.Genealogy Trails
Rush County, Indiana
Biographies



bios2
THE STUDY OF BIOGRAPHY

The second volume of this work, to which the attention of the reader now passes, has to do with the biographies of the leading families of Rush county; these representing, naturally, in the main what commonly and properly are known as "the old families" of the county. The thoughtful reader of the concluding volume of this work cannot fail in his perusal of its pages to be impressed with the statements that "biography is the home aspect of history," and that "history, after all, is but collective biography." The collective biographies of the individuals composing a community, under the analysis of the thoughtful student of biography, become the history of the community thus composed. Particularly is this true of such a community as that of which, this history treats. In this collection of biographies, therefore, will be found much of the heretofore unwritten history of Rush county; intimate and informative details of the lives and labors of those stalwart men who took possession here and then passed on, leaving to their descendants the task of carrying on the great work they had so laboriously and so unselfishly begun. In the generations which have succeeded these "old families" in the main have persisted. In the nature of things, intermarriages in these families have been frequent, so that there has arisen here a fine community of interest based upon ties that bind this community as few such in the state are bound; creating, in fact, a real community, a fine neighborly relation in which all share, and in which all take a proper pride.
Due to these intermarriages and the continuing relations borne by the "old families" to the work of the community, the biographies contained in the succeeding pages will be found to cross and to recross, repeated references being found to the work done by the original settlers in establishing neighborly relations here. There will also be noted throughout these pages repeated references to the influence exerted by the various church establishments that were set up here in the then wilderness in the days of the pioneers and of the manner in which the influence of these respective establishments has persisted in the families now representing the pioneer stock. Other relations will be noted by the thoughtful reader, and it is to these that special attention is called, for in all this correlation there will be found much that will help in the .critical interpretation of the real history of the community which the historian has so understandingly presented in the pages which precede this. Therefore the biographical volume of this work will be found to possess as much of value to the student of history as has the historical volume and its pages should be read with as much care, for therein ofttimes will be found statements of fact that will make clear passages in the present volume that otherwise might not carry their full meaning save to those fully informed regarding the history of their home county. To the intelligent student of biography the following volume ought to prove a veritable "mine" of interest and to him is addressed a special invitation to give the succeeding pages his most thoughtful attention. If read from a correlative viewpoint they will be found to be not only wonderfully informative, but intensely interesting, and ought to stimulate the growing interest in the science that treats of tracing pedigrees as well as to accent the importance of the same in connection with local historical research, pointing out the duty of the family to preserve a record of individual descent.
Of late years there has been created in this country an interest in genealogical research that has led to much well directed and intelligent action along that line. Quite a few Rush county families have carefully compiled records published in attractive book form carrying much valuable information of a genealogical character relating to their particular lines, and it is exceedingly gratifying to note that American families are thus apparently finding much of interest in this process of taking stock of who and what they are. The threads that were broken in Revolutionary days are being picked up, and connections re-established with the mother country, while members of successive generations of the American descent are being traced back and set out in sober printed array with those of the present generation in order that their posterity may have a proper introduction to their forefathers and to their'  folks." It is an interesting study, and those who have been caught in the mazes of this sort of research declare it to be a most fascinating one.
That you may know 'Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim Picked  Tom the wormholes of long vanish 'd days, Nor from the dust of old oblivion rak'd, He sends you this most memorable line, In every branch truly demonstrative; Willing you, overlook this pedigree. —King Henry V. Shakespeare knew the value of "pedigree." The modern live stock breeder knows—none better—the value of "pedigree." If it was important to the claimant of a throne to show that his claim to individual descent was "no sinister nor no awkward claim plucked from the wormholes of long vanish'd days, nor from the dust of old oblivion rak'd;" if it is important to the intelligent breeder of live stock to know that the strain of his breeding stock runs unsullied, is it not equally important that American families should have some definite information relative to the lines from which they have sprung? Hence the present value of definite genealogical research; hence the creation of a sense of duty on the part of each family to preserve a record of individual descent,—a service of inestimable value to future generations of the family— for unless records that are now perhaps readily accessible for such a purpose are thus definitely preserved they in all probability will be lost to the succeeding generation, or at least consigned to "the dust of old oblivion," thus entailing upon the family a distinct and definite loss that will be a matter of regret to every member thereof. Remember: "Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors. " " Rely upon it,'' said William E. Gladstone,'  that the man who does not worthily estimate his own dead forefathers will himself do very little to add credit or do honor to his own country." It is trusted therefore that it will not be regarded as presumptuous in this connection to suggest the importance of preserving such records. Your grandchildren and theirs some day may be vitally interested to know who your grandparents were. The preservation of such details of genealogy may spare them what otherwise might prove a difficult, if not a wholly fruitless, task. Those who have sought through the biographical volume of this "Centennial History of Rush County" thus to preserve family records as a part of the definite history of their county have done well, and are to be commended for their forethought. They have responded to the call of a plain family duty and future generations of their line will thank them. They thus have relieved their posterity of the graceless task of being compelled to pick "from the wormholes of long vanish'd days " an " awkward claim'' to descent. They have made their "memorable line in every branch truly demonstrative." They have obeyed the exhortations, "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask thy father and he will show thee; thy elders and they will tell thee." "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things."

 Other Bios

CHARLES T. ADDISON, - J. M. AMOS  - WILLARD H. AMOS,
JOHN W. ANDERSON, - OSCAR APPLEGATE
JAMES W. ARBUCKLE - CLATA L. BEBOUT
CHARLES BENNING - WALTER BITNER,
WILLIAM M. BOSLEY  - HORRIE BROOKS
JAMES A. BROWN - WILLIAM J. BROWN,  
CHARLES G. CARNEY,  - GOLDIA CARR,
FRED E. CATT,  - JESSE E. CREED,
CHASE G. CROSS,  - SAMUEL E. COWAN,
H. E. DAUBENSPECK,  - PAUL L. DAUBENSPECK,
PHILIP S. DAUBENSPECK,  - CHARLEY DAVIS,
ROBERT SIMPSON DAVIS,  - DONALD H. DEAN, M. D.,
JACOB F. DOWNEY, - JAMES O. DRAPER,
WALDO DRAPER,  - JAMES M. ELLISON,
JOHNSON A. FANCHER, - JAMES FISHER,
JOHN D. FLEENER,-  CHARLES A. FRAZEE,
AUGUST GAHIMER, - WILLIAM CURTIS GEISE,
 PETER GILSON, -  WILLIAM H. GLENDENNING,
 JESSE G. GRAY, -  J. W. GREEN, M. D.,
 LOWELL M. GREEN, M. D., -  FRED GROSS,
 HENRY O. GROSS,- JAMES O. GUNNING,
 LINCOLN GUPPIN,  - LEWIS EDGAR HARCOURT,
JOSEPH E. HARDIN, - CHARLES H. HARTON,
THOMAS HEATON, - JOHN H. HEEB,
 WILLIAM J. HENLEY, - HON. ROWLAND H. HILL,
DORA M. HILLIGOSS, - EDWARD HOLMAN,
ELMER HUTCHINSON, - CHARLES HUGO, 
PERRY T. INNIS, -  ALLEN JACKMAN,
 HARRIE JONES.  - SAMUEL D. JONES,  
CHARLES H. KELSO,  - R. O. KENNEDY, M. D.,
FREDERICK KESSLER, - JOSEPH B. KINSINGER, D. O.,
JACOB H. KNEY,  - GEORGE W. KUNTZ,
PETER KUNTZ,  - JESSE A. LEISURE,
HENRY V. LOGAN, M. D., - JESSE LOGAN,
THOMAS W. LOGAN, - LOREN MARTIN,
WALTER S. MANSFIELD,  - FRANK McCORKLE,
JOPIN H. McCORKLE, - JOSEPH G. McCOY,
THOMAS E. McCOY,  - WILLIAM S. McCRORY,
LEON C. McDANIEL,   - HARRY F. McFATRIDGE,
JOHN D. MEGEE,  - JESSE F. MILLER,
FLOYD H. MINER,  - GEORGE B. MOORE, SR.,
WALLACE G. MORGAN,  - JUDGE DOUGLAS MORRIS,
CHARLES MURPHY,  - PLEASANT A. NEWHOUSE,
SAMUEL R. NEWHOUSE,  - O. M. OFFUTT,
ARNOLD ORME,  - HARMONEY L. PARSON,
CHARLES H. PARSONS, M. D.,
EDWIN PAYNE, - A. J. PERKINS, - SANFORD M. POSTON,
CONRAD D. POSZ,  - ELIHU PRICE,  - NOAH E. PRICE,
WESTON C. RICHEY,  - JOHN RICKETTS, - ALBERT W. RIGSBEE,
MARSHALL B. RIGSBEE,  - ALBERT M. ROBINSON,
MONET O. SEPTON,  - JOHN CHASE SEXTON, M. D.
MICAJAH S. SHROPSHIRE,  - BEN STEVENS,  - EDGAR THOMAS,
C. H. TOMPKINS,  - ROY WAGGENER,  - W. E. WAGONER,
JOHN R. WARD,  - WILLIAM B. WEBSTER, 
HON. NATHAN WEEKS,  - GEORGE WHISMAN,
JOHN O. WILLIAMS,  - JOHN M. WISSING,
WILLIAM SEWARD WHITEMAN,  - GARRETT D. WIKOPP,
JESSE WINKLER,  - JOSEPH S. WINSHIP



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