USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 32
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
WESLEY S. CATT, a retired farmer of this county now living at Carthage and who is included among the old and honored citizens of Rush county who have rounded out more than four score years and are now passing the evening of life in comfortable retirement, was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Hancock, a son of Michael and Matilda (Hatton) Catt, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. For the greater part of his life Michael Catt followed farming in Hancock county, where he was well known and highly esteemed. Wesley S. Catt received his education in the district schools of that county, after leaving which he worked on the home farm until reaching the age of twenty-one years. The call for troops for the Union army called him into the service at that time, and for three years he fought with the Ninety-ninth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private of Company B, establishing an excellent record as a brave and faithful soldier. Returning from the service with his honorable discharge, he again located on the home farm, where he remained until the death of his father, in the meantime having married. After the elder man's death, Mr. Catt's brother, Jacob Catt, bought the home place, which in turn was purchased by Wesley S. Catt, who continued its successful operation until his retirement, when he located at Carthage. At this time Mr. Catt's son, Noble S. Catt, owns and operates this property, which consists of eighty acres. During his career as an agriculturist Mr. Catt proved himself a capable and progressive farmer and kept fully abreast of the various advancements made in his calling. He won the esteem and confidence of his associates, and these qualities he possesses in his full share in the community in which he now makes his home. On September 1, 1865, Mr. Catt was united in marriage to Mary L. Clark, who was born in Hancock county, a daughter of James and Mary (West) Clark, and to this union there were born four children, Pauline, wife of Hiram Weed, of Elwood, Ind .; Laura B., wife of Charles Benson, a farmer of Ripley township, Rush county ; Noble S., who is operating the farm in Hancock county, and Albert, deceased, formerly a farmer of Hancock county, who married Katherine Beaver, and had three children, Irine, Dorothy M. and Mary E. Mr. Catt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge at Carthage, and in politics is a Democrat. He is a Methodist and holds membership in the church of that denomination at Willow Branch, Hancock county.
CHARLES M. TROWBRIDGE, one of the most successful farmers and stock breeders of Rush county, and a well-known citizen of Center township, is a native son of the county now honored by his citizenship, having been born in Center township on January 13, 1878, and is the son of James W. and Sarah II. (Gorman) Trow- bridge, both of whom were born in this county and here spent their entire lives. James Trowbridge was a farmer by vocation, mostly in Center township, remaining actively engaged in that work until 1908, when he retired from active business and moved to Mays, where he now lives. He is the owner of 114 acres of land in Center township To him and his wife were born four children, of whom three are
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
living, A. Jesse, Charles M. and Herbert G .; Stella, who was born on February 27, 1879, died in May, 1916. The subject of this review received his educational training in the public schools of Center town- ship, Carthage and Mays. He then engaged in teaching school, but after one year of this work, he turned his attention to farming, in which he achieved a pronounced success. He first purchased forty acres of land in Ceuter township and to this later added another forty acres, so that his holdings now amount to eighty acres. He has made many permanent and substantial improvements on the place, which is now one of the best equipped and most attractive in the township. Practically all of the buildings have been erected by him, he has installed an up-to-date electric light plant and has hot and cold running water throughout the premises where desired. In addition to carrying on a general line of farming, Mr. Trowbridge gives special attention to the raising of fancy live stock, especially on pure-blooded Duroc Jersey hogs, in the breeding and raising of which he has met with much more than ordinary success, gaining a reputation which far transcends local boundaries. He raises about 120 head every year and holds two sales a year. His animals are registered and most of them go to the Southern states. Mr. Trowbridge's success and efforts in the handling of pure-bred stock has been recognized in his election to the presidency of the Indiana Duroc Swine Breeders' Asso- ciation, in which position he.is now serving. His farm, which is known as "Woodlawn Stock Farm," has gained a high standing among the leading farm plants of northern Rush county and Mr. Trowbridge is considered one of the most enterprising and progres- sive citizens of his locality. On May 17, 1899, Mr. Trowbridge was married to Ruby M. Moore, a native of Rush county and the daughter of James O. and Lucy (Souder) Moore, both also natives of this county. Mr. Moore was a farmer and owned eighty acres of land in Posey township. He and his wife had three children, Maude, Ruby and Jennie, the first-named being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Trow- bridge have a daughter, Lois M., who was born on November 17, 1908, and is now attending the Center school. Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge are members of the Center Christian Church, of which he is a trustee. In his political views he is a Republican and takes a keen interest in public events, especially as relating to his county and community.
LARKIN DAVIS, one of the leading citizens of his commu- nity and eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character, whose fine farm is located in Richland township, was born in the neighboring county of Franklin on July 25, 1868, and is the son of Jefferson and Sarah (Thompson) Davis, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of New Jersey. Jefferson Davis was but a boy when his parents brought their family to Indiana. They entered land in Franklin county and established a farm, where Jefferson was reared to manhood. He was married there and later he bought a farm of 160 acres in that county and devoted himself to its operation until about 1880, when he sold out and bought 210 acres of land in Decatur county. along the Rush county line. There
LARKIN DAVIS AND WIFE
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
he made his home until a few years prior to his death, from which time he made his home with his daughter, Nancy, until his death, which occurred in 1913. His wife had passed away in 1900. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living, namely : Jefferson, Mary, Nancy, Monroe, Larkin and John. Larkin Davis received his educational training in the public schools of Decatur county and since attaining manhood's years he has con- tinuously applied himself to agricultural pursuits. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority, when he rented land and farmed on his own account for three years. He then bought the place on which he now lives, his first purchase com- prising seventy acres, to which he has since added by purchase, until he is now the owner of 110 acres of land, lying in Rush and Decatur counties. Mr. Davis is an up-to-date and progressive farmer, adopting modern ideas and maintaining his farm at the highest standard of excellence. He carries on general farming operations and also gives some attention to live stock, annually feeding about seventy-five hogs. On October 2, 1890, Mr. Davis was married to Lulu Hite, the daughter of George W. and Eliza- beth Hite, but, after a happy union of almost a quarter of a cen- tury Mrs. Davis passed away on September 23, 1915. Mr. Davis is an earnest supporter of the Republican party, and his influence is always given to the advancement of every movement for the ad- vancement of the general welfare. Because of his business success and his consistent life, he has richly earned the high place he occu- pies in the esteem of the entire community.
LAWRENCE L. ALLEN, a well known grocer at Rushville, who has been prominently identified with the business life of that city for years and has spent the most active part of his life in this county, whose interests he has ever had at heart, is progressive in all that term implies and yet is straightforward and unassuming in all the relations of life. Mr. Allen was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on February 17, 1880, and is the son of William H. and Margaret (Lovett) Allen. He received a good practical education in the com- mon and high schools of Greencastle, Indiana, and shortly after leav- ing school, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth regiment, Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served about ten months. After his discharge from the army Mr. Allen went to Chicago, where for about five years he was connected with the grain business. He then came to Rushville and engaged in the grocery business, with which he has been identified continuously ever since. He began business in a modest way at his present location, starting with one boy as a helper, but his business grew steadily through the years and now he employs seven persons, runs two delivery wagons and enjoys the largest patronage of any store of the kind in Rushville. He carries a high grade of goods and courteous treatment has always characterized his relations with the public, so that today he stands at the head of the grocerymen of his
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
community. On March 8, 1904, Mr. Allen was married to Kate W. Churchill, who was born and reared in Rushville, the daughter of William and Anna R. (Bush) Churchill. Mrs. Allen is a cultured and well educated lady, having been a student in Depauw University at Greencastle, after finishing her high school course here. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born four children, Churchill, Anna R., Ione and Avis, all of whom are students in the public schools of Rushville. Politically, Mr. Allen gives his support to the Democratic party and he sustains fraternal relations with Phoenix Lodge, No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons, and Rushville Lodge, No. 35, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rushville. Person- ally, Mr. Allen is intensely interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community, giving his support to every enter- prise calculated to improve the general welfare.
HERBERT HOLDEN, one of the successful young farmers of Noble township, is devoting his time and talents to the cultivation of his valuable farm of eighty acres and producing his share of the foodstuffs of the world. He is a native son of Rush county, born on December 7, 1889, in Richland township, son of Jesse and Lola (Hite) Holden, also natives of Richland township. Jesse Holden was reared and educated in Rush county, and here he was married. At the time of his death he owned 240 acres of valuable land in Noble township. He and his wife had six children, Bessie, Charles, Herbert. Mabel, and two who are deceased. Herbert Holden received his educational training in Noble township, and as soon as he was old enough he began assisting his parents in operating their farm, remaining at home until his marriage. At that time he bought forty acres of land to which he added forty acres more in the fall of 1920, and now has a desirable property in which he takes considerable pride. On December 13, 1914, Mr. Holden was married to Fannie Mock, daughter of John and Agnes Mock. Mr. Holden belongs to Little Flat Rock Christian Church, of which he has been deacon, and in which he for years has been a prominent factor. Fraternally he maintains membership with the Knights of Pythias of Rushville. He votes the Democratic ticket. A hard-working, energetic and thrifty man, Mr. Holden deserves the success which has already attended him and has a bright future before him.
LEWIS M. CLARK, a well known and substantial retired farmer and landowner of Noble township, now living at Rushville, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Bartholomew county, May 27, 1849, son of Leonard and Mary (Marr) Clark, both of whom also were born in that county, members of pioneer families there. Leonard Clark and wife were the parents of eight children, all of whom save two are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Minerva, Alice, Emma, Pink and Frank. One son, George, died after reaching maturity and one child died when quite young. Reared on the home farm in Bartholomew
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
county, Lewis M. Clark became a farmer on his own account as a young man and owned a small farm, which he operated until after his marriage when he came to Rush county and rented a farm from his father-in-law, Benjamin Frazee. Upon the settlement of the exten- sive Frazee estate he and his wife received a tract of 500 acres in Noble township and there made their home until their retirement from the farm and removal to Rushville, where they now reside, they and their family being very comfortably situated at 631 North Main street. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Christian church and are Republicans. Mrs. Clark was born in Noble township, this county, Madaline Frazee, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth (Thompson) Fra- zee, the latter of whom was born on April 6, 1835, daughter of Elder Thompson, a pioneer Christian minister of this county and concern- ing whom extended reference is made in the chapter on the churches of Rush county elsewhere in this work. Benjamin Frazee, who in his generation was regarded as the largest landowner in Rush county, was a native of Kentucky, born in Bracken county, that state, April 6, 1824, sou of James and Catherine (King) Frazee, both of whom also were born in Kentucky, the former born on March 10, 1800, and the latter, November 13, 1801. William Frazee came to Indiana with his family in 1829 and settled in Rush county, where he and his wife spent their last days, his death occurring here on September 11, 1877, and hers, February 17, 1876. Benjamin Frazec was five years of age when he came to this county with his parents and he grew to man- hood here, a farmer from the days of his youth. At the age of twenty be began farming on his own account and in 1851 bought a tract of forty acres in Noble township, paying for the same $625. This was the nucleus of his later extensive landholdings, which he gradually increased until he became the owner of 2,000 acres of land in this county. It was in 1854 that Benjamin Frazee married Ruth Thomp- son. To that union were born six children, those besides Mrs. Clark, who was born on February 6, 1855, being John H., July 22, 1857; Laura Dell (deceased), August 3, 1860; Alice (deceased), December 7, 1862; Catherine, May 8, 1869, and James Edward (deceased), November 15, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children, Lewis Cecil, Elsie and Marie, the latter of whom is the wife of Charles Offutt, a well known Noble township farmer. Lewis Cecil Clark is the state agent for the Ben-Hur Life Insurance Company of Missouri. He married Agnes Hale. Elsie Clark married Dr. N. G. Willis, of Connersville, Ind., and has two children, Clark and Ruth.
JAMES F. WILSON, a well-known farmer of Noble township, was born in Ripley county, Indiana, July 25, 1874, son of William and Margaret (Marsh) Wilson, both of whom were born and reared in Ripley county. They attended school in that county and were there married. For some years they remained farming people of that region, but later moved to California, where they are still interested in agricultural pursuits. Two children were born to them, James F. and Louis H. (deceased). James F. Wilson also went to the Ripley county schools and later began farming, renting his grandfather's
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
farm. In 1896 he came to Rush county, and from then until 1918 worked for others, but in that year began farming on his own account and is now operating 120 acres of land and raising about 125 hogs annually. Mr. Wilson was married to Mrs. Harriet (Gruell) Wilson, daughter of Charles and Catherine Gruell and they have two children, Donald and Robert. By her first marriage Mrs. Wilson had six chil- dren, Merle, Thelma, Carl, Lowell, Monroe and Roland. Mrs. Wilson belongs to the Methodist Protestant church of New Salem. In politics Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, but aside from exercising his right of suffrage does not take an active part in party matters. He is a friend of the public schools and the good roads movement and may be depended upon to give his support to those measures looking toward an improvement of his home township.
ANDERSON ARMSTRONG has spent his entire life within the borders of Rush county and his persistent efforts have bene- fited alike himself and the community. He is the scion of an excellent old pioneer family and he himself has been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful progress which has character- ized this section of the country during his lifetime. Anderson Armstrong, of Noble township, who is living retired after a long period of earnest endeavor, was born in that township on August 3, 1847, and is the son of Henry and Amanda (Anderson) Arm- strong, the former a native of Franklin county, Indiana, and the latter of Boone county, Kentucky. Henry Armstrong was but four years of age when his parents brought their family to Rush county, and here he grew to manhood, securing his education in the common schools. He followed farming during all his active years and was eminently successful. To him and his wife were born six children, Leonidas, Florence Belle, Mo Dell, Pleasant H., George Elmer and Anderson. The subject's paternal grandparents were James and Mary (Lyons) Armstrong, the former a native of Franklin county, Indiana, and the latter born in Lynn county, North Carolina. They came to Rush county in 1827, being numbered among the pioneers of this section of the country, and they en- tered a tract of land in Noble township. Anderson Armstrong received his educational training in the public school at New Salem and he remained on the home farm with his father until 1880, when he moved to the farm where he now lives. Two years later he went to Lawrence county, Missouri, where for thirteen years he was engaged in farming and stock raising. He then re- turned to Rush county and again engaged in farming on his pres- ent place, which comprises fifty-five acres of excellent land, which he has well improved and maintained at a high standard of agri- cultural excellence. In addition to general farming, Mr. Arm- strong also has given special attention to the breeding and raising of pure-bred Poland China hogs. Industrious and a good manager, Mr. Armstrong has long enjoyed an enviable reputation among his fellow citizens and stands high among the enterprising farmers of
ANDERSON ARMSTRONG
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
the county. In 1880 Mr. Armstrong was married to Nancy Jane Reeve, the daughter of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth (Parker) Reeve. To them have been born four children, namely : Ilarry B., who married Grace Olive Kinner and they have two children, Charles and Robert; Blanche, who is unmarried, remains at home ; Ralph died on April 9, 1920; Chester died on November 6, 1892. Mrs. Armstrong was born and reared in the same home in which she now lives. Her mother was a native of Kentucky, and her father was born in Virginia, near the scene of the battle of Bull Run. Ife moved from Virginia to Kentucky with his parents and located in Mason county. He was twice married, first, in Ken- tucky, to Elizabeth Driskell, to which union were born eight chil- dren, George W., Francis M., Martha D., Henry C., Sarah D., Mary E., John B. and Eliza M. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Reeve married Elizabeth Parker, a daughter of Judge Parker, and they had three children, Hester, Benjamin F. and Nancy Jane. Mr. Reeve came to Rush county on March 3, 1833, and settled on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong now live and here he farmed wih success, increasing his land holdings to 360 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are members of the Little Flat Rock Chris- tian church, to which they give generous support, and in his polit- ical views Mr. Armstrong is a stanch Republican. He has always evinced an intelligent interest in all things pertaining to the gen- eral welfare of the community and is held in high regard by all who know him.
LUTHER SUTTON, one of the prominent and successful men of Center township, was born in the township in which he now lives, on February 26, 1869, and is the son of Samuel H. and Naomi A. (Davis) Sutton, the former a native of Center township, Rush county, and the latter born in Wayne county, Indiana. The father followed the vocation of farming throughout his active life, dying at the com- paratively early age of fifty-three years. He was the father of two children, Nellie and Luther. Luther Sutton received his educational training in the common schools of Center and Washington townships, his vacation periods being spent in work on the home farm. He remained at home until his marriage, when he rented eighty acres of land in Center township and began farming on his own account. Two years later he returned to the home farm, where he has remained to the present time, looking carefully after the interests and welfare of his mother, who is now eighty years of age. He now rents the home place of ninety acres and is meeting with a satisfactory measure of success. He is careful, painstaking and methodical in his opera- tions and carries on a general line of farming, also raising some live stock. On October 7, 1896, Mr. Sutton was married to Cora M. Cole, who was born in Fayette county, Indiana, the daughter of Jerry G. and Rosetta (Wooders) Cole, the former of whom was a farmer by vocation. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living, namely : Alva, Walter, Arthur, Russell, Horace, Mamie and Cora. To Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have been born three children, Lela
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R., Goldie M. and Earl B. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton are earnest members of the Center Christian Church. Politically, Mr. Sutton gives his support to no particular party, preferring to vote for those candidates which meet with his approval, regardless of party lines. Progressive and enterprising, Mr. Sutton enjoys the confidence and good will of all who know him.
FRANK C. MOORE, who has long been one of the influential citizens of Rush county, in which he has spent practically his entire life and has merited the success which he has achieved and the enviable position which he holds in the esteem of those who know him, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Brown county, Ohio, on September 27, 1852, and is the son of Thompson and Mariah (Stephens) Moore, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. Thompson Moore was reared to manhood in Brown county, where, on attaining mature years, he followed the vocations of farming and milling. He was married in that county and remained there until 1853, when he came to Rush county, Indiana, and located at New Salem, where he and his father erected a grist and saw mill, which he operated for abont fifteen years. He then sold out and took up the vocation of farming about one mile south of New Salem, where he bought 160 acres of land. There he built a home, cleared and improved the land and continued his farming operations there a number of years. He then sold out and bought a farm in Tippecanoe county, this state, but a short time afterward moved to the state of Kansas, where he bought a farm and spent the remainder of his days. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom the survivors are Fannie, Alfred and Frank C., the immediate subject of this review. Frank C. Moore received his educational training in the schools at New Salem, after which he began farming with his father, with whom he remained until his marriage. He then began farming on his own account, renting land for a good many years. He was successful in his operations and then bought forty acres of land, onto which he moved and farmed that place one year. During the follow- ing year he rented another farm, at the end of which time he sold his forty-acre tract and bought 120 acres, which he later increased to 145 acres. He always devoted his efforts to general farming and stock raising and has uniformly met with a satisfactory measure of success. Starting in life a poor boy, he has gained his present enviable position solely through his own efforts and is honored by his associates because of his achievements. Mr. Moore was married to Lida Hed- rick, the daughter of John and Mary (Taylor) Hedrick, and to them have been born eleven children, namely : Nelle, who became the wife of Frank Cupp and has three children, Clyde, Clarence and Abelena; Bessie, who became the wife of Louis Barber; Pearl, who became the wife of Roy Barber and the mother of three children, Merle, Dorothy and Thomas; Ruth, the wife of Raymond Sefton; Iona, the wife of Willard Farthing; Suda ; William, who married Pearl Shaw and has three children, Frank, Webb and Irene; Webb, Charles, who mar- ried Lela French and has one child, Paul; Edd, who married Mary
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