Rush County, Indiana - The whole text, 1921 (part 13 of 18)

JOHN P. DOWNEY, one of the best known and most silbstantial farmers and stockmen of Rush county and the proprietor of a fine farm one mile north of Arlington, in Posey township, was born in that township, a member of one of the old families of Rush county, and has lived here all his life. He was born on December 9, 1861, son of James H. and Lucinda L. (Price) Downey, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume relating to the old families of the county, together with additional details regarding the Downey and Price families, the latter of whom came up here out of Kentucky. The Downeys also were Kentuckians, the first of the name to come to Rush county having been Jacob Downey, who entered a tract of land from the Government in what is now Jackson township, and there established his home, thus becoming one of the influential figures in the development of that now prosperous farming section. Jacob Downey and wife were the parents of seven children, William, James II., Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Deborah and Rebecca and the Downey connection of this line is thus a considerable one in the present generation. James H. Downey was reared in Jackson township and in the days of his young manhood was for some years engaged in teaching school, giving his attention to farming during the summers and after his marriage to Lucinda Price established his home on a farm in Posey township, where he became the owner of an excellent farm, and was long regarded as one of the leading citizens of that part of the county. He and his wife had two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Jacob P. Downey, cashier of the Arlington Bank, of whom further mention is made elsewhere. John P. Downey was reared on the home farm in Posey township, receiving his schooling in the local district school, the same being supplemented by the further excellent instructions received from his schoolteacher father, and from the days of his boyhood has been a farmer. In 1888 he became the owner of a farm of 120 acres five miles northwest of Arlington, which he sold in 1901 and bought the place where he now lives, which contains eighty acres. When his mother died he inherited fifty acres of the J. H. Downey homestead. His farm is improved in admirable fashion and in addition to his general farming he has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock. On March 21, 1883, John P. Downey was united in marriage to Mary R. Stevens, who also was born in this county, daughter of Francis and Violet (Bitner) Stevens, of Ripley township, both of whom also were members of pioneer families in Rush county, and to this union two children have been born, Orwin P. and Maggie A. Orwin F. Downey, who is now engaged in the garage business at Arlington, married Anna Fancher, daughter of Johnson and Hettie Fancher, of this county, and has four children, Frank F., Edith Joy, Janice Ruth and Edna Hope. Maggie A. Downey married Ollie N. Brown, a well known young farmer of Posey township, and has had three children, Wilson Eugene (deceased), Jean Esther and Fern Isabel. Mr. and Mrs. Downey are members of the Church of Christ at Little Blue River and Mr. Downey has served this historic old church as an elder for about twenty-five years. He is a Democrat and for some time served his community as a member of the township advisory board. He is a man of progressive methods and has done well his part in advancing the common good in the community in which he has so long lived.

LEWIS J. NEWHOUSE, a well known farmer of Center township, this county, is the scion of a family that has been prominent in the public affairs of this section of the state and he himself has taken a keen interest in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the community along legitimate lines and the general advancement of the public welfare. Mr. Newhouse is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Fugit township, Decatur county, on July 15, 1886. He is the son of Marshall E. and Ella (Throp) Newhouse, the former a native of Rush county and the latter of Decatur county. Marshall E. Newhouse was a successful man in his business affairs, having made farming his principal vocation throughout life, owning 240 acres of land in Decatur county. A strong Republican in his political faith, he was active in public affairs and served several years in the state legislature, including two terms, 1893-95 as representative from Decatur county, and two terms, 1901-03, as joint senator from Decatur and Bartholomew counties. To him and his wife were born five children, of which number three are living, Winifred, Helen and Lewis J. Lewis J. Newhouse attended the common schools of his native township and completed his public school studies in the Clarksburg high school. He took a two-years preparatory course at Franklin College and then entered Purdue University, at Lafayette, Ind., where he took a mechanical engineering course. Mr. Newhouse then went to Texas and located on 320 acres of land belonging to his father, and on which he made a number of valuable improvements. Two years later he returned home and engaged in the operation of his father's farm for two years. During the following four years he engaged in valuation engineering in various parts of the country, but at the end of that period he again returned to the home farm, to which he devoted his efforts until 1919, when he moved to the place where he now lives, consisting of 185 acres of land in Center township, and known as the William F. Reeves farm. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with a satisfactory measure of success. On February 22, 1919, Mr. Newhouse was married to Ruby L. Emmert. To this union were born two sons, Philip, who died in infancy, and David Lewis, born on April 18, 1921. Mrs. Newhouse was born, reared and educated in Decatur county, completing her studies in the Clarksburg high school. She also attended the Ohio Conservatory of Music and is an accomplished musician. She is the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Hauk) Emmert, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter of Hamilton county, Ohio. Mr. Emmert was engaged in the lumber and flouring business in Clarksburg and also owned a farm of 285 acres in Decatur county. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom five are living, those besides Mrs. Newhouse being Carrie, Clinton, Sylvia and John L. Politically, Mr. Newhouse gives his support to the Republican party, while fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 148, Knights of Pythias, at Greensburg. Mr. Newhouse is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mrs. Newhouse of the Presbyterian church.

BENJAMIN L. OWEN, a well known and substantial farmer of Orange township, was born in that township, on the farm a part of which he now owns and occupies, and has lived there all his life. He was born on December 21, 1857, son of Joseph and Sarah (Farlow) Owen, both of whom also were born in that same township, members of pioneer families there. Joseph Owen was a good farmer and was the owner of a farm of 665 acres in Orange township, where he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Elmer Owen, and a sister, Mary. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Benjamin L. Owen received his schooling in the old schoolhouse of district No. 6, and from the days of his boyhood was well trained in the ways of the farm, a vocation he has followed ever since. He remained on the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-six, when he rented a portion of the home place and there established his home, developing an excellent farm, which he later inherited and on which he still lives. In addition to his general farming Mr. Owen raises about 100 head of hogs annually, and likewise gives proper attention to his other live stock interests. In his political views Mr. Owen is a Republican and has given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been what may be called an "active" politician nor a seeker after office, being content to give his attention to the duties daily at hand on the farm. It was on March 27, 1884, that Benjamin L. Owen was united in marriage to Sarah Marsh, a neighbor girl, who also was born in Orange township, and to this union five children have been born, Joseph, Nellie, Forest (deceased, March 20, 1895), Elmer and Fred. Nellie Owen married Harvey Fisher, a well known young farmer of Orange township. The three other children are unmarried and still at home. Mrs. Owen also is a member of one of the old families of Rush county, her parents, William and Katherine (Folck) Marsh, having been substantial farmers of Orange township. William Marsh was the owner of about 300 acres of land and had a good farm. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living save Mary, who died on January 23, 1903, the others besides Mrs. Owen being Margaret, Maria, Ellen, Rilla and Flora.

GRANT MILLER, whose valuable farm of eighty acres in Rushville township is one of the best in his neighborhood, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, April 3, 1865, son of Harrison and Mary ( Thomas) Miller, both of whom were born in Rush county, he in Rushville township and she in Anderson township. After their marriage they moved to Shelby county and there he alternated his farming with teaching school in the winter until his wife died in 1868. At that time he returned to Rush county and bought a farm of 160 acres to which he kept on adding until at one time he owned 400 acres in Rush county. Of his two children, Grant Miller is the only survivor. He grew up in Shelby county and attended the Compromise school, and later became a student of the normal school at Danville, Ind. From boyhood he worked on the farm, and remained at home until his marriage, but after that rented a portion of the homestead from his father. Subsequently he moved to his present farm which he rented until his father's death, when he inherited the property. He has added to his holdings until he now owns 297 acres all of which is in Rush county. He carries on general farming and raises about 100 head of hogs annually. On March 14, 1889, Mr. Miller was married to Delia E., daughter of Henry and Martha (Thompson) Hungerford. Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of three children: Ariel W., who married Viv- ian Keniple, a farmer on her father's homestead; Florence, who married Arthur Weidner, a farmer on her father's homestead, and Lillie, who died at the age of two and one-half years. Mr. Miller is a Republican, and has been a director of the Compromise school district for about six years. The family belongs to Big Flat Rock Christian Church and is active in its good work.

DAVID S. STEWART, an honored veteran of the Civil war and substantial landowner of Richland township, who died at his home in Milroy in the spring of 1917, and whose widow is still living there, was born on the farm of which he died possessed and had lived there nearly all his life, or until his retirement from the farm and removal to Milroy in 1906. He was born on July 7, 1837, son of David B. and Margaret (Wilson) Stewart, natives of Kentucky, who had come up into Indiana after their marriage and had entered a tract of land in Richland township, this county, which they developed into an excellent farm and on which they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of that community. Reared on that pioneer farm, David S. Stewart completed his schooling in the old Richland Academy and was living at home, a valued assistant in the labors of the farm, when the Civil war broke, out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of K Company, Thirty-second regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which gallant command he served for more than three years, and with which he took part in the historic battles of Lookout Mountain, Stone's River, Missionary Ridge and Gettysburg. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Stewart returned home and resumed his place on the farm. After his marriage in 1869 he continued to make his home there, in active management of the farm, eventually coming into possession of the same, a well improved place of 200 acres, and there resided until his retirement, from the farm in 1906 and removal to Milroy, where he died on April 23, 1917, and where his widow is still living. Mr. Stewart was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and had ever taken an interested and active part in church work. He was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and in the affairs of that patriotic organization took a warm interest, his surviving comrades of the post having a most excellent memory of him. In his political affiliation Mr. Stewart was a Democrat but had never taken a particularly active part in politics, although ever interested in movements looking to better government in local affairs. In the year 1869, David S. Stewart, was united in marriage to Missouri Richey, who also was born in this county, in Anderson township, daughter of William and Cynthia. (Henderson) Richey, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, Anna. Mrs. Stewart's father, William Richey, was for years one of the substantial and influential residents of Anderson township, where most of his life was spent. He was but a lad when he came to Indiana with his parents in pioneer days from Kentucky, the family coming to Rush county and settling in Anderson township, where he grew to manhood and where he married Cynthia Henderson, who was born in Ohio and who had come here with her parents in the days of her girlhood. After his marriage William Richey continued to follow farming and developed an excellent farm. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, those besides Mrs. Stewart being Mrs. Jerusha Nadal, Mrs. Arkansas Tompkins, Mrs. Catherine Smith, Mrs. Martha Maxey, Weston C. Richey and Morton Richey. Mrs. Stewart and her daughter have a pleasant home at Milroy and have ever given their interested and helpful attention to the work of their church, the Methodist Episcopal church at Milroy, and to the general helpful social activities of their home community.

HERBERT M. DEARINGER, a well-known general farmer residing in Rush county, was born in Washington township, this county, November 21, 1883, a son of George H. and Ellen (Dearinger) Dearinger, also natives of Rush county. Of their family of twelve children the following are living : Russell, of Rushville, Ind. ; Wilbur, of Bine Ridge, Ind. ; Loren, of Homer, Ind. ; Mrs. Edna Dilenger, of Walker township, Rush county ; and Herbert M. The father engaged in farming all through his active life, mainly in Walker township, this county. Herbert M. Dearinger obtained his schooling in Walker township, where he attended the Goddard school until fifteen years old, after which he worked as a farm hand in the neighborhood until twenty-three years of age, at which time he married. For some years after this he rented land in Shelby county, Indiana, and then came to his present place in Walker township, where he is successfully operating a farm of eighty acres that is owned by his father. On November 18, 1906, Mr. Dearinger married Pern Steele, born in Shelby county. Indiana, daughter of John and Alice (Hiner) Steele, farming people there. Mrs. Dearinger has one brother, Harry Steele, and one sister, Mrs. Jessie Alexander. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dearinger: Estel, Mabel, Denzel, Malcolm, Mary Alice, Lowell and Hugh. The family belongs to the Christian church at Homer. In politics Mr. Dearinger has always believed in and supported the doctrines of the Democratic party. He belongs to lodge No. 157, Knights of Pythias, at Morristown.

CLARENCE L. TEVIS, a well known and substantial farmer and stockman of Orange township and formerly and for some years a teacher in the schools of that township, has the distinction of owning the site of the first village planned in Rush county, on the farm which he owns, having been laid out the historic but long vanished town of Ashland, the first hamlet to spring up in what one hundred years ago became the confines of Rush county. Ashland, however, has long been but an indistinct memory of pioneer days, but the land on which it was planned a fair city some day should arise is just as fertile as in those days of its pristine excellence and Mr. Tevis has made of it a valuable farm. His father formerly owned the place and there are many recollections of boyhood days inseparably connected with it that give it to him a double value, even more than its undoubted intrinsic worth. Mr. Tevis was born in Orange township and has lived there all his life. He was born on December 1, 1875, son of Augustino D. and Mary E. (Carr) Tevis, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Decatur, a member of one of the old families down there. Augustino D. Tevis was born in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families of Rushville township, and all his life was spent here. For about twenty-five years from the days of his young manhood he was engaged as a teacher in the schools of Rush county, teaching during the winters and farming during the summers, and thus came to have a wide acquaintance throughout the county. He also took an active part in local political affairs and for four years served as trustee of Orange township. His farming prospered and he became the owner of an excellent farm of 195 acres, the site above referred to as having been platted for the ambitious but ineffectual village of Ashland back in the days more than a century ago, before Rush county had been created a separate civic unit in the then growing group of Indiana counties. On that place Augustino D. Tevis and his wife spent their last days, honored and influential residents of the community. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Effie, now living at Indianapolis, wife of William Buxton, city salesman for the Standard Metal Company of Indianapolis. Reared on the home farm, Clarence L. Tevis received his early schooling in the excellent school at Moscow and at seventeen years of age was licensed to teach, his first school being that at Gowdy, and for eight years thereafter he continued to teach in the schools of his home township. While thus engaged Mr. Tevis continued his studies, attending in succession the. normal school at Danville, Ind. ; the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, and the university at Valparaiso, from which latter institution he was graduated, receiving his bachelor degree. When he left the school room Mr. Tevis became engaged in farming on his own account, renting a half of the farm on which he is now living, and after his marriage established his home there and has since made that his residence. Upon the distribution of his father's estate he purchased from his sister the other half of the old home farm, and is now the owner of a well kept place of 112 acres, on which besides the general farming he carries on he gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, with particular attention to the breeding of spotted Poland China hogs, and is doing well in his operations. It was on February 29, 1908, that

Clarence L. Tevis was united in marriage to Daisy E. Stotsenburg, who was born in the neighboring county of Decatur, and to this union three children have been born, George A., Mary E. and Carol L., the first two of whom are now (1921) attending school at Moscow. Mr. and Mrs. Tevis are members of the Christian church at Moscow and take a proper part in the work of the church and in the general good works of the neighborhood. They have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Milroy, and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activities. In his political views Mr. Tevis is a Democrat and has ever taken an earnest interest in local civic affairs. He is a member of the Masonic lodge (No. 217) at Waldron and has long given his interested attention to Masonic affairs. Mrs. Tevis was, as noted above, born in Decatur county. She was graduated from the St. Paul (Indiana) high school and then took a course in the normal school at Marion, and she and her husband have ever maintained their warm interest in the promotion of the cause of better schools. Mrs. Tevis 's parents, George and Elizabeth (Sanford) Stotsenburg, the latter also born in Decatur county, a member of one of the old families there, and the former an Ohioan by birth, were the parents of six children, of whom four are still living, Mrs. Tevis having a brother, Joseph Stotsenburg, and two sisters, Pearl and Grace.

GEORGE RIDER, a well-known general farmer and stockraiser in "Washington township, this county, has spent the greater part of his life in this state and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Rider was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 2, 1853, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Gotchall) Rider. Thomas Rider was born and grew to manhood in Ohio. When he first came to Indiana he located in Henry county, where he rented and operated eighty acres of land for two years and then moved to Rush county and settled on a farm of 300 acres, on which he died four years later. George Rider attended school in Ohio and in Henry county, Indiana, giving his father assistance from the time he was old enough until his father died, after which he managed the farm for one year. He then moved to Raleigh and for the next ten years hired out to farmers, at the end of that time renting a tract of twenty-five acres, which he conducted until his marriage, when he moved to his present farm in "Washington township. Mr. Rider has a fine property here, comprising fifty-three acres of well developed land. He married Sarah C. Scott, and they have seven children: Earl, Hazel, Mary, Harold, Elmer, Marion and Charles, all residing in Rush county except Mary, who is the wife of Alonzo Ayers, a farmer in Jackson county, Indiana. Mrs. Rider was born in Washington township, Rush county, a daughter of James and Mary (Finney) Scott. Her grandfather, Jesse Scott, was the first of the family to come to Rush county and he entered eighty acres of Government land in Washington township.

The parents of Mrs. Rider died in Washington township, her father at the time of his death owning 208 acres in this township, where he had been a successful farmer and stockraiser. There were eight children in the Scott family, the survivors being Sarah, Mrs. Rider, Parks and Joseph. In politics Mr. Rider is a Democrat.

ALBERT G. SIIAUCK, M. D., of Arlington, in whom the medical profession in Rush county has an able exponent, has firmly established himself in his vocation here and won the confidence and esteem of the people and his professional brethren. Doctor Shauck was born in Union township, this county, on March 9, 1878, and is the son of John L. and Josephine (McMillin) Shauck, the latter also a native of Union township, daughter of John T. and Nancy (Pentecost) McMillin. John L. Shauck was born in Morrow county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, coming to Rush county in early manhood, and has here ever since been actively engaged in school work, formerly county superintendent of schools and for many years one of the most influential figures in the educational life of the community. John L. Shauck is a son of William II. and Mary A. Shauck, the former a native of York county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. William H. Shauck was a son of John and Rebecca (Lemmon) Shauck, both natives of Maryland and the former of whom served as a major in the colonial forces during the Revolutionary war. Albert G. Shauck attended the common schools of his native community, and then went to the high school at Milroy, where he was graduated. He then attended Otterbein University at Westerville. Ohio, where he spent two years, and on the completion of his academic studies he matriculated in the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis, where he spent four years, being graduated in 1905 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately thereafter, Doctor Shauck located in Arlington, where he has remained continuously since. He has met with success and is numbered among the leading physicians of Rush county. He is a constant student and a reader of the best professional literature and keeps constantly in touch with the latest advances in the healing art. On September 22, 1920, Doctor Shauck was married to Rita E. Gilson, who also was born in Rush county, daughter of Herbert T. and Katherine (Krammes) Gilson, both members of old families in this county. When Mrs. Shauck was four years of age her parents moved from this county to Spokane, Wash., where she was reared and educated. She specialized in oil painting and is a licensed instructor in that branch of art. She has two brothers, Francis K. and Robert C. Gilson, and a sister, Flora Belle. Politically, Doctor Shauck has been a lifelong supporter of the Republican party and served two terms as coroner of Rush county, 1912 to 1916. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is affiliated with the blue lodge at Milroy, and the chapter and council at Rushville ; the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Rushville, and Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington. He is also a member of the Rush County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Society. His religious affiliations are with the Christian church at Arlington. Personally, the doctor is genial and companionable and enjoys a marked degree of popularity throughout the community where he is known.

ELMER KELLAM, a progressive young farmer of Orange township, this county, was born on a farm in Wayne county, Indiana, June 11, 1892, son of Richard J. and Elizabeth (Schenk) Kellam, the latter of whom also was born in that county. Richard J. Kellam was a native of South Carolina, but most of his life was spent in Indiana, for years a farmer in Wayne county. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, all of whom are living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Albert, Charles, Martin, John, Gertrude, Jessie, Lucy, Mary and Ima. Reared on the home farm in Wayne county, Elmer Kellam received his schooling in that county and as he was well trained to the ways of the farm early became engaged in that calling as his life's vocation. He married at the age of twenty-three and then began farming on his own account, renting a farm in this county. He is now renting a well kept place of eighty acres in Orange township and there makes his home, he and his family being quite comfortably situated. Mr. Kellam carries on his operations along up-todate lines, is progressive and enterprising, and if his plans mature as he confidently expects will in due time become included in the list of landowners of Rush county. It was on December 18, 1915, that Elmer Kellam was united in marriage to Lavonne Wagoner, who was born in this county, daughter and only child of Lloyd and Lora (Ross) Wagoner, and to this union three children have been born, Loretta, Marguerite and Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Kellam are members of the Big Flat Rock Christian Church and .give proper attention to the work of the church as well as to the general good works and social activities of their home neighborhood. Mr. Kellam is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's interest in local political affairs. Mrs. Kellam is a member of one of the old families of Rush county, both the Wagoners and the Rosses having been represented here since pioneer days. Her father, Lloyd Wagoner, was born in Orange township, as was his wife, and is still living there, owner of an excellent farm of 120 acres. The Kellams live on rural mail route No. 2 out of Manilla and have a pleasant home.

WILLIAM C. FAIR, one of the enterprising farmers of Rushville township, operating a farm of 170 acres of land, was born in Union township, Shelby county, February 19, 1873, son of Michael and Sarah E. (Kines) Fair, both of whom were born in that county, where they were educated. Michael Fair became the owner of eighty acres of land on which he was long engaged in farming. He and his wife had eight children, six of whom now survive, Celestia, William C, Charles A., Scott, Lotta and Mabel. William C. Fair was reared in Vine township, Shelby county, and after completing his attendance at the local schools devoted his time to assisting his father with whom he remained until his marriage, although from the age of eighteen to twenty-four years he worked as a farm hand. Following his marriage he rented 120 acres of land in Shelby county, and farmed it and other rented properties in that county for some years. Finally he came to Rush county and for the past seventeen years has been operating his present farm which lie rents from T. K. Mull. Here he is doing general farming and stockraising business and produces about 200 hogs annually. On March 21, 1896, Mr. Fair was married to Maggie Gardner, daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Crim) Gardner, both natives of Shelby county, where their daughter was also born. She died on August 8, 1909, and is buried in the Bennett cemetery in Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Fair had four children, all of whom are living: Raymond, a farmer of Rushville township, who married Margaret Kirk, and has two children, William H. and Bertha V., and Robert, Thomas and Lealand, who are at home. Mr. Fair belongs to Manilla Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and Rushville Lodge, Improved Order of Red Men. He is a Republican. In both Shelby and Rush counties Mr. Fair is held in high esteem.

JAMES W. BRAN AM, a well-known general farmer in Walker township, this county, was born in that township, March 6, 1864, and has always lived there. His parents were Matthew and Jane ( Hodge ) Branam, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Rush county. Matthew Branam came to the United States alone when sixteen years old. He followed an agricultural life and lived in Rush county for many years. Of the six children of the family the following are living: James W., Sarah A., Alberta and Alfred E. They all attended the common schools in Walker township and James W. was his father's right hand man on the farm as long as the latter lived. At that time he and his sister, Sarah A., inherited the home place consisting of 130 acres in Walker township. To this Mr. Branam has added eleven adjoining acres and has the entire 141 acres under his management. In addition to crop growing he feeds both cattle and hogs, having about 15 head of cattle and 100 head of hogs yearly. He and his sister, Miss Sarah A. Branam, reside on the homestead. They are members of the Christian Union church at Homer, and he belongs to the order of Red Men at Homer. In politics he is a Democrat.

MRS. EMMA (KIRKPATRICK) SAXON, who resides on and manages her fine farm of eighty acres, situated in Washington township, this county, is the widow of Leroy Saxon, who for many years was an excellent fanner and highly respected citizen of this section. Leroy Saxon was born in Fayette county, Indiana, July 3, 1865. He attended school in that county and completed his education in the old Fairview Academy, where the course of study was thorough and practical. Mr. Saxon devoted the rest of his life to farming, at first in association with his father and later for himself, at the time of his marriage purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Washington town- ship. He improved this property and through his thrift and good management greatly increased its value. His death occurred there on March 23, 1907. Mr. Saxon married Emma Kirkpatrick, who was born in Washington township, this county, a daughter of Samuel and Charlotte Kirkpatrick. Mrs. Saxon, like her husband, was educated at Pairview Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Saxon had two children: Lola B., who married W. T. Cummins, of Fayette county, and has two children, Leroy and Roscoe, and Mary O, who is the wife of Guy Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley reside with Mrs. Saxon on the home farm. They have four children : Etna Mae, Wayne, Russell L. and Paul La Verne. Mrs. Saxon is well-known and very highly esteemed in Washington township. She is a member of the Pairview Christian Church as was her husband during life. Mr. Saxon was greatly interested in church affairs and for a number of years was superintendent of the Sunday school.

CHARLES FOSTER, one of the large landowners and successful farmers of Union township, now living on the old Smith place where he has made his home since the spring of 1913, is a native Hoosier, a. fact of which he never has ceased to be proud, and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Rush county since the days of his young manhood. He was born in Grant county on December 24, 1864, son of John and Martha (McConnell) Foster, both of whom were born in Payette county, members of pioneer families there. John Foster and Martha McConnell were married in Payette county and for some years then made their home in Grant county, but not finding things there to their liking returned to Fayette county and established their home on a farm in the western part of that county, John Foster there developing an excellent piece of property. On that place Mrs. Foster died. Upon his retirement from the active labors of the farm Mr. Foster moved to Dunreith, where he is now living. John and Martha (McConnell) Poster were the parents of five children, those besides the subject of this sketch, the third in order of birth, being Harriet, Edward of Glenwood, James of Rushville and Reull. Charles Poster was but a child when his parents returned to Fayette county from Grant county, and in the schools of the latter county he received his schooling. He remained at home assisting his father in the operations of the home farm until his marriage at the age of twentythree when he began farming on his own account, coming over into Rush county and renting a farm in Union township. This was a farm of 240 acres and on that place he made his home for twentyseven years, meanwhile as his affairs prospered buying land for himself. His first investment was in a tract of twenty acres and to this he gradually added until he had the 240 acres. In March, 1913, Mr. Foster moved from that farm to the old Smith place of 136 acres in Union township on which he is now living and which he owns and has there since made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to the land above mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Foster have other land holdings in Union town: ship, owning a total of 460 acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Foster always has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and in his operations has done well. His place is well improved and well kept and he has one of the most up-to-date farm plants in the countryside. Mr. Foster is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Foster are members of the Ben Davis Christian church and have ever given their interested attention to the work of the church as well as to the general good works of the community. On October 6, 1887, Charles Foster was united in marriage to Harriet R. Smith, who was born on the farm on which she is now living, a member of one of the old families of Rush county, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Blanche, wife of Charles Eskew ; Thomas, who married Beatrice Bagley ; Paul, who married Myrtle Johnston and has one child, a son, Thomas Emerson, and Clarence, who is unmarried. Mrs. Foster's parents, Thomas and Charlotte (Thompson) Smith, both were born in Rush county and lived here all their lives. Thomas Smith was a son of the pioneer Louis Smith, who came to this county in pioneer days and entered a tract of land in Noble township, where he made his home for about fifty years. Thomas Smith grew up a farmer and continued in that line, in which he was quite successful, coming to be the owner of close to 700 acres of land. He and his wife had two children, daughters both, Mrs. Foster having a sister, Catherine. The Fosters have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rushville and have ever taken a hospitable and becoming interest in the community's general social activities.

THOMAS BEAVER, than whom no man stands higher in public esteem among the residents of New Salem who, after many years of continuous and successful effort, are now resting from labor and enjoying the fruits of former toil, is a native son of Rush county, having been born in Noble township in 1841. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Heaton) Beaver, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush county, Indiana. John Beaver was brought by his parents to Rush county in his boyhood and ever afterward lived in this county. His parents, who were among the pioneer settlers of this locality, entered land in Noble township and there created a fine homestead farm, spending the remainder of their days there. There John Beaver grew to manhood. He received his education in the common schools of Noble township, and after his marriage began farming on his own account on rented land in Fayette county, but a short time afterward he bought a farm in Noble township and there spent the remainder of his life. He was a good farmer and a wise manager, and at one time owned 300 acres of land. Of the eleven children born to him and his wife, five are now living, namely : Thomas, Margaret, Mor- rison, George and Benjamin. Thomas Beaver was reared on the paternal farmstead and attended the schools of Noble township. He then worked on the home farm with his father until about a year after his marriage, when he bought a tract of timber land from his father, to the clearing and improvement of which he applied himself. He built a comfortable home, cleared about ninety acres of land and devoted himself to the operation of this farm until 1903, when he moved to New Salem, where he now resides. At one time he owned over 200 acres of land, but has disposed of all his farm land. He also engaged in stock buying for about twenty years and in this business he traveled over much of the county. Mr. Beaver has been twice married, his first union being with Mary Ann McKee, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McKee, and to them were born four children, namely: Bert, who married Miss Gray and has two children, Wilbur and Stella; Samuel, who married Mabel Cassady and has one child, Harold ; Lottie, who became the wife of Aaron Wellman, and Betty, who became the wife of Harry Strieker. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Beaver was married to Jennie Lewis, daughter of John S. and Sarah (Beetem) Lewis. Mr. Beaver has long been a member of the Methodist Protestant church, of which he has been a steward. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a man of strong character and clean life and enjoys marked popularity throughout the community where he is known.

DAVID M. DEARINGER, a well known farmer, residing on his well improved property in "Walker township, this county, was born in that township on April 25, 1866. His parents were James M. and Minerva A. (Hilligoss) Dearinger, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush county. They had a family of five children, four of these surviving : John R., Isaac N., Armilda J. and David M. The father was a successful farmer in Rush county, the owner of 320 acres of land. David M. Dearinger got his educational training in the Goddard public school in "Walker township, after which he assisted his father on the home place until the time of his marriage, when he rented a part of the home farm. For fifteen years Mr. Dearinger operated as a renter there, then bought the eighty acres which comprise his farm, immediately afterward beginning its improvement. He has put up substantial buildings, has developed a gas well on the place that he utilizes for domestic and farm purposes, and carries on his various farm industries according to modern methods. In addition to crop raising he ships 150 head of hogs yearly. On November 4, 1891, Mr. Dearinger married Etta Miller, who also was born in Rush county, daughter of John S. and Mahala (Orme) Miller. There were four children in the Miller family and three are living, Laura H., Elmer J. and Etta. The father of Mrs. Dearinger was a farmer in "Walker township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dearinger, three of whom survive : Chester, who is in the railway mail service, resides at Rushville, married Mary Woods; Carl, who is a farmer in Walker township, married Lavon Casady ; and Clell, who is at home. Mr. Dearinger and his family are members of the Baptist church at Homer, Ind., and he is a deacon in that body. He has always given his political support to the Democratic party.

ADAM A. RICHEY, one of Orange township's well known and substantial farmers and stockmen, now living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, his son and his son-in-law looking after the operations of the same, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Anderson township, June 7, 1859, son of Green B. and Catherine (Zimmerlee) Richey, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, whose last days were spent in this county, where they had made their homes since the days of their childhood. Green B. Richey was but a lad when he came to Indiana with his parents from Kentucky and he grew up in Rush county, where the family had settled upon coming to this state. Here he married Catherine Zimmerlee, who had come here with her parents from Virginia in the days of her girlhood, and after his marriage he established his home on a farm and continued farming the rest of his life. He and his wife were parents of eleven children, six of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Mary, Rilda, John, Roll and Emma. The deceased members of this family were Charles, Oran, William, Patience and Luella. Reared on the home farm in Anderson township, Adam A. Richey received his schooling in the old school house in district No. 8. At the age of nineteen he began working on his own account, working as a farm hand on neighboring farms, and so continued until his marriage when he rented a tract of land from his father-in-law, Alfred Peck, in Orange township. On that place he made his home for about twelve years and then, in 1900, moved to his present place of residence, the old Peck home farm of 125 acres, which his wife had inherited about that time, and has there since resided, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Richey gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and feeds out a car load or more of hogs annually. He still keeps a supervisory eye over the operations of the farm though for some time past the active operations of the place have been carried on by his son, Alfred Richey, and his son-in-law, Verton Rockafellow, both progressive and up-todate young farmers who are doing well. In his political views Mr. Richey is a Republican, but has never taken a particularly active part in politics, though ever maintaining a warm interest in local governmental affairs. He and his wife are members of the Christian church at Moscow and have ever taken an interested part in church work as well as in the general good works of the community. Fraternally, Mr. Richey is a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 473, Knights of Pythias. It was on August 14, 1887, that Adam A. Richey was united in marriage to Jessie F. Peck, who was born on the farm on which she is now living, and to this union two children have been born, Alfred and Ina. Alfred Richey, who, as noted above, is farming a part of the home place, has been twice married and has two children, Wanda and Charkie. His first wife, Edna Fisher, who also was born in Orange township, died on August 1, 1913, and he later married Mable Favor, of St. Paul, this state. Ina Richey married Verton Rockafellow, also of this county, and has one child, a daughter, Mary Fremont. Verton Rockafellow, who, as noted above, is farming a part of the Richey place, the old Peck farm, served during the world war as a sergeant in the Fifty-second Coast (Railroad) Artillery and during the closing months of the war participated in some very stirring action, including the historic battle of the Argonne in September, 1918, and the no less equally decisive engagement at St. Mihiel, September 11-14, and in the battle at Beenorth, September 23-27, as well as in prior engagements at Thurneville, August 25-27, and Balinacourt, August 27-29. Mr. Rockafellow was in the service twenty-two months, seventeen months of which were spent overseas, and he received his discharge on January 23, 1919. Mrs. Richey was born on the farm in Orange township on which she is now living and received her schooling in the nearby Peck schoolhouse. Her parents, Alfred and Elizabeth (Colliver) Peck, were both born in Kentucky and came to Indiana with their i-espective parents in the days of their childhood, both the Pecks and the Collivers settling in Rush county. Here Alfred Peck and Elizabeth Colliver were married, in 1850, and established their home in Orange township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential residents of that community. In his earlier days Alfred Peck for some time followed the vocation of millwright and carpenter and did much building hereabout, but he later settled to farming and at the time of his death was the owner of more than 800 acres of excellent land in Orange township. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four are still living, those besides Mrs. Jessie F. Richey being Lina, May and Lafayette. The deceased children of this family were Josephine, Sally and Samuel Peck.

IRA ROTAN, a well known farmer of Washington township, this county, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, November 17, 1867, a son of John W. and Phoebe (Halstead) Rotan. John W. Rotan was born in Decatur county, September 4, 1838, and was a son of Isaiah and Ruth Rotan, who were early settlers in that county. John W. Rotan was reared, educated and married in Decatur county and from there came with his family to Rush county, February 22, 1870. He rented 116 acres of land in Richland township and carried on farming during the rest of his life, his death oecuring on July 20, 1901. He was an industrious, upright man and was universally respected. He had five children, Ira, Fanny, Ora, Elizabeth and Owen. Ira Rotan was three years old when the family moved to Richland township where he grew to manhood and obtained his education in the public schools. He assisted his father on the farm in Richland township, but after his father's death bought his present fine farm in Washington township, on which he and his two sisters, Elizabeth and Fannie, have lived ever since. Mr. Rotan is unmarried. He has ninety-eight acres in his farm and has the entire tract under cultivation. He is a member of the United Brethren Church in Richland township. Like his father before him, he has always voted with the Democratic party.

CHARLES M. SEFTON, well known throughout Rush county as one of the enterprising farmers of Rushville township, his eightyacre farm being recognized as one of the best-developed in his neighborhood, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, September 27, 1867, son of James and Harriette (Riffe) Sefton, natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. James Sefton was a farmer by occupation, and had eight children, five of whom are now living, Frank, Wesley, Gus, Charles M. and Lou. Charles M. Sefton was reared and educated in Decatur county, and after he finished his schooling he took up farming with his father with whom he remained until he was married. After that Mr. Sefton rented land in Decatur county for about two years and then moved to Rush county, buying 121 acres in Anderson township. This he farmed for about four years and then sold it and bought his present farm of eighty acres in Rushville township. He does general farming and raises about seventy-five head of hogs annually. On September 24, 1894, Mr. Sefton married Nettie Brown, daughter of John and Mary (Shields') Brown. Mrs. Sefton was born, reared and educated in Decatur county. Mr. and Mrs. Sefton have four children, Raymond, Lois. John and Eugene. Raymond Sefton, who is a farmer of Rushville township, married Ruth Moore. The other children are single and at home. Mr. Sefton belongs to the Rushville lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a Methodist, and loyal to his local congregation. In politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM H. GRAY, a well known and substantial farmer of Union township, now living retired at Glenwood, is a member of one of the old families hereabout and has lived in this county and in the neighboring county of Fayette all his life. He was born on a farm in Union township, this county, June 29, 1861, son of James and Martha (Nichols) Gray, the former of whom was born in that same township, his parents having been pioneers of that section, and who became one of the leading farmers of the neighborhood. Reared on the home farm, William H. Gray received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood has devoted himself to farming. He early started out on his own hook, renting a farm in this county and after his marriage at the age of twenty-four continued as a renter here for a couple of years, or until 1887, when he moved over into Fayette county, bought a tract of fortv acres on which he established his home and started there as a farmer on a considerable scale, renting about 600 acres of land and carrying on his operations in a progressive and profitable fashion, these operations at times including the cultivation of as much as 700 acres of land, in addition to which he gave considerable atention to the raising of live stock for the market, often disposing of as many as 300 head of hogs a year besides many cattle. Mr. Gray was not disposed to invest in farm lands, and never owned more than eighty acres. He continued his operations in Fayette county for eighteen years, at the end of which time he returned to Rush county and has for some years been residing at Glenwood, where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Ben Davis Christian church and Mr. Gray has served as a member of the official board of the church numerous terms, and also has been a trustee of the church. In his political affiliation he is a Republican. It was on August 12, 1885, that William H. Gray was united in marriage to Carrie B. Hinchman, who also was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, Walter, who married Ethel Eakins, and Clara, who married Leslie Hinchman, now living at Glenwood, and has had two children, Orville (deceased) and Lowell Walter. Mrs. Gray's parents, Robert and Sarah J. (Kirkpatrick) Hinchman, both were born in Rush county, members of pioneer families here, as will be noted by reference made elsewhere in this volume to these two families. Robert Hinchman was a son of the pioneer James Hinchman, and became one of the substantial farmers and landowners of his neighborhood, at one time the owner of better than 200 acres of excellent land. He died on April 13, 1919, at a ripe old age. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom five are still living, Mrs. Gray having two brothers, Van A. and William E. Hinchman, and two sisters, Eva and Hazel J. The deceased children of this family were Cora and Dora, who died in infancy.

BILLY W. WAGONER, a well known and progressive farmer of Orange township, was born in this county and has lived here the greater part of his life, now making his home on the old home place, he and his sister Auda being very pleasantly situated there. He was born on August 21, 1861, son of Robert M. and Harriet (Kelly) Wagoner, both of whom also were born in this county, members of old families here, and who spent their last days here. Dr. Robert M. Wagoner was a veterinary surgeon and in his professional capacity was widely known throughout this section. He had a farm of 120 acres and was also for years largely engaged in the buying of live stock. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch and his sister Auda and their brother, Hannegan Wagoner. Reared on the home farm, Billy W. Wagoner received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and as a young man was for some years engaged in farming his father's place. He then took employment in a farm implement store at Blue Ridge and was there engaged as a clerk for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he went to Shelbyville where he was in charge of the implement and automobile department of the 0. L. Means department store until in 1918 when he returned to the old home place in Orange township, this county, resumed charge of part of the same and has since been farming there, he and his sister Auda making their home there, as noted above. Mr. Wagoner has the place in an excellent state of repair, well improved, a well equipped farm plant, and is carrying on his operations in up-to-date fashion. Mr. Wagoner is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. He and his sister are members of the Methodist church and take a proper part in church activities. Mr. Wagoner is a charter member and past chancellor commander of the Blue Ridge lodge of the Knights of Pythias and has for years taken an active interest in the doings of the lodge.

OLIVER A. J. HALL, who has been a lifelong resident of Washington township, this county, still resides on the old family homestead and is engaged in farming and raising stock. Mr. Hall was born there August 24, 1856, a son of Aaron S. and Adeline (Ivins) Hall. His father was born in Payette county, Indiana, one of the six children of Joseph Hall. Joseph Hall was the founder of the family in Rush county, coming here early and entering 160 acres from the Government. He developed his land and lived on it during the rest of his life. Aaron S. Hall grew up in Washington township, helped his father on the pioneer farm and subsequently owned it. He married Adeline Ivins, February 26, 1855, and they had four children, only one of whom survives. Oliver A. J. Hall attended the district schools in boyhood and was brought up to be a farmer. He married Serepta Eaton, who was born in Union county, Indiana, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Waddell) Eaton, and they have one son, Millard L. Mr. Hall is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lewisville. He has been active in politics and has always done his full duty as a citizen, having served as township trustee for several vears, his services covering the years 1895 to 1900 and 1908 to 1914.

JOHN L. ENGLISH, a prosperous farmer of this county, was born in Walker township, July 17, 1863, and has practically spent his life here. He is a son of John A. and Mahala (Plummer) English, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Rush county. They had three children, Andrew P., Mary C. and John S. The father followed farming in Rush county and owned 109 acres of good land in Walker township. John L. English obtained his education in Walker township attending the Goddard school, after which he assisted his father on the home farm, where he remained until his own marriage, when he began farming the land on which he now resides. He has 105 acres of well improved land in Walker township, which he devotes to general farming and hog raising, shipping usually two car loads of hogs annually. His different industries are carried on with good judgment and prove profitable. On August 10, 1892, Mr. English married Alice E. Mull, who also was born in Walker township, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Mull. The father of Mrs. English was a large farmer in Walker township and an extensive landowner, at one time having 880 acres. Of his eight children, the following are living: Madeline, Omar, Chrissa, Alice, Nellie, Jacob and Earl. Mr. and Mrs. English have had five children, four of whom survive: Prank E., now a resident of Chicago, 111., who married Leah Burnett ; William, a farmer in Rushville township, this county, who married Gladys Hill; and Glorinne and Charles. In politics Mr. English and his sons are Democrats. Mr. English is a member of the local lodge of Odd Fellows at Homer.

FRANKLIN P. WAGONER, a well-known and substantial farmer of Orange township and who years ago was well known as a teacher in that township, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life, now owning a part of the farm on which he was born in Orange township. The date of his birth was February 7, 1853, and his parents were William A. and Sally (Jones) Wagoner, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families here. William A. Wagoner was a Kentuckian, who came up here into Indiana with his parents in the days of his infancy. He was married here and early became engaged in farming in Orange county, where he became the owner of an excellent farm of 380 acres. There he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Hayden and Bracken, and a sister, Mary. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Franklin P. Wagoner received his early schooling at the old Tombs school house and supplemented the course there by a course in the university at Valparaiso in which he prepared himself for the teaching profession and was for four years thereafter engaged during the winters in teaching in his home township. He married at the age of twenty-five and then began farming on his own account, looking after 100 acres, a part of which his father gave him and part of which he rented, and which tract is a part of the fine farm of 230 acres now owned by him and which he has improved in admirable shape, having one of the best equipped farm plants in that part of the township. In addition to his general farming Mr. Wagoner gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well. In his political views Mr. Wagoner is a Democrat and gives proper attention to local civic affairs. For thirteen years he has been the Government crop official for Orange township. It was on March 17, 1878, that Franklin P. Wagoner was united in marriage to Rachel Jones, who also was born in Rush county, a daughter of Sheridan and Amanda (Peck) Jones, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Effie G., who married Glendon Brown, a farmer of Madison county, this state, and has five children, Verl, Dorothy, Nondus, Marjorie and Erfa; Pearl, who married Edward Alexander, a farmer of Orange township, this county, and has five children, Bernice, Lowell, Loren, Velmah and Marie; May, who married Elmer Kirk, a farmer of Shelby county, this state, and has one child, a son, Ansel, and Inez, wife of Walter Reese, a Shelby county farmer.

GEORGE II. MEYER, a well known and substantial farmer of Union township, living now practically retired from the labors of the farm, the place being operated by his son, Charles G. Meyer, was born in Cincinnati, but has been a resident of Indiana since he was a boy and of this county since attaining his majority. He was born on January 6, 1852, son of Gerhardt and Hannah (Tripshank) Meyer, Europeans, born in the kingdom of Hanover, who had come to this country after their marriage and located in Cincinnati, where they remained until in 1863 when they came up into Indiana and located in Franklin county, where Gerhardt Meyer bought a farm and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. It was on that farm in Franklin county where George II. Meyer grew to manhood, having been but eleven years of age when he came into Indiana with his parents from Cincinnati. He finished his schooling in the neighboring schools, and from boyhood was a useful assistant to his father in the labors of the farm, remaining with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came over into Rush county, rented a farm in Union township and began farming "on his own." Thirteen years later he bought that farm, to the development of which he had done so much while operating it merely as a tenant. In the meantime he had married and established his home on the place and he thus has had that as a home ever since his marriage. Since coming into possession of the farm Mr. Meyer has made numerous substantial improvements to the same and has a well-improved and well-kept place of 178 acres. In addition to his general farming he has long made a considerable specialty of the raising of hogs and generally markets around 175 or 200 head of hogs a year. Of late Mr. Meyer has been living practically retired and his son, Charles G. Meyer, as noted above, has been directing the affairs of the farm and is carrying on the same in up-to-date fashion. It was in 1882 that George II. Meyer married Martha A. Peake, who was born in this county, daughter of Smith and Margaret (Gray) Peake, members of old families here, and to this union three sons have been born, namely: Charles G., mentioned above, who married Leila Hinchman and is liviug on the home place ; Edwin G., who married Lena Gray and has two children, Robert E. and William C, and William II., who married Mary V. Peters and has two children, Walter Jesse and Martha May. The Meyers have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rushville, and have for years taken a hospitable and genial interest in the social activities of their home neighborhood. All members of the family are members of the Plum Creek Christian church, and have long taken an active interest in the work of the church as well as in the general good works of the community, helpful in many ways in promoting such movements as are designed for the common welfare. All members of the family also are Republicans and have ever thrown their strength to the cause of that party, to the further successes of which they are warmly devoted.

H. R. BROWN, a veterinary surgeon who has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Manilla for eight years, was born in the neighboring county of Shelby on March 2, 1882, a son of Thomas J. and America (Cotton) Brown, both of whom also were natives of Shelby county. After leaving Union township, Shelby county, Thomas J. Brown moved to Posey township, Rush county, where he is engaged in farming. Of his family of four children two survive, Rosa and H. R. In boyhood H. R. Brown attended school in Union township, Shelby county, following which he became a student in the high school at Manilla, and later, after determining his future profession, entered the Indiana Veterinary College, from which he was graduated in 1913. On leaving college he located at Manilla, where he has built up a substantial practice. On January 27, 1904, Doctor Brown married Susie Talbert, who also was born in Shelby county, daughter of Albert and Belle (Kemp) Talbert, whose family consisted of three children: Harry V., Rexie and Susie, the elder son being a dentist. The father of Mrs. Brown was a farmer in Shelby county. Doctor and Mrs. Brown have four children, America, Mary, Hugh and Earl, all attending school at Manilla. Doctor Brown is a member of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association and keeps fully abreast of the times in scientific research. He is a Mason, belonging to blue lodge, chapter and council at Manilla, and is a member also of the order of Modern "Woodmen at Manilla. In politics he has always been affiliated with the Democratic party. Doctor Brown and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Manilla.

WALTER H. KUHN, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Orange township, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Shelby, January 6, 1887, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Kney) Kuhn, the later of whom was born in Rush county. Jacob Kuhn was born in Germany, but was but a child when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling in Indiana. He became the owner of a well improved farm of 300 acres in Shelby county and there spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, all of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Anna, Andrew, Edward, Albert, Katie, Robert, Riley, Leander and Bertha. Reared on the home farm in Shelby county, Walter H. Kuhn received his schooling in the schools of that county and early became engaged as a farmer. He married at the age of twenty-one and after his marriage rented a farm, a year later moving to the place he now owns in Orange township, this county, and has here made his home ever since. Mr. Kuhn has a well kept farm of eighty acres and since coming into possession of the same has made numerous improvements, including the erection of a new house, the building of a new barn and the drilling of a gas well for his own use. It was on October 7, 1908, that Walter H. Kuhn was united in marriage to Bertha M. Gahimer, who was born in this county, daughter and only child of William, Jr., and Kathryn (Posz) Gahimer, and to this union six children have been born, Fern, Frances, Maurice, Irvin, Doris and Lois N, the three eldest of whom are now (1921) attending school at the Gahimer school house. Mr. Kuhn is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church in Shelby county.

EDWARD V. JACKSON, trustee of Washington township and a well-known farmer of that township, belongs to one of the old and substantial pioneer families of Rush county. He was born in Washington township on June 26, 1872, a son of William M. and Amanda (Sherry) Jackson. William M. Jackson also was born in Washington township, a son of John H. and Mahala (Hood) Jackson. John H. Jackson was four years old when he accompanied his father to Wayne county, Indiana, and later came to Rush county where his father entered 240 acres of land. John H. Jackson assisted his father in clearing this land and received from him 160 acres, after which he married Mahala Hood, who was born in Rush county. Three of their five children are still living, John, Eliza and William M. William M. Jackson became a farmer in Washington township. He married Amanda Sherry, who was born in Delaware county, Indiana, and they have five children, Edward V., Claude, Stella, Fred and Rozzie Beryl. Edward V. Jackson grew up on the home farm and attended the public schools. After marriage he rented a farm of 120 acres and operated it for four years, moving then to another farm in Washington township on which he lived two years, then moved into Raleigh, where he conducted a blacksmith shop until 1915. Since then he has been successfully operating his farm of forty acres in Washington township. On May 26, 1890, Mr. Jackson married Ola Miles, of Rush county, daughter of Richard S. and Jennie (Spencer) Miller, the former a pioneer of Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have one child, Lorene, who is the wife of John L. Nipp, of Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. Nipp have a daughter, Eloise, who is six years old. Mr. Jackson has always been a sturdy Democrat, and on that party ticket was elected township trustee in 1915 and re-elected in 1919. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

EDSON L. AIKEN, a substantial citizen of Riish county, a former member of the board of county commissioners, a general farmer in Washington township, former trustee of that township, and interested along other business lines, was born near East Springfield, Ohio, January 5, 1861, a son of John and Martha (Trainor) Aiken. His father was a native of Ohio who, in 1862, settled in Allen county where he carried on the wagon-making trade for some years and afterward conducted a farm of 100 acres. Ten children were born to his marriage with Martha Trainor, two of whom died in infancy, and Mrs. Minnie Beard later in life. Those surviving are : Mrs. Ida Shepler, James, Mrs. Jennie Wilson, Mrs. Ella Dixon, John H., Mrs. Anna Larimore, and Bdson. Edson Aiken was an infant when the family settled in Allen county, Ohio, where he grew up and obtained his education in the public schools. For about seven years in early manhood, he worked in sawmills and operated a threshing machine. On April 3, 1889, when twenty-eight years old, he married Cora McCrory, who was born in Rush county, daughter of John and Martha (Brown) McCrory. For six years after his marriage Mr. Aiken operated a sawmill in Scott, Ohio, and then came to Rush county and purchased 157 acres of fine land, advantageously located adjacent to the town of Raleigh, in which town at the present Mr. Aiken is rebuilding a modern sawmill. He has very substantially improved his farm and it is among the valuable properties in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken have two children, Cecil, formerly and for five years a teacher in Rush county, who married Orval Estell, of Oklahoma City, and has one child, William; and Milo, who was graduated in 1921 from the Raleigh high school. Mr. Aiken is a director in the Lewisville National Bank, and has other interests. He has been a leading factor in Democratic politics in Rush county for years and has frequently been called on to serve in public office. From 1900 to 1904 he was the trustee of Washington township, and in 1913-14-15 he was a member of the board of county commissioners. He is a charter member of Raleigh lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar.

JOHN R. DEARINGER, who owns and operates eighty-three acres of his father's homestead in Rushville township, was born in Walker township, this county, June 1, 1871, son of James M. and Minerva (Hilligoss) Dearinger, natives of Kentucky and Walker township, respectively. When he was seven years old James M. Dearinger was brought to Rush county by his parents who settled on a farm in Walker township now occupied by E. M. Dearinger, a brother of John R. Dearinger. James M. Dearinger continued to live on this farm until his death, but had acquired other land, owning at the time of his demise 320 acres of land. He and his wife had five children, four of whom survive, David M., Armilda G., John R. and D. M. Growing up in Walker township, John R. Dearinger attended the Goddard school, and then, after leaving school, began conducting the homestead, where he remained until his marriage. Following that he bought eighty acres of land in Posey township and farmed it for about three years, but then sold and moved back to his father's farm, renting a portion of it for three years. Since then Mr. Dearinger has bought and sold several farms, and then bought his present place from his father's estate, and here he is doing general farming and raises about 100 head of hogs annually. On August 9, 1893, Mr. Dearinger was married to Ida M., daughter of George W. and America A. (Louden) Krames. Mrs. Dearinger was born in

Walker township, but was educated in Rushville township, attending district school No. 9. Mr. and Mrs. Dearinger have one daughter, Elsie L., who was born in April, 1895. She married Claud Collings, of Scottsburg, Ind., but now of Rush county, where he is a sawmill operator. Mr. and Mrs. Collings have three children: Charles K., John W. and Jaunita M. Mr. Dearinger is a Democrat, and for three years served as road supervisor. Fraternally he belongs to Homer Lodge, No. 27, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Ivy Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Rushville. He is a member of the Pleasant Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM P. AND ROBERT B. HENLEY, twin brothers and sons of Henry and Ruth (Morrow) Henley, were born at Carthage, in this county, August 11, 1846. They both attended Friends school at Carthage and Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., and each taught school one year. They then went into a general store at Carthage and were for about twenty years thereafter engaged in selling goods. In 1886 Robert B. Henley removed to Florida, where he spent about two years, at the end of which time he became engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Cincinnati, a connection which continued for about twenty-five years. Since then he has spent his time about equally between his residence in Cincinnati and his residence in Florida, his summers being spent in the former and his winters in the latter. William P. Henley, who is now the only survivor of the original stockholders of the Bank of Carthage, organized in 1876, began his active connection with that bank as bookkeeper in 1888. He presently was advanced to the position of cashier of the bank and since 1903 has been president of the same. He has been a member of the financial board of Earlham College since 1890, and treasurer of the college endowment and trust funds since 1908, and w-as a member of the board of trustees of the Carthage joint graded schools for about thirty years. The twin brothers, William P. and Robert B. Henley, married sisters, Ida S. and Florence E. Steere, of Adrian, Mich., daughters of Benjamin W. and Emily (Hoag) Steere. To William P. and Ida S. (Steere) Henley, who were married on October IS, 1876, five children have been born, namely: Florence Ruth, who married Dr. M. N. Hadley, of Indianapolis, and has three children, Frederic, William and David; Lillian E., unmarried, who is the editorial secretary of the National Municipal League, New York City; Howard E., cashier of the Bank of Carthage, who married Willella Woodbridge and has three children, Howard Earle, Maria and James; Robert M. and Henry B. (twins), both of whom are florists, the former located at Hartford City and the latter at Terre Haute. Robert M. Henley married Mary Kenworthy, of Richmond, Ind., and has two children, Marian and William R. Henry B. Henley married Katherine Newsom, of Carthage. William P. Henley and Robert B. Henley are both birthright members of the Friends church and are thorough believers in its teachings. William P. Henley all his life has lived in Carthage. His twin brother, Robert B. Henley, has three daughters, Grace, who is unmarried and at home with her parents; Ruth, who married W. P. Kirk, of Cincinnati, and has three children, and Edith, who married Arthur C. Judd, of New York City, and has three children.

GEORGE M. KUHN, a well-known farmer of Orange township, this county, was born on the farm where he is now living with his mother, his brother and three sisters, and has lived there all his life, ever attentive to the affairs of the farm which he has helped to operate since the days of his boyhood. He was born on September 15, 1876, son of Conrad and Mary (Kney) Kuhn, the latter of whom also was born in this county and is still living, as noted above. Com-ad Kuhn was born in Germany and when a lad came to this country with his parents, the family locating in Indiana, where he grew to manhood and in time became a substantial farmer of Orange township, this county, the owner of a well kept farm of 320 acres on which his last days were spent and on which his widow is still making her home. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Caroline, Rose, Mollie, Henry and Jacob. Reared on the farm here referred to, George M. Kuhn received his schooling in district school No. 2 and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the farm, working with his father until the latter 's death and after that taking supervisory charge of the farm in behalf of his mother and has so continued, his brother Henry and his three sisters, all unmarried, also making their home there, the family unity thus being preserved in an unusual degree. In addition to looking after the home farm, a well improved place of 200 acres, Mr. Kuhn at one time was the owner of a "forty" of his own in Orange township. In addition to his general farming he gives proper attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well. The Kuhn family are members of the Evangelical church in the neighboring county of Shelby and have ever taken an interested part in church work. Mr. Kuhn is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 554, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand of the lodge. He also is a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 473, Knights of Pythias, and has likewise been "through the chairs" in that lodge, having for years given close attention to the affairs of these popular fraternal orders.

PHILIP S. RYMAN, who has followed farming as a business since l-eaching mature years, is now very comfortably settled in Washington township, this county. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, September 14, 1873, a son of Alanson R. and Jane (Crawford) Ryman, the latter of whom also was born in Franklin county, and the former in Pennsylvania. Alanson R. Ryman came to Brookville, Ind., with his parents, Joseph and Mary (Warden) Ryman, the latter of whom was a descendant of General Warden of Revolu- tionary fame. Alanson R. Ryman was a veteran officer of the Civil war. He enlisted early in the Union army and proved a brave soldier. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and after that was made aid-de-eamp on the staff of General Thomas. After the war he returned to agricultural pursuits and engaged in farming for a number of years in Franklin county. Just before entering the armv he married Jane Crawford and they had six children : John C, George, Mrs. Carrie W. Stant, Wilbur, Philip S. and Charles A. Philip S. Ryman obtained his education in the public schools of Franklin county and afterward assisted his father and then he and his brother, C. A. Ryman, bought 165 acres of land in Fayette county, which they operated for four years. In the meanwhile on August 25, 1909, Philip S. Ryman married Louise Shockley, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Rev. H. M. and Nannie (May) Shockley. He then sold his interest in the Fayette county farm to his brother and moved to Washington township, Rush county, where he purchased 120 acres of land and engaged in farming there for some years. The present home farm in Washington township contains 160 acres and is owned by Mrs. Ryman. It is fertile land well adapted to grain and hay, and under Mr. Ryman 's careful management is profitably productive. Mr. and Mrs. Ryman have two children, Richard and Lorena, both of whom are attending school. The family belongs to the Presbyterian church. As a good citizen, Mr. Ryman is interested in all that concerns his country afar as well as in his home neighborhood and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Ryman is a granddaughter of Jeremiah May, a pioneer of Washington township. Her father, the Rev. H. M. Shockley, was a native of Delaware. ELBERT C. DAVISON, one of the agriculturists of Rushville township who is specializing on hog raising and is succeeding in making his work yield him a fair profit, was born in Noble township, this county, October 25, 1874, son of John and Isabelle M. (Guff in) Davison, both natives of Noble township, where they were reared, educated and married. John Davison spent his life in farming, became the owner of 218 acres of land in Noble township, and was one of the well known men of his day and locality. He and his wife had four children, three of whom survive: John A., Harry and Elbert C. Elbert C. Davison attended the Frog Pond school in Noble township and remained with his father until his marriage. He then began farming for himself on a farm of 126 acres in Anderson township, on which he spent five and one-half years, and then moved to his present farm of 2571/2 acres known as the Moore farm, and in conjunction with this property Mr. Davison also operates the 115- acre farm which he rents from his father-in-law. He is a general farmer and stoekraiser and produces from 250 to 300 head of hogs annually, preferring the Duroc-Jersey strain. On August 21, 1895, Mr. Davison was married to Elsie, daughter of Albert and Mary E. (Moore) Winship, formerly farming people of Rushville township. Mrs. Davison was born in Rushville township and was educated in the public schools of Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. Davison have two children : Paul, who married Ruby Gwinnip, a farmer of Rushville township and has one child, Paid, Jr., and Laurence, who is attending the Webb school. Mr. Davison belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias lodges of Rushville. He is an active member of Little Plat Rock Christian Church and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Republican party has always had Mr. Davison's support, but he has never cared to participate actively in politics.

GEORGE NEEB, a well-known farmer of Orange township, this county, was born on a farm in Union township, in the neighboring county of Shelby, December 2, 1886, son of Henry and Josephine (Friday) Neeb, both of whom were born in that same county. Henry Neeb followed farming all his life and was the owner of a farm of seventy acres. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, all of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being John, Jacob, William, Peter, Margaret, May, Lucy, Elizabeth and Barbara. Reared on the home farm in Shelby county, George Neeb received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and at seventeen years of age began working at the carpenter trade, a vocation he followed for three years, at the end of which time he returned to the home farm and was there engaged for two years in operating the place. He then continued farm work elsewhere until his marriage in 1910 when he rented a farm in Shelby county and began farming on his own account. Some years later he came over into Rush county and has since resided here, now and for some time past occupant and renter of the Bellman place in Orange township, a farm of 103 acres on which he is doing well, carrying on his farming operations in up-to date fashion, and in addition to his general farming giving considerable attention to the raising of live stock. It was on February 22 1910, that George Neeb was united in marriage to Leona Jackson who also was born and reared in Shelby county, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Main) Jackson, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Ethel M. Mrs. Neeb's parents had three children. Mrs. Neeb having a sister, Ethel, and a brother, Amos Jackson. Mr and Mrs. Neeb are members of the Methodist church and take a proper interest in church work as well as in the general good works of their home neighborhood. Mr. Neeb is a Democrat. In his fraternal relations he is affiliated with Blue Ridge lodge, No. 554, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of which he has for years taken an active interest, and is past noble grand of the lodge.

THOMAS H. ERTEL, who is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Rush county, has successfully followed farming and stockraising ever since he reached manhood. He was born in Washington township, this county, April 20, 1874, a son of Philip and Mary (Burnau) Ertel. Philip Ertel was born in the city of Philadelphia and in boyhood came to Indiana with his parents, Philip and Mary (Ludy) Ertel, the family settling in Rush county. Philip Ertel,

Sr., was born in Germany and was a young man when he came to the United States. He was married in Philadelphia and some years later came with his family to Indiana and entered eighty acres of land in Washington township, Rush county. Here he followed farming and stock raising and also, for a time, operated a cordage mill in Union township. He and his wife had four children, Philip, George, Elizabeth and Charles. Philip Ertel, the second, attended school in Washington township and early showed business capacity that led to his being engaged as a commercial traveler by a Philadelphia firm. After he returned to Washington township he acquired land and sold lumber for the next ten years, then settled down to farming and stock raising on the farm that is now owned by Mrs. G. Abernathy. He married Mary Burnau, of New Paris, 0., and they had five children: Thomas II., Mary, Charles, all living, and George and Ida, deceased. The family has always been held in high regard in Washington township. Thomas H. Ertel was educated at Newcastle, Ind. From his father's estate he inherited 193 2-3 acres of land in Washington township, the same farm on which he lives, to which he has added until he now owns 260 acres of exceedingly valuable land. He grows grain and produce and gives considerable attention to stock. On May 31, 1900, he married Eva Hinchman, who was born in Rush count, and they have had two children, William H, who is a student in the high school at Raleigh; and Wayne W., who is deceased. Mr. Ertel and family are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church. For many years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, is a Knight Templar, has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry, and also is a noble of the Mystic Shrine. Politically he is a Republican.

FRED B. BELL, one of Union township's progressive and enterprising farmers and substantial landowners and president of the Rush County Farmers' Federation since its organization, is a member of one of the real pioneer families of Rush county, the Bells having been represented here for the past hundred years. The first of the family to settle here were John and Margaret Bell, who came up here from Cynthiana, Ky., in pioneer days and entered a tract of land in Center township, a place still known as the old Bell homestead. They established their home there and became early recognized as among the most useful and influential pioneers of that section. John Bell was a good judge of land values, and as his affairs here prospered added to his holdings until he became the owner of about 1,000 acres of land in Rush county, and left a fine estate to be divided among his children. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, only one of whom is now living, Joseph Bell. The others were Hugh, John M., W. C, Samuel J., Jane, Charity, Nancy, Mary and two who died in infancy. Of the children of this pioDeer pair here enumerated, W. C. Bell, father of Fred Bell, was born on that pioneer farm in Center township on