USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 20
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WILLIAM H. NELSON AND WIFE
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retired from active farm work and moved to Arlington, where he was residing at the time of his death, which occurred on September 3, 1914. Mr. Nelson was industrious, energetic and a man of sound business judgment, so that he was enabled to add to his land hold- ings from time to time until at the time of his death he was the owner of 1,100 acres of fine, fertile farm land, 900 acres lying in Rush county and 200 acres in Shelby county. During his active years on the farm Mr. Nelson gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock. He was practical and up-to-date in his methods and was numbered among the progressive farmers of his county. On September 29, 1861, William HI. Nelson was married to Elizabeth Adams, who was born in Posey township, this county, the daughter of Jesse and Millie (Allander) Adams, both of whom also were natives of Rush county. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born seven children, of whom six are living, namely : Adella, Mil- lie, Margaret, Jesse, John, Myrta and Fannie. Adella became the wife of William Eaton, a farmer in Shelby county; Millie is the wife of James Draper, a farmer in Posey township, Rush county, and they have nine children, Olive, Cora, Nellie, Pearl, Waldo, Alphonso, Ozrow, Millie and Emerson, all of whom are married excepting Millie; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Perry Col- lins, a farmer of Posey township, and the mother of two children, Harry and Claude; Jesse, a farmer in Shelby county, married Kathryn Price and they have three children, Bessie, Brainard and Warren; John, a farmer in Posey township, married Myrta Offutt and they have one child, Sabert D .; Myrta is the wife of Henry Conway, a farmer in Posey township; Fannie is the wife of Noah Moore, a farmer in Posey township, and they have two children, Wildean and John Roy. Mr. Nelson was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic party and always took a keen interest in the trend of public events, especially as relating to his own community. He was an earnest member of the Christian church at Arlington.
GEORGE MURPHY, an experienced farmer of Rush county, now residing at Rushville but actively interested in a large property in Union township, was born in Noble township, this county, Novem- ber 1, 1856. His parents were John and Anna (McCrory) Murphy, who were born in Butler county, Ohio, and Fayette county, Indiana, respectively. Of their family of six children the following are living : Charles, of New Salem; Jessie, of Noble township; Mrs. Ida George. of Orange; LeRoy, of New Salem, and George, of Rushville. The father was a farmer throughout life and at one time owned 260 acres of land in Noble township. George Murphy attended the Apple- gate district school in his boyhood, then became his father's helper and remained on the home farm until his marriage. When starting out for himself, Mr. Murphy rented land for several years, later buy- ing forty acres in Noble township, which property he held for some years but ultimately sold it. Mr. Murphy is now operating a farm of 160 acres in Union township that belongs to his wife, carrying on general crop raising and paying some attention to good stock. He
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raises a few cattle every year and about 150 head of hogs. Mr. Murphy has been twice married. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Julia Thompson, of this county, and to this union was born one child, a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Bowen, of Orange. On October 9, 1884, he married Melvina Murdock, who was born in Keokuk county. Iowa, daughter of Hugh and Martha J. (Legg) Murdock, who were parents of three children, of whom Mrs. Murphy now alone survives. Mrs. Murphy's father died and her mother married Francis M. Ham- ilton, to which union three children were born : Francis M., Theodocia and Andrew Jackson, the last two of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had a son, Otto Chester, born on October 25, 1885. He married Aletha A. Stephens, who died on September 15, 1912, and her burial was in East Hill cemetery. Otto Chester Murphy was a farmer in Rush county and was widely known. His death occurred on February 12, 1920, leaving one daughter, Helen J., who was born on November 19, 1910, who is attending school at Rushville and makes her home with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church. Mr. Murphy has always been interested in public affairs and votes with the Republican party.
OLIVER W. SMITH, who died at his home in Milroy in 1904 and whose widow is still living there, was one of the best known young farmers of that section of Rush county and at his passing at the age of thirty-two years left a good memory, a modest tribute to which it is but fitting should here be set out in this volume of bi- ographies relating to the old families of the county. He was born on a farm in Anderson township on December 26, 1871, son of Jetson and Clarinda Reardin Smith, both of whom were born in Indiana, members of pioneer families hereabout, and whose last days were spent here. Jetson Smith was a well-to-do farmer and he also gave considerable attention to public affairs, having served one term as county clerk. He was re-elected to that office but before entering upon his second term died, leaving his widow with two children, the subject of this memorial having had a sister, Cora. Reared on the home farm in Anderson township, Oliver W. Smith received his schooling in the local schools and as a young man gave his attention to the management of the farm of 200 acres left by his father and was thus engaged until his death. After his marriage he made his home in Milroy and it was there his last days were spent, his death occurring there on November 5, 1904. Mr. Smith was a Democrat. In his fraternal relations he was a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and took a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. He was a member of the Christian church, as is his widow, and also gave proper attention to local church work. It was in 1898 that Oliver W. Smith was united in marriage to Bessie Jack- man, who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Caro- line (Tompkins) Jackman, both members of pioneer families here. Since her husband's death Mrs. Smith has continued to make her home at Milroy, where she is very pleasantly situated. As noted above, she is a member of the Christian church and has ever given
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her interested attention to church work as well as to all well directed movements having to do with the advancement of the common good in the community.
NOAH MATLOCK, a retired farmer who died at his home in Circleville, this county, December 12, 1920, was born on February 26, 1844, in Rushville township, and had lived in this county all his life. His parents were Thomas S. and Mary ( Alexander) Matlock. who had a family of twelve children, the following surviving: Smith H., of Howard county, Indiana ; Mrs. Caroline Amos, also of Howard county; William A., of that same county; Cicero, of Kokomo, In- diana; Mrs. Mary A. Shropshire, of Rushville, and Bruce, of Circle- ville. The father of this family was born in Overton county, Tennes- see, and the mother in Kentucky. They made the journey to Indiana on horseback, arriving in Rush county on August 13, 1831, and the late Noah Matlock owned the house in which his parents spent their first night in Indiana. His father was an educated man and had taught school for twelve years in Kentucky before coming to Indiana, where he acquired large bodies of land and followed farming. He owned 455 acres in Rushville township, this county, and 220 acres in Howard county. He took an interest in having his children edu- cated and after Noah left school he was associated with his father as a farmer until he was thirty years old. Following his marriage he rented 140 acres from his father-in-law, which he operated for six years, after which he bought thirty-seven acres in Rushville township. that being the nucleus of his later extensive farm of 286 acres. Dur- ing his active years Mr. Matlock carried on general farming and raised a good grade of stock, usually marketing 100 head of hogs yearly. Upon retiring he gave his land to his children and for some years, or until his death, lived at Circleville. On September 24, 1874, Noah Matlock married Martha E. King, who was born in Rushville township, this county, daughter of Elisha and Martha (Wood) King, natives of Kentucky and Wayne county, Indiana, respectively. They had ten children of whom Mrs. Matlock is the only survivor. Her father was a heavy landowner in Rush county, owning a farm of 500 acres in Rushville township and 140 acres in Anderson township. Mr. and Mrs. Matlock had four children, two of whom survive. Ernest K. and Florence. Ernest K. Matlock is a banker in the city of Detroit, Michigan. He married Sarah Webster and has two chil- dren, Webster and Martha J. Florence Matlock married Theodore Abercrombie, a farmer in Rushville township. Mr. Matlock was a member of the Christian church, as is his widow. In his political views he was a Democrat.
CARL FREDERICK BEHER, D. D. S., one of the well-known dental practitioners of Rushville, was born in Rush county on April 24, 1879, the son of John Frederick and Amelia E. (Dill) Beher. both of Rush county. Jolin F. Beher was for a great many years a popular merchant at Occident, this county, where he conducted a general merchandising business until the time of his death in Sep- tember, 1881, at his home in Occident. After his death, Mrs. Beher married William N. Megee, of Rush county. She was the mother of
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three children, Carl Frederick Beher, Minnie T. Beher and Grace (Megee) Anderson. Dr. Carl F. Beher received his early educa- tional training in the public schools of Rushville, completing his sophomore year in the high school. He then went into Dr. Megee's' dental office as apprentice for two years. In 1898 he entered the Ohio College of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati, and after a thoroughly comprehensive course there, was graduated in 1901 with the degree of D. D. S. In November of the same year, he opened an office in Rushville, where he has practiced continuously since, a conscientious student of his profession. On December 12, 1905, Doctor Beher mar- ried Lucia Wilson, and to this union there has come one child, Will- iam Frederick, born on July 10, 1907, who is attending school in Rushville. Both the Doctor and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church, and politically belong to the Democratic party. He holds membership in a number of fraternal and professional societies, the Masons, in which order he has attained the Scottish Rite ; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Rotary Club, the State and National Dental Associations, and the Psi Omega dental fraternity. To the dentists of Rushville belong the credit of originat- ing the plan of making Wednesday afternoon a holiday for dentists, an idea which has been taken up by the profession throughout the entire state. The local representatives of this profession are Drs. F. R. McClanahan, F. M. Sparks, Hale Pearsey, Charles S. Green, P. H. Chadwick, Frank Smith and Carl Frederick Beher, and to the admirable spirit of friendly co-operation which has been displayed by' them may be directly attributed the success of the organization which they maintain.
JAMES P. ARCHEY, who died at his home at Milroy in 1918 and who for years had been regarded as one of the substantial land- owners and farmers of that part of the county, a man of influence along several lines, was a Virginian by birth, but had been a res- ident of Indiana since his majority and had thus come to regard himself as much a Hoosier as though "native and to the manner born." He was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, October 14, 1845, son of Peter and Abigail Archey, both natives of the Old Dominion, who came to Indiana, driving through with their fam- ily and belongings in 1866, and established their home in Shelby county, locating on a farm where they spent their last days. Peter Archey and wife were the parents of nine children, of whom three, Mary, Charles and Andrew, are still living, the others besides the subject of this memorial sketch having been Joseph, John, Robert, Blaine, and Thomas. As will be noted by a comparison of the dates ahove given, James P. Archey was twenty-one years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents. He had been reared to the farm in his native Virginia and upon coming here resumed farming, working with his father until his marriage two years later, after which he rented a farm in Rush county, and began operations on his own account. His affairs prospered and he presently bought a farm of eighty acres and also began buying and selling live stock
JAMES P. ARCHEY
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on a considerable scale and in both farming and in his stock deal- ing did well. After a while he sold his "eighty" to advantage and bought another place, the acreage of which he gradually increased until he became the owner of a fine farm of 240 acres in Anderson township and on that place made his home until his retirement from the farm in 1888 and removal to Milroy, afterward giving most of his attention to his stock buying, and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on December 9, 1918. In his political views Mr. Archey was a Democrat and ever since coming to Indiana had given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Milroy and had taken a proper interest in the af- fairs of that popular organization. He was a member of the Meth- odist church, as is his widow, was for years a class leader in the church, superintendent of the Sunday school and a member of the board of trustees, and in other ways was helpful in strengthening and advancing the labors of the congregation. It was on December 1, 1868, that James P. Archey was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hill, who was born in this county, daughter of James and Mary (Armstrong) Hill, and to this union were born seven children, of whom six are still living, namely : Effie, who married Leslie Scull and has two children, Edna and Clarence; Edgar, who married Minnie Walker and has three children, Clara, Elmer and Margaret ; Zelma, who married Walter Mansfield and has two children, Car- los and Camilla; Hugh, who married Eva McCracken and has one child, Lawrence; Clyde, who married Anna Aldridge and has two children, James William and Mary Louise, and Cleve, who married Dorothy Allison and has four children, James Francis, Robert Alli- son, Clara Belle and Edward Elsworth. Four of Mrs. Archey's grandchildren are married and she has two great-grandchildren, as follows: Edna Scull married William Davis; Clarence Scull mar- ried Fay Westerfield and has one child, Dorothy Louise; Clara married William Bentz, and Carlos Mansfield married Ida McGuire and has one child, a daughter, Marie Elizabeth. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Archey has continued to make her home at Mil- roy, where she is very pleasantly situated. As noted above, she was born in this county, but was but a babe when her parents moved from here over into the neighboring county of Franklin, where she received her schooling and grew to womanhood, and where her parents spent the remainder of their lives. James Hill, father of Mrs. Archey, was a Pennsylvanian by birth. who had come to Indiana in the days of his young manhood and here saw fit to remain. He was a skilled carpenter and builder and followed that vocation quite successfully both during the time of his resi- dence in Rush county and after moving to Franklin county. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides Mrs. Archey (the first born) being Fannie, John, Emma, Jesse, Cyrus and Alice.
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DAYTON HUNGERFORD, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of this county, now living at Milroy, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm: in Orange township on April 7, 1848, son of Calvin and Eleanor (Sefton) Hungerford, both of whom were born in Ohio but who spent most of their lives in this county, for many years useful and honored residents of Orange township. Calvin Hungerford was born in But- ler county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. Ile then came to Indiana and located in Rush county, engaged for some time in farm work on the farm he bought when he first came here and then erected a combined saw and gristmill on the creek in Orange township, the same being operated by water power and was for years there engaged as a miller, but as the products of the local mills began to be crowded out by the more widely distributed products of the larger mills dis- continued that business and bought a farm in Orange township and began to develop his farming interests which he gradually extended until he became the owner of a fine farm of 500 acres, and on that place spent his last days, his death occurring before he had reached middle age. Calvin Hungerford was a man of influence in his com- munity and for several terms served as justice of the peace in and for Orange township, as "Squire" Hungerford being widely known throughout the county. His widow survived him and continued to maintain the home, the operations of which were carried on by her elder sons until finally distribution of the estate was made. Calvin Hungerford and wife were the parents of nine children, six of whon. are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henry, of Anderson township; John, of Grant county, this state; Sarah E., wife of Israel Piper, of Milroy; Orlando, of Shelby county, this state, and Caroline, wife of Elbert Hodges, of Posey township, this county. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Dayton Hungerford received his schooling in the schools of that neighbor- hood and early began to take, in his mother's behalf, an active inter- est in the work of the farm, thus growing up to be an excellent farmer. He remained at home until his marriage, after which he bought a tract of forty acres, to which he presently added an adjoin- ing tract of fifty-five acres, this giving him, with what he had inher- ited, a farm of 160 acres and as his operations prospered he continued to add to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of 490 acres in Orange and Anderson township. In addition to his gen- eral farming Mr. Hungerford gave considerable attention to the rais- ing of live stock, with particular attention to hogs, and did well in his operations, continuing thus actively engaged until his retirement from the farm in 1905 and removal to Milroy, where he bought a pleasant home and is still living. It was in 1872 that Dayton Hunger- ford was united in marriage to Perlina Peck, who was born in this county, daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Peck, and to this union were born six children, namely: Elbridge (deceased), who married Flora Marsh; Elizabeth, who married Harry Biggs and has one child, Mary Margaret; Luther, who married Kate Mull and has two chil- dren, Wesley and Helen; Dorsey, who married Myrtle Norris and
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has two children, Bernard and Tedric; Calvin, who married Rebecca Webb and has two children, Glenn and Maxina, and Jesse, who mar- ried Gertrude Kellum and has three children, Howard, Mildred and Geraldine. Mr. and Mrs. Hungerford are members of the Christian church and Mr. Hungerford served for some time as a member of the board of trustees of the same. In his political views Mr. Hunger- ford has always aligned himself with the Democratic party, but has never taken a particularly active part in political affairs.
BENJAMIN F. JONES, a retired farmer, now residing at 1208 North Perkins street, Rushville, is a Kentuckian by birth, but has spent the greater part of his life in Rush county. IIe was born on January 4, 1867, in Scott county, Kentucky, son of Nelson P. and Eliza (Powell) Jones, whose family contained six children, the four survivors being Napoleon, Jefferson, John and Benjamin F. The father followed farming all his life. Benjamin F. Jones attended school in his native county and afterward in Rush county. He then "worked out" on farms for twelve years, after which he rented land for eight years, then finally purchased ten acres of good land in Ripley township, on which he lived for two years, then rented it to a tenant, moving then to Rushville township, where he rented and for two years operated an eighty-acre farm. He then bought a farm of forty-seven acres in the same township and conducted it for three years, then sold to advantage and later bought the farm of 100 acres that he yet owns, to which he subsequently added twenty-seven acres. While living on this farm Mr. Jones carried on general farming and also raised about two car loads of hogs annually. Mr. Jones has always been a man of enterprise and has often shown good judgment in handling business propositions. In 1910 he embarked in the live- stock business and for three years did a large amount of buying and selling. He moved then to Rushville and embarked in the auto- mobile business which he continued for more than six years, during this time being agent for the Willys-Overland company. Since then he has lived practically retired, having his farm of 127 acres satisfac- torily leased. On September 2, 1891, Mr. Jones married Willie Whit- ton, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, daughter of Kennedy and Nancy (Connley) Whitton. They have one son, Kanada, who is a farmer in Rush county. He married Grace Clifton and has two children, Maxine and Panline. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Plum Creek Christian Church. He has always given his political support to the Democratic party.
JAMES HENRY DAVIS, a substantial and well known retired farmer of Anderson township, this county, now living at Milroy, where he and his family are very comfortably situated, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life, doing well his part in the general development of the community in which his family has been represented since pioneer days. Mr. Davis was born on a farm in Anderson township on September 19, 1856, son of Samuel and Mary (Henry) Davis, both of whom were born in Kentucky, members of pioneer families, and further mention of whom is made elsewhere
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in this volume of biographies relating to the old families of Rush county, together with additional details regarding the Davis family this county. Reared on the home farm, James Henry Davis received his schooling in the little old log school house which served his home district in those days, also the old Richland Academy, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the home farm. After his marriage Mr. Davis began farming on his own account, renting his father's farm, and was thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he bought a tract of eighty-four acres and on that farm established his home. By diligent application his affairs prospered and as conditions favored he gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of 164 acres, which he still owns, and on which he made his home until in 1899 when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Milroy, where he is now living. Mr. Davis is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. In 1878 James Henry Davis was united in marriage to Lena Barton, daughter of James A. Barton, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, Wildie Davis, who is now (1921) a member of the staff of teachers maintained in the schools of Murphys- boro, Illinois. The Davises have a pleasant liome at Milroy and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of their home community.
WILLIAM P. KING for almost a half a century has been help- ing to make history in Rush county, and so well has he directed his energies that in 1910, at the age of fifty-four years, he was able to retire from active life on a comfortable competence. He has led a simple, active and methodical life, and his career has been one in which he has won his success fairly and without resource to unfair advantages. Mr. King was born in Richland township on December 28, 1856, a son of Charles and Elvira (Tryon) King, natives of this county, and a grandson of Joseph King, who was an early emigrant to Rush county from the state of Pennsylvania. Charles King was reared in Rush county, and attended school in Richland township, in which community he was married. As a young man he took up the trade of cooper, which he followed during the early years of his life, following which he embarked in farming in association with his father until he got a start as an agriculturist. Later, in partnership with his brother, William, he worked at farming and the cooper trade, but eventually started farming on his own account, his original purchase being forty acres. To this he added from time to time until he became the owner of nearly 300 acres of valuable land, and on this property he continued to carry on successful activities until the time of his retirement. When he died, in April, 1897, his community lost one of its capable agriculturists and constructive citizens. Mrs. King died in 1895, the mother of five children : Mary Eliza, Zenas, Issalo, Alcie and William P. William P. King received his education in the
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