The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-08
THE GOVERNORS rRIBuTE.
Long and Useful Life Ended-Ex-
nressious fro.,a nfhers


Governor Matthews. when asked for an
expression as to Mr.. Englishs life. wrote out
the following:
II am deeply grieved to hear the sad
news. feel it a personal. as well as a
public loss. for the most friendly relations
English was. and could be. a warm, con-
| siderate and companlonable friend, Be-
neath a reserved ard seeming cold exterior
s.dered his personal friends. We had in
| the State few men capable OF taking
| broader and clearer view OF public affairs
| He was prudent, looking carefully upon
| all sides of a question not coming hastily
| to conclusions, yet positive and f1rm. lie
was safe thinker and conservative, coun-
I'm the various public trusts he at diff
ferent times held he as conssientiously
and earnestly met the puhiie duties Gso as ne ne
ability was early recognized and his
prudence and grasp Of the great nat4naf fbst
day gave him a commanding position among
his fellow-members. He was regarded a
safe, wise leader
"Born In Indiana ne always felt great
| pride in his State and ii is to be greatly
| deplored that life could not have been
! spared him TO finish the great work he
Never sparlng effcrt nor expense. he had
! gathered immense material or most Vaiu-
able character
''No one was better prepared 10 write
the history OF Indiana. AMI TO the citizens
| of the State his loss is immeasurable. He
possessed wonderful powers Of research
| tracing up important and hidden papers
| The work was with him labor or love,
and he would have given TO US history
proud. The two volumes already pub
| lished gave TO thousands their first con-
ception of the important part indiana
| played in the war of the Revolution, ana II
| he had been permitted TO finish the re-
| raining volumes ne would have related
! much that would have added to the senti-
.o%A ~rtd
"A long and useful life has ended. and
| il now becomes his fellow-citizens 70 take
the pen that has fallen from his fingers
zen Of. Indiana and a personal friend.
sincerely mourn his death"
Among other expressions were me toll1W- Ik,YI-
| lam III. English was one or the foremost
citizens Of Indiana. He was loyal man
sne war MprtoD in that trying time
| He was devotedly proud OF his state. ana
| was an active participator in every move
ment looking to its advancement strong,
| willed man, with bankers habits, ne did
| not move in large circle of acquaintances,
| and, / think was frequently misunderstood
! kindiiness of heart and most genial COM
| panion. The pride Of his life was not the
| immense fortune which he built up. but was
| his history or Indiana, wnlcn, lnoeeo' Is MS
| worthy monument"
John r. Elder: 81 have always had the
highest regard for Mr.. Englisn; dodts ! ieei
| His loss to the city and state Is inestlma-
BILE, and / know OF no man that can take
MS place. He was a man OF the ST ssrictese eSa
| always dominated by honesty OF purpose.
He had large acquaintance amongst the
older politicians Of Indiana, and, while he
| never cared to hold Office he always ex-
! erted great influence upon legislation Last
| winter during the session of the Leg1sla-
ture, old Andy Humphries, senator from
Greene county. now a hold-over. stopped
| at Englishs Hotel. and the two spent a
great deal of time together, renewing an
tine time Of the cons Constitutional convention in
1852 Those who met Mr.. English then al
ways remembered him. and had much con-
figure about the halls of the Legislature,
and was able to exert considerable infu-
| ence with the older 1egislators-those VINO
| had known him since the convention. NO
man took more i1terest in securing legisa-
| ton for the benefit of this city and State.
and through his large acquaintance ne was
frequently able TO secure the passage or
| laws for the good of the community: His
| suggestions were always received with re-
spect, and his advice carried great weight.
| In Council meetings he always active
| in keeping down extravagant expenditures,
and he watched closely every measure that
Sebted debt to him for his watehfulness and ac-
tive care when questions OF vital impor-
| tance to her welfare were at stake. Mr..
| English did everything on business prfnci-
pies. The one idea of his life was business.
| / recall mis- connection with the First Ma
tional Bank. He withdrew from that insti-
| tuition, but. think, retained an interest in
it. Afterwards he came 10 the banks as
s.stance. and, upon the strength or his
credit. saved it from disruption. At anoth--
stock in the Citizens street railroad in or
| der to save himself. He was often under
the necessity of assuming the entire con-
troll OF large undertakings for the purpose
| of protecting himself. don't suppose he
| made much money out OF the street-car
deal. He had no fancy for that sort of
1 >Csx, 1r,+; ho haA tai. 1aH trol nf
the street-railroad property he would have
been immensely wealthy. Most OF his
transactions were In real estate. during the
| latter years of his life You may say that
/ regard his death as great loss 70 the
city and State. If we had thousand men
in Indianapolis like him, the city would be
far better off. l don't know of man who
can take his place"
Cnrfstian Brink. ex-county recorder: ST saw
a great deal OF Mr.. English during the
time was in Office. From my observation
Of r's methods am ccnfident he was not
hard on borrowers. He was business
man, mad great deal of money to loan.
ard preferred to keep it invested. 1 know
that he never foreclOsed mortgages as lone
as his debtors were. willing to pay the IN
terest When Ii became apparent that
neither the interest nor principal would be
paid he foreclosed his mortgages. any
other business man would do He was not
plenty of opportunity to save themselves.
He was careful about titles. He generally
esme to he and spt
Up the records himself Mr. Brink re-
lated a personal transaction he had not
long ago with Mr.. English Mr.. English
owned lot on English avenue which Mr..
Brink desired to purchase He was willing
to pay the price asked, but Mr. English
was not willing to sell without Mr.. Brink
would consent TO a stipulation in the deed
that the property should never be occu-
ped by saloon. The deal fell through on
that account. Mr.. English said that IL
would detract from the value Of adjoining
property if saloon were established in
the neighbornood. Mr.. Brink says that Mr..
English always transacted his business
wittou the Intervention OF middle men,
and would never pay commissions. While
| he charged perhaps half cent higher in
terest than others. it was cheaper to bor-
rcyvers in the long run. as there were no
brokers to pay" Mr. English never
| charged usurous interest, and was not Mig
gardly IN making settlements. Mr.. Brink
says: "He didn't split nickles, as some men
| do"
Otto N Frenzel: 81 have known but lit.ls
| of Mr. Englsh's business transactions In
late years. He has Invested his money in
mortgage securities He never loaned
money on mortgages for the purpose OF &C.
| ouirirg title 10 real estate at lower fig
ure than II could be bought When neither
the interest nor principal were paid Ia
foreolosed mis- mortgages, OF course, a.
other men would do
JOHN II. HOLIDAYS ESTIMATE.
Mr.. EngIfsh's Remarkable Common
Sors. and Patience IIIust-nted