USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 30
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
239
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
To Mr. and Mrs. Nixon has been born one child, Chalmer G., August 12, 1893, who is unmarried and remains at home. Politically, Mr. Nixon is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and has taken an active part in local public affairs, having served one term as trustee of Jackson township, to the entire satisfaction of his con- stituents. He and his wife are earnest members of the Hannegan Church of Christ and give their support to every worthy benevolent or charitable object.
GEORGE KATSAROS AND MICHAEL KATSAROS, pro- prietors of an admirable confectionery store at Rushville and broth- ers, are natives of Argos, Greece, the former born on November 22, 1892, and the latter on September 22, 1891. They received their edu- cational training in the public schools of their native locality, and in the days of their youth devoted their energies to the pursuits of farming. George Katsaros came to the United States in 1909 and settled at Richmond, Ind., where he secured employment in a confec- tionery store, and during the nine months that he was there famil- iarized himself to some extent with the business, as well as with American customs and the language of his new country. He then came to Rushville, where he worked at the same business for one year, at the end of which time the establishment was purchased by his brother, Michael, who was George's employer until March 1, 1916. The brothers then formed a partnership that has existed to the present time, although George then went to Elwood, Ind., where he took charge of the same kind of an establishment. The demands of the World war caused his return to Rushville. His brother Michael had been accepted in the United States service, October 5, 1917, and George was needed at Rushville to manage the business there. Michael Katsaros became a member of Company L, Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry, Thirty-third Division, and was in the service for two years, serving as a private during which time he saw fifteen months of overseas duty, and took part in a number of important and hard-fought engagements. Among his battles were Meuse-Argonne, September 20 to November 11, 1918; Somme-Amiens, with the Aus- tralian corps, July 6 to August 19; Verdun, September 25-26; Troyon, October 23 to November 12 ;; Chateau d'Aulnois, November 7; and Marcheville, November 10. After being honorably discharged, with a splendid record for valiant and faithful service, August 30, 1919, he returned to Rushville and again took up the business in partner- ship with his brother. They have developed an excellent trade among the best people of the city, to whom they are presenting superior goods and courteous service. The brothers are stalwart Republicans in their political allegiance, and their religion is that of the Greek church.
GEORGE H. BELL, a public-spirited citizen of Rush county, county commissioner-elect and a well-known livery man and horse dealer at Mays, was born in Center township, this county, on Septem- ber 23, 1864, and is the son of James H. and Charity (Bell) Bell. The mother was born on July 31, 1837, and died on February 28,
240
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
1907. James H. Bell, who died in April, 1915, was born on November 19, 1839, in Butler county, Ohio, and came to Rush county at the age of twenty-three years, spending the remainder of his life here engaged in farming, in which he was successful. To him and his wife were born seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Albert, born on September 5, 1862; George II., the immediate subject of this review; Hettie; Charles, born on July 12. 1867; Hattie and John, born on November 8, 1871. The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of Center township and after completing his education he devoted himself to work on his father's farm until 1891, when he engaged in the gas business for several years. He then returned to Center township and farmed eighty acres of land which he had bought and which he has since increased to 160 acres. Here he not only carries on general farming, but he also gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, specializing in horses and hogs. He feeds out from 400 to 700 hogs a year. About 1900 Mr. Bell moved to Mays and engaged in the livery business, in which he has been successful, and in connection with which he buys and sells horses, having handled a large number of animals in the past fifteen or twenty years. He keeps his farm well improved and it is among the most productive farms of this locality. In 1900 Mr. Bell was married to Stella F. Jackson, who was born and reared in Rush county, the daughter of William and Amanda (Sherry) Jackson, and they have one child, Helen A., who, after completing her studies in the school at Mays, is now a student in Belmont Academy, at Nashville, Tennessee. Politically, Mr. Bell has been a lifelong supporter of the Republican party and has taken an active interest in public affairs. At the recent general election he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and will take his seat on the board in 1922. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A man of judgment, sound discretion and good business ability, he has managed his affairs with tactful success and has so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition as one of its leading citizens.
EMORY J. POWER. Among the farmers of recognized moral and material worth whose labors have largely helped to develop the interests of Anderson township, is Emory J. Power, who has passed his entire life in his present community. Mr. Power was born in Anderson township, June 29, 1857, a son of John and Mary A. (Smisor) Power, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. John Power was reared and educated in Kentucky, and as a young man came to Rush county alone, here marrying Miss Smisor, who had accompanied her parents to this region. They settled in Anderson township, where Mr. Power accumulated 140 acres of land, on which he carried on operations until his death in middle life, in 1858. There were ten children in the family of whom six are now living : John, Boone, Frank, George, Daniel and Emory. Emory J. Power received his education in the rural schools of
EMORY J. POWER, WIFE AND DAUGHTER, LAVONNE
241
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Anderson township, and upon leaving his studies took up farming on the home place, where he remained until reaching the age of twenty-one years. At that time he embarked upon an independent career with the purchase of eighty acres of land, but later disposed of this property and bought another farm of 127 acres, which formed the nucleus for his present property. He now owns 212 acres, all situated in Anderson township, which he has devoted to general farming and the raising of live stock, feeding about 150 hogs annually. Mr. Power has retired somewhat from active af- fairs, and since 1919 has been renting a portion of his property. He has gained his success through honorable methods, and is en- titled to the esteem and respect in which he is universally held. Mr. Power maintains an independent attitude upon political ques- tions and gives the support of his ballot to the man he deems best fitted for service regardless of party lines. He and the members of his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Milroy. Mr. Power married Harriet Allison, daughter of Mrs. Lucy Allison, and she died leaving two children: Albert, who married Bernice Sonnebaum; and Lucy, who married Elmer Harrison and has two children, Marjorie and Cecil. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Power married Mary Ellen Spurgeon, daughter of Joseph and Hester Ann (Layton) Spurgeon, and to this union two children have been born, Lavonne, who is unmarried and is living on the home farm, and LeLillie, who died in infancy. Mrs. Power's father, Joseph Spurgeon, was in his day one of the influential men and large land owners of Anderson township, a part of his land being that which constitutes the Power farm, the old Spurgeon home place. He was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families, and lived here all his life. Joseph Spurgeon was twice married. By his first wife, Hester Ann Layton, he had two chil- dren, Mrs. Power and Oscar N. Spurgeon. By his second wife, Julia Spolin, he had two children, Ira John and Daisy May.
HENRY P. METCALF, M. D., of New Salem, whose career has been that of a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his profession has won for him a leading place among the medical men of this section of the state, is a native son of the old Blue Grass state, having been born in Garrard county, Kentucky, on April 18, 1856, and is a son of Adron and Mary (Morgan) Met- calf, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ken- tucky. Adron Metcalf remained in his native state until eighteen years of age, when he moved to Kentucky, locating in Garrard county, where he followed the vocation of farming. Eventually he bought a tract of land, which he cleared and developed into a good farm, on which he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1913. At one time he was the owner of 1,100 acres of land and he held a position of considerable prominence and influence in his com- munity. He was the father of eleven children, of whom seven are
16
242
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
living, but the subject of this review is the only one living in Indiana. Henry P. Metcalf received his elementary education in the common schools of Garrard county, Kentucky, and after completing his studies he went into a logging camp in eastern Kentucky, where he worked for two years, hauling logs with ox teams. He then entered the employ of the Asher Lumber Company, of Ford, Kentucky, where for a year he worked as timber inspector. The subject then matriculated in the medical department of the University of Louisville, where, in 1882, he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately located at Paint Lick, Kentucky, where he practiced his profession about four years, and then moved to Richmond, Ky., where he remained until 1894. Doctor Metcalf then came to Indiana and for six years was engaged in the practice at Mays, Rush county, followed by twelve years at Andersonville, and then, in 1912, he located in New Salem, where he now resides. Doctor Metcalf enjoys a large practice, in which he has been uniformly successful, and he is popular throughout the community. Doctor Metcalf was married to Savannah Lewis, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Lewis, and they became the par- ents of eight children, of whom five are now living, namely : Henry Carter, who served in the United States army in France as a first licu- tenant of the Medical Corps, and is now engaged in the practice of medicine at Connersville, Ind., married Alma Helman and they have one child, Henry Thomas; George, who also is a physician, also served a year as first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States army; he married Arneta Pepper and they have one child, Philip J .; Margaret became the wife of Sumner King and they have one child, Robert Sumner; Aboline became the wife of William Cloud and they have one child, Thurman; Helen is attending school in New Salem; John Gilbert and Presshia are deceased and one died in infancy. Doctor Metcalf is a member of the Rush County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and politically, is a supporter of the Democratic party. He and his family are identified with the Christian church, of which he has been an elder. The Doctor is an earnest supporter of every movement for the advancement of the general welfare.
NATHAN I. PRICE, one of the intelligent contributors to the development of his community, a substantial farmer of Ripley town- ship and a member of the board of directors of the Arlington Bank, and a stockholder in the Bank of Carthage, was born in Posey town- ship, this county, May 28, 1863, a son of John and Sarah (Leisure) Price, and his entire life has been passed within the boundaries of this county, he being at present a large landholder of Ripley town- ship. John Price was born in 1812 in Fleming county, Kentucky, where he was reared, educated and trained in farming, and remained in his native community until reaching the age of thirty-two years, when he came to Rush county and settled in Posey township, on a farm which later became known as the Price homestead. Here he passed the balance of his life in farming, and through industry and
243
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
good management became one of the well-to-do men of his locality. He married in Rush county, Sarah, daughter of George and Lucinda (Meyers) Leisure, substantial farming people of Rush county, and to this union there were born five children, Jane, Nathan I., George W., Samantha and Basil T., the last three-named being deceased. Nathan I. Price received his education in the public schools of Posey township and at Carthage, and as a youth was well drilled in the science of farming in association with and under the teachings of his father. In 1886 he was married, and at that time moved to Ripley township, where he purchased a farm of sixty acres. This proved to be the nucleus of his present handsome property of 280 acres, all accumulated through his good management and unremitting industry. Mr. Price had a modern farm, equipped with substantial buildings and the last improved equipment of all kinds, and his operations as a general farmer and stock raiser are conducted in a manner that leaves no doubt as to his ability and progressive ideas. He has also been interested in other matters of a business and financial charac- ter, having been one of the founders of the Arlington Bank, of which he is a stockholder and director, in addition to being a stockholder in the Bank of Carthage. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party and has shown some interest in public affairs. In 1914 he was a candidate of his party for the office of county commissioner. With his family, he belongs to the Christian church, and his fraternal con- nection is with the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Carthage. In 1886 Mr. Price married Belle Downey, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Archibald and Sarah Downey, and they had one child, now Mrs. John Dagler, of Newcastle, Ind. After the death of his first wife, Nathan I. Price married Mrs. Emma J. Mercer, of New Salem, Ind.
ELMER E. ELLISON, a successful farmer of Rush county, whose fine farm is eligibly located in Jackson township, was born in Rushville township, this county, on January 20, 1862, and is the son of William J. and Sarah E. (Duke) Ellison, He was educated in Walker township, attending district school No. 6 .. After completing his schooling, he gave his attention to the cultivation of the home farm with his father, with whom he remained until his marriage, in 1890, when he rented the home farm and continued to operate it as a renter until his father's death, at which time the interests of the heirs was bought up by the subject's brother, Marshall. The subject then rented the adjoining farm, but three years later he bought eighty acres of land in Walker township, which he sold about seven years later at a substantial profit. During the following two years Mr. Ellison rented and operated one of the Lon Mull farms in Walker township, but at the end of that period, 1905, he bought the place where he now lives in Jackson township. His first purchase was 100 acres, to which he added eighty-three acres three years later, and in 1919 he bought seventy-four acres, thus giving him total land hold- ings of 257 acres. On this land he carries on general farming opera- tions, raising all the crops common to this locality, and also giving
244
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
attention to live stock, raising about 250 head of the big type Poland China hogs each year. He keeps his farm well improved and it is now one of the most productive and attractive farms in Jackson township. On November 5, 1890, Mr. Ellison was married to Nellie Gardner, who was born and reared in Walker township, the daughter of Marion and Margaret (Hurst) Gardner. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have been born three children, namely : John W., who is a farmer in Center township, Rush county, married Elsie S. Newhouse; Robert M., who is unmarried and remains at home, and Margaret E., who became the wife of Clarence E. Ruby, a farmer in Jackson township, and has one child, Lowell Ellison. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison are earnest members of the Christian church. Politically, Mr. Ellison gives his support to the Republican party and for eight continuous years he has served as a member of the Jackson township advisory board.
DON C. BROOKS, one of the most prominent and prosperous farmers of Rush county, the owner of 678 acres of valuable land in Noble, Richland, Union and Rushville townships, is a man of broad and practical knowledge and of progressive and energetic spirit. He was born in Noble township, where he now makes his home, October 28, 1871, son and only child of Mosely and Harriet R. (Thompson) Brooks, the former a native of Kentucky and the lat- ter of Indiana. When Mosely Brooks came to Indiana in 1851, he located in Noble township, where he farmed for a number of years and then engaged in the pork-packing business at Laurel, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio, although he retained his residence in Rush county all his life, dying here in May, 1873. His widow, who was his second wife, survived him until 1916. Don C. Brooks was given good educational advantages, first attending the schools of Noble township, later Graham Academy at Rushville and then the Rich- mond (Ind.) Business College. After leaving the latter he returned home and took up farming, a vocation in which he has since been engaged with constantly increasing success. IIe now has 678 acres in Noble, Rushville, Richland and Union townships, and the greater part of the improvements thereon, including three complete sets of buildings, have all been made by himself. He rents ont the greater part of his land, operating 205 acres himself in Noble township, and feeds out about 100 head of hogs a year. Mr. Brooks is a Repub- lican. He holds membership in the Knights of Pythias lodge at Rushville and is a member of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church, of which he was a trustee for a number of years. In April, 1919, Mr. Brooks married Dorothy E. Roach, daughter of Charles and Carrie Roach.
EZEKIEL M. JONES, sheriff of Rush county, triumphed over early disadvantages and won a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Jones was born in Fleming county, Ken- tucky, March 12, 1863, a son of Thomas J. and Amelia (Freeman) Jones, natives of the same county, where the father was a country school teacher during the greater part of his life. The parents died
DON C. BROOKS
245
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
when their son, Ezekiel M., was still a boy. Of their eight children, five are living : Ella, Robert G., William F., Ben F. and Ezekiel M. Ezekiel M. Jones acquired somewhat limited educational advantages in his boyhood, and when still a youth began to make his own way by working as a hired hand on farms in his native county. He was but eighteen years of age when he came to Rush county, in 1881, and here continued to work as a farm hand until 1899, when he enlisted in the United States army for service in the Philippine Islands, where he spent two years. Mustered out of the service in 1901, he came back to Rush county, where he began farming for himself and bought the eighty-acre tract which he still owns in Ripley township. This he cultivated until 1918, when he was elected sheriff of Rush county on the Republican ticket. He has proven a fearless, efficient and con- scientious official and has established an excellent record in his high and responsible office. Mr. Jones was married on September 8, 1901, to Anna Fliehart, who was born and educated in Rush county, daugh- ter of Hugh S. and Abigail (Beale) Fliehart, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of this county. Mr. Fliehart was an agri- culturist throughout his life, and spent a long period in Posey town- ship, Rush county, where he was the owner of 300 acres of val- mahle land. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are consistent members of the Arlington Methodist Church, and Mr. Jones is one of the influential Republicans of Rush county.
RAYMOND L. BLOUNT, one of the enterprising farmers of Center township, and a member of the advisory board of that town- ship, was born in Posey township, Rush county, on March 29, 1880, and is the son of Rev. Jacob B. and Josephine (Martindale) Blount, both of whom were born and reared in Tipton county, Indiana. They both attended the Northwestern Christian University, now Butler College, at Indianapolis. The subject's father was a man of strong character and marked mental ability, held the office of county superintendent of schools of Rush county for some time during the '70s and '80s and was for years a minister of the Christian church, for years one of the foremost figures in that communion in this section of the state. To him and his wife were born eight children, six of whom are living, namely : Maude B., Elsie F., Zula M., Ralph D., Raymond L. and Glenn A. Raymond L. Blount attended the common schools of Posey and Washington township through the tenth grade, which was as far as was taught in those schools, and thereafter he applied himself to work on a farm in Washington town- ship, which he farmed on the shares for about four years. About this time he was married and turned his attention to the cultivation of a farm of forty-six acres which his wife had inherited. To this he later added by purchase sixty-three acres, making a total acreage of 109 acres in Center township. On this place he carries on general farming operations and stock raising. In the latter linc, he specializes on the big-type Poland China hogs for breeding purposes, all of his animals being registered. He is energetic and up-to-date in his methods and has honestly merited the prosperity which has crowned
246
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
his efforts. On June 18, 1902, Mr. Blount was married to Serena Rhodes, who was born in Center township, Rush county, on February 16, 1880, and received a good high school education. She is the daughter of Lewis R. and Elizabeth (Leisure) Rhodes. To Mr. and Mrs. Blount have been born four children, Gladys, Beulah, Elizabeth and Mildred. Politically, Mr. Blount is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and has taken an active interest in local public affairs, having served as a member of the township advisory board during the past two years. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 99 and Encampment No. 48 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Knightstown. He and his wife are members of the Center Christian church.
WILLIAM C. MITCHELL, during his lifetime one of the leading agriculturists of Noble township, was a man of high character and when he died his community lost a good citizen. He was born in Rush county and died in Noble township, April 29, 1879. His parents, Thomas and Amanda Mitchell, were both natives of Kentucky who came to Rush county at an early day, entering land in Noble town- ship, on which they lived and reared their family. They were farmers all their lives and died in Noble township. William C. Mitchell attended the schools of Noble township and began working on the home farm as soon as he was old enough to do so. He continued to reside on this farm nutil his demise which occurred seven years after his marriage. He married Irma, danghter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Looney) White. Mrs. White was a daughter of Peter and Jane Looney. Alfred White and his wife were both born in Kentucky, from which state his parents brought him to Fayette county, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a brick mason, which he followed all of his life. In young manhood he located in Rush county, and made the brick and built the residences of a great many of the people of his day and vicinity, all of which are still standing, so substantially are they constructed. Mr. and Mrs. White had two children, namely : Mrs. Mitchell and Peter Nelson, but the latter is now deceased. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of Little Flat Rock Christian Church, and is held in high esteem in that congre- gation. Mr. Mitchell was a Mason and lived up to the highest ideals of that fraternity.
HENRY G. CONAWAY, who is well and favorably known among the progressive agriculturists and public-spirited citizens of Rush county, is the owner of a well-cultivated property situated in Ripley township. Mr. Conaway is a native of Rush county, having been born on his father's farm in Posey township. February 14, 1868, a son of John M. and Zenith (Ball) Conaway. His father, a native of Ken- tucky, came to Rush county in young manhood and here passed the remainder of his life in the pursuits of farming, becoming the owner of 240 acres of land. He was a man of general worth, who occupied a high place in the esteem and confidence of those among whom his career was passed. He and his wife were the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom two survive, Leona and Henry G. Henry G. Conaway
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.