The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02
In the Houna.

truth, his fair dealing with all. aud his sympathy
with aud identity with the people ~ he under
stood their Interests.
In the House.
There was quite a large assembly OF Wis
itors 20 the floor aud galleries, with the ex-
ceptiOn OF the ladies' gallery. The addresses
were listened 10 with marked attention
throughout, and were as follows:
sEEEcH oY NON. H. :. cAurHoRsE.
MR. sPEAKER-I ask the Representatives OF the
midst OF their contentious and deliberations 10
offer the last tlibute Of respect 10 the memory Of
one who. until very recently, was the chief ex-
ecutiye oflicer Of the STATE: Of well and favor
ably known throughout her borders. and even
beyond; OF one no longer In competition with.
ries OF the living who but short time ago passed
from our presence. and the places that once knew
him nav know him no more forever. IL 4 need
less 70 say refer 10 the late James ID. Williams.
The dead Governor OF Indiana descended from
poor and obscure parents, who left the over
crowded shores OF the Old World TO better their
condition In the unbroken wilds Of the New. lie
was born Ia Pickaway County, Ohio, on the 10th
day Of January. iSOS. and was the Oldest OF six
settled 70 offer any very fattering inducements %
dsPsndc%, ss%Ily. aud, esn;eauensis vest est
and on the 9th day Of November, isis,
settled with his family In Knox County, Indiana.
where the deceased continued 20 reside up 10 the
date OF his death In the fall OF Isis his father
died, and the care, protection and support OF his
widow aud children deyOlyed upon the deceased,
aa @h himself ey e p ns d manly I'd
trust cast upon him by this dispensaton OF Proyt-
dence, and thus early learned the Invaluable
lesson OF selreliance In the severe school OF ex'
perience ON the 18th day OF February, 1881. ne
married Nancy Huffman, n country girl of his
neighborhoOd. This interesting ceremony was
performed by Isaac Coons, a Justice OF the Peace
Of the County. I'm a rude log cabin. the customary
home Of the farming class during our embryo pc.
and magnihcencc OF the state OF Indiana were
being laid by her pioneer settlers, The
wedding was plain AN, and void Of
no elaborate bridal costumes or costly presents
or brilliant display were conconitants OF this
matrimonial union. And yet IL was singularly
blessed OF God In marked manner. Hand in
hand they went north from the humblesurround.
ings OF the bridal morning aud settled quickly
he had recently purchased, and part OF what
constituted his home iurm nc his death. Here In
unison they began to develop and solve
life. Here for near hall century they
lived In peace, happiness and contentment,
and by mutual exeruons accumulated, slowly
but surely material wealth, until at last these few
AT the beginning of the struggles of active life
expanded Into splendid estate OF upwards Of 0OO
acres At his death. IL Is fact worthy OF remark
that from his very first acquisition OF realty until
his death, the records of the transfers OF real estate
are 20 and none from him, Ger:
caution, prudence and stability OF character.
II is also true that the part OF the County
miles ne ~ who,n are tracts land hss been
donated by the munliconcelo of the National Gov
eminent, and were held by them In extended
possessions. measured by leagues, and conse-
quenily rendering Il extremely difficult for a
poor man 30 acquire fOothOld rs landed pro-
prietor. Aud yet. In the lapse OF less than halt
tons and equal privileges, with no laws
OF primOgeniture or entailed estates 10 hamper or
fetter the free movement OF social relations and
completely reversed IN the life experience of Mr.
Williams, aud the truth Of the decree, 1.-The first
shall be- last and the last shall be- first" was com
pleteiy verified. This Is as IL should be, and as
we hope ever viii be, contributing IL does To
stimulate and encourage industry and enter
prise and secure our landed possessions for the
use and benefit of virtuouS, patriotic and meri
The dead Governor OF Indiana made his debut
upon the arena OF public life as public officer In
the simple garb OF Justice OF the Peace for Hair
rison Township, Knox County, in the year ISIS.
charged It's duties 10 the satisfaction and approval
OF all who transacted business with him. He re
signed the position before the expiration OF his
10 represent Knox County in the House
of Representatives OF the General AS
sembly over Abner T. Ellis, prominent attorney.
In the County at that time, which party was then
In the ascendency by from 400 10 500 majority,
and yet Mr williams not only oyercame this ma
over this leader Of the party politically opposed
to him, furnishing convincing evidence OF his
popular heart. which he continued TO retain
until his death. lie never failed 10 receive
the Endorsement OF the people at the ballot-box as
often as he was candidate for public favor, save
once, when he was defeated for Representative by
Robert y. Carnan an able lawyer and crafty poll
tician, AT time when the political sentiment OF
the County was very strong against him, and who,
as a reward for his victory over such popular
was rewarded with the Speakership
of this House. From the time he first entered the
public service until his death he was almost con-
in some position OF trust and honor.
He represented Knox County in the House of
during seven sessions and in the
Senate during twelve sessions. This continued
by the people of that County is an
ii Virginia can truihfully be styled the mother of
Presidents, Knox County can also be called the
mother Of Counties in Indiana. Her territorial
area at one time extended from the Ohio River
on the South to Lake Michigan on the North,
and spread out so to embrace one |
half Of the present territory OF the State.
are now holding seats on this floor represent
ing Counties whose territory was formerly en- |
braced within the limits Of Knox County. That !
grand old County yet contains the old Post-one |
of the links in the proposed chain of fOrtifica-
tionS the French designed should connect their /
Canadian possessions with the Gulf of Mexico; |
the cradle of civilization and refinement In the |
great Northwest; The first Capital of the territory
now constituting the great state OF Indiana. !
and the first home in the wilds of the West of that
physical and brain-working race of pioneers who |
laid the foundations upon which Is erected the 1
superStructure OF lndlanas greatness. IL was /
surely distinguished privilege TO represent ac !
ceptably and often the very nursery OF lndiana's |
roll of honor-that County which was long the /
home of William Henry Harrison, the first Gov
ernor OF the Territory, the hero of Tippecanoe,
and ninth President of the United States; the /
home of Zachary Taylor, the canonized hero of
the Mexican War aud twelfth President
Of the United States; OF John Gibson, Thomas
Posey, Francis Vigo, the selfappointed Commits /
Sary Of subsistence OF the troops under George |
Rodgers Clarke; Thomas Randolph, Waller Tay-
lor, one OF her first and ablest Senators in Cen
gress; the learned Jurists blackboard, Dewey and |
johnson: the statesmen, Edward A. Hannegan |
Thomas II. Blake and John Law; and in whose /
bosom repOse mingled with her soil, the remains /
of such distinguished men as Moses /
Tabbs; Jacob Call, John Law, Abner
the sainted Bruti. Bishops Balm and st. Palais,
Major B. V. Becker, Colonel John COons, DIR. !
Elias McSamee, the early friend and champion l
Of free soil and free men, and Others who dis /
tinguished themselves in the varied pursuits of
active life. and left behind them unsullied and
splendid populations.
Mr.. Williams was the friend and advocate of
every measure calculated 20 develop the resources
not only OF his immediate section, but the state !
at large And whilst interested in all public enter
prlses calculated to advance in any manner the /
onward and upward progress Of the State, yet he |
devoted himself IN particular manner Ia expand /
and develop the agricul. Iral interest. This was /
his chosen field of labor. Every movement hav- /
ing this object I'm view met with his sanction and I
assistance and material encouragement. In his /
own County three several Societies have been or |
gsnizcd at various times for the purpose of en- l
couraging and prom citing this particular interest,
and he was prominent factor III
creating and sustaining all three, |
.