Volume XXIX, No. 4, November 2012
THOMAS R. MARSHALL ELECTED VP!
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO!
One hundred years ago, North Manchester’s native son, Thomas R. Marshall, was
elected Vice-President on the national Democratic ticket headed by Woodrow
Wilson. To acquaint the American public with the candidate during the 1912
campaign, the Publicity Bureau for the National Democratic Party released the
following article (see page 2) about Marshall and his wife Lois.
MRS. TOM’S PART IN THE ELECTION
Just about the time that thousands of friends of Governor Thomas Riley Marshall
were anxiously wanting to shake his hand in congratulations on his acceptance as
candidate of vice-president on the Democratic ticket, a smiling woman stepped
before him, and if one could have heard what she whispered in his ear it would
have been something like “Now, hurry in, Tom, and change your clothes.”
And Tom Marshall forgot to shake hands with the enthusiastic friends until he
had carried out the orders of Mrs. Tom.
Indiana has honored four of her sons as vice-presidential candidates on the
Democratic ticket, but the crowds that greeted Governor Marshall in the big
coliseum in the state fair grounds, Indianapolis, on Tuesday were the greatest
in the history of the party.
The west wanted to show the east what could be done in notification honors, and,
while Mrs. Marshall was happy, of course, over the honors for her husband, she
was also worried, for her husband comes mighty close to being father, husband,
son and partner all in one. And when a woman has that combination on her hands
to care for she has every right to be worried.
Governor Marshall will never gain any honors as a hammer thrower. He is not
built that way.
While all the country was reading the vigorous words of Governor Marshall which
told the voters what he expects Democracy to do in carrying out the pledges for
the next four years it’s worthwhile to know what part a woman is taking in the
affairs of the campaign—how Tom Marshall happens to be in the position in which
he stands today.
The good people of Columbia City, Ind., never thought “Thomas Riley Marshall was
a “marrying man.” For forty years he had lived with his parents, nursing both
his father and mother, who were invalids, which was the reason Governor Marshall
was not a marrying man. He felt his first duty was to his parents.
After the death of his parents Governor Marshall dived deeper into his law
practice, and one day an urgent case took him to Angola, Ind. His duties called
him to the county clerk’s office, and there he met Miss Lois Kimsey, daughter of
the county clerk, who was assisting her father in the office.
From that day Governor Marshall had more business around the county clerk’s
office in Angola than any lawyer in half a dozen nearby counties.
Governor Marshall was forty-two years of age when he was married, Mrs. Marshall
being nearly twenty years his junior.
The Marshalls had been married only a few weeks when the future vice-president
was called to an adjoining county on a case that would consume some five or six
weeks of his time.
“Now, I did not want to be starting off like that,” Governor Marshall explained
to a friend one day, “so I just told Mrs. Marshall that I thought she should go
along. And she did.”
Since then Governor Marshall has never made a trip without Mrs. Marshall going
along. They have traveled all over the country together; they go to banquets and
political meetings together until the friends of the Indiana executive refer to
him and his wife as the “pards.”
“Tom Marshall is not over strong,” explained one of his friends. “While not a
delicate man, his constitution is not of the most vigorous type. When he gets
into a political battle he forgets his weakness. He gives all that is in him,
and that will tell on any man. Mrs. Marshall soon discovered that the governor
would become heated in making a speech and the next day his voice would be
husky. She decided that he had better give up some of the handshaking and take
care of his health first. So when you find him making a speech when he has
finished he does not stay around to hear the applause of the audience. Rather,
he hurries to his room and changes his clothing.”
“Some people have said that Tom Marshall is not a handshaking politician. He is
not. His wife thinks it is more important to guard his health than to carry out
the old time policy, and she is correct, as she is in most all other things.”
The Marshall home is typical of the mistress. It is a home of books, and still
one does not feel “bookish.” One of the Marshall friends said he always felt
like eating when he entered the Marshall home in Columbia City or the executive
mansion at Indianapolis.Mrs. Marshall believes in a home first, and the “home
air” prevails.
“If Governor Marshall ever occupied the White House people would not know that
historic institution,” declares an admirer. “Mrs. Marshall would have it a real
home. People would feel comfortable even in the midst of the gold and glitter.”
But it is not only as a wife and the mistress of a home that Mrs. Marshall shows
her ability. She is a politician and a clever one. She also has a remarkable
memory.
Governor Marshall has earned the reputation of being in a class of story tellers
all by himself. He can remember stories, but he forgets names. A name is
something to be cast aside with Governor Marshall, and this is one of the
regrets of his life, if he has any regrets. The governor is not a worrying man.
He is somewhat a fatalist, but if he could he would like to remember names; but,
not having that ability, he does not worry, for Mrs. Marshall is the name
rememberer of the family.
She has a peculiar ability along this line. Not only does she remember the last
name, but any combination of names comes as second nature to her, and she
carries this ability on down to the children and cousins of anyone seeking the
governor.
While the governor is shaking hands and trying to remember whether his caller is
Jones or Smith, Mrs. Marshall is busy supplying the information and asking about
all the relatives.
Governor Marshall has no brothers or sisters, and his parents being dead leaves
him somewhat barren of relatives.
Governor Marshall’s friends are enthusiastic over his home life. When he has
started on talking of his wife a new light in the Hoosier executive comes to the
surface. They come near being ideal married partners.
“I was talking to Tom one day,” explained one of his most intimate friends. “We
were leaning back, and Tom had been telling some of his good stories to
illustrate various topics of our conversation. We were waiting for Mrs. Marshall
to come back from a shopping tour, and I happened to remark that I liked Mrs.
Marshall better every time I met her.
“Well, now that’s the way she strikes me, Jim,” he said, “We have been married
some sixteen years, and as time goes that is a long or short period, just as you
think. To me it is but a fleeting day. Then I think back over my married life
and find I have grown to know Mrs. Marshall better every day. A man must not
only love but he must also respect his partner in this life—respect her in all
things. She must have wonderful qualities to make the love and respect grow
deeper and better each day. That’s been my history.”
“The fact that Mrs. Marshall has been in sympathy in my work, my play, my life,
is good. But I have been in sympathy with hers. Ours is not a one sided life. We
have been partners, and that’s the way it should be in this world.”
Mrs. Marshall has watched over his administration of the affairs of Indiana with
a jealous care. There has been nothing of the spectacular in his administration.
It has been a sane government. The laws that he has fought for and won show the
spirit of the man. They are uplifting. They deal with the improvement of man,
woman and child.
While Governor Marshall is described as a “tender hearted” executive,
nevertheless, he is a fighter. He belongs to the old fighting stock of Virginia.
Governor Marshall is not a dodger. He has his opinions, and he lets them be
known. While he is an organization man, he knows that organizations are not
perfect—that they can make mistakes. If they make mistakes he thinks it is his
duty to say so and get the saying over at the first possible moment.
Ed. Note: This article appeared during the 1912 presidential campaign in an
Iowan newspaper, the Albert City Appeal, on August 30, 1912. The drawing of
Thomas R. Marshall on the front page was by “Launer” in 1912.
BLACKMORE CIGAR COMPANY OF NORTH MANCHESTER
By John Knarr
Karl Morris, a local cigar-maker, had an enlarged, smoke-filled vision. Morris
wanted to place North Manchester on the national map in the cigar industry. In
1920 he came to town during the waning months of the Woodrow Wilson-Thomas R.
Marshall administration. He had married a local girl, Milma Hinkle, daughter of
Henry and Sarah Hinkle. Milma’s older sisters were Grace (m. Frank R. Davis,
1909) and Georgia (m. Benjamin H. Willis, 1910). Census research reveals that
Morris previously had considerable cigar making experience in Seattle and
Boston. His parents lived in a Russian Jewish neighborhood in Chicago; their
mother tongue was “Yiddish”
according to the 1920 census.
Morris’ first ads in the local newspaper began appearing in December 1920.
Morris bragged that his factory was producing 1,000 Blackmore cigars a day! He
marketed the Blackmore brand through a far-flung network of distribution. He had
agents in states such as Pennsylvania placing display advertising. For instance,
George R. Jones was a distributor of the Blackmore Cigar in Lebanon, PA. A
display ad in the Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon, PA (June 16, 1921): “IF YOU HAVE
NEVER SMOKED THE BLACKMORE CIGAR TRY ONE. 10 Cents. It Has the Quality.”
Morris solicited cigar factory workers from the southern part of Indiana. He
placed several HELP WANTED ads in a Greene County newspaper (Linton Daily
Citizen) in May of 1922 attempting to recruit “cigarmakers, rollers and
bunchbreakers” and offering “steady work and good pay.”
I wonder how many of our readers now know what a bunchbreaker did in the
hand-rolling days of cigar-making!
Linton with a population of a few thousand was a community approximately the
same size of North Manchester. Located southeast of Terre Haute, Linton is
located about the same distance (20 miles) from the Wabash River as is North
Manchester. Before 1920 a cigar factory had filled the second floor at 74 S.
Main, Linton, Greene County. But by 1921-1922, the second floor was vacant and
Linton’s cigar workforce was no longer employed.
By late 1920 in North Manchester, Morris had occupied a large empty brick
building for his cigar factory. His cigar rollers sat by the windows facing west
on the second floor of this building. There is some similarity between the
Linton and North Manchester operations. Interestingly, similar to the placement
of North Manchester’s historic business district on the National Register,
Linton’s Commercial Historic District has also been listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. Other claims to fame: David Letterman’s mother is
from Linton, Indiana. In the movie “Hoosiers”, Hickory High barely beats (56-55)
the orange-shirted Linton Wildcats to advance to the state finals. Remember how
Hickory’s small guard bucketed two underhanded free throws with three seconds
left? In that film Hilliard Gates was a radio announcer and the “Manchester High
School Fight Song” was heard, music written and composed by Harold Leckrone.
Advertising by Karl Morris appeared in January 1922 for a new five-cent brand,
“The Little Quaker”. But shorty after this, Karl and his wife would leave N.
Manchester. They were listed in the 1924 and 1925 city directories for Ft.
Wayne. By the 1930s his wife had remarried. Milma (1893-1958) is buried in North
Manchester’s Oaklawn cemetery. We do not know the fate of her first husband,
Karl Morris. His father, Karl Morris, Sr., died in Chicago, December 25, 1927.
Karl and Milma had a son Max Morris, born in 1919. From Max’s marriage
application, we learn that his father was born in the Ukraine. Yet, Karl had
declared “Native Born” on his WWI draft registration card. Please contact the
Center for History if anyone has information on Karl Morris (born July 17,
1876), or if you know any descendant or relative of the Morrises who might have
memories or mementoes from that period. Karl Morris of
local cigar fame can not be
found in the 1930 or 1940 censuses. Also, contact us should you have additional
information or know of the existence of any business records belonging to the
Blackmore or other local cigarmaking operations.
NOTES: Another cigar factory existed in 1915-1916 in North Manchester, namely
Chester W. Kilborn’s cigar business. There has been some confusion about Morris
and Kilborn. In his 1950 article on local business, “Industries Past and
Present”, William Billings referred to Blackmore ca. 1915 when in fact Morris’
Blackmore did not appear until 1920.
These two cigar factories operated at different times, but apparently in
the same building, locally known as the Ridgely building or the Cigar Factory.
When local old wooden cigar boxes are examined, one finds the factory number
(used for IRS purposes) on the bottom to be different. The wooden Blackmore
cigar box has Factory No. 302 (6th Dist Ind 50) printed on the box bottom,
whereas the wooden Kilborn cigar boxes have an earlier number on the bottom,
Factory No. 239. Since Kilborn’s cigar-making enterprise in North Manchester
took place about five years earlier than Karl Morris’ operation, the sequence of
numbers makes sense. Cigar manufacturing factory numbers have been required by
law since the 1860s inasmuch as revenue laws have applied to tobacco since the
Civil War. Such factory numbers were originally assigned by the IRS in the order
of operation.
The embossed high quality, stone lithographic Blackmore cigar box label (see
page 6) depicted R.D. Blackmore, a nineteenth-century English author. Three of
Blackmore’s novels were referenced on the label itself--Clara Vaughan, Lorna
Doone, and Craddock Nowell.
World War I interrupted Kilborn’s enterprise. In the 1919 business directory for
Marion, IN, Chester W. Kilborn was listed as a cigarmaker. Kilborn died in 1931
and was buried in Marion’s IOOF cemetery. Prohibition and the post-war
production of cigarettes diminished the popularity and demand of cigars produced
by such manufacturers as Kilborn and Morris. Moreover, mechanization and
automatic rolling machines led to the dominance of larger enterprises in larger
cities.
NORTH MANCHESTER’S COMMERCIAL CENTER
(1850 CENSUS)
Researched by John Knarr
Beginning in 1840, the U.S. Census takers asked people their occupation. Daniel
and Martha (Patterson) Marshall can be found in the 1850 census of Attica,
Fountain County, Indiana. Daniel was identified then as a physician. Also living
with them was Martha’s sister, Margaret Patterson. The canal, first used in
1843, linked Attica with Lagro in Wabash County. Shortly after 1850 Daniel and
his brother Joseph purchased property owned by a Quaker family, the Thorns, on
the developing commercial street of (North) Manchester. Daniel and Martha’s son
Thomas Riley was born in 1854.
Among neighbors of the Marshalls were probably many of the following persons
enumerated in the 1850 census, as living on (North) Manchester’s Main Street or
its near vicinity. Identified below are selected households
(numbers assigned by the census takers), names of the head of the
household and their respective occupations as identified in 1850.
204, Arthur Kennedy, Saddler
205, John W. Williams
206, Samuel Wertenberger, Saddler
206, John Cowgill, Boot & Shoe Maker
207, John Mylin, Carder & Fuller [wool carder & cloth maker]
212, Francis M. Eagle, Fuller & Carder
215, Weidner Price, Plasterer
216, Madison Wilson, Leather & Shoe Store
217, John Aughinbaugh, Tavern Keeper [Main & Walnut Streets]
218, Henry Shaubhut, Clerking
219, Garret Ring, Grocer
220, Henry Strickler, Dry Goods Merchant
221, Henry Daum, Wagon Maker
222, William Frame, Dry Goods Merchant
225, William E. Willis, Physician
228, Eliza B. Williams
229, Isaac I. Garwood, Physician
230, George Weidner, Carpenter
231, George Sheitts, Shoe Maker
232, Samuel Seibert, Tailor
233, John Alsap, United Brethren Clergyman
234, Nancy W. Thorn
234, Isaac Thorn, Drug & Shoe Store
238, Jonathan Addigton, Blacksmith
238, Jacob Abbot, Blacksmith
239, Joseph B. Harter, Dry Goods Merchant
242, Maurice Place, Teaching School
243, John Travis, Physician
244, Samuel Leonard, Foundry
246, John Townsend, Chair Maker & Painter
247, Mahlon C. Frame, Dry Goods Merchant
247, Benjamin Frame, Dry Goods Merchant
248, Eli Garmmery, Blacksmith
249, William Thorn, Merchant
251, John F. Smith, Cabinet Maker
251, William Krisher, Cabinet Maker
252, Christian Sheets, Carpenter
252, Robert Helvey, Carpenter
253, John Kinney, Shoe Maker
254, Henry Shield, Shoe Maker
256, Servis Davis, Chair Maker
256, Wyatt C. Kitchen, Tailor
258, David Weidner, Carpenter
260, Jesse White, Shoe Maker
261, Cornelius Wampler, Carpenter & Joiner
261, Jesse Stackhouse, Carpenter & Joiner
262, Thomas C. Johnson, Pump Maker
263, Jeremiah Lindsey, Wagon Maker
263, William Lindsey, Wagon Maker
Research Notes:
In 1850 Daniel Marshall’s parents and many of Daniel’s brothers and sisters were
living in Lagro Township. Thomas Riley Marshall, born in 1854, makes his first
appearance in the federal census in 1860. The family was then living in La
Grange, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. After the 1860 election of Pres.
Lincoln, the Daniel Marshall family
returned to the North Manchester area, eventually moving to Pierceton where they
can be found in the 1870 census. Although Daniel Marshall never served in the
Civil War, two of his brothers (Woodson and Ezra) joined the Union army. A
brother-in-law (John H. Lowe in KS) was classified as a “deserter.”
The numbering of households in the census helps us to understand the proximity
of many households. It is not the same as actual street addresses. Street
addresses evolved later. But comparing census numbers with the original lot
numbers identified in deeds and land transactions can give us a better
understanding of the relative physical locations of various households.
For convenient reference and orientation, the Original Plat map of North
Manchester with numbered lots has been uploaded to the NMHS website and is
linked to “Deeds”. Original Plat Lot sales by the town proprietor Peter Ogan to
persons with surnames also listed in the above list include:
1. Ogan sold Lot 5 & 6 to William Willis in 1837 and 1838.
2. Ogan sold Lot 23 to Clark Williams in 1837.
3. Ogan sold Lots 21 & 22 to Joseph Harter in 1836.
4. Ogan sold Lot 165 to Isaac Place in 1839.
5. Ogan sold Lot 150 in 1841 and Lot 148 in 1846 to Samuel Leonard.
6. Ogan sold Lot 24 to Thomas Thorn.
7. Ogan sold Lots 138-144 in 1839 and Lots 1 & 2 in 1843 to John W. Townsend.
8. Ogan sold Lots 140-141-149 to Richard Helvey in 1840.
9. Ogan sold several lots in 1839 to Mahlon C. Frame & William Thorn:
114-115-125-151-152-166-168-169-175-176.
RELATIVE WEALTH IN CHESTER TWP (1850)
Census Research by John Knarr
The 1850 Census lists the declared value of real estate holdings. The following
table ranks the wealthiest individuals in Chester Township in the range of $2000
and above. This list is dominated by the larger farmers but names of some
merchants do appear as well. By the year 1850, the founder and proprietor of the
village of Manchester, Peter Ogan, had moved to the Monticello vicinity, White
County, Indiana. Peter’s brother John Ogan does appear in the 1850 census for
Chester Township with a declared value of $1600 in real estate holdings.
Difficulty in deciphering names and handwriting of census takers does pose a
challenge at times. Best efforts were made, including cross-referencing with
map, account book and directory data.
RE Value
Name Occupation
Census Image
16000
John Comstock
Farmer
27-190
10000
William Thorn
Merchant
35-249
10000
Michael Knoop
Farmer
28-196
8000
David Swank
Farmer
28-198
6000
Joseph Harter
Farmer
30-213
6000
Jesse Jinks
Farmer
19-135
5600
Erastus Bingham
Farmer
27-187
5600
Wm McConnel(?)
Farmer
11-071
5000
Mahlon C. Frame
Dry Goods Merchant
34-247
4400
Abraham Switzer
Farmer
37-267
4250
John Aughinbaugh Tavern
Keeper
31-217
4000
Francis M. Eagle
Fuller & Carder
30-212
4000
Gabriel Swihart
Farmer
30-208
4000
Aaron M. Simpson Farmer
23-160
4000
Jacob Widener
Farmer
07-043
3760
John Sheets
Farmer
33-236
3400
William E. Willis
Physician
32-225
3000
William Wampler
Farmer
37-266
3000
John S. Ullery
Farmer
28-197
3000
Nathaniel Sellers
Farmer
23-158
3000
John J. Shaubhut
Farmer
22-150
3000
William Ross
Farmer
22-151
3000
Elizabeth Ruse
22-152
3000
Aaron Collet
Farmer
22-153
3000
Stephen Jinks
Farmer
18-125
3000
Peyton Daniels
Farmer
12-075
3000
Henry Strickler
Farmer
11-069
2900
Charles Fudgers
Farmer
06-036
2880
Andrew D. Parrett
Farmer
22-154
2500
Elizabeth Shaubhut
35-255
2500
Israel Harter
Farmer
37-268
2500
James Ridgley
Farmer
19-133
2500
Anthony Clear(?)
Farmer
05-027
2400
John Simonton
Farmer
23-156
2400
Gideon Jinks
Farmer
18-125
2200
James Darrow
Farmer
24-163
2000
Madison L. Wilson Leather &
Shoe Store
31-216
2000
John Harter
Farmer
30-222
2000
Maurice Place
Teaching School
34-242
2000
Samuel Leonard
Foundry
34-244
2000
Luther Wait
Miller
24-164
2000
John Eby
Farmer
21-143
2000
Jacob Heckathorn Farmer
21-145
2000
Ichabod Comstock Farmer
21-147
2000
Alfred Hornaday
Farmer
12-078
2000
John N. Stephens
Farmer
10-066
2000
Bryant Fannin
Farmer
09-059
2000
Frampton Rockhill Farmer
06-031
2000
Rudolph Krisher
Farmer
05-025
2000
Benjamin W. Cowgill
Farmer
04-023
2000
William B. Huffman
Farmer
03-016
North Manchester Historical Society
2012 Highlights
Mary Chrastil, President
Top 2012 Highlights
1. Technology
improvements – high speed internet, more work stations leading to opening of
front office. Increased number of
docent volunteers. Increased hours
open from 8 per week to 33 per week!
2. Thomas Marshall
Birth Home – 40 years after idea was conceived, the Thomas Marshall Birth Home
was dedicated in October. Through
the years the house was purchased, fund raising was completed, the house was
moved, restored and finally furnished.
Original research on the Marshall family was conducted.
The house is now open to the public the first Saturday of each month
April through December.
3. Year of the Opera
Curtain – the restoration of a rare 1910 opera curtain in our collection led to
14 events and celebrations throughout the year.
There were lectures and unveilings.
Two original works of art were commissioned, and original research was
undertaken. Highlights were the
commissioning of a contemporary opera curtain featuring current businesses and
organizations and the performance of the Firehouse Follies, a local civic
theater production based on past opera house acts.
Numerous community organizations and educational groups were involved.
4. The Center for
History received a national grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services to have our collection and building evaluated by professionals in the
field. The grant comes at a perfect
time for us as we plan our direction for the next 5 to 10 years.
5. NMHS was invited by
the Indiana Historical Society division of local history services to mentor
another museum as they consider purchasing a new site and planning for the
future.
6. A second furnace and
air conditioning system were installed on the main floor, leading to better
collection preservation and a more comfortable building environment.
The work also involved upgrading some dubious electrical services that
had been troubling us.
Other 2012 Highlights
1. Reinstated volunteer
recognition program. Computerized
records on volunteer hours, gift shop inventory, visitor statistics.
2. Reinstated
antique appraisal program.
3. Historic Homes
Preservation Group upgraded and sold two more homes, and is starting on a third,
thus saving deteriorated properties and preventing them for becoming rentals
liable to further deterioration.
4. Produced three
videos for sale: 1938 film See
Yourself in the Movies, plus Building the Peabody Mansion, and The
Moving and Restoration of the Thomas Marshall House.
5. Revised and improved
our programs for second and third grade student visitors to the Center for
History to rave reviews from students, teachers and parents.
Cookie Exchange Next Year
What a year we’ve had at the North Manchester Historical Society.
Fourteen Year-of-the-Opera Curtain events, dedicating the Thomas Marshall
House, our museum Conservation Assessment Program inspections by professional
curators and architects, establishing an office at the front door (increasing
our open hours from 6 per week to 33), and reestablishing our antiques appraisal
and volunteer recognition programs!
We had hoped to host a cookie exchange for Historical Society members in December. We will defer this event until next year. Meanwhile, please come to see the Christmas windows we have decorated on Main Street. We are participating enthusiastically in Manchester Main Street plans to light up the town with white lights in every shop window.