Raleigh, Indiana

Charles Ertel, whose portrait appears elsewhere, was born in Philadelphia, Penns^'lvania, April 12, 1833. His parents were PhiHp and Mary (Ludy) Ertel, both natives of Germany. The former was the son of Jacob Ertel, whose wife's maiden name was Cline. Jacob Ertel emigrated to America between 1825 and 1830, and was accidentally killed by a falling tree' in Franklin Counter, Ind. Philip was his oldest son and was born in Bermasance, Germany, in 1802; he was reared in German}^ and in youth learned the d3'er's trade. About 1829, he w'as united in marriage with Mar}' Ludy, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Niewmiler) Ludy, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America about the time the Ertels did. This union was blessed with four children : Philip and George (twins), Charles and Elizabeth, of whom George and Elizabeth are deceased. Philip Ertel came to Union Township, Rush Count}', Ind., m 1834, and moved into a log house on the farm owned at present by Martin Hinchman, where he resided a short time, when he permanentl}' located on the farm now owned by James Alexander and William Knecht, in Washington Township. About 1842 he removed to Union Township, and located on the farm owned at the present time by Jacob Kimerling, there he lived until his death, in 1874. He was a member of the Christian Church. His wife still survives him at the age of seventy-seven, and at present is in very poor health; thus can be traced the lives of two of Rush County's early settlers who came here and battled with the trials and hardships of pioneer life. Charles has spent his life here in Rush County, and farming has been his principal occupation, and he can be classed among the successful farmers of the county. In his youth, b}' attending the subscription schools, he obtained a fair education. In March, 1858, he was first married to Priscilla David, daughter of William and Catharine (Baylas) David. To this union were born three children: Silas M., Lewis T. and Harvina E. His wife died about 1857. His second wife was Rowena Houston, daughter of John and Susan Hauston, natives of Fairfield County, Ohio, where Rowena was born and reared; this marriage occurred March 24, 1870. This unicfn was blessed with nine children: Maty L., John P., Charley D., Nettie E., Ida M., Lucy A., George F., Elizabeth P. and I3enjamin F., all of whom are living. Mr. Ertel located on the farm where he now resides, in 1859, and has added many improvements, including a fine residence. It is under a high state of cultivation, and is classed among the best farms in Section 34. He began life with a small start and b\^ hard and earnest toil has been very successful in his chosen pursuit. He now owns 400 acres of land and but a short time ago deeded away 160 acres. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a staunch Republican and firmly believes in the principles of his party.

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.

William R. Greenwood was born in Washington Township, Rush Co., Ind., December 19, 1S32. He was the only son born to Samuel and Ann (McCan) Greenwood. The former was the son of Bartlev Greenwood, of North Carolina, where Samuel was born in Januaiy, 1S04, and was reared in Surry County, that State. At the age of twenty-four he bid adieu to home and friends and started in company with his brother-in-law, Eli Reese, for Indiana, landing in Rush County in the fall of 1S2S. This was then a wilderness. About 1830 he bought a tract of wild land in the northeast part of the county, paying for it with money earned by working for George Corn at $5 per month. He was married in 1831, to Ann McCan, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, where she was born, in 181 1. He next engaged in work upon a saw mill which stood one-half mile north of Raleigh on Flat Rock. There he worked eight years. He next turned his attention to farming, locating on the farm owned at present by Alfred Loder. In about 1840 he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, and continued to reside here until his death, which occurred on July 18, 1S60. His wife survived him until March 30, 1863. They were two of Rush's honored pioneers. William has spent his entire life on the farm, and in his bovhood got some schooling, and the first teacher he ever went to is living; he is Dr. John Ray, of Newcastle. On December 29, 1870, he was married to Miss Elizabeth L. Conner, daughter of Alfred and Eliza Conner, natives at that time of Washington Township, but at present reside in Indianapolis. This union has been blessed with five children : Nellie J., Robert J., Effie A., Una Ann and Omer S., of whom Nellie J. is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat in politics. Farming has been his chief occupation in life, and he now owns a fine improved farm.

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.

Benja^hn F. Jackson, a prominent resident of Washington Township, and at present the Township Trustee, was born within one-half mile of where he now resides, August 30, 1830. His parents were William and Mary E. (Reddin) Jackson, natives of North Carolina, and of English ancestr}-. The former was the son of WiUiam and Abigail (Gilam) Jackson who were not natives of North Carolina, but were principally reared there, and raised their family there. Both finally removed to Indiana. The former passed away in Fayette County, and the latter was called awa}- while a resident of Washington Township, Rush County, Ind. William and Mary E. Jackson, the parents of our subject, were married in North Carolina, and Joseph, John and WiUiam A., were born to them ere their departure from that State in 1S20, when they removed to Wayne County, Ind., and located on a farm four miles south of Richmond. There they resided two years, or until the fall of 1S22, when the\' removed to a wild tract of heavy timbered land, which Mr. Jackson had previously entered in Section 21, Washington Township. His family consisted of eight children: Joseph, John, William, Leander, Mary E., H. G., Benjamin F., and Sarah J., all of whom lived to maturity. Ere his death he dealt very liberally with his children, providing each with eighty acres of land, and left valuable property for his descendants at the time of his death. He and wife were life-long members of the Baptist Church. He ended his life on April 5, 1863. His companion had preceded him some years, having passed away October 2, 1S48. His portrait appears on another page of this volume. Benjamin Jackson spent his boyhood daj^s here on his father's farm, and received his education in the old log school houses of pioneer days. Being reared on the farm he adopted farming as a life occupation. On March 14, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline M. Lewis, daughter of John G. and Eliza (Baker) Lewis, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky'. They were married in Fayette County, Ind., and it was in that county that Caroline was born October 17, 1836. This union was blessed with nine children of whom four are living; they are: Daniel F., Ida M., Emma B., and Cora E. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. Jackson is a Democrat. In April, 1878, he was elected Township Trustee. In April, 1886, he was once more elected as Trustee, which position he holds at this time. He has under his supervision seven public schools, and uses great care in the selection of teachers and the maintenance of the reputation W^ashington Township has, for its successful school management. As stated, Mr. Jackson received some property from his father and therefore did not begin life empt}^ handed. He now owns 460 acres of as fine land as the township affords, divided into three farms. His home is in Section 21, and two miles east of Raleigh, surrounded by the comforts of this life.

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 Washington Township - it names this place 4 more 4 times.