Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 1 January 1897 — Page 9

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Saturday—A Beautiful Tribute to His Memory.

Ben T. Ristine, the oldest member of the Crawfordsville bar—and perhaps the oldest practitioner in the State— died at his home near this city on December 25th. 18!0, lacking only a few days of the 00th anniversary of his birth. He continued to visit his otlice daily, and to take some part in the business thereof, up to within a month of his death. He died without sickness or pain, purely from the exhaustion of old age. He leaves a numerous family, consisting of his widow, six children and almost a score of grandchildren. Never was any man in this community more respected for his noble qualities than Ben T. Ristine.

VOL. 50—NO. CRAWFOKDS VILLE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JANUARY I, 1.897--TWKTA'JC VAGUS. I'A.i.n: sword

Away on Cliriatiuati Day at the Klpe Age of Ninety Years—A Sketch of His Life—Action of the ltur Last

Physically he was without a blemish, lie had a strong mind, and a pure heart, p.od no one man's life ever had a greater inlluence in creating a high standard of business integrity than his. The following was written by Hon. P. S. Kennedy and appeared in "Bench and Bar," a volume of biographical sketches of the most distinguished members of the bar and bench of Indiana: "It is a trite but noblesaying, applying to the lowliest as well as the highest conditions of life: 'Honor and shame from no condition rise: act well your part, there all the honor lies!" A greater than the great man who wrote these words penned a proverb which is of use here: 'A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.' It is true, 'Peace hath her vie' tories, no less renowned than war and also this: 'An honest man is the noblest work of God!' In whatever sphere of life, humble or high, a man moves, the moral element determines his grade and reward. Governed by this rule, Ben Taylor Ristine, the subject of this sketch, must stand high in the esteem of those who know him

Physically he is a nobie man, without a blemish, and his mind and heart are as sound as his body. He is a practical translation of the Latin dictum: •Menu nana in corjio mno.' His influence for good has always widely been felt and acknowledged in the community where he has spent his life, and the mere mention of his name is a refutation of the charge, so often thoughtlessly made concerning the moral integrity of those who practice law. Mr. Ristine was born in Gallatin county, Kentucky, about five miles south of Madison, Indiana, January It), 1807. He was the eldest child of Henry Ristine and Nancy (Gray) Ristine—the former a native of New York, the Matter of Virginia. Henry Ristine and Nancy Gray were married July 4, 1805, in Gallatin county, Kentucky, and in 1808 moved to where now stands North Madison, Indiana. Henry Ristine was an otlicer in the ranging service during the war, of 1812. The command to which he belonged were all mounted men, and the service led to an exploration of Indian Territory, and e6peci-allythe-Wabash Valley. The knowledge of the country acquired in this service doubtless led to his moving from Madison to the region where he settled. On May 11, 1823, Henry illistinej with his son, who is the subject of this sketch, then a lad of sixteen years, reached Crawfordsville, Indiana, where they spent the summer with some hired help in building a house preparatory to moving the family to this place. They started back the last of July and began the return trip, leaving Madison October !, 1823 and arrived in Crawfordsville some ten days later with one six-horse team and a two-horse team, conveying the family thither consisting of his wife and six children. Ben T. Ristine was never a student of a college, but in his early years enjoyed the great privilege of having as a tutor a minister in Madison who was a rare classical scholar, just then from one of the institutions of the East, and who inspired his pupil with a love of the Latin classics and gave him an inclining to that general learning which i6 too rare in the professional man. Few men are to be found more thoroughly versed inaccurate historical knowledge than he.

Mr. Ilistine in his twenty-second year taught school for a single term, and was afterwards (engaged in the dry goods business in Crawfordsville for some live years. While in this business in August, 1837, he was married to Miss Florinda Humphreys, of Canton, Connecticut. She was a sister to

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some eight years ago. Mr. Ristine, while still in other business, was a close student of the law. In those days admission to the bar meant something, and was secured only upon an examination by two good lawyers appointed by the Court for that purpose. In his case Rufus A. Lock wood and Henry S. Lane were appointed to hear and report upon his qualifications. The license had to bo signed by two Judges, and only one was present. Mr. Lock wood moved that he be admitted without the usual formality and the record of the court is: 'Saturday, April 4, 1840. On motion B. T. Ristine is admitted and sworn as an attorney and counsellor at law of this Court for and during the remainder of the present term of this Court.1 At the September term next following his license was signed by two judges and he was admitted generally: and from that time to the present day his name has appeared upon the records of every term of this court, and his work as shown by these records, is probably more extensive than that of any other man who has practiced in the courts of this county. Mr. Ristine formed his Erst law partnership with William

T. Noel then with his brother-in-law, Hosea I.) Humphreys. Both of these partnerships were broken by the death of the partner. In 1S4."I lie became the

Hosea D. Humphreys, Latin professor, lawyer, and his father's partner Warin Wabash College and a lawyer of ren II. Ristine, physician, CrtiwfordsCrawfordsville. The married life be-1 ville Charles W. Ristine, farmer, Craw gan

partner of Alexander Thompson, and the firm of Thompson Ristine contiuued until March, 187:1, when Mr.' Thompson retired from the practice. In 1SU7 his third son, Theodore H. Ristine, became a member of the firm, and after the retirement of Mr. Thomson the firm was Ristine A. .Ristine, and afterwards, in 187(i, Hosea H. Ristine, the fourth sou, became a member of the firm. Mr. Ristine enjoyed the warm friendship of Rufus A. Lockwood, a lawyer of rare genius: few persons ever enjoyed the personal esteem of Mr. Lockwood in a like degree. The late Judge Huff once said: 'Mr. Lockwood loved Ben l!istin« like he hated most men.' His early training was shaped in a good degree by this great lawyer, whom he accepted as the one above others as 'learned in the law.' Mr. Ristine has always been a close student, and is well grounded in the law, and, while avoiding display of any kind, he has perhaps been the letial adviser of a larger clientage than any other member of the Crawfordsville bar. He never had much taste, however, for the sharp contentions of the court room, and in his later years has largely confined himself to office work, in which he is always accurate and reliable. His brother-in-law and law partner,

long ago continues, their gold-' jordsville: Flora C. Fra/.er, wife of on wedding having been celebrated William D, Fra/.er, lawyer. Warsaw,

Hosea I) Humphreys, was a Democrat and a special favorite of his party. Mr. Ristine was a Whig, but his early association with Humphreys brought him into close contact with leading Democrats of his county, and he has been throughout his long professional life the personal friend and attorney of many of these early friends of Mr. Humphreys. In politics Mr. Ilistine is n. Republican and has always taken an active interest, but has seldom allowed himself to seek oflice. He was the candidate of the Whig party for the Constitutional Convention of 1851 and led the ticket, but was defeated, the county at that time being Democratic. He has living five sons and one daughter, all honorable citizens and successful in life. The children are: Dr. Harley (J. Ristine, physician, Fort Dodge, Iowa: Theodore H. Ilistine, lawyer, and now Treasurer of Wabash College Hosea H. Ristine,

Ind. The second son, Albert L., First Lieutenant, Eleventh Indiana, died soon after the war from disease contracted in the service. There are fifteen grandchildren, three of whom are Btudents at this time in Wabash College. Mr. Ristine and his wife have been for nearly iifty years members of Center Presbyterian church of Crawfordsville. He has been one of those who look on the bright side of life."

KXI'UICSIDKNT Tl"l'TI.I'.'s TltlBUTK. This name as here written was well aud widely known in this commonwealth. It represented a man who was honored and loved in the State in which he iived four score and eight years. His father was an otficerin the ranging service and in 1808 he removed from Kentucky to Madison, Indiana. In 1823 he came with his family to Crawfordsville. He was a diligent student in the pursuit of knowledge and in 1840 was licensed to practice law. In 1845 he became a partner in the firm of Thomson Ilistine, a firm celebrated in this State, especially in

Montgomery county. The confidence inspired by this law firm was well shown in the fact that the probate business of the county was to so great an extent confided to it that people often called the court that had charge of the probate business the "Thomson Sr. Ristine court The partners were revoted friends. When Oak Hill was

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laid out Mr. Ristine selected a lot close to that chosen by his old part ner, saying with quivering lip: "We have been very close friends in life and I wish to be close to him in our last resting place." They were law partners thirty years, and it was to them both a proud fact that in all that time there had not been a hard feel ing. Till death parted them the othtr day they had been as brothers.

In 1837 he was married to Miss Florinda Humphreys, of Camden, Conn. To them were born six sons and one daughter.

Mr. Ristine was greatly honored as a Christian, a lawyer, and a citizen. He wai a retiring man in his social habits and yet peculiarly loved in the circle around hliu. I will notspeak of his home, except to say that in its intelligence and sweet fellowships it was conspicuous. It was the "home of peace." Of the children who belonged to it Lieut. Albert L., of the Eleventh Indiana Regiment, alone had been taken from it. His place in that home was never vacant, 6o constantly did his presence retain its hold on the survivors.

For many years Mr. Ristine was a member of Center church. Among his fellow citizens he was not merely honored as a trusted professional adviser, but he was loved fas friend. It might have been said of him as the angel said to Daniel, "Thou art greatly beloved." And this not only in his own home, but in the county and State. He never held an otlice in the church or commonwealth, but he was the honored adviser and friend of multitudes. He was reverently and fondly called by titles which showed to what an extent he had won all hearts,

His public life was conspicuously beautiful by its purity and genuine friendliness. He was a lover of books, especially those pertaining to American history. Even in his common intercourse with people of all classes he was the friend as shown in many ways. His brief Christian name was the one which he received when an infant. In his removal this community has lost a friend, a citizen, a brother, a Christian and a man whom multitudes honored, and whom, although he had reached so great an age, all honored aud now mourn. Eminently

just, his integrity was unquestioned. I

Delightfully humane, he won all

hearts. High in his sense of duty he

has won from a- large circle of admiring friends the eulogy which his Master spoke of another. "Well done, good and faithful servant." He may have had faults if sol never saw them or heard of them. "All men spoke well of him" and I am sure no woe will follow the beautiful encomium. Many who knew how noble he was in life will feel sad as they think of him as gone from our sight—not forever, but to meet again in brighter sceneB in another and a happier world. .1. F. T.

ACTION OK Til It A It. rJ

\t a meeting of the Montgomery County Bar Association held at the Court House in Crawfordsville, Ind., on the 20th day of December, 189G, called on notice of the death of Hon. Beu T. Ristine December 25th, I8'.)ti, a member of said bar, Judge James F. Harney presiding, the following proceedings were had: On motion Francis M. Dice was elected Secretary of the meeting. On motion P. S. Kennedy, M. D. White, Judge A. D. Thomas, Chas. Johnston and L. J. Coppage were appointed a committee to prepare suitable and appropriate memorial resolutions in reference to the death of Mr. Ristine, to report the same to this meeting, aud to present the same to the court in regular session January I, 1807. The following members of the bar were selected as honorary pall bearers on the day of the funeral services: P. S. Kennedy,

Judge E. C. Snyder, Judge W. P. Britton, Judge A. D. Thomas, James Wright, A. C. Jennison, Louis McMainsandF. M. Dice. On motion it it was resolved that the members of the Bar attend the funeral services in a body. The committee on resolutions reported the following which was unanimously adopted:

We, the committee appointed by the Crawfordsville Bar to draft resolutions commemorative of the death of Ben T. Ristine submit the following:

Ben T. Ristine was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky, Jauuary 11), 1807. He died at Crawfordsville, December 25, 1800, at the age of ninety years. Mr. Ristine studied law and was admitted to the Crawfordsville liar in L840 and practiced his profession continuously until within one month of his death.

The Bar is not always just to itself in its memorials of the dead. Its members are not all fit subjecta of eulogy, aud sometimes silence and forgiveness are all that is due to a deceased brother. But, on the present occasion we are confronted by no embarrassment. In reviewing the life of Ben T. Ristine and offering our tribute of praise there is no danger of extravagance. His life was

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pure aud blameless that

no pen could paint it brighter than it was. In portraying his churacter we might give loose rein our fancy without danger of offense to the most scrupulous. He was guilty of no vi*.e aud there is no virtue he did not possess in an eminent degree. The record of his long life is now completed and sealed, aud his associates of the bar gladly write upon it what ueed to be sometimes written upon the records of the courts, In n.ulUi ext. erratum.

We cannot undertake in this brief memorial, to recount all that was commendable in his life, but he had one great characteristic that few men possess—he was always more auxiouB to do justice to others than to exact it of them. He was always more fearful he would wrong those with whom he dealt than he was that they would wrong him. He knew the evil inlluence «f undue selfishness and constantly guarded his conduct against what little there was in his own heart.

What more can rational ambition aspire to than to live a life like Ben T. Ristine'sV Is there any creater fame than his whose character fills the highest standard of human excellence? His death, like his life, was gentle and peaceful. He went to liiK final rest as (juietly as as a babe falls uleep upon its mother's breast. As the twilight fades away, so did his life go out. We commend the noble example of his spotless career to all who survive him, and especialy to the young members of the bar who hope to rise in the world. It is only by such purity of life as his that true fame can he won. 1'. S. KKNNKOY,

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M. 1). WiniK. L. J. COI'I'ACK, ClIAK JoilNWroN, AI.IIKUT

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Funeral of Beu X. ItlHtlue).

The funeral of Ben T. llistiue occurred at Center Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and was attended by a large concourse of people, a noticeable feature being the unusually large number of aged perbons present. The Crawfordsvile bar attended the services in a body aDd occupied seats reserved immediately in the rear of those of the family in the center section. The services were conducted by Dr. J. F. Tnttle, Rev. A. J. Alexander and Dr. 10. B. Thomson. The remarks of Dr. Tuttlo and Mr. Alexauder were very appropriate and happy in character, Dr. Thomson offering an eloquent prayer. The music was by the Center church choir. The pallbearers were the five sons and the

deceased,

servicesalonfr proce8sion

After the

long procession of friends

followed the remains to their last rest-

ing p]ttCe

at Oak UJ11 qemeterv.