Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1895 — DR. JAMES. H. LOUGHRIDGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DR. JAMES. H. LOUGHRIDGE

Was laid to fOh id ou ” beautiful cemetervon Smoi'u afte-noon 1 ast after many year - ■•!' the struggle* ami toil incident to the \ ioiua r physician. His professional duties brought him in contact, at ontime or another, with most of the resuleuta of this and adjoining c untiep, and his acquaintance wr s ex ensivo, He ratified among the ablest physicians in ilie State. As a Uemocrat, b.i was well known, not alo. e within the contines§ot this county and distiict, but throughout the Stat a . As a citizen he was enterprising, progressive and free-handed, always favoring what lie believed tended to the welfare and best interests of the community. Socially, he bad a large followof friends; apparently brusque in manners, he bad within him a warm and tender heart whicn attached to him those who knew him best. Well educated, he kept well in line with advanced thought and theories, and-adapted himself to new and changed conditions readily and cheerfully, wheu satisfied they were in the interest of advancement. The v ry large attendance of his fellow citizens, as well as of acquaintances from abroad, on the occasion of the funeral exercises, attested the universal esteem and regard in which he was held. The foil, wing paper was prepared by Wm. B. Austin, and read at the funeral services: * Ur. James Hervky Loughkidge was of Scotch-Svvedish descendants, was born on a farm inGreene county, Pennsylvania, near Wheeling, Virginia,! >n December 27th, 1828, and at his death was 66 year*, 7 months and 19 days old. He was next to the youngest of a family of three girls and four boys, and of these three i rothers survive him. He graduated from Jefferson Colleg , at Washington, Pa, when about 18 years of age. Shortly after leaving college he came west and settled for a time at

Terre Haute, then at the Battle Ground, and in the Bpring of 1852 oamo to Rensselaer, where he con*, tinned to reside ever sinoe. He was married in 1863 to Candace Powers, to whom was born three children, two of whom, Dr. Victor E. and Mies Blanche Loughridge, survive him. In every civilized community there area few men who either in a sjcial, financial, religious political or professional way shape the destinies of its people. In the history of the world such men as Worth, the tailor; the Rothsohilds, as fiuanomrs; Spurgeon, Beecher and others asm misters iGladstone, Abraham Lincoln, as statesmen; Rufus Choate, the great German physician Koch, and others, as’-pro-ressional men, have actually and liternlly molded and formed the people and events of their times. So, in a humbler but not less pos* itive sense, hi ve people in our own locality boon influenced forlgood or evil, industry or idleness, eduoa tion or ignorance, by a few pioneer spirits who in the early settlement of our country braved the dangers, hardships and inconveniences of a wild west. Few can fully appreciate these things who have not experienced, thtra. A son of wedto- do parents, Dr. Loughridge came hero a college-bred young man to n.ake his way. Witli Geo. W. Bpitler, Geu. R. H. Milroy, and other kindred spirits he has done his sh/.re to nring order out of confusion in a pioneer commui nity. He alwavs had greatfaith in the iutconip of real estate in this county and was content to hold several bodies of so-called cheap lands for years, uud it is a fact to be regret ted. and he himself expressed regret a short time since that he had to die just ns these swamps were deve 1 oping into valuable corns fields.

Dr. L. Highridge was a great ad tnirer of nature as exemplified in ’ nth the animal ami vegetable kingdom, ami he was recognized as an authori-tv on any subject connccicd with those things. He was an ffecti mate liiubaml, akin' and indulgent father, and a faithful Mason ami Odd Fellow. l’olitically, Dr. Loughridge vas always a Democrat of the stalwart, Gen. Jacksonltype. He his been a leader in the Democratic circle in this corn ran ity for years. He stood loyally by the government in its struggle for existence as a surgeon in the 9th ami 48th regiments of Indiana voluntetrs. His skill as a phys Han ,unl surgeon was his prominent characteristic. So long has he lived in this county, and so intimate has been his professional relations with the families of this and adjoining cwuuties that he was almost a living .exicou of the physical condition of the majority of inhabitants. In his professional capacity he was as tenderhearted as a child. He was strictinthe observance of. the ethics of his profession, and it has been said that the secrets of hundreds of families have died with him. Ha was ever ready to extend the fraternal hand to a brother physician in the legitimate practice of theprofossio , but be use for quacks and medical pettifoggers. .xbe world is not dependent upon any man or anything. <*od, Himself, is our only dependence. Many may come after Dr. Lough > rid"e who may equal him, but pc t excel him. The ways of Brovin dence are past our ken. It is our duty to submit—not to question—and *ve can only say in conclusion, “Peace 1 e to his ashes.”

(1. A. R. Encampment Rates. For the Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Louisville, Sept. 11th to 14th, ’95. Tickets will be sold Sept. Bth to llth inclusive, good to return up to and including Oct. sth, at $4 40 for the round tiip, W. a. Beam, Ag’t,

The program of the state lair embraces mony new attractions this year, and everyth:ng points to a big display in all of the departments.