The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10


: one. Sam Buskirk, who had been nomi'
mated for supreme court Judge at the
/ state convention, was again candidate
! for that office at our district convention
/ Bynum lived at Washington, Ind. wheL
! the convention was held there. MIR. Nlbs
/ lack went over 10 Washington from Wins
/ cennes, where he lived at that time. HI
/ did not have more interest IN the pro
! ceedings than any other democrat OF hi
/ prominence would have had. lie wa
merely a spectator. Ii became apparent
/ that there would be a pretty stiff tight
/ over the nomination and IL was doubtful
/ if Buskirk could have been chosen. Tn.
! der these circumstances Tom Buskirk. q
nephew of Sam, arose and said that there
/ was a man in the convention hall who
I would make an excellent candidate; one
/ who would be enthusiastically supported,
/ and who might rely upon the support oil
/ the whole Buskirk family. That man
/ was Nib ack of Knox county.
''Alr. NIblack's name was received with
great applause, and he was nominated
without any effort on his part and with
/ out opposition. Indeed. lac not only did
not expect the nomination, but expressed
doubt as TO whether he would accept il.
/ In his speech TO the convention he said
that he had not been in the practice OF
the law for so long that he was doubtful
whether he could afford 10 accept. he
/ was prevailed upon afterward. however,
AMI. as everybody knows, was elected.
and again reelected, serving as a supreme
judge from 1876 until 1855. OF the four
( candidates who had been nominated by
the state convention OF 1876, l think
/ Worden wss the only one who was named
/ by his district convention of that year"
Representative Jason Brown OF Indiana
said: 81 have known Judge Niblsck for
thirty years. l served with him in the
legislature when l was quite q young
man. | remember that we then cOnsld-
cred Judge Niblack as a very able legis-
lator. He was fond of giving advice TO
young men, which the latter much APP
preciated and sought to profit by. Judge
Niback's qualities endeared him TO the
plain people, who entertained the greatest
respect for his honesty and ability. Had
he not been chosen 10 ST. on the highest
court of the state. l think Judge Niblack
would have made his mark as a legislator.
This was more 10 his taste. and l think
that he long had an ambition TO finally
become a L. :. senator"
Governor Matthews said: 1T has been
my good fortune TO know Judge Niblack
for the last twenty years. In his death
the entire state will feel the loss of q
man, not only on account of his great
prominence but as well for his lovsble
character He possessed the faculty OF
| endearing himself 10 his friends and bind
Ing them in the closest ties.
As jurist, Representative in congress,
and as citizen he filed the full measure
OF a noble manhood, and through his
ability and answering integrity arose
equal to every emergency. His life Is
now part of the history of the state and
will adorn every page on which 1t is
stamped"
George ]. Langsdale said: 81 learned
TO have a warm affection for Judge Nj
black as 1 came TO know him well. He
was kind. consideTate and helpful, and
took the broad equitable view of things.
He was a strong man and able jurist In
the death OF such men the public suffers q
loss"
Mr.. Sweeney, clerk of the supreme
court said: Judge Niblack was born
and grew TO manhood in my county Du-
boisl. He comes of some OF the sturdiest
stock of the pioneers OF that good old
county. His father and uncle were tam
ners there. and are buried near Porters-
vile. The first public position that
Judge Niblack held was that OF county
surveyor of Dubois county. Thence ne
went to -. Msry's in Martin county,
where he opened an office to practice law.
Aiterward. when he ran for congress,
serving eight years, and for supreme
Judge, our people delighted to honor
him on account of his sterling qualities of
! head and heart. AS a congressman he
was safe and able. As a Judge he was
painstaking and conscientious, and his
decisions indicate a strong analytical
mind and natural legal acumen. In all
his laDors, as citizen, statesman and Jurist,
he was honest, honorable and unassum-
! 1 l.. e-.n,e n1.,1
brilliant man. but he was composed Of
that more solid material which excels
brlliancy In his death, the people OF
southern Indiana will feel with sorrow
that another and one OF the last personal
'witness-trees' OF our pioneer times, has
fallen full OF wears and good works
Judge J. McCabe said: Few men in
this state have been so conspicuous in the
public 'lairs OF the state. He has repre-
scented the county OF Knox in the state
legis allure, was circuit Judge in the cir
cult OF which Knox county forms a part
and for many years represented that dis
trict in congress as a democrat. lie was
afterWard elected 10 the supreme court
bench OF the state. which office ne held
for twelve years. His career in congress
was marked by ability OF very high or
der and his opinions IN the supreme
court reports distinguish him as
one of the ciearest-mlnded and
abest jurists that ever sat upon the SUI
preme bench of Indiana. Throughout
his Iong public career he was deservedly
popular, both with the people. the judi
ciary and the legal profession. His repu-
tation for unbending integrity. both as
represent ative IN the state legislature, in
congress and as Judge of the circuit and
the supreme court, Is not marred by
single flaw. His private character was
equally spotless One great Characteristic
of his life was congeniallty, rendering
| him a favorite socially with all
good people that knew him, and
| few men in Indiana were known by so
large a circle OF friends. The evenness OF
his temperament was only Squaled by his
| splendid physique, which ma Tked him
one OF natures true nOblemen. When
the writer first saw him be was one OF the
! finest looking men that Indiana ever pro-
duced. He will hold an important place
in the history of Indiana, and. indeed. OF
the whole country, the compeer of
Hendricks, Mcdonald, Voorhees, and
Turpie."
Judge Solomon Claypool said: Il first
knew Judge Niblack IN 1860 when judge
of the Nincennes circuit. He was circuit
Judge. member of congress. member OF
legislature and supreme judge. | always
had the highest regard for him as man
and Judge He was g man whom every