Politics, Government and Law

Politics, Government and Law. . In addition to being the home of Indiana governors Isaac P. Gray (1828-1895) and James P. Goodrich (1864-1940), Randolph County has been the launching point for many other important state and national political and governmental leaders and jurists. James E. Watson (1864 to 1948) was a powerful U.S. Senator, representing Indiana in the U.S. Senate, serving as U.S. Senate Majority Leader from 1929 to 1933, and running for President of the United States in 1928. Thomas M. Browne (1829-1891) served as an Indiana State Senator, U.S. Attorney for Indiana from 1869 to 1872, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1877 to 1891. John Winchester (Ches) Macy (1843-1912) played a prominent role in the county as an attorney, Civil War Veteran, Indiana State Senator, and Randolph Circuit Court Judge. His son, John Macy, Jr. (1888-1980) was a long-time distinguished circuit court judge from 1936-1966. Three residents of Randolph County have served as Indiana's Secretary of State. Randolph County attorney and circuit court judge, Leander J. Monks (1843-1919) served on the Indiana Supreme Court from 1895 to 1913 and held the position of Chief Justice in 1904. Randolph County attorney Frederick S. Caldwell (1862-1939) served as a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals from 1913 to 1919. Prominent lawyers include brothers Jack Jaqua (1921-2001) and Fred Jaqua (1923-2007), who became partners of prestigious New York City law firms and (Fred) general counsel to New York City based Ford Foundation. The current Randolph County courthouse is actually the third courthouse to be built on site, having been constructed in 1876, remodeled in 1954, and remodeled again and expanded in 2010-12. Randolph County's geographical and political significance encouraged six future or former U.S. Presidents to visit and pay homage to local residents, including Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover.