HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                          10



A.  F. & A. NI.; to Brazil lodge, No. 762, B. P. 0. E. He votes with
the Democracy but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to con-
centrate his time and energies upon his business affairs. He is a rep-
resentative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By
perseverance, determination and honorable effort, he has overcome all
obstacles which bar the path to success in a business career, and has
reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and
public spirit have made him, a promoter of public thought and action.

    DR. JOHN D. SOURWINE., of Brazil, is one of its leading practitioners
of medicine and surgery, as well as its most enterprising citizens, and is
especially well known for his pioneer work in the promotion of its
transportation facilities: He is a native of old Augusta, Marion county
Tndiana, born on the 4th of October, 1852, and received his earlier
education in the common schools of Zionsville, Boone county, and of
Greenwood, Johnson county, both towns of his native state. lie first
read medicine with Dr. A. W. Knight, in 1876. He came to Brazil
in 1872 and later in 1876, engaged in the drug business with his father—
in-law, lonathan Crosdale. He sold his interest in the establishment
in 1884, having been appointed postmaster of the city by President Cleve—
land. In 1887 he again engaged in the drug business, and in the follow-
ing year acted as northwestern agent for the Phenix Powder Manufac-
turing Company, being at the same time a stock-holder in the business. It
was in 1893 tliat he also assisted in tlie organization of the Brazil Rapid
Transit Street Railroad Company, his chief associate in the enterprise
being G. Vanginkl. The line was first built from Harmony to the west-
ern city limits of Brazil. and later was extended to Cottage Hill Cenie-
tery, the Doctor being vice president of the company. As this was thc
first interurban line built in the United States, it is of interest to note that
it was constructed entirely by the private funds of its promoters, without
the issuance of bonds or stock. The builders operated the line until
1900, when they sold it to the Terre Haute Traction Company.
    In the meantime Dr. Sourwine had been continuing his medical
studies, had pursued a regular course in the Central College of Physicians
and Surgeons at Indianapolis, Indiana, and had graduated in 1896, with
the degree of his profession. He had entered practice and made a suc-
cess of it, both by his professional competency and his genial ways. which
go far toward leading a patient on the road to recovery. His able
financial management was also in evidence in 1907, when he erected
the Sourwine Opera House Block. This fine building, besides the
handsome house of amusement with a seating capacity of twelve hun-
dred, includes seven modern flats and six stores, and is one of the most
substantial, as well as attractive structures in the city. Dr. Sourwine is
one of the most widely known fraternalists of Brazil. He is a charter
member of Brazil Lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias, having held not
only all the local offices but served as state representative to the grand
lodge. He is identified with Centennial Lodge No. 541, A. F. & A. M.;
Brazil Chapter No. 59. R. A. M.; Brazil Council No. 40, R. & S. M.,
and Brazil Commandery No. 47, K. T. To complete the record, he
belongs to the Elks (B. P. 0. E.), of the latter order being a member
of Brazil Lodge No. 762. In politics, he is a Democrat.
    The Doctor s parents were George and Polly (Jennings) Sourwine.
The father was born in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, dying in 1901, at the