RABB-Joseph M
Source: Indianapolis News Mon 22 May 1905 p 8
Covington May 22 – The services of Joseph M. Rabb as presiding judge of the Fountain County Circuit Court have closed. They began 23 years ago. The last General Assembly separated Fountain County from the 21st judicial circuit. Judge Rabb was elected in 1882 to succeed the late Judge Thomas F. Davidson and he has been reelected whenever necessary ever since. Vermillion County was taken from the circuit in 1885 and in 1899 Benton County was added to Fountain and Warren. Fountain County will hold its first session of court beginning the first Monday in September, continuing 10 weeks. Charles R. Milford, of Attica and William H. Cox of this city are candidates for appointment as judge.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 1 April 1898
Williamsport Review – Hon. Joseph M. Rabb, who for the past 16 years has so faithfully and ably served the people as judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit of Indiana, has yielded to the request of his multitude of friends and consented to be candidate before the Republican state convention for the nomination for one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the State. He has had the matter under careful consideration for several months and after consulting with friends from many parts of the state and meeting with the most flattering assurances of support, he has determined to stand for the nomination. Judge Rabb was born in Fountain County, Indiana but while still a child moved with his parents to Vermillion County, where he lived until he was past 16 years of age when he volunteered as a member of Company K, 71st regiment of Indiana volunteers. He was in the service three years, and no better or braver soldier ever wore a uniform than “Joe Rabb.” He was loved, honored and admired by his comrades, always ready for duty and among the volunteers if work calling for real courage, bravery and heroism was demanded. After the war he came to Warren County, taught school and studied law. In 1868 he was admitted to the bar and at once gained the confidence of the people, both as to his honesty and ability as a lawyer. He soon became a leader at the bar in this section of the state and in 1882 was elected Circuit Judge over the Hon. Thomas F. Davidson, now deceased who had held the judgeship for 12 years and was an exceedingly popular gentleman. Since that time he has been reelected twice and today has the unbounded confidence of his constituency. During his long service upon the bench he has been called to many different parts of the state to try important cases and there is today no more popular circuit judge in the state than he; he is a hard worker, full of life and energy and a profound judge.