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

JAMES M. SMITH, one of the veteran farmers and landowners of Union township, was born in Rush county, a member of one of the old families here, and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on a farm in Noble township on March 7, 1849, son of George and Mary (Gray) Smith, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families here, and who spent all their days here. George Smith was a son of Lewis E. Smith and wife, pioneers of Noble township, and he grew to manhood in that township. After his marriage he started farming on his own account, buying a farm of sixty acres in Noble township, and remained there until in the early '50s when he moved to Union township, where he remained until his retirement from the farm and removal to Rushville, where his last days were spent. George Smith was a successful farmer and became a quite extensive landowner, having at one time 360 acres of land in Union and Noble townships. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Margaret and Mary, and a brother, William Smith. James M. Smith was reared in Noble township and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He continued farming with his father until his marriage at the age of twenty-five, after which he bought a "sixty" in Union township, the place on which he is now living, and has since resided there. Mr. Smith has been a successful farmer and stockman and as his affairs prospered he gradually added to his land holdings until he became the owner of 520 acres, but he has sold all this but his present well-kept farm of 160 acres, he and his family being quite comfortably fixed there. In addition to his general farming Mr. Smith has been accustomed to feed out a couple of car loads of hogs a year. Mr. Smith's wife, who before her marriage was Rebecca Daubenspeck, also was born in Rush county, daughter of Harvey and Margaret (Hinchman) Daubenspeck, members of pioneer families here. To James M. and Rebecca (Daubenspeck) Smith three children have been born, namely: Ora, who married Henrietta Disselkuhn and has had four children, Wayne (deceased), Florence, Ralph and James Marshall; Lillie, who died at. the age of sixteen years, and Verne, who married Helen Rea and has two children, Lillie and James Rea, who died December 22, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church. In their political affiliations they are Republicans. They reside on rural, mail route No. 1 out of Falmouth.

HOMER M. NASH, former trustee of Union township and one of the substantial landowners and progressive farmers of that township, was born over the line in the neighboring county of Fayette, but has been a resident of Rush county since the days of his young manhood. He was born on August 10, 1873, son of Oliver L. and Jessie (Hall) Nash, both of whom also were born in Fayette county, the latter in the immediate vicinity of the city of Connersville. Oliver L. Naish had a farm just east of Glenwood, the same lying in Fayette county, but years ago he sold that place and moved over into Rush county, buying the farm on which his son Homer is now living in Union township, and there he remained until his retirement from the active labors of the farm and removal to Rushville, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on August 24, 1909. Oliver L. Nash was an active political pai-tisan and was for years earnestly interested in the general public service. Under the Hanly administration he was appointed a member of the board of trustees or directors of the state hospital for epileptics at Newcastle and so effective were his labors in that connection that when, some time after his death, an extension was being made to that institution one of the notable buildings in the new section was given the name of the Nash building in his memory. Reared on the home farm in Fayette county, where his boyhood was spent, Homer M. Nash received his schooling in the Glenwood schools and early learned the art of telegraphy and for a year after becoming thus qualified was engaged as railroad telegrapher at the Glenwood station. His father meanwhile having moved to his farm in Union township he left the railroad office and resumed his place on the farm and continued farming with his father, giving his attention to the development of the place, until his marriage in 1904. A year later he established his home on the farm, his father retiring to Rushville, and is now the owner of the place, an excellent farm of 165 acres, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding out about 200 head of hogs and a car load of cattle annually. From the days of his boyhood Mr. Nash has taken an active interest in political affairs and has long been regarded as one of the leaders of his party in the county. In 1914 he was elected trustee of Union township and in the campaign of 1920 was his party's nominee for the office of county auditor, but the fortunes of the campaign were against him and he was forced to bow to defeat. In 1904 Homer M. Nash was united in marriage to Myrtella Hinchman, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Sanford and Clara (Stevens) Hinchman, members of old families in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Noami C. J. Nash, who is now (1921) a student in the schools at Ging. Mr. and Mrs. Nash have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and have ever taken a hospitable interest in the community's general social activities. Mrs. Nash is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Nesh is a York Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Raleigh and of the Rushville eommandery, Knights Templar, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.

CHARLES F. WILSON, member of the firm of Pitman & Wilson, druggists, at Rushville, prior to establishing himself in business at Rushville, in 1917, had ten years of valuable experience in the drug line at Chicago and since forming his present connection with Mr. Pitman his career has been one of consistent advancement Mr. Wilson is a native of Rushville, born on July 9, 1885, a son of William W. and Ora (Frazee) Wilson. His grandfather, James Wilson, was a noted horseman of Rush county in his day and the owner of the famous old "Blue Bull," sire of a long line of fast horses. William W. Wilson was born in Noble township, this county, and early took up farming, becoming the owner of an eighty-acre farm in Rushville township. Like his father, he was a great lover of horses and won something more than a local reputation as a breeder and trainer of fast trotting animals. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Marian and Charles F. Miss Marian Wilson was educated in the schools of Rushville and at Hamilton College, Lexington, Kentucky, in which latter institution she is now a teacher in the primary department. After completing his studies in the high school at Rushville. Charles F. Wilson pursued a course in chemistry and pharmacy at Northwestern University, Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1907. At that time he entered the drug business at Chicago, and continued as a resident of that city for ten years, forming there a number of profitable business connections. Mr. Wilson traveled extensively abroad making pharmaceutical and commercial observations and spent a year in New York City in some special work along these lines. In 1917 he returned to his native city, where he has since been associated with Mr. Pitman in the drug business at Third and Main streets, where the firm maintains a thoroughly modern establishment. On June 24, 1915. Mr. Wilson was united in mar- riage to Eva S. Wilson, who was born at Hammond, Ind. She was graduated from the high school there and then took special work at Valparaiso (Ind.) University, the Ypsilanti (Mich) University and the Academy of Pine Arts, Chicago, and taught primary arts in the Hammond schools for three years. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Charles J. and Anna (Groman) Wilson, the former of whom is employed by the Standard Steel Car Company at Hammond. Mrs. Wilson has one brother, Chauncey Wilson. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson : Donald F., born on November 15, 1916, and Marjorie Anne, April 13, 1919. Mr. Wilson is a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons ; and St. Cecelia Chapter, No. 220, Royal Arch Masons, Chicago, and of the American Pharmaceutical Association. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Rushville Rotary Club, organized in January, 1920, and is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

J. ARTHUR LOONEY, farmer and landowner of Union township, was born on the place on which he is now living, a member of one of the pioneer families of that community, and has lived there all his life. He was born on September 7, 1870, son of John W. and Mary F. (Hammonds) Looney, the latter of whom was born in Kentucky and had come here with her parents in the days of her girlhood. John W. Looney also was born in Union township, the son of John Looney, a Kentuckian, who was one of the pioneers of the Farmington neighborhood. John Looney came up here from Kentucky as a young man and worked as a farm hand until he had acquired a sufficient sum to buy a tract of land in Union township. He married Matilda Bracken and established his home on that place, spending the rest of his life there. His son, John W. Looney, was reared on that farm and followed farming all his life, becoming the owner of a tract of 106 acres, the place now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. John W. Looney was one of the leading members of the Ben Davis Christian Church. He also took an active part in local public affairs and had for some time served as trustee of Union township. He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Isolina, Alfred, Matilda and Amanda. Reared on the home farm in Union township, J. Arthur Looney received his schooling in the neighboring schools and until his marriage continued farming in association with his father. After his marriage he rented the place from his father and upon the latter 's death bought from the other heirs their respective interests and has since owned the farm, continuing to make his home there. Since coming into possession of the farm Mr. Looney has made numerous notable improvements on the same, including a new and modern dwelling house, and now has a well equipped farm plant. In addition to his general farming he feeds out about 200 head of hogs a year and is doing well. J. Arthur Looney has been married twice. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Laura Winehell, who died in

1902, leaving one child, a son, John Looney. In 1904 Mr. Looney married Mary C. Geise, who also was born in this county, daughter of Henry and Frances Geise. Mr. and Mrs. Looney have an adopted daughter, Enid. They are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and Mr. Looney is a member of the board of trustees of the church. Politically, he is a Republican.

GEORGE F. BILLINGS, a well-known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on June 29, 1887, son and only child of Elijah A. and Adaline (Kirkpatrick) Billings, both of whom also were born in this county and who are now living retired at Rushville. E. A. Billings was born on a farm in Jackson township, this county, son of Philip II. Billings and wife, who had come here from Delaware, but who presently moved to the northern part of the state, where E. A. Billings received his schooling and grew to manhood. As a young man E. A. Billings returned to Rush county and here married Adaline Kirkpatriek. He established his home on a fortyacre farm in Union township and as his farming operations prospered increased that farm by the purchase of adjacent land until he became the owner of a fine place of 140 acres, and this he continued to farm until his retirement in 1918 and removal to Rushville, where he and his wife are now living. Reared on the home farm in Union township, George F. Billings received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and was early trained in the ways of farming, a vocation he since has followed. He remained at home until his marriage and then rented a farm of 105 acres in Union township. A year later he rented a farm of 160 acres and lived there for one year, at the end of which time he enlarged his interests by renting a farm of 365 acres and on this latter place made his home for three years, by which time he was in a position to take on a farm of his own and he bought the place of 207 acres on which he is now living in Union township and has since resided there. Since taking possession of this place Mr. Billings has made numerous substantial improvements on the same, including a new residence, a new tenant's house, a new barn, other buildings and a better equipment of fences and now has one of the best equipped farm plants in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming Mr. Billings gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well in his operations. In 1908 George F. Billings was united in marriage to Lena B. Smith, of Union township, and to this union four children have been born, Ruth, Mildred, Jean and Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Billings 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.

LAFAYETTE JOHNSON, a substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, has been a resident of Rush county all his life. He is a son of Casper and Katherine Johnson, who came here from Brown county, this state, in pioneer days and entered a quarter of a section of land in Walker township. Casper Johnson cleared the tract.

which is still known as the old Johnson place, established a good home there and on that pioneer farm he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom five are living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Mrs. Katherine Sells, Mrs. Harriet Bekiser, Flemming Johnson and John B. Johnson. The deceased were Benjamin Johnson, Mrs. Sarah Atwater, Mrs. Elizabeth Branham, Mrs. Mary Moss, Thomas Johnson and Mrs. Belle Ellison. Reared on that pioneer farm, Lafayette Johnson received his schooling in the local schools and as a young man remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm and continued thus engaged until his marriage in 1877 when he rented a farm of 120 acres and began operations on his own account. A year later he rented a farm of 170 acres in Walker township and there made his home until 1890 when he bought the farm of a fraction more than 155 acres on which he now lives in Union township and has ever since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Johnson has a well improved place and the operations of his farm are carried on in up-to-date fashion. In addition to his general farming he has always given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well, having developed an excellent piece of property. Lafayette Johnson has been twice married. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Amanda A. Bebout. who also was born in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and to that union were born six children, Casper, Edward, Mrs. Mary F. Fletcher, of Shelby county, Mrs. Nellie Miller, Mrs. Hazel Whiden and Belle (deceased). The mother of these children died in 1890 and in 1897 Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Emma E. (Mull) Miller, of Walker township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Christian Union of Walker township and have ever taken an interested part in the work of the church. They have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take a hospitable part in the com munity's general social activities. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat but has never taken what may be called a particularly active part in politics, although ever maintaining the principles of his party in a county in which more often than not his party is found to be in the minority, thus continuing to display the courage of his convictions in the face of recurring defeat.

JOHN K. STIERS, who owns 200 acres of valuable land in Rushville township, is recognized as one of the representative farmers and substantial citizens of Rush county. He was born in Noble township on May 20, 1872, son of Joseph and Elvira (Hildreth) Stiers, both of whom were born, reared and educated in Rush county. During all of his active years Joseph Stiers was engaged in farming, but is now living retired at Rushville, the owner of 170 acres of land in Rush county. He and his wife had three children: James, Fannie and John K. After he had completed his schooling in the Circleville school and the Rushville Academy, John K. Stiers commenced farming with his father on the homestead, and remained at home until his marriage. At that time he .rented his present farm, but six years later bought it, and since then has improved it considerably. He carries on general farming and stockraising and produces about 200 hogs and ten head of cattle annually. Mr. Stiers was married in September, 1894, to Maude Guffin, daughter of Andrew and Clara (Brooks) Guffin. Mrs. Stiers was born, reared and educated in Noble township. Mr. and Mrs. Stiers have two children, Fannie and Howard. Mr. Stiers is a member of Little Flat Rock Christian Church. He is a Democrat.

GESTON P. HUNT, postmaster at Rushville, was born at Orange, in the neighboring county of Fayette on March 8, 1875, and is a representative of one of the pioneer Indiana families, his grandfather, Abijah W. Hunt, although born in Hamilton county, Ohio, February 8, 1807, having located in Franklin county, Indiana, about the year 1808 with his parents, Jonathan and Jane (Smith) Hunt. In 1852, Abijah W. Hunt came to Rush county, acquired 240 acres of valuable land, and was known as a successful farmer. To him and his wife, Margaret (Stephen) Hunt, seven children were born, of whom Levi S. Hunt, the father of Geston P. Hunt, was the fourth. He was born in Noble township, this county, and received his education in the schools of the county, but after the Civil war, when he had grown to manhood, he moved to Fayette county and engaged in mercantile pursuits in the town of Orange where he met and married Matilda Stone. After forty-two years of an active business career in Orange, during which time he attained a gratifying measure of success, he sold out his business and moved to Rushville, where he lived until his death on April 11, 1909. He and his wife were the parents of three children : Riley, of Indianapolis ; Lemoine C, of Cynthiana, Ky., and Geston P., the subject of this sketch, with whom his mother now resides. Geston P. Hunt received his schooling in Fayette county, and after completing the course of study prescribed in the high school entered the business establishment of his father, where he remained until the spring of 1898, when he came to Rushville. When the Spanish-American war broke out Mr. Hunt abandoned his business to enlist in Company H, One Hundred and Sixtyfirst Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He entered the army as a private, was stationed first at Jacksonville, Fla., then at Savannah, Ga., and later at Havana, Cuba. After a period of service covering eleven months, from June 12, 1898, to April 30, 1899, he was discharged with the rank of top sergeant of his company. After he was mustered out of the service Mr. Hunt returned to Orange, where he remained for two years, returning to Rushville in 1902 to engage in the hardware business, in which he continued until 1913, when, at the time of his appointment to the position of postmaster, he sold out his interests that he might devote his entire time and efforts to conducting the affairs of the postoffice. During his eight years in office, Mr. Hunt has made many improvements, and has done creditably the tasks which have fallen to his office. During the World war, when the almost overwhelming burden of the War Saving Stamps and Liberty Loan campaigns was assumed by the Postoffice Department, the local office made the enviable record of "going over the top" in every instance, and this without additional aid or to the detriment of the usual mail service. What this meant to Mr. Hunt and his assistants can only be conjectured by those not intimate with the enormous amount of detail work allotted to the postal department. Mr. Hunt is prominent in local fraternal circles, being a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason and a noble of the Mystic Shrine, as well as a member of the Red Men, Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which latter he is a life member. He is a Democrat and member of the Christian church.

HARVEY P. BROWN, a farmer of Rushville township and former agent for the Delco Light in Rush county, was born in Union township, Shelby county, Indiana, September 21, 1873, son of William and Missouri (Hume) Brown, natives of Shelby and Rush counties, respectively. Harvey F. Brown attended the public schools of Orange and Anderson townships, and was also for several terms a student of the normal school at Danville, Ind. After completing his studies, Mr. Brown became a school teacher and taught a school for one term in Anderson township. However, he found that he preferred farming to the confinement of the school room and rented eighty acres of land that he conducted until 1917 when he bought his present farm of seventy acres in Rushville township, and became a general farmer. His wife also owns 157 acres of land in Orange township, this county, but this Mr. Brown rents to a tenant. On February 6, 1895, Mr. Brown was married to Carrie C. Poulus, daughter of Daniel and Huldah (Hungerford) Poulus, natives of Germany and Orange township, respectively. Mr. Poulus was a farmer and stockraiser of Orange township, where he owned 330 acres of land. Mrs. Brown was born in Orange township and attended its schools and then for five years that at Oldenburg, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one child, Marie, who was born on May 31, 1896. She attended the common and high schools of Orange township, and then was married to Glen Foster, assistant cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have a son, Charles B. Foster. Mr. Brown belongs to Waldron lodge, No. 217, Free and Accepted Masons; Milroy lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Shelbyville lodge, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a member of the Christian church at Moscow and is a Democrat.

ERNEST R. TITSWORTH, trustee of Noble township, has been a lifelong resident of that township, having been born on his present farm on February 22, 1875. His parents were George W. and Rhoda J. (Applegate) Titsworth, the latter also a native of Rush county. George W. Titsworth was born in the state of Ohio, but in childhood was brought by his parents to Fayette county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and secured his education in the common schools. He was married in Rush county, but for about a year there- after he continued to live in Payette county. He then came to Noble township and bought the nucleus of the present farm, comprising ninety-five acres. In the operation of this farm he was successful and eventually increased his estate to 195 acres in one body. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising during the remainder of his active years. To him and his wife were born four children, of whom two are living, John A. and Ernest R. Ernest R. Titsworth attended the common schools of Noble township, completing his studies in the high school at Orange, where he was graduated in 1892. He then applied himself to the work of the home farm, assisting his father until the latter 's death, when he took over the homestead farm, buying out the interests of the other heirs, and is thus now the owner of 195 acres of as good land as can be found in this locality. The place is well improved and here Mr. Titsworth is engaged in general farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and is also extensively engaged in stock dealing, buying and selling large numbers annually, and feeds about 300 hogs a year. Mr. Titsworth is also widely known as a thresher, in which he has served the farmers of this locality for years. He is thoroughly up-todate in his methods and enjoys an enviable reputation as a successful and enterprising farmer. In 1896 Mr. Titsworth was married to Ella McCrory, the daughter of Clayton and Louisa McCrory, the fruits of this union being two children, Marion, who was graduated from Purdue University in 1921, and Marjorie, who is a student at that institution. Mr. and Mrs. Titsworth are members of the Little Plat Rock Christian Church. Mr. Titsworth is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs. He is now serving his second term as trustee of Noble township and is giving very satisfactory service to his constituents.

OTTO PARVIN DILLON, M. D., who died at his home in Rushville on February 9, 1908, after a professional practice there of more than seventeen years, had made many friends in the city, as well as throughout the county, and it is but fitting that in a volume of biographies of the old families of Rush county such as this there should be carried some modest tribute to the memory he left. Doctor Dillon was born in Rush county, the son of a physician, and the grandson of a physician and had lived here all his life. He was born in Center township on April 1, 1869, son of Dr. Jefferson C. and Mary (Florea) Dillon, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families, the former a son of Dr. J. C. Dillon, who in his day was widely known hereabout as one of the pioneer physicians in this region. Reared in Center township, Otto P. Dillon received his early schooling in the schools of that township and supplemented the same by a course in the Rushville high school, after which he entered Butler College at Indianapolis. Thus equipped by preparatory study he entered the medical college at Cincinnati and upon completing his studies there returned home and became engaged in the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life, entering practice in asso- ciation with his father, Dr. Jefferson C. Dillon. This mutually agreeable association was continued for several years or until in 1890, when Dr. Otto P. Dillon moved to Rushville and opened an office for the practice of his profession there, continuing in practice in that city until his death, February 9, 1908, he then being under forty years of age and in the very prime of what gave promise of a long and useful professional career. Doctor Dillon was the third of his line in successive generations to engage in medical practice in Rush county and worthily maintained the honorable traditions of the family and of the profession. Doctor Dillon was twice married, his second wife having been Cora Wright, who survives and is still living at Rushville, where she has a very pleasant home at 312 North Main street. Mrs. Dillon was born in this county, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Wright.

S. L. HUNT, the well-known and progressive hardware merchant of Rushville and sheriff-elect of Rush county, is a member of one of Rush county's old families and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on a farm in Noble township on December 31, 1867, son of George W. and Sarah F. (Holmes) Hunt, the former of whom also was born in this county and the latter at Andersonville, over the line in Franklin county. The Hunts are of an old American family, having had representation in this country since Colonial days. The name Hunt is from the Saxon word "hunti," a wolf. At one time in the history of England this destructive animal so abounded that it was the business of every man to assist in exterminating it. To this end the taxes in some parts were levied in wolves' ears. Hence the word hunting, which at first only meant pursuing wolves. Afterward it came to mean the pursuit of game generally. Probably the Hunts took their name from their prowess in the hunting field. One of the first of the name of whom any record exists was Adam le Hunt, at Nottingham, England, in 1295. The Hunts, as a family, have always been noted for their fine appearance, their type Saxon. The family crest in the early days of the family always was a wolf's head. Colonel Sir William Hunt, fleeing from the disastrous field of Marston Moor, came to America and settled at Weymouth, Mass., concealing his identity under the name of Ephraim Hunt. The dashing Tory cavalry officer cropped his long hair and laid aside his fine dress as well as his title. He presently married Anna Richards, a Colonial heiress, and their three sons were the progenitors of the Hunts in this country, these sons becoming military leaders in those dangerous times of the French and Indian wars in the colonies. Thomas Hunt, a descendant of the cavalier, held a commission under General Washington during the Revolutionary war. Among Hunts who are renowned in various ways, as writers, poets, artists or professional men, Leigh Hunt's name must at once occur to every one. He was not only a poet, but also one of the most delightful of English essayists. William Hunt was declared by Ruskin to have been the finest painter of still life that ever existed. George W. Hunt was the son of Harrison Hunt, a native of Ohio who came to this county in a very early day, being one of the first settlers in the county, and here the father of our subject grew to manhood. After receiving the education afforded by the public schools of the day and place he took up farming, following this business all his life in Noble and Rushville townships. His agricultural operations were extensive as he always rented from 200 to 300 acres. To him and his wife twelve children were born of whom seven are now living. Claude, Ray, Blaine, S. L., Blanche, Sallie, and Ina. S. L. Hunt was educated in the public schools of Rushville township, upon completing which he engaged in farming in association with his father until he reached the age of twenty-three years. At this time he took up the painting trade, in which he was employed for three years. But he felt the call of the land again, and returned to farming, working as a hand for four years. He then rented land and for fifteen years was engaged thus, at the end of that period having saved enough money to buy a farm of 127 acres in Noble township. When he had spent a year on his own place, he decided that greater opportunities lay before him in mercantile pursuits, and he accordingly sold out and moved to Rushville to take up the hardware business. In April, 1918, he bought the hardware stock of E. E. Polk, and since that time has continued in business for himself. His business requires two floors 30 by 120 feet in a building on Main street between First and Second streets, and here a complete stock of up-to-date hardware and farming equipment is carried. Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Myrtle A. Humes, a daughter of Thomas J. and Indiana (Lyons) Humes, and to their union three children have been born, Loren, Leland, and Miriam, all now attending school. Mr. Hunt is a member of the United Presbyterion church and is a Republican. He is a Mason and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1920, as the nominee of the Republican party, Mr. Hunt was elected sheriff of Rush county and will enter upon his office upon the expiration of the term of the present incumbent.

EARL W. RUFF, a well-known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, now living at Glenwood, has been a resident of this section of Indiana all his life. He was born in the neighboring county of Fayette on May 15, 1872, son of Thomas B. and Adaline (White) Ruff, the latter of whom was born in this county, daughter of Stamper White and wife, members of pioneer families hereabout. Stamper White in his generation was one of the best known men in Rush county, a large landowner in the Glenwood neighborhood and a man of influence in his community, a community in which the Whites have been represented since pioneer days. Thomas B. Ruff was born in Ohio and grew up in that state, being early trained to the trade of carriage maker. As a young man he came over into Indiana and located at Glenwood, where he began working at his trade and not long after coming here was married to Adaline White. He continued to make his home here and in Fayette county for a number of years and then returned to Ohio and was engaged as superintendent of a carriage factory at Columbus, that state, where he spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of four children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Blanche, Roy and Margaret. Earl W. Ruff completed his schooling at Glenwood and early became engaged in farming on the big farm of his grandfather, Stamper White, in the neighborhood of that village, and thus remained with his grandfather until he was married, after which he rented a portion of his grandfather's land and farmed as a renter for about ten years, at the end of which time he inherited a portion of the White estate, that portion including the old homestead site, and there continued to reside, actively engaged in farming, until his retirement and removal to Glenwood in 1913. Mr. Ruff is the owner of 275 acres of excellent land in Union township, and though living "retired" continues to give his agricultural interests his pretty active attention. In addition to his general farming he has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well in his operations. Mr. Ruff and his wife are members of the Christian church and in their political affiliations are Republicans. Earl W. Ruff was united in marriage to Elsie Shortridge, who was born in the neighboring county of Fayette, and to this union have been born two children, Russell and Edna, the latter of whom is unmarried and at home with her parents. Russell Ruff married Effie Matney and is giving his attention to the affairs of the home farm in Union township. Mrs. Elsie Ruff, as noted above, was born in Fayette county and her parents, Jesse and Indiana (McConnell) Shortridge, also were born in that county, both members of pioneer families in that section. Jesse Shortridge was a farmer and landowner, owner of a farm of eighty acres, and all his life was devoted to farming. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Ruff and her sister, Erma.

CHARLES BEAVER, a well-known farmer of Noble township, is a member of one of Rush county 's real pioneer families, the Beavers having been represented here since the days of the beginning of a social order, hereabout, as is set out elsewhere in this work. Mr. Beaver was born in Noble township and has lived in this county all his life with the exception of fourteen years spent in industrial pursuits at Anderson and South Bend, this state. He was born on August 30, 1865, son of James and Harriet (Emmett) Beaver, both of whom also were born in Rush county, members of pioneer families here, and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and the latter of whom is still living, a resident of New Salem. Reared in Noble township, Mr. Beaver received his schooling in the schools of that township, having the advantage of the excellent schools of New Salem, and grew up to the ways of the farm, his father having been the owner of a fine farm in the New Salem neighborhood. Leaving the farm in the days of his young manhood, Mr. Beaver went to Anderson, Ind., where and at South Bend he was for fourteen years engaged in industrial occupations. At the end of that time he returned to Rush county, in the meantime having married, and in 1906 became engaged in farming in Richland township. For six years he was thus engaged in that township and then he tried another location, where for three years he was engaged in farming, at the end of which time he returned to this county and has since then been engaged in farming a part of the old home place in the vicinity of New Salem, renting a tract of eighty acres from his mother, and is doing well in his operations. In 1903 Charles Beaver was united in marriage to Zora McDonald, daughter of Michael McDonald, and to that union were born four children, James, Frances Leona, Bernice and Noal. The mother of these children died on November 19, 1918. Mr. Beaver is a Republican and is a member of the United Brethren church. He is well known in the community in which he has long lived and has ever done his part in the general activities of the neighborhood, helpful in promoting such movements as have had to do with the advancement of the common good.

ROLAND LESLIE HINCHMAN, a well-known young farmer of Union township, now living at Glenwood, where he has made his home for some years past, was born on a farm in Union township on March 30, 1887, son of Sanford and Clara (Stevens) Hinchman, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Franklin and the former in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, further and repeated reference to the Hinchman family being found elsewhere in this volume. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Roland Leslie Hinchman received his schooling in the Glenwood schools and as a young man remained on the home farm, a valued assistant in the labors of developing the same, and after his marriage at the age of twenty-two continued there, farming the place and making his home there until in 1917 when he moved to Glenwood, where he and his family are now living and where they are very comfortably situated. It was on October 20, 1909, that Roland ' Leslie Hinchman was united in marriage to Clara Gray, also a member of one of the old families of Rush county, and to this union have been born two children, Orval (deceased) and Lowell Walter Hinchman. Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman are Republicans and are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church. They have a pleasant home at Glenwood and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the community's general social activities. Mrs. Hinchman was born in the neighboring county of Fayette but her parents, William H. and Carrie B. (Hinchman) Gray, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, both were born in Rush county, members of pioneer families here, and are now living at Glenwood.

EDWARD KESSLER, an enterprising general farmer of Walker township, this county, was born on his father's farm in that township, April 16, 1885. He is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Hertzel) Kessler, and a grandson of Frederick and Barbara (Nicholas) Kessler. His parents were born in Germany, from which country his father came to the United States when twenty years of age. Edward Kessler completed his schooling in district No. 3, Walker township, and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until his marriage, following which he continued to farm on rented land still owned by his father, who is one of the substantial men of Walker township. Mr. Kessler is a capable farmer and gives attention to stockraising, feeding 125 head of hogs yearly. On December 11, 1911, he married Nora C. Theabald, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of August and Mary (Mook) Theabald, natives of Shelby county and farming people in Shelby and Decatur counties. Mr. and Mrs. Theabald had a family of nine children and of these the following are still living : Walter, Nora C, Nettie, Herman, Harry and Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler have one child, Raymond, who is attending school. They are members of the Christian church at Manilla. Mr. Kessler is a Republican.

EARL B. WINSHIP is one of the extensive farmers and stockraisers of Rushville township, he and his brother Charles operating the large Winship homestead, 'which is one of the most valuable farms in Rush county. Earl B. Winship was born in Rushville township, January 14, 1882, son of Albert and Mary E. (Moore) Winship, and was educated in the schools of his native township. After he completed his school days he took a trip through some of the Western states, which consumed two years. Upon his return to Rush county he began farming in partnership with his father on the homestead of 630 acres, and this farm is now operated by the two brothers. They are general farmers and stockraisers, and feed out about 1,500 head of hogs annually. On February 22, 1903, Earl B. Winship was married to Jessie R. Finley, daughter of John C. and Mary E. (Perkins) Finley, who was born in Hancock county, Indiana, where her father was at one time a farmer, but he is now a rural free delivery mailman. Mr. and Mrs. Finley had ten children: John, Francis, May, Joseph, Golda, Pearl, Ralph* Leslie, Bay and Jessie R., all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Winship have one child, Mary Elizabeth, born on October 24, 1909, who is attending the Webb school in Rushville township. Mr. Winship belongs to Rushville lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis, and to the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. His religious home is in the Methodist Episcopal church of Rushville, with which he has been connected for years. He is a Republican and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, although not an office seeker.

JOSEPH STIERS, retired farmer, has resided during the greater part of his life at Rushville, but for many years actively superintended the operation of his large farms in Rush county, two of which he still owns. Joseph Stiers was born in Noble township, this county, September 15, 1835. His parents were Benjamin and Barbara (Jones) Stiers, both of whom were born in Clermont county,

Ohio, from which section they drove overland to Indiana, settling as pioneers on wild land in Noble township, Rush county. Of their nine children there are four survivors: John M., of Rushville; Benjamin F., of Marion, Ind. ; Joseph and Polly Ann. Joseph Stiers attended the country schools near his father's farm in boyhood and remained at home as a farmer until twenty years of age, when he rented land and engaged in farming for himself for about twelve years. He then bought a farm of forty acres situated in Noble township, which he later sold to advantage, then bought eighty acres in Rushville township and subsequently another eighty-acre farm, located in Noble township. Although he never resided on these farms, he has given a great deal of attention to their development and they are considered valuable properties. In March, 1861, Mr. Stiers married Sarah E. Hildreth, who also was born in Rush county, daughter of James and Rebecca (Canada) Hildreth. Mrs. Stiers passed away on February 23, 1916, and was buried in East Hill cemetery. They had three children, James H., John K. and Fannie R. James H. Stiers is a farmer in Noble township. His first marriage was to Alice Frazee, who died within a few years, after which he married Mary E. Buell. John K. Stiers is a farmer in Rushville township. He married Maud Guffin and they have two children, Fannie and Howard, the latter of whom is in business at Phoenix, Ariz. Fannie R. Stiers married Ora Logan, a farmer in Noble township, and they have two children : Nellie and Carl. Nellie Logan married Edsie Hilligoss, a farmer in Rushville township, and they have two children, Lavon and Harold. Carl Logan, a farmer in Noble township, married Wilnia Bowen and they have one child, Louise. Joseph Stiers is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville. He has always voted the Democratic ticket.

T. J. DOWNEY, a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Noble township, is a native of the township in which he now resides and was born on January 5, 1857, being the son of William H. and Ellen (Cowen) Downey, the latter a native of Ohio. William H. Downey was a native of West Virginia and the son of William Downey. When about seventeen years of age he went to Ohio, where he learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed for a number of years, his construction work being applied mostly to grist mills. He was married in Ohio and soon afterward came to Indiana, where he bought eighty acres of land in Rush county, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted himself with such success that he was enabled to increase his holdings to more than 500 acres. He carried on general farming operations and stock raising and followed progressive and up-to-date ideas in his labors. His death occurred in 1894 and his widow died two years later. Of the seven children who blessed the union of this worthy couple, four are now living, namely: Delia, Florence, Alma and T. J. T. J. Downey attended the public schools of Noble township, in which he secured a good practical education. He followed farming on the home place, assisting his father up to the time of his marriage. He then rented from his father and mother until the latter 's death, since which time he has cultivated land of his own. He is the owner of two hundred and fifty-two acres of excellent, well improved land, all in Noble township, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising, feeding out quite a number of cattle and hogs. He is energetic and methodical in his work and has achieved a distinctive success in his vocation. In 1879 T. J. Downey was married to Alice Wellman, the daughter of Robert and Robena (Ouffin) Wellman, and they have one child, Stella, who is the wife of Dr. Ernest Cofield, doctor of dental surgery, of Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Downey are active members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church, and in politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Mrs. Downey also was born in Rush county, as were her parents, both of the latter having been members of pioneer families here. Her father, Robert Wellman, was a well known farmer and trader and he and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Downey being Eva, Rhoda, Ross and Aaron Wellman.

JOHN A. GRAY, a well-known farmer and landowner of Union township, proprietor of an excellent farm on rural mail route No. 1 out of Glenwood, but now living retired at Rushville, was born in Union township and has lived there most of his life, the exceptions being a period during which he was engaged in business in Rushville and another period during which he was "trying his fortune" in Kansas. Mr. Gray is of pioneer stock, his parents, George and Mary (Hinchman) Gray, having been members of old families here. Both were born in Monroe county, Virginia, now West Virginia, and were but children when their respective parents came to Indiana with a considerable colony of Virginians who were coming out here about that time and taking up the promising new lands then being offered as ' ' Congress tracts ' ' in the Hoosier state. George Gray was the son of James Gray and wife, the latter of whom was a Nichols, who came to Indiana in 1822 and located in Union county. Two years later they came over into Rush county and "entered" a tract of land in Union township on which they established their home and spent the remainder of their lives, influential pioneer residents of that section. James Gray, who died there in 1872, was a good farmer and became quite a large landowner, a well-to-do citizen in his generation. He and his wife had six children, those besides George having been John, James, Mary, Nancy and Peggy. George Gray was but two years of age when his parents came to Indiana and he "grew up" on the homestead farm in Union township, this county, in turn becoming a farmer on his own account. His affairs prospered and he became the owner of around 600 acres of land in Union township, one of the most substantial farmers thereabout. George Gray was married in this county, his wife, Mary Hinchman, also having been a member of the Virginia colony of pioneers, and he and his wife spent their last days in Union township, useful and influential members of that community. They had nine children who grew to maturity, those besides John A., the subject of this sketch, being James

(deceased), Rebecca (deceased), Mary (deceased), Susan (deceased), Minnie, Margaret, Morton P. and George. John A. Gray was born on the farm above referred to in Union township on January 6, 1854. He grew to manhood there, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and as a young man left the farm and went to Rushville, where he became engaged in the livery business and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he went to Kansas where he remained until news of his father's death brought him home and upon his return here he resumed farming and has ever since been thus engaged, the owner of an excellent farm of 240 acres in Union township on which besides his general farming he carries on quite extensive operations in the way of live stock breeding and has long done well. Mr. Gray has a well improved place and one of the most substantial farm plants in that section, it ever having been a matter of pride with him to keep his place up in "ship-shape" form. In 1891 John A. Gray was united in marriage to Fannie Norris, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Margaret Virginia, who married Wesley J. Kelly and has two children, John Wesley and Richard Gray; James Russell Gray and Helen Gould Gray. Mrs. Gray is a daughter of Albert Newton and Bmaline (Hunt) Norris, the latter of whom also was born in Rush county, a member of one of the old families here. Albert Newton Norris was born in Kentucky and was but a child when his parents came up into Indiana and located in Rush county, settling on a farm in Noble township, where he grew to manhood and in turn became a farmer on his own account and also was for years engaged in the manufacture of grain drills for local distribution in the days before there was such a wide distribution of the products of the great factories hereabout. Albert N. Norris and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides Mrs. Gray being Anna, Eutie, Clifton, Dempsey and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian church at Rushville. In his political affiliation Mr. Gray is a Republican and, fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The Grays in the spring of 1921 retired from the farm and moved to Rushville, where they have a very pleasant home.

ANGUS C. MILLER, a well-known citizen of Richland township, who by a life of persistent and well-applied energy has achieved material success and gained the good will of his fellow citizens, was born in that township on November 10, 1883, and is the son of Eliphalet and Mary (Blue) Miller, both also natives of Rush county. The subject's paternal grandfather, Archibald Miller, was a native of the state of Virginia, whence he came to Indiana, first locating in Franklin county, where he entered land. Later he bought 343 acres of land in Rush county, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1882. He was a member of the United Brethren church. He married Ann Barber, who died in 1883, and they became the parents of eight children, all of whom are deceased. Eliphalet Miller was reared to manhood in this county and was indebted to the common schools for his educational training. On completing his studies he turned his attention to farming, but on the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in defense of his country, becoming a member of Company C, Sixty-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he rendered valiant service for three years. After leaving the army, Mr. Miller went to Illinois, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1883, when he returned to Rush county and bought 147 acres of land, on which he followed general farming and stock raising to the time of his death, which occurred in 1886. His wife had passed away during the preceding year. They became the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living, namely: Stella, Earl, Otis, Angus and Harry. Angus Miller was reared in Richland township, attending the common schools. After completing his schooling, he began farming the old Miller home place which he has operated continuously now for eighteen years and where he has gained an excellent reputation as a practical and progressive farmer, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding about 150 head of hogs annually. Mr. Miller is a Republican in his political faith and takes a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the communitv in which he lives.

MRS. AUGUSTA BROWNELL, a well known resident of Washington township, is a representative of two of the old pioneer families of the county, both her paternal and maternal grandparents and great-grandparents having been among the first settlers of the county. Mrs. Brownell was born in Washington township, a daughter of George S. and Rozza Belle (Glidden) Lail, the latter the only daughter of Augustus and Olive Belle (Loder) Glidden. George S. Lail was born in Rush county, a son of George Henry and Mary (Shawhan) Lail, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a daughter of John M. and Sarah Shawhan. George H. Lail was a Kentuckian and his marriage to Mary Shawhan took place in the old Shawhan homestead at Falmouth in this county. He established his home in this county and became prominent in the affairs of the pioneer community. Mrs. Brownell received her schooling in Manual Training high school, at Indianapolis, and in DePauw University, at f-ireencastle. On November 16, 1903, Augusta Lail was united in marriage to Charles Albert Brownell, a resident of Cincinnati, a native of Ohio and a graduate of Andover College and Yale University. To this union was born one child, a son, George Stenson Brownell, who resides with his mother at their pleasant home in Raleigh.

MARSHALL HINCHMAN, a well known retired farmer and substantial landowner of Union township, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. Mr. Ilinchman is a member of one of the real pioneer families of Rush county, his parents, John and Margaret (Niekell) Hinchman, having settled in Union township upon coming to Indiana from Virginia in the fall of

1823, following their marriage in their native state. John Hinehman was a son of John and Margaret (Vinson) Hinehman. In 1822 he had come out into Indiana on a prospecting trip and had entered from the Government an eighty-acre tract in Union township, this county. Upon his arrival here with his bride in the fall of 1823 he put up a log cabin on this tract and established his home there. He early became recognized as one of the forceful figures in that part of the county and did much toward developing proper conditions in the formative period of the county's development. He took an active part in the county's civic affairs and for some time served as a member of the board of county commissioners. John Hinehman became one of the county 's large landowners and at the time of his death in 1865 was the possessor of more than 1,000 acres of land besides other valuable property. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom four are still living, Marshall Hinehman having three brothers, Sanford, Ira and Morris Hinehman, the two latter of whom are veterans of the Civil war. Marshall Hinehman was born on December 3. 1846, and was reared on the home farm in Union township, receiving his schooling in the old Stringtown school and at Glenwood. He was but eighteen years of age when his father died and he continued making his home on the home place, presently starting operations there on his own account and after his marriage established his home there aud has ever since continued to reside on the place. To his inheritance in the place Mr. Hinehman added until he became the owner of 280 acres, but this holding he has reduced until he now has but 160 acres, one of the best improved farms in that section of the county. Mr. Hinehman continued actively engaged in farming and stock raising until 1916 when he retired from active labors and has since been renting his farm, though continuing to make his home on the place, where he is very comfortably situated. Mr. Hinehman is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful attention to the general civic affairs of his community as well as of the county at large.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MARTIN, one of the best known residents (if Rush county, formerly and for years engaged in the mercantile business at Raleigh, where he is now living retired, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of this county practically all the time since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Martin was born at Centerville, in "Wayne county, September 23, 1864, only son of Benjamin F. and Sarah A. (Jameson) Martin, the former of whom was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, son of Benjamin Lloyd and Sarah (Christianson) Martin, who became pioneers of Wayne county, this state. Benjamin Lloyd Martin was born in Pennsylvania in 1806 and his schooling was completed in a commerciaUcollege at Philadelphia. He married in 1831 and in 1839 moved with his family to Indiana and located in Wayne county, where he at once became one of the influential factors in the development of the commercial interests of that section of the state, one important act of his being his part in the work of organization of the first bank in Wayne county. He also was an important factor in the development of the social and religious life of the community and in 1840, the year after his arrival in Indiana, was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal church, his services as a minister of the Gospel coming to be in wide demand thereabout. When the Civil war broke out Benjamin Lloyd Martin enlisted his services and was commissioned paymaster in the army with the rank of major. During the period 1869-73 he served as representative in the state legislature from Wayne county, and later served for eight years as auditor of that county and for a like period as deputy auditor. His son, Benjamin F. Martin, father of the subject of this sketch, was but a lad when he accompanied his parents to Indiana in 1839 and his schooling was completed in the old Centerville Academy. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and was attached to the Seventy-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, presently being given a lieutenant's commission and with that command served for two years or more. In 1863, while home on a furlough Lieutenant Martin married Sarah A. Jameson and upon the completion of his military service settled down on a farm owned by his father and was for six years engaged as a farmer in Wayne county. He then bought a general store at Chester and was there engaged in the mercantile business until his death in 1885. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Maude Gerrard, of Indianapolis. The junior Benjamin F. Franklin completed his schooling at Earlham College at Richmond and for a year following the completion of his college course served as assistant in the office of the treasurer of Wayne county. The next year he spent as bookkeeper in a business house at Richmond and then decided to enter into business for himself. With this end in view he came to Rush county and bought a general store at Raleigh and was thus engaged in business in that pleasant village for twenty-three years, at the end of which time he left the store and became traveling auditor for the D. M. Osborne Company, of Indianapolis, continuing in that capacity until 1899 when he bought a farm of 186 acres in Washington township and began farming on an extensive scale, gradually adding to his holdings until he is now the owner of 593 acres, all in Washington township. In 1915 Mr. Martin practically retired from the active labors of the farm and erected a handsome modern house at Raleigh, where he and his family are now making their home. Mr. Martin was reared a Quaker and is affiliated with the Friends Meeting at Spiceland. He is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat Temple at Indianapolis. He and his family are Republicans. On September 5, 1888, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Cora E. Elwell, who was born in Washington township, this county, daughter of Horace and Mary J. Elwell, and to this union three children have been born, Eli E..

Benjamin F. and Myra G. (deceased). Eli E. Martin completed his schooling at Purdue University. He married Mary Finney, of Rushville, and has two children. Martha and Mary K. The younger son, Benjamin F. Martin. Jr., completed the high school course at Raleigh and is now a student at Purdue University.

BIRNEY D. FARTHING, superintendent of the Glenwood schools and one of the best known and most successful young educators in Rush county, was born in this county and has ever been devoted to the interests of the same. He was born on a farm in Richland township on May 9, 1886, son of Edward A. and Gertrude (Dobyns) Farthing, well known residents of that community, who are still living there. Reared on the home farm in Richland township, Birney D. Farthing was graduated from the Clarksburg high school in 1904, when eighteen years of age. Trained to the ways of the farm, he thought to follow that vocation and for two or three years after leaving the high school engaged in farming as a renter on his father 's place. In the meantime he had been giving his thought to the notion of teaching and when twenty-one years of age secured a license to teach and conducted his first term of school in Orange township. The next year he secured a school in his home township and taught there for three years, at the end of which time he was employed as principal of the graded school at Milford and was thus engaged for two years, meantime continuing his studies in preparation for advancement in his chosen profession. From Milford Mr. Farthing went to Ging as principal of the high school there and after two years thus engaged at that place was appointed superintendent of the high school at Arlington and a year later, in 1919, was appointed superintendent of the schools at Glenwood, a position he since has occupied and in the performance of the duties of which position he has done much to promote the interests of the excellent schools of that pleasant village. Mr. Farthing's first normal school training was received at the normal school at Angola, Indiana, in 1907. In 1912 he entered the normal school at Marion, Indiana, and was graduated from that institution in 1915. Supplementing this admirable preparatory study Mr. Farthing later entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute and was graduated from that institution in 1920, and further supplemental study secured for him the degree of Philosophiae Baccalaureus bestowed by the state normal school at Muneie. On May 9, 1920, Birney D. Farthing was united in marriage to LaVerne Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Davis, and has since made his home at Glenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Farthing are members of the Christian church and take a proper interest in the work of the church as well as in the general soeial activities of the community in which they live. By political affiliation they are Republicans. Fraternally. Mr. Farthing is affiliated with the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons at Clarksburg and with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.