Rush County, Indiana - The whole text, 1921 (part 17 of 18)

JESSE C. BROOKS, a well-known young farmer and landowner of Union township and a former teacher in the schools of Rush county, was born in this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Center township on October 27, 1885, son of Robin J. and Addie (Bitner) Brooks, the latter of whom also was born in Rush county, a member of one of the old families here, and both of whom are still living. Robin J. Brooks is a Tennesseean who left his home in Tennessee in the days of his young manhood and was for some time thereafter engaged in working in Kentucky, later coming up into Indiana and locating in Rush county, where he began working as a farm hand at $15 the month. Four years after coming here he married Addie Bitner and then began farming on his own account as a renter, continuing as a renter until he was able to buy a tract of land in Center township, where he still lives, owner of a well kept farm of eighty acres. He and his wife have four children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Josie, Jennie and Orville. Reared on the home farm in Center township, Jesse C. Brooks received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and was graduated from the Center township high school in 1901. For six years thereafter he was engaged as a teacher in the schools of Rush county, continuing his farming operations during the summers on the home place, and after his marriage began farming on his own account. His operations prospered and in 1916 he bought the farm of 120 acres on which he is now living in

Union township. Since he took possession of this farm Mr. Brooks has made numerous improvements on the place and now has a well equipped farm plant. In 1906 Jesse C. Brooks was united in marriage to Avis Austin, who also was bom in this county, daughter of Jacob D. and Mary J. (George) Austin of Union township, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Frances Austin Brooks. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take an interested part in the community's general social activities. They are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church. Mr. Brooks is a Democrat.

CLYDE ARCHEY, one of the representative men of Anderson township and active and experienced along agricultural lines, is a member of a well known Rush county family. He was born in Orange township on September 7, 1882, a son of James P. and Elizabeth (Hill) Archey, the former of whom was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and the latter in Franklin county, Indiana. James P. Archey was nineteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Indiana, the journey being made in one of the oldtime "prairie schooners." His parents stopped in Shelby county but he pushed on into Rush county, with all his possessions tied up in a red handkerchief. He hired out as a farm hand and worked as such in Richland and other townships up to the time of his marriage, after which he operated rented land until he purchased the farm on which his son Clyde now resides. He continued as an active farmer until 1879, after which he devoted his energies to stock buying and trading, for which a keen business sense well fitted him. At the time of his death on December 9, 1918, Jams P. Archey owned 240 acres of land and was a stockholder in the Milroy Bank. He was a man of sterling integrity, generous and companionable, and will long be kindly remembered by many. Of his family of seven children all but one survive: Effie, widow of the late James F. Scull, of Orange township, Rush county, now the wife of Mr. Griffith, of San Francisco, Cal. ; Edgar L., of Knightstown, Ind. ; Zelma, wife of Walter Mansfield, of Milroy, Ind. ; Hugh C, of Orange township; Clyde, of Anderson township; and Cleveland, of Mt. Victory, Ohio. Clyde Archey attended school in Orange and Anderson townships and in 1901 was graduated from the Milroy high school. Opportunity for usefulness was immediately at hand, and he was associated with his father in farming and handling stock until 1911, at which time he went into the newspaper business, purchasing the Milroy Press, which he conducted until 1916, when he sold out and returned to his earlier activities. He is now operating 123 acres of the old homestead, forty of which he owns, does general farming and stockraising and grows an exceptionally fine specimen of seed corn that sells throughout the county under the name of " Archey 's Favorite." While operating in stock with his father the partners frequently fed out 300 head of hogs yearly and Mr. Archey now has about two car loads to ship. He is a breeder of the big spotted

Poland China hogs. He is interested in all matters pertaining to farmers, is wide awake and keeps thoroughly posted, and ever since the Indiana Farmers ' Association of Anderson township was organized he was secretary of this body until this year. On May 10, 1906, Clyde Archey married Amy Catherine Aldridge, daughter of W. A. Aldridge, of Milroy, and they have two children, James "William and Mary Louise. Mr. Archey and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Milroy. of which he is a steward, also district steward and a member of the finance committee. He is a Democrat, and is a member of Milroy lodge. No. 139, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America at Milroy.

ROSCOE LEFFORGE. Among the early settlers of Rush county was the Lefforge family, of whom the present generation is very creditably represented by Roscoe Lefforge, one of the best known farmers of Richland township and a man who has, by a life consistent in motive and action, won the confidence and respect of the entire community in which he lives. Roscoe Lefforge was born in Richland township on January 4, 1883, and is a son of Philander and Ninetta (Scott) Lefforge, both of whom were also born in Rush county, the latter in Richland township. Philander Lefforge was reared to manhood in Noble township, but when about twenty years of age he accompanied the family on their removal to Richland township. Here he was married and then engaged in farming, continuing to follow that vocation continuously up to the time of his retirement, in October, 1905, when he went to Andersonville to live. He first started in as a renter, but soon afterward bought land now farmed by the subject of this sketch, increasing his holdings until eventually he was the owner of 240 acres, all in Richland township. He was the scion of one of the old families of this locality, his parents, Isaac and Florinda Lefforge, having been numbered among the pioneer families of this county. Both were natives of Indiana. The subject is the only survivor of the two children born to his parents. Roscoe Lefforge received his education in the schools of Richland township and after completing his schooling he went to work with his father and soon entered into a partnership with him. They carried on their farming operations together until October, 1913, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Lefforge has since been working independently. From 1913 to 1919 he operated eighty acres which he had bought, but in the latter year he rented 240 acres additional from his father, so that he is now farming 320 acres. All of his gi'ain is devoted to stock feed, as he feeds about 300 hogs and a carload of cattle each year. Mr. Lefforge was married to Lela King, the daughter of W. P. and Mary King, and to them have been born two children, Angus and Lowell. The family are identified with the Hopewell United Brethren Church. Mr. Lefforge has long been a strong supporter of the Prohibition party, as he is unalterably opposed to all forms of the liquor traffic. Personally, he is a man of many excellent qualities of character and is popular in the circles in which he moves.

PAUL FOSTER, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Union township, this county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life, engaged in farming on his own account since his marriage at the age of twenty-five years. He was born on April 12, 1892, son of Charles and Harriet (Smith) Foster, who are still living, and further and fitting reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume of biography together with additional details regarding the Foster and the Smith families in this section of the state, to which additional details the attention of the reader is invited in this connection. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Paul Foster received his schooling in the Union township graded school at Ging Station and from the days of his boyhood has devoted his attention to farming, having been given careful training in agricultural methods by his father. After his marriage he became engaged in farming on his own account, renting from his mother an eighty-acre tract owned by her in Union township, established his home on that place and has since resided there, he and his family being quite comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Foster feeds out about fifty head of hogs a year and is annually extending his operations, which are carried on in up-to-date fashion. It was in 1917 that Paul Foster was united in marriage to Myrtle Johnson, who also was born in this county, daughter of Otis and Nellie Johnson, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Emerson. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have a pleasant home and give proper attention to the general social activities of their home neighborhood. In their political views they are supporters of the principles of the Democratic party.

ALVA WEBB, owner of 160 acres of valuable land in Rushville township, has the satisfaction of possessing the homestead of his family to which he is very much attached. He was born in Rushville township on April 8, 1871, son of Arthur and Casandra (Plessinger) Webb, both natives of Rush county. For fourteen years after his marriage Arthur Webb lived in Shelby county, Indiana, but then moved back to Rush county and located on the 160-acre farm now owned by his son, and here he spent the remainder of his life, having always been a farmer. He and his wife had eight children of whom four survive: Maria, Horatio C, Inis and Alva. Growing up in Rushville township, Alva Webb attended the Webb school, which was named in honor of his father, upon whose farm it was located. After leaving school Alva Webb began farming with his father, remaining at home until he was twenty-eight years old. When he was twenty-six he was married, but did not leave the homstead for two years thereafter, and then went on a rented farm in Walker township, on which he remained for two years. Returning to Rushville township he rented the farm adjoining the homestead for ten years. At the expiration of that period he bought his father's old farm from his estate and has the entire 160 acres, on which he is carrying on general farming and raises about 200 head of hogs annually. On May 26, 1897, Mr. Webb was married to Mrs. Dora (Hollo well) Emmons, a widow with one daughter, Hattie L. Emmons. She is a daughter of William and Lydia (Davis) Hollowell, both of whom were born in Rush county, where William Hollowell was engaged in farming. Of their four children, Mrs. Webb is the only survivor. Mr. Webb belongs to Rushville lodge. No. 35, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; and Ivy lodge. Knights of Pythias. The Christian church of Homer affords him an expression for his religious faith and he has long been on its membership rolls. In politics he is a Republican. A hard-working and thrifty man he has prospered, and is justly entitled to the position he occupies in his community.

OMER PIERSON, one of Union township's well known farmers and formerly and for nearly a quarter of a century a resident of Rushville, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life, with the exception of five years spent in West Virginia. He was born in New Salem in Noble township on July 14, 1870, son of Lorenzo B. and Mary H. (Jarrell) Pierson, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the old families of Noble township. Lorenzo B. Pierson was a Virginian, born in that section of the Old Dominion which since the Civil war has been known as West Virginia and which remained loyal to the Union during that struggle between the states. He grew to manhood there and when the war broke out went over into Ohio and enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front with an Ohio regiment, serving until the end of the war. Not long after the completion of his military service Mr. Pierson came to Indiana and located in Rush county, beginning work here as a farm hand. He married in Noble township, rented a farm there and established his home, remaining here the rest of his life with the exception of a period of about five years during which he had resumed his residence in West Virginia, and his last days were spent in Rushville at the home of his son Omer. Lorenzo B. Pierson and wife were the parents of six children, of whom three are living, the subject of this sketch ; his sister, Florence, wife of Charles Boyes. and Raymond. Reared in Noble township, Omer Pierson received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and early turned his attention to farming. He married at the age of twenty-two and for two or three years thereafter continued farming. He then moved to Rushville and became engaged as a clerk in a grocery store, a vocation he followed for nearly twenty years, or until in 1917. when he returned to farming, established his home on the place he is now farming in Union township and has since resided there, the old James R. Nixon farm on rural mail route No. 1 out of Falmouth. This is a well kept and well improved farm of 103 acres and since taking charge of the same Mr. Pierson has carried on his operations in accordance with up-todate methods and has done well. In 1892 Omer Pierson was united in marriage to Kate Nixon, who also was born in Rush county, and to this union six children have been born, of whom but one, Myrl Nixon Pierson, is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are members of the Christian church and Mr. Pierson has during several different terms served as a member of the official board of the same. They are Republicans and Mr. Pierson is a member of the Rushville lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. Mrs. Pierson was born on a farm in Washington township, this county, a daughter of James R. and Jane (Abernathy) Nixon, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families of Union township and who is still living, now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Pierson. James R. Nixon was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was six years of age when he came with his parents to Indiana, the family locating on a farm in Washington township, this county, where he grew to manhood. After his mari-iage James R. Nixon bought a farm of 114 acres in that township and made his home there for about thirty years, at the end of which time he sold that place and bought the farm of 103 acres on which Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are now living and there spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the. parents of nine children, of whom four are still living, those besides Mrs. Pierson being Robert W., Sallie and Lula.

WILLIAM MYERS, an experienced and capable farmer operating in Anderson township, this county, was born in that township on June 1, 1886, a son of John J. and Elizabeth (Free) Myers, both of whom were born in Indiana, the father in Fayette county and the mother in Rush county. John J. Myers, who died in 1910, was a farmer all his life, first in Fayette county and afterward in other counties in the state. His widow survives and lives on the home place in Anderson township with her son William. Two other sons are living, Oren and Otis Myers, both residents of Rush county. William Myers had educational opportunities in Anderson township and ever since his school days ended has given attention to farming on the homestead. He is operating 100 acres and in his management has proved himself a practical business man. He turns off about eighty head of hogs a year. On October 4, 1916, William Myers married Helen Jarrell, daughter of Frank Jarrell. Mrs. Myers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Myers is an intelligent, well informed man, votes as an independent Republican, and performs every public duty asked of him as a citizen.

LESLIE MILLER, of Richland township, one of the representative agriculturists of his section of the county - progressive, enterprising and persevering, was born on February 14, 1882, in the township in which he now lives, and is the son of George W. and Anna (Graham) Miller, both of whom are natives of Rush county. George W. Miller was reared to manhood in this county, receiving a good practical education in the common schools. After completing his studies, he turned his attention to agriculture, to which he devoted himself continuously until about five years prior to his death, which occurred on January 10, 1920. His wife had passed away on July 20, 1914. Mr. Miller had enjoyed a splendid reputation among his fellow farmers. He had started farming on a modest scale, but by industry and good management he had gradually increased his holdings until he became the owner of 508 acres of fine farm land, all lying in Richland township. To him and his wife were born two children, the subject of this sketch and Dwight. Leslie Miller received his educational training in the common schools of Richland township and then rented land from his father, continuing his farming operations in that way until the father's death, when he inherited a portion of the homestead. He is now opei-ating 222 acres, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising, in which he has met with a gratifying measure of success. He feeds about 125 head of hogs a year. On April 10, 1904, Mr. Miller was married to Grace E. Mercer, the daughter of James and Maggie Mercer, and they are the parents of two children, Naomi Ruth and Robert Kenneth. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active members of the Hopewell United Brethren Church. Mr. Miller is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and he takes an intelligent interest in all public affairs, especially as relating to his own county and township, ever giving his support to all movements for the advancement of the general welfare.

OSCAR H. REES, a well-known farmer and landowner of Union township, proprietor of a well kept farm on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville, was born in that same township on June 19, 1876, son of John and Alice (Hassard) Rees, the latter of whom is still living, now making her home in Rushville. Mrs. Alice Rees was born in the state of Delaware and was but a young girl when she came to Indiana with her parents. Doctor Hassard and wife, the family locating at Fairview in Fayette county, where for years Doctor Hassard was engaged in the practice of his profession. John Rees was born in the neighboring county of Fayette, son of John and Nancy Rees, Pennsylvanians, who were among the pioneer residents of Fayette county, and he grew to manhood in that county, a farmer from his youth. A year after his first marriage (to Nancy Gray) he came over into Rush county and bought a tract of 107 acres in Union township, the place on which his son Oscar is now living, and there he spent the remainder of his life engaged in farming. He prospered in his operations and bought an adjacent tract of 140 acres, thus increasing his land holdings to 247 acres, and was accounted one of the substantial citizens of the community. He and his second wife, Alice Hassard, were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Burton and Justus Rees. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Oscar Rees received his schooling in the Ging schools and continued farming with his father until his marriage at the age of twenty-one years, after which he rented a farm over in Fayette county for a year, at the end of which time he returned to Rush county and bought an eighty-acre tract in the Fairview neighborhood. Two years later he traded that tract for a part of the Rees home farm, where he is now living, and has since resided there, the owner of eighty acres, besides which he is farming an adjoining tract of 107 acres, making 187 acres which he has under his charge. In addition to his general farming Mr. Rees feeds out a couple of ear loads of hogs a year and is doing well in his operations. In 1898 Oscar Rees was united in marriage to Leona Hartman, a daughter of Hezekiah and Florence Hartman, and to this union seven children have been born, Lois, Delphine, Carroll, Donald, Florence, Francis and Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. Rees are Republicans. They are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and Mr. Rees formerly was a deacon in the church and for the past twelve years or more has been one of the elders, he and his wife for years having given their earnest attention to the work of the church.

GEORGE M. WALLACE, one of the prosperous farmers and stockraisers of Rushville township and a well-known citizen of Rush county, a member of one of the old families of this region, was born at Rushville on September 7, 1892, son and only child of John C. and Katie (Mull) Wallace, the former of whom was born at Rushville, and the latter in Walker township, this county. After he left school John C. Wallace went into the printing and publishing business, he and his brother issuing the Jacksonian at Rushville, and continued to do so for about fifteen years. He then retired from newspaper work and took up farming in Rushville township, on the farm now operated by his son, George M. Wallace. Here he resided for a number of years, but is now retired and living at Rushville. George M. Wallace was reared and educated at Rushville and was graduated from the high school in 1912, after which he entered the employ of the United States Express Company, with which he remained for two years, at the end of which time he began farming, locating on the homestead of 240 acres which he rents from his father. Here he is carrying on general farming and raises about 250 head of hogs annually. On May 29, 1914, Mr. Wallace married Florence Nipp, daughter of John and Lydia Nipp. Mrs. Wallace was born in Washington township, this county, and took the first three years of high school work at Raleigh, completing it in the Rushville high school. Her father was a miller of Washington township, and had the following children, all of whom are living: Carl V.. John, Jr., Gilbert E., Ralph A., Frank M. and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one son, John M., who was born on August 10, 1915. Mr. Wallace is a member of Ivy lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, and of Rushville lodge, No. 1307, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville. Mr. Wallace has always voted the Democratic ticket. He is properly numbered among the alert, enterprising and successful young men of Rush county and stands high in popular esteem.

JOHN HUNGERFORD, a well-known retired farmer of Orange township, this county, was born in that township on July 26, 1851, a son of John and Nancy (Callahan) Hungerford, the former of whom was born in Butler county, Ohio, and the latter in Fleming county, Kentucky. They were married in Rush county and spent their subsequent lives here, John Hungerford being a farmer and owning 160 acres of land in Orange township. Of their seven children the following are living: Pliny, Elbert, Mary and John. John Hungerford attended the district school near his father's farm in boyhood and remained at home working for his father until his own marriage, when he began farming for himself. He bought the farm of eighty acres in Orange township on which he still lives and for many yeai-s operated it as a grain and stock farm. He is no longer active as a farmer, having a very satisfactory arrangement with tenants. On September 17, 1876, Mr. Hungerford married Malissa Harcourt, who also was born in Rush county, daughter of James F. and Harriet (Keeler) Harcourt, also natives of this county. James F. Harcourt was a farmer and also was an inventor and the Harcourt wheat drill that he manufactured was his own invention and became quite generally used hereabout. Of his nine children there are six surviving : Alonzo, Edgar, Wilbur, Ira, Elmaza G. and Malissa. Mr. and Mrs. Hungerford have two sons: Bert, who follows farming in Rush county and who married Stella Conn and has two children, Vaughn and Crystal ; and Leslie, also a farmer in Rush county, who married Emma Kney. Mr. Hungerford is one of the older members of the Big Flat Rock Christian Church, in which organization he has long been a deacon and also a member of the board of trustees. He is of the Democratic faith and for one term served the public as trustee of Orange township.

RAY POWER. That agriculture can be made one of the most agreeable and satisfying occupations of human life, that industry, good judgment and perseverance bring results, and that honesty and fairmindedness are among the most useful of assets, are facts emphasized in the life of Ray Power, one of the substantial agriculturists of Anderson township. Mr. Power was born in that township on November 26, 1885, a son of George and Lurissa (Crawford) Power, natives of Rush county. George Power was reared and educated in Anderson township and as a young man adopted farming, a vocation which he followed during the remainder of his active life. He retired in 1916 and since that time has lived quietly in his comfortable home at Milroy. The district schools of Anderson township furnished Ray Power with his early education, following which he enrolled as a student at the high school at Milroy, where he was a member of the first class to graduate after a four-year term. Upon leaving school, he became associated with his father in the operation of the home farm and remained with the elder man for eleven years, but following his marriage moved to his present property. In 1915 Mr. Power had bought the home farm of 160 acres, but in September, 1919, when he bought his present place of 370 acres he disposed of the farm upon which he had been born. At the present time Mr. Power carries on general farming and stock feeding. He feeds his grain to his live stock, feeding out about 300 hogs a year. During his active career Mr. Power has lived close to high ideals, and his citizenship has imparted strength and substantiality to all undertakings in which his ability and worth have bee* enlisted. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Milroy, of which he has served as a member of the board of trustees for a number of years, and in his political views maintains an independent stand. Mr. Power married Ethel Meal, daughter of James and Mary Meal, and they have two children, Gladys and Cedric, both of whom are attending the grammar school at Milroy.

OTIS L. MILLER, a prominent and well-known citizen of Richland township and a man who has achieved a marked degree of success in his chosen vocation, so that he now enjoys to a notable degree the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, was born in Douglas county, Illinois, on the 10th day of March, 1877, and is the son of E. B. and Mary A. (Blue) Miller, who spent their last days in Rush county. E. B. Miller was an honored veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union on July 21, 1862. He went to the front as a private in C Company, Sixty-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command for nearly three years, being discharged at Nashville, Tenn., June 25, 1865, a sergeant of C Company. Mr. Miller was a farmer all his life. His wife died in October, 1886, and his death occurred in March, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Stella, Earl, Angus and Harry. Otis L. Miller was but a child when his parents came to Rush county and he was but ten years of age when his father died. The death of his mother the year before thus left him doubly orphaned and he was reared in the family of Jesse I. and Louella Lafforge, with whom he remained until his marriage, receiving his schooling in the excellent schools of Richland township. After his marriage Mr. Miller started farming on his own account, renting land from Mr. Lafforge, and has farmed as a renter continuously since. He has been a good manager of his business affairs and has been prospered in his efforts, so that he has become the owner of 160 acres of excellent land. He is now farming 377 acres in Richland township, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He feeds annually about 200 hogs and a carload of cattle. He is up-to-date and progressive in his methods and is a man of sound and practical ideas. Mr. Miller was married to Mary L. Smith, the daughter of Dr. J. L. and Sarah (Shepard) Smith, and they are the parents of six children, Melvin, Jesse, Gertrude, Charles, Thelma and Mary Elizabeth. Melvin Miller married Myrl Emsweller, and they have a daughter, Rosemary. Mr. Miller and his family are identified with the United Brethren church and in politics he gives his support to the Republican party. Genial in disposition and unassuming in manner, he enjoys to a marked degree the respect and esteem of the entire community in which he lives. Mrs. Miller was born at Clarksburg, in the neighboring county of Decatur, where her father, Dr. J. L. Smith, has been engaged in practice for many years, though now living practically retired. Doctor Smith was born in Jefferson comity, this state, a member of one of the pioneer families down there, and his wife was born in Ohio. The Doctor grew to manhood in his home county and completed his schooling there in Hanover College, after which for some time he was engaged in teaching school with a view to earning his way to medical college. In time he was able to matriculate at the Cincinnati Medical College and upon receiving his diploma from that institution located at Clarksburg, where he is still living. He and his wife have had seven children, of whom six are still living, those besides Mrs. Miller being Jessie G., James T., Fred J., Carlos and Pauline. Miss Jessie G. Smith has been for years a teacher of music and voice culture and in this vocation has traveled quite extensively.

THOMAS W. LOWER, who is engaged in operating the homestead farm of his family in Rushville township and is so successful in his business that he is numbered among the leading agriculturalists of Rush county, was born in that township on January 19, 1865, son of John W. and Rhoda A. (Edmondson) Lower, both of whom were born in Rush county, near Rushville, the former on May 3, 1830, and the latter in April, 1833. All his life John W. Lower was a farmer and he became the owner of eighty acres of land, upon which his son is now living. He and his wife had seven children, five of whom are now living : Amanda, Emily, Anna, Martha and Thomas W. Thomas W. Lower attended the local schools and then began farming with his father, with whom he remained until his marriage, at which time he left home and rented eighty acres of land and operated it for two years. He then returned to the homestead and operated the farm for his father until his death, after which he operated it for his mother until her death, which occurred about a year later. Mr. Lower then bought the property from the other heirs and has since lived on it. In addition to doing general farming he raises about 150 head of big type Poland China hogs annually. On November 15, 1894, Mr. Lower married Anna L. Hilligoss, daughter of Elliott and Rosanna (Sell) Hilligoss, natives of Rush county, where Elliott Hilligoss was engaged in farming all his life. Mrs. Lower was born in Madison county, Indiana. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lower, all of whom are living : Florence A., who married Denzil Midi, a farmer of Walker township, and has a daughter, Maxine; John W., a farmer of Walker township, who married Favora Goddard ; Lafayette B., Edith L., Ellen, Rosanna S. and Ruth E. The Lowers are members of the Pleasant Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lower is a Democrat. Having spent all of his life in Rushville township Mr. Lower is naturally much attached to the locality, and here all of his interests center. He is proud of his old home and neighborhood and supports those movements which have for their object the improvement of local conditions.

EARL HINCHMAN, one of the well known and substantial farmers and landowners of Union township, was born in the house in which he is now living in that township on January 2, 1878, son of Sanford and Clara (Stephens) Hinchman, both members of pioneer families in this section of Indiana, the latter born over in the neighboring county of Franklin. Sanford Hinchman was born in Union township, Rush county, a son of John and Margaret Hinchman and a member of the well known pioneer family of that name, many representatives of which are living here in the present generation, and grew to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage he established his home on a farm of his own in the same township and was there actively engaged in farming until his retirement in 1917. To him and his wife were born six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Albert, Murtella, Edith, Madison and Leslie. Earl Hinchman was reared on the home farm in Union township and received his schooling in the nearby district school. Until he was twenty-five years of age he continued farming with his father and then rented a farm and started out "on his own hook," continuing thus engaged as a renter for fourteen years, at the end of which time he bought the old home place of 1'20 acres and has since made his home there, carrying on the operations of the place in up-to-date fashion. Since taking possession of this place Mr. Hinchman has made numerous improvements in the way of a modern readjustment and has a well equipped farm plant. In addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well. In 1904 Earl Hinchman was united in marriage to Catherine Ryburn, who was born in Fayette county, daughter of Agnew G. and Martha (Murray) Ryburn, and to this union four children have been born, Helen, Marion, Howard and Edward. The Hinchmans have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of Glenwood and have ever taken an interested and hospitable part in the community's general social affairs. Mrs. Hinchman is a member of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Hinchman is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs.

RICHARD M. FARLOW, the proprietor of a well-cultivated and productive property in Anderson township and a farmer and citizen of substantial standing, still in the prime of a useful life, is a native of Anderson township, where his position of honor has been earned by years of labor and intelligently directed industry. Mr. Farlow was born on September 14, 1860, a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Gosnell) Farlow, natives of Rush county. His grandfather, Hiram Farlow, was born in the Carolinas, and as a young man migrated to Indiana, here meeting and marrying Elizabeth Townsend, a native of Kentucky-. Settling in Orange township, this county, they engaged in agricultural pursuits and there rounded out long and useful lives. Reuben Farlow attended the district schools of the log cabin style of architecture and grew to manhood in Rush county, where he engaged in farming as the associate of his father. At the age of twenty-four years he was married and commenced operations on his own account, first as a renter, which was his status for eighteen years, and then as the owner of a property of his own. Mr. Farlow became one of the successful agriculturists of his locality and accumulated some 400 acres, but much of this land has been distributed among his children, and at present he is the owner of 190 acres, upon which he is still directing1 operations as a general farmer and stock raiser. His wife died on March 20, 1921. They had the distinction of being the oldest couple in Anderson township, Mr. Farlow being eighty-eight and his wife eighty-nine years of age. Of their four children, two are living: Richard M. and Susan, the wife of Stillman A. Fisher. Richard M. Farlow received his education in the country schools of Anderson township, after leaving which he took up farming on the home place and continued his operations as the associate of his father until reaching the age of twenty-three years. He then embarked in activities on his own account on a part of his present farm, upon which he has put all the present, modern improvements. Mr. Farlow now is the owner of 260 acres in Anderson township, 160 acres in Adams township, Decatur county, and eighty acres in Jennings county, and applies himself to general farming and the raising of live stock, feeding about 200 hogs a year, besides his cattle. Mr. Farlow married Lida Steel, daughter of Warren and Elizabeth Steel, and to this union there have been born three children: Walter, who married Grace Williams and has two children, Kenneth and Ralph; Mabel, who married Dwight Davison, and Clarence, who is attending high school at Milroy. Mr. and Mrs. Farlow and their children are members of the Church of God. In his political allegiance he is a Democrat.

LEO W. KEISLING, one of the best known and most enterprising of the younger generation of agriculturists of Richland township, and a member of one of the leading families of Rush county, was born on February 10, 1896, on the farm on which he now resides and he is a son of L. W. and Lillie (Gordon) Keisling, the former a native of Anderson township, Rush county, and the latter born in Franklin county, Indiana. L. W. Keisling grew to manhood in this county, attending the common schools of his home neighborhood, and then attended Moores Hill College. After completing his collegiate education, Mr. Keisling took up farming as his life vocation, and remained actively engaged as such until his retirement, in May, 1920, when he went to Rushville to reside. He was successful in his business affairs and accumulated a fine farm of 400 acres. Mr. Keisling has been married twice. To his union with Lillie Gordon were born three children, George, Kate and Leo W. After the death of the mother of these children, the father was married to Lucy Guffin. Leo W. Keisling received his elementary education in the public schools of Richland township and the high school at New Salem, and then attended Purdue University two years, taking the general agricultural course the first year and animal husbandry the second year. On leaving college, Mr. Keisling returned home and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until the latter 's retirement, since which time he has operated the farm on his own account. His preliminary acquaintance with the farming methods of his father, supplemented by his studies at Purdue, amply qualified him for conducting the work on a high plane and he has already demonstrated his ability in an unmistakable manner. One hundred and twenty acres of the land are devoted to corn, eighty-five acres to small grain and sixty acres to clover seed. Mr. Keisling gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, feeding practically all his corn to hogs and cattle. On June 12, 1920. Mr. Keisling was married to Olive Ginn, a daughter of Prank and Pearl Ginn. Mr. and Mrs. Keisling are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Richland and in politics Mr. Keisling gives his support to the Republican party. Genial in disposition and unassuming in manner, he enjoys to a marked degree the esteem and friendship of all who know him.

FREDERICK W. POSEY, of Rushville township, one of the enterprising young farmers who are assisting in maintaining Rush county's undisputed agricultural prestige, was born in Posey township, this county, January 29, 1886, son of William A. and Laura F. (Conde) Posey, both of whom were born in Rush county, the former in Walker township and the latter in Rushville township. A farmer all his life William A. Posey became the owner of 140 acres of land in Rushville township. Of his nine children the following are now living: Fred W., Iva, Mary, Lola, Jessie, and Ethel. Frederick W. Posey was reared in Rushville township and attended district school No. 8. Until his marriage he remained at home, during the last two years of that period operating the farm for his widowed mother, after the death of his father. Following his marriage Mr. Posey rented 232 acres of land in Rushville township and is still operating this farm and another one, owned by his uncle, Charles H. Posey. He carries on general farming and raises about 150 head of hogs annually. On November 8, 1919, Mr. Posey married Ada McConnell, daughter of Madison and Martha (Rease) McConnell. Mrs. Posey was born and educated in Fayette county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Posey have one son, Frederick Eugene, who was born on October 5, 1920. Mr. Posey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Arlington and is a Republican.

JUSTUS REES, a well-known farmer of Union township, was born in that same township, March 2, 1879, and has lived there all his life. He is a son of John and Alice (Hassard) Rees, further mention of whom, together with additional details of the Rees and Hassard families, is made elsewhere in this volume and the latter of whom is still living, now making her home at Rushville. She is a daughter of Doctor Hassard, who for years was engaged in the practice of medicine at Fairview. John Rees, who at the time of his death was the owner of 247 acres of good land in Union township, was a son of John Rees and wife, who had come to Indiana from Pennsylvania and located in Fayette county. A year after his first marriage (to Nancy Gray) John Rees came to Rush county and established his home in Union township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his second wife (Alice Hassard) were the parents of three sons, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Oscar and Burton. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Justus Rees received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was well trained in the ways of the farm. After his marriage he started farming "on his own" and was for two years thus engaged as a renter, renting a part of his father's farm. He then bought the eighty-acre farm on which he is now living and has since resided there, he and his family having a very comfortable home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville. Since purchasing this place Mr. Rees has made numerous improvements on it and has a well equipped farm plant. Mr. Rees has been twice married. His first wife, who was Agnes Stevens, died leaving him one child, a son, Russell Rees. He then married Bertha Shortridge, daughter of Sanford and Ida Shortridge, and to this union two children have been born, Myron D. and Ellen Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Rees are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church and are Republicans. Mr. Rees is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Red Men at Falmouth and has for years given interested attention to the affairs of these organizations.

BEALE BROS., general contractors in plumbing, heating, sheet metal and tin work, with a well established plant at Rushville and doing business all over this part of the state, have long been regarded as one of the substantial industrial firms in Rush county. The brothers, John S. Beale and Fred R. Beale, doing business under the firm style of Beale Bros., are natives of Rush county and members of one of the old families here, the Beales having been represented in this county since pioneer days. They are the sons of William and Elizabeth (Souder) Beale, both of whom were born in this county, members of pioneer families in Jackson township. William Beale, an honored veteran of the Civil war, former county treasurer of Rush county and at the time of his death a well known clothing merchant of Rushville, was reared in this county and was living here when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted for service in behalf of the Union, cause and went to the front as a member of D Company, Sixty-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of Chickamauga he was severely wounded and was taken a prisoner by the enemy, on the first day of that battle, September 19, 1863. Nine days later, however, he was exchanged at Nashville and soon after was mustered out, with the rank of first lieutenant. He engaged for many years thereafter in business in Rushville. Mr. Beale was a Republican and ever took an active part in the civic affairs of the county. As noted above, he had served as treasurer of the county. He also served for a time as trustee of Rushville township and was in other ways interested in public affairs. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are still living, John S., Jennie, Minnie, Harry, Fred R. and Myra. John S. Beale, the second of these cbildren and the founder of the firm of Beale Bros., was born at Carthage, this county, and early became engaged in plumbing and tinning, a trade which he presently made a business, becoming a contractor oh his own account. In 1892 he founded the establishment which is now being conducted under the name of Beale Bros., the name which it has borne since in the fall of 1915 when Fred R. Beale was taken into partnership by his brother. Fred R. Beale was born at Rushville in 1876. Upon completing the course in the high school there he began working at the tailor's trade and was thus engaged when the Spanish- American war broke out, in 1898. He enlisted for service and was attached to H Company, One Hundred and Sixty-first regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, going to Cuba with that command and serving until it was mustered out on May 31, 1899, the war then being at an end. Mr. Beale enlisted as a private and when mustered out was drill sergeant of his company. Upon his return from the army Fred R. Beale became engaged working in his brother's plumbing establishment and so continued until the partnership between the brothers was formed in the fall of 1915. Fred R. Beale is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which latter he has served as chancellor commander. He married Bessie Schmidt and has three children, May Elizabeth, Frances and Bonnie Jean.

TED C. KING, a well-known farmer of Richland township, who has risen through energy, persistence and sound judgment to a position of comfort and influence in his community, was born on the farm where he now lives on September 18, 1881, and is the son of Zenas and Hester E. (Kelso) King, the former a native of Rush county and the latter of Dearborn county, Indiana. Zenas King grew to manhood and received his education in Richland township, and eventually was married there. He was reared to the life of a farmer and followed that vocation during all his active life, his death occurring when he was forty-six years of age. He was a member of one of the pioneer families of this locality, his father, Charles H. King, having come to this county from Franklin county, Indiana, in an early day and also followed farming here during the remainder of his life. To Zenas and Hester King were born three children, of whom the subject of this review is the only survivor. Ted C. King attended the common schools of Posey township, Franklin county, to which locality his mother had moved after the death of her husband. After leaving the school at Andersonville, Mr. King applied himself to the operation of his mother's farm, where he remained until 1909, when he moved to the farm where he now lives in Richland township, comprising 150 acres. He has made a number of important and substantial improvements on this place, including a commodious, convenient and attractive house. Altogether, Mr. King's farm compares favorably with any other farm in this section of the country. He carries on general farming and stock raising and feeds from 250 to 300 head of hogs annually. Mr. King was married to Maggie Stamm, the daughter of John and Alice Stamm, and they have become the parents of five children, William, Alice, Doris, Mary and Catherine. Mr. and Mrs.

King are members of the Christian church at Andersonville and in politics Mr. King is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Genial and obliging in disposition, he has made many warm and loyal friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth.

JACOB R. BROWN. The qualities of adaptability, persistence, common sense and good judgment have prevailed in the energetic career of Jacob R. Brown, winning for him recognition and position in the agricultural element of Anderson township. Mr. Brown, who is familiarly known as Jake R. Brown, was born in Walker township. Rush county, February 25, 1882, a son of J. A. and Carrie C. (Lowden) Brown. His parents, who have been farming people all their lives in Rush county, have five children : Leslie B., Lola, Pearl, Mary and Jacob R. Jacob R. Brown received his education in the public schools of Walker and Richland townships, in which communities he was reared, and on leaving school engaged in farming at home. At the time of his marriage, he rented a farm in Richland township, and remained there as a renter for five years, then moving to the farm of Ira Somerville, in Anderson township, where he remained about five years. In 1916 he returned to the farm of his parents in Anderson township, where he is renting 200 acres and operating the property for general farming and stock raising. He carries on his activities according to the latest approved methods, and is industrious, energetic and practical in his work and aims. During the past eighteen years he has operated a threshing outfit in Rush1 county and has thus become widely known to the agriculturists of this section of the state, by whom he is accounted a man of the highest business integrity. Mr. Brown feeds out about 200 to 240 hogs per year, and in this department, as in others of his work, has been highly successful. In 1907 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Jessie Palmer, daughter of William and Carrie Palmer, and to this union there have been born three children, Wilma. Thelma and Wendel. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Milroy. In politics Mr. Brown's allegiance is given to the Republican party, and as a fraternalist he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, at Milroy, in both of which lodges he has "passed through the chairs."

ROBERT W. COX, who died at his home in Rushville in the spring of 1907 and who for many years had been one of the most active and influential figures in the commercial life of that city, was born in Rushville and had resided there all his life. He was born on March 13, 1850. son of Robert Stewart and Susan (Beaver) Cox, both members of pioneer families in this county and whose last days were spent here. Robert Stewart Cox, who in his generation was one of the vital influences for good hereabout, was a son of Daniel and Mary (Stewart) Cox and was for years engaged in the practice of law at Rushville. He was born on June 1, 1802, in Monongahela county, Virginia, and came to the new state of Indiana with his parents in March. 1822, his father having previously entered a tract of land in Rush county at the Government land office at Brookville. For a brief time he was engaged in the mercantile business at the little village of Fayetteville (now Orange), but finding that his talents were in other directions, he removed to Connersville to study medicine under the preeeptorship of Dr. Philip Mason, one of Indiana's best known early physicians. It was while living at that place that he came under the influence of Hon. Caleb B. Smith, afterward secretary of the Interior under President Lincoln, and was induced to abandon the study of medicine and read law. A partnership was formed under the title of Smith & Cox and Mr. Cox moved to Rushville to establish an office for the firm in the growing county of Rush. This partnership continued until Smith was elected to the United States Senate, when a new combination was formed with P. A. Hackleman. Mr. Cox, in common with the lawyers of the day, took an active interest in politics and was an ardent Whig. He was the representative in the state legislature from Rush county in 1844. As a lawyer, he was said by Doctor Arnold in his "Sketches" to have been "sound and practical" and to have devoted his time to the practice of probate law in which line his special talents could be best used to an advantage. Mr. Cox was highly educated for his day and generation and was interested in literary pursuits. For this reason he was made librarian of the first public library in Rushville and the old records of the association disclose the fact that the very best in literature was offered to the citizens of the community. Reared at Rushville, Robert W. Cox received has early schooling there and was one of the three members of the first graduating class of the Rushville high school. He supplemented this schooling by a course in the pharmacy school of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor and thus equipped for the practice of pharmacy returned to Rushville and formed a partnership with his choice companion and chum, Finley B. Pugh, and became engaged in the drug business. This partnership continued for some years, at the end of which time Mr. Cox bought Mr. Pugh's interest in the store and was thereafter, until his retirement in 1898, engaged in business alone. Following his retirement from business Mr. Cox gave his chief attention to the work of Freemasonry, to which he long had been devotedly attached, and in that connection rendered a very real service in behalf of the Masonic bodies with which he was connected, these including not only the blue lodge, the chapter, the council and the commandery at Rushville, but the Grand Lodge of the state of Indiana. Mr. Cox did much to promote the cause of Freemasonry throughout this section of the state and his memory is cherished in Masonic circles in Indiana. He died on April 6, 1907, and his widow is still living at Rushville. On June 27, 1877, Robert W. Cox was united in marriage to Ally M. Poe, who was born in Mason county, Kentucky, daughter of Thomas and Martha (McNeel) Poe, and to that union were born three children, two sons and a daughter, namely : Ralph S. Cox, now a resident of Barthsville, Okla., which city he is serving as commissioner of finance; Miles S. Cox, treasurer of the Peoples Loan and Trust

Company, of Rushville, and Mrs. Marjorie Gottman, of Rushville. Miles S. Cox, like his father before him, is an active member of the local Masonic bodies, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest, and is also affiliated with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis. He has for several terms served as treasurer of the grand lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men in the state of Indiana. Mr. Cos was graduated from the Rushville high school in 1905 and later attended DePauw University at Greencastle. He became connected with the Peoples National Bank in 1907 and this connection existed until 1915 at which time he was elected treasurer of the Peoples Loan and Trust Company.

W. RILEY COLTER, a representative citizen of Richland township and owner of a splendid farm there, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on the 11th day of May, 1878, and he is the son of Joseph and Sarah A. (George) Colter, the former also a native of Franklin county and the latter of Preble county, Ohio. Joseph Colter grew to manhood in his native county, was married there, and engaged in farming there until 1885, when he came to Rush county and bought a farm two miles east of Richland, to the operation of which he devoted his energies up to within a short time of his death, when he moved to Milroy, where he spent his last days. He was the owner of 160 acres of land and occupied a prominent place in the community, having served one term as trustee of Richland township. To him and his wife were born two children, W. Riley and Harry. The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and secured a good, practical education in the common schools of Richland township. On leaving school he turned his attention to farming, first in association with his father, and later with his brother Harry for several years. He then engaged in farming independently on eighty acres of land which he had bought and which he has since increased to 235 acres. Mr. Colter has made many permanent and substantial improvements on the place. He carries on general farming operations and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding from 400 to 600 head of hogs annually and from twenty-five to fifty head of cattle. Mr. Colter was married to Anna Lenora Richey, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Richey, and they have one child, Charles Edwin. Mrs. Colter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Milroy. Mr. Colter is a Republican and takes a keen interest in public affairs, especially as pertaining to his home county, and his support can always be counted upon in behalf of all movements for the general welfare.

GEORGE SMITH, a well-known farmer of Noble township, who is specializing on breeding thoroughbred Big Type Spotted Poland China hogs, was born on his present farm, June 23, 1883, son of John and Amelia (Stoten) Smith, both of whom were born in this county John Smith was reared in Rush county, where he was educated, and where he began farming on the farm now owned by his son, which} had formerly belonged to his own father, grandfather of George Smith. John Smith died in 1904, having survived his wife by four years. They had five children, but George Smith is the only survivor of the family. George Smith was educated in Union township and when he left school he returned to the homestead and began, farming with his father, with whom he remained, and when he died, he inherited one-third of the 120-acre farm and later bought the remainder. Here he is carrying on general farming and stockraising and feeds out about 100 head of hogs annually. On October 22, 1905, George Smith married Alta Morris, who was born in Noble township, a daughter of Edgar and Irma Morris, and they have one child, Laurence Maynard. Mr. Smith is a member of Little Flat Rock Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican. Hard-working and energetic Mr. Smith is making a success of his calling. "While he has not gone into public affairs, he takes an intelligent interest in local matters, and is recognized as one of the good citizens of Noble township, with which his family has been connected for so many years.

DELBERT W. EAKINS, one of Union township's well-known and progressive young farmers and landowners, proprietor of an excellent farm of just under 300 acres on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Washington township on November 29, 1881, son of Peter Nelson and Elizabeth Alice (Kirkpatrick) Eakins, the latter of whom also was born in that same township, a member of one of the pioneer families there, and who is now living at Rushville. The late Peter Nelson Eakins was born in Adams county, Ohio, and was sixteen years of age when he came to Indiana and located in Riish county. He worked here as a farm hand in Washington township until his marriage there to Elizabeth Alice Kirkpatrick, after which he began farming on his own account, renting a farm in Union township. A year later he bought a tract of forty acres in Washington township adjoining a "forty" his wife had inherited there and on that place made his home for some years, at the end of which time he sold there and bought a farm of 299 acres in Union township, the place now owned by his son Delbert, and on that place spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1908. Mr. Eakins was a good farmer and an excellent judge of land values and as his affairs prospered he added to his holding until he became the owner of 425 acres, all in Union township, and was accounted one of the substantial men of that community. His widow, who survives him, is now living at Rushville, where she has a pleasant home at 818 North Willow street. Peter Nelson Eakins and wife were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Pearl, Alva, Cora, Ethel and Samuel. Reared on the farm, Delbert W. Eakins was early trained to the ways of farming and has continued to follow that vocation with considerable success. He received his schooling in the local schools of his home neighborhood and continued farming with his father until his marriage when twenty years of age when he rented a portion of his father's lands and began farming on his own account, continuing as a renter until after his father's death when he and his mother, in the adjustment of the estate, bought the interests of the other heirs in the home tract of 299 acres and he continued farming there in association with his mother 's interest for three years, at the end of which time he bought his mother's interest in the place and has continued to make his home there, his mother retiring to the city. Since coming into possession of this place Mr. Eakins has continued to improve it and now has an admirable farm plant, one of the best equipped in the neighborhood. In addition to his general farming he feeds out from 150 to 175 head of hogs annually and is doing well. In his political views Mr. Eakins is an "independent" Democrat. It was in the year 1901 that Delbert W. Eakins was united in marriage to Bertha Arnold, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of John and Alice (Clifford) Arnold, and to this union seven children have been born, Howard, Esther, Walter, Alice, Cora, Russell and Ralph. The Eakins have a very pleasant home and have ever taken a becoming interest in the community's general social activities, taking their part in all movements designed to promote the common good thereabout.

HARRY A. McMILLIN, president of the Farmers' Federation of Union township, proprietor of a fine farm in that township and generally recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial young farmers and stockmen in this section of the state, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Union township, in the immediate vicinity of the place on which he is now living, August 2, 1884, son of Francis Marion and Olive (Wikoff ) McMillin, both of whom were born in that same township, members of pioneer families there, and whose lives were spent here. Francis Marion McMillin was a son of Thomas Morrison and Delilah (Hinchman) McMillin, the latter of whom was a daughter of Joseph Hinchman, one of the real pioneers of Rush county. Thomas Morrison McMillin was a good farmer in his generation and was a man of influence in the community in which for so long his home was established. Francis Marion McMillin was reared on the home farm in Union township and completed his local schooling in the old Spiceland Academy, supplementing this course by a course in commercial training at the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. After his marriage he became engaged in farming on his own account, renting a tract of land suitable to his needs in Union township, and continued farming until his tragic and untimely death in 1894, his death being due to a runaway accident. Francis M. McMillin and wife were the parents of six children, of whom but three survive, the subject of this sketch and his sisters, Clara D., who married Louis C. Lambert, and Frances Marian, who married Claude M. Job. The deceased children were Nellie, Florence and Elmer. Harry A. McMillin was but ten years of age when his father met his tragic end and he was reared thereafter at Rushville, being graduated from the high school there in 1902, before he was eighteen years of age. Upon leaving school he turned his attention to commercial pursuits and presently became engaged in the abstract, real estate and loan business at Rushville, at the same time taking direction of his grandmother's farming interests, and was thus engaged, making his home at Rushville, until in 1912 when he moved onto the farm on which he is now living in Union township and has since made his home there, devoting his whole attention to farming and live stock. Mr. McMillin has 122 acres but is farming 360 acres, his own farm not being sufficient for the rather extensive scope of his farming and live stock operations. Since taking over this farm he has cleared up more than 200 acres and has developed the place in admirable fashion. He has long given particular attention to the breeding of purebred Poland China hogs and feeds out about 400 head a year. Upon taking over the farm Mr. McMillin entered upon a system of modern improvement and has a strictly up-to-date farm plant, the same including what is regarded as the finest residence in Union township, and he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. McMillin 's enterprising and progressive methods have attracted the attention of farmers generally hereabout and his interest in the proper solution of agricultural problems has caused him to take a leading part in the deliberations and activities of the Rush County Farmers ' Pederation and he is now (1921) serving as president of the Union township unit of this strong and influential organization. Mr. McMillin and his wife are Republicans. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Rushville. In 1908 Harry A. McMillin was united in marriage to Nellie Kennedy, who also was born in this county, daughter of E. L. and Martha (Freeman) Kennedy, and to this union four children have been born, Frances Mildred, born in 1909 ; Richard Emmett, 1911 ; Marjorie Mae, 1917, and William Robert, 1921. The McMillins have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which they reside. DONALD V. KISER. a well-known and progressive young farmer of Union township, was born in that township on March 14, 1893, son of C. E. and Correna (Newhouse) Kiser, who are still living in that township and further reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume of biography of the old families of Rush county, together with additional details regarding the Kiser family in Rush county, to which the reader is referred in this connection. Reared on the home farm, Donald V. Kiser received his schooling in the Ging schools, taking the four years of high school, and from the days of his boyhood was well trained in the ways of farming, a vocation to which he has since devoted himself. He married in his twentieth year and following his marriage established his home on the farm on which he is still living and which he now owns. After living there a year as a renter he acquired the ownership of the place and since coming into possession has made numerous substantial improvements to the same. In addition to his general farming Mr. Kiser is giving considerable attention to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to hogs, making a specialty of the Hampshire breed of swine, and is feeding out about 300 head of hogs annually, having done very well in that line. On January 9, 1913, Donald V. Kiser was united in marriage to Frances E. Carson and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Kiser have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rushville and give their interested and hospitable attention to the general social activities of the community in which they live. Mrs. Kiser is a member of the Plum Creek Christian Church. Mr. Kiser is a member of the Rushville lodge of the Modern Woodmen. Politically, he is a Republican.

CORYDON E. KISER, a well-known and progressive farmer and stockman of Union township, was born in that township and has lived there all his life, the house in which he is now living having been built by his father in 1856. Mr. Riser's father was a Kentuckian, James Kiser, born in Bourbon county in the old Blue Grass state, where he grew to manhood and where he married Jane Smelser, who also was born in that county. Almost immediately after his marriage James Kiser came with his wife up into Indiana and located in Rush county, settling on a farm in Union township. A few years later he bought the farm now owned by his son, C. E. Kiser, and on that place erected in 1856 the house above referred to and which is still in excellent condition. There his wife died in 1887 and he continued to make his home there, living with his son who in the meantime had married and had established his home there, the rest of his life, his death occurring in his seventy-seventh year. Corydon E. Kiser, son of James and Jane (Smelser) Kiser, was born on June 5, 1864, and grew to manhood on the home farm in Union township, receiving his schooling in the school house in district No. 2. From the days of his boyhood he devoted himself to the work of the farm, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the same, and after his marriage when twenty-two years of age established his home on the old home place and continued to operate it for his father. Not long after his marriage his mother died, as noted above, and his father continued to make his home with him and his wife until his death when past seventy-seven years of age. Mr. Kiser has about 120 acres under cultivation and is locally noted for the productiveness of his fields. In addition to his general farming he feeds about two car loads of hogs a year and in all his operations is doing well. It was on February 23, 1887, that Corydon E. Kiser was united in marriage to Corena Newhouse, also of Rush county, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Lela, who married Francis Thatcher, and has three children, Ellen, Eugene and Kathleen; Opal, who is living at home; Donald, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, who married Frances Carson and has one child, Ruth, and Marie and Edith, at home. The Risers have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take a hospitable part in the community's social activities. Mr. Kiser is a member of the Church of Christ (Scientist). In his political leanings he is a Republican, but has never been particularly active in political affairs, though ever giving a good citizen's attention to local governmental affairs. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America.

JASPER N. COON, a Noble township farmer, was born on February 16, 1871, on a farm in Fayette county, Indiana, a son of John and Sarah A. (Moore) Coon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Randolph county, Indiana. John Coon was about one year old when brought from_ Kentucky to Indiana by his father, Solomon Coon, the latter entering fifty acres of land from the Government in Fayette county and spending the rest of his life in the development of a farm. John Coon was reared in Fayette county and carried on general farming throughout his life. He died in 1896 and his widow survived him until 1908. Of their five children, two are now living: Jasper N. and George W. Jasper N. Coon received his education at the Johnson schoolhouse, in Fayette county, and after leaving school took up farming with his father. After his marriage he remained on the home place and continued to do so until about two years after the death of his father, when he fell heir to fifty acres of land, to which he moved. About 1905 he disposed of this property and rented the farm situated across the road from his present home. This continued to be his home until about 1914 or 1915, when he left that 155-acre property for his present farm, a tract of eighty acres, on which he has since carried on operations and which is his by purchase. On February 27, 1896, Mr. Coon was vinited in marriage to Ida, daughter of Edward Stevens, and to this union there have been born two children, Freda and Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Coon are members of the Christian church at Orange. Mr. Coon is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Andersonville and the Knights of Pythias at Rushville. He is a Democrat.

MORTON P. GRAY, one of the well-known and progressive farmers and landowners of Union township, was born in that same township, a member of one of the pioneer families there, and has lived there all his life. The Grays are an old family in Rush county, as is noted elsewhere in this volume of biography, and are widely represented here in the present generation. Morton P. Gray was born on August 11, 1863, son of George and Mary (Hinchman) Gray, both of whom were members of the Virginia colony of settlers who came in here in the early days of the settlement of this section and formed so stable a part of the pioneer development hereabout, both the Grays and the Hinchmans having had a good share in that development. George Gray was but a child when he came here with his parents from Virginia, the family having come from Monroe county in what since the Civil war period has been West Virginia, and he grew up on a pioneer farm in Union township. After his marriage to Mary Hinchman, who also had come from Monroe county in the Old Dominion with her parents when but a child, he began farming on his own account, his father giving him a tract of ninety -six acres, and in time got around him an excellent piece of property, having been the owner of 520 acres of land in Union township. In addition to his general farming, which was carried on on a large scale for that period, he was widely known as one of the most extensive cattle feeders in this section, and he continued actively interested in agricultural affairs until his death in 1888. George Gray and wife were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being James, Rebecca, Mary, John, Susan, George, Minnie and Margaret. Morton P. Gray was reared on the old home farm in Union township and received his schooling in the nearby Blacklidge school. As a lad be became interested in farm work and in the raising of live stock and upon reaching manhood's estate continued farming with his father on the home place, where after his marriage at the age of twenty -three years he made his home. After his father's death about two years later he came by inheritance into possession of his portion of the home place and continued farming there, at the same time renting additional land iu order to increase the scope of his operations and as his affairs prospered added by purchase to his holdings until he became the owner of 375 acres, of which he since has sold 120 acres, his present holdings including 255 acres. Included in the improvements which Mr. Gray has made on the place is a modei-n dwelling house which he erected in 1915. The other buildings are in keeping with the same, the farm plant being up-to-date and effective in its arrangement. Of late Mr. Gray has given over the active operation of the farm and is living practically "retired," renting his fields and taking things a bit easier than during the more strenuous years of his activities. In 1886 Morton P. Gray was united in marriage to Comma Guffin, daughter of George W. and Delia (Bagley) Guffin. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and have long taken an interested part in the work of the church as well as in the general good works of the community. Mr. Gray is a Republican and takes a proper interest in political affairs. He and his wife have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Rushville and their friends are always sure of a hospitable welcome there. They have an adopted daughter, Lucile, adopted at the age of five years, who was graduated from the Rushville high school and from the Indiana State University at Bloomington and married John II. Frazee, Jr.

CHARLES F. CUSTER, one of the well-known farmers and landowners of Union township, has lived on the farm on which he is now living, rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville, for more than twenty years and has surrounded himself with many of the comforts of life, giving himself a pleasant prospect of the approaching "evening time" of his life. He was born in the neighboring county of Fayette on August 9, 1856, and has been a resident of Indiana all his life. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Foster) Custer, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Illinois, spent their last days in Rush coxuity, having come over here many years ago from Fayette and located on a farm in the Raleigh neighborhood in Washington township. Joseph Custer was but a boy when he came into Indiana with his parents from Kentucky and he grew up in Fayette county where the family had located upon coming here. He became a farmer and after his marriage in Fayette county established his home there, but some years later disposed of his interests there and moved with his family over into Rush county. For a time after corning here he rented a place in the Raleigh neighborhood but presently bought a farm of eighty acres there and on that place spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife had five children, of whom four are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being James, Josephine and Belle. Charles F. Custer was but a lad when his parents moved into Rush county and he completed his schooling in the schools of this county, growing to manhood on the home farm in the vicinity of Raleigh. He continued farming with his father until his marriage and then he began on his own account, making his home on a rented farm in Washington township until in 1900 when he bought the farm on which he is now living and has since made his home there. Mr. Custer has a well kept farm of eighty acres and in addition to his general farming feeds out about sixty head of hogs a year. On February 27, 1900, Charles F. Custer was united in marriage to Theresa Schonert, a daughter of Theodore Schonert, and to that union five children were born, namely : Mary, who married John Johnson and has two children, Catherine and Helen; Theodore, Bertha, Thomas and Joseph. Mrs. Custer died in 1910. Mr. Custer is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville and is a past noble grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Falmouth, in the affairs of which organization he has long taken a warm interest.

JACOB D. AUSTEN, one of the best known farmers of Union township, was born in the neighboring county of Fayette on January 27, 1858, son of William C. and Sarah (Daubenspeck) Austen, the latter of whom was born in this county in 1831, a member of one of the pioneer families of Rush county, and is still living. William C. Austin was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1825, a son of Edward Austen, a Baltimore merchant, who disposed of his interests in that city about 1831 and came with his family to Indiana, locating in Fayette county. William C. Austen was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Indiana and he grew to manhood in Fayette county, where after his marriage he became engaged in farming and remained until 1860 when he came over into Rush county and bought a farm. Four years later he bought a tract of 112 acres in Union township, including the place on which his son Jacob is now living, and there established his home, later increasing his holdings to 160 acres. On that place William C. Austen spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1889. As noted above, his widow is still living, now ninety years of age. They had six children, five of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Edward, Mary, George I. and Florence. Jacob D. Austen was about two years of age when he came with his parents from Fayette county to Rush county and he completed his schooling in the latter county, growing up in Union township, where he early learned the carpenter's trade. After his marriage in 1885 he located in Kansas where for about four years he was engaged in carpentering, but not satisfied with conditions there he returned to Rush county and resumed his place on the old home farm, where he ever since has resided and eighty acres of which original tract he 'is now the owner. Since becoming the owner of this farm Mr. Austen has made numerous substantial improvements on the place and has a well equipped farm plant, on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville. On June 24, 1885, Jacob D. Austen was united in marriage to Mary J. George, who was born in this county, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, Avice George, who married Jesse C. Brooks and has one child, a daughter, Frances Austen. Mr. and Mrs. Austen are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and Mr. Austen has served the church as an elder, a deacon, a member of the board of trustees and treasurer. Politically, he is " independent. ' ' Mrs. Austen was born on a farm in Noble township, this county, daughter of David W. and Nancy Ann (Patterson) George, both of whom were born in Butler county, Ohio, where they were married. David W. George was a son of Joshua and Catherine (Thompson) George, the former of whom also was born in Butler county, Ohio, and the latter in Henry county, Indiana. Joshua George was a son of Reuben George, who was born at Fortress Monroe and who became one of the pioneers of Butler county. Not long after their marriage David W. George and his wife came from Ohio over into Indiana and located in this county, making their home in Noble township for some years, at the end of which time they disposed of their interests here and moved West. They were the parents of seven children, of whom three are still living, Mrs. Austen having a brother, Ralph F. George, and a sister, Ella.

A. BURL HINCHMAN, a progressive young farmer of Union township, is a member of the pioneer Hinchman family of this section, further mention of which is made elsewhere in this volume. He was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Fayette on December 27, 1893, and is a son of Ulysses G. and Eva (Huston) Hinchman, the latter of whom was born in Orange, Ind., and both of whom are still living in Fayette county. Ulysses G. Hinchman was born in Rush county, a son of Allan and Nancy (Moffett) Hinchman, the former born in Rush county and the latter in Fayette, both members of pioneer families hereabout, Allan Hinchman having been born on February 3, 1836, son of John and Margaret (Niekell) Hinchman. U. G. Hinchman was reared in Rush county but after his marriage made his home in Fayette county, where he devoted himself to farming and live stock raising and where he is the owner of an excellent farm of 320 acres. He and his wife have three children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Clarence P. Hinchman, and a sister,

Mary, wife of Howard Kehl. Clarence P. Hinchman married Nellie Shortridge and has two children. A. Burl Hinchman was reared on the home farm in Fayette county and was graduated from the high school at Connersville in 1912. He then entered Purdue University and after a two years' course in the agricultural college there returned to farm work with a view to applying practically the knowledge thus gained. He rented the farm on which he is now living and after his marriage established his home there and has since resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Hinchman is farming 160 acres and in his live stock operations makes a specialty of purebred Duroc hogs. He has a well equipped farm plant and his operations are' carried on along up-to-date lines. It was in 1916 that A. Burl Hinchman was united in marriage to Vera Poppoon, daughter of John and Florence Poppoon, and to this union two children have been born, Mary Louise and Maxine. Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of Glenwood and are hospitable and interested in the general social activities of their home neighborhood. They are members of the Fairview Christian Church and Mr. Hinchman is a York Rite Mason, affiliated with the blue lodge at Fairview and with Rushville commandery of the Knights Templar. He is a Republican, as is his wife.

SAMUEL BEAVER, owner of a farm of sixty-eight acres in Noble township, was born in that township on February 7, 1870, a son of Thomas and Mollie (McKee) Beaver, who have been lifelong residents of this part of Indiana. Samuel Beaver received his education at the Pinhook schoolhouse in Noble township, after leaving which he began to work for his father on the home place. At the age of twentytwo years he formed a partnership with his father and his brother Bert, an association which was maintained until 1918, in which year Samuel Beaver moved to his present farm. Mr. Beaver married Mabel, daughter of Simon Cassady, and to this union there has been born one son, Harold, who is attending Wabash College. Harold Beaver is a veteran of the World war, having been attached to the Engineers Corps with which he served two years and one month, of which eleven months' service was overseas. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and their son are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church. He is a member of the lodges of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Rushville and as a voter supports the candidates of the Republican party.

GEORGE W. GRAY, one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Union township, proprietor of an excellent farm on rural mail route No. 2 out of Rushville, was born in that township on April 2, 1860, and has been a resident of this county all his life. He is a son of George and Mary (Hinchman) Gray, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume together with additional details regarding the pioneer Gray and Hinchman families in this county. George Gray was a well-to-do farmer of Union township, the owner of 575 acres of land and for years regarded as one of the leading citizens of that community. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, of whom five are now living, those besides the subject of this sketch being John, Morton, Minnie and Margaret. Reared on the home farm in Union township, George W. Gray received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained on the home farm assisting his father until his marriage when he started farming on his own account, renting a farm of 160 acres from his father. In 1913 he moved on to the place on which he is now living and has a fine home and a well improved place of about 320 acres, a portion of which he inherited in the distribution of his father's estate. On August 16, 1882, George W. Gray was united in marriage to Ida M. Mauzy, who also was born in Union township, and to this union have been born three children, Mary, wife of Walter S. Wadell, Clarence and Ora, the latter of whom received a commission as second lieutenant during the period of his service in the army in connection with the participation of the United States in the World war. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and the family are Republicans. Mrs. Gray is a daughter of Thomas J. and Ruth A. (Smith) Mauzy, both of whom also were born in Rush county, the former in Union township and the latter in Noble township, members of pioneer families here. Thomas J. Mauzy, who died at the age of thirty-four years, was for some years prior to his death engaged in the shoe business at Rushville. He was a son of Silas Mauzy, a Kentuckian, who was one of the pioneers of Rush county and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Thomas J. Mauzy and wife were the parents of three children, those besides Mrs. Gray being Wilfred and Homer.