Rush County, Indiana - The whole text, 1921 (part 5 of 18)

JOHN M. WISSING, a well known farmer and stockman of Walker township, was born in that township on February 27, 1876, a son of Jacob and Caroline (Ilertzel) Wissing. His father was born in Germany in 1844 and was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and during the greater part of his subsequent life has lived in Rush county. The mother of Mr. Wissing was born in Rush county, a daughter of Christian and Salome (Bayer) Hertzell. John M. Wissing attended school in district No. 8, Walker township, and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until his marriage. For six years afterward he rented land from his father, then bought fifty-three acres in Walker township and to this first tract has added until he now owns 135 acres. He carries on general farming but gives his chief attention to live stock, being one of the most extensive feeders in this section, usually having fifty head of cattle and often as many as 1,000 head of hogs yearly. On March 19, 1902, Mr. Wissing married Mary D. Webster, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Jacob L. and Annetta (Linvill) Webster. The father of Mrs. Wissing was born in Rush county and the mother in North Carolina. They had five children, Mary D., Augusta, Elizabeth, William and Jacob H. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Wissing have four children, Howard W., Jacob L., Annetta C. and Alice M., the three elder now attending school at Manilla. Mr. Wissing and his family are members of the Evangelical church, in Shelby county. He has always supported the principles of the Democratic party but has never accepted a political office. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Manilla and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen body there.

JAMES A. BROWN, a substantial retired farmer of Anderson township, now living at Milroy, is a Kentuckian by birth, but has been a resident of Rush county since he was twelve years old, and thus very properly feels that he "belongs" here quite as much as though "native and to the manner born." He was born on a farm in Bath county, Kentucky, August 3, 1854, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Hencey) Brown, both of whom were born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, members of pioneer families in that part of that state. In 1864 Abraham Brown left Kentucky with his family and moved across the river into Clermont county, Ohio, where he made his home for two years, at the end of which time he came with his family over into Indiana and located in this county, first renting a farm in Walker township, but presently moving to Rushville township where not long afterward he died, his death occuring in 1870. His widow survived him and kept the family of children together on the farm. There were five of these children, two of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Samuel Brown. As noted above James A. Brown was but a boy when he came to Rush county with his parents and his schooling was completed here. This schooling, however, was confined to brief terms of two or three months a year. He was but sixteen years of age when his father died and he thus early assumed mature responsibilities, helping to carry on the farm operations in his mother's behalf until he was twenty-one when he rented a piece of land and began operations on his own account. He married at the age of twenty-three and then established a home on his rented farm and continued there until 1890, when he moved onto an "eighty" of timber land which belonged to his wife and proceeded to clear and develop the same. He cleared the place, got it under cultivation and as his affairs prospered added an adjoining "eighty" and now has a well improved farm of 160 acres. On that place he continued his active labors until his retirement and removal to Milroy, where he and his family are very comfortably situated. Despite his "retirement" Mr. Brown continues to take an active interest in his farm and keeps a pretty close supervisory eye on operations there. It was in 1877 that James A. Brown was united in marriage to Carrie Lowden, who was born in this county, daughter of George and Mary Jane (Plough) Lowden, and to this union five children have been born, namely : Lola, who married Clair Johnson and has three children, Carl, Fay and Ruth; Leslie B., who married Myrtle Hasty and has two children, Lois and Donald ; Jacob, who married Jessie Palmer and has three children, Wilma, Thelma and Weldon; Pearl, who married Charles Fisher and has one child, a daughter, Margaret ; and Mary, who married Clifford Senior and has two children, Fred and Lester. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist church at Richland and have for years taken an active interest in the work of the same, Mr. Brown formerly having served as a steward of the church and is now a memlber of the board of trustees of the same. In his political views he is a Republican and has always taken an interested part in local civic affairs. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than forty years and has been "through the chairs" of the local lodge, in the affairs of which he has ever taken a warm interest.

JAMES 0. DRAPER, a progressive farmer of Posey township and one of the worthy native sons of Rush county, was born in Posey township on February 17, 1862, and is the son of J. T. and Saphrona (Lower) Draper, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. These parents were reared and educated in their respective native localities, but were married after moving to Rush county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Draper was the owner of 140 acres of land in Posey township. To him and his wife were born six children, all of whom are living, namely: Francis, Henry, George, Charles, James and Elma. James 0. Draper was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in district No. 9. He remained on the home farm until after his marriage, when he took up farm work on his own account beginning as a renter, but he was energetic and a good manager and about ten years after his marriage he bought sixty acres of land in Posey township. Five months later he sold that farm and bought an eighty-acre tract in Rushville township, where he remained about three years. Selling that place, he then bought ninety-nine acres near Carthage, which he cultivated for about five years. He then moved onto the farm of 159 acres in Posey township which Mrs. Draper inherited, where the family lives, and here he has since remained, engaged in general agricultural operations. He raises all the crops common to this locality and also gives some attention to the raising of live stock, handling about 100 head of hogs each year. The farm is well improved and is returning a satisfactory income. In February. 1SS3. Mr. Draper was married to Viola Nelson, a native of Posey township and the daughter of W. H. and Elizabeth (Adams) Nelson. To Mr. and Mrs. Draper have been born nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Olive, Cora, Nellie, Waldo, Pearl, Alphonso, Ozro, Millie, and Emerson. All of these children are married excepting Millie, who is engaged (1921) in teaching in the Washington township school at Raleign. In addition to his general agricultural opera- lions, Mr. Draper has been interested in the breeding of speed horses <md among the good horses which he has raised are the following. "Robert Axworthy," trotter, trial mile 2:2014, sire, "Morgan Axworthy," dam, "Martha MacJay;" "Elizabeth Hall," bay trotter, trial mile 2:36, sire, "Bingen Hall," dam, "Lou C. McGregor;" "Lady Blacklock," pacer, record 2:24%, sire, "Blacklock," dam, "Zuleka. " Politically, Mr. Draper is a strong supporter of the Democratic party, while in religious belief he and his family are identified with the Christian church at Arlington.

LOREN MARTIN,, county clerk of Rush county and one of the most popular young officials about the court house, was born in this county and has lived here all his life save for a period of a few vears during the days of his boyhood when the family made their home in the neighboring county of Decatur. He was born on a farm in Richland township on January 12, 1890, son of Ralph Erastus and Carrie (Price) Martin, both of whom were born in Decatur county and the latter of whom is still living. Ralph E. Martin was reared in Decatur county and began his active career as a farmer, a vocation he maintained all his life. He was married in Decatur county and not long afterward moved over into Rush county and began working on a farm in Richland township. A year later he returned to Decatur county, where he remained for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Rush county and bought a farm of fifty acres in Noble township on which place he made his home for about two years, at the end of which time he sold that place and rented a farm in Anderson township. Fourteen years later he left that place and moved to a farm in Rushville township where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on February 1, 1918. Ralph E. Martin and wife were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Charles, Clyde, Ralph, Hugh, Bertha and Walter. Loren Martin "grew up" in Rush county, assisting in the labors of the farm, and was graduated from the New Salem high school. In 1910 he took a course in the normal school at Marion, Ind., and thus equipped for teaching entered the ranks of Hendricks county school teachers and was engaged in teaching for two or three years, alternating the winter terms of school with the summer courses at Indiana University. He then became connected with the Indiana State School for the Blind at Indianapolis and was thus engaged in a supervisory capacity when the United States entered the World war in the spring of 1917. He enlisted his services in behalf of our arms and on May 14 following the declaration of war entered the officers' training corps at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and was there engaged in preparation for expected service until July 3, when he received an honorable discharge on the ground of physical incapacity and returned to his home on the farm, continuing there engaged in looking after matters for his father until the latter 's death early in the next year. On August 1, 1919, Mr. Martin was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the office of the county clerk and is still serving in that capacity. On October 30, 1919, Loren Martin was united in marriage to Helen Norris, daughter of W. A. Norris, and has since made his home in Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Methodist church and take an interested part iu church work, as well as in the general social affairs of their home town. Politically, Mr. Martin io a Republican and from the days of his boyhood has taken an active interest in local political affairs, coming to be regarded as one of the leaders of his party in Rush county. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Rushville and takes a proper interest in the affairs of thai popular fraternal organization.

CLATA L. BEBOUT, former sheriff of Rush county, former mayor of the city of Rushville, at one time postmaster at Manilla, for many years actively identified with the general civic affairs of the county, at one time chairman of the county Republican central committee and now and for some years past engaged in the drycleaning business at Rushville, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born in Rushville township on April 8, 1872, son of James H. and Mary E. (Lowden) Bebout, both of whom are still living. James H. Bebout also was born in Rushville township and there grew to manhood. After his marriage he became engaged in farming but not long afterward turned his attention to carpentering at Manilla and was thus engaged as a building contractor until his retirement from business in 1920. Clata L. Bebout received his schooling in the schools of Walker township and from the days of his youth evinced an active interest in public affairs. For three years he served as postmaster at Manilla and later and for some time was engaged on the local section of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's line at Manilla. In 1900 he served as census enumerator for Walker township. In the meantime he had become engaged in the carpentering business and for sixteen years followed that vocation. In 1908 Mr. Bebout was elected sheriff of Rush county and has since then made his home in Rushville. He was re-elected to the office of sheriff, thus serving two terms, and in 1913 was elected mayor of the city and for four years held that office. In September of that same year Mr. Bebout organized the company of Ball & Bebout, dry-cleaners and pressers, in Rushville. and is still engaged in that business, having a well-equipped plant for carrying on the company's operations. Years ago Mr. Bebout became engaged in the fire insurance business and still maintains a local agency in that behalf. He is a Republican and for years has been recognized as among the leaders of that party in this county, for some time having served as chairman of the county committee. In 1892 Clata L. Bebout was united in marriage to Katherine Heifner, who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Alice Heifner, the former of whom is a retired farmer of Walker township, and to this union two children have been born, Dr. Yerl A. Bebout and Gladys K., wife of Edwin H. Hughes, Jr., of Boston, Mass., now residing at Tulsa, Okla. Mrs. Hughes completed her schooling at DePauw University and Dr. Yerl A. Bebout was graduated from the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis. He married Ruth Aldridge, who also was born in this county, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert L. Aldridge, of Rushville, and has one child, a son, Stewart A., born in 1916. Mr. Bebout is a member of the Baptist church at Homer, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rushville. Mr. Bebout is a Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Rushville, and of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Modern Woodmen and the Royal Neighbors at Manilla.

GARRETT D. WIKOFF, a retired farmer and landowner of Union township and one of the best known men in Rush county, was born on the place on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. His father, Garrett "Wikoff, who was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, February 3, 1799, was one of the early settlers of Rush county. He was a son of Arthur W. and Eleanor (Conover) Wikoff and was seventeen years of age when he came West with his parents, the family settling near Middletown, in Butler county, Ohio. In 1820 he married Nancy McClellan and soon afterward came over into Rush county, and ' ' entered ' ' a quarter of a section of land in what later came to be organized as Union township. He was a man of energetic action aud a good judge of land values and came to be the owner of better than 2,000 acres of land in this county. It was he who introduced "Short-horn" cattle here and he became an extensive breeder of live stock. The senior Garrett Wikoff was twice married. By his marriage to Nancy McClellan he had six children, Sarah J., Adaline, James M., Arthur W., Samuel C. and Benjamin S. His second wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Nancy Groves, who was born in Kentucky on April 9, 1820, and who had come here with her parents, Donovan and Sarah (Hicks) Groves, in pioneer days. To that union there were born four children, the subject of this sketch and his sisters, Nancy A., Eleanor G., and Mary Anna. The father of these children died on November 24, 1886, and his widow survived until 1894. Reared on the old home farm in Union township, Garrett D. Wikoff completed his schooling in Fairview Academy and from the days of his boyhood has been engaged in farming on the place on which he still is living. His father gave him a tract of ninety acres on which he established his home after his marriage, and in the years that have elapsed since that time has brought the place up to a high standard of cultivation and has made improvements of a substantial character. In addition to his general farming Mr. Wikoff has been accustomed to feed out about 200 bead of hogs a year and has done well in his operations. It was in 1877 that Garrett D. Wikoff was united in marriage to Julia Parrish, who died in 1903. She was a daughter of John and Emmaline Parrish. Mr. Wikoff has a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of Glenwood, and has ever been hospitably interested in the community's general social activities. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Fairview and of the chapter at Rushville. In his political views he is an "independent" Democrat.

CHARLES MURPHY, one of the substantial farmers of Noble township now living at New Salem, where he has a pleasant modern home, was born in Noble township, this county, September 4, 1858, a son of John and Anna (McCrory) Murphy, and a grandson of Jesse Murphy. John Murphy was born in Butler county, Ohio, and was a child when brought by his parents to Rush county, the family settling in Union township, where he was educated, adopted farming and was married to Miss McCrory, a native of Fayette county, Indiana. Later he moved to Noble township, where he bought a farm, and so successful was he in his operations that at the time of his death he was the owner of 232 acres of valuable land. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, George, Charles. Jesse, Roy and Ida May. Charles Murphy received his education al the old Applegate schoolhouse in Noble township, and upon the completion of his schooling joined his father in the cultivation of the home acres. This association continued until the death of the eldcman, when Charles Murphy secured a part of the estate as his inheritance and began operations on his own acount on a tract of i>inety-two acres. There he continued as a general farmer, adding to his means each year and bettering the improvements on the farm, until 1920, when he turned the labors of the property over to younger hands and retired to his comfortable home at New Salem. In 1880, Mr. Murphy married Maggie Fay, who was born in Fayette county, daughter of Michael and Hannah Fay, natives of Ireland, the former of County Roscommon and the latter of County Galway. Mrs. Murphy's parents were young people when they emigrated to the United States and settled in New Jersey, where they met and were married. Following their union they came to Indiana and located in Fayette county, where Mr. Fay was engaged actively in farming until he moved to Howard county, where he is now living at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife passed away in 1917. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living, John, William, Mary A. and Maggie. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Elsie, who married Clifford Stamm and has two children. Cecil and Margaret, and John, who married Jessie Colvin and has bad two children, Esther and Gilbert, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Murphy was formerly a steward and trustee In politics he is a Republican.

WESTON C. RICHEY, a substantial retired farmer of Anderson township and for years an extensive dealer in live stock at Milroy, where he has resided for more than twenty- five years, was born in this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Anderson township on July 20, 1856, son of William and Cynthia (Henderson) Richey, the latter of whom was born in Ohio, having come here with her parents in the days of her girlhood, and both of whom spent their last days in this county. William Richey was born in Kentucky and was but a child when his father, Adam Richey, left that state and with his family came up into Indiana and settled on a farm in Anderson township, this county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of that community. William Richey grew up on that pioneer farm and in turn became a farmer on his own account, a vocation in which he continued engaged until his death. He became the owner of an excellent farm of about 100 acres and in addition had long been accustomed to operating a considerable extra acreage of rented lands. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom seven are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Jerusha, wife of Frank Nadal; Arkansas, wife of Ira Tompkins; Catherine, wife of Sol Smith; Martha, wife of Maurice Maxey; Missouri, widow of David S. Stewart, and Morton Richey. Reared on the home farm in Anderson township, Weston C. Richey received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and continued on the farm, working with his father until his marriage after which he rented a farm and started operations for himself. Several years later he bought a tract of eighty acres in Anderson township, later increasing that acreage to 189 acres, but afterward sold eighty-five acres of this and is now the owner of a well improved farm of 104 acres.. On this place he continued general farming until 189-1 when he moved to Milroy and there became engaged in the retail meat business. Several years later, however, he sold his butcher shop and began to confine his operations to dealing in live stock, a business he had begun to develop profitably while carrying on his butcher business, and has since then been thus engaged, for the past twenty years having been regarded as one of the leading live stock dealers in this section, buying extensively hereabout and shipping to the leading markets. In addition to this Mr. Richey keeps up his interest in his farm and has a fine farm plant. Weston C. Richey has been twice married. By his first wife, Emma Crawford, he has six children, Edith, Clarence, Anna, Mabel, Clyde and Ruth, all of whom are married and have children of their own, Mr. Richey thus having thirteen grandchildren, in all of whom he takes much pride and delight. Edith Richey married Worth Kelly and has two children, Ralph and Ray. Clarence Richey married Mary Wolforst and has three children, Clifford, Chester and Marshall. Anna Richey married Riley Coulter and has one child, a son, Charles. Mabel Richey married Harvey Ray and has four children, Vivian, Helen, Opal and Weston. Clyde Richey married Gertrude Crume and has two children, Gerald and Lillian, and Ruth Richey married Paul Glisson and has one child, a daughter, Mildred. The mother of these children died and Mr. Richey married Georgia Mae Tarkington. Mr. and Mrs. Richey are members of the Methodist church. In his political affiliation Mr. Richey is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He and his wife have a pleasant home at Milroy and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community.

MARSHALL B. RIGSBEE, a well known general farmer residing in Walker township, belongs to one of the early families of this county and a part of his present farm has been in the Rigsbee name for eighty-seven years. He was born in Posey township, this county. September 7, 1855, a son of Madison and Mary (Barnard) Rigsbee. who had four children, two of whom survive, Mrs. Flora Swain, of Shelby county, and Marshall B., who owns his father's old homestead of 133 acres. Marshall B. Rigsbee attended the district schools in both Posey and Walker townships in boyhood, during that time making himself useful to his father and later, after his marriage, worked the farm on shares with his father. In 1834 his grandfather entered eighty acres that are now included in the home farm, from the government, and it has always been Mr. Rigsbee 's aim to keep this farm in the family. When his father died he bought out the other heirs. He keeps the property in fine repair and carries on general farming and stock raising, annually feeding about eighty head of hogs. On September 7, 1879, Mr. Rigsbee married Emily Miller, who also was born in Posey township, daughter of James and Useba (Swain) Miller, who had a family of nine children, Lena, Cassa, Edwin, George, Preston, Emily and three deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rigsbee have had nine children, Pearl (deceased), Arlie, Ertle, Clayton, Claude, Emerson, Edith, Nella and Mary. Arlie Rigsbee, who is now residing at Indianapolis, connected with the insurance department of the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company of that city, married Delpha Hester and has two children, Catherine and Maxine. Ertle Rigsbee, who is now residing at Portland, Ind., where he is employed in the service of the Schlosser Bros, creamery of Indianapolis, married Stella Ash and has four children, Merle, Marshall, Lowell and Denzel. Clayton Rigsbee, who is in the insurance business at Indianapolis, married Kate Vanwinkle, and has had two children, Robert, and one that died in youth. Claude Rigsbee, who is agent for the Watkins products in northern Rush county, married Reba Fall and has one son, Paul, the family home being at Carthage. Edith Rigsbee, who married the Rev. Francis Eddy, a minister, at Fairmount, Ind., has five children, Gerald, Lucile, Grace, Warren and the baby. Nella is the wife of Dr. Charles Zike, a dentist at Manilla, and has one child. Catherine. Mary Rigsbee married Esta Theobold, a farmer in Shelby county. Mr. Rigsbee is a member of the Friends church at Little Blue River. He is a Republican.

JOHN RICKETTS, who is numbered among the successful farmers and enterprising citizens of Noble township, was born in Anderson township, this county, on February 23, 1867, and is the son of James and Ellen (Jones) Ricketts, the former a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, and the latter of Rush county, Indiana. James Ricketts was the son of Edward and Sarah Ricketts, both of whom were born and reared in Kentucky, where they were married, and who later became pioneer settlers of this county. James Ricketts was reared to manhood in his native state and accompanied his parents on their removal to Rush county, locating in Anderson township, where he was married. He had followed the vocation of agriculture and shortly after his marriage he bought a farm, which he operated until 1875, when he moved to Noble township and bought eighty-five acres of land one-fourth of a mile northwest of New Salem. A hard worker and good manager, he was enabled to add to his holdings from time to time until eventually he became the owner of 340 acres of land, located in Noble and Anderson townships. He followed general farming and stock raising and was numbered among the leading farmers of his section of the county. His death occurred in Noble township. To him and his wife were born seven children, of which number two are now living, the subject of this review and Mattie, who became the wife of Owen Morris. John Ricketts received his education in the schools of Noble township and his boyhood days were devoted to work on the home farm, which he continued to operate for his mother after his father's death. On the death of his mother, in 1907, he bought the home farm, comprising 115 acres, and has since devoted himself to its operation. Energetic and up-to-date in his methods, he has demonstrated his abilities as a progressive man of affairs and is meeting with well deserved success in his work. He carries on general farming operations and stock raising and his place is maintained at a high standard of excellence. On November 29, 1893, Mr. Ricketts was married to Carrie Shriner. a daughter of Ray and Caroline Shriner, and they are the parents of a son, James Garrett Ricketts, who remains at home. Politically. Mr. Ricketts is a supporter of the Republican party and takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community.

GEORGE WHISMAN, a land owner and former merchant of Manilla, now living practically retired, was born on April 8, 1857. in Orange township, this county, a son of Warren and Paulina (Marshall) Whisman. His father was born in Franklin county, Indiana, December 3, 1827, and the mother in Kentucky, February 5, 1828. They came to Rush county with their parents when children, w,ere married here in August, 1849, and spent the rest oi their lives on their farm of 140 acres, in Orange township, when the father died in his eighty-seventh year and the mother whei. aged eighty-eight years. Of their ten children the following art living: Millie, Alonzo, George, James, Garrison, Ida, Eli G., Olivei W. Delilah died in childhood and Ellen died when aged forty years. George "Whisman went to school in boyhood, attending what was called the German school in district No. 3, Orange township, applying himself so closely to his studies that he was able to secure a teacher's certificate, and afterward taught school during the winters and worked as a farmer in the summer seasons. About 1877 he located at Manilla, where he worked for four and a half years in the hardware store of Cyrus E. Trees, and when Mr. Trees sold his business to Edwin Burch, Mr. Whisman continued with the new owner for two months. He and Clark John then bought the business and operated the store for nineteen years, the association then being dissolved by the death of Mr. John. His interest was bought by Samuel Jarvis, and at the same time Mr. Whisman 's son, Clyde, took over his father's interest and subsequently bought Mr. Jarvis 's interest. Clyde Whisman continued alone in the business until 1920, when he sold to the firm of Silverthorn & Hungerford. Until this final transaction, Mr. Whisman had remained in the business in an unofficial capacity, always finding enough to keep himself pleasantlv occupied, and very useful in an advisorv capacity. He owns a 180-acre farm in the northern part of Walker township. On March 15, 1879, Mr. Whisman married Margaret Weir, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of William and Martha (Woodard) Weir. Mrs. Whisman is one of a family of five children, she and a brother, William Weir, now the only survivors. Mr. and Mrs. Whisman have one child, Clyde, who was born on June 18, 1880. Since disposing of his hardware store at Manilla, Clyde Whisman has become local agent for the Ford Automobile Company. He married Elizabeth Webster and has one daughter, Dorothy. George Whisman has always voted with the Democratic party. He is a Mason, a member of Manilla Lodge, No. 565, Free and Accepted Masons.

JAMES M. CROSS, now living at Arlington, having until recent \ears been actively and successfully engaged in farming pursuits in Posey township, was born in Jackson township, this county, on July 19, 1858, and is a son of Andrew J. and Rachel (Hunt) Cross, both of whom also were natives and residents of Rush county until 1869. when they moved to Cumberland county, Illinois, subsequently to Jasper county, that state, where Mr. Cross was engaged in farming until 1875, when he returned to Indiana, locating in Indianapolis, where he lived, retired, until his death, which occurred on December 25, 1903. His wife had died on May 15, 1901. This worthy couple became the parents of six children, all of whom are living, namely : James M., Sarah E. John II., Oliver P., Mary D. and Ann Eliza. James M. Cross was reared under the parental roof and secured his education mostly in the schools of Jackson township, attending the Ball school, and finished at Indianapolis. During his boyhood days he assisted his father in the work of the home farm, but at the age of twenty years he started out on his own account as a renter of farm land in Marion county. For sixteen years Mr. Cross continued to operate rented farm lands, but at the end of that period he bought forty acres of land in Posey township, Rush county, to the operation of which he devoted himself for twenty years, until 1913, when he retired from active farm work and moved to Arlington, where he now resides. He is still the owner of a threshing machine outfit, which for thirty years has done a large amount of work for the farmers of this section of the county. Mr. Cross during his active >ears carried on a general line of farming, and met with excellent success in his work, as the result of his energy, persistence and good judgment. On March 6, 1879, Mr. Cross was married to Sarah K. Miller, the daughter of Jonathan and Margaret Miller, and to them were born three children, Jessie N., John K., who died, aged ten years, and Earl, who died, aged three years. Mrs. Sarah Cross died on February 14, 1913, and on March 15, 1914, Mr. Cross was married to Minnie "(Kennedy) Offutt. Jessie N. Cross became the wife of Elmer Readle, a farmer of Posey township, and they have three children, Louise K., John N. and Mary B. Politically, Mr. Cross has always given his support to the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington, in which he has passed through the chairs.

He has beeu president of the Cemeterjr Association for ten yeare. For many years he has been an active member of the Christian church at Arlington and has been an elder in the church for twenty years. Mr. Cross has always maintained a keen interest in every movement which has had to do with the development of his community along any line and for a period of twelve years he served as a member of the board of directors of the Rush County Fair Association. He was a charter member of the Arlington Telephone Company, of which he was president for five years and treasurer for eleven years.

JUDGE DOUGLAS MORRIS, former justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, has long been recognized as one of the leaders at the Rush county bar, as well as having been judge of the Rush Circuit Court for one term. He was born in Knightstown, Ind., January 15, 1861, the son of John and Hannah (Scovell) Morris. Judge Morris received his preliminary education in the public schools at Knightstown and was graduated from the high school at that place in 1878. He then taught school for one year in Henry county, after which he went to Asbury University, now DePauw, from which institution he received his A. B. degree in 1882. Having decided upon the career of a lawyer, he studied for that profession during the years 1882 and 1883 at Indianapolis under the preceptorship of Benjamin Harrison, afterward President of the United States. Then for two years he practiced law at Knoxville, Tenn., whence he came to Rushville where he has remained ever since. From 1889 to 1895 he practiced in partnership with David S. Morgan, now deceased, and from 1895 to 1898 with S. L. Innis and Wallace Morgan. In 1898, his exceptional abilities at the bar having been recognized, he was elected judge of the Rush Circuit Court, serving in that capacity until November. 1904. In 1910 Judge Morris was elected one of the judges of the supreme court of Indiana and served on that bench from January 1, 1911, for six years. He is the only person from Rush county who ever served on that bench. Since his retirement from the bench Judge Morris has practiced law in Rushville, where he has continued his many successes. On October 6, 1892, Judge Morris married Pamela A. Spann, daughter of Jesse J. Spann, one of the most brilliant lawyers and politicians who has ever claimed Rush county as his home, and to Judge and Mrs. Morris have been born two children. Hannah and Douglas, Jr., both of whom are living at home, and the former of whom has been admitted to the bar and is practicing law in association with her father. In his political affiliations, Judge Morris is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and was the candidate of that party for Congress in 1888. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville, and socially and fraternally is a member of the Country Club and the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.

JESSE LOGAN, one of the substantial retired farmers of Rush county now living at Rushville, is a native son of this county, a member of one of the pioneer families, and has lived here all his life. He was born in Richland township, son of James W. and Hester

^Wellman) Logan, the former of whom was the fourth son of James and Elizabeth (Mann) Logan, early residents of Richland township James Logan was born in Ireland and was but a lad when he came to this country with his parents. As a young man seeking to make a home for himself he came to Rush county and acquired the original land grant for the tract where now stands the Logan homestead place in Noble township. There he and his wife reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, helpful citizens of that community. James W. Logan was born and reared on the old home place in Noble township and remained there helpful in the work of developing the place until after his marriage, when he bought a farm of 165 acres in Richland township and there established his home and developed an excellent piece of property. He and his wife (Hester Wellman) were the parents of three sons, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Thomas W. and Edgar E. Logan. Jesse Logan was reared on the home farm in Richland township, receiving his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and as a young man continued to make his home there, farming the place for his father who presently gave him a farm of 178 acres in Richland and Noble townships, and after his marriage he established his home there. He did well in his farming and as his affairs prospered he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of 235 acres, which he continued to operate until his retirement from the farm in August, 1920, and removal to Rushville, where he and his wife are now living, pleasantly situated at 223 West Third street. In 1903 Jesse Logan was united in marriage to Anna May Ralston, who also was born in this county, a member of one of the old families of the county. Mrs. Logan is a daughter of Elias V. and Mary (McCorkle) Ralston, the former of whom was a son of William and Nancy Ralston, who came to this county from Ohio in pioneer days. Mary McCorkle was the daughter of James and Ann (Cowan) McCorkle, the former of whom came to this county from Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1823 and entered a tract of land in Anderson township, the farm now owned by William Davis. James and Ann McCorkle had three children, those besides Mrs. Logan's mother being David M., who is still living, and Pressley McCorkle, who died in the service of the Union while serving as a member of I Company, Sixty-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war. Elias V. and Mary (McCorkle) Ralston were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Logan being Mrs. Mary E. Miller, Mrs. Hattie 0. Noah, Mrs. Zella P. Johnston and Carl R. (deceased).

SAMUEL D. JONES, a well known veteran of the Civil war, a retired merchant of Milroy and a substantial landowner, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life, a period of seventynine years, during which time the most amazing changes have taken place in conditions and in the manner of doing things hereabout. Mr. Jones is a member of one of the county's pioneer families, his father having come over here from Ohio in 1823 with his family and settled on a farm in Anderson township, where he spent the remainder of his life, and thus Mr. Jones grew up well acquainted with pioneer conditions and has many interesting stories to tell of the way things were done in those days. He was born on April 29, 3842, son of Henry and Sarah (Cameron) Jones, both of whom were born in Clermont county, Ohio, members of pioneer families in that section of the Ohio river country, and who were the parents of ten children, of whom Samuel D. Jones now is the only survivor. Upon coming here Henry Jones entered a tract of eighty acres in Anderson township and there developed a good little farm, he and his wife spending their last days on that place. It was on that pioneer farm that Samuel D. Jones was reared, receiving his schooling in the somewhat primitive schools of the period. He was nineteen years of age when the Civil war broke out and it was not long thereafter when he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and went to the front as a member of D Company, Sixty-eighth regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and with that gallant command served until he lost his right arm in the battle of Chickamauga, in September, 1863, and was also wounded in the left arm. On account of this shattering disability he was invalided home after spending some time in a military hospital and on June 29, 1864, received his honorable discharge on the ground of permanent disability. Mr. Jones had been attentive to his studies during his school days and confronted with a disability which rendered ineffectual the training he had received as a farmer he "brushed up" in his studies, prepared himself for teaching and was for some time after his return from the army engaged as a teacher in the schools of his home township. He then opened a store at Milroy, about the year 1866, and was for thirty-five years or more engaged there in the general merchandise business, continuing his mercantile operations until in 1909 when he sold his stock and retired from business. Since his retirement Mr. Jones has continued to make his home at Milroy and has a very pleasant place there. Despite the shocking disability incurred in his war service Mr. Jones long ago passed that handicap and his diligence in business secured to him ample provision against the ' ' evening time ' ' of his life. In addition to his holdings in the county he is the owner of a farm of 320 acres in Texas and accounts himself well circumstanced for a man who has had to get along with but one arm for the past sixty years. Samuel D. Jones has been twice married. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Julia Kendall, who died leaving one child, a son, Frank. In 1880 Mr. Jones married Cynthia E. Aldridge, who also was born in this county, daughter of William Aldridge and wife, pioneers here, and to this union four children have been born, Laura, who married M. E. Able and has one child, a daughter, Margaret Ellen; Clifford, who is unmarried; Benjamin II., who married Letta Chambers and has three children, Helen, Samuel and Hoyt Dale, and Wilbur, who is unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist church and have for years taken an interested part in local church work as well as in all neighborhood good works. In his political views Mr. Jones is an ardent Republican and has always given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been an office seeker. He is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and is also a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOHNSON A. FANCHER, who died in the spring of 1919, was for many years a prominent figure in the agricultural life of Rush county, and aided materially in its development. By a life of uprightness, industry and square dealing - a life devoted to the support of whatever was good and true - he won the admiration and regard of a large circle of acquaintances, who sincerely mourned their loss, when, two years ago, he passed into the grateful rest and quiet of the night. Mr. Fancher was born in Blount county, Tennessee, on May 20, 1853, and was the son of Caleb S. and Millie (Myers) Fancher, both of whom also were natives of Tennessee. Caleb Fancher was a farmer by vocation and was a successful man, owning 350 acres of land. To him and his wife were born seven children, namely: Nancy, William, Frances J. and Martha, living, and Johnson A., Eliza and Mary, deceased. Johnson A. Fancher received a comparatively meager education, his school years being passed during the period of tha Civil war, when educational matters were to a considerable extent neglected in the South. However, by habits of careful reading and close observation of men and events, he became a well-informed man on a wide range of topics and was always an interesting and intelligent conversationalist. Mr. Fancher remained in his native state until twenty-nine years of age, assisting his parents, but at that age he came to Rush county, locating in Jackson township, where for seven years he was employed on the Oldham farm. During the following five years he operated a part of the Oldham farm which he rented. He then located on the George F. Mull farm, south of Homer, which he rented for seven years, and at the end of that time he bought the farm of eighty acres in Posey township where his widow now lives. Eventually he bought forty-eight acres additional, thus giving him a total of 128 acres. By careful management and wise economy he had earned and saved all the money with which he bought this land and he made many permanent and substantial improvements on the land, which have made them a valuable and attractive property. Here he was actively engaged in general farming and stock raising up to the time of his death, which occurred on May 13. 1919, when almost sixty-six years of age. On August 8, 1SS8. Mr. Fancher was married to Ilettie Adams, a native of the township in which she now lives and the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Six) Adams. Her parents were natives of the state of Kentucky, the father being born in Scott county and the mother in Fleming county. In an early day they came to Rush county and Mr. Adams became a successful farmer in Posey township, where he owned eighty acres of land. Of the eleven children born to him and his wife, but two are now living, John and Mrs. Hettie Fancher. To Mr. and Mrs. Fancher were born two children, Anna F. and George

Johnson A. Fancher And Family

L. Anna became the wife of Fern Downey, who operates a garage at Arlington, and they have four children, Frank, Joy, Janice R. and Edna H. George L. Fancher married Pearl Souder and they have two children, June and Francis L. Mr. Fancher was an earnest supporter of the Republican party. He was a member of the Baptist church in Blount county, Tennessee. He was well liked by all who knew him, for he possessed a social nature and maintained a genial and kindly attitude to those about him. His career was a busy and useful one and he had well earned the high position he occupied in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

JAMES 0. GUNNING, a well known general farmer in Walker township, this county, was born on January 7, 1867, in Shelby county, this state, a son of Sinclair and Clementine (McCombs^ Gunning, the father a native of Shelby county, and the mother, of Wayne county, Indiana. Their four children survive, Emory, Ella. Elma and James 0. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served four years as a member of the One Hundred First regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After the war he engaged in farming in Shelby county as long as active. James 0. Gunning had public school advantages in his native county, after which he worked at farming until his own marriage. For some years following he farmed for his father-in-law in Walker township, Rush county. When the latter died the wife of Mr. Gunning inherited the Macy farm, a valuable tract of 160 acres, on which Mr. Gunning carries on farm activities very profitably. It was an January 7, 1904, that Mr. Gunning married Adelma Macy, only child of Lysander and Frances E. (Casto) Macy, the former of whom was born in Rush county and the latter in Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Gunning have one child, Ela Frances, who attends school at Manilla. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican.

0. M. OFFUTT, one of the successful farmers of Posey township and a creditable representative of one of the county's respected old families, was born in the township in which he now resides on January 10, 1876, and is the son of George W. and Sarah J. (Beckner) Offutt, both of whom also were born and reared in Rush county. George W. Offutt was a farmer and stock raiser by vocation and at one time he owned 1,400 acres of good land in Posey township. To him and his wife were born sis children, all of whom are living, namely : Sabert S., Murley, Jerry B., 0. M., Mary I. and Charles J. The subject of this sketch secured his educational training in the Beaver Meadow school house, in Posey township, and the Arlington high school. On completing his studies he went to work on the home farm, and there he has remained ever since with the exception of two years spent on a farm south of Arlington. After his marriage, in 1900, Mr. Offutt began farming on his own account, operating the home farm for one year, following which he was on the farm referred to south of Arlington. Since then he has occupied and operated a part of the home farm, comprising 215 acres of land, on which he carries on general farming operations and stock raising.

He has made a number of improvements on the place and by industiy and good management has been successful. On August 8, 1900, Mr. Offutt was married to Margaret Hackelman, who also was born iu Posey township, the daughter of Worster and Malissa J. (Clavell) Hackleman, old residents of this county. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hackelman, Mrs. Offutt is the only survivor. The deceased are Gertrude, who died at the age of twenty-eight years. and Minnie, who died when nine days old. Mr. and Mrs. Offutt have two children, George W. and Lowell H., both of whom are at home Politically, Mr. Offutt assumes an independent attitude, reserving the right to vote in accordance with the dictates of his own judgment. Fraternally, he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men at Arlington and the Modern Woodmen of America at Rushville. He is a man of vigor and determination, has been successful in practically every undertaking to which he has addressed himself and he enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and regard of all who know him.

W. E. WAGONER, principal of the schools of Posey township and well known as a man of high attainments and practical ability as an educator, was born on May 31, 1889, in Fountain county, Indiana, and was there reared. He attended the common schools of his home neighborhood and the high school at Veedersburg. He then entered Indiana University, where he was graduated in 1912, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After completing his collegiate work, he went to Mt. Auburn, Shelby county, Indiana, where he became principal of the township schools, serving two years. Then for five years he was principal of the Anderson township schools in Rush county, and for two years he has served in his present position, to the entire satisfaction of his patrons and pupils. Mr. Wagoner has inaugurated some progressive and effective ideas of his own in his educational work and he enjoys a high reputation as a thoughtful and earnest educator. He has jurisdiction over two country schools and the schools at Arlington, employing twelve teachers, and with 257 pupils in the schools. On May 10, 1914, Mr. Wagoner was married to Glossie Goddard, who was born in Kansas City, Mo., but who, at the age of nine months, was brought to Rush county, which has been her home continuously since. She first studied in the public schools of Rushville, including the high school, and then became a student in Indiana University, where she was graduated the same year as her husband, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is the daughter of George and Nellie (Mull) Goddard. Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner have two children, George A. and Lavonne. Mr. Wagoner is a Republican, a Freemason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On June 6, 1921, he was elected superintendent of the schools of Rush county.

JAMES M. ELLISON, an experienced farmer and substantial citizen of Walker township, was born in Rushville township, this county, September 26, 1852, a son of William J. and Sarah (Duke) Ellison. His father was born in Rush county and his mother in Kentucky. They had six children born to them, four sons surviving, Fremont, Alonzo P., Elmer E. and James M. The father was a farmer in Rush county all his life and owned 180 acres of valuable land. His death occurred on July 3, 1891. James M. Ellison had the usual school privileges in boyhood, attending what was known as the Alexander school near his father's farm, and early learned farming. He has never given much attention to any other vocation. For four years before his marriage, Mr. Ellison worked as a farm hand, then rented land for a year, following which he bought sixty acres in Orange township. That land he held and operated for ten years but when his father died he sold it and bought the old home place of 160 acres in Walker township, on which he lives, subsequently acquiring other tracts and he now owns 295 acres in that township. He has always been a progressive farmer and has encouraged the raising of good stock, a notable feature of his own industries being his full blood, big type Poland-China hogs, of which he markets about 100 head annually. On January 27, 1881, Mr. Ellison married Lucinda Hodge, who was born in Walker township, daughter of Alfred and Margaret (Miller) Hodge, natives of Rush county and farming people. Mrs. Ellison is one of a family of seven children and has three surviving sisters and one brother, Sarah, Mary, Martha and Alva. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have two children, Orsa P., a farmer in Rush county, who married Mertie Hungerford, and Floy, who is the wife of Albert Gahimer, a farmer in Walker township. Mr. Ellison and his family are members of the Christian church at Homer. He has always been a Republican.

SANFORD M. POSTON, former clerk of Rush county, who died at his home in Noble township in the spring of 1910, was born on November 25, 1849, on the farm on which his widow now resides, and his death occurred on May 10, 1910. He was descended from sterling old pioneer stock, his paternal grandparents having been Judge Elias and Nancy (Norton) Poston, natives of Kentucky, the former born in Fayette county and the latter in Bourbon county. They were married in 1807 and some years after that event they came to Indiana, first locating in Franklin county. In the spring of 1821 they came to what is now Rush county and the next year entered 160 acres in what is now known as Noble towiiship. The date of the entry of this land was March 7, 1822, and the original deed from the Government bearing the name of President Monroe is still in the family. Elias Poston was a man of strong character and marked mental ability and he soon took a prominent part in the public life of this pioneer community. In 1822 he was elected the first associate judge of Rush county and the diversity of his talents is somewhat indicated from the fact that he was a successful Baptist minister and also practiced medicine. Among his children was the subject's father, George W. Poston, who was born in Kentucky on March 12, 1826, and who accompanied his parents on their removal to Rush county, locating in Noble township, where he spent the remainder of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Nancy McNeil, who was born and reared in North Carolina, and they became the parents of six children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: Sanford M., Quincy, Estella, Elizabeth and Ella. Sanford M. Poston received a good education in the public schools of Noble township and then for a time was engaged in teaching school. In the meantime he also became interested in the sawmill business, having bought and sold much lumber, so after a short career as a pedagogue, he resigned and thereafter devoted his attention to sawmill interests, in addition to which he also farmed the home place of about 600 acres. He became an extensive stock feeder and also bred Poland China hogs and Short-Horn cattle. He was keenly interested in the breeding of thoroughbred track horses and was the owner of "Redfield," one of the best horses of his type in this section of the country. A year prior to his mother's death, the home farm was divided and his portion was 140 acres. He was an energetic worker and a good manager and to this nucleus he added other land by purchase until his holdings amounted to 340 acres, to the operation of which he devoted his attention up to the time of his death. He made many permanent and substantial improvements on the place, developing it into one of the best farms in this section of the county. Though a busy man, Mr. Poston always took a keen interest in local public affairs and an active part in politics as a Republican. He served for five years as assessor of Noble township, and in 1901 he was elected to the office of clerk of the Rush county Circuit Court, serving one term to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Poston spent practically his entire life in Noble township and won his way into the affections of the people through his genial address, his obliging nature, his sound business ability and his unswerving support freely given to all laudable movements looking toward the general welfare of his county. In 1901 Mr. Poston was married to Mary Ellen Bromley, the daughter of Charles D. and Anna (Jones) Bromley, and to them were born two children. George and Estella. both of whom remain at home with their mother, and the former of whom is the sole surviving male member of this branch of the family bearing the Poston name. Mrs. Poston 's parents were born respectively, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Rush county. Mr. Bromley came to Rush county in young manhood and here followed the business of railroad contracting during all of his active years. To him and his wife were born seven children, of which number three grew to maturity, namely: Carl E., Agnes and .Mary Ellen. Mrs. Poston is a member of the Christian church, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Woman's Relief Corps, in which she is an officer, the Women's Council and the Nature Study Club of Indiana. Mrs. Poston is descended from sterling old pioneer families of Rush county. Grandmother Mary Sharp, the mother of Sarah Jones, was born in Virginia in 1812, whence in 182fi, when but fourteen years of age, she came to Rush county, and settled with her family in Walker township. The second session of the commissioners' court of Rush county was held at the home of James Lower, who ran a tavern at Rushville and who was a great-uncle of Mrs.

Poston. Mr. Poston was an attendant at the Methodist Protestant church in New Salem. Politically, he gave his support to the Republican party. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he attained to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOHN D. MEGEE, a well known citizen of Rushville, a member of the bar of the Rush Circuit Court and former judge of that court, is a native son of Rush county, born on November 20, 1850, son of William E. and Ellen E. (Morris) Megee, natives of Kentucky and who were but children when they came to Indiana with their respective parents, both the Megees and the Morrises having been among the pioneers of Rush county, the former family coming here in 1828 and the latter in 1831. William E. Megee was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, and his wife at Georgetown, Ky. He became a farmer in this county and at the time of his death in 1864 was the owner of more than 320 acres of land. Though his opportunities for schooling were limited, he having attended school but three months in his life, he improved such opportunities for self-improvement as came to him and became known as a self-educated man of no little ability. William E. Megee and his wife were the parents of eight children, two of whom are still living, Judge Magee having a sister, Alice, wife of Taylor Lakin, of Rushville. John D. Megee was reared on his father's farm, receiving his preliminary education in the schools of the county. At the age of twenty, desiring a further education, he entered Lebanon Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio, and for one year took a business course, which he completed. He then commenced his career as a salesman for T. & R. Pugh, of Washington, Ind., and was with them two years, at the end of which time he became a salesman for J. H. Mauzy, of Rushville, with whom he remained for about two years. Then for two years he was engaged in business in partnership with Z. E. Mauzy and W. A. Caldwell, selling out his interests to these two men to take up the study of law with Ben L. Smith in 1876. Having in due course been admitted to the bar, he was admitted as a partner by his preceptor, with whom he practiced until 1881, when he became one of the incorporators of the Chaffee County Gold and Silver Mining Company of Colorado. For four years he lived in Poncha Springs, Col., in order to devote his entire attention to the mining project as the manager. In 1885, he returned to Rushville to take up again the practice of law, and there has remained ever since. During his career as an attorney Judge Megee has been associated with eight men. When Rush and Shelby counties were separated to make each a judicial circuit he was appointed judge of the Rush Circuit Court for a term of two years. After his term on the bench, Judge Megee resumed the practice of his profession, and in September, 1918, formed a partnership with William L. Newbold under the firm name of Megee & Newbold. On March 3, 1874, Judge Megee was married to Susan O. Sneed, a daughter of William C. S. Sneed, also of this county, and he and his wife are the parents of two children, Ethel and Anna

S. Ethel Megee married Hugh Fleehart and has two children, John M. and Florence C. Anna S. married Carl F. Eveleigh and has one child. Sue Ann. Judge Megee is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which for about six years he was an elder, and for a time superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is a Freemason and a member of the Knights of Pythias, the former of which has claimed him for over forty-five years. He has been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, in the cause of which he has done yeoman service. He served as clerk of the Indiana State Senate in 1887 and clerk of the House in 1889, and from 1902 to 1904 he was chairman of the Democratic committee for the Sixth district.

HARMONEY L. PARSON, a retired farmer and live stock breeder of Anderson township, now living at Milroy, has been a resident of this county all his life and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county. He was born on a pioneer farm in Orange township on October 7, 1855, son of William and Alida (Boyd) Parson, the latter of whom was born in the state of New York and both of whom spent their last days in Rush county. William Parson was born in Butler county, Ohio, a son of Samuel Parson, who came over into Indiana with his family and settled on an eighty-acre farm in Orange township, this county, thus becoming one of the pioneers of that township. Samuel Parson and his wife were the parents of six children, David, Daniel, William, Eliza Jane, Catherine and Samuel, and the descendants of these in the present generation form a quite numerous connection. William Parson was but a lad when he came to this county with his parents and he grew up on the pioneer farm, in time becoming the owner of the home "eighty" and an adjoining "eighty," which gave him an excellent farm of 160 acres. He had early learned the carpenter trade and in addition to his farming did a great deal of building throughout that part of the county, but. death cut short his career right in its prime, his death occurring in 1858. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring on February 28, 1917. William Parson and wife wei-e the parents of five children, four of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Daniel Parson, of Portland, Ore. ; John B. Parson, of Kansas, and Catherine M., of Oakland, Cal. Harmoney L. Parson but three years of age when his father died. The mother kept her family together and maintained the farm home, the boys growing up as helpful assistants in the labors of the place, and as a young man Harmoney L. Parson began working at farm work on his own behalf. He later became engaged as a contractor in county ditch work and was thus engaged for about ten years, at the end of which time he became the overseer of the 167-acre farm of bis aunt, Mrs. Anna M. Bowles, and was thus actively employed until the death of bis aunt in 1920, and still has supervisory charge of the estate. Mr. Parson has fifty-five acres of his own, which he also supervises besides looking after his aunt's estate. For years he has given considerable attention to the raising and buying of live stock and has done well in his operations. Mr. Parson is a Republican. In his fraternal relations he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Masons.

Thomas B. Iiexley

the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and in the affairs of these several organizations has for years taken a warm interest.

THOMAS BENTON HENLEY, who died at his home, "Riverside Farm," along the banks of Big Blue river in the immediate vicinity of Carthage in the summer of 1916, and whose widow and son are still living there, was for years regarded as among the leading agriculturists and stockmen of that section of Rush county, as well as a man of influence in the various phases of activity which marked the development of the community in which he spent his whole life, and it is but fitting that there should be carried in this Centennial History of Rush County some modest memorial to his worth as a citizen. Mr. Henley was a member of one of the first families of Rush county, his grandfather, Elias Henley, having been one of the leading members of the considerable colony of Friends which came here from North Carolina and settled along the Big Blue in the days of the formative period of this section, and the Henleys have been from the very first among the most influential factors in the development of that section and of the county at large. Thomas B. Henley was born on July 11, 1870, son of Thomas W. and Hannah (Williams) Henley, the former of whom wias a son of the pioneer Elias Henley, mentioned above. Upon completing the course in the Carthage high school Mr. Henley took a course in Indiana University and upon completing his schooling settled down to his life work, that of farming, a vocation to which he had been trained from youth by his father, continuing to make his home on the home farm, where he gave particular attention to the raising of live stock and early became recognized as one of the leading stockmen in the county. He married at the age of twentyfive and established his home at "Riverside Farm," occupying the site of the original log cabin home, which his grandfather had erected there many years before, and there he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on July 11, 1916. Mr. Henley was a birthright member of the Friends church at Carthage and ever maintained an active interest in the affairs of the local meeting. By tradition and practice he was a Republican, as the Henleys ever have been since the days of the organization of that party, and took a warm interest in local political affairs. It was on September 25, 1895, that Thomas B. Henley was united in marriage to Orah M. Dill, who also was born in this county, daughter of William H. and Oleva (Hinton) Dill, also members of old families here, and to this union one child was born, a son, Hamil D. Henley, born on January 30, 1897, who completed his schooling in Purdue University, and is now at home managing "Riverside Farm" .for his mother. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Henley has continued to make her home on the farm, a well improved and carefully cultivated place of 240 acres, and is very comfortably situated there. Mrs. Henley's schooling was completed at Bethany College

(West Virginia) she having gone to that institution upon completing the course in the Greenfield high school. She is a member of the Christian church at Carthage and has ever taken an interested and helpful part in local good works. In 1917 Mrs. Henley took a short course in agriculture at Purdue University, receiving her certificate twenty-four years to the very day, after receiving her high school certificate.

PLEASANT A. MILLER, a well known former business man of Rushville and a substantial farmer of Rush county, now living at 232 East Third street, Rushville, was born in Rushville township, this county, September 7, 1855. His parents were Thomas and Cynthia E. (Stewart) Miller, the former of whom was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, January 1, 1824, and the latter in Rushville township, this county, in 1835. They had four children, two of whom are living, India and Pleasant A. The father was a farmer in Rush county. Pleasant A. Miller attended what was known as the Compromise school house in boyhood and remained at home assisting his father until his own marriage, after which he rented land for one year and then bought forty-four acres and operated it for three years at the end of which time he accepted an advantageous offer and sold. Mr. Miller then moved into Rushville, where he has his present home, and for four years was in the retail liquor business, after disposing of that moving back to the home farm, where he carried on general farming for the next twelve years, at the end of that time purchasing the Grand hotel at Rushville. For several years he conducted that hostelry, but in 1904 he resumed farming, having bought the old home place of 212 acres situated in Rushville township. He devotes his land to general farming and stockraising, shipping about 150 head of hogs annually. On October 24, 1872, Pleasant A. Miller married Fannie A. Davis, daughter of James and Mary (Murphy) Davis, and they had four children: Clendas, Herly, (deceased), Clyde and Thomas G. The mother of these children died on January 10, 1913, and her burial was in East Hill cemetery. On March 23, 1918, Mr. Miller married Lena McCormick, who was born in Carroll county, Indiana, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Clark) McCormick. Mrs. Miller is the eldest of their family of seven children, the others being Lowell, William, Ina, Thomas, Watson and Queen. The father of Mrs. Miller is the present sheriff of Carroll county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one daughter, Cynthia E., who was born on January 12, 1919. Mr. Miller takes an interest in public affairs but has never accepted a political office. He votes with the Republican party.

MICHAEL KNEY, a general farmer in Walker township, was born in that township on July 15, I860, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hael) Kney, both of whom were born in Germany. Jacob Kney was probably about sixteen years old when he came to the United States, the only member of his family. He made his way to Indiana, located in Rush county and here followed farming the rest of his life. Through thrift and honest industry lie prospered and acquired 700 acres of valuable land. He married Elizabeth Hael, whose peo- pie settled in Rush county while she was young, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom the following survive: Mary, Henry, Jacob and Michael. Michael Kney attended school in Orange township, Rush county, the school house having been named in honor of his father. He remained on the home place until his marriage, after which he rented land from his father for nine years, then bought his present home farm of 120 acres. Since that time he has added until he now owns 360 acres in Walker township and 120 acres in the adjoining county of Shelby. In addition to carrying on general farming, Mr. Kney raises a large amount of stock, having at least 100 head of cattle and 200 head of hogs annually. Mr. Kney has one of the best improved farms in this section, with several sets of farm buildings, one set occupied by his son-in-law, being entirely new, and the other set remodeled and made comfortable with modern improvements, he occupies himself. On August 14, 1887, Michael Kney married Mary Gahimer, born in Union township, Shelby county, a daughter of John and Barbara (Hauck) Gahimer. The father of Mrs. Kney followed farming all his life in Shelby county, where he owned 800 acres of fine land. All his children are living, John, Andrew, Jacob, Catherine, Emma and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Kney have one daughter, Lena, the wife of George Wissing, a farmer on Mr. Kney's land in "Walker township. They have three children, Helen, Caroline and Wallace, the daughters attending school at Manilla. In political matters Mr. Kney is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Evangelical church in Union township, Shelby county.

FRANK OFFUTT, president of the Arlington Bank of Arlington and a substantial farmer of Posey township, is a native son of the township in which he has spent practically his entire life of three score years. He was born on January 6, I860, the son of John and Priscilla (Gordon) Offutt, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush count}'. Both attended school in Rush county, John Offutt having been brought here in childhood, and on attaining mature years he followed farming as a livelihood, spending the remainder of his life in Indiana excepting eight months, which he spent in Missouri. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Southern ariny and was killed during that conflict. The subject's paternal grandparents were Sabert and Mary H. (Morris) Offutt, were natives respectively of Maryland and Kentucky. In his early life Mr. Offutt moved to Scott county, Kentucky, where he devoted himself to farming pursuits. On August 13, 1829, he was married to Mary Morris and a short time after their marriage they came to Indiana, settling on the banks of Little Blue river in Rush county, where he bought S00 acres of farm land. He applied himself vigorously to the work of clearing and cultivating this land, in which he met with marked success and at the time of his death he owned over 900 acres of land in Rush county. He lived on his first farm until 1873, when he retired from active farm work and moved to Arlington. To him and his wife were born eight children, all of whom are deceased, namely : James A., Mary J., John F., Lewis J., Samantha A., George

W., Rebecca E. and one that died in infancy. The subject of this sketch is the only child born to John and Priscilla Offutt. Frank Offutt was educated in the school at Arlington and was reared in the home of his maternal grandparents, his own father having given up his life on a Southern battlefield. Mr. Offutt remained with his grandparents until he was about twenty-nine years of age, though he had been married a year prior to that time. Then, in 1892, he built the house on the Brookville pike, where he now lives, and otherwise improved the place with commodious and well arranged farm buildings, so the place is now numbered among the up-to-date farms of the township. At the early age of sixteen years, he had rented a tract of land from his grandfather, Gordon, then, five years later, his grandfather Offutt gave him $1,500. This money the young man at once invested in an eighty-acre farm in Posey township, formerly known as the Hiram Tribley farm, and to this he has added from time to time until today he owns 600 acres of well improved farm land in one body. A part of this land is rented out by Mr. Offutt, but the latter is still extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He averages about 600 head of hogs each year and about 100 head of cattle. He has been very successful in his business affairs and takes a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community. He is the president of the Arlington Bank, at Arlington, one of the sound and influential financial institutions of Rush county. On June 23, 1889, Mr. Offutt was united in marriage with Nora F. Conaway, the daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Allander) Conaway, the former a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, and the latter of Rush county. They were both reared and educated in this county, and here Mr. Conaway devoted himself to agriculture, in which he was eminently successful, owning about 225 acres of farm land and property in Arlington at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of fifteen children, of which number nine are now living, namely: John J., Lucetta, Rebecca, Anna F.. Nora F., Maud, Henry L., George, William, Mary J., Harrietta, Josephine, Sarah, Charles and Oma. To Mr. and Mrs. Offutt have been born two children, Clark and Effie. Clark Offutt, born on May 17, 1890, attended the public school, including the high school, at Arlington, and then entered Butler College, at Indianapolis, but, on account of bad health, he was compelled to quit college before the completion of his course and is now at home with his parents. Effie. born on February 1, 1897, received a high school education at Arlington and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Offutt are earnest members of the Christian church at Arlington. Politically, he is a Democrat.

DONALD L. SMITH, a well known attorney of Rushville, was born in that city on August 8, 1874, the son of Benjamin L. and Alice W. (Wilson) Smith. Benjamin L. Smith takes position as one of the foremost attorneys ever before the Rush county bar, and no history of the county could be complete without some mention of this eminent lawyer's career. He was a native of Rush county, having been born in Union township, November 29, 1835, the son of Ebenezer and Polly A. (Hadden) Smith, who made this county their home in 1834. Benjamin L. Smith spent the years of his youth on a farm, but in 1853, when less than eighteen years of age, was matriculated at Asbury (now DePauw) University at Greencastle, Ind., and there obtained a classical education. Upon being graduated from this institution he took up the study of law in the office of Delaney R. Eckles at Greencastle, and a year later was admitted to the bar of Putnam county. Immediately he commenced the practice of his profession at Columbus, Ind., but in July, 1862, he answered his country's call and enlisted as a private in Company D, Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His superior abilities attracted the attention of his superiors, and he was rapidly promoted until he attained the rank of captain, of his company, which he held until he was mustered out of the service. Upon returning to civilian life, the young lawyer sought a new field, going to New Orleans, but after two years in the South, he returned to Rushville in March, 1867. His ability as a lawyer won him statewide recognition, and he was appointed by Governor Gray as president of the board of trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Knightstown. One instance that may be cited as reflecting the character and zeal of Mr. Smith is this: When the buildings of the Orphans' Home were destroyed by fire in 1886, he immediately took steps for the reconstruction of the place without waiting for the legislature to appropriate funds for the purpose. Benjamin L. Smith continued active in practice until his retirement in 1914. He died at Rushville on December 25, 1915. In other things, great and small, Mr. Smith showed himself to be a gentleman worthy of the respect and honor in which he was held by all who knew him. He was first married on July 29, 1858, to Laura Reynolds, daughter of Joshua and Diana Reynolds, then of Columbus, Ind. Mrs. Smith died on June 30, 1871, leaving one child, a daughter, Cora E. Mr. Smith was married on November 4, 1873, to Alice W. Wilson, daughter of William and Elizabeth Wilson, and to this union were born two children, Donald L. and Erema P. Donald L. Smith attended the Rushville high school, and also the Graham Academy, from which he received his diploma in 1891. He then entered De- Pauw University, and was graduated therefrom in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He returned to Rushville to engage in the practice of law with his father and Claude Cambern, the firm becoming known as Smith, Cambern & Smith, with which he remained for a number of years. In the years 1913 and 1915 he served Rush county as prosecuting attorney, and then on January 1, 1915, he formed a partnership with John H. Kiplinger uuder the firm name of Kiplinger & Smith. In the practice of his chosen profession, Mr. Smith has been successful. He has for years been local attorney for the Indianapolis & Connersville Traction Company, the Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western Railway Company and the Big Pour railroad, and in September, 1920, was appointed general council for the Indianapolis & Connersville Traction Company.

Mr. Smith married Edna McFadden, a daughter of Dr. William G. McFadden, and they have one child, Louis E. Smith. Mr. Smith is affiliated with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and, politically, the Democratic party claims him as an ardent supporter.

ANTHONY II. SCIIRICHTE. It would be difficult anywhere outside of the larger cities to find cemeteries beautified with finer examples of the sculptor's art than those of Rush and the adjoining counties, and the excellence of these is in large measure due to the genius of Anthony H. Schrichte, of Rushville. Mr. Schrichte was born in this city on December 4, 1861, a son of J. B. and Katherine (Schoenbaum) Schrichte, both of Hanover, Germany. The father was born on May 1, 1835, and at the age of eighteen emigrated to this country and located at Hamilton, Ohio, where he learned the trade of marble worker. For two years he pursued his calling at Brookville. Ind., and then in 1859 came to Rushville and established the monument works which bore his name. Beginning, necessarily, in a small way, he applied himself so well to his work, and so skilled was he that his business grew to large proportions. His fame spread over the entire state, and monuments were shipped to almost all points in this as well as to some places in adjoining states. On February 5, 1861, he was married to Katherine Schoenbaum, then of Cincinnati, whom he had known in Germany as a youth, and to their union were born nine children of whom four are now living, Anthony, Frank. Edward and William. Anthony Schrichte received his education in the public schools of Rushville, and upon leaving them took up the trade of marble and granite eutter with his father and two of his brothers, Frank and William. When the death of the father occurred on November 3, 1911, the three sons took over the business, but later Anthony bought out the interests of the other two, and since that, time, 1918, has conducted the business by himself with his son as his assistant and foreman. The business has steadily grown, and now several skilled workmen are employed in order that the demands for monuments may be met. Mr. Schrichte married Emma Stewart and they are the parents of five children : John, Charles, Marie, Salome, and Albert. Marie married Frank Hagney and now resides at Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Schrichte is one of the substantial citizens of Rushville, and has done much toward increasing the commercial standing of the county seat.

0. E. HUMES, an experienced and substantial farmer of Rush county, now living at Rushville, was born on June 7, 1866, in Noble township, Rush county, a son of John C. and Mary E. (Perkins) Humes. The father was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the mother of Rush county. Her parents were Kentuckians, while her husband's parents were Ohioans. John C. Humes became a man of public affairs and acquired 320 acres of fine farming land. Of his nine children the following are living: Orval, of Indianapolis; John, of Rushville; 0. S., residing at Rushville; Gertrude, of Rush county; Jessie A., of Effingham, 111. ; Stella, of Rush county, and Adolph, of

Indianapolis. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, active in Republican politics, served several years as trustee of Noble township and four years as county treasurer. He was one of the early members of the Masonic lodge at Rushville. He served three years in the Union army, a member of Company I, Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 0. E. Humes attended school at New Salem, in Noble township, where he received a practical education, after whicli he assisted his father on the farm, early being given responsibility on account of his father having numerous other interests. When he married he started for himself as a farmer, renting land for about six years in Noble township, then buying a fine property of 240 acres, and still owns 160 acres of this tract. Mr. Humes by industry and business foresight has become an extensive landowner, having in all 560 acres of well improved land in Rush county. In addition to grain and farm produce, he has realized large returns from his livestock, giving some attention to Shorthorns, and shipping from 400 to 500 head of hogs annually. He is a member of the Rush County Farmers' Association. On November 28, 1888, he married Kate Frazee, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth (Thompson) Frazee. The father of Mrs. Humes was a substantial farmer, owning 2,000 acres of land in Rush county. She is the youngest of his three living children, having one brother. John H. and a sister, Madeline. Mr. and Mrs. Humes have two children, Benjamin, a farmer in Rush county, who married Elizabeth Hayden, and has one son, William G., and Robert, who resides with his parents and operates a garage at Rushville. Like his father Mr. Humes has always been a Republican but has never accepted political office. He and his family are members of the Christian church at Rushville.

CLAUDE R. CRANE, head of the firm of Crane & Ray, shoe dealers at Milroy, and the owner of an excellent farm in the neighborhood of Milroy, was born in that vicinity, in Anderson township, and has lived in this county all his life, for years one of the best known and most progressive merchants and live stock men at Milroy. He was born on August 2, 1884, son of Isaac and Sarah M. (Thomas) Crane, the latter of whom also was born in Anderson township, member of one of the old families of that part of the county, and who is still living. Isaac Crane was a Kentuckian by birth, but was but a lad when he came to Indiana with his parents, the family locating on a farm in Anderson township, this county. Here he received his schooling and grew to manhood, after his marriage becoming engaged in farming on his own account and became the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres, which he continued to operate until his death in 1894. To Isaac and Sarah M. (Thomas) Crane seven children were born, six of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Marshall H. Crane, of Gowdy; William B. Crane, of Anderson township; George M. Crane, of Indianapolis, Clara Emma, and Daisy C, wife of Alexander Innis. Reared on the home farm in Anderson township, Claude R. Crane completed his schooling by a course of two years at Rose Polytechnic School at Terre Haute and upon leaving school became engaged in the shoe business at Milroy, the business being carried on under the firm name of Crane & Ray, and has ever since been thus engaged, one of the "live wire" merchants of that enterprising and pleasant village. In addition to his mercantile business Mr. Crane is the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres in the vicinity of Milroy and personally supervises the operations of the same, with particular reference to the raising of live stock on the place, and annually feeds out about 300 head of hogs. In 1910 Claude R. Crane was united in marriage to Catherine Barton, daughter of William and Virginia Barton, and has a very pleasant home. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and have ever given proper attention to local church work. Mr. Crane is a Scottish Rite Mason and by political affiliation is a Democrat.

SYLVESTER GWINNUP, of Richland township, has achieved definite success through his own efforts, and is thoroughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man. Sylvester Gwinnup was born in Richland township on February 19, 1862, and he is descended from sterling old pioneer stock. His paternal grandfather, John Gwinnup, a native of Pennsylvania, turned his face westward and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence, in 1822, he came overland to Rush county and here entered 160 acres of land. Among his children was Job Gwinnup, who was born and reared in Rush county and who was a farmer during all his active life. Energetic and a good manager, he was successful and at the time of his death he was the owner of 110 acres of land in Richland township. He died on November 27, 1877, and was survived many years by his widow, who died in 1903. She had borne the maiden name of Elizabeth A. Smith, and, like her husband, was born and reared in this county. To this worthy couple were born ten children, of which number six are now living, namely: Sylvester, Ozias, John L., Minnie, Luther and Dora. Sylvester Gwinnup attended the old Neff Corner school in Richland township and then turned his attention to the home farm, he being about fifteen years of age when his father died. He remained with his mother until 1885, and then was employed as a farm hand for about seven years. He next rented a farm of eighty-five acres and farmed as a renter for about six years. He then began buying the home farm and through successive purchases has become the owner of 155 acres. Here he carries on general farming operations, including the feeding of a goodly number of hogs, and has gained a good reputation as a careful, practical and up-to-date farmer. On December 31, 1889, Mr. Gwinnup was married to Mary Barnes, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barnes, and they have become the parents of four children, Hazel. Otis, Roy and Ruby. Hazel Gwinnup became the wife of Harold Moore and is the mother of two children, Seth and Mary Alice. Otis Gwinnup married Stella Cox and Ruby Gwinnup became the wife of Paid Davison. Politically, Mr. Gwinnup supports the Democratic party and his fraternal relations are with the Free and Accepted Masons. He is a man of sterling qualities of character and is held in the highest regard by the entire community.