Alonzo L. Bales

As printed in 1914

ALONZO L. BALES.

Alonzo L. Bales, a member of the firm of Nichols, Goodrich & Bales, one of the best known legal firms of Winchester, was born September 25, 1864 in West River township, Randolph county, on the Wayne county line, on farm. He is a son of William D. and Rebecca A. (Jackson) Bales. The father was born in Dalton, Wayne county, and the mother in West River township, Randolph county. Jacob Bales, the great grandfather, came to Indiana from near Knoxville, Tennessee, in the year 1816 when the state was in its infancy and settlers were few and the land covered by practically a wilderness throughout. He settled with his family about two miles southwest of what is now the village of Economy, Wayne county, when that section was the home of the red man and man)' varieties of wild beasts. There this courageous pioneer erected a log cabin and began life as a true frontiers man, developing a good farm through hard, persistent work. His son, John Bales, grandfather of our subject, grew up in that section, worked at the carpenter's trade, and remained there until 1862 when he moved to Randolph county and settled on the land where our subject was born. He succeeded here as a farmer and his death occurred in 1884, at an advanced age, his birth having occurred in 1807. His son, William D. Bales, father of the gentleman whose name initiated this sketch, devoted his life successfully to general agricultural and stock raising pursuits, becoming one of the leading men of his community. His family consisted of five children, namely: Alonzo L., of this sketch; Oliver H. died in infancy; Sarah E. is deceased; Alary J. is deceased; Charles E. is engaged in farming in West River township. The father is still living on the homestead, but the mother passed away on July 10, 1913. She was a woman of fine Christian fortitude and charitable impulse.

Alonzo L. Bales grew to manhood on the home farm where he worked when a boy, attending the district schools during the winter months, and for a time the Winchester high school. He then taught successfully in the district schools of his native county for two consecutive winters, beginning in the fall of 1884. During this period he read law with A. O. Marsh and J. W. Thompson and was admitted to practice in 189 1. He moved to Winchester in September, 1895 and began practicing in partnership in December of that year with William S. Diggs under the firm name of Diggs & Bales which continued with ever increasing prestige until 1900 when Mr. Bales formed a partnership with John W. Macy and J. P. Goodrich, under the firm name of Macy, Goodrich & Bales which lasted until Mr. Macy went on the bench in 1902, when A. L. Nichols came into the firm as Nichols, Goodrich & Bales, and thus the firm stands at this writing. Judge Macy came back to the firm upon leaving the bench and after his death in 1912 his son, John W. Macy, Jr., succeeded him as a member of the firm.

Mr. Bales practices in the state and federal courts and is known to be a painstaking, alert, well-grounded and competent lawyer in every line of legal science. He is an earnest and forceful leader and is one of the most conspicuous figures in the trial of important cases in the local courts. His success has been pronounced from the start and his practice and influence have steadily grown with advancing years. He is a member of the county and. state bar associations. Politically, he is a Republican and has been active in the ranks. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Randolph county in the fall of 1898 and served one term in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He served as a member of the Republican County Central Committee for a number of years and did much for the success of the party in Randolph county.

Mr. Bales was married, first, on September 1, 1892 to Martha E. Foutz, a daughter of Henry and ?ilar Jane (Boyd) Foutz, of Randolph county. To this union four children were born, namely: Ralph W., whose birth occurred August 7, 1893; William H., born December 9, 1895; Mary R., born June 21, 1898; Ruth A., born February 28, 1901. Fhe wife and mother was called to her eternal rest on April 24, 1901. Mr. Bales' second marriage took place on Jime 21, 1905 when he espoused Emma G. Engle, daughter of Edmund and Gertrude (Bishop) Engle, of Winchester, and to this union one child has been born, John E., whose birth occurred January 29, 1908.

Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Bales, for a term of seven years successfully taught history and English in the Winchester high school. She was a student at Butler College, Indianapolis, for two years. For many- years she has taken an active part in all branches of church work.

Fraternally, Mr. Bales is a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Modern Woodmen of America.

He owns a valuable and well-improved farm in West River township and a commodious home on South Main street. He is a member of the ]Methodist Episcopal church as are also his children. Mrs. Bales belongs to the Main Street Christian church. All are active in church and Sunday school work. He is a teacher in the men's Bible class, which was organized under the state Sunday school organization as the A. L. Bales Bible class. He is a man of broad influence and usefulness, both in his profession and public life, and is regarded by all as a liberal, broad-minded, public-spirited citizen.

As printed in Past and present of Randolph County, Indiana : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.