RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
POSEY TOWNSHIP
EDWARD P. ADAMS,
an honored
old citizen of Posey Township, was born in Scott County, Ky., August
21, 1822, being the son of Isaac and Nancy Ann Adams with whom he came
to this State when he was between two and three years of age. The
family settled upon a tract of land near Morristown in the Southern
part of Hancock County. Some years later they removed to the
northern part of Shelby County, and still later, or in about 1843,
they came to Rush County and settled within the present limits of Posey
Township. There our subject continued with his parents until the time
of his marriage which occurred February 7, 1847. The lady he chose for
his life companion was Miss Elizabeth Six who was born in Fleming
County, Ky., October 22,1820, being the daughter of John and Mary Six,
both natives of the State of Kentucky.. In 1826 her parents came to
Rush County and settled in the woods of
Posey Township, and the childhood
days of Mrs. Adams were spent within five miles of her present home. In
the spring following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Adams settled
upon a farm in Ripley Township, and after two or three other short
moves in the same vicinity, they, in 1853, settled upon the farm they
now occupy. It was then a tract of unimproved land containing but ten
or twelve acres of ground ready for the plow. Though the outlook for
Mr. Adams was then very bad and though he has had many difficulties to
surmount, he has come bravely through it all and now in the decline of
life he and wife are permitted to enjoy a comfortable home. They
have had eleven children as follows: Amanda J., Nancy E., John W.,
Asenath M., James C, William E., Isaac L., Verneila J., Margaret E.,
Mary S. and Hettie D., of whom only four are living. They are John W.,
Asenath M., James C. and Hettie D.4 Our subject and wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, the former having joined it when he was
nineteen and the latter when she was seventeen. In politics, Mr.
Adams is an uncompromising Republican.
THOMAS G.
ALEXANDER, a
prosperous
farmer of Posey Town-ship, was born in Walker Township, December 30,
1843. His parents, William and Lavina Alexander, were both natives of
Fleming County, Ky. They came with their respective parents to Rush
County in an early day, and here spent the rest of their lives. Our
subject spent his early life doing farm work in summer and
attending district school in winter. His father died when he was
but sixteen years of age, after which he continued with his mother upon
the farm until the time of his marriage, which occurred November
5, 1871. His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Ida J. Woods, was born
in Posey Township, May 10, 1846, being the daughter of John and Lucy
Woods, who were natives of Fleming Count}-, Ky.. For eighteen months
after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Alexander resided in the village of
Arlington. They then settled upon a farm three miles southeast of
that place, which they have occupied as their home ever since. The life
occupation of Mr. Alexander has been that of a farmer, and as such his
efforts have been liberally rewarded. He owns a farm of eighty-two
acres nearly all of which is in cultivation. It contains a handsome
little residence and is, in other respects, well improved. He and wife
are the parents of two children: Lucy M. and George W., both of whom
are living. The political affiliations of Mr. Alexander have always
been with the Democratic party. He, however, is not a strong partisan,
and instead of engaging in political strife he has preferred the
quietude of domestic life.
HENRY F. BAITY,
farmer, of
Posey
Township, was born inthat
township, December 29, 1839. He
was the son of Ransom and Elizabeth Baity, natives of North Carolina
and Ohio, respectively. He was reared upon a farm, and at the
early age of eighteen he took up the pursuit of farming for himself. To
this his attention has been given all his life, and his labors
have been liberally rewarded. He owns a good farm of eighty acres,
about two-thirds of which are in cultivation. His farm contains a
handsome little residence, and other improvements equally as good.
His marriage occurred January 31, 1867. His wife, whose maiden name was
Miss Amanda E. M. Tarbet, was bora in Fleming County, Ky., April 7,
1850, being the daughter of Robert A. and Mary Tarbet, both natives of
Fleming County, Ky.; the former, who was born March 14, 1815, at
present makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Baity. The latter was born
March 4,1813, and died in this county, December 31, 1883. Mr. and Mrs.
Baity have had born to them four children, as follows: John F., Ransom
R., Ida P., and a son that died in infancy, unnamed. The political
affiliations of Mr. Baity are with the Republican party. He is one of
the industrious farmers of his township, and he and wife are among its
best citizens.
CYRUS W. BALL,
one of Rush
County's
most excellent citizens, was born in Mercer County, Pa., June
20,1832. He was the son of Jonathan and Asenath (Moore) Ball, both
natives of Washington County, Pa., the former of German and the latter
of English descent. When he was yet a small child his parents came
westward to Rush County, and settled in Jackson Township (now Posey).
Though Cyrus was then but a little past three years of age he has a
distinct recollection of the old home in Mercer County in which he was
born. His boyhood and youth were spent working upon a farm in summer
and attending the district school in winter. As early as his fourteenth
year he became a member of the Methodist Church, with which his
ancestors had been identified for several generations back, and several
years before he attained his majority his inclinations tended toward
the ministry. He became a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal
Church at the age of twenty-five, but after four years of successful
ministry he was compelled to abandon it owing to the impaired condition
of his voice. He, however, carried on farming during this time having
taken up agricultural pursuits for himself in about the year 1857.
In April, 1864, he entered the service of the Union Army in Company K,
One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, with which he served
one hundred days or the time for which he had enlisted. His military
services were chiefly performed on guard duty in the States of
Tennessee and Alabama. On returning from the war he resumed farming and
stock-raising in Posey Township, in which pursuit he has ever since continued.
He was married November 23, 1865, to Sarah E. Wilson, a native of
Fayette County, born November 2, 1844. She was the daughter of Hugh and
Maria (Copeland) Wilson, natives of Delaware and Ohio, respectively. To
them four children have been born: Osmer W., Elma P., Eva M., and
Blaine H., all of whom are living. Mr. Ball is a member of the G. A.
R., and an ardent Republican in politics. He is, however, an
avowed temperance man and eschews the use of intoxicants in every
form. He has never tasted a drop of liquor in his life and has never
been inside of a saloon, which can be said by few of his years.
HENRY W. BECKNER,
a prominent
farmer
and stock-raiser of Posey Township, was born in that township,
September 3, 1837, being the son of Jacob and Polly M. (McDuffee)
Beckner, who where among the early settlers of this county. He spent
his boy-hood and youth upon his father's farm, and at the age of
nineteen, or February 26, 1857, he was married to Sarah J. Mahan, who
was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., September 25, 1837, just
twenty-two days after the birth of our subject. She was the.daughter
of James and Mary (Donald) Mahan, the former a-native of Ireland, who
came to America with his parents when he was two years old. Soon
afterward he was left an orphan child, his father and mother both
having died the same night with an attack of yellow fever, in the city
of Philadelphia. James was married to Mary Donaldin Westmoreland
County, Pa., and in 1843, when Mrs. Beckner was but six years old they
came to Rush County, and located upon the farm now owned and occupied
by O. C. Hackleman, one mile west of Rushville, which place Mr. Mahan
had entered from the government. In 1853, they removed to the city of
Indianapolis. Two years later they located upon a farm four miles
northeast of that city, where both spent the rest of their lives, their
deaths occurring in the same year, namely 1871. Mrs. Beckner was
nineteen years of age at the time of her marriage. She and her
husband thus joined in the holy bonds of matrimony at about the
same age; they settled upon the old Beckner homestead, in Posey
Township. In 1859, they removed to the city of Indianapolis. A year
later they located upon a farm northeast of that city, about four
miles, but in February, 1862, they returned to this county, and located
in the village of Arlington, where Mr. Beckner engaged in mercantile
pursuits. In December, 1864, they settled upon the farm they now
occupy, two miles west of that place. Since then the entire attention
of Mr. Beckner has been given to farming and the raising of stock, in
which pursuits he has been fairly successful. He and
wife are the parents of four children, as follows: John H., Nannie M.,
Mary E. and Wilna F., all of whom are living except Mary E., who died
in the sixteenth year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Beckner and three
children are members of the Christian Church. In politics, the former
is a staunch Democrat. He owns a splendid farm of 140 acres, nearly all
of which is in a high state of cultivation. Besides this Mrs. Beckner
owns fifty acres of splendid land in Marion County.
JOHN B. BENTLEY,
one of this
county's
worthy and honored citizens, was born in Hancock County, June 29, 1823,
being the son of Reuben and Sarah Bentley, the former, who was the son
of Levi and Sarah Bentley, was born in the State of Maryland, and the
latter, who was the daughter of Thomas and Anna Hill, was born in North
Carolina. When he was but three years old his parents removed to this
county and settled on the present site of Carthage. A year or so later
they settled on a farm in the south part of Ripley Township, where the
father died September 5, 1839, and where the subject of this sketch
spent his early life assisting to clear the ground, and to plant and
cultivate the crops. After his father died he continued with his
widowed mother until he reached the age of twenty-one, after which for
a couple of years he worked at the blacksmith's trade. He also, about
this time, taught one term of school. On quitting the blacksmithing he
turned his attention to farming, having settled within the present
limits of Posey Township. He has ever since given his undivided
attention to this pursuit, and his labors have been attended with
a fair degree of success. He removed to the farm he now occupies in
February, 1882. It consists of ninety-two acres of good land, most of
which is in cultivation. The first marriage of Mr. Bentley
occurred January 10, 1850, when Miss Mary Henby became his wife. She
was born in North Carolina, January 16, 1831, and was the daughter of
John and Mary Henby, both natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Mary Bentley
died June 13, 1857, and on the 22d of September, 1859, Mr. Bentley and
Miss Mary E. Coble were united in marriage. She was born in Carthage,
this county, December 29, 1841, being the daughter of David and Martha
Coble, the former of whom was the son of Jacob and Mary Coble, and the
latter was the daughter of John and Mary Henby, who were also the
parents of Mr. Bentley's first wife. Our subject's first marriage
resulted in the birth of four children: William P., Reuben, Sarah E.
and Mary, of whom the last named is deceased. He and his present wife
are the parents of seven children: Charles E., Addie J., Martha A.,
Olivi E., Susannah, Caroline and Naomi, all of whom are living
except Caroline. Mr. Bentley and family are members of the Friends'
Church. Polit-
ically, Mr. Bentley in sentiment is a
Prohibitionist, though his affiliations have chiefly been with the
Republican party.
REV. JACOB B.
BLOUNT, than
whom
probably no man in Rush County, is more prominently or favorably known,
was born in Tipton County, Ind., November 7, 1842. He was the son of
Dr. Silas and Barbara (Miller) Blount, the former a native of Ross
County, Ohio, of English and German descent, and the latter a
native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His parents were
married near Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio, September 17,
1827. In the spring of 1841, they came to this State and located upon a
farm six miles southeast of Tipton, Tipton County, where both still
continue to reside. The former has now reached the advanced age of
eighty-seven, having been born October 10, 1800. His wife was born
September 9, 1809, and is therefore in the seventy-ninth year of her
age. Though aged as they are and though more than sixty years of their
married life have passed, both are enjoying good health and both are in
full possession of their mental faculties and bid fair to live for many
years to come. The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in his
native county working upon a farm in summer and attending the district
school in winter. He received his first lesson in an old log school
house, having to sit upon the smoothed side of a slab with his feet
swinging probably six inches from the floor. While the
surroundings and conditions were very unfavorable, he, like many
another lad, made the best use of his time, and by the time he had
reached his nineteenth year, he had a good knowledge of the common
branches and algebra. In September, 1860, he entered the North Western
Christian University, of Indianapolis, now Butler University, of
Irvington, in which institution he completed a full classical course,
graduating in June, 1866, as a Bachelor of Arts. Three years
afterward he had conferred upon him by his alma mater the degree of A.
M. In the fall of 1866, he took charge of the public schools of Tipton,
of which he had control four years; after which, owing to the impaired
state of his health he retired temporarily, from school-room work and
entered the ministry of the Christian Church. His first sermon was
preached in Tipton. After preaching for a time in his native county, he
was engaged as an evangelist for four years in Western Indiana and
Eastern Illinois. In the meantime he had taken the pastoral work of two
churches in this county which he performed in connection with his work
as an evangelist. In 1875, he moved his family to this county, and
located in Arlington where for two years he had charge of the public
schools. In April, 1876, he moved to his present home, one-half mile
west of Arlington, where he
has ever since resided. In-
the spring of 1877, he was elected Superintendent of the schools of.
Rush County, which, position he filled in an able and creditable manner
for two terms. He has always been greatly interested in work of an
educational nature and to the end of promoting the educational
interests of Rush County, he has for the past eight years, conducted an
educational column in The Jacksonian, which is the source of much
interest and profit to all friends of education. Since retiring
from the Superintendence, his attention has been given to his pastoral
duties and to the management of his farm. He has also in
connection with these, been engaged more or less as agent for
insurance companies. His marriage occurred August 24, 1865, when Miss
Josephine L. Martindale, became his wife. She was born in Wayne County,
Ind., January 14, 1845, and was the daughter of Samuel P. and Armilda
(Oldaker) Martindale, respectively natives of Henry and Wayne Counties,
Ind., the former of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter of
Scotch-English descent. Mrs. Blount was a granddaughter of Elder Elijah
Martindale, who was one of the pioneer preachers of Indiana. Their
marriage resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows: Maud B.,
Elsie F., Zula M., Roland T., Ralph D., Raymond L., Wildene L. and Glen
A., all of whom are living except Wildene L., who died in childhood.
Elder Blount is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Greek Fraternity and of
the Odd Fellow's Lodge. His political affiliations have always
been with the Democratic party. On the 2d day of June, 1886, he was
bereaved of a loving wife and his children of an affectionate
mother.
NICHOLAS BROWN,
an industrious
and
successful farmer of Posey Township, was born in Germany, December 6,
1840. He was the son of Fritzidona and Caroline (Smith) Brown, the
former of whom died when our subject was but three years old. When he
was eleven years old he accompanied his mother and stepfather, Joseph
Bone, to whom his mother had previously been married, to America, the
family locating in Cincinnati. During the summer of his twelfth year he
worked upon a farm in Ripley County, this State. In March, 1853, he
accompanied his mother and stepfather to this county, and settled with
them in Posey Township. In the following September, his mother and her
husband returned to Cincinnati, but Nicholas remained here, having
found a home in the family of Jeremiah Beckner, where he continued
about seven years, receiving his board and clothes, and a horse, saddle
and bridle at the age of nineteen. At that age, or December 27,1859, he
was married to Catharine Beckner, daughter of Henry and Phebe
(Plank) Beckner. She was born in Posey Township,
December 17, 1838.
During the entire married life of Mr.
Brown, he has resided in Posey Township, his occupation being that of a
farmer. His first wife died March 2, 1868, leaving four children:
Jerry, Rosella, Henry and Catharine, all of whom are still living. On
the 6th day of February, 1870, Mr. Brown was married to Sarah A.
Allender, who was born in this county December 3, 1840. She is
therefore just three days older than her husband. The parents of Mrs.
Brown were George and Mary (Hulgan) Allender, the former a native of
Kentucky, and the latter a native of South Carolina. This latter
marriage has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows: Mary,
Charley, Nora, James, John, and a son and daughter that died in
infancy, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Christian
Church. Politically, our subject is a Demo¬crat. He owns a
beautiful farm of 155 acres, nearly all of which is in a high state of
cultivation. His farm is fitted up with a handsome residence.
WILLIAM COLLINS,
an
influential
citizen of Posey Township, was born upon the farm where he now lives,
June 16, 1832. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Beckner)
Collins, both natives of Fleming County, Ky., the former of Irish,
and the latter of Dutch descent. His early life was spent upon
the old homestead, where, when he was twenty-one years of age, he took
up the avocation of a farmer for himself and where he has ever
since continued in that pursuit. His first marriage occurred in
December, 1857? when Martha A. Bentley became his wife. She was born in
this county, and was the daughter of Eli and Mary (Hall) Bentley,
formerly of this county. In February, 1864, Mrs. Martha A. Collins
died, leaving three children: Omer P., Eli B. and Mary L, of whom Omer
P. is deceased. In December, 1868, Mr. Collins was married to Mrs.
Burzilla Bagley, a native of Fleming County, Ky., and daughter of
Joseph and Caroline English. In politics, Mr. Collins is a staunch
Democrat. He owns a good farm of 123 acres, all of which is in a good
state of cultivation. His life occupation has been that of a farmer,
having continuously given his entire attention to that pursuit
ever since he was large enough to hold the plow handles. His father and
mother are the parents of eight children, all of whom are still living.
All have already reached a mature age, the oldest being sixty-eight and
the youngest fifty-three. Mr. Collins is an industrious, hard-working
man, and he and wife are among the worthy and esteemed citizens of Rush
County.
ELI B. COLLINS,
one of Rush
County's
progressive and successful teachers, was born in Posey Township,
upon the farm where he now resides, April 29, 1861. He was the son of
William and Martha A. (Bentley) Collins, both of whom, were natives of
Rush County. He was but two
years old when
his mother died, and his boyhood and youth were spent at the home of
his father who still resides in Posey Township. In winter he attended
the public school receiving his first lessons in a country school
house. Soon afterward, however, he became a student in the public
schools of Arlington, in which he completed a course of study embracing
the ordinary branches of learning1, and received a diploma at about the
age of seventeen years. At about this time he took up the avocation of
a teacher, discharging his first duties in this capacity in the schools
at Arlington. This has furnished him winter employment ever since,
and he is now recognized among the industrious and efficient
teachers of the county. His vacations have been spent upon the farm and
attending normal schools. He has attended, in all, five terms of
school of this kind, three of which were in the Central Normal College
of Danville, Ind. In the fall of 1886, he entered upon his duties as
principal of the Arlington Schools, and he so discharged them that the
Trustee has seen fit to reemploy him for another year. On the 20th day
of December, 1882, he was married to Miss Nannie M. Beckner, daughter
of Henry W. and Sarah J. Beckner, who are esteemed citizens of
Posey Township. She was born in Arlington, May 12, 1863. Their union
has been blessed by the birth of one child: Bula D., born Jan. 27,
1884. Our subject and wife are members of the Christian
Church. In politics, the former is a Democrat.
SAMUEL CONAWAY,
a farmer of
Posey
Township, was born in Fleming County, Ky., November 19, 1827, being the
son of John and Phebe Conaway, both natives of Kentucky, the former of
Lewis County, and the latter of Fleming County. His father died in
1833, and in 1836 he came with his mother and stepfather, Henry
Beckner, to this State, and after a residence of four months in
Randolph County they came to Rush County, and ever since then the place
of residence of Mr. Conaway has been in Posey Township. He grew up to
manhood upon a farm, and his attention ever since has chiefly been
given to agricultural pursuits, though he has frequently dealt more or
less in grain and live-stock. His marriage to Miss Phebe Allender,
occurred April 1, 1848. She is a native of this county, born October 1,
1831. Her parents, George and Sarah (Adams) Allender, were natives of
Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. The families of both her
father and her mother came to Rush County in an early day, and her
parents were married here in about the year 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Conaway
have had born to them fifteen children. Their names in the order of
their ages are as follows: Mary J., John J., Harriet, Lusetta, Henry L.
and George R. (twins), William A., Rebecca and Josephine (twins), Anna F., Sarah
I., Nora F., Oma, Maud B., and Charley, all of whom are living except
the oldest and the youngest. Mary J. died at the age of thirty-four,
and Charley died in his fourth year. The family now consists of
thirteen children, all of whom are grown and several of whom are
married. Mr. and Mrs. Conaway and all their children are members of the
Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Conaway is a Democrat. He owns a
splendid farm of 231 acres, about 190 acres of which are in
cultivation. In addition to this he is the owner of four residence
properties in Arlington. He began life a poor boy, and the present
state of his circumstances reflects very creditably upon his industry
and good management. During the years of toil through which he has
passed his wife has stood bravely by his side presiding over the
duties of the household and administering to the wants of husband and
children as only a devoted wife and Christian mother could.
JOHN M. CONAWAY,
a prominent
farmer
and stock dealer of Posey Township, and the present Trustee of that
township, was born in Fleming County, Ky., February 12, 1833. -He was
the son of John and Phebe (Plank) Conaway, both natives of the State of
Kentucky. His father, who was a cooper by occupation, died with an
attack of the cholera, when the subject of this sketch was but five
months old. When he was yet a small boy, probably eight years of age,
he accompanied his mother and stepfather, Henry Beckner, to whom his
mother had previously been married, to Randolph County, this State,
where the family settled upon a farm. A year later they came to this
county and located in Posey Township, where both his mother and
stepfather spent the rest of their lives, the former dying in
1854, and the latter in 1879, where our subject spent his
youth assisting to clear and cultivate the farm, and where he has ever
since resided. In summer during his early life, he attended the
district school in which he received sufficient education to teach
public school, which pursuit he took up at twenty-one years of age,
that furnished his winter's employment for five years, his vacations
being spent.upon a farm. In the meantime his marriage occurred at the
age of twenty-five, or October 5, 1858, when Miss Asenath Ball became
his wife. She was born in Posey Township, in 1840, being the daughter
of Henry and Harriet (Smith) Ball, both natives of Pennsylvania.
Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Conaway settled upon a
farm in Posey Township, and four years later they removed to another
farm in the same vicinity, where the wife of Mr. Conaway died July
12, 1875. His second marriage occurred August 31, 1876, when Miss Annie
Walker became his wife. She was born in Ripley
Township, March 12, 1854, and
was the daughter
of John W. and Cynthia (Tullis) Walker, the former of' whom is a
prominent citizen of Ripley Township. In March, 1885, Mr. Conaway and
his present wife removed to their present home in Section 8, Posey
Township. The chief occupation of Mr. Conaway has been that of a
farmer, though he has given considerable attention to the raising,
buying and selling of live stock. He has also in this connection,
devoted considerable time to the training of fast horses, having
at this time a number upon his farm that possess marked evidence of
speed. The first marriage of Mr. Conaway resulted in the birth of eight
children as follows: John J. C, Jessie, Margaret, Lavisa, Leona, Henry
G., Theresie and Samuel, of whom John J. C, Margaret, Lavisa and Samuel
are deceased. He and his present wife are the parents of three children
as follows: Nellie C, Dallie and Gus, all of whom are living.
Politically, Mr. Conaway is an uncompromising Republican. In 1880
he was elected Township Trustee as the candidate of his party,
overcoming an opposing majority of thirty-nine. In 1886, he was again
elected to that office and is the present incumbent. He owns a
farm of 160 acres, nearly all of which is in a good state of
cultivation.
JAMES H. DOWNEY,
a farmer and
influential citizen of Posey Township, was born in Jackson Township,
July 20,1836. He was the son of Jacob and Margaret
(Hinton) Downey, both natives of Nicholas County, Ky., the former
chiefly of Irish descent, and the latter chiefly of German
descent. His father was the son of Arch-ibald and
Sarah (Cook) Downey, and his mother was the daughter of Ezekiel and
Martha (Caldwell) Hinton. His parents were married in
their native county on the 29th day of July, 1830, and immediately
afterward they came to Rush County and settled upon the farm in Jackson
Township, where our subject was
born. James spent his early life assisting to clear and cultivate the
farm in summer and attending the district school in winter. He received
a good knowledge of the branches that were then taught in
the public school, and £t about the age of twenty he took up the
avo-cation of a teacher which furnished his winter's employment for
about three years. During the summer season he worked
upon a farm, and the pursuit of a farmer has furnished the chief
avocation of his life. He was married March 10, 1859,
to Luanda Price, who was born in Jackson Township (now Posey), October
28, 1839, and was the daughter of John and Mary A. (Courtney)
Price, both natives of Fleming County, Ky., the former of Irish, and
the latter of Dutch descent. For one season after
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Downey resided in Jackson
Township. They then removed to Posey Township and in
1865 moved to Jasper County,
His., but not being pleased
with the country they, returned to this county and after a residence of
one year in Center Township, they again settled where they had
previously resided in Posey Township. Five years later they removed to
their present home, where they have ever since resided. Mr. Downey has
given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits and is considered
one among the first-class farmers of the county. His farm consists of
ioo acres of excellent land which is fitted up with good buildings and
fences and nearly all of which is in a high state of cultivation. He
and wife are the parents of two children, both of whom are sons. The
older, Jacob Franklin, was born December 15, 1859; he was married
September 27, 1882, to Mary I. Collins. He resides in Posey Township
and is at present one of the prominent teachers of this county. The
younger son is John Price, who was born December 9, 1861, and was
married March 21, 1883, to Mary R. Stephens. He, also, resides in Posey
Township and by occupation is a farmer. Our subject and wife are
members of the Christian Church. The former became a member of that
church in 1854, when he was but eighteen years old. Mrs. Downey joined
the church in 1857, or when she also was eighteen years of age. Both
have been devoted members ever since and both have endeavored to live
consistent Christian lives. For a number of years Mr. Downey has served
as Superintendent of the Sabbath School, and in this and many
other-ways he has striven to promote the cause of Christianity. His
political affiliations have always been with the Democratic party. He
was elected Trustee of his township in 1876 and was re-elected in 1878.
JACOB F. DOWNEY,
one of Rush
County's
most successful teachers, is a native of this county, having been born
in Posey Township, December 15, 1859. He is the older of two sons born
to James H. and Lucinda Downey, a history of whom appears
elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon the farm and in winter
attended the district school in which he received a good knowledge
of the common branches. Later on he attended a Normal School at
Carthage, during two sessions, and at nineteen years of age he took up
the avocation of a teacher, teaching his first term where he had
previously attended school. This has furnished his winter's employment
now for the first eight years and some idea of his success may be had
from the fact that all of his teaching has been in but two districts,
having taught three terms in one and five in the other. He was united
in marriage September 27, 1882, to Miss Mary I. Collins, daughter of
William and Martha A. (Bentley) Collins. She was born in Posey
Township, January 12, 1864. They are the parents of one child: Clarence
E., born August 19, 1883. Mr.
and Mrs. Downey are members
of the Christian Church. In politics the former is a Democrat. He owns
an eighty-acre farm in Posey Township, most of which is in cultivation.
He is an efficient and progressive teacher.
WILLIAM ENGLISH,
a pioneer of
Rush
County, and an old and respected citizen of Arlington, was born in
Harrison County, Ky., on the 25th day of December, 1816. He was the son
of Robert and Patsy (Kenning) English, both natives of Harrison County,
Ky., the former of Scotch, and the latter of Irish descent. In 1823,
when William was but seven years old, his parents came to this county
and settled upon a tract of woods land about two miles southeast of the
present site of Rushville. There our subject spent his early life
assisting to clear and cultivate the farm. He continued upon the
old homestead until in the year 1870, when he removed to the
village of Arlington. Since then his attention has been given to the
management of his farm one mile and a half east of Arlington. He was
married February 28, 1852, to Christiana J. Laughlin, who was born in
Beaver County, Pa., November 19, 1821, and was the daughter of Wilson
and Elizabeth (McCloud) Laughlin, the former a native of Beaver County,
Pa., of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia, of Scotch
descent. She came with her father and mother to Rush County when she
was but four years old, and she has even since been a resident of the
county. She is a niece of Dr. William B. Laughlin, one of the earliest
settlers of Rushville, and is a cousin to Harmony Laughlin, now an old
and honored resident of Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. English are the
parents of one daughter: Laura E., who was born February 14, i860,
and who was married April 20, 1887, to Oscar M. Marshall, a native of
this county, born July 9, 1859, the son of Benjamin Marshall. Our
subject, his wife and daughter, are all members of the
Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. English is a Democrat. Besides
his comfortable residence property he now occupies, he owns a farm of
eighty acres.
ROBERT
HUTCHINSON, who
occupies a
prominent place among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Rush
County, was born in Franklin County, this State, May 30, 1844, being
the son Sandford and Mary (Charlton) Hutchinson, the former a native of
Kentucky, and the latter a native of Ohio. His father was the son of
Carter Hutchinson, who was a Virginian by birth. His mother, who is
still living and now resides in the State of Iowa, can trace her
ancestry back to the crew of the Mayflower. When the subject of
this sketch was ten years old, his parents removed to Butler County,
Ohio, where his youth was spent upon a farm. At nineteen, or in
December, 1863, he entered the service of the Union
Army in Company M, Ninth Indiana
Cavalry, with which he served during the remainder of the
war. He participated in the battles of Franklin and
Nashville, and several other less important engagements, in all of
which he discharged his duties in a manner becoming a loyal
soldier. On returning from the war he located
in Posey Township, this county, where he has ever since pursued the
avocation of a farmer and stock-raiser. His first marriage
occurred August 20, 1868, when Miss Margaret E. Moore became his wife.
She was born in Posey Township, April 15,1851, being the daughter
of Mordecai and Nancy (Gruwell) Moore. She died
November 29, 1880, and on the
2nd day of December, 1882, Mr.
Hutchinson and Miss Ridenbaugh were united in
marriage. She was born in Rushville, October 8, 1857,
being the daughter of John and Rachel (McMannis) Ridenbaugh, the
former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of this
county. Mr. Hutchinson's first marriage resulted in
the birth of three children, as follows: Elbert, born April 14,
1870, died October 4, 1882; Leona, born July 21,
1872, died October 8, 1872, and Elmer, born .Au¬gust 30,
1873. He and his present wife have one child, Essie, born
July 26, 1885. Mr. and Mrs.
Hutchinson are members of the Christian Church. The former
is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F. lodges, and he is a firm
supporter of the principles of the Democratic
party. His farm, which is admirably
situated, consists of 160 acres of excellent land, nearly all of which
is in a good state of cultivation. It is in
other ways well improved and, with its splendid facilities, it is a
most desirable location. As a tiller of the soil Mr.
Hutchinson has been very successful. He began
life a poor boy, but his industry and perseverance have placed him in
comfortable circumstances and given him a rank among the well-to-do
citizens. He is one of the influential and prosperous
farmers of the township, and he and wife are among its best
citizens. For the past two years, in addition to farming, Mr.
Hutchinson has been engaged in the grain trade, which venture, like all
others he has made, has been attended with success.
EDWARD A. JUNKEN,
a prosperous
farmer
of Posey Township, was born in Barren County, Ky., September 27, 1840.
He was the son of Harvey and Betsey (McHatteon) Junken, the former of
whom was born in this county, being the son of William Junken, who was
one among the first settlers of this county, and who was the first
Clerk the county ever had. His mother was also born in this county, and
was the daughter of David and Betsey (English) McHatteon, they, also,
being among the early settlers of this county. The parents of our
subject were married here in their native county about the year
1834, and very soon, afterward they removed to Barren County, Ky., where
Edward was born and where his mother died when he was yet an infant but
two weeks old, and where his father also died before he was seven years
old. Between the ages of seven and twelve years,
he attended Camden Seminary in his native county, which was taught by
Jesse P. Murrell. At twelve years of age, he, in
company with his uncle, Alexander McHatteon, came to this, the native
county of his parents, and for one year thereafter he made his home
with his grand-parents, the parents of his mother, who resided a few
miles east of Arlington. After this, his youth
was spent working upon a farm by the month in summer, and
attending district school in winter. While his education was confined
to the ordinary branches of learning, it was such as to fit him for
the practical affairs of life. He had no more than
attained his majority and entered fully upon his manhood
when national difficulties arose which
threatened the dissolution of the Union. From the first his
sympathies were with the North, and on the 19th day
of August, 1862, he was mustered into the United States Army, in
Company D, Sixty-eighth Indiana Regiment, with which he served until
the close of the war. He participated in the
battles of Hoover's Gap, Dalton, Kenesaw
Mountain, Nashville and many other smaller
engagements. As a soldier he discharged his duties in
a manner befitting a man possessing true national pride and
honor. While on furlough, he was married to Miss
Sarah Beale, on the 25th day of December, 1862. She was
born in this county, December 10, 1836, being the daughter of William
and Margaret (Love) Beale, natives of New York and Pennsylvania,
respectively. On returning
from the war, Mr. Junken joined his wife at her
father's home in Jackson Township, and a few months later they removed
to the farm they now occupy in Posey Township. Since then the
entire attention of Mr. Junken has been confined to
agricultural pursuits. He began with a tract of
timbered land, which he has since improved with good buildings and
fences, and most of which he has placed in an admirable state of
cultivation. He and wife are the parents of four
children, as follows: Margaret W., Alvah T., Jerusha
B., and Robert E., of whom the youngest died in
infancy. Our subject, his wife and two children, are
members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Junken is a member of the G. A.
R. and I. O. O. F. lodges, and is a Republican in politics.
WILLIAM H. LEE,
a worthy and
esteemed
citizen of Posey Township, was born in that township July 8, 1835. He
was the son of Elzy C. and Sarah Ann (Murphy) Lee, the former a native
of Fishkill Island, of English descent, and the latter a native of New
Jersey, of Irish descent. He was reared upon a farm, and in winter he attended the district school.
In 1856, he entered an academy at Hartsville, Bartholomew County, and
attended one term of five months. He then took up the avocation of a
teacher, and this furnished his winter's employment for four
consecutive years. In the fall of 1862, he entered the Union service in
the Twenty-second Indiana Light Artillery, with which he served until
the end of the war. He participated in the siege of Nashville and the
battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., and Franklin, Tenn., and siege of
Atlanta; from the war he was married August 3, 1865, to Catharine S.
Nelson, who was born in this county January 15, 1837, being the
daughter of Christian and Felitia Ann (Cooper) Nelson, a more extended
mention of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Immediately after their
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lee went to Kokomo, this State, where for a
short time Mr. Lee worked at the carpenter's trade. In March,
1866, they removed to a farm in Tipton County, and in August, 1867,
they returned to this county and settled upon the farm they now
occupy in Posey Township. Since then Mr. Lee has given his whole
attention to fanning and in this pursuit he has been liberally
rewarded. He began with a farm of eighty acres, and since he has been
enabled to add to this until now he owns 174 acres of excellent land,
most of which is in a good state of cultivation. He and wife have had
seven children as follows: Adenia, Arthur C, Fannie, Florence,
Elzy F., William R., and Thomas R., all of whom are living except Elzy
F., who died in childhood. Mrs. Lee is a member of the Christian
Church. In politics, Mr. Lee is an ardent Republican. While not a
political Prohibitionist, he is in favor of temperance and eschews the
use of intoxicants in every form.
GEORGE W.
LEISURE,.an aged and
venerable pioneer of Rush County, and one of its most worthy and
honored citizens, is a native of Garrard County, Ky., born June 9,
1809. His parents, Nathan and Sarah .(Irvin) Leisure, were respectively
natives of Frederick County, Md., and Halifax County, Va., the former
of English, and the latter of Irish descent. The parents of his father
were Joseph and Rachel (Ryan) Leisure, the former of whom lived to be
one hundred and five years old. His death was then premature, being
caused by a cancerous affection. The maternal grandfather of Mr.
Leisure was Joseph Irvin, who lived to be nearly eighty years of age.
The early life of our subject was spent in his native county. In winter
he attended the district school, and in summer he was chiefly employed
in the culture of tobacco. He was married at the age of twenty on
October 8, 1829. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Myers, was
born in Lincoln (now Boyle) County, Ky., July 27, 1810, and was the
daughter of Michael and
Christena (Pope) Myers,
both natives of Kentucky, of German descent. Both the
paternal and maternal grandparents of Mrs. Leisure were
born in Germany. Almost immediately after the
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leisure they came to Rush County and first
made a temporary settlement on Big Blue River in Ripley
Township. A few months later, Mr. Leisure entered an
eighty-acre tract of land within the present limits of Posey Township.
" There he erected a cabin into which he moved his family and
immediately set about clearing up a farm.This necessarily
occasioned a great deal of hard work. He chopped,
burned brush, rolled logs, split rails, and not infrequently did his
wife, too, enter the forest and assist in ways that she could to
prepare the ground for' the plow. Mr. Leisure
toiled on as only a man of iron will and rugged constitution could, and
Mrs. Leisure stood bravely by his side, sharing alike his adversity and
prosperity and presiding over the duties of the household as only a
faithful wife and Christian mother could. Their
labors were liberally rewarded, and in the course of time Mr. Leisure
was enabled to enter and purchase other lands until he finally became
one of the most extensive freeholders in the
county. He was not only able to comfortably
provide for all his children as they reached maturity, but he has
a good farm and a comfortable home left where he and wife are spending
the decline of life in a quiet, happy way. They have resided
where they now live since 1854. The fruits of their
marriage were fourteen children: Sarah, Mary A., John, Joseph, Henry,
Christena, Nathan, George M., Elizabeth, Lucinda, James P., William,
Maria, and Rachel A., eleven of whom are living, grown, married and
have comfortable homes. Those deceased
are: Mary A., Christena, and George
M. Mr. and Mrs. Leisure, their six sons and their
wives, and their five daughters and their husbands, are all members of
the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Leisure
is a staunch Democrat, and he prides himself that of his twenty-two
children, both by birth and marriage, twenty-one of them are the same
political faith. He has frequently been elected to
the office of Trustee and Justice of the Peace, and in 1875 he was
elected County Commissioner, overcoming an opposing majority of two
hundred. He has a number of times been solicited to
become a candidate for offices of importance and trust, but always
declined, preferring the quietude of domestic life to the bustle of
politics. He and wife have now lived together more than fifty-eight
years, and though aged as they are, both enjoy the blessings of health,
and both bid fair to live for many years to come. They are among the
county's most worthy and honored citizens, and are
among the few early settlers who yet stand as living monuments of the
pleasures and hardships of pioneer life. They have sixty-seven
grand-children and thirty-five great grand-children, of whom fifty-four
of the former and thirty-three of the latter are living.
MRS. MARY
MCDUFFIE, an aged
and
venerable lady of Posey Township, was born in Fleming County, Ky.,
October 15, 1818, being the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Berkner)
Collins, both natives of Kentucky. When she was seven years old she
came with her parents to Rush County, whither they arrived October
11, 1825. The family settled in Posey Township where the subject of
this sketch grew up to womanhood. On the sixth day of June, 1850, she
became the wife of Elder Gabriel C. McDuffie, who was a pastor in the
Christian Church, and the son of Robert and Rachel McDuffie. He was
born in Harrison County, Ky, May 12, 1791. After their marriage, Mr.
and Mrs. McDuffie settled upon the farm the latter now occupies,
where Mr. McDuffie died January 30, 1864. Since then Mrs. McDuffie has
been a widow. Her marriage was blessed with the birth of one child.
Mary A., who was born March 24, 1851, and died November 3, 1853.
She is a member of the Christian Church, having joined it nearly
fifty years ago. She resided in this county while it was but a wildwood
and the incidents and associations of pioneer life are fresh in her
mind.
WILLIAM J.
MCMICHAEL, farmer,
of
Posey Township, is a native of that township, born May 6, 1834. He was
the son of John and Mahala McMichael, the former, who was the son of
Thomas and Nancy McMichael, and the latter, who was the daughter of
Joseph Britton, were both natives of Guilford County, North
Car¬olina. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish extraction.
He was reared upon his father's farm, and received in the district
school an ordinary school education. - At the age of twenty he "went to
Hancock County, where he was employed in a saw mill two years. He then
returned to this county and resumed farming, which has been the.chief
occupation of his life. His marriage occurred May 31, i860, when
Miss Sarah Worth became his wife. She was also born in Posey Township,
the date being August 13, 1841, and was the daughter of Obed and Maria
(Barnard) Worth, natives of North Carolina and Ohio, respectively. Mr.
McMichael and wife have seven children, as follows: Phebe J., William
W., Albert N., Ernest M., Eva M., Alice and Myrtle A., all of whom are
living except the oldest. Our subject and wife are members of the
Protestant Methodist Church. In politics, Mr. McMichael was formerly a
Democrat, but he is now an uncompromising Prohibitionist. He
believes in principle rather than name and does not hesitate to
sacrifice the latter for the support of the former. Mr. McMichael is six feet and six inches
in height, and weighs 310 pounds.
ABRAM MILLER,
an old and
highly
respected citizen of Arling-ton, was born in Shenandoah County, Va.,
January 1, 1810. He was the son of John and Flora (Hoffman) Miller,
both of whom were natives of Shenandoah County, Va., of Dutch descent.
He spent his boyhood and early youth in his native county upon a farm.
His mother died when he was eighteen years old, and a few months
afterward, owing to a dissolution of the household, he became an
apprentice in a woolen factory, where he spent two and one-half years
learning the carder's trade. He left the factory before his
apprenticeship expired, to accompany his father, who had re-married, to
Warren County, Ohio. There our subject worked at his trade about three
months, but not finding this very remunerative he abandoned it and
found employment upon a farm. At the end of two years, or on the 3rd
day of October, 1832, he was united in marriage to Mary Sellers, who
was born in Warren County, Ohio, January 31, 1833, and was the daughter
of Jacob and Christena (Monger) Sellers, both natives of Rockingham
County, Va., of Dutch descent. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and
Mrs. Miller located upon a farm in Warren County, Ohio, where they
resided until about 1813, when they came to this county, and settled in
Walker Township. There they continued to-live happily together until
their union was broken by the death of Mrs..Miller, April 30, 1878. On
the 16th day of February, 1882, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to
Miss Maria Sheets, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, February n,
1827, and was the daughter of John and Susan (Miller) Sheets, both
natives of Virginia, of Dutch descent. Shortly after their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller located in the village of Arlington, in
the residence they now occupy. The first marriage of Mr. Miller
resulted in the birth of ten children, as follows: Christena A., Sarah
J., Andrew, Mary E., Flora, Wesley, Theodore, Julia A., Lucinda F. and
Margaret E., all of whom all living except Andrew and Mary E. Mr.
Miller is a member of the Methodist Church, the Odd Fellows' Lodge, and
in politics he is an ardent Republican.
THOMAS B.
NELSON, one of the
prosperous and influential men of Rush County, was born upon a farm
three and one-half miles southwest of Rushville, March 29, 1839. He was
the son of Christian and Filitia Ann (Cooper) Nelson, the former of
whom was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 2, 1797, and the latter
was born in this county August 1, 1820. His parents were married in
this county January 11, 1836. Immediately after their marriage they
settled upon a farm three and one-half miles southwest of Rushville, and there raised a
family of five children, as fol-lows: Catharine S.,
born January 15, 1837; Thomas B., born March 29, 1839; William H., born
March 3, 1841; Samuel D., born March 10, 1843, died in the service of
the Union Army at Greenville, Miss., June 20, 1864, and James L., born
March 30, 1845, died May 15, 1848. The wife of
Christian Nelson died December 27, 1846, and on the 29th day of
June, 1848, he married Mrs. Margaret Brown. Some
years later they settled in the village of Arlington, where Mr. Nelson
died April 29, 1866. His widow, Margaret Nelson, afterward
married John Alsman. She died October 6,
1881. The subject of this sketch spent his early life
working upon a farm in summer and attending district school in
winter. His education, though confined to the common
branches, was such as to fit him for the ordinary transactions of
life. On the 18th day of April, 1861, he volunteered
his services to the Union Army, and was duly mustered into Company F,
Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, with which he served one year, or the full
time of his enlistment. He reached home on the 1st
day of June, 1862, and four days later, or the 5th of the same month he
was married to Miss Phebe Ball, who was born in Posey Township, March
11, 1843, being the daughter of Henry and Harriet (Smith) Ball, both
natives of Mercer County, Pa. For a few months
after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson resided with the father
of Mr. Nelson, in Posey Township. In August, 1862,
they settled upon another farm in the same vicinity. They have since
made three other moves, but have resided all the time
in the same township.. They settled where they now reside in February,
1882. The life occupation of Mr. Nelson has been
that of a farmer, and as such he has had marked
success. He and wife are the parents of seven
children, as follows: Charles W., William C, Catharine S.,Thomas
C, James O., Harry H.,and John O., all of whom are
living, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson "are members of the
Friends' Church. In politics, Mr. Nelson is an
uncompromising Republican. He owns a splendid farm of
320 acres, which is fitted up with good buildings and fences, and about
270 acres of which is in a high state of cultivation.
MRS. MARY H.
OFFUTT, an aged
and
venerable lady of Arlington, was born in Scott County, Ky., October 2,
1810. She was the daughter of William and Mary (Beachem) Morris, both
of whom were natives of the State of Delaware, the former of Irish and
Scotch, and the latter' of Welsh descent. Her father was a wealthy
planter and slave holder of that part of Kentucky. Her early life was
spent at the home of her parents in her native county, and on the 13th
day of August, 1829, she was united in marriage to Sabret S. Offutt, a
native of the State of Maryland, born December 4, 1807. He was
the son of Archibald and Jane (Austin) Offutt, with
whom he emigrated to Scott County, Ky., m an early
day. In July, 1830, Mrs. Offutt and her husband
moved to Rush County, and located in a cabin on the bank of Little Blue
River, where Mr. Offutt immediately
set about clearing up a farm. Month after month he
toiled, and not infrequently did his wife, too, enter the clearing and
assist in gathering the brush and rolling the logs to prepare the
ground for the plow. At the end of two years they
removed to a farm of their own, in the same vicinity, the one they had
previously occupied having belonged to the father of Mrs.
Offutt. Six years later they returned to the farm
upon which they had first settled, and there they continued to reside
until in April, 1873, when they removed to the village of
Arlington. The life occupation of Mr. Offutt, was
that of a farmer, and as such he was very successful. For a
number of years before removing to Arlington, his health had
been failing, and it gradually continued to decline until the 29th of
March, 1882, when he died. He was a , devoted member
of the Christian Church, and was universally known as a good
man. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Offutt
has been a widow. She, also, is a member of the
Christian Church, having joined it more than fifty years
ago. She is the mother of eight children, three of
whom are still living. Their names are as follows:
James A. W., Mary J., John F., Lewis J., Samantha A., George W.,
Rebecca E., and a son that died in in¬fancy,
unnamed. Mary J., Lewis J. and George W., are those
who survive. Besides other property, Mrs. Offutt has
a comfortable home in Arlington, where she resides in a quiet,
happy way. Though in the seventy-seventh year of her age she is
enjoying good health and bids fair to live for many years to
come. She is in full possession of her mental
faculties, and has a vivid recollection of the scenes and
incidents in the country's early history as witnessed by a
pioneer. Though a resident of Indiana more than half
a century, with true Kentucky spirit, she recalls with pride her native
State and the home of her childhood, and though aged as she is, she
feels that were it possible she would like to pass her last days upon
old Kentucky soil.
MRS. RHODA M.
OFFUTT, whose
maiden
name was Rhoda M. Power, was born near Knightstown, this county, March
27, 1836. She was the daughter of Joseph and Nancy M. (Kirkwood) Power,
both natives of the State of Kentucky, the former of Irish and. Dutch
descent. . Her early .life was spent at the home of her parents in this
county. She was married February 22, 1859, to James A. W. Offutt, who
was born in Kentucky, September 16, 1830, and was the son of Sabert and
Mary (Morris) Offutt. Almost immediately after their marriage, Mr.
and Mrs. Offutt located in the village of Arlington, where they
continued to reside happily together until their union was broken
by the death of Mr. Offutt, October 5, 1867. They had born to them two
children: William C, born
August 27, i860, died September 17, 1860, and Joseph S., born
July 29, 1862. On the 8th day of July, 1869, Mrs. Offutt
became the wife of Joseph Little, from whom she was separated in
1885. Mrs. Offutt is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. Besides being the owner of several lots
in the village of Arlington, she owns a good farm of nearly eighty
acres adjoining that place. It is well improved, and most of it is in a
good state of cultivation.
RICHARD H.
PHILLIPS, one of Rush County's
most prominent farmers and stock-raisers, was born in Guilford County,
N. C, October 8, 1840, being the son of William and Esther (Vickry)
Phillips, both natives of North Carolina, the former of Surry County,
and the latter of Guilford County. His boyhood
and early youth were spent in his native county. As
early as twelve years of age he began working out by the month upon a.
farm, and in that capacity he continued until he reached the age of
eighteen, his wages ranging from $3.00 to $6.50 per
month. Owing to the poor school facilities in those
times his early education was quite limited. But
through observation and reading he has somewhat mitigated the lack of
early training until now he has a good practical
education. He was reared not only in a
slave-holding community but also in one in which even white people
unless the)'" possessed wealth were denominated as poor white
trash, and these associations not being congenial to him, he, as early
as eighteen years of age, resolved to cut himself loose from an
existence, the very nature of which proved distasteful to him, and find
for himself a home in the west, where .equality and freedom dwelt
together. Accordingly agreeable to a custom of that time, he, for the
sum of $150, purchased his time from his father, and bidding his
friends good bye he placed himself at the mercy of an unfriendly world.
Having fallen in with a man who was moving with his family to Iowa, he
came westward with him in a wagon and accompanied him as far as
Arlington, this county, whither his father, Lewis R. Phillips, had come
some years previous. For some three or four
years thereafter he worked upon a farm by the month, and during two
winters he attended school. He made his home
with his brother, and in this manner he continued on up to August 7,
1862, when he volunteered his services to the Union Army, and entered
Company C, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served
until the end of the war. Besides smaller
engagements, he participated in the battles of Richmond, Kentucky, the
first attack on Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg,
Sabine,. Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill, in all of which he discharged
his duties in a manner becoming a loyal soldier. At Richmond,
Kentucky, he was taken prisoner, but in a few days he was
released on parole. At the close of the war he returned to this county,
and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Posey Township. His
marriage to Miss Phebe A. Weesner, occurred December 16, 1866. She
was born in Henry County, December 5, 1847, being the daughter of
Nathan and Hannah (Pike) Weesner, the former a native of Persiath
County, N. C, and the latter a native of Ohio. Their marriage has
resulted in the birth of five children as follows: Clinton W., Adelia
H., Edward N., Charlie M. and Ada L., all of whom are living. Mr.
Phillips and wife are members of the Friends' Church. He is a member of
the G. A. R. Lodge, and he and wife are both identified with the
society known as Patrons of Husbandry. The political affiliations of
Mr. Phillips have always been with the Republican party. He voted
the day he was twenty-one, and has never missed an opportunity to
deposit his ballot but twice since, and that was during the war
when he was restrained from exercising this privilege by the
legislature of his State. He owns 273 acres of excellent land, nearly
all of which is in a high state of cultivation. In addition to his
farming he gives a good deal of attention to the raising of fine
cattle, and his herd of Short Horns ranks among the best in this part
of the State. He is a prosperous farmer, and he and wife are among the
county's most excellent citizens. Mr. Phillips began life a poor boy
possessing nothing in the world but willing hands and a mental capacity
to direct them with prudence.
ELIHU PRICE,
a native-born
citizen of
Rush County and a farmer of Posey Township, was born October 5, 1843.
His parents, John and Mary (Cotney) Price, were both natives of
Fleming County, Ky., of English descent. During his boyhood and youth
he worked upon a farm in summer and attended the district school in
winter. He received a good knowledge of the common branches, and at the
age of twenty-one he began teaching public school which furnished his
winter's employment for eight consecutive years. His labors as a
teacher were all performed in this county, except one term of school
which he taught in Jasper County, Ills. In 1869 he attended the Normal
School at Lebanon, Ohio, one term and also one term during the
following year. His vacations were chiefly however, spent upon a farm.
Since retiring from the school room his whole attention has been given
to agricultural pursuits. He owns a splendid farm of 230 acres,
about 200 of which are in cultivation. Fitted up as it is with a
handsome residence and other
substantial improvements it is a very
desirable location. He was married August 17, 1871, to Miss Mary
Reddick, daughter of John and Catharine (Ruby) Reddick. She was born in
Ripley Township, this county, October 16, 1847. Her parents were
natives of Ohio and came with their respective parents to Rush
County, in an early day. Mr. Price and wife are the parents of six
children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. Their
names are John J., Mary C, Amanda E., Jesse F., Sarah J., and Noah E.
Mrs. Price is a member of the Christian Church. Politically, Mr. Price
is a Democrat. He has served as Justice of the Peace two terms, and as
such he made a just and worthy officer.
JOHN F. PRICE,
farmer of Posey
Township, was born in the house he now occupies, December 13, 1846,
being the son of John and Mary Price, both natives of Fleming County,
Ky. The parents of his father were Thomas and Elizabeth Price, and his
mother was the daughter of Elzy and Sarah Courtney. During his boyhood
and youth, he attended the district school in winter, receiving a good
knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning. He worked upon the farm
in summer, and at twenty-one years of age engaged in agricultural
pursuits for himself. He and Miss Sarah M. Scott were united in
marriage August 18, 1867. Her parents, Aden D. and Emily Scott, were
both natives of this State, the former of Henry County, and the latter
of Hamilton County. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Price were Aden
D. and Sarah M. Scott. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Price
settled upon a farm in Ripley Township. At the end of three years they
removed to the old Price homestead in Posey Township, which they have
occupied ever since. Mr. Price has followed the pursuit of a
farmer all his life, and has been moderately successful. His farm
consists of eighty acres of well-improved land, and it is very
desirably located. Our subject and wife are members of the Christian
Church. In politics, Mr. Price supports the principles of the
Democratic party. He was elected Trustee of his township in 1882, and
was re-elected in 1884, serving two terms in a very satisfactory
manner. In the fall of 1886, he was the candidate of his party for the
office of County Commissioner, and succeeded in reducing an
opposing majority from more than 300 to 194, and carried his own
township, which is about evenly divided politically, by forty-seven,
which reflects very creditably upon nis standing.
GEORGE W. PRICE,
who occupies
a
prominent place among the successful farmers of the county, was born in
Posey Township, January 28, 1850, being the son of John and Sarah
(Leisure) Price. The former who was born in Fleming County, Ky., was
the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gallaway) Price, and the latter
is the daughter of George W.
and Lucinda
Leisure, a history of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The father
of our subject died September 22, 1873. His mother, who has ever since
been a widow, resides upon a farm in Ripley Township. His boyhood and
youth were spent upon the old home farm, where he was born. In summer
he worked upon the farm and in winter he attended the district school
in which he received a good practical knowledge of the branches then
taught in the public school. He continued upon, the farm with his
father until after the latter's death, after which he took up
agricultural pursuits for himself, and to this his undivided
attention has been given ever since. His first marriage occurred
December 15, 1874, when Miss Mary J. Conaway became his wife. She was
the daughter of Samuel and Phebe Conaway, whose history is given
elsewhere. She was born May 2, 1850, and died August 29, 1884. On the
1st day of October, 1885, Mr. Price was married to Miss Anna F.
Conaway, who was a sister of his former wife. She was born in Posey
Township, December 22, 1864. For four years after his first marriage,
Mr. Price resided with his mother in Ripley Township. In the fall of
1878, he removed to Posey Township and located where he now
resides. Mr. Price and wife are members of the Christian Church. The
political affiliations of the former have always been with the
Democratic party. His farm, which consists of 101 acres, is situated
in an excellent farming locality and nearly all of it is in a high
state of cultivation.
MARTIN RIGSBEE,
farmer, is a
native
of Guilford County, N. C, born December 24, 1818. His parents, John and
Lydia Rigsbee, were natives of Chatham and Surry counties, N. C,
respectively, both of English descent. When he was eleven years of age
his parents came westward to this State, and first settled in Union
County. A little more than two years later they came to Rush County,
and after a residence of two years north of Arlington, they removed to
a tract of land four miles southwest of Arlington, where the father
died, May 30, 1851, where the mother died, September 22, 1873,
where the subject of this sketch spent the balance of his youth
assisting to clear and cultivate the farm, and where he has ever since
resided. The life-work of Mr. Rigsbee has been farming, and in this
pursuit he has had marked success. He owns a splendid farm of 240
acres, 160 of which lie in Shelby County, and eighty in Rush. A good
portion of his farm is in cultivation, and its natural facilities,
handsome residence and other substantial improvements make it one among
the best farms in that section. Mr. Rigsbee was married December 9,
1847. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Barnard, was born in
Guilford County, N. C, the
date being, June 12,
1824. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Barnard, were
also natives of Guilford County, N. C. In 1830, they
came to Wayne County, this State, and in the fall of 1836, they came to
Rush County and settled in Walker Township, where they resided when
their daughter Lucinda was married, and where her father died, February
19, 1863. Her mother, who is now an aged and
venerable lady of nearly four score years and ten, resides at present
with a son in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Rigsbee
have had four children: Alveron, Florella E., John L. and
Adrian, of whom the oldest is deceased. Mrs. Rigsbee
is a member of the Friends' Church. In politics, Mr. Rigsbee
formerly was a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for General
Harrison. Since 1856, he has supported the principles of the Republican
party.
ZACARIAH
T. SMALL, a prominent farmer of Posey Township, was
born near his present place of residence August 30, 1850. He was the
s,on of Josiah and Susannah (Maggard) Small, natives of North Carolina
and Virginia, respectively. The former, who was the son of
Abraham and Delilah Small, was born February 13, 1812, and his wife was
just one day his senior, being born February 12,
1812. He was reared upon a farm, and in winter he
attended the district school, but the advantages
were poor, and consequently his early education was but
ordinary. His marriage to Miss Mattie Holding
occurred January 13, 1870. She was born in Shelby
County, May- 31, 1853, being the daughter of John and Lydia A. (Cannon)
Holding, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana,
respectively. Immediately after their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Small settled upon the farm they now
occupy, where the former has ever since given his attention to
agricultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 240
acres, nearly 200 of which are in an excellent state of
cultivation. His farm contains a handsome little
residence, and improved as it is in other respects, it is one of the
most desirable locations in the county. Mr.
Small and wife have had four children: Crilla, born November 22,
1870; Estella, born July 8 1873; Riley, born April 4, 1879, and
Rufus K., born September 22, 1883, died August 22,
1884. Our subject and his wife are members of the
Friends' Church. In politics, Mr. Small is a
Republican.
JOHN SOHN,
an honored citizen
of
Posey Township, is a native of Germany, born May 19, 1827, being the
son of Adam and Catharine Sohn, both of whom were also natives of
Germany. At six years of age he entered school, and according to the
custom of that country, he continued to attend until he was fourteen.
On quitting school he became employed in an eating and drinking
establishment, and was thus engaged three years. He then
spent two years learning the
tailor's trade; but this
proved too confining, so he turned his attention to farming. He was
married January 8, 1850. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine
Wieterholt, was also a native of Germany, born May 22, 1822, and
was the daughter of Conrad and Martha Wieterholt. On the 3d day of
June, 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Sohn embarked for .America, reaching New York
on the 7th day of July following. They first settled in Ottawa
County, Ohio, where for some three or four years Mr. Sohn was employed
in quarries and dealt in cement and lime. They came to this State in
1856, and settled in Wayne County, where Mr. Sohn found employment upon
a farm. In February, 1861, they removed to this count}- and they
have ever since resided in Posey Township. The whole attention of Mr.
Sohn since then has been given to farming, and in this pursuit he has
had good success. He began with comparatively nothing, and he is now in
comfortable circumstances, all of which is the result of hard work and
good management. He had a farm in his native country that had been
given him by his father, but when he got ready to start to America
desiring to provide comfortably for his old father and mother, he
deeded the farm back to them, and brought nothing with him but a little
money in possession of his wife. He now owns eighty acres of excellent
land situated in one of the best farming localities in Rush County, and
with its convenient residence and other good improvements it is a very
desirable location. Mr. and Mrs. Sohn have had five children: Lizzie,
John, Conrad, Alonzo and Eva, of whom only Alonzo is living. He married
for his wife Miss Susannah Rutherford, and he is the father of
three children: John, Emma and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Sohn are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, as are Alonzo Sohn and wife. Our
subject is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F.
Lodge.