference at one time threatened serious results.

The Whigs and the Tories, in our Revolution of 1776, were equally good and equally sincere. To the Tories, the Whigs were rebels, and deserved the fate of rebels. The Loyalists were simply fighting for their Government and their King.

The Unionists and the "'Copperheuds" (to use an opprobrious name without its opprobrious meaning), uud even the " Secessionists,"' were doing, in their several ways, what they really supposed to be right, and demanded by the exigencies of the hour.

Would to God the time might come when all good and patriotic men should be able to ''see eye to eye" upon the great fundamental questions of national weal, and to unite in one solid, world-wide, invincible phalanx of liberty and justice, whose power should be put forth like the strength of one man, everywhere and always, to suppress the wrong, to maintain the right, to protect the poor, the needy and the weak; to create and increase comfort and happiness among men; to discourage vice and to foster virtue; to spread knowledge throughout the world; to perfect the reign of love and good will among men; and to bring to pass that happy, glorious day in which men shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks, and men shall learn war no more; and none shall hurt nor destroy throughout earth's wide domain!

Another fact worthy of note is that upon the question of the thirteenth article of the constitution of 1851 (against persons of color), while the State as a whole voted therefor, and gave for the article a majority of nearly 100,000, Randolph County alone, in all the State, refused her assent, and cast a majority against the thirteenth article aforesaid.

Office Holding

OFFICE HOLDING. Randolph County has furnished a moderate number of officeholders for the State at large and for the nation. Hon. W. A. Peelle, Secretary of State, 1860-1862. Hon. J. E. Neff, Secretary of State four years; Democrat. Hon. Isaac P. Gray, Lieutenant Governor and Governor (by the death of Gov. Williams), 1879-1880.

Hon. Thomas M. Browne, United States District Attorney, and member of Congress (the latter for three terms - six years- - elected by a good, and, the last time, an immense majority).

Hon. Stanton J. Peelle, present member of Congress from the district containing Indianapolis, and nominated for a second term in the summer of 1882.