USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 24
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WILLIAM H. WILSON
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
his life, his death occuring there on October 12, 1912. Mr. Wilson had an excellent farm of 160 acres and in addition to his general farming had long given much attention to the raising of live stock, with special reference to pure bred Berkshire hogs and the old "Blue Bull" strain of horses, and was recognized as one of the leading stockmen of the county. To William H. and Alice E. (Logan) Wilson were born seven children, of whom six grew to maturity, Henrietta, Margaret E., J. Frank, Charles B., William H. (deceased) and Donald C. The mother of these children died on May 2, 1899. J. Frank Wilson, who continues to occupy the old home place in Noble township, was born on that place on July 29, 1873, and has lived there all his life. He received his schooling in the New Salem schools and from the days of his young manhood was a valued assistant to his father in the operations of the home farm. After his father's death in 1912 Mr. Wilson bought the interests of the other heirs in the homestead acres and has contin- ued to reside there. He has eighty acres in the home place and in addition is farming an adjacent tract of 180 acres, thus controlling 260 acres. Mr. Wilson has long given special attention to the raising of pure bred Hampshire hogs and has been quite successful. He raises from 300 to 500 hogs annually, fattening about 200 for market, and has received in the East Buffalo market as much as 80 per cent. above the top market price for his stock. His pure bred stock for breeding purposes has wide recognition and he has won numerous prizes on his Hampshires in the big stock shows of the country. He had a car load of them at the East Buffalo show in 1920 and won third prize in the December show. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church and he is a member of the Masonic order and of the Improved Order of Red Men. J. Frank Wilson married Sadie Brooks, daughter of Melvin and Alice Brooks, and has two children, Helen F. and Kenneth W. The Wilsons have a pleasant home and take a proper part in the community's general social activities. Charles B. Wilson was born on the farm in Noble township here referred to on May 28, 1877, second son of William H. and Alice E. (Logan) Wilson, and has always been a resident of Noble town- ship. Upon completing his schooling he continued on the farm, helpful in the operations of the same, until his marriage in 1903 when, in partnership with his father and his brother, J. Frank Wilson, he bought the tract on which he is now living and there established his home. He presently bought the interests of his father and brother in that place, a tract of ninety-five acres, and later bought an adjoining tract of twenty acres, having now an excellent farm of 115 acres, which he devotes to general farming and live stock, feeding annually from 130 to 140 head of hogs. Since he has come into possession of this place Mr. Wilson has made numerous improvements of a substantial character and has a well equipped farm plant. He is a Democrat and he and his wife are
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members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church. In 1903 Charles B. Wilson was united in marriage to Blanche E. McKee, daughter of Robert and Lucy A. (McFall) McKee, and to this union have been born four children, Virgil F., Mildred Bernice, Charles McKee and Lois Jean. Of the seven children born to Mrs. Wilson's parents six are still living, those besides Mrs. Wilson being Della, Jane C., Eva, Donald C. and Kate. Mrs. Wilson was born in this county, as was her father, the MeKees having been among the pio- neers of Noble township. IIer mother was but six years of age when she came with her parents to Rush county, the McFalls thus having long been represented in the county. Robert McKee grew up in this county and became a substantial farmer, both he and his wife spending their last days here.
AMOS H. BLACKLIDGE, who died in the summer of 1913, was one of the most popular men of Rush county in his day and for many years was a successful farmer of Rushville town- ship. He was born in Union township, this county, March 9, 1865, son of Stephen Clinton and America ( Amos) Blacklidge. He attended the Blacklidge school in Union township and the Graham select school at Rushville, and then took the two-year agricultural course at Purdue University. He was president of the literary society of the university and his class. While at Purdue he also was an active worker in the Young Men's Christian Association. His father had a large family and could not afford to send his children to college so Amos II. Blacklidge earned the money by clerking in a drygoods store at Rushville in the winter, and farmed in the summer until he had accumulated sufficient money to see him through. After he had com- pleted his agricultural course he returned to the homestead and put his knowledge to practical use, farming with his father for a short time but that same summer bought sixteen acres located north of Rushville which was known as the Rush County Orphans' Home, and later bought the farm adjoining this property, known as the John F. Moses land. On October 23, 1901, Mr. Blacklidge married Leonora May Alexander and after his marriage moved to the sixteen-acre tract he had bought. He began farming on it and also operated a modern dairy having thirty-five imported cows of registered Jersey stock. He was a man of very progressive ideas and believed that the farmer could, if he so desired, make his life as happy, dignified and up-to-date as that of the city man, and he tried to imbue others with his enthusiasm with reference to rural conditions. For years he was one of the active members of the old Rush County Farmers Institute, and during all of that time served as one of the officials or a member of the program committee. To encourage and instruct others he wrote a number of articles on progressive farming which were published in agricultural journals of the period, and he received a number of prizes for these same articles, some of which were in money and others were equally valuable sets of books on agricultural subjects. On August 16, 1913, Mr. Blacklidge died very suddenly, dropping dead in the evening after having passed the day in strenuous work. He
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was a lover of his home and very devoted to his family composed of his wife and two children, William Clinton and Lawrence Amos, who are now attending school at Rushville, the elder being in high school. Mr. Blacklidge belonged to the Main Street Christian Church of Rush- ville, and for a number of years was one of its deacons. He was also a very active worker for the anti-saloon league, devoting much time and money to the cause, and would have rejoiced greatly had he been spared to see the ratification of the eighteenth amendment. Another public enterprise which received his support was the annual Chau- tanqua at Rushville of which he was always a guarantor. As a charter member of the Social Club of Rushville he assisted in organiz- ing that association of congenial friends, and always enjoyed the meetings. From the day he cast his first vote Mr. Blacklidge sup- ported the candidates of the Republican party, and while not an officeseeker, always was active in local affairs. A man of high, Christian character he lived according to his beliefs, and dying left behind him an influence for good which is still potent, and his mem- ory is kept green by those who knew and loved him. His life was indeed a happy, progressive and dignified one.
EDGAR E. LOGAN, the proprietor of a splendidly improved farm of 160 acres in Richland township and an extensive feeder of hogs, was born in Richland township, this county, February 5, 1865, a son of James W. and Hester (Welman) Logan, also natives of Rush county. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Logan, James and Eliza- beth Logan, were born in Scotland, but came to America and were married soon after their respective arrivals in Rush county, where they became early settlers of Noble township. Ifere they secured 160 acres of land, which Mr. Logan entered from the Government, and this locality was the scene of their subsequent careers. James W. Logan received a public school education and entered upon his active life as a farmer, a vocation to which he applied himself during the remainder of his life. He was successful because of his industry and good man- agement and acquired 871 acres of land, although he disposed of a part of this prior to his death. He was a man of considerable influence in his community and was twice elected trustee of Richland township as recognization of his public spirit and personal integrity. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Thomas W., a well-known farmer and stock feeder of Richland township, and Jesse. To the old Clifton school in Richland township Edgar E. Logan is indebted for his educational advantages. After putting aside his studies the business of farming claimed his attention and for a time he was associated with his father in the cultivation of the home place, but when he was mar- ried he founded his home on a new property, the one on which he now lives. This 160-acre farm he secured from his father, at this time has 130 acres under cultivation. He feeds out from 100 to 200 hogs annually, and has made a definite success of all departments of his work. Mr. Logan has been responsible for all the improvements that now appear on his model country estate, where his buildings are
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modern, his equipment substantial and throughout of the most up-to- date nature. In 1893 Mr. Logan was united in marriage with Amanda Ella Stark, daughter of Henry and Amanda Stark. Mr. and Mrs. Logan are members of the New Salem Methodist Protestant Church in which he has held all the lay offices. In politids he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM W. BARTON, whose death occurred on December 12, 1919, had long contributed to the general welfare of the Milroy community, both through the nature of his business and by reason of his personal participation in movements generated for development and betterment. For thirty-seven years he was engaged in the drug business at Milroy, and during that time so established him- self in the confidence of the people that his death was considered a community loss. Mr. Barton was born at Milroy on September 30, 1855, a son of John C. and Nancy J. (Tompkins) Barton, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush county. John C. Barton came to Rush county in pioneer days and first applied him- self to farming, but later turned his attention to mercantile affairs, and for a number of years conducted a general mechandise store at Milroy. He was a man of high principles and was much esteemed in the community in which he reared his structure of business success. He and his wife were the parents of three chil- dren : Elizabeth, Thomas (who died in youth), and William W. William W. Barton, after securing his early schooling in the public schools of Milroy, pursued a course at Spiceland Academy, follow- ing this by attendance at a medical school at Louisville, Ky. His medical education was completed at the Indianapolis Medical Col- lege, following which he returned to Milroy, where he embarked in the drug business, choosing this line instead of following the med- ical profession. Mr. Barton devoted himself unswervingly to his business throughout the rest of his career, and at the time of his death, in 1919, had been identified with the same line and the same enterprise for thirty-seven years. During this long period the people had come to depend upon him unquestioningly and to accept his judgment and advice as final. From 1904 until his death Mr. Barton also had served as a member of the board of directors of the Milroy Bank. He made numerous friends both in his business and out of it, and enjoyed the companionship of his fellow men, being a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges at Milroy. He was a stanch Republican and took an active interest in movements which he believed would benefi- cially affect the community welfare. As a churchman he adhered to the Methodist faith. On April 6, 1884, Mr. Barton was united in marriage to Viroqua Swain, who was born at Manilla, this county, and at the age of nine years was brought to Milroy by her parents. Her schooling was completed at Valparaiso University which she attended for two years. Mrs. Barton is a daughter of Franklin F. and Rebecca (Tackett) Swain, the former of Union county, Indiana, and the latter of Wayne county, this state. Mr. Swain, who was a
MR. AND MRS. W. W. BARTON
CAPT. FRANKLIN F. SWAIN E Company, 123d Indiana Volunteer Infantry
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merchant and miller by vocation, was the father of five children, of whom four are living : William E., W. Irving, Alfred A. and Viroqua. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barton, Cath- erine, who married Claude R. Crane, who is engaged in the real estate business at Milroy, and Lillian, who married Clyde H. Hun- ter, who is engaged in the building material business at Chicago. Mrs. Lillian Hunter is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Swains, who are of Quaker stock, are an old fam- ily in Rush county. Thomas Swain, grandfather of Mrs. Barton, built the old Swain mill in the southwest corner of Posey town- ship which was for many years a landmark thereabout. His son, Franklin F. Swain, grew up to the milling business and was en- gaged in milling, his industries including plants at Milroy, Moscow and Manilla. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted his serv- ices in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as captain of E Company, One Hundred and Twenty-third regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was thus serving when during the siege of Atlanta, August 6, 1864, he received a mortal wound. He was removed to the hospital at Marietta, Ga., where he died on the following August 23.
J. A. SHELTON, farmer and stockman, who has substantial interests in both Rush and Shelby counties, was born in Posey town- ship, this county, December 4, 1865, the only survivor of the family of two children born to his parents. They were Ralph and Lydia (Adams) Shelton, both natives also of Posey township, where the father owned 180 acres of land and spent the greater part of his life there as a farmer. J. A. Shelton remained on the home farm after his school days were over until his marriage, when he bought forty acres of land adjoining his father's property and afterward operated both farms. Ultimately he sold his forty acres and purchased 160 acres in Walker township, this county, and owns also a farm of 140 acres in Hendricks township, Shelby county. Mr. Shelton has always been a progressive farmer and stockraiser. In earlier years he gave careful attention to raising race horses, although he never trained them, and at one time or another, owned some notable animals, one of these being the famous "Baron Posey," a racehorse that made the record of 2:211/4. He is now interested mainly, however, in gen- eral farming and hog raising, growing the big-type Poland China hogs and shipping about 300 head annually. Whenever he has exhibited he has carried off honors. In 1918 he had the grand cham- pion sow at the Indiana state fair, and in the following year at the same exposition had the champion boar, this animal standing third in the national swine show held at Des Moines, Ia., in 1919. On September 7, 1887, Mr. Shelton married Jennie Powell, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of Lorenzo and Nancy ( Hol- brook) Powell, natives of Shelby county where Mr. Powell was a farmer. Of his seven children four are living, Carrie, Jennie, Joseph F. and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Shelton have one son, Fred C., who
13
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was born on August 2, 1893. After creditably completing the common school course and the high school course at Manilla, Fred C. Shelton attended the high school at Shelbyville for one year, following which he was graduated from the agricultural department of Purdue Uni- versity. He served one year with the quartermaster's corps of the United States army during the time of America's participation in the World war and now, in partnership with his father, is operating the Shelby county farm and taking a great deal of interest in the same. Mr. Shelton has been quite active in Democratic politics and for six years served as trustee of Walker township, demonstrating in this office good judgment and public spirit at a time such important public improvements as the planning and erection of the fine schoolhouses at Manilla and Homer were brought about. Mr. Shelton is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen lodge at Manilla.
MONROE GLOSHEN, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Anderson township now living at Milroy, where he has made his home since retiring from the farm in the fall of 1912 and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated, is a native of the neighboring county of Franklin, but has been a resident of Rush county many years, having come over here almost immediately after his marriage in his home county. He was born on a farm in Franklin county on November 7, 1857, son of Nicholas and Jennie (Jones) Gloshen, the latter of whom also was born in Franklin county, a member of one of the pioneer families there, and both of whom spent their last days there. Nicholas Gloshen was born in the state of New Jersey and as a young man came West, seeking the fortune which every ambitious young man in the East then believed was obtainable out here almost for the picking up. His parents were poor and unable to give him much assistance and of schooling he had practically none, his days in school having been confined to a period of but one week- six days of organized schooling in his life; but he possessed native elements of strength and determination and thus rightly decided that the then comparatively new country offered him larger advantages than were apparent in the East. Nicholas Gloshen was working in Franklin county when the big gold strike in California was announced and in 1849 he joined the rush to the New Eldorado. He remained there several years and then returned to Franklin county, having acquired a sufficient sum of money to enable him to buy a small farm in the place he had decided upon as a home. Having bought the farm he married and established his home on the place, remaining there the rest of his life. He did well with his farming and as his affairs pros- pered added to his land holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of 600 acres. He also was heavily interested in the timber business and was accounted one of the substantial men of the community in which he lived. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living, Monroe Gloshen having two sisters, Sarah and Catherine and two brothers, George and Nicholas. Monroe Gloshen was reared on the home farm in Franklin county, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and as a young
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man continued on the farm, helpful in the labors of developing the same, until after his marriage when he came over into Rush county and located in Anderson township, becoming engaged in farming on his own account. He presently added to his original land holdings in that township and now has an excellent farm of 198 aeres, well improved, with two sets of buildings, all improvements on the place having been made by Mr. Gloshen, and the operations of which are being carried on in up-to-date fashion. In addition to his general farming Mr. Gloshen for years gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and did well. In the fall of 1912 he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Milroy, where he and his family have a very pleasant home. It was in 1882 that Monroe Gloshen was united in marriage to Nancy Brook, who also was born in Franklin county, daughter of Nehemiah Brook, a member of one of the old families of that county, and to this union three daughters have been born, Elva, who died at the age of thirteen years; Stella, wife of Virgil Henry, and Elizabeth, widow of the late Carl Ralston, who died on April 18, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Gloshen are members of the Methodist church and have ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as in all local movements having to do with the general good of the community. Mr. Gloshen is a Democrat and has taken a proper interest in local political affairs.
WILLIAM G. JONES, who is successfully engaged in farming in Noble township, is a worthy representative of the younger agricul- tural element of Rush county. Mr. Jones was born at Seven Mile, Ohio, November 15, 1874, a son of John C. and Susan H. (Gregg) Jones, and a grandson of Andrew and Harriette (Smith) Jones. Andrew Jones was a son of William Jones, the first of the family to settle in Wayne township, Butler county, at the same time his father, Henry Jones, became a settler in Custis township. Preble county, Ohio. William Jones, who was born in 1774, died in 1851. He became one of the leading men of Butler county and was at one time the owner of 2,300 acres of land. He was a native of North Carolina, as was his wife, Elizabeth Culbertson, and they were the parents of ten children, Andrew, Susan, Keziah, Amy, Jemima, John, Elizabeth, Sarah and Rebecca. John C. Jones was born at Hamilton, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He later moved to Seven Mile and was there engaged in the stock business and for a number of years also was engaged in the coal and feed trade at Hamilton, Ohio, and was thus engaged during the remainder of his life. He died at Seven Mile when he was sixty-seven years of age. He and his wife, who was born in Butler county. Ohio, were the parents of four children : James A., Anna Maude, Charles and William G. William G. Jones received his education in the public schools of Seven Mile and a business college at Hamilton, after leaving which he engaged in the coal and feed business with his father. He remained in that line of enterprise at Hamilton, Ohio, until 1917, when he came to Rush county and located on a farm of 215 acres in Noble township, which he owns. He does general farming and stock raising, feeds out about 125 hogs
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per year and represents the element which in any community, espe- cially outside of the large cities, infuses spirit and zest into the activi- ties of the place. Mr. Jones is a popular member of the Knights of Pythias and Fraternal Order of Eagles, at Hamilton, Ohio, and in politics is a Republican. He married, June 26, 1900, Nellie, daughter of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Young) Shellenbarger, and to this union there has been born one child, John S., who is attending school. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Presbyterian church. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, where both of her parents were also born, and where her father was a general business man all his life and actively inter- ested in banking. He died in Butler county in 1915, the father of six children, Harry, Albert Y., Jane E., Valora, Ruth and, Nelle. Mr. Jones is an exceptionally enterprising young mau and thoroughly com- petent in business and agricultural transactions. The honesty of his dealings is fully recognized by his fellow townsmen, and although his advent in Rush county is of recent date, he has already gained the confidence of those with whom he has been associated.
E. R. CASADY, of the E. R. Casady Company, one of the leading department stores of Rushville, is a native of Rush county, having been born in Posey township on July 9, 1879, the son of Weir and Sarah A. (Bebout) Casady, both of Rush county. Weir Casady was a son of Sampson Casady, who emigrated to this county from Ohio, to which state he had come from Virginia. He entered land in Rushville township, and by his energy and ability along business lines, became the owner of over 600 acres of fine land. He had an enviable military record, having served in the War of 1812 as a drummer boy, and under General Harrison in the Indian wars. His father, Thomas Casady, had served in the Colonial army from Virginia during the Revolution. Weir Casady grew to man- hood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the schools of the county, and became recognized as one of the best stock men of the district, specializing in thoroughbred Poland China hogs and racing horses on his farm of eighty acres, continuing his farming operations until the time of his death in 1908. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living: Alma, Julia, Mary, Sampson, Knowles, and E. R. It is rather a coincidence that there were seven children in the family of Weir Casady, as there had been a like number in the family of his father : William, Weir, Robert, John, Simon, Elizabeth and Margaret. E. R. Casady received his preliminary education in the common schools of the county, and then attended the Rushville high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1898. Upon com- pleting his schooling, he began his business career by clerking in the store of Winship & Payne, which was located in the same building that is now occupied by the E. R. Casady Company. After a short period of service with this firm, he clerked for Ralph Payne in the shoe business for about two years, when he and Ben Cox bought out the business. Later, Mr. Casady sold out his
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