USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
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WILLIAM S. MCCRORY
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married Ida Phillips, and has three children, Minna, Owen and Elmer. Jacob Wissing is a member of Zion church. Politically, he has always been a Democrat.
WILLIAM S. MCCRORY, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, who died at his farm home in that township more than twenty years ago and whose widow is still living there, is still well remembered by the older generation in that community and it is fitting that there should be carried in this volume of biographies relating of the old families of Rush county some modest tribute to his memory. Mr. McCrory was a Hoosier, born, and all his life was spent in this state. He was born on a farm in the Glenwood neighborhood over in the neighboring county of Fayette on November 25, 1832, a son of Robert and Salina (Saxon) McCrory, the latter of whom was born in the state of Georgia, and who was but a small girl when she came to Indiana with her parents in pioneer times hereabout. Rob- ert MeCrory was a native of Ireland who came to America with his parents when he was but a lad, the family locating in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. As a young man he came out to Indi- ana and located in Fayette county, where he presently married and established his home, one of the pioneers of the Glenwood neighbor- hood, and on their farm there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Of the eleven children born to them all are now dead, but their descendants in the third and fourth generation are numerously represented hereabout. William S. McCrory "grew up" on the home farm over in Fayette county and received his schooling in the somewhat primitive local schools of that period. As a young man he continued farming with his father and was living on the home place when the Civil war broke out. He en- listed his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as a member of L Company, Second Indiana Cavalry, with which gallant command he served for more than two years. Among the numerous engagements in which Mr. McCrory participated was the battle of Stone River in December, 1862, in which 1,730 Union soldiers were killed, 7,802 wounded and 3,717 listed as "miss- ing," this having been accounted one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, the above figures not taking into account the losses on the Confederate side, which also were enormous. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. McCrory returned home and resumed his place on his father's farm, remaining there until his marriage at the age of thirty-five, after which he came over into Rush county and established his home on the farm in Union township on which his widow is still living. Ile started there with ninety-three acres but later increased his holdings to about 160 acres and was long accounted one of the substantial farmers of that vicinity. On that place Mr. McCrory spent his last days, his death occurring on August 12, 1899. He was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and was also a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
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lows, in the affairs of both of which organizations he took a warm interest. It was on November 19, 1868, that William S. MeCrory was united in marriage to Adaline Wikoff, who was born in this county, a daughter of Garrett and Nancy (Groves) Wikoff, mem- bers of pioneer families in this part of the state, and to this union were born two daughters, Lina and Nannie, the latter of whom is unmarried and continues to make her home with her mother. Lina MeCrory married Samuel J. McClure, a well known farmer of Union township, and has four children, Grace, Velma, William and Helen, the first named of whom married Harvey Arnold and has one child, a son, Harvey, Jr., Mrs. McCrory thus having a great-grandchild to help gladden the pleasant "evening time" of her life.
WALDO DRAPER, a farmer of Rush county who has achieved success along steady lines of action, was born in Posey township, this county, on March 5, 1888, and is the son of James and Millie V. (Nelson) Draper, both of whom also were born and reared in Posey township. Mr. Draper has followed farming throughout his active life. The Draper farm contains 159 acres of land in Posey township. To James Draper and his wife were born nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Ollie, Cora, Nellie, Waldo, Pearl, Alphonzo. Ozro, Millie and Emerson. Waldo Draper attended the Beaver Meadow school in Posey township and secured a good practical edu- cation. He has been identified with farming operations from his boyhood days and he remained on the home place, assisting his father, until about three years prior to his marriage, and during this inter- vening period he was employed in the neighborhood as a farm hand. After his marriage, Mr. Draper went to Shelby county, where he rented a farm, which he operated for a time, but subsequently he returned to Rush county and located on the farm which he now cultivates, and which he rents from his mother. The farm consists of 159 acres, the land being well adapted to general farming pur- poses, and in addition to the raising of field crops, Mr. Draper also gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of registered Poland China hogs and also some grades, handling about seventy-five hogs annually. Mr Draper is enterprising and up-to-date in his farming methods and is meeting with pronounced success. On Sep- tember 10, 1911, Mr. Draper was married to Fannie E. Lightner. who was born in Floyd county, Indiana, the daughter of Pleasant and Josephine (Robinson) Lightner, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Floyd county. Mr. and Mrs. Lightner had two children, Charles and Fannie. To Mr. and Mrs. Draper have been born three children, Glenn F., Beatrice M. and Leonard W. Politically, Mr. Draper is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. Though he has no aspiration for public office, he is an intel- ligent supporter of every movement having for its object the advance- ment of the general welfare.
A. J. PERKINS, a native son of Rush county, where his entire life has been passed, and one of the representative citizens of the vicinity, a worthy scion of one of our sterling pioneer families, who is now engaged in the general mercantile business at New Salem, Ind.,
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was born in Noble township, this county, on March 30, 1881, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (McComas) Perkins, the former also a native of Rush county, and the latter born in Hancock county. Indiana. Henry Perkins was the son of Jehn and Pollie (Lyons) Perkins, who became settlers in Rush county in an early day. Henry Perkins was reared to manhood in Noble township and on attaining mnature years he took up the vocation of farming, which he followed throughout his active life. Of the five children who blessed the union of himself and wife, four are now living, namely : Dean Fore, Charles, A. J. and James. A. J. Perkins received a good practical education in the public schools of Noble township and after leaving school devoted his efforts to teaming until 1906, when he obtained employment as a clerk in a general store at Orange. At the end of a year he engaged in business for himself at that place, continuing it for four years. Then, selling this store, in 1911, Mr. Perkins moved to New Salem and bought the A. P. Wellman general store. In February, 1912, Mr. Perkins enlarged the scope of the business by adding a hardware and implement department, in which he has put a large and well selected stock of both shelf and heavy hardware and allied lines. Every department of his store receives the same careful attention and, because of his strict adherence to the highest standards of business ethics in his relations with the buying public, Mr. Perkins enjoys a large and constantly growing trade as well as the confidence and esteem of the people generally. Mr. Perkins was married to Clara Medd, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Medd, and they have one child, Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are earnest members of the Methodist Protestant church, and in politics Mr. Perkins gives his support to the Republican party. Genial in manner and generous in disposition, Mr. Perkins is deservedly popular in the circles in which he moves.
HENRY V. LOGAN, M. D., a well known physician of Rush- ville, who served during the period of America's participation in the world war as first lieutenant stationed at Ft. Riley, Kans., is a native son of Rush county, a member of one of the county's old families, and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Noble township on February 4, 1873, son of Samuel H. and Martha A. (McKee) Logan, both also born in this county and the latter of whom is still living. Samuel H. Logan also was born in Noble town- ship, son of James and Elizabeth Logan, the former of whom was a native of Ireland who had come to this country with his parents when a boy and who, as a young man, acquired a quarter of a section of land in Noble township, this county, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent their last days, honored pioncers of that community. James Logan and wife were the parents of eight children, Thomas, John, Oliver, Warder, Samuel, Jonas, Alice and Abigail, and as most of these remained in this county the Logan connection hereabout in this generation is a no inconsiderable one. Samuel HI. Logan completed his schooling in the old Richland Acad- emy and as a young man began farming on his own farm of 160 acres in Richland township, continuing there for five years, at the
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end of which time he bought the old George Street homestead place of 260 acres, where he established his permanent home and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occuring in 1918. Samuel H. Logan and wife were the parents of four children, three of whom are living, the Doctor, his brother, Wilbur Logan, and his sister, Mary E. Logan, who for the past thirty years has been engaged as a missionary in India, acting under the direction of the Presbyterian board of missions. The other son, James Walter Logan, died at the age of twenty-three years in 1902. Wilbur Logan is still living on the old home place in Noble township. He married Nellie Wilson, daughter of John and Nora Wilson, of that township, and has two sons, Alfred and Russell, the former of whom is married and is living on the home place. Doctor Logan was reared on the home farm in Noble township, receiving his early schooling in the excellent schools of that neighborhood and early turned his attention to the study of medicine. He completed his studies in the medical college of Indiana University and upon receiving his degree opened an office for the practice of his profession in the pleasant village of New Salem. That was in 1897 and Doctor Logan remained there for thirteen years, or until 1910 when he moved to Rushville, where he opened an office and where he has ever since been engaged in prac- tice. Following the entrance of the United States into the World war against Teutonic arrogance in 1917 Doctor Logan enlisted his services in the medical corps of the national army, was commis sioned a first lieutenant and was assigned to duty in connection with the operations of the base hospital, located at Ft. Riley, Kans. In 1896 Dr. Henry V. Logan was united in marriage to Bertha Carney. who also was born in this county, daughter of William and Sarah (Guffin) Carney, of Noble township, and to this union three children have been born, but one of whom is living, Olive Louise, born in 1909. Doctor and Mrs. Logan are members of the Christian church and have ever taken an interested part in church affairs as well as in the general social affairs of their home community. The Doctor is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias at Rush- ville and takes a proper interest in the affairs of these organizations.
FRANK M. COFFIN, who was for many years a resident of Carthage, where he was identified with commercial affairs, and who for eight years was engaged in engineering work on forts for the United States Government, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, March 31, 1855, a son of Elihu and Nancy (Jessup) Coffin, natives of North Carolina. Not long after their marriage, the parents of Mr. Coffin removed to Shelby county, Indiana, later to Hancock county, where they rounded out long and honorable careers in the pursuits of farming, and where both passed away. Frank M. Coffin was educated in the public schools of Shelby county and remained on the home farm with his father until he reached the age of twenty years, when, in 1875, he went to Carthage, this county, and became a salesman in the grocery of a brother, E. T. Coffin. From that time
ROBERT HUTCHINSON
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
forward until his death, which occurred on May 21, 1912, he was connected with business affairs there, particularly pertaining to the grocery business, and established a substantial reputation for iuteg- rity and high business principles. He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a Republican in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Friends, the Meeting of which he attended at Carthage. On May 24, 1883, Mr. Coffin was united in marriage to Ella J. Cox, who was born at Carthage, and who after completing her early education liere in the public schools attended DePauw University. She is a daughter of Rice P. and Eunice (Henley) Cox, natives of Carthage. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Coffin, Hazel E., the wife of L. Douglas Cooper, a farmer of Ripley township, this county.
ELMER HUTCHINSON, owner of a prosperous grain elevator at Arlington, was born in Posey township, this county, on August 31, 1873, and is the son of Robert and Margaret (Moore) Hutchin- son, both of whom were natives of Indiana, the former of Franklin county and the latter of Rush county. Robert Hutchinson was educated in the state of Ohio, whither his parents had moved with their family when he was but a child. The subject's father sub- sequently came to Rush county, where he followed farming during the remainder of his life, becoming the owner of 160 acres of land and, later, he and his son, Elmer, became joint owners of 250 acres in this county. In 1885 Robert Hutchinson engaged in the grain business at Arlington, and remained so engaged up to the time of his death. From 1901 up to the time of his death he served as the secretary of the Arlington cemetery, which today stands as a monument to his personal interest and care. As a result of the persistent efforts on his part, this cemetery is generally acknowl- edged to be one of the most beautiful and best kept cemeteries in the state of Indiana, and in the accomplishment of this result Mr. Hutchinson earned the gratitude and appreciation of the entire community. Of the three children who were born to him and his first wife, Elmer is the only one now living. He married second Ida Ridenbaugh, and to this union one child, a daughter, Essie, was born. She died at the age of thirty-five years. Elmer Hutchinson received his educational training in the common schools of Posey township, and he also attended two courses, of ten weeks each, at the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio. On the com- pletion of his studies, Mr. Hutchinson became identified with the grain business at Arlington and on January 1, 1895, he entered into a partnership with his father in the grain business, a relation which was maintained until the death of his father, in 1911. He then continued the business alone until January 17, 1920, at which time his son, Ross M., become a partner of his father. Elmer Hutchinson is a good business man and has made a distinctive suc- cess of this business. He is also the owner of a good farm in this county, on which, however, he performs no personal work beyond a general oversight. He has taken an active part in the larger realms of business life and has become closely identified with the
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Grain Dealers' National Association, of which he is now a director, a member of the executive committee and for two years has been chairman of the appeals arbitration committee. In February, 1895, Elmer Hutchinson was married to Nellie Miller, who was born, reared and educated in Poscy township, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Davis) Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson was born a son, Ross M., born on May 24, 1896. Ross M. Hutchinson attended the Arlington public schools, including four years of high school, and then a year in the high school at Rushville, where he was graduated. He then entered Purdue University, but two years later he enlisted in the United States Marines, serving for twenty- six months during the World war. In 1917 he married Dorothy Wright, who was born and reared in Rush county, and they have one child, Margaret, born on June 9, 1919. Mrs. Nellie Hutchinson died on April 1, 1898, and is buried in the Arlington cemetery. On August 28, 1898, Elmer Hutchinson was married to Bessie L. Rucker, a native of Posey township and the daughter of Henry L. and Susan A. (Siler) Rucker, both also natives of Rush county, and the former a successful merchant in Arlington. To Mr. and Mrs. Hutch- inson have been born three children, namely: Lowell, born on January 28, 1901, now a student in Earlham College; Zelda, born September 11, 1906, now a student in the Arlington High School, and Glen, deceased. Politically, Mr. Hutchinson is independent, re- serving the right to vote in accordance with the dictates of his own judgment, regardless of party lines. Ile is a member of the Christian church at Arlington, of which he is a trustee. Frater- nally, he is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons, at Rushville; the commandery of Knights Templar at Rush- ville; Indianapolis Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and to Murat Temple, of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic shrine. He is also a member of the Columbia Club and the Board of Trade at Indianapolis. Personally, Mr. Hutchin- son is companionable and genial, being a popular member of the various circles in which he moves, and because of his high charac- ter and business success he has won and holds the confidence and respect of the entire community.
WALTER BITNER, an influential farmer and representative citizen of Center township, was born in Howard county, Indiana, on the third day of October, 1873, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Char- ity (Rich) Bitner. Both of these parents were natives of Rush county, the father having been born on February 9, 1839, and the mother on November 5, 1836, and their marriage occurred on February 5, 1860. Mr. Bitner was a farmer through all his active life, being the owner of 326 acres of good land in Center township, this county. Of the eight children born to him and his wife, seven are living, namely : Albert, Mary C., Minerva, Ida I., Walter, Leroy and Lucinda. The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and secured a good common school education, having attended the Mays school. He carly became his father's assistant in the work of the home farm
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and remained with him until his marriage. After that event he began farming on his own account and for seven years he operated rented land, renting from his father for six years and one year from Bert Cohee. He then purchased eighty-nine acres of the home farm, where he now lives, and he has here established as complete and attractive home as can be found in the vicinity. He erected a new house, barn and other buildings and has kept everything in the best of repair, and all of the conveniences about the premises are of the most modern type, the house containing bathroom, hot and cold running water, and other desirable features. Mr. Bitner has also a supply of natural gas on his place. He carries on general farming operations and raises all the live stock the farm will support. On October 12, 1898, Mr. Bitner was married to Eva J. Foust, a native of Ripley township, and the daughter of Carl and Mary J. (Branden- burg) Foust. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foust, of whom threc are living, Lora, Charles W. and Eva J. (Mrs. Bitner). James A. died at the age of thirteen years and Mrs. Ida A. Gilson died at the age of twenty-eight years. Politically, Mr. Bitner is a Demo- crat and he takes an intelligent interest in the trend of public events, giving his support to every movement for the advancement of the general welfare. He is a member of Raleigh Lodge, No. 640, F. & A. M., at present (1921) the senior warden of the lodge.
PETER GILSON, one of the influential and highly esteemed citizens of Jackson township, takes his lineage from old Virginia. That section of the country which was associated with so much of our early national history became the home of his ancestors in an early day, and of Rush county, Indiana, they also were pioneers, the first member of the subject's immediate family to locate here having been his grandfather, who came from the Old Dominion state and located in Rush county. Among his children was William Gilson. who born in Virginia, was brought to Indiana in his early youth, followed farming here during the most of his active life, and who married Sallie Bruce, a native of Rush county. Among their chil- dren is Peter Gilson, the immediate subject of this review, whose farm is located in Jackson township. He was born on January 1, 1844, was educated in the schools of his home neighborhood and remained on the home farm, assisting his father until his marriage, in 1878, when he took up farming on his own account, renting land for sev- eral years, but eventually he bought the land in Jackson township where he now lives. The place comprises eighty acres of fine tillable land, which is well improved and has returned abundant crops for the labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Gilson here follows a general line of farming and stock raising and is meeting with the success that always rewards industry, persistency and the exercise of good business judg- ment. On March 28, 1878, Mr. Gilson was married to Nancy Rogues, who was born and reared in Jackson township, the daughter of Atlas and Susan Rogues, who were farming folk in Jackson township and in whose family were the following children: James K., Marshall F., Ida May and Nancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilson were born three children, of whom two are living, William F., and Iona Bell, who
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became the wife of Charles G. Mauzy, of Rush county. Fraternally, Mr. Gilson is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, at Rush- ville, and politically, a Democrat.
DEWEY HAGEN. In the history of journalism in Rush county there have been few instances to parallel the enterprise displayed by Dewey Hagen, of Milroy, publisher of the Milroy Press and Laurel Review as well as of other publications. When he took charge of his present establishment, but a few years ago, it was a typical country town print shop, with out-of-date equipment and obsolete methods. Today it is an enterprise that boasts of the latest improved machinery of the trade and its affairs are thriving and flourishing in a degree that the former owner hardly would have considered possible. Mr. Hagan was born at Sailor Springs, Clay county, Illinois, July 11, 1898, a son of Everett and Katie M. (Hulen) Hagen, the former a native of Richland county, Illinois, and the latter of Clay county that state. In his earlier years, Everett Hagen followed the trade of carpenter, but later turned his attention to farming, and at the present time is the owner of about 120 acres of good land in Clav county. Six children were born to the parents: Dewitt, Grace, John. Dewey, Bessie and a child who died in infancy. Dewey Hagen re- ceived his early schooling at Sailor Springs, following which he spent two years in the high school at Flora, Ill. Seeing an oppor- tunity at the latter place to learn the printing business, for which he had always had an inclination, he left school and became a printer's "devil" in the establishment there, and during the following two years learned much about the business. So much, in fact, that he was able to take charge of the weekly newspaper shop of the Repub- lican, at Louisville, Ill. After two years of service in that capacity he severed his connection and came to Milroy, where he invested his small capital in the Milroy Press. At the time of his arrival things looked anything but propitious for success. The newspaper itself was in precarious state of health, old-time methods prevailed in the shop, and all the matter was set by hand. Mr. Hagen, however, with characteristic energy, set about to change conditions. During the first year of his stay he put in a linotype machine, with a single magazine, with which he worked four years. This was then dis- posed of in favor of another of larger capacity, this being of four magazines and two keyboards, the only one of its type in Rush county and one of the few to he found in Indiana. Another machine has just been added to this equipment. Mr. Hagen has shown his enter- prise further by putting in a Ludlow typograph machine, the only one of its kind to be installed in a country town office in the United States. His present press, recently installed, has a capacity of 2,500 impressions an hour, and other equipment throughout the shop is proportionately modern and complete. When Mr. Hagen took charge of affairs, a single helper was sufficient to conduct the affairs of the plant, while now employment is given to four assistants. Mr. Hagen is publishing two weekly papers, the Milroy Press and the Laurel Review, the former of which has a circulation of 600 and the latter 400 readers. He also publishes school papers for the schools
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