USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 42
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daughter of James and Sina Ellen (Gerard) Nichols, and to this union twelve children have been born, of whom eight are living, William, Rebecca, Andrew, Vincent, Adaline, Cary, Minnie and Nancy Agnes. William Gray married Carrie Hinchman and has two children, Walter, who married Ethel Eakins, and Clara, wife of Leslie Hinchman. Rebecca Gray married Gilbert Hanna and has two children, Wilbur and Stella, the latter of whom married Samuel Laurence and has one child, a son, John Thompson. Andrew Gray married Claudia Jackson. Vincent Gray married Matilda Kirch- baum. Adaline Gray married Hugh Beaver. Cary Gray married Bessie Patton and has four children, James, Virginia, Cary Patton and Ethel Ada. Minnie Gray married Oriel Stephens and Nancy A. Gray married Jesse R. Norris and has one child, a son, Dr. Jesse L. Norris, a graduate of Chicago University, who had the distinction of having been the first man in the state of Montana to enlist his services in behalf of the army upon the entrance of the United States into the World war in the spring of 1917, and who served overseas in that war for two years. Another of Mr. Gray's grandsons, Wilbur Beaver, also served overseas in the great war, serving with the Three Hun- dred and Thirty-second Infantry in Italy and thus participated in the campaign against the Austrians.
DAVID FISHER HITE, one of the old and honored agricul- turists of Rush county, was born in Richland township, this county, August 5, 1847, a son of William N. and Sarah (Fisher) Hite. Will- iam N. Hite was born in Virginia, where in his youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, and as a young man came to Rush county and entered eighty acres of land from the Government in Richland township. Here he erected a small blacksmith shop and followed his trade in connection with his work in clearing his property and making it ready for the planting of crops, but in later years ahan- doned this vocation and gave himself unreservedly to the occupa- tions of farming and stock raising, in which he became greatly successful. At one time he was the owner of 460 acres of land, all located in Richland township, and his death occurred on his farm, September 27, 1896, when he was eighty-five years of age. Mrs. Hite, who was born in Ohio, survived her husband until October 2. 1913, and was in advanced years at the time of her passing away. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now liv- ing : David Fisher, Lewis E., Winfield, Eliza Jane, Irene and Lola. David F. Hite attended the district schools of Richland township. following which he pursued a course at Richland Academy, and then began teaching school during the winter terms, a procedure which he followed for ten years, during which he farmed during the summer months. He then turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and for about ten years conducted a store at Clarksburg, Ind., but eventually turned his attention to farming and stock rais- ing, which he has followed to the present. He is now farming sev-
DAVID F. HITE
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enty acres of good land, located near the Decatur-Rush county line, and has attained marked success in his work. In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Hite handles fire insurance and has made this a very profitable side line. He is one of the best informed and most progressive residents of his locality, a man of genial and approachable manner and a citizen who takes a keen interest in the affairs which engage the attention and affect the welfare of the community. IIe is a Democrat and his fraternal connection is with the Masonic lodge at Clarksburg, of which he has been the secretary for thirty-two years. For the past thirty- five years he has served as a deacon in the Christian church and is now an elder. Mr. Hite married Florence A. Ray, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Loper) Ray, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Tinnie Myrtle, who has been twice married, her first husband, the Rev. W. F. Folks, having died leav- ing her with one child, a daughter, Lavon, who married Capt. Thad Talmage Taylor, of the United States Marine Corps. Mrs. Folks married, secondly, the Rev. David J. Thornton.
DAVID H. WEBSTER, one of the best known citizens of Posey township, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on January 30, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of Rush county and after leaving school he engaged in the laundry business in Rushville. After conducting that business for about ten years he located on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Webster carries on a general line of farming and also raises about eighty head of hogs each year for market. He keeps his farm well improved and is numbered among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Posey township. On September 6, 1899, David H. Webster was married to Jerusha B. Junken, a native of Posey township and the daughter of Edward A. and Sarah (Beale) Junken. To Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been born two children, Samuel E., who is a pupil in the Arlington school, and Thomas A. Mr. and Mrs. Webster are earnest members of the Christian and Presbyterian churches respectively, at Rushville. Mr. Webster's fra- ternal relations are with the Improved Order of Red Men at Rush- ville. He is a man of good judgment and pronounced views, keeping himself well informed on current events and taking a lively interest in all public affairs of his township and county.
JAMES E. CALDWELL, who is accounted among the men of influence in Jackson township, and who has a fine farm in that town- ship, was born in Jackson township on January 4, 1861, and is a son of James M. and Alcy (Ploughe) Caldwell, the former a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Decatur county, Indiana. The father was reared to the life of a farmer, which voca- tion he followed during all his active years, owning 160 acres of land in Jackson township, a part of which estate is now occupied by the subject of this review. To James and Alcy Caldwell were born eight children, six of whom are living, namely : William A., Mary R., Sarah,
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Lydia, James E., and Oliver. James E. Caldwell received his educa- tional training in the Downey school in Jackson township and after completing his studies he remained at home, assisting his father in the farm work, until his marriage. He then bought the interest of some of the other heirs in the homestead, which he continued to culti- vate, but he now only owns eighty acres of the home farm. Here he car- ries on general farming operations and his indefatigable industry, per- sistence and good management have been rewarded with a gratifying measure of success. He also gives some attention to the raising of live stock, feeding and marketing about sixty hogs a year. On April 25, 1900, Mr. Caldwell was married to Elizabeth Casady, a native of Rush county and the daughter of John W. and Tabitha (Plumner) Casady, the former of whom was a lifelong farmer in Rush county and a highly respected citizen of his community. Mr. and Mrs. Cald- well are earnest members of the Christian church at Rushville. Polit- ically, he gives his support to the Republican party and has served one term as trustee of Jackson township. Fraternally, he is a member of Ivy Lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, at Rushville. He takes a keen interest in the affairs of his community and gives his unreserved support to every movement for the advancement of the general wel- fare.
GEORGE W. HARDESTY, a well known and substantial farmer of Orange township and formerly and for many years a teacher in the schools of that township, is a native son of Rush county and . has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Anderson town- ship on December 17, 1871, son of Thomas and Lucy E. (Wall) Hardesty, the latter of whom also was born in Indiana, a native of Dearborn county. Thomas Hardesty was a Kentuckian, born in Henry county in the old Blue Grass state, who came into Indiana in the days of his young manhood and located in Rush county, where he married Lucy E. Wall, who had come here with her parents from Dearborn county not long before. After his marriage Thomas Hardesty began farming on his own account and in time became the owner of an excellent farm of something more than 102 acres in Orange township. There he spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Alice, wife of Frank Humes, now living at Manato, Col. Reared on the farm, George W. Hardesty received his schooling in the old Selby school house in Orange township and from the days of his boyhood devoted himself to farming. He also gave close attention to his studies and early became qualified as a teacher in the schools of Rush county and for fifteen years taught during the winters in the schools of his home township, farming during the summers. He remained at home until his marriage when twenty-four years of age and then began farming "on his own," living on a rented farm for about six years, at the end of which time he bought the place on which he is now living and has since resided there. Mr. Hardesty has a well kept place of eighty acres and since coming into possession of
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the same has made numerous substantial improvements on the place, these including the erection of a new house, the building of a new barn and the erection of new fences throughout. In addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of hogs and is doing well in his operations. Mr. Hardesty is a Democrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has never been what may be called particularly "active" in politics. It was on August 9, 1896, that George W. Hardesty was united in marriage to Biddie S. Mahin, who also was born in Orange township, a daugh- ter of Delancy and Casander (Owen) Mahin, both of whom were born in Rush county, members of old families here. Delancy Mahin was a well known farmer of Orange township and remained there until his retirement from the farm and removal to Shelbyville, Ind. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, those besides Mrs. Hardesty being Mollie, Nettie, William, Altha, Benjamin and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Hardesty have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Milroy and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which all their lives have been spent and where they are known by all.
JOSEPH E. SCOTT, a well known citizen and successful farmer and stockraiser in Washington township, this county, was born in that township, on June 8, 1876, a son of James R. and Mary J. ยท (Finney) Scott, and a grandson of Jesse and Margaret (McCannon) Scott. Jesse Scott was a pioneer in this part of Rush county, coming at an early date from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and he entered eighty acres of Government land in Washington township, on which he passed the rest of his life. He had four children : Mrs. Ellen Prine, Mrs. Catherine Fry, Mrs. Jeanette O'Banion and James R. James R. Scott was born in 1838 and grew to manhood in Wash- ington township, attending the neighborhood schools in boyhood and afterward until twenty-five years old, giving his father assistance on the homestead. At that time he married Mary Jane Finney, of Washington township, and shortly afterward bought eighty acres, which by thrift and good management he later increased to 320 acres. He carried on a general line of farming and raised 150 head of hogs a year. He always stood well in the community, was a good neighbor and reliable citizen. His children were: John P., Mrs. Sarah C. Rider, Joseph E., James R., Albert S., Jesse E., Amos E. and an infant that died soon after birth. Joseph E. Scott was born in Washington township, attended school here and had practical farm training on the homestead. After his father's death the estate was divided and he received fifty-three acres as his portion, subsequently adding sixty acres which he purchased from his sister. He devotes his land to general farming and stockraising, industries in which the Scotts have been unusually successful as a family. Mr. Scott is not married, making his home with his brother, John P. Scott, and family. John P. Scott, the eldest son of the late James and Mary J. Scott, was
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born in Washington township on March 16, 1864. He attended school there through boyhood and when twenty-three years old took over his portion of his father's estate. He is now operating 145 acres, having increased his original farm to this acreage, and like his brother Joseph E. carries on farming and stockraising. At New Castle, Ind., Mr. Scott married Winona Nipp, on September 8, 1887, and they have had two children, Elsie, and one who died in infancy. The broth- ers vote with the Democratic party but neither has aspired to political office.
ORA T. LOWER, an industrious, capable and highly successful farmer of Rush county, who is carrying on operations as a farmer and stock raiser, making his home at Homer, was born in Walker township, this county, January 21, 1881, a son of James M. and Ma- rinda M. (Heaton) Lower, natives respectively of Rushville and Walker townships who were educated in their home communities. During the greater part of his life James M. Lower, who died on September 10, 1903, followed farming in Walker township, and he and his wife were the owners of 200 acres of valuable land. They were the parents of six children : Daisy M., Ora T., Bertha A., Cecil E., Laverne H., and Elbert M., the last-named being deceased. Ora T. Lower attended district school No. 7, known as the Alexander school, after leaving which he took up farming at home with his father. He remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, when he entered upon an independent career as a farmer and has so continued. He purchased a small tract of his own and to this he has added by industry, good management and persever- ance, aided by his capable wife, until they now own 960 acres, in Rushville, Posey and Walker townships. Mr. Lower rents out a part of his land, and the rest is devoted to general farming and to the raising of hogs for breeding and market purposes, Mr. Lower raising in the neighborhood of 500 hogs annually. At present, Mrs. Lower is interesting herself in the raising of Speckled Sussex chick- ens, a breed of poultry just being introduced in this country from England. On January 10, 1906, Mr. Lower married Dessie Hilli- goss, who was born and received her education at Homer, followed by two years of attendance at the high school at Manilla and two years at Shelbyville. Mrs. Lower also took a course in music at the David Graham Academy, at Rushville, and is a woman of nu- merous accomplishments and splendid business judgment. She is the daughter and only child of James V. and Mary M. (Hodge) Ililligoss, the latter a native of Walker township. Mr. Hilligoss was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, and was two years of age when brought by his parents to Rush county, where he followed farming and stock raising throughout his life and became the owner of 703 acres. He died on October 3, 1914. His wife passed away on October 25, 1901. Mr. Lower is a popular member of Manilla Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, and in politics
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. ORA T. LOWER
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Lower are members of the Christian Union church of Homer. Their home at Homer is regarded as one of the finest residences in Rush county.
WILLIAM P. WHITE, a substantial farmer and representative citizen of Washington township, this county, was born in Union township, on May 24, 1864. His parents were Timothy P. and Marian M. (Smith) White. Timothy P. White was born in Maine and was about thirty years old when he came to Rush county, where he spent the rest of his life. He was a man of education and of business capacity. At first he taught school, then conducted a general store at Smelsers Mills in Union township, subsequently buying the mills which were afterward known as White's Mills. He acquired 700 acres of land in Union township and went into the stock business, feeding from seventy-five to 100 head of cattle yearly. After coming to Rush county he married Marian M. Smith, a native of the state of New York, and they had four children: Mrs. Clara Young, William P., Minnie and Sumner, the last two now being deceased. William P. White had school advantages in Rush county and later at Valparaiso, after which he returned to Union township and assisted his father on the home farm until his marriage, when he took over the entire respon- sibility and made his home there while managing the various farm in- dustries. In 1899 he purchased 155 acres of very desirable land sit- nated in Washington township, and this place has been the family home for the past twenty-two years. During this time Mr. White has made many improvements and has carried on large farming operations prudently and profitably. For twenty-five years he has specialized in raising Polled Angus cattle, selling for breeding purposes. Mr. White was married first to Ella Shover and they had two children, Ray T., who survives, and Harry, who is deceased. Mr. White was married second to Ora Opal Bitner, who was born in Center township, this county and they have two children, Thelmer and Mildred, both of whom are attending school. Mr. White and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Falmouth.
WILLIAM A. MULL belongs to one of the old-established families of Rush county. His present fine farm in Rushville town- ship was entered from the Government by his grandfather, George Mull, in 1820, and among his cherished possessions is the sheepskin deed which gave ownership to this land which has always been in the Mull family. William A. Mull was born on his present farm, June 28, 1861, son of Henry C. and Elvira (Shaw) Mull, both of whom were natives of Rush county. Henry C. Mull spent his life on the homestead, and was always engaged in farming. He and his wife had six children, three of whom survive: William A., Clara and Catherine. Mary A. died at the age of thirty-seven, and two died in infancy. William A. Mull was educated in Rushville township, attending district school No. 11, known as the Compromise school. Up to the time of his marriage Mr. Mull worked with his father on the home farm, and after that conducted the place for about ten
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years, but then bought his first land, a small farm of twenty-nine acres, and farmed it in addition to the homestead. About three years later he bought twenty-four acres more, and for two years was engaged in farming his own land. For the next twenty-six years he was engaged in drilling gas and oil wells, and kept on investing in land, becoming the owner of 365 acres in Rushville township. Since retir- ing from the well business he has bought ninety-one acres more, hav- ing now 365 acres, which land is conducted by his sons, who are doing general farming and raise about 110 head of hogs annually, and about twenty head of cattle. On September 3, 1885, William A. Mull mar- ried Laura J., daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Cross) Fisher, natives of Shelby and Ripley counties, respectively, farming people. Mrs. Mull was born, reared and educated at Blue Ridge in Shelby county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mull; Harry A., a farmer on the home place, who married Beulah Murphy ; Ernest, also a farmer on the home place, who married Blanch Crawford, and Margaret E., who is unmarried and lives at home. Mr. Mull belongs to Homer Lodge, No. 471, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Manilla Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons. For some years he has been a member of Pleasant Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church, and is highly regarded in this congregation. He is a Democrat. Mr. Mull is well-known all over Rush and adjoining counties.
MAURICE W. MANCHE, whose range of activities has included the promotion of agriculture, religion, education, politics, banking and business, is the owner and operator of a magnificent farm of 480 acres, located in one of the richest farming sections of Rush county, upon which stand one of the finest country homes and one of the most modern barns to be found in Ripley township. Mr. Manche was born in Hancock county, Indiana, September 1, 1877, a son of John and Mary (Ashcraft) Manche, natives of the same county. His father, reared an agriculturist, was still but a lad when the Civil war broke out, but enlisted in an Indiana volunteer infantry regiment, with which he fought bravely until the close of the conflict. When his military service was over and he had received his honorable dis- charge he returned to Hancock county and was married. Settling down to agricultural pursuits, he managed his affairs so well and prosecuted his activities so persistently, that he became the owner of 1,400 acres of land and was regarded as one of the most influential and highly respected citizens of his community. He and his wife became the parents of six children, of whom four survive: Charles, Della G., Elizabeth and Maurice. The education of Maurice Manche was acquired in the public schools of Hancock county, after leaving which he began farming in association with his father, and continued to be thus engaged until his marriage. Not long thereafter he changed his residence to Ripley township, Rush county, where he is now the owner of 448 acres, all within the township boundaries. Here he has built one of the finest country homes in the township as well as one of the largest barns, and his other buildings are proportionate
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in value and attractiveness, while his improvements are of the most highly improved and modern character. Mr. Manche follows general farming and stock raising on a large scale and uses the most effective and up-to-date methods to secure his desired results. Primarily a farmer, his business abilities have led him into other activities, and at this time he is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of Charlottesville, Ind., and the Hungate Wholesale Company. In politics he is independent and takes a good citizen's interest in mat- ters of a political nature. Good movements, however, secure his im- mediate and generous support, whether they be of an educational, religious, charitable or civic nature. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist church, being a member of the congregation at Carthage, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Carthage blue lodge of Masons. On August 1, 1901, Mr. Manche married Laura B. Scott, daughter of Robert J. and Elizabeth A. (Scudder) Scott, of Hancock county, Indiana, and to this union there have been born two children, Raymond W. and Ruth E., both at home.
IRA HUNGERFORD, one of Orange township's landowners and well-known farmers, living on rural mail route No. 1 out of Manilla, is a native son of Rush county and has lived here all his life, a period covering a bit more than the traditional "three score and ten years," and he is still hale and hearty with the expectation of going on a con- siderable distance farther on the journey of life. He was born in the township in which he still makes his home, September 3, 1850, son of Melvin and Sarah E. (Willey) Hungerford, both of whom were born in Butler county, Ohio, but who came over here into Indiana follow- ing their marriage, established their home in Rush county and here spent the remainder of their lives, respected and useful members of the community in which they settled in the year 1844, the Hungerfords thus having been represented here for nearly eighty years. Melvin Hungerford became the owner of an excellent farm of 240 acres and was accounted one of the substantial citizens of his time in the com- munity in which he lived. He and his wife were the parents'of seven children, five of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Richard, Hulda, Addison and Bertha. Reared on the old home farm in Orange township, Ira Hungerford received his schooling in the old Alter school house and from the days of his boyhood has devoted himself to farming. He remained an assistant in the development of the home farm until he was thirty years of age when he started farming for himself, renting a tract of 160 acres in Orange township, and after his marriage continued as a renter until he and his family moved onto the present farm of 135 acres in that same township, which his wife had inherited in the distribution of her father's estate, and has since resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Though not as active a participant in the labors of the farm as in days gone by Mr. Hungerford still regards himself as able to "make a hand" in a pinch and still keeps a close supervisory eye over the operation of the place. In addition to his
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