HESLER-Lincoln - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Lincoln Hesler had a career as a lawyer and citizen such as all thinking people must admire. He was best known in the counties of Fountain and Montgomery, where for over a 1/4 of a century he practiced law. For 12 years before his death, his home was in Crawfordsville. A well rounded and sincere tribute to his life is found in the words of a memorial resolution drawn up and presented by a committee of the Montgomery County Bar in the following language: "Lincoln Hesler, son of William and Matilda Hesler, was born in Fountain County, Indiana Aug 21, 1862 and departed this life at Crawfordsville Nov 3, 1918. He was married to Jennie Sumner Dec 6, 1883. His widow and two sons, Russell L. and Herbert S who at the time of his death were both in the United States Military Service, survive him. Mr. Hesler was graduated from DePauw University at Greencastle in 1884, being while there a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and in January of that year was a member of the Fountain County Bar. He was engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession for a period of 27 years and then very reluctantly closed his office after his health had failed and his physician had advised that he would have to give up the practice. For 21 years he practice in Fountain Co and for six in Montgomery County. He never sought poltiical preferment but during the grater portion of the period of his practice he was attorney for the City of Veedersburg. He did not enter the practice for the purpose of making money or with a view to gaining a reputation as a great lawyer, but because of his fondness for the science of law. It was fascinating to him and he enjoyed it. He regarded law as a science - a human method of dealing out justice between men. He was ethical in his practice, fair to his colleagues and loyal to his clients. In his death the Montgomery County Bar has lost one of its most loyal and conscientious members, the community an honest and patriotic citizen." Mr. Hesler's parents, William and Matilda Furr Hesler, were both natives of KY and they and their four children, two sons and two daughtesr, Jacob, Ida, Serina and Lincoln are all now deceased. Mrs. Lincoln Hesler was born at Covington Indiana, April 27, 1865, a daughter of Alvah and Emily Booe Sumner. Her father was a native of Ohio born March 26, 1828 and came to Indiana with his parents at age 19. He spent his active life as a cabinet maker and he made all the furniture with which he and his bride began housekeeping. He died in 1916. Mr. Hesler's mother was born Dec 26, 1830 in New Liberty, Indiana and died November 28, 1908. In the Sumner family were 4 children, 3 sons and one daughter: Alfonso, now a merchant at Waynetown, Indiana; Will H, a merchant-tailor at Peru, Indiana, Frank, deceased, Jennie May. The older of two sons, Russell Lowell was born at Veedersburg, Indiaan June 5, 1893. He graduated from the Crawfordsville High School in 1912 and Wabash College with class of 1917. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Immediately after leaving Wabash he entered the First Officers Training Camp at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and received his coveted position as 2nd Lt. He was first assigned to depot brigade duty at Camp Zachary Taylor, KY and was transferred to the school of arms for special instruction at Camp Perry, Ohio where he was awarded a medal as sharp shooter. Then came his later assignment as instructor of arms at Camp Cody, New Mexico where he remained at his post of duty until the close of the war. Herbert Sumner Hesler, the youngest son was born at Veedersburg, Nov 24, 1897. He graduated from Crawfordsville HS in 1915 and entered Wabash College. He was also a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. During 1918 he took special intensive military training for 3 months at Harvard Univesrity and was then assigned as Sgt. and instructor in the Students Army Training Corps at Wabash College. Nov. 13 two days after the signing of the armistice, he was selected to enter Camp Grant to train for a commission. The Hesler home is at 222 W. Main Street in Crawfordsville, and it was there that Mr. Hesler after retiring from law practice spent his time in delightful companionship with his family.