USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 33
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Barber and has one child, Leonora; George, who married Pauline Smith and has one child, Arnold E. In his political faith, Mr. Moore has been a lifelong supporter of the Democratic party. William Moore, above mentioned, is the superintendent of the Oklahoma City high school and has for the past three years represented the state of Oklahoma in the annual meeting of the National Education Asso- ciation.
JESSE HENLEY, trustee of Ripley township and for years one of the prominent factors in the development of the Carthage neigh- borhood, a member of one of the first families there, was born in Ripley township, March 16, 1866, a son of Robert and Mary (Newby) Henley, natives of North Carolina. Robert Henley was a child when brought to Rush county by his parents, in 1837, and here grew to manhood on the farm which his father had entered from the Govern- ment, in Ripley township. On April 24, 1856, he married Mary Newby, who had been brought as a child to Rush county in 1832, and this worthy and highly respected couple passed their lives in Ripley township, where Robert Henley accumulated a property of 343 acres. They were the parents of four children : Hiram H., of Rush county ; Albert, of Indianapolis; Mrs. Pennia Trueblood, of Richmond, Indiana, and Jesse. Jesse Henley was given good educational advan- tages in his youth, first attending the schools of Carthage and later Earlham College, at Richmond, for two years. On leaving college he secured employment as a bookkeeper in the office of the Rushville Natural Gas Company, at Rushville, but after one year returned to Carthage, where he embarked in the lumber business with his brother, Hiram H., and continued therein until 1908. In that year the partner- ship was dissolved, Mr. Henley disposing of his interests in the busi- ness, although still retaining his holdings in the machinery and prop- erty. He has since interested himself in farming, in which he has attained much success. His business abilities have been so directed as to give him high standing in business circles and in the confidence of those with whom he has been associated. Mr. Henley's services to his community in official positions have been numerous and valuable. In 1899 he was elected trustee of Ripley township, a capacity in which he served for four years, and at the end of that time was appointed secretary of the board of school directors at Carthage, acting also in that position for a like period. In 1912 he was appointed to com- plete the unexpired term of A. O. Hill, in the office of township trustee, and in 1914 was elected to that office and again elected in 1918, his term to expire in 1922. On November 20, 1895, Mr. Henley was united in marriage to Jennie Overman, who was born in Ripley township and was educated in the schools of Carthage, a daughter of Oliver P. and Florence L. (Nixon) Overman, natives of Ripley town- ship. Oliver P. Overman, who was a lifelong farmer, served as a soldier of the Union for three years during the Civil war. Two weeks after enlisting as a private in the Sixteenth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, he was captured by the enemy, but was later exchanged and rejoined his comrades in time to go down the Mississ-
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ippi and participate in the siege of Vicksburg. He was a valiant soldier and in later years a popular comrade of his G. A. R. post. Mr. and Mrs. Overman were the parents of three children, all living : Carrie, Jennie and Frank H. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henley : Mildred F., a graduate of Earlham College, who is now a teacher in the public schools of Carthage; Mary I., who is attending Earlham College; and Ruth Eleanor, who was graduated from the Carthage high school with the class of 1921. Mr. Henley is a Republican and he and the members of his family belong to the Friends Meeting at Carthage.
JAMES W. ANDERSON. It has been the privilege of James W. Anderson, one of the large land owners of Rush county and a substantial agriculturist of Anderson and Richland townships, to realize many of his worthy ambitions and through the exercise of good judgment and business sagacity wrest from his opportunities a large measure of success. Mr. Anderson was born on a farm in Richland township, on August 5, 1874, a son of James W. and Livonia (Hopkins) Anderson, both natives of the neighboring county of Decatur. James W. Anderson, the elder, was born at Greensburg and grew to manhood there, where he received a pub- lic school education, and was married as a youth of nineteen years. Following his union he came to Rush county and located in Rich- land township, where his means being limited, he was not able to purchase an improved property, but bought instead about 190 acres of timber land. This he set about to clear, a task which he accomplished, and not only lived to see his land producing large crops, but to witness his landed holdings increase to 2,000 acres in Rush county, property in Decatur and Tipton counties and about 1,400 acres in northern Missouri. With these holdings Mr. Anderson was the largest landowner of his time in Rush county, and was known far and wide as a successful trader in farms. His farming operations were devoted principally to the raising of mules and hogs, a field in which he met with marked success. His industry, shrewdness and absolute integrity combined to make him an important figure in business circles, while the worth and sin- cerity of his devotion to the principles of good citizenship were never questioned. He was a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his political allegiance sup- ported the Republican party. Mr. Anderson died on November 29, 1892, and his widow survived until May 26, 1905. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are now living: S. B., Mary E., Lyle H. and James W. James W. Anderson, the youngest, received his educational training in the public schools of Richland township, and after leaving school entered upon his duties as one of his father's assistants on the home farm. After his father's death he remained on the home place until his marriage, when he built a modern home on a tract of 144 acres in Anderson township, where he is now living. For the greater part of his career, Mr. An-
JAMES W. ANDERSON
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
derson has farmed with his brother, Lyle HI., and his sister, Mary E., the three now controlling 700 acres of land .. Mr. Anderson feeds out about 300 hogs annually and a carload of cattle, and keeps from thirty to fifty head of mules on his farm. He has a modern and well-furnished home, ample accommodations for his stock, and excellent general improvements. IIe regards farming as a science, to be studied and improved indefinitely, and takes great interest in his chosen occupation. In 1915 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Florence Elstun, daughter of Frank and Emma (Crane) Elstun, and to this union there have been born four children, Frank William, James Robert, George Donnell and Rush Elstun. The family holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Richland. Mr. Anderson is a member of the lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Milroy. He gives his support to the Republican party, and for six years served in the capacity of trustee of Richland township. He is a broad-minded and progressive man, well posted on current events, and entertaining sensible opinions on questions of public interest.
MRS. JANE MORAN, of Rushville, widow of the late Patrick Moran, is a native daughter of the Emerald Isle, born in County Galway, but has been a resident of this country and of Rush county for many years. She was twenty-nine years of age when she came to the United States from Ireland. After a brief residence at Milford, Mass., she came to Indiana and took up her residence in Rush county, where not long afterward she was married to Patrick Moran, also a native of Ireland, who had become a farmer in this county. After their marriage she and her husband made their home on the farm, reared their family there and continued to make that place their home until their retirement from the farm and removal to Rushville, where Mr. Moran's last days were spent and where Mrs. Moran still lives, having a very pleasant home at 730 North Willow street. Patrick Moran, who was born in 1835, was but fourteen years of age when he came to the United States with his parents, the family pro- ceeding westward to Indiana and settling in Franklin county, where Patrick received his schooling and grew to manhood. As a young man he came over into Rush county and bought a tract of eighty acres in Rushville township. He at once began the development of this tract and after his marriage to Jane Toolen, made his home there. He later bought an adjoining "eighty" and thus had a farm of a quarter of a section which he developed into an excellent piece of property. Incidental to his farming Mr. Moran became well known as a road supervisor and it was he who superintended the con- struction of the Winship pike. He was a Catholic, as is his widow, earnest members of St. Mary's parish at Rushville, and when the parish entered upon the task of erecting the new St. Mary's church it was he who gave security for the loan for the erection of the edifice. He also was a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus and in other ways took an active interest in parish affairs. It was in 1908 that Mr. Moran retired from the farm aud moved to
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Rushville, but he did not live long to enjoy the relaxation which he had justly earned, for his death occurred in the following year, 1909, he then being seventy-four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Moran had nine children, of whom all are living save two, Patrick and Jane, the others being Beatrice T., May, Katherine, Elizabeth, Joseph, Nora and John. Mrs. Moran's parents were Owen and Nora Toolen, both born in Ireland.
JOHN W. BEVER, a well-known farmer of Noble township, who is recognized as a representative citizen of Rush county, was born in that township, October 3, 1865, son of John and Mary Jane (Emmett) Bever, natives of Rush county and Ohio, respectively. John Bever was reared in Noble township where he was educated and where he spent his life, devoting all of his mature years to farm- ing and stockraising. He was a son of John and Nancy Bever, both of whom were born in Kentucky, but migrated to Indiana and settled in Rush county. The homestead of John Bever contains 160 acres of land, and he specialized in raising pure-bred Short Horn cattle and Poland China hogs. Seven children were born to John Bever and his wife, four of whom survive, William, Ross, John W. and Lora. John W. Bever attended the Pinhook school in Noble township, and after he ended his school days he began farming with his father, remaining on the home farm until his marriage. Following that event he started out for himself on rented land, but after four years as a renter he was able to receive a fair price for his stock and equipment, so sold and moved to Anderson, Ind., where for twenty-four years he was engaged in a decorating business. However, the appeal of the soil was too strong, and in 1913 he returned to Rush county, locating on his present farm, where he is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He grows about thirty-five acres of corn annually which he feeds to hogs and cattle, having about sixty to seventy head of the former. Mr. Bever was married to Ida, daughter of William and Sarah Ann Carney, and they have three children, Arthur, Hazel and Margaret, the latter of whom married Alton Lentz. Mrs. Bever belongs to the Christian church. Fraternally, Mr. Bever maintains membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Anderson, Ind. He is a strong Republican, but has never been an office seeker. Upright and hard working, Mr. Bever has deserved the success which life has brought him, and with this material reward has come another, equally well-merited. the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
JOHN W. STOTEN, a prominent and well-known citizen of Center township and one of the creditable representatives of the agri- cultural element in Rush county, is a native son of the old Hoosier state, having been born in Dearborn county on June 6, 1859. He is the son of James and Hannah (Morgan) Stoten, both of whom were also natives of Dearborn county. About the year 1864 they bronght their family to Rush county. Seven children came with them and one was born after their arrival in this county. Mr. Stoten followed farming here all the remainder of his life and became an influential and
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respected citizen. John W. Stoten was reared on the paternal farm- stead and secured his educational training in the Farmington and Hinchman schools. He remained on the home farm, assisting his father, until about twenty years of age, when he began to work out as a farm hand, continuing in this way for about five years. Then he began farming rented land on crop shares, but three years later he changed to cash rent, on which basis he continued to rent land until 1917, when he bought the place where he now lives, consisting of sixty acres of land in Center township. He keeps the place in good repair, raises all the common crops of this locality and also raises some live stock. On September 7, 1892, Mr. Stoten was married to Bertie Smelser, a native of Union township, this county, and the daughter of John P. and Rebecca (Barnes) Smelser, both of whom were natives of Rush county, where Mr. Smelser followed farming throughout his active years. Of the seven children who blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stoten, five are living, namely : Wallace, a farmer in Posey township, who married Lavonna Ruby and has two . children, Merrill W. and Howard W .; Marion, a painter, living in Knightstown, Ind., who married Ruby Oldham and has one child, Wendell M .; Teddy, Donald and Effie; and Mildred, who died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Stoten are members of the Center Christian church. Politically, Mr. Stoten is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and stands at all times for the best interests of the community. He possesses many excellent personal qualities and is a popular member of the circles in which he moves.
JACOB WINFIELD HITE, now living retired at Clarksburg and who, prior to his retirement, had been engaged for many years in agricultural pursuits in Richland township, this county, where his steady industry had gained him success, is a member of an old and honored family of which further mention is made elsewhere in this work. He was born on a farm in Richland township, June 10, 1852, a son of William N. and Sarah (Fisher) Hite, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Clermont county, Ohio. The Richland township schools furnished Mr. Hite with his early educational train- ing, following which he pursued a course at Richland Academy, and then took up farming in association with his father. He was one of the elder man's assistants until 1879, when he was married, and in the establishment of his own home rented a part of the property on which he had been born. After spending five years as a renter, he pur- chased a part of the home place, consisting of 135 acres, and during the active period of his career increased his holdings to 240 acres, all in Richland township. Mr. Hite demonstrated his ability as a general farmer and raiser of live stock, and frequently fed out as many as 150 hogs annually. He retired from active pursuits in 1916, and two years later removed to Clarksburg, where he has since made his home, occupying a comfortable modern residence. Mr. Hite mar- ried Allie M., daughter of Eliza Hood, and to this union there have been born three children, Bertha, who married Fred Goddard and has two children, Alice and Anna; Nina, who married John Sidebot-
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tom and has three children, Carter, Winfield and Marjorie; and Wil- bur. Mr. and Mrs. Hite are members of the Christian church and have supported its movements generously. He is a blue lodge Mason, and in his political adherence is a Democrat. Mr. Hite has gained pros- perity and esteem while pursuing his industrious and well-directed career, during which he has not only set an example of practical, intelligent farming, but of public-spirited citizenship.
W. R. VANSICKLE, a progressive farmer and stockman of Anderson township, this county, owns what is probably one of the finest herds of registered Jersey cattle in this part of the state. Mr. Vansickle was born in Anderson township on May 7, 1877, a son of John and Margaret Vansickle, the former of whom was born in Madison county and the latter in Dearborn county, Indiana. John Vansickle was young when his parents moved to Rush county and settled near Rushville. He was a farmer in this county until 1897 when he retired, moved to Decatur county and still lives there. Of his eight children three survive, Albert, W. R. and Ben, of whom W. R. Vansickle is the only one living in Rush county. In boyhood W. R. Vansickle attended school in Anderson town- ship, then worked as a farmer for six years in the township, and after that was engaged in the livery business at Milroy for two years. Upon returning to agricultural life he rented his present farm of 132 acres, then belonging to the late William Bowles, which he conducts largely as a stock farm. Mr. Vansickle is justly proud of his herd of twenty-six registered Jersey cattle, with the registered bull "Wildoos-Plymouth Lad" at the head, and is doing well his part toward upholding the prestige of Rush county as a fine stock center. On March 19, 1895, Mr. Vansickle married Grace Smith, daughter of George W. and Mary A. Smith. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Milroy and of the lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows at that place, having "passed the chair" in the last named organization. He is a Re- publican and hearty in his support of the policies he deems best and wisest for the country.
WILLIAM BOWLES, who is mentioned above and who in his generation was one of the best known residents of Rush county and the owner of an excellent piece of property, part of which is now owned by W. R. Vansickle, in Anderson township, was a na- tive of Harrison county, Kentucky, but had resided in Rush county since the days of his boyhood. Mr. Bowles was the son of Robert Bowles and was but a child when he came here from Kentucky with his parents, the family locating in Anderson township, where he received his schooling and in time became oue of the prominent figures of that community. He started out as a poor boy, with no special advantages, but his energy and foresight counted in the race and he died possessed of more than 400 acres of land. Mr. Bowles was widely known as a trader and his investments were made with wise discrimination. Ile died in February, 1904, and at his passing left a good memory.
WILLIAM BOWLES
W. R. VANSICKLE
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
LUTHER G. RENEGAR, included among the agriculturists of Rush county, a prosperous husbandman of Ripley township, and a resident of Rush county since boyhood, is a native of North Carolina, having been born in Yadkin county, that state, August 23, 1877, a son of Moses and Alice (McDaniels) Renegar, who were born in the same state. The parents came to Rush county when their son, Luther G., was a child, and for years were well-known and highly respected residents of Jackson township. The mother died on April 18, 1918, and the father now resides in North Carolina. They were the parents of eleven children, Luther G., Betty, Arthur, Lelah (deceased), Irvin, Leonard, Samuel, Harvey, Grace, Russell and Irene. The district schools of Jackson township and Shelby county furnished Luther G. Renegar with his educational training, and after completing his studies he began farming as a hand in the fields. He continued thus employed until his marriage, when he commenced his independent career, first as a renter. After renting for nine years, during which time he conserved his means carefully, he invested his savings in his present property, a tract of seventy-eight acres situated in Ripley township, not far from Carthage. Here he has made numerous im- provements, having repaired all the buildings and put up entire new fencing, in addition to installing much up-to-date equipment. He is progressive in his views and operations, keeps fully abreast of the advancements being made in his vocation and is accounted a capable agriculturist and an excellent judge of live stock. His activities as a general farmer are extensive and as a breeder of live stock he ships about 125 head of hogs each year. On August 23, 1905, Mr. Renegar married Myrtle Aldridge, who was born in Tipton county, Indiana, and was brought to Rush county at the age of two years and here educated in the public schools. Her parents, natives of Rush county, attended the Locust Grove schoolhouse and were engaged in agricul- tural pursuits throughout their lives. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are living : Walter, Minnie, Homer, and Bert (deceased), Myrtle and Shirley. Mr. and Mrs. Renegar have two children, Donald L., born on April 25, 1907, and Roy A., July 18, 1909, both now attending the Walnut Ridge school. Mr. and Mrs. Renegar are members of the Methodist church at Carthage, the movements of which they support liberally. Politically, Mr. Renegar is a Republi- can, although he is not a politican and has not sought preferment at the hands of his party or his fellow citizens. As a fraternalist he holds membership in Ivy Lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, at Rushville.
WILLIAM O. FRAZEE, of Rushville, owner of a farm just south of town and well known throughout the community, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Washington township on April 19, 1852, son of John and Mary Jane (Caldwell) Frazee, the latter of whom also was born in Indiana, member of one of the old families of the neighboring county of Fayette. John Frazee was a native of the Buckeye state, born in Butler county, Ohio, who came over into Indiana with his parents in
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the days of his boyhood, the family locating in Fayette county where he grew to manhood and became engaged in farming. In 1846, not long after his marriage he came over into Rush county and bought a quarter of a section of land in Washington township, where he estab- lished his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the best known and most influential residents of that community. For eight years John Frazee served as justice of the peace in and for Washington township and as "Squire" Frazee was widely known throughout that part of the county. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom but four now survive, those besides the sub- ject of this biographical narrative being Felix, Fannie and Louis W. Reared on the home farm in Washington township, William O. Frazee received his schooling in the excellent schools of that neighborhood and as a young man became engaged in farming on the place, renting the farm from his father and directing its operation, and for twelve years was thus engaged. In 1896 he moved from that place to another farm, but eighteen months later disposed of his farming interests and moved to Rushville, where he became engaged in the livery business. This did not prove to his liking, however, and eighteen months later he sold his livery barn and bought a farm of seventy-two acres in Rushville township, which place he presently sold and then bought an "eighty" of the old home place in Washington township and there re-established his home, remaining there until he sold out and returned to the vicinity of Rushville, buying the eighty-acre farm which he now owns south of town. On this place there is a gravel pit of apparently inexhaustible dimensions from which since 1912 Mr. Frazee has sold about 30,000 yards of excellent gravel. It was in 1895 that William O. Frazee was united in marriage to Emma L. Stewart, daughter of John S. and Margaret Stewart, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Elsie M., who married Paul Newhouse. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are members of the United Presbyterian church and have ever taken a warm interest in the work of the church, Mr. Frazee for years having been a member of the board of trustees of the church. Politically Mr. Frazee is a Democrat, but reserves the right to vote independently should the needs of the occasion seem to warrant in his estimation of the needs of good government.
JOHN HEATON, who for many years was connected with the agricultural life of Rush county, is now living in honorable retirement in Noble township where he is held in high esteem. He was born on the farm that is still his home, on April 13, 1846, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Heaton, natives of Noble township and Flem- ing county, Kentucky, respectively. When he was about three years old Joseph Heaton was brought to Rush county by his parents, John and Hester (Jarvis) Heaton, who settled in Noble township in 1822, at which time they entered land from the Government. Here they passed the remainder of their lives, and were always engaged in farm- ing. Joseph Heaton was reared in Noble township where he received his schooling as well as his practical training as a farmer under his father's watchful supervision. Marrying in this township, he here
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