History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
The Bar

Joseph L. Jernegan was born in Massachusetts, educated at Brown University, married when he was about 20, and settled in Goshen about the year 1832. He practiced law there until 1837, when he moved to South Bend. HE succeeded S. C. Sample as Prosecuting Attorney for the circuit. He soon became one of the ablest lawyers in the northern part of the State. He had a wonderful memory, capable of calling up and readily and accurately stating all the essential facts of a long case, and in addition to this he could state point concisely and clearly that everybody who heard it would at once comprehend it and wonder whey there should be any doubt about it. The only way to defeat his argument was to knock out his premises. He had a successful practice until 1850, when he went into a commission bank at Michigan City. In 1855 he moved to New York city, and again commenced the practice of law. Subsequently he went to Italy, and is now living in Naples.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
The Bar

Edwin B. Crocker was born in New York, and educated at an academy in Troy. He came to South Bend in 1841, and there entered Mr. Jernegan’s office as a student. He afterward became his partner, and they continued in business together while Mr. Jernegan remained here. Mr. Crocker was a fat, jolly, good-hearted man, with considerable intellectual ability and a wonderful working capacity. In 1852 he went to California and commenced practicing law in Sacramento. In a few years he became one of the judges of the Supreme Court of that State. After he left the Bench, he and his brother, Charles, who had also been a resident of this county, several years as a laborer in a Mishawaka furnace, together, with Gov. Stanford Hopkins and one or two others, undertook to build the first section of twenty miles of the Central Pacific railroad, and who afterward built the whole road and became its owners. About the time the road was completed to Ogden, Mr. Crocker was stricken down with paralysis. He partially recovered, but had another attack, which so utterly destroyed his mind that he could not recognize his family. After lingering in that condition for some time he died, leaving a fortune of $10,000,000.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
The Bar

Reuben L. Farnsworth was born in Ohio, and came here in 1839 to study law with Judge Sample. He was an industrious and diligent student. After he got through with his preparatory studies he went into partnership with Mr. Liston. Subsequently he and Thos. S. Stanfield were in partnership a short time. Mr. Farnsworth might have been an able and successful lawyer, but his conscience troubled him, not that he thought it was wrong to practice law, but he thought he was called to preach the gospel, and he ought not to stand out against that conviction. He tried it in several denominations with undoubted sincerity and determination to obey the call. After awhile he would begin to think somebody else was called and he made a mistake when he answered. Then he would quit preaching and go to practicing law again. At one of those intervals he was Prosecuting Attorney for this circuit and made a good and efficient one. Finally he settled down in the Swedenborgian faith, and has since been a confirmed and undoubting believer in that doctrine. He has written and published several books to illustrate and prove the truth of that faith. He is now living a retired life in St. Paul, Minnesota.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
The Bar

When G. W. and John Reynolds took contracts for building sections of the Lake Shore railroad, they employed Mr. Whinery, and he remained in their service until the road was completed to South Bend, when he was made the first agent of the road at that place. In 1856, on the completion of the original St. Joe block, a union store was organized, and when the stockholders met to elect some one to take charge of it, Mr. Whinery was unanimously chosen. When the war broke out he entered the pay department and remained there until the close, and then went into the cotton-raising business in the South. This venture proved very unprofitable and stripped him of a handsome competence. He returned to South Bend and was elected City Judge, and afterward Justice of the Peace. Mr. Whinery died in Indianapolis, Feb. 21, 1879. His body was taken to South Bend for burial, and was tenderly laid away by South Bend Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., of which he was a charter member.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
St. Joseph County’s Illustrious Dead

In his enthusiasm for agriculture Mr. Miller did not forget the large family growing up around him. Of the nine children born to him six are yet living, and they were given the best educational advantages the times afforded. The oldest of these, John F., became an attorney in South Bend and served one term in the Senate. On the breaking out of the Rebellion he threw down his law books, raised the 29th Regiment, and entered the army as its colonel, serving through the entire war. He made a brilliant officer, possessing all the dash and daring of a Sheridan, and for his bravery was made a Major-General. He participated in several of the most important engagements of the army of the Tennessee, had his left eye shot out, and was also shot in the neck. Added to his daring was a splendid administrative capacity, on account of which he was at different times placed in command of Nashville, and afterward Mobile. At the close of the war he was made Collector at the Port at San Francisco, and is now president of the Alaska Fur Company. Another son, Henry Clay, is also in California, cashier in the custom house, and one of its most valuable officials. Two others of the sons, William H. and H. G., are well-known business men of St. Louis. The remaining one, and second in order of age, I. N., follows his father’s occupation of farming, in Olive township, this county. The only daughter, Martha, is the wife of M. Butterworth, of Kingsbury. Reference is thus briefly made to Miller’s family to show, that laboring under the disadvantages of pioneer life, he always remembered that his first duty was the culture of his family, and that the result shows the correctness of his views.

Naturally so active and enterprising a man as Mr. Miller would soon have his merits recognized in the community. He had been in this county but a short time when he was called to serve as Justice of the Peace, which he did for many years, and with the same thoroughness that distinguished all his affairs. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature, and made such an acceptable member that he was returned for a second and a third term. He made himself very active while in the Legislature in establishing asylums for the deaf and dumb, the blind and the insane.

In 1858 Mr. Miller, having a competency, moved into the city of South Bend, partly that his wife and himself might rest from the arduous duties imposed by active farm life, and partly to give his younger children the benefits of the city schools. He purchased a handsome residence on Lafayette street, where he resided to the time of his death. He was several times elected to the City Council, and took an active interest in city affairs. He labored incessantly to establish manufactories in the city, his judgment showing him that in them lay the future prosperity of the city.

Mr. Miller was all his life, and up to the death of that party, an uncompromising Whig. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in this county, and was one of its most steadfast supporters.

William Miller was a powerfully built man, with a personal appearance that would command respect anywhere. He was over six feet in height, symmetrically built, a graceful carriage, a leonine face, with long, wavy, iron-gray beard, and a large forehead, set off by masses of crisp hair.

Mr. Miller had been gradually failing for six weeks, but it was not thought his end was near. On the morning of the second day of February, 1879, he was attacked with a sinking spell, his physician was sent for, but when he arrived he discovered his patient was dying. He passed peacefully away without a struggle or a groan. He was buried by the Odd Fellows fraternity of South Bend, he being a member of that order.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
St. Joseph County’s Illustrious Dead

Dr. Humphreys was a close student and thoroughly in love with his profession. He soon became one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, and his fame extended all over the State. He early saw that a medical association would be beneficial, not only to his brother physicians, but to the community, and in 1855 he organized the St. Joseph County Medical Society and was elected its president and held the office for three terms. At the same time he took a great interest in the literary, musical, social and religious affairs of South Bend. He was interested in organizing a literary society, and was one of its best contributors. In the Presbyterian Church he was a leading member, and did all in his power for its advancement and particularly for its Sunday school. He was for many years its Superintendent, and conducted a large and very interesting Bible class. Much of the success of the school connected with the Church is due to his untiring and unselfish efforts. Dr. Cassady, a brother physician, reports that he had gone to Dr. Humphrey’s office near the midnight hour, when he knew the doctor was nearly exhausted with the day’s work, and found him preparing the lessons for his Bible class. In this work as in all other he used the same exactitude and promptness that he did in his profession.

Amid all the laborious duties of his profession Dr. Humphreys found time to devote to literature, and he was one of its most ardent students. To him the study of belles-lettres was a pleasant duty rather than the pastime that so many make of it, and he kept it up to the latest weeks of his life. There are few whose minds are laden with learning’s richest store as his was; and with it, too, he had the knack of imparting his knowledge to others. Dr. Humphreys was also an accomplished musician. In his early days here he was a member of the band. Later he organized several musical societies, the last being the Philharmonic Club. His criticisms on books, music or pictures were rarely at variance with the best criticisms in the country, and as a writer he stood high, whether on matters connected with his profession, on literary subjects or on local affairs. The local papers of South Bend have published much that he has written, and in a war of words it can truly be said that his keen and cutting satire made any man who crossed pens with him regret afterward that he did so. Those who knew how much Dr. Humphreys’ time was occupied in attending to the duties of his profession wondered when he acquired so many accomplishments, for with all the rest he was a brilliant and entertaining conversationalist, and in his demeanor toward all a Chesterfield could not have been more courteous or dignified, or placed one at great ease.

When the war of the Rebellion broke out all the latent patriotism of Dr. Humphreys was aroused. He had the opportunity to take command, but his better judgment told him that he could do the cause more good in his profession, and when the 29th Indiana Regiment, under Col. John F. Miller, went into active service, Dr. Humphreys was made its Surgeon. This was in July, 1861. On the March following he was made Surgeon of a brigade, and served as such until June of the same year. At that time the medical department of the army had become so unwieldy that the rules laid down in the army regulations were insufficient to handle it. There were thousands of surgeons and their subordinates to look after, numerous quantities of medical stores at the different depots of supply, an interminable hospital service that all required looking after. There was needed a connecting link between the Surgeon-General of the army and his highest subordinates. A corps of eight Medical Inspectors was appointed and commissioned by President Lincoln. These men were selected through no powerful political influence, as too many of the army appointments were made. They were chosen rather for their eminent fitness for the responsible position, as shown by their record in the profession at home and in the army. One of the very first appointed was Dr. Humphreys. He was taken from his brigade in the army of the Cumberland and placed on duty in the army of the Potomac, with his headquarters at Washington. In less than six months he had brought order out of chaos, the incompetent were weeded out, and he was then ordered to the West, with his headquarters to Louisville. His duties were very arduous, but he performed them faithfully and unflinchingly. They took him often with the advance of the army and he was in several battles. He remained in the army as Medical Inspector until June 1, 1866, when he was mustered out and returned home. His army duties were so hard that they undermined his health, and laid the foundation for the complication of diseases which eventually killed him.

On his return home he resumed the practice of medicine and his interest in the affairs of South Bend. From the time he set foot in it when a young man he believed South Bend had a brilliant future, and no man did more in his way to make a brilliant future for it. He bought property and laid out an addition to the city; he wrote in favor of and talked for every improvement which would benefit it. In 1868 he was elected Mayor to succeed the first Mayor, Hon. W. G. George, and in 1870 he was elected his own successor. He filled both terms with great credit to himself and benefit to the city, and retired with the good will of all parties. During these four years he was one of the commissioners of the Indiana hospital for the insane. He was one of the founders of the St. Joseph Valley District Medical Society, and its president for two terms. At the same time he was an officer of the Indiana State Medical Association and a member of the American Medical Association. When the St. Joseph County Savings Bank was organized he was made its president and continued in the position until his death. He was a charter member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias lodges in this city, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had held offices in all these societies. In the Presbyterian Church he filled the positions of trustee and elder, and was for several years superintendent of its Sunday-school, and for many years a teacher there. He was a man who never sought an office and yet few men had more of them thrust upon them than he, and few were as competent to fill them.

Dr. Humphreys, of Col. Humphreys, as President Lincoln’s commission titled him, was the youngest of a family of 14 children. His ancestry were noted for being long-lived. His father reached the age of ninety odd years and was a splendid specimen of manhood. Those who knew Dr. Humphreys can well believe that his physical trait of the father descended to his youngest son. Dr. Humphreys was a trifle above six feet in height, handsomely proportioned, and had an easy, graceful carriage and a courtly dignity that is rare to see. He had a military bearing that was “to the manner born,” and many a time was he seen passing along the streets of Nashville in his uniform, and exciting the inquiry if he was Gen. Rousseau, who was to the soldiers of that army the embodiment of the ideal general in all that made up dignity of bearing, grace of manner, and the inbornness of a gentleman.

The immediate cause of Dr. Humphreys’ death was paralysis of the respiratory nerves. He took cold some days previous, and although the congestion of the lungs passed off it was followed by this paralysis. Three or four days ago he began failing rapidly and it was easy to see by those intimate friends who visited him every day that the end of a long and useful life was near. The final struggle came last evening. In the presence of his loved family, his pastor, Rev. Geo. T. Keller, his physician, Dr. Cassady, Hon. T. S. Stanfield and Mrs. Stanfield, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. Cushing, Dr. Dayton, W. A. Bugbee, and a few other near and dear friends, he passed away peacefully and to the acceptance of that reward which is in store for all who faithfully practice the teachings of Him who died upon the cross. His last moments were unconscious, but before they came he had recognized those about him, and fully realized that he was going out upon the long journey which all humanity must sooner or later take.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
St. Joseph County’s Illustrious Dead

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
St. Joseph County’s Illustrious Dead

While living in Mishawaka, Mr. Palmer united with the Presbyterian Church, but finally ceased his attendance on that denomination in consequence of the pro-slavery sentiments among the members. In South Bend he was a constant attendant of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the other members of the family were members, and in January, 1877, he too, united with that body. For upward of twenty years he was a member of the Odd Fellows in South Bend. He loved the order and all its associations, and was a frequent attendant at its meetings. The temperance movement early attracted his attention, and his influence and labors were always at the service of the cause, and especially was this the case when the Temple of Honor, of which he was a member, was in a flourishing condition.

In politics Mr. Palmer was originally a Whig, but after his removal to South Bend he became a strong Abolitionist. He was one of the little band of nine men in South Bend, who, in those early days, braved public odium and reproach for conscience’ sake, and maintained that human bondage was accursed of God, and a blot on the fair fame of the Republic. The old and middle-aged men that are now living well remember that the avowal of being an Abolitionist was to invite general ostracism even in the North.

Mr. Palmer was one of the number who in 1849 rescued a party of colored people, a mother and her three children, who had been kidnapped in Michigan, and were being taken to Kentucky. His participation in this act cost him nearly every dollar of his worldly possessions, suit being brought against him in company with several others, for the recovery of the value of the slaves together with the penalty attached to the rescue of slaves under the law of 1793. For years the case dragged along in the courts, and was finally decided against Mr. Palmer and his associates.

To illustrate the character of the man, and to show that dollars and cents would not influence him in an act against him conscience, it is related of him that when engaged in the lumber trade at Mishawaka, he assisted a man to load up some building material, when that person procuring it incidentally made known that it was to be used for a distillery. Immediately Mr. Palmer proceeded to unload the lumber, saying to the astonished customer, “You can’t use my lumber for such a purpose.” His convictions were always on the side of truth, justice and the oppressed, and he was faithful to his convictions. Dignified, affable, gentle-mannered, firm in his beliefs but tolerant of the views of others, he lived a true man, and died universally respected.

On the organization of the Republican party in 1856, Mr. Palmer identified himself with it, and was elected by that party to the office of Sheriff of the county in 1864, and re-elected in 1866. The same party also elected him Justice of the Peace, and Councilman of the Fifth Ward, positions he was filling at the time of his death.

On Wednesday, March 12, 1879, he was on the street in his apparently usual health, and that night attended a meeting of the Odd Fellows lodge that he might witness the initiation of his son, Orlando H. Palmer, his only surviving child. Thursday morning he arose as usual, but not long after had a hard chill. Medical aid was summoned, and every aid rendered. During the day he kept his bed, taking the medicine left him, continuing the same during the night. At 7:45 A.M., on Friday morning, March 14, he breathed his last. The funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church Sunday afternoon, and were largely attended. He was laid away to rest by the Odd Fellows, with which order he was so long identified.

History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
published in 1880
St. Joseph County’s Illustrious Dead