New Salem, Indiana

The Amos Family is properly introduced in the personage of J. J. Amos, Sr., who was born in Bourbon County, ^y-, September 30th, 1S03, being the fourth child to Nicholas and Ann (Jones) Amos, natives of Maryland. Mr. Amos was a student at the subscription schools and only obtained a limited education. He came to Rush County in 1823 and lived with his uncle Abraham Jones, and the next spring returned to Kentuck}' and first bought tifty acres of land and then purchased the old Amos homestead which he owned for several j-ears, and later engaged in stock trading and distillery business, and was also engaged in the mercantile business. In 1840 he traded his stock of goods, for Soo acres of land in Wells County. In 1839 ^^- Amos returned to Rush County and located on a farm near New Salem. He has been a successful man in life and at one time owned 2,000 acres of land in this count}'. Mr. Amos was married January 19th, 1S26, to Miss Ann W. Howard, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and who died June 17th, 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Amos were born eight children, four of whom died in early life. Politically, he is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. At one time Mr. Amos donated $2,000 to the Adrian, Michigan, College, of which he is a Trustee. Another member of the Amos family is Mrs. Amanda Mitchell, who was born in Bourbon County, K3'., September 28th, 1S28, daughter of James Hildreth, and at the age of seven years, came withher parents to Rush Count}'. March 13th, 1851, she was united in marriage to Johanan J. Amos, a native of Kentucky, and came to Rush County at twelve years of age. By occupation he was a stock dealer and shipper. His death occurred in this county, January i6th, 1864. To that marriage these three children survive : Johanan M., Willard H. and J. J. He was of Democratic faith, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Amos was married April 23rd, iSyijto Thomas V. Mitchell, who died in January, 1881. Mrs. Mitchell now resides on the home farm surrounded with the comforts of life and is a member of the Christian Church. J. M. Amos, a prominent stock breeder of this township, was born March 5th, 1854, '^'^'i '^ SO" of Johanan J. Amos. He was raised on the farm and received a common school education and began doing for himself at eighteen years of age. His occupation in life has been that of a farmer, and for quite a number of years, he has been giving much attention to growing trotters and pacers. Legal Tender, Jr., No. 3409, a pacer, 2:27 " and sire of Lowland Girl, 2:195^." At his stock sale in 1887, Mr. Amos realized more than $2,500. He owns a good farm which consists of 215 acres. December 23rd, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Estella J. Poston, daughter of George W. Poston, and was born in this township, Jul}' 22, 1S56. To the above marriage are three children: William, born February 22, 18S1; Ethel, born March 7, 18S3, and Luella, born Ma}' 13, 18S5. In politics, Mr. Amos is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Willard H. Amos, a brother of J. M. Amos, was born in Rushville Township, Febnaary 26, 1856, and was raised upon the farm, and is engaged in farming and stock breeding. He was married October 22, 1879, ^° Miss Elizabeth A. Poston, who was born in this township, January 31, 1S61, second daughter of George W. and Nancy (McNeal) Poston. They have one child, Mary, born November 13, 1886. He is a Republican. Joseph J., Jr., another member of the Amos family, and youngest son now living of Johanan Amos, was born May 5, i860, and grew to manhood upon the farm adjoining his present home. He received a common school education, and at sixteen years of age began farming and trading in stock, which he has since continued. Pie was married October 4, 1882, to Miss Fannie M., daughter of Seneca andSallie (Patterson) Armstrong, born December 27, 1863. One daughter blessed this union, viz.: Ruble May, born April 13, 1887. He is a firm friend of the Republican party, and owns a well improved farm of 160 acres. Joseph Caldwell, the only son born to John and Arriette (Amos) Caldwell, was born in this county, August 19, 1864. His mother died at two years of age, and he was raised by J. J. Amos, Sr. He first attended the country schools, and later, attended Adrian College. Reaching his majority, he began farming, which he continued until 1887, when he remo\-ed to Rushville, where he now resides. He was married April 28, 1886, to Miss Hattie Humes, who was born in this county, September 7, 1868, daughter of J. C. Humes. Mr. Caldwell is a Republican, and he and wife are highly esteemed people. The Amos family has been prominently known in this county for many years and has been noted for its industry and energy.

Passage source: History of Rush County, Indiana, from the Earliest Time to the Present : with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with a Short History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1888.

George Guffin, a representative farmer and stock raiser, was born in Rush County, Ind., March 27, 1835, and is one of seven children, and was raised on a farm near the City of Rushville; beginning life for himself at fifteen years of age, and at eighteen began teaching school which he continued for several winter terms, farming during the summer. In 1854, he began the mercantile business at New Salem, which he continued until 1S56, and in the fall of the same year entered Fairview Academy, where he continued for eighteen months, and then taught school during the winter season and carried on farming during the summer. In 1866, Mr. Guffin purchased his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of fine land, and which he has made by close application to business. It can be said of him that he has been the builder of his own success. Mr. Guffin was united in marriage September 14, 1S58, to Miss Rachel A. Hunt, who was born in Noble Township August 24, 1839. "^o ^^'"- '^^'^ Mrs. Guffin were born the following children: Lot D., Chestina, Margaret A. and George P. In politics, Mr. Guffin is a Republican, and has filled some of the township offices.

Passage source: History of Rush County, Indiana, from the Earliest Time to the Present : with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with a Short History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1888.

Joseph Holman, the gentleman whose name introduces this biography, was born in New Jersey, December 14, 1830, son of James and Nancy (Johnson) Hohnan, natives of the same State, the former born in i797? ^incl the latter in 1804. Thev both died in this county. The famil}- came to Rush Countv, Ind., about 1834, and settled in Noble Township. The immediate subject of this sketch is the eldest son in a family of eight children, six of whom are now living. In 1880, Mr. Holman purchased his piesent residence, and is the owner of 160 acres of tine land. His marriage occurred October iS, 1864, to Miss Martha Wellman, born in this township, February 20, 1840, daughter of Aaron and Frances (Lines-) Wellman. They have three children, as follows: John P., born in 1866; Edmond, born 1S69, and Lot, born 1870. The father of Mrs. Holman was born in Kentucky, in 1805, and was a son of Jasper and Drucilla Wellman. He came to Indiana, and settled in Rush County, in 1827, on a farm near New Salem, and March 25, 1S28, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Lines, who was born in Franklin County, Ind., July 19, 1812. Mr. Wellman died February 28, 1868, and Mrs. Wellman, September 23, 1877. In politics, he was formerh' a Whig, but at the time of his death, a pronounced Republican. He and wife were members of the Methodist Protestant Church. They were pioneers of this countv and of the fourteen children born to them, ten are now living. Mr. Holman is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

Passage source: History of Rush County, Indiana, from the Earliest Time to the Present : with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with a Short History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1888.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Noble Township - it names this place 4 more 4 times.