The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-08
AN OLD PATRIARCH.
Judge Niblack Writes an Interesting Letter
to DR.. Charles Padgett, Sr.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
VINcENNEs, Ind, Nov. Judge William E.
Niblack. who is regarded by his legion of Demo
cratic friends as a leading candidate for the
presidency in 1883, writes very interesting let
ter to an aged friend in Shoals, in commemora-
ton of his friends eighty-seventh birthday,
which reveals considerable of Judge Niblack's
early political history hitherto unpublished.
Judge Niblack is now on the Supreme Bench of
Indiana. The personal letter is written to Mr..
Charles Padgett, ST. Mr.. Padgett was eighty
seven years old ON the 28th
ing Democrat Judge Niblack presented
Mr. Padgett with handsome hickory cane, a
novelty in its way. Mr.. Padgett says when he
solicited Judge Niblack to make the race
spoken of in the following letter, he had but one
vote to give him, but now, with his sons, sonsin-
law and grandsons, can give him thirty-f
votes for President in 1883. The cane presented
by Judge Niblack, is of solid hickory. and hand
somey finished in silver head and tip,
VINoENNEs Ind, Oct 28 1885.
"My Dear SRI understand that you eighty
seven years old to-day, and that your immediate
friends and relatives intend to take appropri
ate to the occasion. write to congratulate you
having attained great age. and at the same time
retained accustomed health and strength both of
body and of mind in remarkable degree as you
seem to have done. The event recalls to my
mind very wildly the great obligation I am under
to you for your friendship to in early life When
/ settled in the old town of Mt Pleasant, then the
county seat OF Martin county, forty years ago.
was, comparatively speaking, boy, and had no
expectation or desire to enter into active political
life, or to prominently connect myself with public af
fairs. Ny only ambition then to estab-
lish myself well in business and to make my
self a respectable and reasonably useful pri-
vate citizen. In 1S49 condition of things existad
in tho county which many thought req uired that
some new man should be brought forward as a candi-
sion, and was one first to solicit me to become
a candidate that year did not desire to become
a candidate, and shrank from the very
thought of entering upon a oareer which
involved so many uncertainties and responsibilities
Business afterward called me out of the State
for few weeks, and while was absent convention
in the nature of mass meeting, called which
nominated me, almost unanimously, a candidate for
the Legislature. The circumstances attending that
nomination were such as to constrain to be-
come candidate. AS l afterwards learned, you
were the most active agent in bringing about my nom
ination at that time and at your own suggestion and
without my knowledge. spent much time in organic
ing the movement which resulted in bringing it
about L have always felt that it you much
more than to anyone else that was indebted for the
compliment OF that nomination. had the honor at
the ensuing election of receiving about sixsevenths of
all the votes cast and it is to the very large majority
then received that have always been accustomed to
attribute my future success in public affairs. have
since felt, and still feel that in my career
public officer. and as always a successful
candidate when soliciting public suffrage owe you
and host of other old time friends in Martin county
everything AS a slight token of my regard and
OF my feelings of gratitude, have the honor of pre-
sentlng you the accompanying It is solid hicko-
ry and Will not, therefore easily bend break It
WILL trust, give you some support in your declining
years Wishing you health and comfort during what
may remain to you of life remain as ever and al
ways your sincere friend
WILLIAM E. N1BLAcK"
10 Charles Padgett, ST., Loogootee, Ind.