Dice - Francis M. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Dice - Francis M.

HON. FRANCIS M. DICE

Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain counties, Indiana.

Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893.

HON. FRANCIS M. DICE is one of the leading members of the Bar at Crawfordsville, Ind., also a veteran of the late war, and has had an important career as a lawyer and citizen. He was born in Fountain County, Ind., and is the son of Hon. Jacob DICE, on of the leading members of the State Legislature during the important sessions of 1851-52. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his district, and was then sent to Wesley Academy, where he spent several terms. He then enlisted in the army of the Union, joining Company C, One hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, W. C. KISE commanding, and passed eight months in East Tennessee. He was with his regiment as Corporal at the battle of Blue Springs, October 10, 1863, and also at Walker´s Ford, December 2, 1863, where his regiment was twice forced to cross the river under fire from the enemy´s guns.

After returning from the army, our subject taught school near his old home during 1864, and in this way secured means to attend Asbury University, and form that place he graduated in 1868 with the degree of A. B., and three years later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. He had accomplished a Herculean task, having completed a six-years course in four years, besides having taught tow terms of school and reading law. Later he studied law with Col. W. C. WILSON, of La Fayette, and then opened a law office at Covington, where he was admitted to the Bar in 1869. In the years of 1874 and 1875, he became the editor, owner and proprietor of the Republic, printed at Covington, through the columns of which he made it uncomfortably warm for his Democratic opponents. Also at one time our subject filled the offices of Township Trustee, and County School Examiner of Fountain County. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Senate from Warren and Fountain Counties I 1876, being opposed by the combined forces of the Democratic and Greenback parties.

While serving as State Senator Mr. DICE was a member of the Judiciary Committee, to which was referred the bill in reference to erecting the new State House. He was a supporter of the plan of erecting the new building and used his influence on the committee to that end, and the matter was so closely contested that all such influence was needed, as the bill passed through the committee with but one majority. It is largely to him that the State is indebted for its magnificent State House, a building that does credit to its advocates.

During the second term of service in the Senate, Mr. DICE was place upon several important committees. In 1880, having received the nomination by the Republican party as candidate for Reporter of the Supreme Court, he made a thorough canvass of the northern part of the State, and was elected with the part´s nominees in the fall of the year. This position he occupied for a term of four years and filled it with credit to the state of honor to himself. It is a place of importance and responsibility, and one that requires both literary and legal ability, and Mr. DICE did not disappoint the expectation of his friends. While occupying this, in the conscientious discharge of his official duties he gained the approbation of the legal fraternity generally throughout the State. Such men as President HARRISON, Gov. PORTER and the Hon. Michael C. KERR, and a host of others, have graced the same position, which indeed requires and demands the closest concentration of thought, command and legal phraseology, and facility of expression. Senator DICE entered into this position determined to keep the standard of Indiana´s reports up to the place which his predecessors had gained for them. The syllabi of the cases were written by him, he giving personal attention to the same, and also his personal attention to the verification of the citation of the Judge´s work. This required a vast amount of labor, which was freely given, and the results have proven of great value. The decisions edited by Mr. DICE are printed in octavo volumes and are considered by men of legal ability as being amount the most carefully edited and compiled of all law reports of any of the States. He also changed the manner of numbering the volumes from Roman to Arabic numerals, which met with much commendation. The copyright of these volumes is held by Senator DICE. He published twenty-nine volumes during his term of office, that number being more than has been published by any one holding the office before or since.

In 1884, Senator Dice moved to Crawfordsville, where as a boy he had frequently visited an uncle, who lived one-half mile south of the city. The surroundings of the place had made such an impression upon him that he then declared that when he grew to manhood he would buy the place and make it his home. His youthful ideas have been realized, as he purchased his uncle´s place and there is pending a pleasant life upon the spot, and surrounded by the scenes, which made such an impression upon his boyish imagination. He has there one hundred and sixty acres of fine rolling land, where he has erected a beautiful residence and devotes much time to the raising of fine horses.

Senator DICE has a very interesting family. He was married December 22, 1871, to Miss Mary Frances THOMPSON, daughter of William THOMPSON, of Covington. Mrs. DICE is a cousin of United States Treasurer NEBEKER, and the mother of five children. Edna M. was a student of La Salle Seminary at Auburndale, Mass., and graduated from the place in the Class of '92. Gertrude, a sweet girl, died at the age of two years; and Florence and Marguerite are at home. Mrs. DICE is a cultured lady, having been educated at Evanston, Ill., and was a schoolmate of Indiana´s well-be-loved agitator fro woman´s rights, Mrs. SEWALL, of Indianapolis. Senator DICE is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi College Club; and is a man who enjoys both political and social popularity, and is recognized as one of the leading Republicans of Indiana. -- typed by kbz

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