The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-14


Western Biographical Company1
HON. FRANKLIN LANDERs.
Among the most notable of the self-made
men of Indiana is Franklin Lsnders, OF In
dianapolis He is native of the State,
having been born in Morgan county, March
%, 1925. His father, the late William Ian
ders, was one of the pioneers of Central In
diana, having located in Morgan county,
some u miles from Indianapolis, in 1920.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood
on his fathers farm. He followed the pillow
in the spring and summer, assisted in gath
ering the crops in the autumn, and in the
winter attended the country school. When
he reached his ms ority he became a teacher.
During the winter months he impaired
to the youths of his neighborhood some
thing of the knowledge he had gained him
self, and the remainder of the year he
worked as a farm hand for hire. In this
manner he accumulated few hundred dol
lars, which he invested in merchandise, and,
in connection with his brother Washington,
opened a country store at Wsverly, town
situated near where he was born.
For four years the Landers Brothers sold
goods to their neighbors. At the end OF
this time Washington retired from the firm.
The remaining partner continued the bust
ness for awhile. and then bought section of
land and laid out the town of Brooklyn. He
removed his stock from Waverly TO Brook
lyn, and for several years conducted a profit
able business there. But selling goods was
not his only employment, for be was largely
engaged in farming and stock raising. His
store made him money; his farm added TO
=; 4.
able; and before be had reached middle
life he was one of the wealthiest men in his
county. He did not hug his money
to his breast like miser, not use it
solely for the qualification of his tastes and
desires, but he employed it in paying labor
ers for their work, in building school houses
and churches, like a phiIanthropist and a
Christian He established no less than five
churches CT different denominations upon
his lands and then contributed largely to
their support. During the late war he WAS
noted for his benevolence to soldiers
and their families rs was active in pro-
curing substitutes for such of his neighbors
as were drafted and were unable to leave
their homes, and he gave literally of his
means to render comfortable the wives and
children of those who shouldered the musket
and marched to the tented field.
In 1850 Mr.. Landers was nominated by the
Democracy of his district for the State Sem
ate. His competitor was Hon. Samuel 2.
0yler, of Johnson county, when he defeated
by msjority of 374 votes. In the Senate ne
occupied leading position, and this will be
considered no mean compliment when 1t is
remembered that among his associates were
Martin NJ. Ray and John r. Cravens, men
we'll known in the political history of Indi-
ana. IL was while he was in the Senate that
the country was convulsed by the great civil
war. He favored ell legitimate measures
hot intr IN m nj IA a "
of the Federal Government and sup
press the rebellion. but he opposed all
propositions to override the civil law
and render insecure the liberty OF the citi
zen. He believed military law proper and
right in districts and States where the civil
law was overthrown but he opposed its es
adjustment in Indiana where the couris
were open for redress of grievances, and
where no rebellion against the authority OF
the Federal Government existed.
In 1854 Mr.. Landers removed TO Indiana
polls and in connection with several other
gentlemen established a wholesale dry goods
house. He has continued in the dry goods
business to the present time, being now a
member of the we'll known firm of Hlbben,
Pattison Il Co. Several years ago he
commenced the killing and pack
ing of hogs, and is az this
time the head of the pork and commission
house of Landers & Co. With the care OF
still finds time TO manage and conduct his
farms. From thess farms he annually sends
to market hundreds of mules, hundreds OF
cattle, and thousands of hogs. Thus with
his dry goods house, his pork house, and bis
farms, il would Sc en- that he has enough to
do, but these large interests do not employ
ell his time. A portion OF it is devoted 10
the study OF finance and political econ
omy, and it is questionable if there is in In
diana man so well versed in these abstruse
subjects as he.
Ia 1864 Mr. LandeTs was on the Democratic
electoral ticket and cauYassed his district
for Mcclellan. La 1874 he was the Demo
cratic candidate for Congress in the Capital
district, and although his party was in q
minority of over 600, he was elected.
His opponent was General John Coburn, q
man of much popularity and large expert
ence in public affairs, but Mr.. LaDdeTs after
making thorough canvass, defeated him
by large majority. In Congress
NJ. Landers took high rank
There never has been man In Con-
gress from Indiana, with probably the ex
ception of the late Judge Hughes, who be-
became 30 prominent in so short time. He
was noted for the persistency with which be
advocated the making of the greenback 9
ful legal tender for all public dues. and for
the STANDARDIZATION of silver. He has given
the money question much thought, and bis
hustings are among the ablest disquisitioDs
upon the financial problem ever made in
this country. His course in Congress wai
such Is to draw to his support the National
or Greenback party, and when that party wal
in State convention in the winter of 1856
IL nominated him for governor. Soon sftel
this the Democratic State convention met
and the name of Mr. Lsnders was submitted
to il for the gubern2torial nomination. His
friends aad those of Mr.. Holman, who wal
also a candidate, became SO warmly enlisted
for their respective fagorites that it wa:
feared the party could not harmonic or
either OF them, so they were both with
drawn and Mr.. Williams nominated without
opposition
Mr.. Lsn1ers did not desire a reelection tC
Congress 40 1876 His private interests had
suffered BY his absence from home, and be
made mp his mind to accept no public Office
that would take him from them. Bot bis
political fGends demanded that be again
make the race. They met IN convention al
Gfeencastls and unanimously nominated
him. He could rot withstand the pressure
thus brought 10 bear, 80 he accepted che