Ensminger - Horace P. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Ensminger - Horace P.

HORACE PHILLIP ENSMINGER

Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, pp 416-417

HORACE P. ENSMINGER, ex-City Marshal of Crawfordsville, Ind., is the subject of the present sketch. For many years this name has been a terror to law-breakers, and the quietude and peacefulness of the city are due to his vigilance and watchfulness. Mr. Ensminger was born in Hamilton, Ohio, January 28, 1827, and was the son of Joseph and Jane (Frazer) Ensminger. These parents were pioneers from Pennsylvania, who came into the county in 1828, settled here when it was nothing but woods, and located in the eastern part six miles southeast of Crawfordsville.

Joseph was a farmer and also understood the trade of bricklaying and assisted in the building of the first brick edifice which was put up in the city. He is still living at the advanced age of ninety-four years, resides with his son, and still loves to discuss politics as well as he did in 1854, when he became a Republican. He has been twice married. His first wife died in 1839, and his second was Jane Canine, widow of John Canine, and she also died some twelve years ago. Of a family of eleven children eight are now living. In 1844 the family moved into Crawfordsville, and Horace learned the trade of a saddler at La Fayette, and followed it at this place for a period of twenty years, having a harness and saddle shop here. From 1854 to 1858 he acted as Village Marshal, and in 1875 he became City Marshal and has been elected by the people every two years since. Twenty years ago he was the only officer, and it was about six years later before the force was increased, and in those days he made more arrests than does the whole force at the present time. The present police department consists of five policemen, besides the Chief-three night and two day men.

Like his aged father, Mr. Ensminger is a Republican and is a man who could hardly be replaced in this city. In 1858 our subject was married to Miss Nancy Nicholson, and they have a family of the following children: Charles, a civil engineer in Kansas; John, who is a physician in Waynetown, Ind.; Hal, a druggist in Indianapolis, Hattie, who died when an infant of three years, and another infant who was taken away. The family residence is at No. 411 East Main street. Mr. Ensminger deserves to be retired on a pension. For twenty years he has been the guardian of the peace of this city. In those early days it was quite a common thing to have fights and drunken brawls on the streets, but the evil-doers soon learned that the Marshal was a man of nerve and pluck and that he could not be turned from duty. The fame of Crawfordsville extended abroad, and too much praise cannot be given the efficient officer who brought this state of things to pass. He has developed an admirable corps of assistants, and the city may well feel proud of its peace department. They are all splendid specimens of manhood, and each one feels the responsibility of the office entrusted to him, and, better than all, each one is a gentleman, so unlike are they to the guardians of the law in many much larger cities. - typed-by-kbz