USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 35
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279
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
LYLE H. ANDERSON, a practical and zealous farmer of Rich- land township, and one who for many years has promoted the best interests of the community, was born on the farm which he now occupies, May 26, 1871, a son of James W. and Livonia (Hopkins) Anderson, the former born at Greensburg and the latter near Kings- ton, Ind. James W. Anderson was born on March 24, 1832, and grew to manhood in Decatur county, Indiana, being nineteen years of age when he married the seventeen-year-old Livonia Hopkins, who was born on January 20, 1834. Shortly following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson came to Rush county, where the former bought 190 acres of timber land. This he transformed through industrious labor into productive farming property, and subsequently became a prominent and successful trader in land, increasing his own holdings to 2,000 acres in Rush county, other lands in Decatur and Tipton counties and about 1,400 acres in northern Missouri. He was said to have been the largest landholder in Rush county during his day, and in his farming operations also was widely known as a dealer in hogs and mules. In all of his operations he was guided by high business principles and his community knew him as a man of sound and sub- stantial worth. He was a member of the official board of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and in his political allegiance was a Republican. 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 survive : Alice, who married William Winship and died in 1908; S. Bernie, a resident of Rushville township; Mary E., who resides on the old home place; John, who died in infancy; Lyle H .; and James W., on the home farm. The educational training of Lyle H. Ander- son was acquired in the public schools of Richland township, and upon leaving school he devoted himself to farming on the home place, in association with his father. At the elder man's death, the sons assumed the responsibilities attendant upon the cultivation of the large property on which the home was situated, and for some years Lyle H. Anderson has been associated with his brother, James W., and his sister, Mary E., in the ownership and operation of 700 acres of land. About 500 hogs annually are fed out, and cattle by the car load, and some fifty or more mules are kept on the place, on which the improve- ments are modern and the buildings substantial and attractive. Mr. Anderson is unmarried. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a steward for some years, and has been a subscriber to religious and educational movements as well as to those enterprises which have been promulgated by public-spirited citizens. His political belief makes him a Republican.
JAMES M. BROOKS, a well-known farmer of Ripley township, and an honored veteran of the Civil war, is a native son of Rush county, his birth having occurred in Ripley township, on February 28, 1848, his parents being Robert and Ellen (Templeton) Brooks, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. Robert Brooks was a young man when he went to Ohio, and there met and married Ellen Templeton, the couple subsequently coming to Indiana
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
and locating in Ripley township, this county. Here the father entered 160 acres of land from the United States Government, and was engaged in farming thereon during the remainder of his life. A man of industry, he developed a valuable property, and by reason of his integrity and good citizenship won a high place in the esteem and confidence of the people of his community. He and his wife, who like her husband was held in the highest respect, were the parents of three children, of whom only James M. now survives. James M. Brooks was educated in Ripley township, where he attended the Walnut Ridge schoolhouse. Leaving school at the age of fifteen years, he presented himself for enrollment as a soldier of the Union army, and in 1863 was accepted as a private of Company E, Ninth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, an organization of which he was a member until after the close of the Civil war. Mr. Brooks participated in numerous hard-fought engagements during the last two years of the conflict, among them being Franklin, Nashville, Springhill and Sugar Creek. He received his honorable discharge at the close of the war and was mustered out of the service in August, 1865. On the com- pletion of his military duties, Mr. Brooks returned to the home farm where he was associated in agricultural operations with his father until his marriage. He then began farming on his own account, as a renter, and was thus engaged for about five years. His wife then inherited sixty acres of land, in Ripley township, and on this Mr. Brooks has continued to be engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing to the present. On August 10, 1872, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage to Mary E. Woodley, who also was born in Ripley township. daughter of Isaac and Mary (Cloyd) Woodley, natives of North Carolina, who for many years were engaged in agricultural pursuits in Rush county, where they were well known and highly respected by all. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks: Frank; Alice, who is married ; Albert, who is married ; Fred; Walter ; Charles, who is married; Roy, married; and Hallie and Benjamin. With his family, Mr. Brooks has been an active member of the Friends church for many years, attending at Walnut Ridge, and in politics is a stanch Republican. He is one of the popular members of the Grand Army of the Republic, and it is needless to add that his are among the most interesting of the reminiscences of Civil war time which enliven the annual campfires.
WILLIAM R. MARTIN, a well known and substantial farmer and land owner of Union township and former trustee of that township, is not a native son of Rush county but has been a resident here for more than twenty years and has come to regard himself as much a part of the community as though "native and to the manner born," and takes as deep an interest in community affairs as though all his life had been spent here. IIe was born on a farm in Union county, this state, January 16, 1867, son of Samuel and Mary (Lafuze) Martin, the latter of whom also was born in that county, a member of one of the old families there, and both of whom spent their last days in that county. Samuel Martin was
WILLIAM R. MARTIN
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
born over the state line in Preble county, Ohio, a son of Austin Martin, a Virginian, who had been a resident of Ohio since the days of his young manhood. When Samuel Martin was about five years old his parents moved over into Indiana with their family and located in Union county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, developing there a good farm. Samuel Martin took up farming in his turn and after his marriage to Mary Lafuze estab- lished his home on a farm in his home county and continued that vocation the rest of his life, becoming the owner of an excellent farm of 195 acres. His wife died in 1907 and he did not long sur- vive her, his death occurring in 1909. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are still living, those besides the sub- ject of this sketch being Charles O., Oscar B., Walter M. and Sam- uel L. William R. Martin was reared on the home farm in Union county and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. When twenty-one years of age he bought a team and began farm- ing on his own account, renting a piece of land nearby, and con- tinued as a renter for about four years, at the end of which time he bought a tract of 100 acres in Brownsville township, Union county, and, having married meanwhile, established his home there. Mr. Martin remained in Union county until 1900 when he disposed of his interests there and came over into Rush county and bought a 120-acre farm in Union township, where he remained until 1910, in which year he moved to the eighty-acre tract on which he is now living in that same township, erected on that place the modern house in which he is living and has since continued to make that place his home, he and his family being very comfortably and pleas- antly situated. As his affairs prospered Mr. Martin added to his land holdings from time to time until he became the owner of 572 acres in Rush and Fayette counties, but has since disposed of a portion of this land and now has 280 acres, all in this county save an "eighty" over in Fayette. Mr. Martin is farming 200 acres and in addition to his general farming feeds out about 150 head of hogs a year. His place is admirably improved, the farm plant be- ing well equipped and up-to-date, and everything is "ship-shape," he long having been recognized as one of the consequential farm- ers of that section. In 1889, while living in Union county, William R. Martin was united in marriage to Ollie R. Leab, daughter of Emanuel and Sabra (Clevinger) Leab, and to this union four chil- dren have been born, namely: Fred E., who married Lillian Rea and has two children, Janet and Alice Ruth; Orville S., who mar- ried Ruth Laughlin and has one child, a daughter, Ellen Jane; Thomas C., who married Ocie Kirkpatrick and has one child, Alvin Noel, and Ruth, who is at home with her parents. The Martins have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rush- ville and take an interested and hospitable part in the community's general social activities. They are Republicans and give proper attention to local political affairs, Mr. Martin having served for
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
six years (1909-15) as trustee of Union township. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fal- mouth and Mr. Martin has served as a member of the board of trustees of the church. Mr. Martin is a York Rite Mason, a mem- ber of the blue lodge at Rushville and the Rushville Commandery, Knights Templar, and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat Temple, Indianapolis.
JAMES MADISON ("MAT") BEVER, who maintains a high standing among the substantial farmers of Noble township, where he is the owner of a fine farm of eighty-two acres, has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, in which his ability and industry have enabled him to achieve success. Mr. Bever, more familiarly known among his many friends and acquaintances as "Mat" Bever, was born in Noble township, May 28, 1870, a son of James and Harriet (Emmett) Bever, both natives of Rush county. James Bever, who was an agriculturist in Rush county throughout a long and industrious life, started in a small way but through inherent capability and per- sistent endeavor achieved marked success in his operations, and at the time of his death in October, 1897, was the owner of 415 acres of land and occupied a high place in the esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens. His widow, who survives him, is a highly regarded resident of New Salem. Mat Bever received his education in the country schools of Noble township, and after leaving school engaged in farming in association with his father. At the latter's death he embarked in operations on his own account, and now carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising on his well-cultivated farm of eighty- two acres, lying in a favored locality in Noble township. He has made numerous improvements on this property which now presents an attractive appearance, with substantial buildings and modern equipment. Mr. Bever is accounted an experienced and capable man in his business, and feeds out from eighty to 100 hogs per year. Mr. Bever married Jennie Smith, daughter of David Smith, and to this union there have been born three children: Mayme, who married John Hedrick and has two children, Harold and Maurice; Ruth, who married Elmer Ryan and has one child, Donald; and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Bever and their children are members of the United Breth- ren church. In politics he is a Republican, although he has taken no particularly active part in public affairs and has not cared for public office or preferment.
AUGUSTUS WILLIAM WILKINSON, proprietor of an up-to- date bakery plant at Rushville and one of the enterprising and pro- gressive business men of that city, is a native of the Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of Rushville since the days of his boyhood. He was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, January 6, 1871, son of Dr. L. P. and Matilda L. (Summers) Wilkinson, both natives of North Carolina, whose last days were spent in Rushville. Dr. L. P. Wilkin- son, who for years practiced the dental profession at Rushville, was educated for the medical profession and for a time practiced that
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
profession in Kentucky, to which state he had gone upon becoming equipped for practice in North Carolina, but later became more attracted to the dental branch of surgery and as a dentist spent the rest of his life. He was married in Kentucky and remained there until about 1880, when he came to Indiana with his family and located at Rushville, where he opened an office for the practice of dentistry and there spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Stillwell, of Rushville; Rosa B., of Brownstown, and Sally, of Medora. A. W. Wilkinson was seven years of age when he came with his parents from Kentucky to Indiana and his schooling was completed in the Rushville high school. Not long after coming here he entered the bakery of J. W. Carnine at Rushville and in that establishment learned the baker's trade, which he later followed as a "journeyman" until 1911, when he opened an establishment of his own at Rushville, equipping the same with up-to- date appliances for effective operation, and from the very start has made a success of the business. Mr. Wilkinson knows the value of modern equipment and not long ago renewed his plant with machin- ery of the most up-to-date character, with a capacity of 3,000 loaves daily, and has now the only retail bakery in the city and is doing an excellent business, his progressive methods recommending the prod- ucts of his ovens to a discriminating and growing trade in and about Rushville. In 1895 A. W. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Daisy Mae Wilson, daughter of John W. Wilson, and to this union three children have been born, John W., Gertrude and Lillian Pauline. John W. Wilkinson is an efficient aid to his father in the operation of the extensive Wilkinson bakery plant and Miss Gertrude Wilkinson is a teacher of commercial forms in the high school at Connersville. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson are members of the Christian church and Mr. Wilkinson is a deacon in the same. He also is a Royal Arch Mason and has been "through the chairs" in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs.
HARRY T. MILLER, who is conspicuous among the enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Noble township, has succeeded in his chosen life work through the qualities of persistence, sound judgment and honorable dealings, which have earned for him the esteem of the entire community. Harry T. Miller is a native son of Rush county, having been born in Richland township on October 28, 1886, and he is the son of Eliphilet and Mollie Miller. He is indebted to the com- mon schools of Richland township for his educational training and after completing his studies he took employment as a farm hand for six years in that community. During the following four years he cultivated a farm of ninety-four acres in Richland township, and then he moved to Noble township, where he rented a farm of 240 acres. Two years later he located on the farm where he now resides, com- prising 175 acrs, and here he is farming with a gratifying measure of success. He carries on general farming, raising all the crops common
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
to the locality, and he also feeds about 200 hogs annually. He is thorough and methodical and is up-to-date in his ideas relative to farming. Mr. Miller was married to Sylvia Walker, daughter of Daniel and Belle (Kennedy) Walker, and they are the parents of three children, Donald, Dorothy and Gladys. Mrs. Miller, who is a native of Rush county, is a lady of many estimable qualities of char- acter and is a popular member of the circles in which she moves. Politically, Mr. Miller is a Republican.
FRED GODDARD, trustee of Richland township and a sub- stantial land owner of that township, was born in Clinton town- ship, Decatur county, Indiana, on November 18, 1880. His paternal grandparents were John and Louisa (Miller) Goddard, natives of Kentucky, who came overland to Decatur county, Indiana, settling in Clinton township, where he bought a tract of land and devoted the remainder of his active years to its cultivation and improve- ment. Among their children was a son, Oliver, who was born and reared to manhood in Decatur county, and who married Anna Wel- linger, a native of New Jersey. Oliver Goddard gave his attention to farming on the old homestead until after his marriage, when he rented other land and so continued until 1883, when he bought his first farm, comprising 104 acres. He was successful in his opera- tions and at one time was the owner of 640 acres of good farm land. He devoted himself to general farming and stock raising until 1914, when he retired from active business pursuits and moved to Greensburg. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom six are now living, namely : Fred, Margaret, Henry, Robert, Oliver, Jr., and Benjamin. Fred Goddard received his educational training in the public schools of Clinton township, Decatur county, and after leaving school he assisted his father in the operation of. the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he was married. He then engaged in farming on his own account, renting 210 acres of land in Clinton township, to which he devoted his attention during the ensuing nine years. In 1912 Mr. Goddard bought the place which he now occupies in Richland township, and onto which he moved the following year. His first purchase was seventy-eight acres, to which he later added by purchase until he is now the owner of 162 acres. He has made a number of perma- nent improvements to the place, including an attractive and con- veniently arranged house, barn and other necessary farm buildings, the general appearance of the place indicating him to be a man of sound practical ideas and discriminating judgment. Mr. Goddard has met with success in the handling of live stock and feeds about 120 head of hogs and a carload of cattle each year. He also gives close attention to the breeding of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs, his stock commanding above average prices. Mr. Goddard was married to Bertha May Ilite, the daughter of Jacob W. and Alice (Hood) Hite, and their union has been blessed in the birth of two daughters, Alice and Anna, both of whom are attending school.
FRED GODDARD
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Mr. Goddard and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take an active part, and Mr. Goddard is a trustee of the church. He has always given his sup- port to the Republican party and is now serving his first term as trustee of Richland township. A man of good business qualifica- tions and accurate judgment, he is proving a good public official and enjoys the esteem of the entire community. A lifelong resi- dent of this section of the state, he has been a witness to and a par- ticipant in the splendid development which has characterized this locality and because of his life and labors has earned his position among the leading farmers and influential citizens of Rush county.
J. LEVI LORD, M. D., who for nearly a quarter of a century has been practicing medicine at Mays, this county, is a native son of the county now honored by his citizenship. He was born in Posey township on December 10, 1858, the son of James J. and Saralı (Billings) Lord, the former of whom was born in Kent county, Dela- ware, on October 11, 1828, and the latter born in Butler county, Ohio, on January 4, 1837. They were brought to Rush county in their child- hood and received their education in the schools of this county, their marriage taking place in Jackson township on October 11, 1855. Here Mr. Lord followed farming pursuits and became a man of prominence and influence. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom four are now living, Doctor Lord having a brother, William A. Lord, and two sisters, Mrs. Lily J. Lawson, and Mrs. Harriet L. Leisure. The deceased children of this family were Francis O. Lord, who became a substantial farmer of the eastern part of Howard county, this state, and who died on April 9, 1921, in his fifty-ninth year, and Ann and Elsworth, who died in infancy. Doctor Lord received his elementary education in the public schools of Howard county, Indiana, whither his parents had moved in 1860 but when nineteen years old (in 1877) he returned to Rush county and made his home with his uncle, Henry Lord, who assisted him in the comple- tion of his education. He attended the Rushville high school, where he was under the instructions of David M. Graham as superintend- ent and Mrs. R. A. Moffitt, principal. Then he taught four terms of school in Union township, this county. Having determined to devote his life to the practice of medicine, he matriculated in the Medical College of Indiana, at Indianapolis, and graduated on March 1, 1882. Doctor Lord first engaged in the active practice of his profession at Point Isabel, Grant county, Indiana, where he remained nearly five years. He then moved to Marion, Ind., where for eleven years he was numbered among the active and successful doctors of the com- munity. During this period he served two years as coroner of Grant county, his commission bearing the signature of Governor Isaac P. Gray. While living at Marion Doctor Lord owned an interest in a drug store. The Doctor has always taken a keen interest in political, religious and educational matters and was one of the first advocates of the establishment of the normal college at Marion. He remained in the latter city until 1898, when he returned to Rush county and
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entered upon the practice at Mays, where he has since remained and where he has built up a large and representative patronage. Doctor Lord is a careful reader of the best professional literature, keeping himself in touch with the age in latest discoveries pertaining to the healing art, and his practice covers a wide radius of surrounding country. On March 14, 1883, Doctor Lord was married to Queen V. Hamilton, who was born in Rush county on July 31, 1861, the daugh- ter of Francis and Elizabeth (McManus) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of Rush county. These parents had two children, Queen V. and Mary B. Doctor and Mrs. Lord have three children, all of whom are married and have established homes of their own, as follows: Charles W., a farmer in Washington township, who married Jennie C. Hamilton and has two children, Beatrice J. and Norman K .; Clarence H., a farmer in Center township, who married Leila Mull and has one child, Francis R .; and Ralph H., now engaged in the mercantile business at Dunreith, Ind., who married Leonora Pickett and has two children, Helen M. and Rosemary. While Ralph Lord was a student in the public schools, he was the winner of five consecutive medals in oratorical contests given under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Politically, Doctor Lord is independent, reserv- ing the right to vote in accordance with the dictates of his own judg- ment. Fraternally, he belongs to the Tribe of Ben-Hur at Marion, Ind., and the Improved Order of Red Men at Mays. He is an earnest member of the Center Christian Church near Mays, and gives his support to all worthy benevolent movements as well as to all enter- prises for the advancement of the general welfare. During the time of America's participation in the World war, Doctor Lord volun- teered his services in behalf of the medical corps and was enrolled for service on November 9, 1918.
WALTER E. PATTON, classed among the leading representa- tives of farming and stock raising in Richland township, where he is carrying on extensive and successful operations on a tract of 280 acres, is a member of a substantial and well-known agricultural fam- ily, and his entire life has been passed in the atmosphere of the country. Mr. Patton was born in the neighboring county of Decatur, December 24, 1875, a son of Samuel R. and Mary E. (Humes) Patton. His father was born at Richland, Rush county, and attended Richland Academy, shortly after leaving which he enlisted for service during the Civil war, as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and participated in a number of important engagements. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Indiana and located at Greensburg, Decatur county, where for about a year he conducted a general store. Subsequently he located on a farm near Spring Hill, in the same county, which he had purchased from his father, and continued to cultivate that land until 1879, when he sold out and came to Rush county, locating on a farm of 280 acres in Richland township. Mr. Patton was a man of education and ability, and was frequently called upon to serve his fellow citizens in responsible
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