History of Pike County Indiana United States of America

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John Watson Foster, diplomatist, was born in Pike county, Ind., March 2, 1836; son of Matthew Watson and Eleanor (Johnson) Foster. His father was a native of England and his mother the descendant of a Virginia family. He was graduated at Indiana university in 1855, studied law one year at Harvard and practised law in Evansville, Ind., 1857-61. He entered the Union army in 1861 as major of the 25th Indiana volunteers, was promoted lieutenant-colonel for action at Fort Donelson, where he commanded his regiment, and colonel for conduct at Shiloh. He was in command of the 65th and 136th Indiana volunteers, respectively, led a brigade of cavalry in the operations of General Burnside in the army of the Ohio in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1863, and was the first to enter Knoxville, September 4, when that city was occupied by the Federal troops He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers in 1865 and at the close of the war returned to Evansville where he conducted the Daily Journal, 1865-69, and was postmaster of the city, 1869-73. He served as chairman of the Republican state central committee in 1872, and was appointed by President Grant U.S. minister to Mexico, where he served, 1873-80. President Hayes transferred him to the Russian mission in 1880 and he was reaccredited to that mission in 1881 by President Garfield. He resigned in November, 1881, and established himself in Washington, D.C., as counsel for foreign legations. He was U.S. minister to Spain, 1883-85, under appointment by President Arthur. He resigned in March, 1885, after negotiating a commercial treaty, the terms of which the U.S. senate failed to confirm and which President Cleveland then withdrew for reconsideration. President Cleveland then appointed him to a special mission to Spain to continue the negotiations for a modified treaty, Which mission was unsuccessful and he returned to his law practice in Washington. In November, 1890, he was appointed by President Harrison special commissioner of the state department to negotiate reciprocity treaties with Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Santo Domingo, and the South American republics, in all of which he was successful, with the exception of Colombia and Venezuela. He also aided in the Chilean affair and in the Bering sea controversy, being the attorney for the United States to prepare and conduct the case before the arbitration tribunal. On the resignation of Secretary Blaine, June 4, 1892, President Harrison appointed Mr. Foster secretary of state, June 29, 1892, and he held this portfolio up to the close of the administration, when he sailed to Europe to represent the United States in the Bering sea arbitration. He was the advisor of Li Hung Chang, viceroy of the Chinese empire, in the peace negotiations with Japan, December, 1894-July, 1895, which led to the treaty of Shimonoseki, and for which service he is accredited with having received as a counsel fee, $100,000. He entertained the viceroy on his visit to the United States in 1896, and in 1897 was appointed by President McKinley to negotiate a tripartite agreement or treaty between the United States, Russia and Japan for the protection of the seals, which action was rendered necessary by the failure of Great Britain to co-operate in preventing poaching in Bering sea, in the discharge of which duty he visited England and then proceeded to Russia. In 1898 he was appointed a member of the joint high commission for the adjustment of differences with Canada. He was elected permanent vice-president of the American Bible society in 1880, and was elected to honorary membership in the geographical, historical and scientific societies of Mexico and Russia. He was married in 1859 to Mary Parke, daughter of Eliza J. McPherson of Glendale, Ohio. He published in the Century (August, 1896) a sketch of the life and character of Li Hung Chang whom he ranked among the greatest men of his age. He is the author of: A Century of American Diplomacy (1900); and Our Diplomacy in the Orient (1903).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Laury Greene, representative, was born in Pike county, Ind., Oct. 13, 1849; son of Washington and Lelia (Mosley) Greene, and grandson of George W. Greene. He removed with his parents, who were farmers, to Dubois county, Ind., and there worked on the farm and attended school. He was graduated at Ireland academy, Ind., taught school and studied law. He was admitted to the bar at Bloomington, Ind., in 1876 and practised there till 1883, when he removed with his family to Kearney, Neb. He joined the Populist party in 1890 and was a candidate for U.S. senator in 1892 and lost the election by two votes. He was judge of the 12th judicial district of Nebraska, 1895-97, and a representative in the 55th congress, 1897-99. He was re-elected to the 56th congress, and was succeeded by William Neville. He died suddenly at Omaha, Neb., March 11, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Pike County Indiana

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