Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II, Part 40

Author: Gary, Abraham Lincoln, 1868-; Thomas, Ernest B., 1867-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Indianapolis, Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738


USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 40


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live stock, feeding about 100 hogs and a carload of cattle annually. On February 25, 1917, Mr. Tarplee was married to Grace May Pike, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pike. Mr. and Mrs. Tarplee are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clarksburg and Mr. Tarplee belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons at Clarksburg. Politically, he gives his support to the Democratic party.


LLOYD M. MACY, recognized as one of the energetic farmers of Posey township, was born in that township on August 22, 1891, and is the son of Byron and Lena (Miller) Macy, both of whom also were born and reared in Rush county. The subject's father was a lifelong farmer, operating the farm where the subject now lives during a major portion of that time. Lloyd M. Macy received his educational training in district school No. 9 and the Arlington high school. He remained at home, helping with the farm work, until eighteen years of age, when, his father having died, he assumed entire charge of the place and has continued to operate it to the present time. Some time ago Mr. Macy bought his sister's interest in the farm and after his mother's death bought the other one-third, now owning the whole farm. Mr. Macy carries on general farming operations, including stock raising, and has been very successful. He usually feeds and markets about a carload of hogs each year. On November 25, 1917, Mr. Macy was married to Muriel Van Seyoc, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, the daughter of John H. and Alice (Robbins) Van Scyoc. Mr. Van Scyoc was a farmer by vocation and stood high in public esteem. He and his wife had four children, one of whom is deceased, the survivors being Eva, Burl and Muriel. Mr. and Mrs. Macy are members of the United Brethren church and in politics Mr. Macy gives his support to the Republican party. Genial in disposi- tion and unassuming in manner, he enjoys the friendship and good will of all who know him.


ARGUS D. WAGONER, one of the progressive and enterprising young farmers of Orange township and a widely recognized specialist in seed culture, was born in that same township and has lived there all his life. He was born on August 28, 1879, son and only child of James and Clara (Cartmel) Wagoner, the latter of whom was born in Liberty township in the neighboring county of Shelby and both of whom are still living in Orange township. James Wagoner was born in that township, a member of the well known Wagoner family which has been represented here since pioneer days, and has followed farming and stock raising all his days, the owner of a well kept farm of ninety-six acres which his son is now managing. Reared on that farm, Argus D. Wagoner received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and was early trained to the ways of the farm. He also learned railway telegraphing and for a year or more during the days of his young manhood was engaged as a station telegrapher on the Big Four railroad. He married at the age of twenty-five and has since made his home on the home place, which he has rented from his father. He also owns a tract of four acres surrounding his home, and in addi-


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tion to his general farming gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, feeding about fifty head of hogs a year. For some years Mr. Wagoner has given his most thoughtful attention to seed culture and in 1919 at the "open to the world" show at Columbus, this state, won first prize on his exhibit in that line, and at the national swine show at Des Moines, Iowa, he won first prize for the best ten ears of yellow corn shown there, and also won the sweepstake single ear cup at Rushville in 1920. On November 23, 1904, Argus D. Wagoner was united in marriage to Ida Haehl, who was born over in Union township in Shelby county, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Ira, who is now (1921) attending school at Moscow. Mrs. Wagoner is a daughter of George and Katherine (Kuhn) Haehl, well-known residents of Shelby county, who had twelve children, ten of whom are living, those besides Mrs. Wagoner being Pauline, Henry, William, Flora, John R., Robert, Walter, Laura and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner are members of the Blue Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church and take their part in the work of the same. They have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 1 out of Manilla and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of their home community. Mr. Wagoner is a Republican. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic lodge (No. 217) at Waldron.


JOHN H. HOWARD, a well known farmer of Richland town- ship and a man who has contributed in a very definite way to the prosperity and well-being of the community in which he lives, was born in Leslie county, Kentucky, on August 22, 1862, and is the only child born to the union of Henry and Rosanna (Howard) Howard, both of whom also were natives of the old Blue Grass state. There Henry Howard was reared to manhood and there he followed the pursuits of agriculture during all of his active years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having rendered valiant service in the Union army. He became the owner of 300 acres of land, which he devoted to general farming. He died in 1902, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1871. John HI. Howard at- tended the common schools of his native county and after com- pleting his studies he came to Indiana and was employed as a hired man on farms in Rush county for about five years. He then rented from his father-in-law the place on which he now resides, compris- ing 100 acres, and here he is achieving success in his vocation. He is also giving some attention to the raising and feeding of live stock, is thoroughly practical and up-to-date in his ideas and methods of work and is held in high repute in his section of the county. Mr. Howard was married to Mary E. Marlow, the daughter of Alphonso B. and Anna E. (Halstead) Marlow, and they have one child, Alphonso. The latter married Mabel E. Wood and they have a child, Anavelle Helen. Mrs. Howard was born in Decatur county, Indiana, but was brought to Rush county by her parents when she was a child of but ten years, the family locating on the farm where she now lives and which she inherited at the time of her father's


JOHN H. HOWARD


ALPHONSO HOWARD


MRS. JOHN H. HOWARD


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death. Alphonso B. Marlow, father of Mrs. Howard and one of the well known farmers of Richland township in his generation, was a native of Kentucky, born in Scott county, that state, in 1818, a member of one of the pioneer families of that section. When he was three years old his parents moved with their family to Indiana and settled in Decatur county, arriving there on February 28, 1821, the Marlows thus becoming one of the very first families of this section of the state. Alphonso B. Marlow grew to manhood in Decatur county and was there married, his wife, Anna E. Hal- stead, having been born in the neighboring county of Franklin, a member of one of the pioneer families in that county. In 1860 Mr. Marlow came with his family up into Rush county and settled in Richland township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Howard having had a sister, Sarah V., who died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are active members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Howard formerly was a deacon. He is a member of Lodge No. 96, Free and Accepted Masons, at Andersonville, and is an ardent supporter of the Repub- lican party.


CLARENCE SCULL, a well known and progressive young farmer of Orange township, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the township in which he still lives, May 18, 1897, son of James L. and Effie (Archey) Scull, both of whom also were born in Rush county, members of old families here, and the former of whom died on the farm in Orange township which had been his home for many years. His widow mar- ried Spencer Griffith, of Termopolis, Wyo., and is now living at Los Angeles, Cal. James L. Scull and wife had two children, Clarence Scull having a sister, Edna, wife of William H. Davies, superintend- ent of air brakes on the Wabash railroad. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Clarence Scull received his schooling in the local schools, leaving school after four years of high school work, and from boyhood was carefully trained in the way of farming. He married at the age of twenty-one and then began farming on his own account, renting a part of the home place, and is still living there, farming 100 acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Scull gives considerable attention to the raising of hogs, and has about 100 head of pure bred Duroc hogs, his operations along that line during the past few years having been quite successful. He maintains a well equipped farm plant and his operations are carried on in accordance with strictly up-to-date methods. On August 24, 1918, Clarence Scull was united in marriage to Faye Westerfield, who also was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Dorothy L., born on June 17, 1919. Mrs. Scull was born on a farm in Walker township, daughter of Byron and Belle (Turner) Westerfield, the former of whom also was born in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and the latter in Brown county, this state. Byron Westerfield and wife have five children, those besides Mrs.


21


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Scull being Owen, Gale, Vivian and Inez. Mr. and Mrs. Scull have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the community's general social activities. They are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Milroy. Mr. Scull is a Democrat.


JOSEPH W. TODD, who has long been one of the influential citizens of Rush county, has spent his life here. He was born in Center township, on May 21, 1854, and is the son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (David) Todd, the former of whom was born in Pennsyl- vania and the latter born and reared in Bourbon county, Kentucky. When Andrew J. Todd left his native state for the West, he traveled down the Ohio river as far as Lawrenceburg, Ind., which was his stopping place for some time, but in 1839 he came to Rush county, where he spent the remainder of his life. During his first ten years here he was employed by the day as a farm hand, but he then engaged in farming on his own account, buying eighty acres of land in Center township, to which he later added thirty-seven acres, making his holdings here 117 acres, and on this farm he made his home up to the time of his death, which occurred on April 18, 1890. His wife had died on November 18, 1887. Of the seven children who blessed their union, three are now living, namely : Joseph W., Leah and Jacob D., who is represented elsewhere in this work. Joseph W. Todd secured a good practical education in the Ball school, in Center township, and after completing his studies he applied himself to the work of the home farm, assisting his father during the latter's active years and later assuming the operation of the farm up to the time of his father's death. The subject then bonght part of the home place, his first purchase amounting to forty acres, to which he later added sixty- eight acres,. thus making his holdings 108 acres, all of which is located in Center township. For many years Mr. Todd carried on general farming operations here, also raising considerable live stock, but he is now retired and is now enjoying the fruits of his former years of toil. He has always maintained his place in fine repair and has been numbered among the enterprising and progressive men of Center township. He is now renting his land. Politically, Mr. Todd is an ardent advocate of the Democratic party.


W. A. BILLINGS, farmer and stockraiser in Anderson town- ship, is a member of one of the old pioneer families of Rush county. His grandfather, Andrew Billings, came to Indiana from Delaware, and entered eighty acres of Government land in Jackson township, this connty, on which he lived for a number of years, then sold and moved into Howard county where he lived out his days. W. A. Billings was born in Posey township, this county, January 6. 1865. His par- ents were Joseph and Rachel (Leisure) Billings, both of whom were born in Rush county. Of their eight children there are five survivors, Edward, Frank, Orville, W. A. and Caroline. The father was a farmer and stock raiser all his active life, owning a farm of eighty acres in Union township. W. A. Billings attended school in Jackson township and afterward assisted his father on the home farm, not


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moving to Anderson township until after his marriage, when he began farming for himself. Mr. Billings has a well improved farm with an attractive modern residence all the surroundings indicating thrift, intelligence and careful farm management. He raises grain and stock on the eighty acres, devoting twenty-five acres to wheat and the same to corn and feeds out about fifty head of hogs yearly. September 3, 1901, he married Minnie A. Parker, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Crane) Parker, and they have one daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Billings are members of the Christian church at Milroy, of which he has been a deacon for many years. Although not a politician, Mr. Billings takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs and local matters, and votes the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias at Milroy.


THOMAS J. MARTIN, a substantial land owner of Rush county, now living retired at his pleasant home at Lewisville, was born on a farm in Washington township, this county, July 17, 1852, a son of Simon and Mary (Waddle) Martin, natives of Union county, Indiana, where they were educated and married. Shortly after their mar- riage the parents came to Rush county, where the father secured a tract of eighty acres of wooded land, upon which the timber stood so thick that he was forced to clear a space before he could build his primitive log-cabin home. A man of the greatest industry and perse- verance, and possessed of good business abilities and shrewd judg- ment, he won a notable success, and at the time of his death was the owner of approximately 1,000 acres of land. He and his wife became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, Julia, Dorothy, Charles, Thomas J. and Nancy. Thomas J. Martin received his educa- tion in Washington township, where he attended the Martin school, so named because of its proximity to his father's property. On the completion of his schooling, he started assisting his father in the work of the home place, and continued thus engaged until his mar- riage, at which time his father gave him eighty acres, and since then he has added 320 acres to this original property, being now the possessor of 400 acres of some of the best land to be found in the county. Mr. Martin continued the personal operation of this hand- some estate until 1919, when, feeling that he had done his share in the work of development, he turned over the labor and responsibility to younger shoulders and retired to his pleasant home at Lewisville. During his active years he was accounted one of the most progressive agriculturists of his locality, and as a live stock feeder shipped from 200 to 300 hogs to the markets annually. August 17, 1875, Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Eliza B. Watson, who was born in Henry county, Indiana, daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Morris) Watson. To this union there has been born one daughter, Bertha, who married Frank Houston, a music teacher of Indianapolis, and has seven children, Anna, Ruth, Rebecca, Nellie, Weldon, Frank and Bettie Jane. Of these children, Anna, the first born, married Dr. Harold Hender- son,a physician, and has two children, Helen and Jean, Mr. Martin has


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always been ready to discharge the duties of citizenship, and for about five years served as a member of the county council of Rush county. As a fraternalist he holds membership in Raleigh Lodge, No. 640, Free and Accepted Masons; and Lewisville Lodge, No. 191, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Martin are faith- ful members of the Christian church of Raleigh, and in politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is a genial and sympathetic man, and the grind of labor has not hardened his nature or rendered him less the friend of youth and happiness.


JOSEPH H. PIKE, proprietor of an excellent farm in Rich- land township and one of the strong, sturdy characters who have contributed largely to the material welfare of that community, is a native son of Rush county. He was born on July 2, 1861, the son of Ephraim and Beulah (Yates) Pike, both of whom were born and reared in North Carolina. They were married there and the following year they came to Indiana, locating in Henry county, where for a time Mr. Pike was employed by the day. Later he came to Rush county and here spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1911 and was survived by his widow, who died on December 31, 1919. Of the ten children who blessed their union, four are living, namely : Nathan H., William L., Hannah E. and Joseph H. The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of Rush county and then for five years he was employed by the monthi at general farm work. He then rented a farm in Anderson town- ship, which he operated for over five years, at the end of which period he located in Noble township, where for six and a half years he operated a rented farm of 200 acres, followed by five and a half years on rented land in Anderson township. He then moved to Circleville and for a year operated 395 acres of rented land. He then moved to Richland township and bought 160 acres of land, but one year later he sold that and bought 160 acres where he now lives, which he has cultivated continuously since 1902. This farm is well improved in every respect and here Mr. Pike carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising, in which he has meet with a very gratifying measure of success. He generally feeds from 300 to 350 head of hogs a year. In addition to his regular vocation of farm- ing, Mr. Pike has also done much successful work throughout this community as an auctioneer. Since taking possession of the farm he has greatly improved it by tiling and building new barns and now has one of the best farm plants in the township. Mr. Pike was married to Clara IIall, the daughter of Joseph and Martha (Innis) Hall, and they are the parents of five children, namely : Fred D., who married Luetta Gerhart and has five children, Cecil, Helen. Dorothy, Ruth and Thelma; Ilal E., who married Lula Chestnut and has one child, Joseph; Frances C., who became the wife of Ken- neth Helman; Grace M., who became the wife of Firman Tarplee, and J. Gayle, who is unmarried and remains at home. Mr. and Mrs.


MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH PIKE


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Pike are members of the United Presbyterian church at Milroy. Mr. Pike gives his support to the Democratic party. Genial in dis- position and unassuming in manner, he has won and retains to a marked degree the good will and esteem of the entire community in which he lives. During the time of America's participation in the World war Mr. Pike was chairman of the township committee for war work.


JAMES W. MAUZY, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township now living practically retired from the active labors of the farm, was born in Rush county, member of one of the pioneer families here, and has lived here all his life, in the long period of nearly eighty years, which has since elapsed, having been a witness to many striking changes in the manners and customs of the people here and in the methods of doing things as compared with the pioneer days of his first remembrance. Mr. Manzy was born on a farm in Union township on December 23, 1843, son of William and Caroline (Griffin) Mauzy, the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania and had come here with her par- ents from the old Keystone state in the days of her girlhood. Will- iam Mauzy was a Kentuckian by birth and was but a child when he came up into Indiana with his parents, Silas Mauzy and wife, the family locating in Rush county and settling for a time in Noble township. They later moved to Union township where Silas Mauzy bought a tract of land and established his home, becoming a sub- stantial farmer, the owner of 240 acres, and there spent the re- mainder of his life, one of the influential pioneers of that section. On that pioneer farm in Union township William Mauzy grew to manhood, well trained in the ways of the farm, to which vocation he devoted his life, and for a time after his marriage made his home there but later moved to a farm in Noble township and there estab- lished his home, remaining there until his retirement from the farm and removal to Rushville, where his last days were spent. Will- iam Mauzy was a good farmer and owned an excellent place of 203 acres. He was for many years influential in local affairs, was a deacon in the Little Flat Rock Christian church, and helped erect the old church edifice which has since been torn down. He and his wife had two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch and


William HI. Mauzy. James W. Mauzy was but a small child when his parents moved from Union township, where he was born, to Noble township and on the home farm in this latter township he grew to manhood. He received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and until he was twenty-five years of age continued farming with his father. His father then gave him a "forty" ad- joining a similar tract of land he had bought in Union township and on this "eighty" he started farming on his own account, and after his marriage in 1875 established his home there. On that place Mr. Mauzy carried on his operations with such snecess that


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he gradually was able to enlarge his land holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of about 500 acres, a portion of which he has deeded to his children, eighty acres to each child in 1913. There he has continued to make his home, although in 1916 he retired from the active management of the farm. Mr. Mauzy is a Republican and has for many years taken an interested part in local political affairs, though not an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church and he has served on the diaconate of the church. In 1875 James W. Mauzy vas united in marriage to Alice J. Heizer, who had come up here from Kentucky with her parents in the days of her girlhood, and to this union four children have been born, namely : John W., who married Josephine Arnold and has one child, a son, Clifford William; Luella, who married Charles Arnold and has three chil- dren, Richard, Edmund and Alice; Charles G., who married Iona Gilson and has two children, Dorothy May and Glenn, and Chester C. Mauzy, who is unmarried and who is still at the old home. Mrs. Mauzy was born in Mason county, Kentucky, daughter of John and Mary (Crawford) IIeizer, both of whom were born in Ohio, where they were married, later moving to Kentucky, where they remained until they came with their family up into Indiana and settled in Fayette county. In 1865 John Ileizer moved to Illinois, where he died. He and his wife were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, Mrs. Mauzy having a sister, Susan, and a brother, John Heizer.


ALVAH T. JUNKEN, who now lives retired at Rushville, has large property interests in Rush county, one of these being the well known "Pine Highland" stock farm situated in Jackson township. He was born in Posey township, this county, September 22, 1866, a son of Edward and Saralı (Beal) Junken. His father was born in Kentucky and accompanied his parents to Rush county in boyhood, and his mother was born in New York and was also young when she was brought here. They had four children and three are liv- ing, Maggie, Jerusha and Alvah T. All the children attended the Offutt district school. Alvah T. Junken began to assist his father in the days of his youth, and continued to help at home until his marriage. Hc then worked one year as a farm hand and after that rented and operated land for ten years. About that time his wife inherited 300 acres of land in Jackson township. To this he sub- sequently added 420 acres, the 720 acres comprising "Pine High- land" farm. For a number of years afterward Mr. Junken devoted himself to the improvement and operation of this large estate, pay- ing particular attention to stockraising, his output aggregating from eighty to 100 head of cattle and 400 head of hogs a year. Since retiring to Rushville, Mr. and Mrs. Junken reside at No. 223 East Sixth street, which is one of several valuable holdings he has in this city. On October 25, 1893, Mr. Junken married Dollie Morris,


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who was born in Jackson township, this county, daughter of Theo- dore and Sarah (Beamon) Morris, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Rush county. They had seven children, three of whom survive, Frank, Edward and Dollic. The father of Mrs. Junken was a widely known farmer and stockman, in early days traveling all through Rush county buying stock, which he drove to Cincinnati to market. At the time of his death he owned 1,000 acres of land in Rush county. Mr. and Mrs. Junken have four chil- dren, Virgil, Esther, Mary and Josephine. Virgil Junken, who carries on farming in Jackson township, ./married Lillian Lee. Esther Junken married Russell Carfield, a farmer in Rush county. Mr. Junken is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville and his family are members of the Christian church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, a member of the lodge at Arlington, and in his political views is a stalwart Republican.




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