Naylor - Isaac (Judge) - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Hon. Isaac Naylor, the second president judge of the White Circuit court was born in Rockingham County, Virginia July 29, 1790.  His parents brought him to Charlestown Indiana when he was yet a child and in 1817 he was admitted to the bar.  In 1813-14 he was in the territorial militia and a sergeant in Capt. James Biggers company and participated in the battle of Tippecanoe on Nov 7,1811.  In 1826 he married Catherine Anderso, Daughter of Capt. Robert Anderson of Revolutionary fame and 7 years later moved to Crawfordsville and formed a partnership with the Hon. Henry S. Lane.  In 1837, he was appointed by the Governor judge of the Crawfordsville circuit, which extended  from Lake Michigan to Bedford and Salem and while holding this office organized the counties of Benton, Jasper and Pulaski.  He presided over the White Circuit Court from the December term 1838 until April 1842 during which time it was held in the old feed room now a part of the South Side feed bard.  23 years of his life he spent as judge of the various circuits in the state but in April 1842 his circuit was changed and John W. Wright became judge at this place.  During his service as judge he travelled from one county to another on horseback with the late Governor Wright who was then prosecuting attorney and through marshes, rivers and swamps they often met droves of deer and wolves.  He indeed was a pioneer.  Unassuming but dignified in his bearings he was noted for his stern, puritanic adherence to moral principles and was never known to drink or play cards.  One writer has said of him, “No man ever lived who possessed in a great degree the confidence of the public.  Everybody has the most absolute faith in his integrity.”  He died at Crawfordsville, Indiana April 26, 1873 at the age of 83 years and was buried with the honors of Masonry with which institution he had long been identified.  At his death the Crawfordsville bar passed a number of resolutions relative to his life, one of which we subjoin: “As a judge he was so pre-eminently pure that during the long period of 23 years that he served on the bench he was never assailed by even a suspicion of corruption.  His integrity and fidelity were so stern and unyielding that temptation itself vanished at his approach.

Note: Naylor presided over the first murder trial in White County. (White Co Times 3-10-1916 p 1)