Engraved on the base of this monument is the following:
Rosalind Orr English, only child of William E. English and Helen Orr English. Taken at the age of 21 years in the flower and beauty of her youth and on the threshold of a brilliant career. A political public speaker, before her majority, an attorney, admitted to the bar on her 21st birthday. A writer of poems at 8 and at the age of 11 she wrote these words so fittingly quoted here:
Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, mourned by those who loved thee best,
While Holy Angels guard and keep, sleep my baby, sleep
At the base of the inscription above it states “A short life measured by years but a long life measured by accomplishments
Who are these people, you might ask..... well
William Eastin English (11/3/1850 – 4/23/1926).
1892 was a delegate to the Chicago National Democratic Convention and presented a very well received speech to nominate Grover Cleveland for President of The United States.
1896. Again a delegate to the National Convention from the Seventh Indiana District.
William E. changed political parties and was a popular speaker in the Republican Convention for Presidential nominees McKinley and Roosevelt.
1904. Again campaigned for President Roosevelt
1908 Accompanied President Taft on his speaking tour of the State of Indiana
1912 Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago
In 1898, then President McKinley offered William E. a position as a Major of the Army to serve as Paymas-ter during the Spanish-American War. He declined that offer that he might serve on the front as a commander of a Calvary Division He was commissioned a Captain. He was severely injured at the battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. His horse (Santiago) was hit by a shrapnel shell during this battle; this caused the horse to rear and fall atop Captain English, severely injuring him internally. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt sustained a slight wound from the same shell that hit Captain English’s horse.
Rosalind Orr English (3/10/1903 – 12/22/1924)
Captain William E. English and his wife Helen Orr English had one daughter Rosalind Orr English, whom was named after the Captain’s sister Rosalind. At the age of four, his daughter Rosalind unveiled the statue of her Grandfather, William H. English on the public square in Scottsburg on September 28, 1907. Rosalind Orr English was admitted to the State Bar for her lawyer license on her 21st birthday. She was an avid fan of horseback riding and flying airplanes. Her life was cut short by a freak automobile accident on December 22, 1924 near Putnamville, Indiana.