Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Arnold James Padgett
History of the Catholic Church in Indiana
Logansport:Bowen, 1898
Arnold James Padgett, one of the more prominent lawyers of Washington, Ind., was born in Van Buren township, Daviess county, October 28, 1855, a son of William B. and Minerva J. (Seal) Padgett, who both belong to pioneer families of the state of Indiana. Arnold J. Padgett attended the country schools until seventeen years old and then studied two years in the city schools. In the spring of 1878, he began reading law with W. R. Gardiner, of Washington, and in September, 1876, entered the law department of the university of Indiana, from which he was graduated June 12, 1877. For about a year he practiced alone in Washington, then, from 1878 until 1881, in partnership with Hon. W. D. Bynum, when Mr. Bynum removed to Indianapolis. Mr. Padgett then formed a partnership with John Downey, which continued until 1885, after which Mr. Padgett practiced alone until 1890 in the same city, when he went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was in practice about a year. From August, 1891, until the fall of 1895, he had his office alone in Washington, Ind., and in November of the latter year united with his brother, J. Alvin Padgett, under the firm name of Padgett & Padgett, since when this firm has done the leading legal business of Daviess County. As a democrat, A. J. Padgett was elected prosecuting attorney for the circuit court of Daviess and Knox counties in 1882, and was re-elected in 1884, serving in all four years. He gave his adherency to the democratic party until 1893, when, on account of its action in relation to the silver question, he affiliated with the people's party, and was a delegate of the latter to the national convention, held in St. Louis, Mo., in 1896, was chairman of the delegation from Indiana, and has also been elected a member of the people's party state central committee. Mr. Padgett was united in marriage, in Washington, October 28, 1878, with Miss Glen O. Cosby, who was born in Daviess county, January 10, 1855, a daughter of James and Mary (Hixon) Cosby, and this union has been blessed with two children, David H. and Arna Vida. The family are members of St. Simon's church, and Mr. Padgett owns a very pleasant home East Seventh and Vantrees streets.
Contributed by: John D. McMullen