BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE
MORGAN COUNTY
(Transcribed from the book "Counties of Morgan, Monroe
and Bown Indiana" 1884)
GEORGE
A. ADAMS, attorney and Representative, is a native of Morgan
County, Ind., and was born Jun. 4,1849. The county which gave him birth
has made him a home. In his youth, after attending the common schools
of the county, he went to the State University at Bloomington, Ind.,
for two years, and from which he graduated in the profession of law in
1872. He was Principal of the High Schools of Morgantown one year,
after which, in April, 1873, he engaged in the practice of his
profession, and has continued the same since that time. December 28,
1876, he married, at Brazil, Clay County, Miss Mattie Bennett, which
union has given birth to two children an infant and Roy B. (deceased).
Mr. Adams is a Republican, and was sent to the Legislature, as a
Representative of Morgan County in November, 1882. He is a member of
the venerable Masonic fraternity, and also of the Beta Theta Pi a college organization and
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Adams is the possessor of a fine
property in Martinsville, and is a much esteemed citizen.
WILLIAM
R. ASHER is a native of Johnson County, Ind., and was born on
the 30th of November, 1861. When he had reached the age of eight years,
he was removed by his parents to this town, where he was reared,
attended and graduated from the Martinsville High School, and afterward
became a student of the State University in September, 1878, in a
course of four years' study. In the month of March, 1883, he
entered into the oratorical contest, with four contestants, for
the privilege of representing the University in the State contest, and
which privilege he won; consequently, he represented the University of
Indiana in the State oratorical exhibition, which took place at
Indianapolis April 17, 1883, in which effort he was successful, coming
out number one from a list of six, each representing a college, and
also winning the prize, $50. This success at the State capital bestowed
upon him the right of contending in the inter-State contest of oratory,
held at Minneapolis May 2, 1883, from which engagement he came forth
third in honor.
J. G. BAIN, editor Martinsville
Republican, and Postmaster, was born in Jefferson Township, Morgan
County, on April 29, 1844, and is the son of John and Bridget
(Gallagher) Bain, early settlers of Jefferson Township. Our subject
passed his early life on a farm and attending a district school until
he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in Company C,
Thirty third Indiana Infantry, in August, 1861, for three years and
participated in every march, battle and skirmish which the regiment was in. Near the close of the
three years' term, the regiment "veteranized." During the Atlanta
campaign, the regiment elected officers, and was under the fire of the
enemy while balloting, and one man killed. Mr. Bain was elected Second
Lieutenant, and remained with his command until the close of the war,
having been mustered out August 20, 1865, after four years' service.
Some of the battles and skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged
are as follows: Wildcat, Cumberland Gap, Thompson's Station, Tenn.
(where the entire brigade was captured and confined in Libby Prison two
months), Besaca, Cassville, Burnt Hickory, Golgotha Church, Pumpkin
Vine, Peach Tree Creek, the Atlanta campaign, Sherman's "march to the
sea," and through the Carolinas, being in the battles of Averysboro and
Bentonville; thence to Raleigh, on to Richmond, and in the " grand
review" at Washington; thence to Louisville, Ely., where the regiment
was mustered out. After his return home, our subject attended
Mooresville Seminary six months, then Earlham College, Richmond, Ind.,
three years, and then the State University at Bloomington, graduating
from that institution in the law course in the spring of 1870, after
which he came to Martinsville and engaged in the practice of law. In
August, 1870, he became connected with the Republican which sprang into
existence that year, and was made its managing editor. In December,
1870, with H. A. Smock, he purchased the paper, and continued its
publication for four years. Since September, 1874, Mr. Bain has been
the sole proprietor. He has added to and improved the paper, now using
a Campbell steam press, with a circulation of 1,700. In October, 1872,
Mr. Bain was made Postmaster of Martinsville, and has held the office
ever since. He has always been an active, influential politician in the
Republican party, and is ranked among the energetic and progressive
citizens, and as one of the representative men of Southern Indiana. In
February, 1876, he was married to Sallie Johnson: a native of Morgan
County, and daughter of Dr. J. J. Johnson. Four children have been born
to them Mary E., Katie R., Jarvis J. and Dora I. Mr. Bain is a
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and of the G. A. R. Since Mr. Bain has been Postmaster, the
office has increased its receipts threefold; and it is at present one
of the best appointed and conducted post offices of any town of its
size in the State.
JAMES P. BALDWIN, second son in a
family of eight children, was born March 17, 1849, in Jennings County,
Ind. His parents, James M. and Sarah (Thomas), natives of Indiana, were
married in Jennings County, where they settled, remaining until 1861,
the father following merchandising. Removing thence to Martinsville, he
went into the milling business, and three years later, his mill being
destroyed by fire, he retired from business, and is at present one of
Martinsville's most influential citizens. The subject of this sketch
was reared and educated in Martinsville. When sixteen years of age, he
was employed as brake man on the F. F. & M. R. R., where he
remained for six months, then for six months on the X. & Y. R. R.
as fireman, and afterward on the main line of the Indianapolis &
St. Louis Railroad as fireman between La Fayette, Ind., and Cincinnati,
Ohio, for some time. He was then given an engine, working in this
capacity until 1872, after which he worked for one year on the F. F.
& M. R. R. again. In 1873, he entered the employ of Johnson &
Long, druggists, of Martinsville, for a short time, afterward forming a
partnership with J. H. Hart in the same business, and at present is so
engaged doing a lucrative business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and is an active member in the Republican party. November 13, 1872, he
was married to Maryetta K. Johnson, daughter of Dr. J J. Johnson, one
of the leading citizens of Martinsville. They had four children, none
of whom are living. Mr. Baldwin and wife are identified with the
Methodist Episcopal Church.