Rush County, Indiana - The whole text, 1921 (part 15 of 18)

WILLIAM ARNOLD, whose well improved and finely cultivated farm in Washington township, this county, bears testimony to excellent farm methods and justifiable pride in his home, was born in Union township, this county, September 13, 1878. His parents were John and Alice (Clifford) Arnold, both natives of Rush county and well known and highly respected people. They had the following children: Charles, Sarah, Richard, Josie A., John, Aaron, William, Bertha and Harvey M. After completing his education in Hanover College, John Arnold became a farmer and continued such during life. William Arnold attended the public schools and then assisted on the home place until ready to start out for himself. He made a beginning by renting a tract of 112 acres, which he operated one year, then rented 170 acres in Washington township, where he farmed for five years and then moved to near Ging, where he operated ninetythree acres for several years. After renting another farm in Washington township, comprising 133 acres, for a year, he purchased his farm of ninety and a half acres, which is well situated in Washington township. Mr. Arnold has added greatly to his farm's original value by his many substantial improvements, including a handsome residence. On December 31, 1903, Mr. Arnold married Myla B. Smith, who also was born in Rush county, and they have two children. John W. and Margaret E., both of whom are attending school at Raleigh. Mr. Arnold and Ids family are members of the Christian church. He has always been affiliated with the Republican party.

HENRY P. ADDISON, a well-known farmer of Posey township, whose life has been a busy and successful one, was born in that township on January 22, 1869, and is the son of Levi and Elizabeth (Stinger) Addison. Mr. Addison was a farmer during all his active years, owning a farm of fifty-three acres. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living, namely: Samuel, Marshall, Thomas, Henry P., Savanna, Osa, Dora and Lillie. Henry P. Addison attended the Conaway school in Posey township and his youth was spent on the paternal farmstead. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, when he began working out by the month, continuing to be employed in this way for about eighteen months. After his marriage, in 1892, Mr. Addison began to farm on his own account, renting land for about twelve years, at the end of which period he bought eighty acres, comprising his present farm in Posey township. He conducts general farming operations and has met with success, being numbered among the progressive and substantial agriculturists of his section of the county. Mr. Addison has been married twice, first in 1892 to Martha Hendricks. To this union were born two children, Sherman, a mechanic at Anderson, Indiana, who married Eva Talley, and Bessie, who became the wife of Gurney Ernest, a farmer in Ripley township, this county, and they have one child, Kenneth. Mr. Addison married, secondly, Stella Wymond, a native of Fayette county, Indiana, and to this union have been born two children, Grace and Bertha, both of whom are attending school. Politically. Mr. Addison is an ardent Democrat. Fraternally, he is a member of Beech Grove lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington. He and his family are members of the Hannegan Christian Church and he gives his unreserved support to every worthy benevolent or charitable object or any movement calculated to advance the general welfare of the community in any way.

BENJAMIN OWEN, who died at his farm home in Orange township in 1881, was for many years one of the most substantial residents of that section of the county and it is but fitting that there should here be carried in the definite history of the county in which he had so long lived a brief tribute to his memory. Benjamin Owen was a member of one of the numerous families of Carolinians who settled in Rush county immediately following the opening for sale of the lands hereabout in 1820. He was born in North Carolina on November 15, 1808, and was but a child when his parents moved from that state to Ohio and settled in Montgomery county, where they remained until about 1821 when they came over into Indiana and settled on a tract of land entered from the Government in Orange township. Benjamin Owen then was about thirteen years of age. His father erected, on Big Flat Rock, the first mill established in Orange township and for years he was helpful in the operation of that pioneer mill. Later he became engaged in farming and this latter vocation he followed the remainder of his life, becoming one of the well established and substantial farmers of his neighborhood and a man of much influence in the community. He was married thrice, his last wife having been Jane Sliger, by whom he had four children, two daughters, Leona and Millie, and two sons, Charles and Ray. Charles Owen was born on April 8, 1871, and has always lived in Orange township, where he is the proprietor of an excellent farm. In 1898 he was united in marriage to Mattie E. Tevis and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Daisy Ruth Owen, who is a successful teacher in the schools of Rush county, during the past year connected with the Orange township consolidated school at Moscow. Mr.

Owen is a Republican and has ever given his interested attention to local civic affairs. In 1909 he was elected trustee of Orange township and for six years served in that important public capacity, rendering valuable service in behalf of the community.

A. L. RIGGS, now living in retirement at Rushville, where for many years he conducted a successful hardware establishment, was born at "Wabash, Ind., October 15, 1856, a son of Alfonso and Ella (Maple) Riggs, and received his graded and high school education at Rushville. After leaving school Mr. Riggs stai"ted his business career as an employe in a hardware store, working as a clerk for J. B. Kennedy for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he, with his brother-in-law, W. E. Havens, bought out the Kennedy interests. For twenty-two years they continued to conduct this establishment, the business of which they developed to a large scale. When they retired, they disposed of the establishment to its present owner, John Morris. Mr. Riggs, while retired from active labors, is interested in several enterprises. The firm of Havens & Riggs still own the "Silver Dale" farm of 200 acres in Rushville township. Mr. Riggs is a director of the Rush County National Bank, and vice president and director of the Peoples Gas Company. A stalwart Republican in his political allegiance, he is one of the most influential men of his party in this section, and since 1914 has been county chairman of the organization. He was one of the organizers, in 1897, of the Rushville Social Club, of which he was elected the first treasurer. He also is a member of the Columbia Club of Indianapolis, a state organization, and holds membership in the Knights of Pythias at Rushville and Rushville lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist church. On June 7, 1876, Mr. Riggs was united in marriage to Laurette Havens, who was born and educated in Rush county, a daughter of William and Frances (Maddux) Havens, and to this union there has been born one daughter, Blanche, a high school graduate of Rushville, and a graduate of Bowling Green (Ky.) College, who married Guy Abercrombie, a farmer of Rushville township, this county, and has one daughter, Laurette.

FREDERICK A. CALDWELL, the well known furniture dealer and funeral director of Rushville, was born in that city and has lived there all his life, for years one of the recognized and forceful factors in the commercial life of the city. He is a member of a pioneer family in Rush county and has ever done his part in helping to maintain the high standards set by the forefathers of this well established community. Mr. Caldwell was born on June 16, 1875, son of William A. and Emma (Cullen) Caldwell, the former of whom was born in Jackson township, this county, son of James and Alcy (Ploughe) Caldwell, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the old pioneer families of this section of the state. James Caldwell was a native of the Keystone state who in the days of his young manhood left his native Pennsylvania and came to Indiana, locating in

Rush county, where he presently married Aley Ploughe and settled on a farm in Jackson township. He made a good farm out of the place on which he settled and became one of the substantial citizens of that community. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom save two, George and Rachel, are still living, those besides William A. Caldwell being Mary, Sadie, Lyda, J. Edward and Oliver. William A. Caldwell was reared on the home farm in Jackson township and received his schooling in the local schools. As a lad he determined that a commercial life was better suited to his tastes and inclinations than that of a farm and upon completing his schooling went to Rushville, where he became engaged in the dry goods business with W. C. and A. G. Mauzy and thus early became identified with the business interests of the city. In 1873 William A. Caldwell married Emma Cullen, of Ohio county, Indiana, and to this union four children were born, those besides the subject of this sketch being Mrs. Alice Herkless, Mrs. Fannie Harrison and Helen S. Reared at Rushville, Frederick A. Caldwell completed the course in the city schools and supplemented the same by a course at Graham Academy. Upon becoming engaged in the furniture business, supplemented by the undertaking business, Mr. Caldwell qualified himself as a funeral director by taking a course in the school of embalming at Indianapolis. He has a well-stocked furniture store and a thoroughly modern undertaking equipment, his business being carried on along up-to-date lines in all details. On June 5, 1900, Frederick A. Caldwell was united in marriage to Alice S. Perkins, of Rising Sun, Ind., and to this union one child has been born, a son, James A., who is now (1921) a student in the school of electrical engineering at Purdue University. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in church work. Mr. Caldwell is a Republican and is a member of the Rushville lodges of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Red Men and. the Modern Woodmen.

HORACE G. WHITEMAN, the owner of a well-cultivated farm in Anderson township and one of his community 's substantial and constructive citizens, was born on the property on which he now resides, April 25, 1860, a son of William and Emily (Warriner) Whiteman. The grandparents of Mr. Whiteman, Jacob and Mary Whiteman, migrated to Rush county from Pennsylvania, in 1818, making the journey overland in true pioneer style and becoming early settlers of the new community, where they entered land from the Government. Here they rounded out long and useful lives in the pursuits of agriculture, and reared a family of seven children: William, Elkana, Minerva, Sarah, Jane, Mary Ann and Drusilla. William Whiteman was born in Rush county, where he was reared and educated, and after his marriage in Anderson township engaged in fai-ming. During a long and industrious life he accumulated a property consisting of 188 acres, the greater part of which he cleared himself, and here his life's activities were passed in the peaceful pursuits of the soil. He and his wife were the parents of six children: Clara, Horace G., Seward, Mary, Martha and Emma. The schools of Milroy furnished Horace G. Whiteman with his educational training, and when his studies were put aside he began farming in association with his father on the home place. At the time of his marriage he rented land from the elder man and continued to be a renter until 1909, in which year he purchased eighty acres of the home place. General farming and stock raising have constituted Mr. "Whiteman 's activities, and at present he is feeding all his grain to his hogs, of which he ships about two car loads annually. He has been industrious and persevering and has carried on his operations in an intelligent and modern way. Mr. Whiteman married Olive, daughter of John R. Mercer, and to this union there have been born five children: Chester, who married Susan Hilligoss and has two children, William and Helen Olive; Conde, who during the World war was a member of Battery B, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Field Artillery, and after seeing active service at St. Mihiel and the Argonne accompanied the Army of Occupation into Germany, having the distinction of being the only boy from Anderson township who saw such service, returned safely to his home and married Hazel Coen ; and Mercer, Gus and Walter, who reside on the home place and are unmarried. In his political belief Mr. Whiteman is a Republican, but he has never been active in public affairs, save as a good citizen supporting worthy measures. After more than sixty years in the same community, he finds himself firmly entrenched in the good will and regard of his fellow men, a man of unquestioned personal honor and fine consideration for all with whom he is thrown in contact.

WILLIAM McCOY CARR, who is recognized as one of the energetic and successful farmers of Rush county, operating a fine farm belonging to his mother in Richland township, is a native of Richland township and was born on August 14, 1887. He is a son of Milton C. and Pocahontas (McCoy) Carr, the former a native of Butler county, Ohio, and the latter of Richland township, Rush county. Milton C. Carr came from his native state to Rush county in his young manhood and here his first employment was as a farm hand for his brother. Later, after his marriage, he began farming operations on his own account, operating the land on which the subject of this sketch now lives. He farmed 142 acres and devoted himself to the operation of this farm, with energy and success, until his retirement in 1918, when he moved to New Salem. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: McCoy, Mildred, Robert B., Ruth, Prank H. and Jean Augusta. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of Richland township and the high school at New Salem, graduating from the latter institution in 1906. After leaving school, he worked as a farm hand two seasons and then entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he was graduated in 1912 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then returned to the home farm, to the operation of which he has since devoted his energies.

He carries on general farming, raising all the crops common to this section, and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding about 140 hogs a year. He is thoroughly practical and up-to-date in his methods and enjoys a reputation as an enterprising and progressive agriculturist. Mr. Carr was married on August 19, 1918, to Lillian Larinan, the daughter of Michael and Lillian (Brown) Larinan, and they have one child, Janet H. Mr. Carr is a member of the United Presbyterian church at Rushville and Mrs. Carr of the Baptist church. Fraternally, Mr. Carr belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, while, politically, he is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, having served as township assessor, and is the present member of the Democratic county central committee from Richland township.

GUY BUSSELL, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Union township, was born in the house in which he is now living in that township on August 30, 1882, son of John T. and Nancy (Smith) Bussell. He received his early schooling in the district schools of his home township and supplemented the same by a course at the central normal at Danville, Ind., after which for about three years he was located at Indianapolis. He then returned to the home farm and became engaged in farming in association with his father and so continued until in 1909 when he rented a farm of 172 acres and began farming on his own account, farming that place until he moved onto the place he is now occupying and is now farming 320 acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Bussell gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well in his operations. In 1912 Guy Bussell was united in marriage to Clara Schaeffer, who was born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Philip and Mary (Hurtig) Schaeffer, and to this union three children have been born, John Philip, Clarence and Edgar. Mr. and Mrs. Bussell have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the community's general social activities. Mr. Bussell is a member of the Ben Davis Christian Church and is a deacon of the same. In his political affiliation he is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen 's interest in local civic affairs.

JAMES W. NORRIS, a well known retired farmer of Union township now living at Glenwood, is a native of Maryland, but has been a resident of Indiana since he was fifteen or sixteen years of age and has thus long regarded himself as a Hoosier for all practical purposes. He was born on a farm in Caroline county, Maryland, November 13, 1855, son of "William and Sarah (Richardson) Norris, both of whom were born in that same state. William Norris was trained as a boy to the trade of cabinet maker, a vocation he followed for some time after his marriage, but later took up farming and was for eighteen years engaged as a farmer in his home county, continuing thus engaged until his appointment to the position of superintendent of the Caroline county (Maryland) infirmary, a position he occupied for years thereafter. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, three of whom are still living, James W. Norris having a sister, Wilmina, and a brother, Thomas G. Norris. James W. Norris spent 'his boyhood in his home county of Caroline, Maryland, receiving his early schooling there, and in 1871 came to Indiana seeking employment and stopped in Franklin county for a time but presently went over into Union county and there became engaged as a farm hand, working "by the month," and so continued engaged there for some years, or until his marriage in that county to Geraldine Stanton, a resident of Union county, after which he rented a farm and established a home of his own. Mr. Norris continued farming there, operating a place of 178 acres, until he was appointed superintendent of the Union county infirmary, a position he occupied for three years, at the end of which time, in 1911, he came to Rush county and rented the McFarland farm in Union township. For five years he operated that tract of 450 acres and then retired from the farm and moved to Glenwood, but ten months later the lure of the farm proved too strong to resist and he rented the Baker farm of 220 acres and for three years operated that place, making his home on the farm. In March, 1919, he again retired and moved back to Glenwood, where he and his wife are now living, quite comfortably situated. Mr. and Mrs. Norris are Republicans and are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, Mr. Norris is affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

CHARLES A. MAUZY, a well known merchant at Rushville, the head of a long established business house that has been noted for its progressiveness and fair dealing for over fifty years, and vice-president of the Peoples National Bank and the Peoples Trust Company of Rushville, is a representative of one of the oldest families in the country. He is descended from Henry Mauzy, the founder of the family in this country, who was a Huguenot forced to flee from France to escape persecution shortly after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685. Henry Mauzy first went to England, where he married the daughter of Doctor Conyer, and then came to Virginia. Through several successive generations, during which the Mauzy family spread to the four quarters of the land, the line is traced to Charles A. Mauzy, as follows: Henry, John, Henry, William, Peter, Abram Gooding, and Charles A. Abram Gooding Mauzy, the father of Charles A. Mauzy, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in February, 1825. His early life was one of many hardships, having been left to fight life's battles alone. He was a marvel of industry all through his life, and in his few moments of rest he would read, and soon commenced to teach school. By hard work and pluck he saved enough money to go into the dry goods business in Spartansburg with R. M. Pomeroy, who in after years became president of the Union Pacific Railroad. Abram G. Mauzy married Emily R. Jameson in New Paris. Ohio, November 3, 1847, and in the early '50s moved to Rushville, where he continued in the dry goods business and grain business until his two sons, "Wesley J., and Charles A. Mauzy succeeded him. His first enterprise in Rushville was as a member of the firm of Hibben & Mauzy, and this name continued until 1865, when Mr. Mauzy bought out his partner and carried on the affairs of his store until 1883, when he retired. To him and his wife were born five children : Mary, widow of Edwin Payne, of Rushville ; Charles A., Mrs. Sarah Mowers, of Rushville ; Kate, wife of T. H. Parry, of Indianapolis, and "Wesley J., who died in 1890. The mother of these children died in 1873. In 1874 Mr. Mauzy married Mrs. Lyda (Hibben) Jones. Mr. Mauzy died in 1905, and his widow in 1906. Charles A. Mauzy received his early education in the public schools of Rushville, and then attended Butler College at Irvington, Ind. In 1872, after leaving college, he returned to Rushville and engaged in the mercantile business with his father until the elder gentleman's retirement, when he, in company with his brother, Wesley J. and his cousins, George G. and Eddy H. Mauzy, in the year 1883, undertook the management of the business. The firm was then known as the Mauzy Company for a number of years, and then as Mauzy & Denning until 1910, since which time it has gone under the name of the Mauzy Company, which includes Charles A. Mauzy and his sons, Hugh E. Mauzy and Henry Louis Mauzy. The business is housed in a fine building on the corner of Main and Third streets in Rushville, and does the most extensive business of its kind in the county, keeping fully abreast of the trend of fashion and modern ideas. Charles A. Mauzy married Lillie M. Carr, a daughter of Houston Carr, and to their union three children have been born: Hugh E., Henry Louis, and Mary Louise. Hugh E. Mauzy, who is in business with his father, married Anna Ross and has two children, Judith and Janet. Henry Louis Mauzy, also a member of the Mauzy Company, married Gladys Henley and has two children, David Henley and Robert Jameson. Mary Louise Mauzy married George H. DeHority, of Elwood, Ind., and has two children, Charles Mauzy and George H., Jr. Charles A. Mauzy is a member of various fraternal organizations, is a Republican in his political views, and in his religious beliefs adheres to the tenets of the Christian church, of which he at one time was a deacon.

SCOTT WARD, one of the worthy native sons of Rush county, ranking with the energetic and enterprising class that has contributed to the later-day success of this favored section of the great Hoosier commonwealth, was born in Jackson township, this county, on December 18, 1881, and is the son of Leonard A. and Mary E. (Warfield) Ward, both of whom were natives of Rush county, where the father followed the vocation of farming. Leonard A. Ward and wife were the parents of seven children, as follows : Bertha, Fannie, Donald, Roy, Willie, Scott and Caroline, the last-named being deceased. Scott Ward spent his youth under the parental roof and secured his education in the schools of Jackson township. Then up to the time of his marriage lie assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. After his marriage he worked for about two years at the trade of a carpenter with his brother-in-law, but he then began farming on his own account, first as a renter for about nine years. He was industrious and a careful manager, so that he was enabled to purchase a farm of eighty acres, which he owned for about a year. Selling that, he then bought eighty acres of land in Center township, which he sold six months later and bought the place where he now lives in Posey township. The farm comprises 130 acres, well adapted to general farming operations, and he keeps the place well improved and in the best of condition. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Ward also raises and markets about two carloads of hogs each year. Mr. Ward was married on October 13, 1907, to Bertha Kennedy, a native of Posey township and the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tribby) Kennedy, former a native of Rush county and the latter born in Kentucky. Mr. Kennedy was a farmer by vocation. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of which number eight are living, namely: Elva, Ethel, Charles. Orva, Byrl, Samuel, Earl and Orville. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward have come a son, Lowell R., born on December 23, 1915. They are members of the Cbristian church and in politics Mr. Ward has been a firm supporter of the Democratic party. In all the relations of life he has proved true to every trust, being known as a careful and able business man and one whose integrity of purpose has never been questioned. Because of these characteristics he has won the respect and confidence of everyone.

FRANK WHITINGER, a well-known farmer and landowner of Orange township, this county, living on rural mail route No. 3 out of Rushville, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 25, 1849, son of James and Rhoda (Hungerford) Whitinger, Ohioans, whose last days were spent on the farm here referred to and who in their days were among the best known residents of that community. James Whitinger and wife both were born in Hamilton county, Ohio, but not long after their marriage came over into Indiana and located in Orange township, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. James Whitinger was a good farmer and became the owner of a well kept place of 160 acres which he farmed until his death. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom three are still living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Richard and James Whitinger. Reared on the farm on which he was born in Orange township, Frank Whitinger received his schooling in the old Dodson, Hungerford and King school bouses in that district and from his boyhood devoted himself to a farm career. He remained at home, a valued assistant in the labors of developing the home place, until his marriage when about twenty-two years of age and then he rented a portion of his father's farm and started out "on his own. hook," continuing to remain there thus engaged until in the distribu- tion of the estate nearly twenty years later he bought that portion of the place on which he is now living, a tract of seventy- five and one-half acres including the old home, and has continued to reside there, though of late years renting the fields and living practically retired from the active labors of the farm. Since coming into ownership of the place Mr. Whitinger has made numerous improvements on the farm and has an excellent place, well improved and well kept. The Whitingers are members of the Big Flat Rock Christian Church and have long given their interested attention to church work and general neighborhood good works. Mr. "Whitinger is a Democrat but has never taken particularly active part in political affairs. On September 28, 1871, Frank Whitinger was xinited in marriage to Mary Elder, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Joseph and Matilda (Callahan) Elder and the only present survivor of the three children born of that parentage, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Rena, who married Jack Dwiggins, a farmer of Jennings county, this state, and has three children, Lawrence, Albert and Mary; Florence, who married Clyde Wagoner, a farmer of Orange township, this county, and has two children, Clifton and Floyd; Inez, who married Harry Albert, now living at Logansport, Ind., and has five children, Flossie, Crystal, Howard, Tessie and Mary; and Faran, an Orange township farmer, who married Nellie Barlow and has two children, Doris and Garland, Mr. and Mrs. Whitinger thus having twelve grandchildren, iu all of whom they take much pride and delight.

WILLIAM H. PRINE, who has been engaged in general farming in Washington township, this county, for many years, was born on November 15, 1858, in Marion county, Indiana, a son of John F. and Mary (Maze) Prine. His father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Indiana with his parents, James and Lydia Prine, the family locating in Rush county. James Prine secured a farm of eighty acres in Washington township, south of Raleigh, and there spent the rest of his life. Of his family of ten children but two survive, Martha and William H. John F. Prine grew up and attended school in Washington township. In 1849 when gold was discovered in California, he made the long and dangerous journey with thousands of others. In 1853 he returned to Indiana and married Mary Maze in Marion county, where he followed farming for the following ten years; then came back to Rush county and purchased a farm of 160 acres, which remained the family home. He died there on March 1, 1898, and his wife died on February 4, 1910. They were well known and highly respected people and had four children, James N, Joseph T., William H. and Margaret E., the last named born on February 9, 1861. William H. Prine was six years old when his parents moved from Marion to Rush county and he received his schooling in Washington township. On September 16, 1890, he married Ellen Rich, of Wayne county, Indiana, who died on October 21, 1911, leaving no issue. Mr. Prine has always taken some interest in local politics and is one of his township's leading Democrats.

RICHARD E. ABERNATHY, who is engaged in the battery business in Rushville, was born in Howard county, this state, but has been a resident of Rushville since he was seven years of age. His father was a native of Rush county and his grandfather was one of the pioneer residents of the county. The latter, John Abernathy, a native of the Old Dominion, came to Indiana from Virginia in the days of his young manhood and located in Rush county, settling on a farm in Union township, where he and his wife (Jemima Kinder) reared a family of six children, Jane, Robert. Isabelle, Mary, James and George, of whom but two, Mrs. Jane Nixon and Robert, are now living. George Abernathy, one of the sons of John Abernathy, the Virginian, was born in Rush county and received his schooling at Fairview. He married Sarah A. Carter and had eight children, all of whom are living, those besides the subject of this biographical sketch being John T., Norval L., Harry E., Mrs. Margaret Coy, Grace M., Ada and Kate F. As noted above Richard E. Abernathy was but seven years of age when his parents returned to this county from Howard county and he received his schooling in the Rushville schools. As a young man he became engaged in the lumber and furniture business at Rushville and continued thus engaged until in 1915, when he established a battery service station at the point where he is now located and has ever since been thus engaged, doing very well in his business, having started his business just at the right time to develop with the remarkable expansion which has marked the development of the automobile demand during the past few years. At the age of twenty-five years, Richard E. Abernathy was united in marriage to Flora Belle Stahly and to that union were born two children, Laura M. and Miriam (deceased.) Following the death of the mother of these children Mr. Abernathy married Rose Harper. Politically, Mr. Abernathy is "independent" in his views. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias at Rushville and has served two terms as secretary of the Odd Fellows lodge, in the affairs of which he has long taken an active interest.

JOHN H. POWER, one of the favorably known retired citizens of Rushville who are now enjoying the fruits of their earlier years of labor in quiet and comfort, was born on a farm in Anderson township, this county, February 21, 1846, a son of John D. and Mary Ann (Smisor) Power. John D. Power was still a lad when he lost his father, and when he was eight years of age was brought by his mother to Anderson township from Kentucky. Here he received somewhat limited educational advantages and early began farming, eventually becoming the owner of a farm of some value. His career, while an active one, was not rounded out in full, as he was called by death in middle age, when his son, John II., was but twelve years of age. He and his wife were the parents of the following children : George, who married a Miss Crawford; Thomas, who married a Miss Overleese: Nathan B., who married a Miss Murray : Emery J., who married a

Miss Spurgeon ; Daniel, who married a Miss Whiteman ; and John H. William S. and Richard M., the two first born, grew to manhood and are now deceased. Mrs. Elizabeth Power Overleese also is deceased and Amanda Alice died at the age of seven months. John H. Power attended the public schools of Orange and Anderson townships, after which he spent one year in study at Milroy, and a period at the Burton school. When he was twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, as a renter, and after some years bought a property of his own in Anderson township. On this he continued to carry on operations as a general farmer and stockman until his retirement to Rushville in 1906. He is a public-spirited citizen who gives his support to all worthy measures, and has won and held the confidence of those among whom he has resided in several communities. In politics Mr. Power is a Democrat, and his religious faith is that of the Christian church. His fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias. On October 27, 1871, Mr. Power married Viola, daughter of James and Evelyn Murray, of this county. To that union one child was born, a daughter, Mate Power, who married William Jay and died on October 31, 1913, leaving one child, a daughter, Viola Power Jay. Mrs. Viola Power died on March 21, 1906.

ALLEN S. BARNES, one of the honored retired farmers of Richland township, who has done much for the betterment of his community and is one of the substantial men of that part of the county, was born in Noble township, this county, on October 17, 1850, and was there reared, securing his educational training in the old Neff Corner school. After completing his studies he devoted his energy to work on the home farm, assisting his father until the latter 's death. Prom the time of his marriage, however, the subject had been operating a part of his father's land on his own account. At the time of his father's death, he acquired possession of a part of the homestead and is now the owner of eighty-two acres. He operated this land with success and profit up to 1913, when he retired from active labor and has since lived quietly in his comfortable home, enjoying the fruits of his former years of toil. He always carried on a general line of farming, raising all the common crops and feeding his grain to hogs for market. Mr. Barnes was married to Otelia Winchel, the daughter of W. G. and Sarah Stevens Winchel, and to them was born a daughter, Daisy, who became the wife of Luther Gwinnup. Mr. and Mrs. Gwinnup are the parents of two children, Owen Ellis and Wilna Alliene. Owen E. Gwinnup married Florence Loffler and they have one child, Ruth Alice. Mrs. Barnes was born in Noble township, of which township her mother also was a native. Her father, who was born near Laurel, Ind., was a farmer for many years in Noble township, and also followed the trade of shoemaker, at which he was an adept. Of the eight children born to him and his wife, four are now living, namely : George, Otelia, Alvin C. and Melissa J. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are faithful members of the Christian church, with which Mr. Barnes has been identified since 1875. Fra-

JAMES WHITINGER, a highly respected citizen and well situated general farmer and stockraiser of Anderson township, this county, has spent his life in this county and has devoted himself mainly to agricultural pursuits. He was born in Orange township on August 17, 1843, a son of James and Rhoda (Hungerford) Whitinger, who were born, reared and married near Venice, Butler county, Ohio. They had four children, Sarah (deceased), Richard, who lives at Milroy; James and Frank, the latter of whom is a resident of Orange township. The parents came as early settlers in 1839 to Rush county, the father buying 154 acres of land in Orange township, and this constituted the old homestead. James Whitinger had such school privileges as this section afforded at that time, grew up strong, sturdy and industrious, and worked for his father and other farmers in the neighborhood up to the time of his marriage, when he rented a tract of land. For seventeen years afterward Mr. Whitinger continued to farm on rented land, and then found himself able to purchase seventy acres, his present home farm. He now owns ninety-two acres and carries on general farming and stockraising. In 1872 Mr. Whitinger married India Forsythe, daughter of Asa Forsythe, and they have had three children, Wilmer (deceased), Edgar, who married Cora Laud and has one child, Helen; and Raymond, who resides at home. Mr. Whitinger and his sons are affiliated with the Democratic party. The family belongs to the Big Flat Rock Christian Church, Mr. Whitinger being church clerk.

JOHN H. VERNON, general farmer and public official in Orange township, this county, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, February 17, 1860, a son of Thomas P. and Mariah J. (Avers) Vernon, natives of North Carolina and Shelby county, respectively. The father followed farming all his life. Of their family of twelve children the following are living: <Iennie, Ollie M., Josephine, Minnie, Elijah A. and John H. John H. Vernon attended school in both Shelby and Hancock counties. In his earlier years he assisted his father and afterward worked for neighboring farmers up to the time of his marriage, when he began for himself on rented land. After renting for four years he bought seventy-eight acres in Orange township. Rush county, operated it for several years and then sold to advantage. Since then he has bought and sold other farms, his present farm in Orange township containing eighty acres. He has always carried on general farming and stockraising, paying much attention to hogs. On August 22, 1883, Mr. Vernon married Florence Harcourt, who was born in Orange township, this county, daughter of Nathan and Lucinda (Camerer) Harcourt, both of Rush county. Nathan Harcourt was a farmer and owned 375 acres of land. Of his family of seven children, the following are living: Oliver, Marion, Florence, Mary, Lina and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon's only child, Hazel, died when twenty-three years old and was buried in the McCarty cemetery. Mr. Vernon is somewhat active in Democratic politics in Rush county and is serving his second term as a member of the township advisory board. He is a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Milroy. He is past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias at Milroy and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Gowdy.

JOHN FULTON, a well-known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, now living retired from the labors of the farm, is a native Hoosier and has been a resident of this state all his life. He was born in the neighboring county of Franklin on July 1, 1848, son of James and Mary Ann (Smith) Fulton, both of whom also were born in Indiana of pioneer stock. James Fulton was a carpenter from the time he was fifteen years of age, his trade having been learned in Wayne county. He was married in Franklin county and established his home there. Though his work in connection with his building operations took him to several counties in this state and to other states at times he ever regarded Indiana as his home. He died in Missouri at the age of eighty-one years. James Fulton was twice married. By his first wife, Mary Ann Smith, he had four children, three of whom grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch and his sisters, Sarah Jane and Harriet, both now deceased. Upon the death of the mother of these children James Fidton married Susan Carpenter and to that union nine children were born, eight of whom are still living, all living in the West. John Fulton was reared in Franklin county and there received his schooling. He "early became engaged in farming, working as a farm hand until his marriage at the age of twenty-four, when for a year he rented a farm with a view to starting farming on his own account, but the next year took up carpenter work with his father and was for three years thus engaged, at the end of this time returning to farming and buying a farm of forty-five acres in Franklin county, on which he made his home for seven years. In 1885 he sold that place and returned to Rush county, buying a tract of eighty-one acres in Richland township, where he remained for seven years, at the end of which time he bought another tract of eighty-five acres in the northern part of that same township and established his home there, remaining on that place for thirteen years. Then he bought the place on which he is now living, a farm of 176 aci-es, and has since made his home here, though some time ago reducing his acreage by selling to his son, Charles, seventy acres of the home place, and since his retirement from the active management of the farm has been renting out the 106 acres of the home place, and is continuing the development of an excellent piece of property. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Glenwood and Mrs. Fulton has served the church as a class leader and has also been a Sunday school teacher for over twenty years. Mr. Fulton and his son are Democrats and have ever taken a proper interest in party affairs. On February 27, 1872, John Fulton was united in marriage to Phoebe Ellen Cupp, who was born in

Franklin county, this state, daughter of John H. and Mary A. (Davidson) Cupp, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Charles Fulton, who has been twice married, his first wife having been Eva Liming and his second, Pearl Kirk. John H. Cupp, father of Mrs. Phoebe E. Fulton, was a Kentuckian, born at Maysville, who came to Indiana with his parents, Joseph and Ellen (Lefler) Cupp, when he was eight years old, the family locating in this county, Joseph Cupp having entered land in Richland township. The family later moved to Metamora in Franklin county, where John H. Cupp grew to manhood. In that county he married Mary A. Davidson, who was born in Hancock county, this state, and after his marriage established his home on a farm in Franklin county and there spent the remainder of his life, becoming a substantial farmer and the owner of a fine farm of 220 acres. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four are still living, Mrs. Fulton having three sisters, Maria J., Angeline and Louise. The Fultons have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Glenwood and have ever taken an interested and hospitable part in the community's general social activities.

ROBERT A. INNIS, a well known retired manufacturer of Rushville and formerly and for years prominently connected with the industrial and commercial interests of this community, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Anderson township on January 25, 1859, son of William and Jennie (Buchanan) Innis, who were among the pioneers of Rush county, and whose last days were spent here, influential residents of the Milroy neighborhood. William Innis also was born in Anderson township, in 1826, a son of Alexander and Christian (Kirkpatrick) Innis, who had come here from Pennsylvania in the early '20s, and had become established in Anderson township, among the first settlers of the Milroy neighborhood, the Innis family thus having had representation in Rush county almost from the days of the beginning of a social order hereabout. Alexander Innis was a son of James and Ann (Arbuckle) Innis, the former of whom was a son of Francis and Marjorie (Millikin) Innis, natives of Scotland, who had come to this country in Colonial days. During the time of one of the Indian outbreaks in Colonial days the entire family of Francis Innis was captured by the Indians, the members of the family becoming separated by their captors. Just as the Indians were preparing to put Francis Innis to death a French trader chanced along and made a deal with the Indians whereby their captive was released, giving them goods as ransom, and the captive acknowledged an obligation to work for the trader until the amount of the ransom was compensated. Not long afterward the trader and his party met the band of Indians which held in captivity Francis Innis 's wife, and they likewise ransomed her, the husband agreeing also to work in requital of this further sum.

Robert A. Inn Is

Some of the children of this distressed family never were recovered from their savage captors. It was afterward that James Innis was born. He grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, and when the colonists declared their independence he enlisted his services in behalf of the struggle for freedom from overseas rule, and became an active participant in the Revolutionary war, with which cause he continued constant until the close of the struggle, being mustered out as an ensign of the Ninth Battalion, Pennsylvania. James Innis enlisted as a private in the company of Captain Frazier, Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion, then commanded by Col. Anthony Wayne, who became one of the famous generals of the Revolutionary war. He served with that command from January 13, 1776, to January 24, 1777, when he re-enlisted, and was presently promoted to surgeon's mate. On February 4, 1779, he was promoted to ensign and thus served as a commissioned officer until the close of the war. At the battle of Stony Point he was captured by the British, but was later exchanged. He was with Washington's array during the memorable winter at Valley Forge, and rendered valorous service. For this he was given a grant to a tract of land in Pennsylvania when the Republic was set up and that land is still held in the Innis name, the family still being represented there. William Innis, son of Alexander Innis and grandson of James Innis, the Revolutionary war patriot, grew to manhood in Anderson township, where he was born, and remained there until 1879, when he moved with his family to Rushville and there became engaged in association with Mr. Pearce in the coal and lumber business, at the same time continuing to look after his land interests in Anderson township. It was during the time of this association that the Innis- Pearce furniture factory was established, Mr. Innis thus having been one of the founders of that important industrial concern. William Innis continued thus actively engaged in business at Rushville until his death in 1898. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom but two are now living, Robert A. and his brother, Perry T. Innis, the Milroy banker, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Robert A. Innis was reared on the home farm in Anderson township, and was twenty years of age when his parents moved to Rushville. He had received his early schooling in the schools at Milroy and in the old Richland Academy, and this he supplemented during the years 1879 and 1880 by a course in the university at Valparaiso, after which he became engaged as a clerk in the store of Reeves & Burke at Rushville. Two years later he became associated with his father and Mr. Pearce in the planing mill, lumber and coal business at Rushville, and in 1883 was made secretary-treasurer of the company, which in 1900 was incorporated as the Innis-Pearce Company, and with which he continued actively connected until he sold his interest in 1918. Mr. Innis has been active in other ways in the industrial and commercial life of his home town, and for years was treasurer of the Park Fxirniture Company, an interest which he also disposed of in 1918. He was one of the organizers of the Peoples Gas Company at Rushville, and for the past fifteen years has been treasurer of the same ; he was also one of the organizers of the Peoples Loan and Trust Company of Rushville, and is a member of the board of directors of the Peoples National Bank. Mr. Innis is a Republican and he and his family are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which he long has been an elder. In 1886 Robert A. Innis was united in marriage to Jennie Archer, daughter of William and Orma (Potter) Archer, then of Vevay, Ind., and to this union two children have been born, Orma, who married Chester Smith, of Monmouth, 111., and has three children, Robert Innis, Fletcher, and Chester James ; and Ruth, wife of Russell Kirkpatrick.

ELI B. MARTIN, an enterprising business man and farmer of Washington township, this county, belongs to a prominent family of this section and is a native of Washington township. He is a son of Benjamin Franklin and Cora E. (Elwell) Martin, who now live retired at Raleigh, the former of whom was born in Wayne county and the latter in Rush county. His paternal grandfather, who died in 1885, was a veteran of the Civil war in which he held rank as lieutenant. Eli E. Martin has one brother, Benjamin F., and had one sister, Myra G., now deceased. He was educated in the public schools of Raleigh and for a time was a student in the department of civil engineering, Purdue University. His father having extensive agricultural interests in Washington township, Mr. Martin has been closely identified with the same since returning from the university and at present oversees 366 acres. He is progressive in his ideas and makes use of modern methods and machinery in carrying them to success. On December 24, 1913, Eli E. Martin married Mary, daughter of Samuel J. and Anna M. Finney, and they have two children, Martha P. and Mary Catherine. Mr. Martin is a thirty-second degree Mason and belongs also to the Elks and Knights of Pythias.

SHERMAN ONEAL, dealer in farm implements at Rushville, a member of the firm of Oneal Bros., and one of the well known business men of that city, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Washington township, son of James and Enfield (Stewart) Oneal, who were the parents of five sons, those besides the subject of this sketch being Jesse, William S., Lieu and Bert. James Oneal was born at Frederickstown, West Virginia, and was but a child when his parents, Robert and Martha Oneal, came to Indiana with their family and settled in Noble township, this county where they established their home on a farm. On that farm James Oneal grew to manhood and after his marriage established his home in the same township, where he reared his family. Reared on the farm, Sherman Oneal received his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood. He early decided on a business career as better suited to his inclinations than that of farming and in pursuit of this inclination entered into the farm implement business at Rushville in association with his brother, Lieu Oneal, the brothers doing business under the firm style of Oneal Bros. They have an excellent stock of goods in their line and are doing well in business. Sherman Oneal married Mollie Browne, also of this county, and to this union two children have been born, Lea and Mrs. Mildred Beaver. Mr. Oneal is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He also has taken an interested part in local fraternal society affairs and is a member of the Rushville lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Red Men and the Woodmen.

JOSEPH M. FARLOW, a retired farmer and one of the representative men of Anderson township, this county, a farmer all his active life and a citizen concerned all his days in promoting the best interests of his neighborhood, was born in Orange township, this county, July 22, 1841, a son of Hiram and Elizabeth (Townsend) Farlow. His father was born in North Carolina and in youth accompanied his parents as pioneers to Indiana, where his father, George Farlow, entered eighty acres of land in Orange township, Rush county. George Farlow built a log cabin and as Hiram grew older he assisted his father to clear the land. Hiram Farlow was married in Orange township to Elizabeth Townsend, who was born in Delaware, and eleven children were born to them, three of these surviving : Joseph M. ; Reuben, who lives also in Anderson township ; and Amilda, who became the wife of Donald Seeright. Hiram Farlow had few educational advantages but he was a man of energy and sound judgment. To his first purchase of land he added until he owned 240 acres and both he and his son Joseph M. cleared many wild tracts of land. The Farlows were among the earliest substantial settlers in Orange township. Joseph M. Farlow had early school privileges in Orange township and assisted his father on the home farm until his own marriage, when he began farming for himself, for the first year and a half renting land in Anderson township. He then moved back to Orange township, where he rented land for ten years, at the end of which time he bought 124 acres in Anderson township, in the course of years adding to his holdings until he owned 264 acres. He has, however, sold all but his original homestead, which he continued to operate until 1912, when he retired. He has a beautiful property which he has finely improved, having erected all the substantial structures on the place. He carried on diversified farming and it was his policy to feed his corn to hogs, usually from seventy-five to 100 head a year. The wife of Mr. Farlow died on March 13, 1918. Of their six children the following are living: Maude, who married Leroy Lines and has two children, June and Joseph; Sallie, who married Roy Carr, of Homer, and had two children, Lena and Don, the latter of whom died at the Great Lakes Naval Station ; Ruby, who Edna, who married Clifford Powers and has one child, Jean. Mertie who married Mary Powers and has two children, Enid and Lois ; and

Edna, who married Clifford Powers and has one child, Jean. Mertie Parlow served as a captain in the Medical corps of the army during the World war and is still in the service, now attending Walter Reid Medical college at Washington. Mr. Farlow is one of the older members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Milroy and has served on its official board. In political life he is a Democrat. He has always taken an interest in educational matters and for a long time served as school director in his home district.

SHELTON M. BARNES, one of the enterprising farmers and public-spirited citizens of Richland township, and whose family were among the pioneer settlers of Rush county, is a native son of Rush county, having been born in Noble township on November 22, 1848. He is the son of Edward and Mary Ann (Stockwell) Barnes, both of whom were born and reared in Kentucky. In October, 1831, they came to Rush county and their marriage occurred here shortly afterwards. They located in Noble township, where he acquired a farm, but he later sold that and bought another farm of 160 acres, this being the place now owned by the subject of this sketch, and there he resided until his death, which occurred on August 30, 1887. His wife had died on April 13, 1870. Edward Barnes started in life as a poor boy, and got his start by day's work and the most rigid economy and good management. It is said that he split rails for the magnificent remuneration of 12y2 cents a hundred. To him and his wife were born ten children, of which number only four are now living, Allen, Shelton, Eliza and Gertrude. The subject of this sketch received his educational training in the Richland township schools, after which he took up farming with his father, with whom he remained until the latter 's death. He then engaged in farming on his own account and is now the owner of seventy acres of excellent and well improved land. He gives some attention to the raising of live stock. However, during the past two years Mr. Barnes has rented his land and is not now so closely connected with the working of the farm as formerly. Mr. Barnes is an earnest supporter of the Republican party and takes a keen and intelligent interest in all public affairs, especially as pertaining to his home community. His religious affiliation is with the Christian church. He has been a witness of the wonderful transformation which has taken place here during his life time of three score years and ten, always lending such aid as he could toward pushing forward the car of progress.

JOHN W. LINDALE, Sr., a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Noble township now living at Glenwood, and one of the few nonagenarians in Rush county, is a native of the state of Delaware but has been a resident of Indiana for nearly seventy years and has thus long accounted himself a Hoosier, "through and through." He was born in Kent county, Delaware, April 22, 1831, son of James M. and Eliza (Warren) Lindale, both of whom also were born in that state and who spent all their lives there. James M. Lindale was a farmer and his son John W. was thus reared on a farm. His school- ing was much restricted by the meager school facilities of that time and place and was confined to attendance on a few short terms of winter school during his boyhood. As a young man he worked at farm labor for twenty-five cents a day and he continued farming in Delaware until he was twenty-three years of age when, in 1854, he came to Indiana with a view to improving his condition in the then rapidly developing industrial field hereabout. Upon coming to this state Mr. Lindale first located at Payetteville, now known as Orange, in Fayette county, but the next year, 1855, came over into Rush county and presently rented a farm in Noble township and began farming on his own account. He occupied that farm as a tenant farmer for twenty years and then, about 1880, bought the place of 170 acres and continued to farm the same until about 1894, when he rented the farm to his elder son, James M. Lindale, and retired from the active operations of farm life, though he continued to make his home on the farm until he moved in 1913 to Glenwood, where he since has been living. Mr. Lindale has been a member of the Methodist church for a half century or more and has during most of that period been an office bearer in the church. By political affiliation he is a Republican and has ever taken a warm interest in civic affairs, though never entertaining aspirations to hold political office. On November 22, 1854, at Philadelphia, on his way west, John W. Lindale, Sr., was united in marriage to Maria Striker, daughter of Daniel and Katherine Striker, and to that union were born six children, of whom three, Thomas, Edward and Elizabeth, died in infancy and Susan, James and John survive. Susan Lindale married Avery Putnam and has two children, Ruth and Roy, the first named of whom married Everett Smock and has one child, a daughter, Elizabeth. James M. Lindale who died on January 22, 1915, married Lydia Ann Mack and had four children, Myrtle, Clarence, Myra and James, the latter of whom married Gladys Defibaugh. James Lindale served as a soldier during the time of America's participation in the World war and participated in the historic engagements at St. Mihiel, Verdun, the Argonne Forest and Chateau Thierry, suffering severe shell shock. Myrtle Lindale married the Rev. Eugene Lewis and has five children, Marion, Anna, Lindale, McGarvey and Virginia. The second daughter, Myra, is the widow of the late Harry Scott. John Lindale, who recently bought the old home place; married Eva Holmes.

RUSSELL RUFF, a progressive young farmer of Union township, was born in the house in which he is now living in that township on July 30, 1897, son of Earl and Elsie (Shortridge) Ruff, both of whom were born in the neighboring county of Fayette and who are now living retired at Glenwood. Earl Ruff, who as noted above was born in Fayette county, was bereft of his parents by death when he was but a small boy and he was reared by his grandmother in Union township, this county, where he grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood. He grew up to the farm and after his marriage became engaged in farming on his own account, starting as a renter on the farm of 275 acres on which his son Russell is now living and continued farming there until 1900 when he moved over into Fayette county and was there engaged in farming until 1908, in which year he came into his inheritance in the family estate and returned to his place in this county, the farm now operated by his son, where he remained until 1913 when he retired from the farm and moved to Glenwood, where he and his wife are now living. They have two children, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Edna. Russell Ruff was reared on the farm on which he was born and received his schooling in the schools at Fairview and Glenwood. From the days of his boyhood he was interested with his father in the operations of the home farm and after his marriage in the spring of 1917 rented the home place from his father and established his home there, continuing his farming operations along up-to-date lines. In addition to his general farming Mr. Ruff gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and annually feeds out about 125 head of hogs. On April 25, 1917, Russell Ruff, then in his twentieth year, was united in marriage to Effie Matney, daughter of Lewis and Rhoda (Winch ell) Matney. Mr. and Mrs. Ruff have a pleasant home in the Glenwood neighborhood and have ever taken an interested part in the community's social activities. They are members of the Christian church at Glenwood and Mr. Ruff is a member of the Orange lodge of Masons. He and his wife are Republicans.

FRANKLIN D. MILES, a thoroughly experienced farmer and well known citizen of Washington township, this county, was born in that township, May 16, 1863, a son of Richard S. and Phoebe (Parish) Miles. Richard S. Miles was born in Steuben, county, New York, a son of Loren and Phoebe (Wass) Miles and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Indiana, the family first settling in Rush county and in 1837 moving to Blackford county. When twenty years old he returned to Rush county and worked for farmers until his marriage, when he bought 160 acres of land in Washington township to which he subsequently added until he owned 211 acres. To his marriage with Phoebe Parish two children were born, William and Franklin Dellbert. After the death of his first wife he married, in 1870, Jane Spencer, who was born in Fayette county, and they had five children : Phoebe, Ola, Charles, Richard and Eliza, the last named being deceased. Franklin Dellbert Miles obtained his education in Washington township and ever since leaving school has engaged in farming for himself. He bought eighty acres in Washington township, the value of which he has greatly increased through careful tillage and a large amount of substantial improving. He makes a specialty of pure bred Jersey cattle, carries on a general agricultural line and has always been numbered with the capable farmers of the township. On April 25, 1887, Franklin D. Miles married Ada Hall, who was born in Rush county, and they have one son, Ralph H., who was born at Anderson, Ind., but was reared in Washington township. Ralph H.

Miles attended the common school here and the high school at Rushville and afterward Purdue University. He married Lorene Smith, daughter of Dr. Prank Smith, of Rushville, and they have two children, Olive Marjorie and Richard Smith. Mr. Miles has always taken an intelligent interest in public affairs and in his political views is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Raleigh.

MRS. JOHN B. McCARTY, of Rushville, was born in this county and has resided here all her life save a period during the days of her girlhood when her parents for some, years made their home in Madison county. Her father, Peter Mauzy, was a native of the Blue Grass state, born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, who was but five years of age when his parents came up into Indiana and located on a farm in Union township, this county, where he grew to manhood and where he married Mary Jane Wilson. Some years after his marriage he moved with his family to Madison county, this state, where he purchased a farm and for sixteen years thereafter was engaged in farming there. At the end of this time he returned to Rush county and bought, a farm in Jackson township, which tract is still in the ownership of the family, being now jointly owned by Mrs. McCarty and her brother, Greeley Mauzy. Mrs. McCarty was but a babe when her parents moved from this county to Madison county and she received her early schooling in the schools of the latter county, completing the same in the schools of Jackson township, this county, upon the family's return here. At her home in Jackson township she was united in marriage to John B. McCarty, of Madison county, and for fifteen years after their marriage she and Mr. McCarty continued to reside on the home place there. At the end of that time they retired from the farm and moved to Rushville, where Mr. McCarty spent his last days, his death occurring there on January 18, 1918. Since the death of her husband Mrs. McCarty has continued to make her home in Rushville and has a very pleasant home at 321 West Tenth street, where she and her children are quite comfortably situated. Mrs. McCarty has five children, Ida J., Greeley P., Ithemer M., Carl R. and Pearl S. Ida J. McCarty married R. Brooks, of Hancock county, and has three children. Pearl S. McCarty married Robert Kraig and has one child, Castle M. Bell, a son by a former marriage.

ALBERT McMICHAEL, who spent the greater part of a busy, useful life in Rush county, where he is well remembered for many estimable traits of character, was born at Manilla, Rush county, on May 25, 1849, and died on August 9, 1915. He was a son of John and Margaret McMichael, who removed with their children to Illinois during Albert's infancy. He obtained his schooling in that state and remained there until sixteen years old, then returned to Rush county, which section continued to be his home during the rest of his life. From boyhood he was industrious and never had any difficulty in securing farm work for his employers found him steady and reliable. Following his marriage he continued to work on farms and by the day for about ten years, then rented land and operated it and also worked through the county with a threshing outfit. Later he bought the farm of 100 acres on which his widow yet resides. On November 23, 1871, he married Emily Smith, daughter of James T. and Sarah A. (Scott) Smith, and three children were born to them, Frank, Edith and Ethel, all of whom now have family circles of their own. Frank McMichael married Nina "VVertz, the only surviving child of Hiram and Louise (Posey) Wertz, her father born in Preble county, Ohio, and her mother born in Walker township, Rush county. Mrs. McMichael was born in Posey township, Riash county, and had two brothers, Hanson and Charles. Her father came to Rush county in 1870, bought 103 acres of land in Rushville township, operated it for some years and then sold, moving at that time to Rushville, where his death occurred on March 28, 1912. Her mother survives and resides in Jackson township. Edith McMichael married George Lawson. Ethel McMichael married William Cameron, and they have the following children: Carl, Lillian, John, Weldon, Denzel, Lavon, Catherine and William. In politics Mr. McMichael was a Democrat, to which party organization his son Frank also belongs. The McMichael family has membership in the Methodist Protestant church at New Salem.

ERNEST B. THOMAS, secretary of the Peoples Loan and Trust Company of Rushville and former recorder of Rush county, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life save for a brief period spent in the West, during the days of his young manhood. Mr. Thomas was born at Milroy on November 25, 1867, and is a son of the late Dr. Samuel C. and Emily (Clements) Thomas, the latter of whom was born in Franklin county, Indiana, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Birt) Clements, natives of Maryland. Dr. Samuel C. Thomas, who was for many years engaged in the practice of medicine at Milroy, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, March 5, 1832, first born of the eleven children born to John and Abigail (Carter) Thomas, the latter of whom was born in New Jersey in 1814, her parents afterward becoming residents of Darke county, Ohio. John Thomas was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1806, a son of Daniel Thomas, a member of one of the real pioneer families of the old Blue Grass state. John Thomas moved with his family from Hamilton county to Darke county (Ohio) and for more than twenty-five years served as a justice of the peace in and for his home township in the latter county. He died there in 1879, and his widow's last days were spent in Rush county, her death occurring at Milroy in 1887. Doctor Thomas's boyhood was spent at Carthage, Ohio, and he was eleven years of age when he went to live with the family of his Grandfather Carter in Darke county, where he remained until 1850, when, he then being eighteen years of age, he came over into Indiana and became engaged as a schoolteacher at Milroy. He continued thus engaged for three years, in the meantime taking preparatory studies in medicine, and in 1853 entered old Asbury

E. B. Thomas

(DePauw) University at Greencastle. After two years at the university he matriculated at the Eclectic College of Medicine, Cincinnati, and in 1858 was graduated from that institution. Thus qualified for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life, Doctor Thomas returned to Milroy and there entered upon his long and useful career as a physician. In the fall of that same year he married and established his home at Milroy, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on April 7, 1914. His wife had preceded him to the grave nearly fifteen years, her death having occurred on Aprii 12, 1899. It was on October 14, 1858, that Dr. Samuel C. Thomas was united in marriage to Emily Clements, who had been engaged as a teacher in the schools of this county, and to that union were born six children, Abigail F., Kate A., Ernest B. and Perlee W. (twins), Clifford C. and Claude B. Perlee W. Thomas died on May 20, 1885, and Clifford C. died in April of the same year. Doctor Thomas was a Republican and a Freemason. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. Ernest B. Thomas was reared at Milroy, where he received his early schooling. He supplemented this by a course in Moores Hill College and then in the winter of 1886-87 was engaged as a teacher in the schools of this county, in the following spring going to Cimarron, Kan., where he became engaged as a bookkeeper in the local offices of the St. John & Marsh Lumber Co. A year later he returned to Indiana and entered DePauw University, but before completing the course there his health declined and he returned west, resuming his connection with the lumber company with which he formerly had been connected, this time in that company's Topeka offices In 1891 Mr. Thomas returned to Milroy and was for four years thereafter engaged in the hardware business at that place, in association with W. L. McKee. In 1894 he received the Republican nomination for recorder of Rush county and in the November election of that year was elected. He was re-elected in 1898 and thus served for more than eight years, his term of service beginning on August 25, 1895, and terminating on January 1, 1904. Upon the completion of his term of public service Mr. Thomas engaged in the abstract business at Rushville, and has since maintained that line. When the Peoples Loan and Trust Company was organized at Rushville in 1909 he was made assistant secretary and was presently advanced to the position of secretary of the trust company, which position he now occupies. During the time of America's participation in the "World war Mr. Thomas served as chairman of the Rush county chapter of the American Red Cross and is still serving on the executive board of this chapter. In June, 1921, he was called on by the Federal Loan Board to make a trip to Porto Rico and investigate the advisability of establishing a Federal farm loan bank there, on which mission he sailed on June 29. Mr.

Thomas is a Freemason, also a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. On March 4, 1891, Ernest B. Thomas was united in marriage to Glen Wheeler, of Dearborn county, this state, and to this union two children have been born, Ruth and Dorothy, the former of whom died in infancy. Dorothy Thomas was married on November 10, 1918, to Glen R. Tucker, of Greencastle, Ind., and has a son, William Thomas, born on January 26, 1920.

JAMES B. HALL, who is numbered among the successful agriculturists and stock men of Richland township, this county, whose efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding and general prosperity of their respective communities, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, on September 10, 1884, and is the son of Harlan and Margaret (Green) Hall, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Decatur county. While still a small child, Harlan Hall was brought by his parents to Decatur county, where he grew to manhood and received his educational training in the public schools. He was a veteran of the Civil war and his lifelong vocation was farming, in which he was successful, and he bore a reputation as a progressive and loyal citizen of his community. To him and his wife were born seven children, of which number five are now living, namely: Frank E., Nellie G., Katie, Eugene and James B. James B. Hall received his education in the common schools of his native county, after which he worked on the home farm, later being employed in that vicinity as a farm hand. In 1902 Mr. Hall came to Rush county and was here employed at farm work up to the time of his marriage. He then rented a farm of about seventy acres, to the operation of which he devoted himself, and has continued as a renter to the present time. He is now operating 160 acres of land and has made a splendid success of his work, being numbered among the industrious and enterprising agriculturists of his community. He carries on general farming operations, and also gives some attention to the feeding of live stock, handling annually from one to two carloads of cattle, besides some hogs. In 1908 Mr. Hall was married to Ethel Green, a daughter of George and Mary Green, and this union has been blessed in the birth of three children, Hugh S., Betty Jane and Mary Macel. Mr. Hall and his family are members of the United Presbyterian church at Rushville, to which they give generous support. Mr. Hall is always found in the forefront in support of every movement for the advancement of the general welfare of the community and, because of his industry and character, he stands deservedly high in popular esteem.

JESSE W. PETERS, one of the best known farmers in Rush county and a substantial landowner of Union township, where he makes his home, has for years been particularly attentive to the local movements having to do with the promotion of the interests of the agriculturists of this county as well as of the general agricultural interests of the country and has something more than a local reputa- tion along that line. When the farmers of Union township organized a local branch of the Farmers' Federation Mr. Peters was elected president of the organization and when the farmers of Rush county combined their township organizations into a central county organization he was made the treasurer of the new organization, and in both his official and private capacity has never neglected an opportunity to advance the cause thus so efficiently represented hereabout. Mr. Peters is a member of one of the old families of Rush county and has ever had the basic interests of the county and of its people close to his heart. He was born at Oing Station in Union township on March 8, 1874, son of Alfred R. and Freelove (Gifford) Peters, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Fayette, a member of one of the pioneer families of that county, and is still living, now making her home at Rushville where she was resided for about twenty years past. Alfred R. Peters, who died at his home in Rushville nearly fifteen years ago, was widely known' throughout the northern part of the county where the greater part of his life was spent. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the village of Carthage and was a son of John and Elizabeth Peters, the latter of whom was born in Kentucky but had been a resident of Rush county since the days of her girlhood. John Peters was born in Orange township, this county, a member of one of the real pioneer families of that section of the county, and became a substantial farmer. He spent all his life in Rush county and was an influential citizen in his generation. Alfred R. Peters learned the carpenter trade in his young manhood and followed that occupation until he opened a store at Ging Station, building his store room himself, and was for years engaged in the general mercantile business there. In 1881 he sold his store and bought the farm on which his son Jesse is now living and farmed there until about 1902 wThen he retired from the farm and moved to Rushville where his last days were spent, his death occurring there in 1907. Alfred R. Peters at the time of his death was the owner of 320 acres of land besides other property, and had long been regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the county. As noted above, his widow is still living at Rushville. They were the parents of two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch and Walter W. Peters. Jesse W. Peters was reared in this county and supplemented the schooling he received in the local schools by a course in the agricultural college of Purdue University, seeking there a further grasp on the problems of agriculture which he had noted arising about him not only on his father's farm but on the farms of his neighbors. Thus equipped for agriculture along somewhat more scientific lines than were commonly regarded in those days, that being in the days before the advantages of the agricultural schools were as generally recognized as they are today, he returned to the home farm and was associated with his father in the operation of the home place until his marriage at the age of twenty-one when he established his home on his father's other farm north of Ging where he remained until he moved to the place on which lie is now living in Union township and where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Mr. Peters owns 100 acres in that tract but is farming also an adjacent tract of sixty acres belonging to his mother in order to give him such scope as he deems desirable for the operations he is carrying on. As may be taken for granted Mr. Peters is conducting his operations along up-to-date lines and has what perhaps may be regarded as a model farm though he may be too modest in his estimate to say this of it himself. His theories of farming are both practical and "scientific" and his interest in the genei-al extension of agricultural interests has been such as to advance him to positions of influence in the locally organized bodies seeking that end, as has been set out in the introduction to this brief biographical sketch. In 1895, Jesse W. Peters was united in married to Elsie Gordon, who was born in the neighboring county of Fayette, and to this union six children have been born, George, Mary, Herschel, Dale, Alice and David" (deceased). Both George and Hershel Peters served their country during the period of America's participation in the recent World war, the former in the nays' and the latter in the motor truck corps, and are now assisting their father in the operations of the home farm. Mary Peters married William Meyer and has two children, Walter Jesse and Martha May. Mr. Peters and his family are Republicans and take an earnest interest in local political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and Mr. Peters is now clerk of the congregation and has also served as treasurer and as deacon. Mrs. Peters 's parents, Milton and Mary (Smiley) Gordon, were both born in Fayette county, members of old families there. Milton Gordon was a son of David and Emily (Tyner) Gordon, the latter of whom was bom in the neighboring county of Franklin, a member of one of the real pioneer families there. David Gordon was born in North Carolina and became a resident of Indiana in 1822, the rest of his life being spent in Fayette county. Milton Gordon was married in Fayette county and remained there until 1881 when he came with his family to Rush county and located in Union township, where he became the owner of an excellent farm of 126 acres and where he remained until 1918. His wife died in December, 1907. He and his wife had two children, Mrs. Peters having a brother, Wilbert R. Gordon, now residing at Indianapolis.

JOHN B. MORRIS, a well-known hardware dealer at Rushville and recognized as one of the leading merchants of that place, is a native son of the old Buckeye state but has no cause for regretting the decision which some years ago made him a resident of the Hoosier slate. He was born in Allen county, Ohio, son of George and Sarah V. (Cunningham) Morris, and was reared in that county, receiving his schooling in the schools of his home county. It was in 1906 that Mr. Morris came to Indiana and located at Rushville. Upon coming here he became engaged in the hardware business on North Main street. He sold that store iu 1911 and located at the site now occupied by him and has ever since been thus engaged, in this time having built up by progressive methods quite a prosperous business. He carries a full line of general hardware and accessories pertaining to such a stock and is doing well. Mr. Morris has ever taken a good citizen's interest in local governmental matters. He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and takes a proper interest in the affairs of that order. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Morris also was born in Allen county, Ohio, and her name before her marriage was Lulu Bernet. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have two children, Richard B. and Eloise, both of whom are now (1921) attending school.

JOHN C. BENNING, an experienced farmer of Orange township, this county, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, November 8, 1857, a son of Charles and Katherine (Brinkman) Benning. His parents were born in Germany but from childhood lived in the United States and were married at Oldenburg, Ind. They had a family of eight children, three of whom are living : John C. ; Charles, of Milroy, this county, and Josephine, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The father was a farmer in Franklin county. John C. Benning had school privileges in Franklin county until he was thirteen years old, at which age he started out as a farm hand and worked as such until he was twentyeight years of age. Then he married and began farming on his own account, renting the farm on which he lives from his mother-in-law for nine years and then buying it. He has prospered as a general farmer and raises a car load of hogs yearly. On September 11, 1884, John C. Benning married Lina Harcourt, daughter of Nathan and Lucinda (Camerer) Harcourt. At one time the father of Mrs. Benning owned 375 acres of land in Rush county. Mr. and Mrs. Benning have two sons: Clifford, a traveling salesman for a grocery house at Connersville, Ind., who married Carrie Branson; and Roscoe, now in the grocery business at St. Paid, Ind., who married Mary Marshall. Mr. Benning has always voted with the Democratic party. He and wife are members of the Big Flat Rock Christian Church.

PERRY GOSNELL, a progressive farmer and stock raiser of Orange township, this county, now living retired at Shelbyville, Ind., was born in Jasper county, Illinois, January 6, 1860. His parents were Washington and Malissa (Sanger) Gosnell, both of whom were born in Kentucky. They had sixteen children and of these the following are living: Washington, David, George, Henry and Perry. The father was a school teacher and after moving to Illinois was a farmer there for many years. Perry Gosnell attended school in Madison county, Indiana, after which he worked as a farm hand for fifteen years, then rented 160 acres of land in Orange township, this county, for two years, and following this for two years more worked as a farm hand. After his marriage in 1884 Mr. Gosnell rented land again in Orange township, a tract of 160 acres, where he remained for twentytwo years, in the meanwhile buying and selling several other farms. He never lived on those farms although he operated them and his investments turned out well. In 1900 he bought seventy-two acres of his present estate in Orange township, to which he subsequently added 198 acres, of which total he has sold fifty acres. His farm of 250 acres all lies within one square with the exception of a tract of fifty acres which is located in another part of Orange township. On November 11, 1920, Mr. Gosnell retired from the farm and moved to Shelbyville, where he owns a modern dwelling at 503 Elm street. He still retains supervisory charge of the farm and carries on general farming and feeds a large amount of stock, about 150 head of hogs and a car load of cattle annually. There are not many places in Rush county so substantially improved as this farm. Mr. Gosnell has put up a complete set of new buildings, including an attractive residence, two barns and all necessary outbuildings, has done a large amount of tiling and has two silos. He uses modern methods in carrying on his work and owns a Titan tractor. On January 10, 1884, Perry Gosnell married Jeanette Stewart, who was born in Orange township, this county, daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Meek) Stewart, both born in Decatur county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart had seven children and three besides Mrs. Gosnell are living, Robert, Nannie and Guy. Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell have two sons : Harry, a farmer in Orange township, who married Gertrude Malcolm and has four children, Helen, Melvin, Robert and Floyd ; and Ralph, who is the farmer on the homestead. He married Ida Brown and they have one child, Lowell. Mr. Gosnell is a Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Blue Ridge.

ERBAN B. VICKREY, a well known farmer, stockman and landowner of Union township, residing on rural mail route No. 1 out of Falmouth, is a member of one of the pioneer families of Rush county and has lived in this county all his life with the exception of a few years during the period of his early childhood when his family resided in Tipton county. He was born on a farm in Washington township on April 6, 1870, son of George and Mary (McCann) Vickrey, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Henry. George Vickrey was born in Washington township, this county, son of Martin Vickrey, who had come to Indiana from Virginia and had settled in that township in pioneer days. Reared in Washington township, George Vickrey continued farming there after his marriage, remaining there until about 1873 when he moved with his family to Tipton county, where he remained until the death of his wife in 1877, after which he moved to Lewisville, but not long afterward went to Wabash county where he became engaged in farming in association with his brother. His last days were spent in Marion, Ind. where he died in 1899. To him and his wife were born three children, of whom two are living, Erban B. Vickrey having a sister, Lydia, wife of Charles Hughes. Erban B. Vickrey was but seven years of age when his mother died and he was reared in the home of his aunt at Raleigh, this county, receiving his schooling in the schools of that village. As a young man he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and was there employed for about eighteen months, at the end of which time he returned to

Rush county and was here engaged as a farm hand until his marriage about three years later when he rented a farm and began farming "on his own." A few years later he started farming on his wife's place of forty acres and established his home on the same. As his affairs prospered Mr. Vickrey added to this holding until now he is the owner of an excellent farm of 307 acres in Union and Washington townships. In addition to his general farming Mr. Vickrey has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and during the past year fed out about 300 head of hogs. In 1891 Erban B. Vickrey was united in marriage to Amanda Kirkpatrick, daughter of Samuel and Charlotte (Carson) Kirkpatrick, and to this union three sons have been born, Lowell, Virgil and Floyd, the first named of whom married Sallie Logan and has one child, Loren Logan Vickrey. Virgil Vickrey married Leona Mull and has one child, Mull Warren Vickrey. The Vickreys are members of the Fairview Christian Church and Mr. Vickrey is a member of the board of trustees of the same and an elder of the church. In his political affiliation he is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Masons at Falmouth.