The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-04
OUR EARLY LAWMAKERS.
The Men Who Lnid the Foundations of II
diann's Greatness.

glish at the banquet of the survivors OF
the general assembly of 1861, held at the
Grand hotel, Tuesday night:
II think nothing excited the attention and
thought OF the persons in attendance at your
meeting this afternoon more than the develop
ment oil the fact that over one-half of the men,
bers of the legislature of 1861 are in their
graves, Notwithstanding IL was comparatively
modern legislature. IL occurred 10 me that If
there were few survivors of legislature in
session only twenty-eight years ago, it might be
interesting to ascertain how many OF the
earlier legislators are now living.
10 that end | have devoted couple of
hours, since the adjournment of the afternoon
meeting. in looking over my legislative ma
teral and with your permission | will now
give you the result of my examination:
"All the persons connected with the admins
tration of the government of Indiana from the
organization of the territory in 1900 for the first
quarter of n century dead. The governors,
Judges and members of the territorial legis-
lature as well as the delegates to congress in the
territorial period, have long since passed away.
OF the forty-three men who in 1916 framed
the first constitution of Indiana, my old friend
Joseph Holman, whom had the pleasure of
knowing intimately in the latter years of his
life, and from whom received much valuable
historical information. was the last one to die.
He did not die, however, until, j think, the
spring of 1873. He was one Of the delegates
from Wayne county. Ii is a little singular that
another delegate from that county. Hugh Gull,
who was probably the first methodist preacher
on the soil Of Indiana, lived 10 the remarkable
age of los; but he died before Holman. / have
the likeness of quite number of the members
OF that convention, but none OF Gull, and 1t
would be a great favor if anyone would give
me clew TO procuring his likeness.
"Of the state legislatures, beginning with the
first session in 1916, and extending down to
and including the session of 1S2S-29. there were
$40 members elected not one of whom, as faE
as | know is nov living. / should explain
that when | speak OF Sl9 members having been
elected, do not mean $40 different persons,
because in that period some were elected more
than one time, or in the case of senator's served
more than one session, and the same applies
throughout this estimate
There was one member elected in early times
who did not serve, about which | will tell you
little story. was trying to procure material
for writing sketch of man by the name of
Dan Lynn, who had represented Posey county
in the constitution conventions OF 1916 A gen.
tleman of that county to whom had written,
kindly gave me the information but iestingly
added that in early times Lynn was elected TO
the legislature, but went OF TO New Orleans
with load OF produce and did not 90 TO the
state capital at all. He said some old citizens
down there thought Posey was better repre-
sented that year than ever before or since.
"Of course, this was said as Il joke, as some OF
the ablest men ever in the Indiana legislature
were from POsey county, and Mr.. Lynn him
self was a considerable man.
81 may add here that in the beginning the
senate and house together amounted TO only
thirty-nine, but the number gradually in
creased until it reached $50 in 1912, at which
figure it has ever since remained.
bringing the subject still further down,
from the beginning in 1916, to the celebrated
legislature of lSS9-40, which was the first leg
islature had then ever seen, there had then
or .,Na No1 baf,r
explained, and it IS truly sad thing for me
10 say that Of this la-ge number do not think
q dozen are now alive.
81 at present know of but nine and will
mention them in order, beginning with the old
est in service:
"Dr. Curtis g. Hussey, representative 1879
80, from Morgan, etc.
John Pitcher, representative 1sSO-31, from
Perry and Spencer.
"Jchn c. Parker, representative 1928, from
Clarke.
Richard w. Thompson, representative
from Lawrence in 1s34-5.
David Macy, representative 1885 from
Henry.
christopher c. Graham, representative
1856 from Warrick.
Graham n. Fitch, representative 1867
from Cass.
George W. Carr, representative 1889
from Lawrence.
''Fabins NJ. Finch, representative 1539-4O
from Johnson.
James 5. Shiveley, representative 1sS9-4O
from Grant and Wabash.
81 had the honor of being the principal clerk
OF the house of representatives at the session
of 1913, and bringing my examination down to
include that session. find the total of sena-
tors and representatives up to that time 1871,
and shat only six, in addition to the nine
already mentioned. are now living, viz:
Aaron Rowlings, representative 1901,
from Scott. Joseph 7. Brown principal clerk
in 1912, Is still iving.)
"Dr. George Berry, senator 1928, from
Franklin county.
civilian w Conner representative 1884,
from Hamilton county.
Augustus c. Handy, representative 1884,
Hancock county.
Franklin Hardin. representative 1884,
from johnson county.
David Mcclure, representative 1884, from
Scott county"
Gen. Stone pointed out that Miles Hunt
OF Randolph should be added as a survivor.
Mr.. English concurred, and said:
" II might not be without interest TO bring
this investigation down 10 include all the legsla.
lures under the old constitution, but have not
done so because my historical and biographical
material is very voluminous, and / have not
had time to examine il for this occasion, but
fear the number surviving would be found TO
be frightfully small OF that truly great body
OF men who formed the present constitution of
Indiana in lS5O.5l, and which was composed of
$50 members the number living at the time of
the reunion of the survivors in this city in Oc-
tOber 1885, only thirty-three were then under
stood TO be alive. That has been only com.
paratively little time ago, and yet about one
fourth of that little band have been called
away, and certainly not more than twenty-four
or twenty-five survive possibly not that many,
as some were very feeble and living far away
when last heard from. Even looking at your
comparatively modern legislature of 1861 you
will find, as have said. that less than half the
members are living. and 1t is peculiarly appro-
pirate that the survivors should meet together
in this reunion TO talk of old times and renew
old friendships.
"The enjoyment OF the living is we'll, but
there is something due TO the dead. It 10
rescue, as far as possible. their name ana fame
and acts from oblivion, and to explain and
hand down to posterity the patriotic aud bene-
hcient measures adopted by the legislatures in
which they served. Now is the accepted time
for gathering the necessary material for
history OF the measures and men in the pioneer
and heroic period of lndiana's existence, and
the history of the lawmakers and laws of a
state is, in great measure, the history Of the
state. The surviving members of the great
war legislature Of 1861 are the very men to aid
in this matter. am glad to see they have the
work we'll ia hand. l was much interested in
the able paper Judge Bundy read this after
noon, and also in the remarks Of other gentle
men this occasion. hope you may con-
tinue in well-doing,. and that you may all live
long and be happy"