USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
W. II. FRY AND WIFE
181
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
endeavor to the development of the farm and after his father's death took over the place and has continued to reside there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In 1884 W. H. Fry was united in marriage to Jennie Bilby, who was reared in Fayette county, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Amy, who married Carl Ging and has two children, Norman C. and Marjorie Ellouise; Minnie, wife of A. W. Werking; Dottie, who married Ray White and has two children, Ella Jane and Wilma May, and Ozetta, wife of Irving Walker. The Frys are members of the Plum Creek Christian church and Mr. Fry is a clerk of the official board of the same. In their political affiliations they are Democrats. Mrs. Fry was born in Polk county, Iowa, daughter of Jasper and Margaret (Hazzard) Bilby, the latter of whom was born in Auglaize county, Ohio. Jasper Bilby was born in Pennsyl- vania and was but a boy when he came to Indiana with his parents, the family locating in Fayette county, where he grew to man- hood and was married. Some time after his marriage he moved to Iowa and for a time resided in Polk county, that state, but later returned to Indiana and resumed his vocation of farming in Fay- ette county and was thus engaged there the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen children, of whom six are still living, Mrs. Fry having three brothers, Jasper, Allen and Dr. F. N. Bilby, and two sisters, Ola and Stella.
GEORGE T. KEISLING, a well-known farmer of Richland township and one of Rush county's representative citizens, was born on his father's farm in Richland township, on February 15, 1883, the son of L. W. and Lillie (Gordon) Keisling, the former a native of Rush county and the latter born in Franklin county, Indiana. L. W. Keisling spent practically his entire life in Rush county, having been reared here. He secured his elementary educa- tion in the local schools, and then attended Moores Hill College, where he completed his studies. He then returned home and en- gaged in farming, which vocation he followed continuously here up to the time of his retirement. In 1879 he moved to Richland town- ship and bought 240 acres of land, to which he added until his holdings amounted to 400 acres, all in Richland township. To him and his wife were born three children, George T., the immediate subject of this review, Jennie Katherine and Leo W. George T. Keisling attended the public schools of Richland township, and after completing his schooling he turned his attention to the home farm, assisting his father in its operation until his marriage, in 1904. ITe then engaged in farming on his own account in Anderson township, renting land there for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Richland township and for a year cultivated some of his father's land. Ile then rented the Jake Fisher farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself for ten years. At the end of that time he bought sixty-six acres of land south of the Fisher farm on which he resided until he moved to the place
-
182
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
he now owns, now having total holdings of 161 acres, and here he has met with a very satisfactory measure of success. Ile carries on a general line of farming and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding about a carload of hogs annually. On November 9, 1904, Mr. Keisling was married to Maude E. Fisher, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Fisher, and to them have been born two children, Lillian, deceased, and Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Keisling are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has been a member of the board of trustees of the local society for more than ten years. In matters political, he gives his support to the Republican party.
CLAUDE B. HUNT, one of Union township's well known farm- ers and landowners, proprietor of an excellent farm of 100 acres on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Rushville township on May 15, 1875, son of George W. and Sarah F. (Holmes) Hunt, both of whom also were born in Rush county, members of old families here. George W. Hunt was born in Noble township, a son of Harrison and Diana Hunt, the latter of whom was born in Mason county, Kentucky. Harrison Hunt was born in Harrison, Ohio, son of Samuel Hunt, who was a son of Jonathan Hunt, of New Jersey. Harrison Hunt was but a boy when he came to Indi- ana with his parents from Ohio, the family settling on a farm in Noble township, this county, among the pioneers of that section. In his turn Harrison Hunt became a farmer in that same township and there reared his family, his son, George W. Hunt, in his turn also becoming a farmer, a vocation he followed all his life, in addi- tion to which he also became widely known hereabout as a horse- man. George W. Ilunt and wife were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Sallie, Sidney L., Inez, Ray, Blaine and Blanche. Reared on the farm in Rushville township, Claude B. Hunt received his schooling in the local schools and continued farming with his father until his marriage, when he rented a farm and started out on his own account, continuing as a renter in Rushville and Noble townships for ten years, at the end of which time he bought a "forty" in the latter township. Three years later he sold that place to advantage and bought an "eighty" on which he made his home for six years. Ile then bought the farm of 100 acres in Union township on which he is now living and has since made his home there, he and his family being quite pleasantly situated. Mr. Hunt has his farm improved in admirable shape and in addition to his general farming feeds out around 100 head of hogs annually and is doing well. It was in 1898 that Claude B. IInnt was united in mar- riage to Theodosia Guffin, who also was born in this county, daugh- ter of Andrew and Clarinda (Brooks) Guffin, and to this union three children have been born, Marjorie, Georgie and Wilna. The Hunts are members of the Ben Davis Christian church, and Mr.
183
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Hunt formerly was a deacon of the church. He is a Republican and is affiliated with the local lodge of the Red Men at Rushville.
WILLIAM T. HUFFERD, a representative agriculturist and stock man of Posey township, with which locality his life has been closely interwoven, is a native son of Rush county, having been born in Rushville township on December 5, 1865. His parents, John H. and Rhoda (Adams) Hufferd, also were natives of this county, the father having been born in Rushville and the mother in Posey township. John H. Hufferd was a carpenter by trade and followed that vocation during practically his entire active life. To himself and wife seven children were born, and all are living, namely : John, Lot, Benjamin, William T., Edward, Laura and Amanda. William T. Hufferd was educated in the schools of Rush- ville township and after completing his studies he continued to live at home, being engaged in the cultivation of the home farm up to the time of his father's death. He then went to Hancock county, Indiana, and engaged in farming on rented land, cultivating 100 acres and remaining there about five years. He then moved to Washington township and rented land for nine years, after which he moved to Posey township, Rush county, and bought fifty-eight acres, which he operated during the ensuing five years. He then sold that tract and bought the splendid farm where he now lives in Posey township, comprising 134 acres. Here he carries on general farming and also feeds about two carloads of hogs a year. The place is well improved and its general appearance indicates the owner to be a man of good taste and up-to-date ideas. On March 13, 1888, William T. Hufferd was united in marriage to Martha Eaton, a native of Posey township and the daughter of John A. and Millie Ann (Miller) Eaton. Mr. Eaton was a farmer in Posey township during all his active life and was numbered among the substantial and influential citizens of his community. He and his wife were the parents of five children, John, William, Elizabeth (deceased), Martha and Susan. Mr. and Mrs. Hufferd are the parents of five children, John, Ralph, Millie, Della and Thomas, all of whom are graduates of the Arlington high school. John IIuf- ferd, who is farming in Posey township, married Ethel Northeu and they have two children, Fred and Evelyn. Ralph Hufferd, who is a rural mail carrier, living in Posey township, married Elma Cof- fin and they have one child, William. Millie IIufferd became the wife of Albert Reddick, a farmer in Posey township, and they have one child, Deward. Della Hufferd is the wife of Russell Orme, a farmer in Walker township, this county. Mr. Hufferd gives his support to the Democratic party and, fraternally, he is a member of Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington. Ile and his wife are earnest members of the Chris- tian Union church at Homer. In all the relations of life he has been true to the dictates of his conscience and his judgment and has won and retains a host of warm and loyal friends.
184
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
THOMAS R. LEE, trustee of Posey township, a worthy repre- sentative of that type of American business man who may properly be termed "progressive" and a well-known farmer of Posey town- ship, this county, was born in that same township on May 6, 1878, and is the son of Harlan and Catherine (Nelson) Lee, both of whom also were born and reared in Rush county. Harlan Lee followed the vocation of carpentering in his earlier years, but later he turned his attention to farming, confining his operations to Posey township, where he acquired 236 acres of land. He also owned property in Arlington. He was a man of fine qualities of head and heart and enjoyed universal confidence in his community. Of the seven children who were born to him and his wife, four are now living, namely : Adenia, Arthur, Florence and Thomas. Thomas R. Lee attended the schools of Arlington, and after completing his studies he continued on the home farm, working for his father until his marriage. He then rented 120 acres of land, which he cultivated for about four years, at the end of whichi time he moved onto the place where he now lives, a part of which he bought, the remainder being inherited by his wife and himself. Mr. Lee has made many splendid improvements on this farm, including a new residence, and it is now one of the attractive and profitable farms of that locality. He carries on general farming and stock raising, feeding a large number of hogs annually for market. On October 2, 1901, Mr. Lee was married to Ruth A. Addison, a native of Rush county and the daughter of Jefferson and Elizabeth M. (Cathon) Addison, both of whom were also natives of Rush county. Mr. and Mrs. Addison were the parents of five children, all of whom are living, namely : William A., Della, Orlando, Charles and Ruth A. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been born two children, Mabel, born on January 6, 1904, and Harlan, born on June 26, 1906, both of whom are students in the Arlington high school. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Arlington. Mr. Lee gives his active support to the Republican party and is the present trustee of Posey township. Fraternally, he is a member of Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington. Mr. Lee's life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and he has so ordered his actions as to win the esteem and good will of all who know him.
WILLIAM P. SMITH, former assessor of Jackson township and an honored veteran of the Civil war, who died at liis home in Jackson township in the spring of 1915, was born in that township' on March 1, 1842, but at the age of four years was taken by his parents to Iowa, the family locating in the vicinity of Keokuk, where he grew to manhood. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Smith enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of E Company, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Upon the expiration of this term of enlistment he re-enlisted and returned to service as a member of H Company, One Hundred and Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer
THOMAS R. LEE AND FAMILY
185
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Infantry, with which command he remained until mustered out at the close of the war, his total service covering a period of more than four years. Among the notable engagements of the war in which Mr. Smith participated were the battles of Lookout Mountain and Shiloh. In the latter engagement he was severely wounded by being shot in the left leg. The ball was not extracted and he carried it with him to his grave. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Smith returned to the place of his birth and became' permanently located in Rnsh county, becoming engaged in the sawmill business in Jackson township, a vocation which he continued during the remain- der of his active life. Mr. Smith was a Republican and served two terms as assessor of Jackson township. He was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Thongh not a member of any church he was reared a Baptist and his support was given to the local church of that faith. He died on March 20, 1915. On February 20, 1870, not long after his return to Rush connty, William P. Smith married Frances Elizabeth Porter, who was born in this county on January 2, 1848, daughter of John and Sarah (Hilkert) Porter, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Pennsylvania, who had been residents of this county since the days of their youth, their respective parents having been pioneers of the county. John Porter was but six years of age when he came to Rush county with his parents from Virginia and he spent the rest of his life here, a substantial member of the community in which he lived. To William P. and' Frances Elizabeth (Porter) Smith were born seven children, Lulu P., Laura E., Mila A., Charles L., Anna (deceased), Hazel M. and Cassius Smith, the latter of whom served as a soldier during the period of America's participation in the World war, going overscas on June 10, 1918, as a member of A Company, Sixty-first Engineers, and returning on September 20, 1919.
C. M. GEORGE, superintendent of schools of Rush county and for years an earnest factor in the cause of the advancement of educa- tion hereabout, was born in the neighboring county of Franklin, but has been a resident of this county for the past twenty years or' more. He was born on October 10, 1873, son of William H. and Lavina (George) George, both of whom also were born in Franklin county, members of pioneer families in that part of the state. William H. George grew up in Franklin county and for some years followed farming there, but later moved over into Rush county, and located in Richland township. Not long afterward he bought a quarter of a section in Noble township on which he established his home and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1917. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom seven are still living, those besides Superintendent George being Edwin O., Arthur H., Earl W., Mrs. Anna C. Heaton, Frank C. and Riley E. Superin- tendent George was reared in Franklin county and upon completing the course in the common schools there secured a license to teach and in 1894 was given his first school in his home county. His experience during this first term of teaching convinced him that he had found
186
HISTORY OF RUSII COUNTY
his life's vocation and he entered upon the work with an earnestness that soon brought him recognition among local educators. While teaching he was not neglecting the extension of his qualifications for the profession to which he had devoted himself and in pursuit of his plans for the better preparation for his life task he entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute and was graduated from that institution in 1898, and in 1901 took a supplemental course at Indiana State University. Following the receipt of his diploma from the State Normal Mr. George was selected from a number of applicants for the position of principal of the high school at Wheatland in Knox county. For two years he occupied that position and then in 1900 he was called to accept the principalship of the high school at New Salem in this county. This latter position he filled so acceptably that he was retained from year to year for ten years or until in 1910 when he was elected by the county board of education to fill the unexpired term of Orlando Randall as superintendent of the schools of Rush county. In accepting this position Mr. George devoted so much earn- estness to the task before him and the results he soon was seen to be obtaining in the way of improved conditions in the schools of the county were so satisfactory that he has been retained in this important position and is now (1921) serving his third term in this office, the longest period of service ever rendered by any superintendent of schools in Rush county, a record which his friends declare speaks for itself, and upon which it would therefore be merely fulsome here to comment. In September, 1900, C. M. George was united in mar- riage to Ivah E. Ewbank, daughter of Martin V. and Rachel Ewbank, and to this union have been born two children, daughters both, Elsie F. and E. Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. George is a York Rite Mason, a member of the Rushville commandery, Knights Templar, and has for years taken a warm interest in Masonic affairs, Politically, he is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to civic affairs.
EDWARD MATNEY, who died at his farm home in Noble town- ship in December, 1899, and whose widow is still living, was a native son of Rush county and all his life had been spent here. He had ren- dered well and faithfully his account to the community in all the rela- tions of life and it is but fitting that there should here be carried in the history of his native county some slight tribute to the good memory he left. Edward Matney was the son of Elijah and Ada (Roberts) Matney, who were married in the neighboring county of Fayette and had come over into Rush county shortly after their marriage, locating on a farm in the Bethany neighborhood, where Elijah Matney spent the remainder of his life, an earnest and useful pioneer of that section. After his death his widow made her home at New Salem, where her last days were spent. Of the eight children born to this pioneer pair six are still living, Ocea, Elijah, William F., John, Dora and Mary. Edward Matney was reared on the home farm in Noble township and in the excellent schools of that neighborhood received his schooling. As a young man he took up farming and after his
187
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
marriage to Elizabeth J. Williams, established his home on a farm in that township and continued engaged in farming the rest of his life, at the time of his death being the owner of a well improved farm of ninety-seven acres. In addition to his farming Mr. Matney had for years given considerable attention to the breeding of fine horses and was recognized as one of the leading horsemen of his neighborhood in the day when fine horses did so much to add to the fame and name of Rush county. He was a deacon in the Bethany Christian church and did well his part in maintaining community good works. Edward Matney died on December 10, 1899, and his widow, as noted above, is still living. She was born in Noble township, daughter of William and Mary Elizabeth (Reeve) Williams, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky, both of whom had come to this county in pioneer days with their respective parents, who were among the early settlers of the county. William Willians grew to manhood in Noble township and after his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Reeve established his home on a farm there, where he and his wife spent their last days, influential residents of that community. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are still living, those besides Mrs. Eliza- beth J. Matney being Irma and Nannie. To Edward and Elizabeth J. (Williams) Matney were born two sons, C. Burl and Harold, both of whom are living. C. Burl Matney was born on March 3, 1887, and was reared in Noble township. Upon completing his schooling he continued his labors on the home farm until his marriage in 1913, after which he bought the homestead place of his grandfather, an excellent farm of 100 acres, and was for some time engaged in farming there. He presently left the farm for awhile and became engaged in the hardware business at New Salem, but after a year of commercial experience he returned to the farm and has since made his home there, engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has done well. On May 22, 1913, C. Burl Matney was united in marriage to Bessie Downey, who was born and reared in the vicinity of Rushville, dangh- ter of J. Ed and Hattie (Sparks) Downey, the former also a native of Rush county and the latter of the neighboring county of Franklin. In 1918 J. Ed Downey moved from this county to Jennings county, where he and his wife are now living. They have three children, Mrs. Matney having a brother, Perry, and a sister, Bessie, Mr. and Mrs. Matney are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church and are Republicans. Mr. Matney is a Freemason.
JOHN T. BOWLES, a well-known member of the board of county commissioners and a man who by his own unaided efforts worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of affluence and influence in his community, now living retired at Mays, was born in Center township, this county, on September 19, 1854, and is the son of Joseph and Margaret J. (Clark) Bowles. These parents had five children, namely: William W., Albert W., Milton, John T. and Mrs. Viola Cothern, all living in Rush county, excepting the daughter, who lives at Pana, Ill. John T. Bowles attended the common schools in Center township and in Howard county, Indiana, to which latter
188
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
locality the family had moved in 1867. In 1869 the subject returned to Rush county and has lived in Center township continuously since excepting two years spent in Illinois. Ile has followed farming pursuits during all his active years. In 1882 he moved to Christian county, Illinois, and for two years operated a farm there. Returning to Center township, he rented a farm and operated on that basis until 1894, when he bought sixty acres of land, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself with such success that in 1906 he bought a lot in Mays, built a splendid home and has since lived there, having laid aside the labors of the farm, which he now has put into other hands. Mr. Bowles followed a general line of farming, in connection with which he also gave some attention to the raising of live stock, principally hogs. His farm is well improved and compares favorably with the best farms in this locality. In 1879 Mr. Bowles was married to Susan Johnson, the daughter of Evan and Elizabeth (Couch) Johnson, natives of North Carolina, and to this union three children were born, namely: Bertha, who was born in Center township on February 25, 1880, who in 1902 married Richard Miles, of Washington township, and who died on August 15, 1903; Earl, born on May 22, 1882, who died on October 21, 1883, and Raymond, also born in Center township, in 1884, who married Emma Brown and has two children, Vera E. and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Bowles are earnest mem- bers of the Center Christian Church. Fraternally, Mr. Bowles is a member of the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Raleigh. Politi- cally he has been a lifelong supporter of the Republican party and has always taken a deep interest in public affairs. In 1914 he was elected a member of the board of commissioners and so satis- factory was his discharge of his official duties that in 1918 he was re-elected to that office. A residence in this county of many years has but strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated and today no one here enjoys a larger circle of warm friends and acquaintances, who esteem him because of his sterl- ing qualities of character and his business ability.
WILLIAM H. WILSON, who died at his farm home in Noble township in the fall of 1912, left a good memory in that community and throughout the county and it is but fitting that there should be carried in this definite history of the county some modest tribute to that memory. Mr. Wilson was a native son of the old Bluegrass state, born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was but eight years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents, Conrad and Mar- garet E. (Ewalt) Wilson, who established their home in Noble town- ship, this county, and there spent the remainder of their lives, influential pioneers of that section. William H. Wilson grew to manhood on the home farm in Noble township, receiving his school- ing in the local schools and in time became a farmer on his own account. Ile married Alice E. Logan, a member of one of the pio- neer families of Rush county, and after his marriage established his home on a farm in Noble township, where he spent the remainder of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.