The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-24

I WTUUOuS IaUOrN III VOIlfl and
early manhood passed amid the dangers aud pri-
yatiOns OF frontier home. He never lost his
fondness for the soil. for the men who till it,
And ia the midst of his most pressing official en-
gagements IL his wont 10 teek a respite from
pubic care in the active management OF his farm
! at Wheatland. b. rt
Governor Willians' fidelity to official duty was
never questioned. but he meyer forgot that he be-
longed 10 the great body OF citizens who pay the
taxes and whose highest duty and pride il Is TO
contribute TO the work Of develops and building
up the material prosperity and promoting the in
tellectual advancement Of the people While a
young man he evinVea taste for public affairs
and an aptitude for dealing with them which are
exceptional even among whose special
training naturally evokes these qualities
him 10 public station, and his service i'm
the State Legislature and in Congress for so
many years were always marked by the highest
and an undertaking fidelity TO the public inter
ests He never permitted she formalities Of of
ficsl station to restrict the freedom of his inter
course with the people, and while he was Gov
ernOr the humblest citizen of the State could ap
prOach him at all times without embarrassment
II Is worthy oil note and emphasis that Govern
OF Williams was q man of singular purity of
character. His private and domestic. virtues are
attested by all who enjoyed the intimacy Of his
personal friendship and his official integrity was
dishonesty. His conception of Official
station was that il was a public trust
tn be administered with the same care. prudence
and frugality which wise man would bestow
upon his private affairs. 1t is 70 his honor that
at time when the tendencies In official station
were in the direction of lavish and careless ex
renditure OF the public moneys he used his in
nuence In Congress TO check those tendencies
and 10 expose existing abuses. As Governor he
eyinced the same watchful care of the public in
terests, and though a warm partisan no alleged
party necessity, no considerations OF personal
friendship could swerye him IRON what he be-
heyed TO be the path of duty.
1t has been said OF him that be was too liberal
In the use of the pardOnfng power. The records
of his Office disclose the fact that the last act of
l. I'M ~ fa tn
man condemned To die. That he was too merci-
full in dealing With his erring feIlownortals will
not be remembered against him by the Merciful
Judge in whose presence he now stands.
Measured by the best standards. Governor VII
liams was a worthy citizen. faithful public
servant q good man. his virtues were many and
conspicuous, 80.
And cen his iailings leaned tevirtue's side"
w. q. GRESHAM,
SOLOMON CLAYPooL,
THOMAS +. DAVIDSON,
ACGUsrEs y. MARTIN,
WN- p. FIsHBACK.
.ft HON. WM. II. ENGLISH
arose and seconded the adoption of the me-
mortal, at the same time making the follow
ing remarks in relation To the deceased:
II was my good fortune to know and be on friend
ly relations with Governor Williams for great
many years. | may say | knew him intimately
for over the third of a century. met him for the
first time in this city: it in the winter of 1913
n comparatively small place, not larger, probably
than Franklin or Anderson is now.
There was not completed railroad in the State
and il took three or four days horseback riding
10 reach here from such Counties as Knox and
Scott. the respective residences of Governor
Williams and myself 1t was the occasion OF the
meeting of the Legislature, an event then appa-
reutly considered of far more importance by the
people than IL seems 70 be now. l came as
a candidate for Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives. Governor Williams came as a
Representative of the people of Knox County. /
was elected with his aid, and the friendly rela-
tons then established were cordially maintained
TO the end of his life. II Is not ss matter OF form
or conventional duty that / foin in these ceremo-
nies. join with all my heart in paying all the
respect can TO the memory OF my old friend, aud
in bearing this public testimony that knew him
70 be just and true man mall the relations oflife
He continued to represent the people OF Knox
County in one or the other branches of the Legis
larure FOR iifteen years. showing couclusively the
high esteem in which he was held by those who
knew him best. He subsequently, represented
the people of his Distfict In Congress and from
that position was called TO be the chief executive
officer of this State.
in the broadest and best sense for he was literally
OF the people, and always especially devoted 70
their interests-hirnself hard working tiiler of
the s0lla true type Oh that class OF sturdy plon-
eers whose stout hearts and strong arms have
made indiana the great and pros
Porous Gus state state , t. Is today. The masses
honoring him. for he was their true represen Ia
tive He was not \ man learned in the lore OF
was man of most excellent judgment, and his
mind was well stored with useful and practical
Information; and what is more than all. and beI-
ter than ALL he was. what is said to be Gods
nOblest work, an honest man.
Now that his long and useful life is ended, and
his record forever closed 1t can be ruthfully said
not always faithkul, he served the people, in
various public trusts for q quarter of a century
without his integrity an officer ever being
called In question In a single instance
man who began the world under the most ad-
verse circumstances, and by his own efforts won his
way TO position and power, maintaining IL through
er until he died the chief officer of Tis State must
have had many good qualities: and his pure and
stainless private life. and his spotleSs public record
demand that his memory should be cherished by
all his countryInen- a-1lr
fH EX-GOVERNOR HENDRICKS
then arose and offered the following re-
marks: t'lf'
Mr.. CIIAIRNAS-I can not say much upon this
~ s ,it @ n , H ~, 70
said so far as th6y are concerned L believe that
no man living has served the peOple0f the State
In so Inany important respects for so long per
in 1889; almost continuously. He was public
servant until the day of his death more than
forty years-nct all the time In public service,
whaagves emDhasis to this circumsta &c is the fact
that for the most Of the time hewas selected by
MS lmmeuihle nelSnDO1s, aaiOuS WHO'LL
he he hSd @ all rA the % relations '" of "ina iife
Suah man, so indorsed is worthy Of the respect
which we ray him to-day. Ii is a great loss when
such a man.dies aud feel that the public service
suffers in has death. wish simply, III rising, to
express mJ profound regard for his character and
for the excellence of his publa-serviee.
MAJOR j. ". esa1Os. ~
Mr.. CzAIRNAN-There ara. many here who
knew more of Governor EiUiaTas than do. 7
made hss acquaintance when l sustained very
humble relation 10 the Gen6fal As emily III
1872. was then in the. House of Representa-
lives, reporter for one of the city papers. he
was member, | DO not know whether Of the Senate
or Hoase, but connected with the public ser7Nee.
At that time no a roeypber OF agricul .ural
association gotten up by GoxQE9or Wright foE. the
purpose of communicating the observations OF
| thf thoughts of the farmers who were conneGted
| " IN the administration OF the Government, he
toek actise and earnest part in all tn aIpeet-
| ags of that agricultural association, and was an
ntelligent member, communicating mu a. VAIN
able information in reg1rd W stock raj Sig and
all the branches Of farnAsfg which he acauired
by experience and a. long course of otsaryatian-
4 His Intercourse uuif0r,nly kindly 70 all usTn-
bers of the association and especiallNto lis of
| feers and attaches OF which was che. / shall
meyer s in forget tsat h rsasiOn wSea aer
ward / met him in the General As
semhly and renewed my acquaint9Aee vi wih him
and found him the same kindly disposed man
| generous even to his adversaries, and claiming
bnt very little for himself-but the csSnmOnes
courtesy from them, and satisfied with this com
mon courtesy. lnever, as has heen ofen said 10
day, heard his honesty CT integrity questioned
His political system may haze bsSA wrong II
many important respects, bat he was a sineer
believer in the creed whsch he had adoptes
for life and for his political action and that is ~
we can expect ask at the hands or life of an,
man. A sincere man, devoted to his own conyis