Rush County, Indiana - The whole text, 1921 (part 3 of 18)

Xatiiax Weeks

HON. NATHAN WEEKS, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who died at his home in Rushville in the spring of 1911 while serving as representative from this legislative district in the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly and who had previously rendered service in the public behalf as treasurer of Rush county, left a good memory and in the memorial annals of Rush county there are few names held in better remembrance than his. Mr. Weeks was a native Hoosier, a fact of which he never ceased to be proud, and ever held the interests of the state close to heart. Though but an adopted son of Rush county, for he was not born here, he entered at once upon taking up his residence here into the spirit of things and ever took an earnest and active interest in public affairs, promoting in such ways as he could the cause of good citizenship and better local government. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and in the battle of Shiloh received a wound from the effects of which he suffered all the rest of his life. Mr. Weeks was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Henry on March 19, 1841, son of Benjamin and Winnie Weeks, who spent their last days in that county and of whose children Nathan Weeks was the only one to take up his residence in Rush county. Reared on a farm in Henry county, Nathan Weeks received his schooling in the schools of that county and as a young man learned the trade of harness making, presently becoming engaged in that business on his own behalf in the village of Greensboro in his home county, later establishing a buggy shop in that same village. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted his services and went to the front as a member of D Company, Thirty-sixth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was serving with that command when at the battle of Shiloh he received a serious wound and was invalided home as unfitted for further military service and was presently given his honorable discharge on account of incapacity due to this wound. He continued operating his harness-making and buggy shop at Greensboro until in the early '70s, when he came down into Rush couuty and opened a retail meat shop at Carthage, his first experience in that line. This initial experience convinced Mr. Weeks that he had a certain natural capacity for that business and he presently moved to Rushville, seeking a larger market, and opened a butcher shop in that city. He was a Republican and from the beginning of his residence here had taken an active interest in political affairs and presently was elected treasurer of the county. Upon entering the treasurer's office he discontinued his retail meat business and upon the completion of his four years' term of service in the court house bought a farm of 280 acres in the vicinity of Rushville and there established his home, operating the farm thereafter until his death on May 29, 1911. In the election of 1910 Mr. Weeks was elected representative from this district to the Indiana legislature and was serving in that honorable capacity at the time of his death. As noted above Mr. Weeks was a Republican and was for years recognized as one of the able leaders of that party in Rush county. He was a member of the Methodist church, an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and was also affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias, in the affairs of which several organizations he ever took a warm interest. In 1865 Nathan Weeks was united in marriage to Martha Macy, of Henry county, daughter of Lorenzo and Rachel Macy, and who survives him, and to that union were born three children, two sons and a daughter, Ulysses, George and Ella, all of whom are dead except the latter, who is unmarried, continuing to make her home with her mother at Rushville. Mrs. Weeks is a member of the Methodist church, as was her late husband, and has ever taken an earnest interest in the work of the church as well as in all proper movements having to do with the betterment of conditions in her home community.

ORIN P. WAMSLEY, proprietor of the Hotel Scanlan at Rushville, president of the Hotel Keepers' Association of Indiana and one of the best known hotel keepers in the country, is a native son of Rush county and has done much in his way to reflect credit upon the place of his birth, his popularity among the leaders of his calling in Indiana culminating in his election in 1920 to the responsible position of administrative head of the state association to which he had long given his earnest and helpful attention; a fitting recognition of his managerial ability as well as an unsought testimonial of the high esteem in which his associates hold him. Barring a period of several jrears during which he lived in Indianapolis gaining valuable experience in the hotel business Mr. Wamsley has always lived in this county and his acquaintance is county wide, even as it is state-wide among hotel men. He was born at the pleasant old village of New Salem in Noble township on May 26, 1882, a twin, but was bereft by death of his mate, Earl, when eight weeks old. He is a son of William C. and Eliza A. (Boling) Wamsley, the former of whom is still living, connected with the management of the Hotel Scanlan and familiarly and lovingly known as "Dad" to hundreds of traveling men throughout the middle West who make Rushville on their rounds and whose favorite stopping place there is the Scanlan. William C. Wamsley is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Indiana and of Rush county since the days of his boyhood and there are few men in this county who are better known then he. He was born at Oxford, Ohio, September 4, 1847, son of William B. and Mary (Ingram) Wamsley, the latter of whom was born in the state of New Jersey. William B. Wamsley was born in Boone county, Kentucky, son of George W. Wamsley and wife, pioneers of that county, who later came across the river and settled in Hamilton county, where George W. Wamsley was killed by a log falling upon him and crushing his head during a pioneer "barn raising" in the neighborhood in which he lived. William B. Wamsley grew to manhood in Hamilton county and after his marriage located at Oxford, in Butler county, whence he presently moved to Cincin- nati and was serving as sheriff of Hamilton county at the time of his death there in 1851. His widow survived him but a few months, dying in 1852, leaving four children, William C. Wamsley having had three sisters (all now deceased), namely: Amelia, who married John Plough, of Rush county, and had five children, all of whom are now deceased save Mrs. Robert Downing, of Detroit, Mich.; Mary Eliza, Avho married John Mitchell, of Decatur county, this state, and hat) two children, Edward, who made his home in Decatur county, and Minnie, who married Newton Casey, of Rush county and died leaving two children, one of whom, Edward, of Decatur county, is still living, and Elizabeth, who married William F. Rhinehart, of this county, who died in Grant county leaving six children, all of whom are living, though none is a resident of this community, some of them living in Grant county and others in Oklahoma. Bereft of his parents when but a small child, William C. Wamsley was taken care of by his maternal grandparents who were then living in Dearborn county, this state, for three years and thereafter by others until he was thirteen years of age when, his eldest sister meanwhile having married, he joined her at Richland in this county, and was living here when the Civil war broke out. Though but thirteen years of age he volunteered his services to go to the front as a soldier. This patriotic offer was promptly rejected by the recruiting officers but the lad was bound to get into the war some way and he presently succeeded in entering the service of the Government as a horse boy to help in the work of moving cavalry horses from Indiana to points needed in the army, and in this capacity he served for two years and two months. Upon the completion of this service he rejoined the family of his sister at Richland and for awhile was engaged there in farm work, but presently (in 1872) opened a harness shop at Richland. In the following year he moved his shop to New Salem, where he established his home after his marriage in 1875, and was there engaged in business when in February, 1877, his establishment was destroyed by fire, entailing a complete loss of his business and more than $1,000 in cash which he happened to have on hand at the time. After this fire Mr. Wamsley resumed farming for a time and then took up the trade of carpenter and continued thus engaged, building in and about New Salem, until his retirement in 1913 and removal to Rushville to enter upon his present connection with the management of the Hotel Scanlan, of which popular old hostelry his son. Pearl, meanwhile had become the proprietor. It was on February 17, 1S75, that William C. Wamsley was united in marriage to Elizn A. Boling, who was born in Anderson township, this county, July 12, 1854, daughter of Gordon and Sarah (Trees) Boling, both members of pioneer families in this region, the former born in 1817 and the latter in 1818. Mrs. Eliza Boling Wamsley died on January 6, 1898. By her union with William C. Wamsley three sons were born, Charles W. and the twins, Pearl and Earl, mentioned above. Charles W. Wamsley was born on September 27, 1876, and has always lived at New Salem, where he is now engaged as a rural mail carrier, a position he has occupied for years, he and his wife, who was Estella

Geise, who also was born in this county, having a pleasant home there. 0. P. Wamsley spent his boyhood at New Salem, where he was born, received his schooling there and remained there until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Rushville and became connected with the old Grand hotel, learning there the rudiments of the business in which he has since achieved a distinctive success. Not long afterward he left Rushville and went to Indianapolis, where he further extended his hotel experience and where he was married, continuing to reside there save for a brief period spent at Connersville, until 1912 when he returned to Rushville and took over the management of the Windsor hotel. In the next year (1913) he became the proprietor of the Hotel Scanlan and has since been very successfully conducting that popular old hostelry. Mr. Wamsley has for years taken an active interest in the affairs of the Indiana Hotel Keepers' Association and in 1920 was elected president of the association. He and Mrs. Wamsley and "Dad" give their personal attention to the operation of the Scanlan and thus have imparted to it that delightful ' ' home ' ' atmosphere that has made it so widely and popularly known among the traveling men who make this region. The Scanlan 's dining room has a justly wide reputation, the cuisine commending itself to all who enjoy that rarest of features about the modern hotel known as "home cooking" and which is found at the Scanlan in its highest development. On May 6, 1906, 0. P. Wamsley was united in marriage to Nelle G. McKee, who also was born in Rush county, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Simonson) McKee, members of old families in this region, and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, Charles William Gordon, born at Indianapolis, who died at the age of five years, and Catherine, born on December 12, 1912. Mr. Wamsley is a Republican, as is his father. The latter is a member of the local lodge of the Red Men, and of the Pocahontas. 0. P. Wamsley is chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and chaplain of the uniform rank of that order. Mrs. Wamsley is excellent junior of the local lodge of the Pythian Sisters and both take an active interest in lodge affairs. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Wamsley is leader of the choir in the same. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Wamsley had been for some time engaged as a teacher in the schools of Rush county.

AUGUST GAHIMER, farmer and thresher in Walker township, was born in Orange township, this county, February 20, 1871, a son of William and Kate (Leatherman) Gahimer. Both parents were born and reared in Rush county and the father has been a prosperous farmer here for many years, now owning 414 acres of good land. His children are August, Julius, George and John. August Gahimer attended the public schools in Orange township, assisted his father on the home place and all his life has been engaged in farm pursuits. Following his marriage he began farming for himself on a fifty-acre tract belonging to his father, and still lives on the same, paying grain rent. Mr. Gahimer is a thorough-going farmer, keeps everything iu good order and raises grain and as much stock as the place will support. He also owns and operates a threshing outfit. On August 18, 1895, he married Maggie Hauck, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, a daughter of Peter and Kate (Henry) Hauck. The parents of Mrs. Gahimer were born in Germany and were young when they accompanied their respective parents to the United States. Mr. Hauck was a cooper by trade and had a shop at Blue Ridge, Shelby eounty. Of his family of seven children four are living, Prank, Kate, Rose and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Gahimer have one child, Goldie E., who is the wife of Albert Lestenberger, a farmer in Shelby county. They have two children, Lawrence E. and Leland A. Mr. Gahimer and family are members of the Christian church at Manilla. He has always voted with the Democratic party.

CHARLES H. KELSO, former member of the board of county commissioners, one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Rush county, a venerable retired farmer of Richland township, who has done his full share in the development of his section of the county, which he has honored by his citizenship for more than a half century, has ever given his support to all measures for the public good and his name has been synonymous with honorable dealings in all the relations of life. Mr. Kelso is descended from an old pioneer family of Indiana, the Kelsos having located in Dearborn county as early as 1812, Kelso township in that county having been named in honor of this family, particularly for John Kelso, the subject's paternal grandfather. The subject's parents were Henry and Catherine (Carroll) Kelso, the former a native of Dearborn county and the latter born in Ireland. Henry Kelso was reared to manhood, secured his education and was married in Dearborn county. He followed farming and remained in that county until a few years prior to his death, from which time he made his home with his son, Charles II. He was a farmer during all his active yeai*s, owning forty acres of land. He and his good wife died practically at the same time and were buried on the same day. They were the parents of eight children, of which number four are now living, Hester, Elizabeth, Mary and Charles II. Charles H. Kelso received his educational training in the common schools of Dearborn county and soon after completing his studies he enlisted in defense of his country, becoming a private in Company H, Eighty-third regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Fifteenth corps of the Army of the Tennessee. Mr. Kelso took part in many of the stirring campaigns and hotly-contested battles of that great struggle, in which he served nearly three years, being in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Missionary Ridge and other noted battles, and then was captured at Atlanta, Ga., and was confined in the notorious prison pens at Florence and Andersonville from August 1, 1864, to December. 1865. On his release, he received an honorable discharge and returned home. During the following two years Mr. Kelso was engaged in teaching school in Dearborn county, but in 1867 he came to Rush county and for a time was employed as a farm hand. He then rented farm land, which he operated up to 1884, when he bought the place on which he now lives, his first purchase comprising eighty acres, to which he later added until his holdings now amount to 142 acres, in Richland township. He here carried on general farming and stock raising up to the time of his retirement in 1915, since when he has rested from his labors in quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, his farm being now rented. Charles H. Kelso was married to Mary E. King, the daughter of Charles and Alvira King, and they had ten children, seven of whom are now living, namely : Kenneth, who married Ella Barber and has two children, Fred and William ; Fred, who married Jessie Krammes, and has three children, Lewis, Max E. and Louise; Charles, who married Catherine McKee and has one child, Mary Alice; Seth C, who married Mrs. Effie Hill and has one child, Easter Mary ; James P., who married Ethel Simonson and has two children, Celia and Elmer; John who married Cornelia Inman; Thomas G., who married Blanche Hildreth and has three children, Carter, Alma and Hubert, and Rayburn, who married Amy Harget and has one child, Robert Charles. Mr. Kelso has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church, at Andersonville, of which Mr. Kelso is an elder. Quiet and unassuming in disposition, Mr. Kelso's life of over a half century in this community has been such as to gain for him the universal confidence and esteem of all who know him. In 1904 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners from his district and by re-election served the public in that important capacity until 1911.

CHARLES G. CARNEY, one of the substantial farmers of Noble township and a worthy representative of one of the highly honored families of this county, is a native of this locality, having been born in Rushville on July 26, 1881, and is the son of H. S. and Eva G. (Downey) Carney, the former a native of Ripley county. Indiana, and the latter born and reared in Noble township, this county. H. S. Carney was brought by his parents to Rush county in his young boyhood, and was here reared and educated, and here lie and his wife spent their lives, the mother dying on October 30. 1920. Mr. Carney was a veteran of the Civil war, having served his country for four years as a member of the Fifty-second regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. They became the parents of three children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Harriet, Ellen and Zora. Charles G. Carney received a good practical education in the common schools of Noble township, and after the completion of his studies he remained with his father on the home farm until his marriage, when he began farming on his own account on the place where he now lives. At the same time he rented 115 acres of land from his father, and has increased this until at present he is farming about 300 acres. Energetic, discriminating and of sound judgment, Mr. Carney has proven himself a man of more than ordinary caliber and is numbered among the successful farmers of Noble township. He keeps his place well improved and attractive and its genera) appearance reflects great credit on him. He puts in about 120 acres to corn and practically the same amount to small grain, and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding out about 100 head of hogs a year. In 1902 Mr. Carney was married to Grace Wilson, the daughter of Edward and Florence Wilson, and they are the parents of three children: Dwight W., Florence 6. and H. S., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Carney are active members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church. Fraternally, Mr. Carney is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, while his political affiliations are with the Republicans. A man of strong and forceful individuality, Mr. Carney has stood at all times for the best interests of his community and enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community.

JACOB II. KNEY, a well known general farmer in Walker township, was born in that township on June 19, 1864, a son of Michael and Margaret (Wissing) Kney. His parents were born in Germany and both came to the United States when young. Of their family of seven children the following are living: Minnie, Louise. Emma, Rosa and Jacob H. Jacob II. Kney lived on the home farm until his marriage, attending district school No. 5 in boyhood and afterward helping his father with the farm industries. After marriage Mr. Kney rented land from his father and operated it for himself, and when his father died he inherited forty acres. Shortly afterward he bought the forty acres adjoining and since then has added until he now has 100 acres of fine land. He carries on general farming and raises some stock. 'September 27, 1888, Mr. Kney married Ella Branson, born in Shelby county, daughter of James B. and Elizabeth Branson. The father of Mrs. Kney was born in South Carolina and the mother in Kentucky. They had nine children, five of whom are living: Robert, Lawrence, Augusta, Anna and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Kney have two children : Earl and Lavanche. The family are members of the Christian church at Manilla. In politics Mr. Kney is a Democrat.

CHARLES H. HARTON, who for thirty years or more has been engaged in business at Milroy, proprietor of a grocery and notion store, has been a resident of Rush county all his life. He was bore on a farm in Richland township on July 27, 1866, son of Joseph and Emily (Brooks) Harton, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families, and who were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being W. E., O. M., Margaret, Ida and Ollie. Reared on the home farm in Rushville and Anderson townships, Charles H. Harton received his schooling in the excellent schools of his home neighborhood and during the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the farm. He became familiar with the butcher business and as a young man went to Rushville, where for two years he worked as a butcher. He then took up the confectionery line there and after a year in that line of trade located at Milroy. where he opened a confectionery store and also put in a small stock of groceries. That was about 1890. The business grew and in 1905 Mr. Harton bought the building in which he is now located, put in a larger stock of groceries, adding to his line a stock of general notions, and has since been engaged in business at that location and has done well, long having been recognized as one of the leading merchants of Milroy. His store room is 28 by 70 feet in dimensions and be carries a complete and well selected stock in the two lines. In 1892 Charles H. Harton was united in marriage to Myrtle Mausfield, who also was born in this county, daughter of Prank Mansfield, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Russell Harton, who married Leona Thomas. Mr. Harton is a Republican and takes a proper interest in local political affairs. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken an interested part in the work of the church, Mr. Harton being a member of the board of stewards of the same.

JACOB F. DOWNEY, cashier of the Arlington Bank, at Arlington, is a native son of Rush county, having been born in December 15, 1859, and is the son of James H. and Lucinda L. (Price) Downey, both of whom were also born and reared in Rush county. The subject's paternal grandfather, Jacob Downey, was a native of Kentucky, but in an early day came to Rush county and entered land in what is now known as Jackson township. On this tract of eighty acres he established a comfortable home and there he reared his family of seven children, two sons and five daughters: William. James H., Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Deborah and Rebecca. James H. Downey was educated in the Concord school of Jackson township and thereafter for some years he was successfully engaged in teaching school. Later he devoted his attention to farming, mostly in Posey township, where he owned 100 acres of land. To him and his wife were born two sons, John P. and Jacob F. Jacob F. Downey secured his elementary education in the common schools of Posey township, attending in districts Nos. 2 and 5, and then attended the norma! school at Carthage, walking six miles every morning and evening in order to secure this higher training. After completing his studies. Mr. Downey engaged in teaching school, and followed that vocation for sixteen years, fifteen years in Posey township and one year in Jackson township. During this same period Mr. Downey was also engaged in farming, cultivating his land during the summer seasons and teaching during the winter months. After he quit teaching he farmed and followed the carpenter trade for about ten years, when he was selected for the position of cashier of the Ai-lington Bank, of which he is still the incumbent. The Arlington Bank has been an influential factor in the business prosperity of this section of Rush county. Mr. Downey is the owner of 230 acres of land in Posey township. On September 27, 1882, Mr. Downey was married to Mary I. Collins, who was born in Posey township, the daughter of William and Martha (Bentley) Collins. Mr. Collins was a successful farmer in Posey township, where he owned 123 acres of land. He and his wife became the parents of four children, namely: Eli B., Mary I.. Mrs. Downey, and Omer, who died at the age of eighteen years. To Mr. and Mrs. Downey have been born three children, Clarence E.. who is a bookkeeper in the Arlington Bank and also operates a part of the home farm, married Golda Hank and they have two children : Helen and Buford C. ; Blanche became the wife of George J. Carwein, a farmer in Posey township, and they have three children: Cedric L., Carl D. and Lois R. ; Forest G., who is discount clerk in the Indiana National Bank at Indianapolis, Indiana, married Hazel Field and they have one child, Frederick G. Forest is a veteran of the World war, having served a year, ten months of that time overseas, as a member of the band of the Three Hundred and Ninth Engineers. Mr. Downey is an active member of the Christian church at Arlington and in politics he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to vote for the men and measures which most nearly meet with his approval. Personally, he is genial and companionable and enjoys a large following of warm and loyal friends.

FRANK McCORKLE, trustee of Anderson township, a substantial landowner of this county and the local agent for the sale of the Ford automobiles at Milroy, at which place he has made his home since retiring from the active labors of the farm about ten years ago, is recognized as one of the "live wires" of that section of Rush county and during the period of his incumbency as township trustee has been, able to do much in the way of advancing public improvements thereabout. Mr. McCorkle is a native son of Anderson township and has lived there all his life. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Milroy on October 22, 1877, son of John H. and Mary (Young) McCorkle, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families, and who for the past three or four years have been living retired at Milroy. John H. McCorkle is a son of John and Jane (Howe) McCorkle, both of whom were born in Fleming county, Kentucky, who located on a farm in Anderson township, this county, shortly after their marriage and here spent the remainder of their days, John McCorkle dying on January 16, 1S50. His widow survived him for years and continued to maintain the farm home, directing the operations of the farm with skill and energy. John McCorkle was the son of Joseph and Hannah (Scott) McCorkle, both natives of Kentucky, the former of whom was the son of James McCorkle, a native of Scotland, who had come to this country in colonial days and upon the outbreak of the Revolutionary war had joined his forces with those of the colonists and while serving as a soldier of the Revolution was seriously wounded at the battle of Cowpens. Upon the creation of the republic he accepted a land grant in what then was Kentucky county, Virginia, and settled on the same, thus becoming one of the real pioneers of the commonwealth of Kentucky. John McCorkle, the grandson of this Revolutionary hero and the grandfather of the subject of this sit etch, settled on a quarter of a sec- tion of land in Anderson township upon coming np here from Kentucky and that tract is now one of the most vahiable thereabout. He and his wife were the parents of three children, John H. Mc- Corkle having two sisters, Sallie and America. John H. McCorkle completed his schooling at the old Richland Academy. His father having died when he was but a boy and he being the only son, he was from the days of his boyhood a mainstay of his mother in the operations of the home farm and after his marriage continued farming and was so engaged until his retirement from the active labors of the farm in January, 1918, and removed to Milroy, where he and his wife are now living and where they are very comfortably situated. He has a good farm of 250 acres and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the Milroy neighborhood. His wife, who was Mary H. Young, also is a member of one of the old families of Rush county. They have three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Jessie, who married Casli Redmon, and Maude, wife of Hugh Cowan. .Frank McCorkle was reared on the farm and received his schooling at Milroy and at the Richland high school. From the days of his boyhood he was trained to the ways of the farm and after his marriage at the age of twenty-three became engaged in farming on his own account, renting a tract of 640 acres, which he continued to operate for twelve years and on which in addition to his general farming, he gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock, feeding six or eight car loads of hogs a year and also going in quite extensively to the breeding of fine horses. In 1912 Mr. McCorkle retired from the farm and moved to Milroy, on the edge of which village he bought a tract of ninety-five acres, which he later increased to 185 acres, and platted twenty acres of this to town lots, the same being known as the New Addition. Upon moving to Milroy Mr. McCorkle secured the local agency for the sale of Ford automobiles, his territory covering Orange, Anderson, Richland, the south half of Noble and the south half of Rushville townships, and has been highly successful in the distribution of this popular car. In 1914 Mr. Mc- Corkle was elected trustee of Anderson township and so highly appreciated were his services during the first term of his incumbency that he was re-elected and is now serving his second term. During this period of service Mr. McCorkle has done much toward the general consolidation of the schools of Anderson township and in other ways has demonstrated his interest in the betterment and development of public conditions, long having been recognized by the people of that township as "the right man in the right place.'" It was in the year 1900 that Frank McCorkle was united in marriage to Inez M. Cowan, who also was born in this county, daughter of John A. Cowan, and to this union two children have been born . Gertrude Louise and Charles Wilbur. Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle are members of the United Presbyterian church and take an active interest in the work of the church as well as in all local good works. Politically, Mr. McCorkle is a Republican and has long been recognized as among the leaders of that party in his section of the county. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, affiliated with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Indianapolis, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat Temple, Indianapolis, as well as a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Milroy and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Rushville, in the affairs of all of which fraternal organizations he takes an earnest interest. JOHN M. BEAVER, who died at his home in Union township in the fall of 1918 and whose widow is still living there, was for years one of the well known and influential men of the Glenwood neighborhood and at his passing there were many expressions of regret on the part of his hosts of friends. It is therefore but fitting that in this volume of biography relating to the old families of Rush county some modest tribute should be paid to his memory, for the Beavers are one of the real pioneer families of the county, having been represented here since the year Indiana was admitted to statehood and five years before Rush county was erected a separate unit among the counties of the Hoosier state. The first of the name to come here was Michael Beaver, who left his home in the vicinity of Georgetown, Ky., in 1816 and with his family came up into Indiana, later "entering" a tract of land in what afterward became Noble township in Rush county, where he established his home in the then wilderness, one of the first permanent settlers in that vicinity. His son, Elijah Beaver, father of the late John M. Beaver, was born in the Georgetown neighborhood in 1808 and was thus but eight years of age when he came here with his parents in 1816. He "grew up" on the pioneer farm in Noble township and in due time became a farmer on his own account and a man of substance, the owner of an excellent farm and living in a way that gave him a position of influence in the community. In 1831 there came into that community in Noble township the Rhodes family from Virginia, John and Margaret (Knox) Rhodes and their children, who had left their home in the Old Dominion and had come down the Ohio with their belongings on the flatboats of that period, stopping at Cincinnati, whence they outfitted with teams and wagons and came on up into Indiana, settling in Noble township, this county. One of the children of this Virginia family was Ann Elizabeth Rhodes, who was born in 1816 and was thus a girl of fifteen when she came here with her parents. Not long after her arrival she and Elijah Beaver met and it was not long until there was mutual recognition of the romance that had come into their lives through this meeting. They presently were married and after their marriage established their home on a farm in Noble township, where they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, both living to a "ripe old age," Elijah Beaver having been a resident of this county eighty years at the time of his death. The late John M. Beaver, son of Elijah and Ann Elizabeth (Rhodes) Beaver, was born on the farm in Noble township above referred to, on January 19, 1842, and there grew to manhood. He received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained at home assisting his father in the development of the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-five years. For a year after his marriage he made his home in Wabash county, this state, and then moved down into Fayette county, locating on a farm in Fairview township in that county, where he remained until 1876 when he returned to Rush county with his family and located on the farm on which his widow is still living in Union township and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on October 31, 1918, he then being in his seventy-seventh year. In addition to the farm of eighty acres in Union township of which he died possessed, Mr. Beaver owned a farm of eighty acres over in Fayette county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Glenwood, as is his widow, had served for some time as a member of the board of trustees of the church and was generally active in community good works. Mr. Beaver's first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln and he remained an ardent Republican, ever interested in the success of the party to which his youthful allegiance had been given, an allegiance which continued steadfast throughout his life. It was on October 23, 1867, that John M. Beaver was united in marriage to Mary E. Stewart, who was born in the neighboring county of Franklin, and to this union were born four children, namely: Orphia E., who married 0. J. Cook, and has four children, Willard, Wallace, Emma and Evalyn; Hugh, who married Adaline Gray; Chester, who married Blanche Murphy, and has five children, Lucille, Belva, Hall, Calvin and Mary Elizabeth; and Raymond, who married Edna Tinder, and has three children, Robert, Margaret and Marjorie. Besides her twelve grandchildren here enumerated, Mrs. Beaver has one great-grandchild, her granddaughter, Emma Cook, who married Ray Compton, having one child, a daughter, Mary Estelle. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Beaver has continued to make her home on the place where she has resided for forty-five years and where she expects to continue to reside. This house is located on R. F. D. No. 1 out of Glenwood and is very pleasantly situated. Mrs. Beaver also is a member of a pioneer family in Indiana, the Stewarts having come over here from Ohio about the year 1829. She is a daughter of James and Ann Elizabeth (Waites) Stewart, the latter of whom was born in Missouri. James Stewart was born at what is now known as Goshen, Ohio, in 1817, and was twelve years of age when he came with his father, Samuel Stewart, to Indiana, the family settling in Franklin county near Mt. Carmel. James Stewart's mother, who was a McClearney, died in Ohio and his father later married Margaret Earheart. James Stewart grew to manhood in Franklin county and was there married to Ann Elizabeth Waites, who was born in the vicinity of Lexington, Mo., and who was left an orphan at the age of twelve years. In 1855 James Stewart moved with his family to Wabash county and the rest of his life was spent there, his death occurring in 1888. His widow

JOHN F. CROSS is one of the extensive landowners of Rush county and his home farm of 120 acres in Rushville township is under his own supervision, and is conducted according to modern methods. He was born in Jackson township, this county, November 2, 1855, a son of Jacob and Jane (Harter) Cross, natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, respectively Both were brought to Indiana at an early day by their parents and were reared and educated in Rush county. With the exception of a year spent in Iowa, Jacob Cross spent his life in Rush county, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He and his wife had eight children, six of whom survive, namely : Polly A., Elizabeth, Malinda, -John F., Laura, and Harvina T. John F. Cross attended the schools of Jackson township and was a student of the Downey school. After the completion of his schooldays he was engaged in farming with his father, with whom lie remained until his marriage, at that time moving to his own farm of ninety acres which his father had given him when he reached his majority. Here he continued to live until 1902 and then moved to Rushville; but in 1910 resumed his agricultural operations, locating on his present farm of 120 acres in Rushville township. He also owns his father's homestead of 500 acres which he rents to his sons, Chester F. and Chase G. Cross. On his own homestead Mr. Cross is doing general farming and raises about 200 head of hogs annually. Mr. Cross has been twice married. On January 17, 1878, he was united in marriage to Olive Powell, daughter of John M. and Mary E. (Porter) Powell, natives of Kentucky and Rush county, Indiana, respectively, the former of whom was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Powell had three children, but only one, Homer, survives. Mrs. Olive Cross was born in Jackson township, this county, and was here educated. She died on May 10, 1900, and her remains were laid to rest in East Hill cemetery. She bore her husband three children, of whom two survive : Chester F. and Chase G., Nora having died at the age of ten years. On February 20, 1910, Mr. Cross married Lula Smith, daughter of William P. and Frances E. (Porter) Smith, and who died on May 8, 1921. Mr. Smith was a machinist of Jackson township, where his daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had eight children, of whom five are now living, Laura, Mila A., Charles, Cassius, and Hazel M. Mr. Cross is a Democrat. The two sons of Mr. Cross are married. Chester F. Cross married Carrie Northam and has one child, Tracy. Chase G. Cross married Jennie Osborn and has three children, Olive, Mary E. and Annabelle. These, young men are numbered among the alert young farmers of Jackson township and are very successful in their work of conducting the old Cross homestead in that neighborhood.

W. H. SMELSER, one of the favorably known and representative citizens of Rush county, in which he has spent his life, has a fine farm in Noble township. He was born in Jackson township, this county, on May 3, 1851, the son of Boone D. and Malissa (Morris) Smelser, the former a native of Union county, Indiana, and the latter of Rushville township, this county. Boone DeHaven Smelser, grandfather on his mother's side, was a relative of the DeHaven that loaned George Washington $50,000 at Valley Forge to carry on the Revolutionary war. The Smelser family comes of sterling old Kentucky stock. The subject's grandfather, John Smelser, came in an early day to Union county, Indiana. Sometime later he came to Rush county and bought a large tract of land in Jackson township. His son, Boone D. Smelser, was but three weeks old when the family came to Rush county and he was reared to manhood on the Jackson township farm, securing his education in the schools of that neighborhood. After his marriage, he devoted his attention to farming, which he followed during the remainder of his life. He was successful and at one time was the owner of 600 acres of land in Jackson township. Selling that land, he bought 720 acres of land in Montgomery countjT, which he operated for four years. He then went to Alabama, but a short time later he came back to Rush county and bought 160 acres in Union township, where he was engaged in farming up to the time of his retirement. He carried on general farming operations, giving special attention to the raising of wheat, and also raised considerable live stock. He and his wife are both deceased, his death occurring in 1914 and that of his wife in 1895. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom seven are now living, namely : W. H., Fannie, John, Laura, Edward, Bert and Mattie. W. H. Smelser received his education in the common schools of Jackson township, and after completing his studies he worked for his father on the home farm up to the time of his marriage. He then started farming for himself in Union township, renting land for a number of years, and then, in 1900, he bought the place on which he is now living in Noble township, comprising 110 acres. He has placed all of the improvements on this place, has always maintained it in the best possible condition and has met with excellent success in his operations. Besides carrying on a general line of farming, he feeds from fifty to sixty hogs a year, giving special preference to the Poland China breed. In 1875 Mr. Smelser was married to Sarah Ilinchman, the daughter of Andrew and Mary Hinchman, and they have become the parents of five children: Cora, Charles, Albert. Chester and Chase. Cora became the wife of O. D. Green and they have seven children : Marie, Maude, Anna, Florence, Frank, Earl and Harvey. Albert married Opal Sims and they have one child, Murine. Chester married Bessie Smith and they have one child, Josephine. Politically, Mr. Smelser gives his support to the Democratic party. THOMAS SULLIVAN, one of Rush county's prominent retired business men, was born on March 16. 1859, in Wayne county, Indiana, the son of Jeremiah and Nora (O'Brien) Sullivan, the former a native of County Clair, Ireland, the latter of County Kerry. They were married in Ireland, where Mr. Sullivan followed the occupation of florist, but realizing that there were far greater opportunities for success awaiting them in America, they made their way hither about the year 1856. They first located in Pennsylvania where he followed his trade of florist, but later came to Indiana and he was employed as a farmer in "Wayne county until the outbreak of the Civil war. Then, though so recent an arrival in the United States, he could not bear to think of the flag he had come to love go down to destruction, and he immediately volunteered in the Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiment under Colonel Benton, serving throughout the war. He was in three armies, the Potomac, the West, and the Gulf. and saw some of the hottest fighting of the great struggle, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Pea Ridge, Wilderness, Fort Donaldson, Gettysburg and Stone River. When discharged from the service, he returned to Wayne county where he passed the remainder of his days. He and his wife became the parents of thirteen children, four of whom are now living : John, Hannah, Maggie, and Thomas. One son, Jerry, volunteered in the Union army, though but sixteen year1; old, and laid his life upon the altar of freedom, being killed in th" first engagement in which he was engaged. Thomas Sullivan was educated in Wayne county, and after leaving school worked in a machine shop for several years. He then took up the molding trade at Richmond, Ind., and in 1871 removed to Indianapolis where he was employed in the Quaker City Machine Works until 1876. At that time he came to Rushville to work in the Nolan-Madden foundry where he helped make the first casting ever done in Rushville. For the next twenty years he was engaged off and on at the foundry, and then conducted a transfer business for several years. Next he became the proprietor of a saloon, and after seven years sold out to devote his time to farming in which he has been successful, having acquired 140 acres of land lying in Rushville township. In 1878, he was married to Catherine Ryan, and to their union have been born four children: Francis, Jerry, Mae, and Anna. Francis married Viola Gordon and died on August 29, 1915, leaving his wife and six children survivors: Margaret, Frank, Thomas, Richard, Dick, and Dennis. Jerry and Mae are both unmarried, and Anna married Doctor Dragoo. The entire family are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rushville.

ARNOLD ORME, member of the firm of Ball & Orme, operating a grain elevator at Rushville, is an enterprising business man at that city. He was born in Walker township, this county, September 4, 1878, a son of William and Amanda (Lower) Orme, also natives of Rush county. His father was a farmer and owned 160 acres of land in Walker township. There were four children in the family and all are living: Lon, Dessie, Russell and Arnold. Arnold Orme attended the public schools in Walker township, in the meanwhile assisting on the home farm, afterward renting eighty acres of land in Rushville township, where he carried on farming for four years. He came then to Rushville and embarked in the elevator business and has occupied his present location for thirteen years, the business being conducted under the firm name of Ball & Orme. The firm handles grain, flour and seed, the capacity of their elevator being about 35,000 bushels. On October 25, 1899, Mr. Orme married Pearl

Ball, who was born at Rushville, daughter of Ephraim and Belle (Frazer) Ball, and they have five children: William. Thomas, Fern. Frank and Fay. William and Thomas have completed the public school course but the others are yet in school. In politics Mr. Orme is a Democrat and served three years as a member of the city council. He is a Mason, belonging to blue lodge, council and chapter; is a member of the grand lodge. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Orme is well known over Rush county and his reputation is that of an upright and reliable business man.

JOHN H. MeCORKLE. a well known and substantial retired farmer of Anderson township, now living at Milroy, was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families, and has lived here all his life, having thus been a witness to the amazing changes tkar have taken place in conditions here during the time of the community^ progress away from the primitive state of things which faced the pioneers seventy-five years ago, and has thus many interesting stories to tell of the manner of doing things which prevailed in the days of his boyhood. The McCorkles are of colonial stock, the first of the family in this country having been a Scotsman, James MeCorkle, who came to America in colonial days and settled in Virginia. When the colonists found it imperative upon them to issue their Declaration of Independence James MeCorkle added his weight to the force of this declaration and joined the Continental army, serving as a soldier of the Revolution until incapacited for further service by a serious wound received at the historic battle of Cowpens. In recompense of his service he accepted a land grant from the state of Virginia to a tract of land in the then western county of the Old Dominion and located on the tract, thus becoming one of the pioneers of Kentucky and a force in the community when Kentucky county was raised to statehood. He and his wife reared their family there, in what is now Fleming county. One of their sons. Joseph MeCorkle married Hannah Scott and reared a family in Fleming county. John MeCorkle, one of the sons of this latter pair, married Jane (Howe} Hillis, who also was born in Fleming county, and soon after his marriage came up into Indiana with his bride and settled on a quarter of a section of land in Anderson township, this county. On that place John MeCorkle died on January 16, 1850, leaving his widow with three small children, a son, John H., the subject of this sketch, and two daughters, Sallie and America. The Widow MeCorkle was a woman of true pioneer spirit and she continued the operations of the farm, overseeing the continued improvement of the same, and thus maintained her family there, the place being developed in time into an excellent piece of property, and it was there that John II. MeCorkle grew to manhood, later established his own home whei: he married and there continued to reside, carrying on the operations of the farm very successfully until his retirement from active labor in January, 1918, and removal to Milroy, where he and his wife are uow living. Mr. MeCorkle has a well improved farm of 250 acres over the operations of which he continues to keep a supervisory eye.

John H. McCorkle has been twice married. It was in 1877 that he was united in marriage to Mary H. Young, who also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families, and to this union three children were born, a son and two daughters : Frank, Jessie and Maude. Frank McCorkle, a landowner of Anderson township, trustee of the township and dealer in Ford automobiles at Milroy. married Inez M. Cowan and has two children : Gertrude and Wilbur. Jessie McCorkle married Cash Redmon and has two children : Howard and John David, and Maude McCorkle married Hugh Cowan and has one child, Maurice. Mrs. Mary H. McCorkle died in 1906 and in 1918 Mr. McCorkle married Mrs. Anna Somerville Bosley, daughter of Watson Somerville and widow of Alonzo Bosley. Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle are members of the United Presbyterian church and in his political views Mr. McCorkle is a Republican.

HON. ROWLAND H. HILL, of Carthage, state senator from this district and prominent among the men whose inherent ability, great industry, accurate forethought and sound and reliable judgment have added to the character, wealth and good government of Rush county, and more particularly of the community of Carthage, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life. Senator Hill was born in Hancock county, Indiana, June 5, 1878, son and only child of Samuel B. and Mary R. (Hadley) Hill, both also Hoosiers, the former a native of Wayne county and the latter of Hendricks county. For a number of years Samuel B. Hill was engaged in agricultural operations in Hancock county, but eventually came to Carthage, where, with his son, he was the owner and operator of a dry goods store for about twelve years. He stood high in business circles of his community, where he was recognized generally as a man of high principles, while as a citizen the manner in which he discharged his responsibilities left no doubt as to his public spirit. Rowland II. Hill was but a child when brought by his parents to Carthage, and his primary education was acquired in the graded schools of that place. After graduating from the high school he pursued an academic course at Earlham College, and in 1898 became his father's partner in the conduct of a dry goods business at Carthage. This they carried on with success until 1908, when they sold out, and Rowland II. Hill at that time became a traveling salesman. He was a representative on the road for the Geddes-Brown Shoe Company, of Indianapolis, until 1914, when he returned to Carthage and purchased the grain elevator and coal yard which he now owns and operates. The elevator has a capacity of 5,000 bushels, and the coal yard is one which covers a large area. Both ventures have prospered greatly under the owner's capable and energetic management. In addition, Mr. Hill is the owner of a large and productive farm in Rush county and is an extensive dealer in hogs, buying and feeding off on an average of 2,000 each season. In business circles he is known as a man of the highest integrity and possesses in the fullest degree the esteem and respect, as well as the confidence, of his associates.

He has for years been interested in public affaire and in 1920 was elected a member of the Indiana state Senate on the Republican ticket. His work in that body has been constructive and beneficial and has marked him as one of the working members. In October, 1900, Senator Hill was united in marriage to Verna Sutermeister, who was born at LaPorte, Ind., where she was reared and primarily educated, later pursuing a course at Earlham College. She is a daughter of Constantine and Rachael (Denham) Sutermeister, the former a native of Scotland, and the latter of the state of Indiana, Mrs. Hill's parents being farming people throughout their lives. They had two children: Verna and an infant, deceased. Senator and Mrs. Hill are members of the Carthage Meeting of Friends. Senator Hill is well known in fraternal circles, being a Mason and Shriner, belonging to the lodge at Carthage and the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis. He also holds membership in the Elks lodge of Rushville, the United Commercial Travelers and the Columbia Club of Indianapolis. During the World war period Senator Hill was one of the most active war workers of this locality and served as a member of the Rush County Council of Defense and as a director of the Red Cross Society of Rush county in its various drives.

ELIHU PRICE, a venerable and honored citizen of Arlington, now living in retirement after a long and busy life, spending his later years in quiet and in plenty as a result of his earlier years of strenuous endeavor, has been a life-long resident of the county having been born in Posey township on October 5, 1843. He is the son of John and Mary (Cotney) Price, both of whom were bom and reared in Kentucky, whence they came to Rush county in about 1830. Here John Price devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, mostly in Posey township, and that he was successful is evidenced by the fact that he became the owner of 500 acres of land in Rush county. John Price was married twice and became the father of sixteen children by the two unions. Four of these children are now living, namely: Sarah, Elihu, Nathan and Jane. Elihu Price received his elementary education in the common schools of Posey township and then completed his studies in the normal school at Lebanon. Ind., where he attended two years. During the following eight years Mr. Price was engaged in teaching school, seven years in Rush, county and one year in Jasper county, Illinois. He then turned his attention to farming in Posey township and devoted himself indefatigably until 1909, when he relinquished the active duties of the farm and removed to Arlington, where he now resides. His first, efforts as an independent farmer were on rented land, but he later bought 160 acres, which was eventually increased to 230 acres. Since his retirement from the active management of the farm, it is being operated by his son Noah. The place is well improved. Here Mi-. Price carried on general farming and stock raising and as a farmer has always been held in high repute. On August 17, 1871, Mr. Price was married to Mary Reddick, who was born in Ripley township, this county, the daughter of John and Catherine (Ruby) Reddick, both of whom were natives of the state of Ohio. Mr. Reddick was a farmer by vocation and was the father of ten children, of whom the following survive : Lewis, Mary, Amanda, Elizabeth, Noah, Frank and Jesse. To Mr. and Mrs. Price have been born six children, all of whom are living, namely: John J., Mary C, Amanda, Jesse F., Sarah J. and Noah. John J., who is a farmer in Posey township, married Flora Jamison, who died on August 11, 1908. Mary C. became the wife of Jesse Nelson, a farmer of Shelby county, Indiana, and they have three children, Bessie married Rowland Earnest, a farmer of Posey township, and they have four children: Howard. Dallas, Katheryn and Robert; Braynard, farmer in Shelby county, married Alta Pitts and they have one child, Margarie, and Warren, a farmer of Shelby county, married Lillian Jordan. Amanda became the wife of Hugh Birt, a farmer of Posey township. Jesse F., who also is a farmer in Posey township, married Lillian Green and they have two children : Everett C. and Charles E. Sarah J. became the wife of Earl Mull, a farmer in Walker township, and they have one child, Leoto, who married and is the mother of one child, Geonie. Noah, who lives on the home farm, married Laura Abercrombie, and they have one child, Donald. Politically, Mr. Price has been a lifelong supporter of the Democratic party and has held several public offices, having served four years as trustee of Posey township and eight years as justice of the peace. He and his wife are members of the Christian church at Arlington and, fraternally, he is a member of Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington.

FRED GROSS, merchant, and proprietor of the leading general store at Manilla, this county, was born in Walker township, Rush county, March 29, 1875. His parents were John and Catherine (Ottman) Gross, who were born in Germany and came to the United States when young, after their marriage settling in Walker township, Ihis county. For some years John Gross followed the cabinet making trade at Manilla, but in 1861 became a merchant, establishing a store on the location that has never been changed, although there has been a considerable amount of expansion. He continued active as a merchant during the rest of his life. Of his eight children, the following survive: Kate, Emma, Caroline, Jacob, William, Fred and Otto. Fred Gross was educated at Manilla, where he was graduated from, the high school, following which he began assisting his father in the store. In 1895 he and his sister, Caroline, jointly inherited the store business, and since that time Mr. Gross has managed the business very profitably, demonstrating excellent judgment and commercial foresight. On April 12, 1907, he married Vivian Barnum, who was born at Manilla, daughter of Dr. William E. and Lavancha Barnum. Th" father of Mrs. Gross has practiced medicine at Manilla for forty-five years. She has one brother, Dr. Emerson Barnum. Mr. and Mrs. Gross have two children, Fred, Jr., and Katherine. In political life Mr. Gross is a Democrat and has served four years as township trustee, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He is quite active in fraternal life, being a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Manilla and chapter, council and commandery at Rushville, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Manilla and of the Knights of Pythias at Blue Ridge, over in Shelby county. Mr. Gross is accounted one of the representative business men of Rush county.

MONET 0. SEFTON, a successful farmer and enterprising citizen of Noble township, is a native son of Indiana, having been born in Decatur county on September 5, 1867, and is the son of George W. and Julia (Lanham) Sefton, both of whom also were born and reared in Decatur county. George W. Sefton was educated in the public schools of his native county and he then took up the vocation of farming, his first employment being as a farm hand. Eventually he bought land of his own and in the course of time became the owner of 160 acres. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in the Seventh regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served for three years and three months. He took part in some of the great battles of that war, including the battles of Gettysburg and of the "Wilderness. After the war he returned to Decatur county, where he remained until his death, which occurred on May 2, 1918, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife had died in 1869. They were the parents of five children : Julia, Emma, Mary, Stella and Monet 0., the last named being the only resident of Rush county. Monet 0. Sefton attended the common schools of Decatur county, and then applied himself to the cultivation of the home farm up to the time of his removal to Rush county in 1894. For three years he was employed by his uncle, James Miller, and then for seven years he was engaged in the operation of a farm of 160 acres in Richland township which he rented, followed by a three-year rental of a farm of 204 acres. He then bought his present, fine farm of 160 acres, located in Noble township, and which he has improved and developed into one of the best farms in this section of the county, the place being devoted to general farming and stock raising. He raises fifty acres of corn and fifty acres of wheat every year and feeds practically all of his corn on the place, feeding from 150 to 200 hogs a year. Mr. Sefton was married to Maude Humes, the daughter of Israel and Mollie (Cooper) Humes, and they have become the parents of two daughters, Myrtle, who is taking the domestic science course at Purdue University, and Marion, who is taking music at DePauw University. In religion, Mr. Sefton and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Sefton is a member of the board of trustees. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party.

DONALD EL DEAN, M. D., who has by his ability and attention to the progress of his profession built up an enviable reputation for himself, was born near Columbus, in Bartholomew county. Indiana, the son of Jeremiah L. and Amanda (Heager) Dean, the former of Corydon, Ind., the latter of near Columbus. Soon after his marriage, J. L. Dean moved to a farm near Columbus and there his five children were born: Donald H., the subject of this biography; J. H., D. D. S., of Franklin, Ind.; G. D., an attorney at Indian- apolis, and Frances and Ella, both living in Franklin. When his children were yet young, J. L. Dean moved to Columbus, retiring from active farming, in order that his children might have the advantages of the public schools of that place. After completing the public school curriculum, Donald H. Dean entered Franklin College. from which he was graduated in 1885. Having decided upon a professional career, and after careful consideration of the merits of the various medical colleges, he was matriculated at the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, from which institution he received his degree in 1889. For two years thereafter, Doctor Dean practiced at Columbus, Ind., in partnership with Dr. A. Rice, who had been a fellow student of his. At the expiration of this period, he came to the conclusion that there were greater opportunities awaiting him in a different field, and he accordingly located in Rushville. Here, though at first a stranger, his success was never in doubt, and he has gradually attracted to himself an extensive and profitable practice. His modern offices are situated in the Logan building at the corner of Main and Fourth streets, where he is able to meet the demands of his constantly growing clientele. On January 1, 1894, Doctor Dean was married to Mary A. Irvin, of Rush county, and they have become the parents of three children: Phyllis, who is teaching in the Fairview high school; Janet, who is attending Butler College; and Donald, the youngest, who is a student in the Rushville schools. Doctor Dean is a member of various societies in which he enjoys a deserved popularity, and in his political affiliations aligns himself with the Republican party.

JOSEPH S. WINSHIP, in whose passing Rush county lost one of its representative citizens, left a good memory. As the day, with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of complete and successful efforts, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this honored man. Through the long years of his residence in this locality he was ever true to every trust reposed in him and his reputation in a business way was unassailable, so that he left the strong impress of his individuality upon all whom he met. Mr. Winship was a native son of Indiana, having been born in Boone county on June 22, 1847, and his death occurred at his home in Richland township on January 11, 1918, he having passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. He was the son of Jabez and Jane (Milligan) "Winship, both of whom also were natives of Indiana and former residents of Boone county. Later they moved to Rush county and located in Anderson township, where they spent the remainder of their years. Joseph S. Winship was reared to manhood in Anderson township, receiving his educational training in the common schools of that community. After leaving school he continued to assist his father on the home farm, where he remained until his marriage, when he located in Richland township, where he bought 160 acres of land, comprising the farm on which his widow now resides. He later increased his land holdings to 188 acres and here he carried on general farming operations with success and profit during the remainder of his active years. He made all the improvements on the place, these being of a substantial character, and brought the place up to a high standard of excellence. His attractive and conveniently arranged home is one of the best in this locality. Mr. Winship's active career was characterized by indefatable industry, persistency and sound business judgment, and he was numbered among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Richland township. Mr. Winship was married to Gertrude Hunt, the daughter of Morgan and Sallie C. (Brooks) Hunt. Mrs. Winship was born in Rush county, but when she was but six months old her parents moved to Franklin county, where she was reared .and educated and where she continued to reside until her marriage. Her parents remained there until the father's death, in 1887, when the widow moved to New Salem, where she lived until her death, which occurred in 1908. They were the parents of four children, Gertrude, Elizabeth, Edwin and Clara. Mrs. Winship is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Winship was a Democrat in his political views, though he was never an aspirant for public office. Mrs. Winship is a lady of many kindly qualities of character, which have endeared her to all who know her.

JESSE F. MILLER, one of the substantial farmers of Anderson township, now living at Milroy, was born on the farm he owns in that township and has been a resident of Rush county all his life. He was born on November 11, 1859, son of Augustus and Celia (Winship) Miller, both of whom were born in that same township, members of pioneer families. Augustus Miller, who for many years was a well known farmer of Anderson township and for some time a member of the board of county commissioners of Rush county, was born on a farm in Richland township on February 16, 1827, son of Michael and Sarah (Thompson) Miller, Virginians, who settled in this county in the spring of 1823, two years after Rush county had been created a separate civic unit in the growing list of counties in the then new state of Indiana. Michael Miller was born in that section of the Old Dominion now comprised in West Virginia on February 28, 1801, and was reared there. At the age of twenty-two years, January 9, 1823, he married Sarah Thompson and in the March following he and his bride came to Indiana and located in Rush county, where the young pioneer had entered a quarter section tract of "Congress land" in Anderson township, the grant to the land, which is still in the possession of the family, bearing the signature of President Monroe. As an interesting sidelight on the subject of comparative land values it will be informative to the present generation to know that this pioneer paid the government $1.25 an acre for that quarter section. As in all that section of Rush county in its primitive state, this tract was covered with hard timber and the task the young pioneer faced in clearing the place and fitting it for cultivation was one that now would seem well nigh insuperable, but he and his bride buckled down to the task of creating a home for themselves and those who should come after them and in proper time they had a fit abiding place there and a productive farm. In the log house they erected for their first dwelling place in the wilderness their three children were born : Christian, Augustus and Mary. Michael Miller continued to prosper and in time added to his farm an adjoining quarter section, which he also proceeded to improve, and on that place he resided until his retirement in 1852 and removal to Richland, where he died in 1878, he then being seventy-seven years of age. His widow survived him for twelve years, her death occurring at the home of her daughter in 1890, she then being eighty-six years of age. In the cabin home above referred to Augustus Miller was reared. From the days of his boyhood he was a helpful assistant in the labors of improving and developing the pioneer farm and he remained with his parents until his marriage to Celia Winship at the age of twentyfour, after which he established a home of his own, buying a farm in the neighborhood, and as he prospered in his affairs added to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of 400 acres and came to be regarded as one of the substantial and influential men of the community. Mr. Miller took an active interest in local political affairs and for two terms served as a member of the board of commissioners of Rush county for his home district. In 1881 he disposed of some of his interests in this county and moved to Greensburg, in the neighboring county of Decatur. He continued his political activity in his new place of residence and not long after moving there was elected to represent his district on the board of commissioners of Decatur county. He also continued to extend his land interests and at one time owned farms in Howard and Madison county besides his holdings in Rush and Decatur counties. Augustus Miller was twice married. By his first wife, Celia Winship, he had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Louis Irwin, who died in infancy; Michael S., who died at the age of eleven years; Lucien B., now living in Rushville; Oscar G., who for years has been engaged in business at Greensburg, and Anna B., who met with a fatal accident when four years old. It was prior to the removal of Augustus Miller to Greensburg that the mother of these children died and in 1894 he married Sarilda Lanham. Jesse P. Miller was reared on the home farm in Anderson township and from the days of his boyhood was trained to effective farm ways. He supplemented the course secured in the local schools by a course in the normal school at Danville, Ind., and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the farm, until his marriage at the age of twenty-five, after which he rented a tract of land from his father and established a home of his own. Later his father apportioned to him a tract of 112 acres and to this he presently added an adjoining "forty." On this farm he and his wife continued to make their home until 1913, when they moved to Milroy, where they have since resided and where they are very comfortably situated. Mr. Miller, however, continues to oversee his farm operations and has lost none of the activity of former days, though living "retired," and it is but proper to state that these farming operations are carried on in strictly up-to-date fashion, his son, Donald E. Miller, being a valued factor in the continuing operations of the old home place, which has thus been operated by four generations of the Miller family since the original grant to the pioneer, Michael Miller, nearly a century ago. It was in 1884 that Jesse F. Miller was united in marriage to Minnie E. Elstun, who also was born in this county, daughter of Freeman and Lucinda Elstun, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Donald E., who is unmarried and who is referred to above as carrying on the continuing farm operations of the Millers in his generation in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist church and have ever taken an interested part in church work, Mr. Miller having been for some time a member of the board of trustees of the church. In his political views Mr. Miller is an ardent Republican, as was his father, but has not been an office seeker. He is a Mason, affiliated with the local lodge of that order at Milroy, and is also a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which latter lodge he has been "through the chairs."

JOSEPH E. HARDIN, a well known farmer and stock dealer of Posey township and one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Rush county, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 10th day of October, 1860, and is the son of Christopher V. and Sibbey J. (Faust) Hardin, both of whom were born and reared in North Carolina. The subject's father was a farmer by vocation and owned 200 acres of land. To him and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: John L., Cicero C, Peter A., Bettie, Joanna, Maude and Joseph E. Joseph E. Hardin was educated in the public schools of his native state and remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he came to Indiana, settling at Knightstown, where for four years he was employed as a farm hand. At the time of his marriage, in 1885, he rented forty acres of land in Hancock county, but two years later he returned to Henry county, where for ten years he operated a rented farm. He then went to Greene county, Indiana, where he engaged in the butchering and stock business, and he also became the owner of sixty acres of land there. Fifteen years later Mr. Hardin sold his interests there and came to Rush county. After operating rented land here for seven years, he bought the farm on which he now resides, comprising eightyfive acres of fine, tillable land, on which Mr. Hardin carries on general farming operations, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Hardin is also extensively engaged in the business of buying and shipping of live stock, handling large numbers of cattle and hogs. He is an indefatigable worker, a good business man and enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and good will of all with whom he has dealings. On January 15, 1885, Mr. Hardin was married to Rebecca A. Sexton, who was born and reared in Greene county, Indiana, the daughter of Joel B. and Mary (Lamb) Sexton, both of whom also were natives of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardin have been born nine children, of whom seven are living, namely: Carl V., who is a farmer in Hancock county, married Elizabeth Maneke and they have tkree ckildren, Herckel, Lewis and Russell, Josepk B., who also is a farmer in Hancock county, married Eunice Gardner and they have three children, Harold, Wilbur and Joicey ; Robert B. ; Edith is the wife of Raymond Higgins, a mechanic in Indianapolis, Ind. ; Edna, Blanche and Levonne. Politically, Mr. Hardin is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Wesleyan Methodist church.

PHILIP S. DAUBENSPECK, a well known and substantial farmer and stock man of Union township, proprietor of an excellent farm there, was born in that same township and has lived on the farm all his life with the exception of a period of twelve years when he was engaged in the grain business at Glenwood. He was born on June 25, 1866, son of Harvey and Margaret (Hinchman) Daubenspeck, and grew to manhood on the home farm in Union township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools. Prom the days of his boyhood Mr. Daubenspeck was well trained in the ways of the farm and after completing his schooling he remained on the farm, assisting his father in the operations of the same for about ten years, at the end of which time he became engaged in the grain business at Glenwood and was for twelve years thus engaged. In 1900 he returned to the farm to take up the operation of the same in his father's behalf and has since remained there, having taken over the farm after his father's death in April, 1917. Mr. Daubenspeck has a well kept and well improved farm of 230 acres, and his operations are carried on in up-to-date fashion. He for years has given special attention to the breeding of hogs, in connection with his general farming operations, and is accustomed to feed out from 500 to 800 head of hogs a year, thus long having been recognized as one of the leading feeders in this section. He also feeds a hundred or more head of cattle anmially and has done well in his live stock operations. He has an excellent farm plant, with spacious barns and feeding pens, the plant including a cattle barn 70x160 feet and three others 40x60 feet and two 100-ton silos, and keeps things up about the place in real "ship-shape" style. In 1915 Philip S. Daubenspeck Was united in marriage to Anna Cook, daughter of Wilson and Louise Cook, and he and his wife have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Glenwood, where their friends are ever sure of a hospitable welcome. In his political leanings Mr. Daubenspeck is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, though not what may be called an "active" politician in the sense in which that term generally is used. He does, however, take an active interest in general community affairs, movements that have to do with the advancement of agricultural interests hereabout, and his influence in that behalf has been an ever widening one.

GEORGE W. KUNTZ, a general farmer and life-long resident of Walker township, was born on his father's farm on February 19, 1874. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth (Weber) Kuntz, both of whom were born in Germany. Frederick Kuntz came to the United States in boyhood and later, in Cincinnati, married Elizabeth Weber, who had accompanied her parents to America in childhood. They had eight children born to them and four of these survive: Jacob, John, Conrad and George W. Frederick Kuntz was a farmer all his life and owned 176 acres in Walker township, this county. George W. Kuntz attended school in district No. 3, Walker township, in boyhood, helped on the farm during this period and afterward farmed for his father, and at the time of the latter 'a death, inherited forty acres of the old homestead. Later he bought thirty additional acres from his brother, Jacob, and now profitably operates a farm of seventy well improved acres. He feeds from fifty to seventy-five head of hogs yearly. On April 25, 1900, Mr. Kuntz married Jennie Cross, who was born in Shelby county, this state, daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Hauk) Cross. The parents of Mrs. Kuntz were born in Shelby county and her father was a farmer there all his life. They had four children: Frank, Vern, Clara B. and Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz have two children : Opal P. and Voyd G. Opal P. Kuntz was born on October 29, 1906, and is a member of the freshman class in the high school at Manilla. She has musical gifts of a high order and is organist of the Methodist Episcopal church at Manilla, to which the family belong. Voyd G. Kuntz was born on January 17, 1911, and is attending school at Manilla. In politics Mr. Kuntz has always been a staunch Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Manilla and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen lodge at Manilla.

CONRAD D. POSZ, farmer and stockraiser in Walker township, was born in Union township, Shelby county, March 7, 1869, a son of Valentine and Margaret (Backer) Posz. Both parents were born in Germany. The father was eighteen years old when he came to the United States but the mother of Conrad Posz was only four years old when she accompanied her parents to this country. Both families came to Indiana and settled in Shelby county. Valentine Posz followed farming there during all his active life. Of his family of eight children there are seven living: Catherine, Adam, Emma, Conrad D., Maggie, George and Barbara. Conrad D. Posz attended school in boyhood in Union township, Shelby county, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. When he married and started out for himself, he began as a renter in Shelby county, where he remained for fourteen years, then moved to Rush county and bought the farm in Walker township on which he still lives. lie has 118 acres of well improved land, having put up substantial buildings and done a great deal of fencing and ditching. He has been quite successful as a general farmer and has given much attention to raising Duroc Jersey hogs, usually marketing about 150 head a year. On January 15, 1896, he married Louisa Kuhn, who also was born in Union township, Shelby county, daughter of Daniel and Louisa (Haehl) Kuhn. The father of Mrs. Posz was born in Germany and the mother in Shelby county. They had six children, three of whom are living: Herman, Curtis and Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Posz have two daughters, Ethel and Julia, both of whom reside at home, Julia still attendiug school at Homer. Mr. Posz and his family are members of the Christian Union church at Homer. He is interested to some degree in politics and has always voted the Democratic ticket. Mr. Posz is well known at Homer and belongs to the Odd Fellows' and Red Men's lodges at that place.

LEON C. McDANIEL, a well known farmer of Posey township and a man of high standing and influence in the western part of Rush county, was born on October 17, 1887, in Posey township, and has been a resident of that township all his life. His parents were Lee and Mary (Cowger) McDaniel, the former of whom was born in Georgetown, Ky., and the latter in Posey township, Rush county. The father was brought to Rush county in childhood and in the schools of this locality he received his educational training. He was a farmer and stock raiser, giving a good deal of his attention to cattle and sheep. He was married twice, being the father of three children by his first marriage and one, the subject of this sketch, by his union with Mary Cowger. Leon McDaniel attended the common schools of Posey township, followed by attendance at the Rushville high school, where he was graduated. He then entered the agricultural department of Purdue University, at Lafayette, where he was graduated with the class of 1911. He then devoted his attention to the home farm, which he operated for his mother until her death, when he inherited it and has since continued to operate it. Mr. McDaniel is the owner of eighty acres of land, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising, feeding about eighty head of hogs each year. On February 26, 1914, Mr. McDaniel was married to Bertha Woliung, a native of Rush county and the daughter of William and Ella (Gilson) Woliung. Mr. Woliung, who was a carpenter by trade, became a prosperous contractor. To him and his wife were born two children, Jesse and Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel are the parents of one child, Mary Ellen, who was born on January 13, 1916. Politically, Mr. McDaniel gives his support to the Republican party, while fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men at Rushville. He is also a member of the college fraternity, Delta Upsilon. He and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church of Arlington and Rushville respectively.

PAUL L. DAUBENSPECK, who, starting upon his independent career as a renter at the time he had attained his majority, has advanced himself within the short space of eleven years to a place among the substantial general farmers and stock raisers of Noble township. Mr. Daubenspeck was born in Union township, Rush county, November 4, 1889, a son of II. E. and Jessie (Blacklidge) Daubenspeck. His success has been achieved on the basis of a common school education, a careful home training which stimulated a desire to be of use in the world, and the quality of perseverance which assures the accomplishment of any task undertaken. After his graduation from the high school at Glenwood, in 1907, he took up farming with his father, whose associate he continued to be ixntil he reached his majority. At that time he married and entered upon his independent career as a renter, which was his status for about eight years, in the last year of which he was operating a rented farm of 500 acres. In 1918 he purchased his present property of 160 acres, located in Noble township, where he has made numerous improvements, including the erection of two sets of modern buildings and the installation of numerous appurtenances and appliances indicative of present-day progressiveness. In addition to being a general farmer, he gives much attention to stock raising, and at this time is shipping about 300 hogs annually. Mr. Daubenspeck has an understanding of scientific agriculture that has secured the best results from his land, and its disposal is arranged with a view to the greatest economy of expenditure, as well as the largest rewards from various side lines. He is a member of the Christian church at Little Plat Rock, and gives liberally to religious movements, being also a generous contributor to charities and social demands. He is a Knight Templar Mason and an Elk, and gives his political support to the Republican party. Mr. Daubenspeck married Hazel, daughter of Robert N. and Sarah J. Hinchman, and to this union there have been born two children, Robert H. and Marion H.

WILLARD H. AMOS, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Rushville township, was born in that township on February 26, 1856, a son of Johanan J. and Amanda (Hildreth) Amos. J. J. Amos was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, September 30, 1803, the fourth child of Nicholas and Ann (Jones) Amos, natives of Maryland. In 1823, he came to Rush county to live with his uncle, Abraham Jones, but returned to Kentucky, not returning to Rush county until 1839, wheu he located on a farm near New Salem, and became very successful as a farmer, at one time owning 2,000 acres of land. Williard H. Amos was reared on his father's farm, receiving his schooling in the schools of Noble township. He then engaged in farming operations on the home farm until his marriage when he went into business for himself on a farm of seventy acres. Since that time he has rapidly increased his holdings until he now owns 350 acres in the county. In 1900 he moved to Rushville and has conducted his various enterprises from that city since that time. He married on October 22, 1879, Ann Elizabeth Poston, a daughter of George W. and Nancy (McNeal) Poston, of Noble township, and to their union there has been born one child, Mary, the wife of Luke Duffy. In fraternal circles Mr. Amos is a well known member of the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he aligns himself with the Republican party, in the councils of which he has long been regarded as a leader and for sis years rendered public service as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district.