USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
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THOMAS B. IIENLEY
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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, "River- side 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 lead- ing 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 in- fluential 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 was 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 twenty- five 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. IIenley, born on January 30, 1897, who completed his schooling in Purdue Univer- sity, and is now at home managing "Riverside Farm" for his mother. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Henley has con- tinued 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
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(West Virginia) she having gone to that institution upon complet- ing 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 town- ship, 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 Com- promise 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 town- ship. He devotes his land to general farming and stockraising, ship- ping 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 chil- dren, 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. Ile votes with the Republican party.
MICHAEL KNEY, a general farmer in Walker township, was born in that township on July 15, 1860, 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 he prospered and acquired 700 acres of valuable land. He married Elizabeth Hael, whose peo-
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ple 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 town- ship, 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 daugh- ters attending school at Manilla. In political matters Mr. Kney is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Evangelical churel. in Union township, Shelby county.
FRANK OFFUTT, president of the Arlington Bank of Arling- ton 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, 1860, the son of John and Priscilla (Gordon) Offutt, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush county. Both attended school in Rush county, John Offutt having been brought here in childhood, and on attaining ma- ture 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 army and was killed during that conflict. The subject's paternal grand- parents were Sabert and Mary HI. (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 farm- ing 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 300 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
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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 wel- fare 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 mar- riage with Nora F. Conaway, the daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Allander) Conaway, the former a native of Fleming county, Ken- tucky, 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 Arling- ton 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
BEN L. SMITHI
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HISTORY OF RUSH 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 Green- castle, 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 Com- pany 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 re- turning 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 state- wide 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, daugh- ter 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 at- tended the Rushville high school, and also the Graham Academy, from which he received his diploma in 1891. Ile 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 re- mained 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 under the firm name of Kiplinger & Smith. In the practice of his chosen profes- sion, 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 Four railroad, and in September, 1920, was appointed general council for the Indianapolis & Connersville Traction Company.
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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 H. SCHRICHTE. 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 monu- ment 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 cutter 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 Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Mr. Schrichte is one of the substantial citizens of Rushville, and has done much toward increasing the commercial standing of the county seat.
O. 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 chil- dren the following are living: Orval, of Indianapolis; John, of Rushville; O. S., residing at Rushville; Gertrude, of Rush county; Jessie A., of Effingham, Ill .; Stella, of Rush county, and Adolph, of
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Indianapolis. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, active in Republican politics, served several years as trustee of Noble town- ship 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 Vol- unteer Infantry. O. E. Humes attended school at New Salem, in Noble township, where he received a practical education, after which 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 neigh- borhood 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, mem- ber 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, Clande R. Crane completed his schooling by a course of two years at Rose Polytechnic School at Terre Haute and upon leaving
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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, daugh- ter 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 deserv- ing of the proud American title of self-made man. Sylvester Gwin- nup was born in Richland township on February 19, 1862, and he is descended from sterling old pioneer stock. His paternal grand- father, 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 chil- dren, of which number six are now living, namely : Sylvester, Ozias, John L., Minnie, Luther and Dora. Sylvester Gwinnup at- tended 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 cighty-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 reputa- tion 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 be- came the wife of Ilarold Moore and is the mother of two children, Seth and Mary Alice. Otis Gwinnup married Stella Cox and Ruby Gwinnup became the wife of Paul Davison. Politically, Mr. Gwin- nup supports the Democratic party and his fraternal relations are
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