Biography from Rick B
Sunday, March 26, 2006
HISTORY OF INDIANA FROM ITS EXPLORATION TO 1922 BY LOGAN ESAREY, Ph. D., ALSO AN ACCOUNT
OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION EDITED BY JOHN B. STOLL (Volume III).
"Some Prominent Figures in St. Joseph County History", published in Dayton, Ohio
by Dayton Historical Publishing Co., 1923, pages 176-177.
Col. Norman Eddy. It is given to but few men to attain to positions of high public
trust and to discharge the duties thus imposed upon them in a manner to earn the
unqualified approval and esteem of all, but such were the accomplishments of Col. Norman
Eddy of South Bend, a successful physician, an able attorney, a brave soldier and a
trusted public servant.
He was born at Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, a community in which his father was
an early settler. In his youth he studied medicine, and in 1836 he came to Mishawaka to
establish himself in the practice of his profession. He was most successful in this, but
in 1847 he removed to South Bend, studied law, and on April 1st of that year was admitted
to the local bar. This new profession he practiced with remarkable ability for three
years, and then, in 1850, was elected to the State senate on the Democratic ticket. In
1852, with his record in the State legislature to recommend him to the people, he was
elected to Congress, defeating Schuyler Colfax for that office. However, in 1854, the
tables were turned and he was defeated for re-election by his former opponent. In 1855,
President Pierce, recognizing the worth of Col. Eddy, appointed him to the United States
District attorney for Minnesota, and the following year brought him appointment as
commissioner of Indiana!
Trust lands in Kansas, where he remained until 1857. He then resumed the practice of
law with Judge Egbert as his partner, but two years later he was appointed by the
legislature on the commission to settle claims due the State.
At the outbreak of the Civil war, he organized the 48th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Regiment, and was appointed Colonel of it. The regiment was plunged into the thick of the
fighting almost from the very first, and no member of the organization fought with greater
valor than did its intrepid colonel. Colonel Eddy was severely wounded at the battle of
Iuka, sustaining an injury from which he never fully recovered. However, he fought
thereafter at the battles of Corinth and Grand Gulf and paticipated in the memorable siege
of Vicksburg. When that city finally fell before the Union forces under General Grant,
Colonel Eddy, weakened and disabled from his old wound, reluctantly resigned his
commission and returned to South Bend. Here he once more took up his law practice,
following it until 1865 when he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the 9th
District by President Andrew Johnson. In 1870, he once more entered the arena of
politics, an office which he was!
holding at the time of his death at Indianapolis on January 28, 1872 at the age of
sixty-two years. Upon the passing of this loyal and patriotic gentleman the St. Joseph
Bar Association passed appreviative resolutions which were inscribed on the records of the
circuit court and the court of common pleas in this county.