Rush County Bridge No. 188

James A. Barton, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., was born April 12, 1823, son of William and Ehzabeth (Summers) Barton, and is of English descent. The father of our subject was born in 1800 and died September 13, 1830. His mother was born in 1795 and lived to a good age. The Barton family came to Rush County in 1847, and our subject settled near Milroy, where he remained until 1856, when he removed to his parents' place of residence. Our subject began farming in early life and now owns 138 acres of well improved land in the western part of Anderson Township. Mr. Barton was married in 1851, to Miss Lucinda Amos, who was born in this count}^ August 8, 1832, and died here August 23, 1874. '^o ^^^ above marriage are these children, viz.: William L., born December 9, 1853; Lura, born July 29, 1S55, and Ella I., born July 28, 1857. Politically, Mr. Barton is a Republican, and has been a resident of Anderson Township for more ihan forty years and is an honored and respected citizen. His son William L., was made a Mason in 1875, ^^^ i^ now W. M., of Milroy Lodge No. 139, F. & A. M. The family is extensively known and respected.

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 A. Blair, Trustee of Anderson Township, was born in Adams County, Ohio, April iSth, 1832, being the eldest in a family of twelve children, born to William L., and Catharine E. (Steen) Blair, the former a native of Middle Tennessee, born in 1803, and died in 1870; the latter born in Ohio in 1811, and died in 1877. They were members of the Presb3^terian Church and were true Christian people. Our subject received a limited education and remained under the parental roof until twentj-'-three years of age, working at the carpenter trade in connection with farming. In August, 1S62, he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantrj-, and was in active service until the following winter, when his health failed and he was sent to the hospital at Gallipohs, where he remained five months. He was honorably discharged in October, 1S63, and the same j-ear located in Delaware County, Ind., where he engaged in the undertaking business and later, worked in the school furniture factory at Richmond, Ind. In June, 18S3, he came to Milroy, where he engaged in the hardware business, and has won the respect and confidence of all who know him. Mr. Blair is an ardent Republican, and in 1886, was elected Township Trustee by that part}-. The marriage of Mr. Blair was solemnized April 12th, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Bloom, a native of Adams Countv, Ind., and daughter of John and Jane Bloom, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Blair died in 1855, and our subject was again married. Miss Sarah M. Freeman being the bride. Mrs. Blair was a native of Adams Count}-, Ohio, born in 1823, and died in 1878, leaving- three daughters, viz.: Dora E., Austa E. and Ora Maud. Mr. Blair married his present wife January 27th, 1879, she being Miss Jennie McKee, a native of Adams County, Ohio, born November 15th, 1857- To this union three children were born, viz. : Edith B., Ethel C. and Frank P. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 456.

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 Anderson Township - 7,874 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.