USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
344
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
general farming he has long been accustomed to give considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well. In his political leanings Mr. Hungerford is a Democrat and has ever been one of the ardent supporters of that party in this county, maintain- ing the cause for its own sake regardless of the opposition majority which it usually has to face. On May 13, 1885, Ira Hungerford was united in marriage to Mary M. Peck, who also was born in Orange township, daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth (Oliver) Peck, both members of pioneer families in this county, and to this union five children have been born, namely: Matthew, now engaged in the undertaking business at Detroit, Mich., who married Ida Imm and has two children, Beulah and Mariel; Ethel, who married Otto Meal, a barber, living at Rushville, and has two children, Thelma and Larau; Chloris, now living in the vicinity of Bowling Green, Ky., where he is engaged in drilling oil wells, and who married Lena Mabel and has one child, Gale; Welton, at home, and Flo F., wife of Earl Leffler, living at St. Paul, Ind.,
WILLARD WILKISON, whose memory is revered by a host of friends and acquaintances among whom he labored, having spent his energies through a life of honest endeavor to make the most of his opportunities as well as to assist as best he could those about him, was a man whom everybody liked, for he possessed a social nature and by his genial and kindly attitude to those about him won the confidence and respect of everyone. His career, though not long in years, was a busy and useful one, and he had excelled in those things which go to make a well-rounded character and a successful life. Willard Wilkison was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on April 26, 1883, and was a son of John T. and Lucy A. (Lee) Wilkison. He was educated in the public schools of Jackson township, Rush county, attending the Kenning and Osborn schools and completing his studies in the Osborn high school. After leaving school he remained on the home place, assist- ing his father in the farm work. On the death of his father he took over the homestead and operated it on his own account up to the time of his death, which occurred on July 19, 1919. The farm comprises 110 acres of fine tillable land and here Mr. Wilkison carried on general farming operations, in connection with which he also gave some attention to stock raising, feeding and marketing about 175 hogs annually. IIe had made many substantial improve- ments on the place and was practical and up-to-date in his methods. In 1907 Mr. Wilkison was married to Ethel Powell, who was born in Jackson township, Rush county, the daughter of George and Laura M. (Cross) Powell. These parents were both natives of Rush county, where the father had followed agricultural pursuits during all his active years, owning a fine farm of ninety acres in Jackson township. Mrs. Wilkison received her educational train- ing in the Downcy school in this township. To Mr. and Mrs.
MR. AND MRS. WILLARD WILKISON
345
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Powell were born three children, all of whom are living, namely : Ruby, Dalton and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkison became the par- ents of two children, Ruth and Delbert, who are attending the Osborn school. Mr. Wilkison was an earnest and active member of the Church of Christ at Little Blue River. Politically, he gave his support to the Democratic party. He always took a deep inter- est in public affairs, especially as relating to his own locality, and he gave his support to every movement for the advancement of the general welfare. Industry, perseverance and sound common sense were the elements which contributed to his success and he enjoyed an enviable standing among his life-long acquaintances and friends.
ELMER E. ALEXANDER, an enterprising farmer in Walker township, this county, was born in that township, on August 27, 1877, one of a family of four children born to William and Emily J. (Lower) Alexander, both of whom were born in Rush county, where the Alexander family is an old and highly respected one. It was Mr. Alexander's grandfather who donated the ground on which the Alexander school stands in Walker township. Elmer E. Alexander attended school there with his one sister and two brothers, Lora, Minnie and Edward, after which he assisted his mother in the opera- tion of the home farm of seventy-six acres, situated in Walker town- ship. With this responsibility resting upon him he remained at home until he was thirty years old, then married and bought a farm of his own in Walker township. Mr. Alexander has a well improved farm of 521/2 acres on which he carries on general farming and gives considerable attention to registered Duroc Jersey hogs, raising about fifty head annually. On September 5, 1907, Mr. Alexander married Jessie Steele, born in Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of John C. and Alice (Hiner) Steele. The father of Mrs. Alexander was a well known farmer in Rush county. She has one brother, Harry, and one sister, Fern, the latter of whom is the wife of Herbert M. Dearinger. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are members of the Christian Union church of Homer. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows and has passed the chairs in the lodge at Homer. In his political views he is a Democrat.
PERRY MCCRORY, who died at his home in Union township in the fall of 1912 and whose widow is still living there, left a good memory at his passing and it is but fitting that there should be carried in this volume of biography of the old families of Rush county some modest tribute to that memory. Mr. McCrory had been a resident of this county ever since his marriage in 1877 and had gained many fast friends here who will not soon forget him. Though not a native of Rush county he had put in his part with the people of this county in the days of his young manhood and remained faithful to the new relations thus established, so that in this memorial he is regarded as one who was as much "one of us" as though "native and to the manner born," even as he felt himself to be. Perry MeCrory was born
346
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
on a farm in the neighboring county of Fayette on June 23, 1853, and was thus in his sixtieth year when he died. His parents, William and Melissa (Iles) McCrory, both also were born in Fayette county, mem- bers of pioneer families there, and spent all their lives in that county. William McCrory was a farmer of diligent and methodical habits and developed an excellent piece of property. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, of whom but one now survives, Mrs. Margaret Mount, of Wells county, this state. Reared on the home farm in Fayette county, Perry MeCrory received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was devoted to a farmer's life. He remained an assistant to his father in the operations of the home place until he reached his majority when he rented a piece of land and began operations on his own account. When he married at the age of twenty-four he bought an "eighty" in Union township, this county, the place on which his widow is still living, established his home there and continued to reside on that place until his death on September 11, 1912. It was in 1877 that Mr. MeCrory bought that place and upon taking posses- sion he straightway entered upon the system of improvement which in time gave him one of the best kept little farms in the community, a place in the upkeep of which he ever took a personal pride. He also was a widely known breeder and trainer of fast horses. He was a good neighbor and a faithful friend and there are many in the com- munity who will not soon forget his quiet friendliness to mankind. In his political views Mr. McCrory was a Republican and had ever given his interested attention to party affairs in the county; though his was a quiet participation in politics, but none the less effective in its way, and his circle of influence was an ever widening one. On September 25, 1877, Perry MeCrory was united in marriage to Fannie Halsted, who was born in Grant county, this state, daughter of William and Mary J. (Austin) Halsted, the latter of whom was born in Baltimore, Md. William Halsted was a native Hoosier, born in Fayette county, and was living in Grant county, where he had established his home after his marriage, when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front with one of the Indiana regiments, was captured by the enemy at the battle of Rich- mond and died in service in 1863, leaving his widow with four small children, but two of whom are now living, Mrs. McCrory and her brother, Herschel Halsted. For ten years before her marriage Mrs. McCrory was engaged as a teacher in the schools of Indiana, her first term and her last term being conducted in Rush county, the remainder of this period of service in the school room being spent in Fayette county, where she taught for eight terms, and she thus acquired a wide and very agreeable acquaintance hereabout, even before her marriage and permanent residence in this county. To Perry and Fanny (Halsted) MeCrory four children were born, three of whom are living, namely : Fred, who married Mary Agnes Hughes and has five children, Marie, William H., Grace, Charles and Irene; Alice,
347
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
wife of Jesse Ridout, and Ernest, who married Torla Stevens and has two children, Herschel and Beatrice. Since the death of her hus- band Mrs. McCrory has continued to make her home on the home farm where she has so long resided and where she is very comfortably situated, on rural mail route No. 2 out of Glenwood. She is a member of the Christian church in Orange and has ever given her interested attention to church work as well as to other neighborhood good work, helpful in all ways in promoting movements having to do with the common welfare hereabout, her long experience as a school teacher in days gone by having been helpful in many ways in these gentle labors of love.
JOHN BOWLING, a venerable retired farmer and landowner of Orange township, living on rural mail route No. 2 out of St. Paul, was born in that same township and has lived there all his life, a period of more than eighty-six years. during which time he has been a witness to and a participant in the amazing changes which have been wrought in conditions and in the way of doing things since he was a boy. Despite his years Mr. Bowling continues to take a lively interest in current affairs and has many interesting stories to tell by way of comparison with events that were trans- piring when he had a first conscious knowledge of affairs in the days of the early development of the community in which he has so long lived. Mr. Bowling was born on January 28, 1835, son of Richard and Sarah (Brown) Bowling, who were among the pioneers of Orange township. Richard Bowling and his wife both were born in Kentucky, the former on February 4, 1800, and the latter on De- cember 28, 1800. They were married in Kentucky in 1828, and shortly afterward came up into Indiana and located in Rush county, settling on a farm in the then almost wilderness section of Orange township, where they established their home and spent the re- mainder of their lives, useful and influential residents of that com- munity. They were the parents of five children, the subject of this sketch having had three sisters, Lucy, Maria and Susan, and a brother, Hiram Bowling. Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, John Bowling grew up to the ways of the farm and has been continuously engaged in that vocation. At nine years of age he began "working out" by the month, though continuing to make his home with his parents, and on through his young man- hood continued to hire his services on the farm of the neighbor- hood, in the meantime carrying on his studies in the sometimes not always well equipped school in his home district, his schooling being secured at the old Slifer schoolhouse, which is still remem- bered by some of the older residents of Orange township. When about twenty-three years of age Mr. Bowling began farming on his own account, renting a farm in the neighborhood, and after his marriage, some three years later, continued to make his home on a rented farm for three or four years longer, at the end of which
348
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
time he bought twenty acres of the tract he now owns and there established his home and has ever since resided there. As his af- fairs prospered Mr. Bowling gradually added to his acreage until he became the owner of his present well kept farm of 141 acres, and continued farming the same until his growing weight of years necessitated his practical retirement from the active labors of the farm and he has since rented it out "on the halves." It was on March 3, 1861, that John Bowling was united in marriage to Nancy Lee, who was born in 1837 in the neighboring county of Shelby, a member of one of the real pioneer families of that county, her parents having been Jonathan and Mary (Copland) Lee, early settlers, and to this union one child was born, a son, John H. Bow- ling, who took up the carpenter's trade and is now living at India- napolis. John H. Bowling married Alice Cadwell and has one child, a daughter, who married Roy Williams, an employe of the Belt Rail- road at Indianapolis. Mrs. Nancy Bowling died on May 12, 1902. Mr. Bowling is an ardent Republican and has ever taken an interest in political affairs, though never having been an office seeker. He is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Waldron and with the Red Men's lodge at St. Paul and has for years taken a proper interest in the affairs of these popular fraternal organizations.
ELBERT M. REDENBAUGH, one of the well known and sub- stantial farmers of Orange township, this county, was born in that township on February 24, 1866, and has lived there all his life, making his home on the place in which he bought the interest of the other heirs after the death of his father, who developed the farm. His father, Philip Redenbaugh, was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, and when a young man came up into Rush county, where he married Mary McDuffy, who was born in this county, member of one of the pioneer families of Orange township, and established his home on a farm in that same township, becoming the owner of an excellent farm of 145 acres, and there spent the remainder of his life with the exception of ten years spent in Franklin county. Philip and Mary (McDuffy) Redenbaugh had ten children, of whom five are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Alpheus T., Robert M., Ulysses and Stella M. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Elbert M. Reden- baugh received his schooling in the old Stewart schoolhouse and at Gowdy and from the days of his boyhood has devoted himself to farming. He remained at home during the days of his young man- hood and after his marriage continued to make that place his home, renting the place from his father and farming on his own account. Upon his father's death five years later he bought the interests of the other heirs in the farm and has since continued to occupy it and has made numerous substantial improvements in the place, a well kept farm of 145 acres, the operations of which Mr. Redenbaugh carries on in up-to-date fashion. It was on April 24, 1907, that
ELBERT M. REDENBAUGH
349
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Elbert M. Redenbaugh was united in marriage to Millie Owen, who was born in Orange township in 1867, daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Mitchell) Owen, and to this union four children have been born, Leona B., Charles, Ray and Millie. The Redenbaughs have a pleasant farm home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Manilla, and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activities. Politically, Mr. Redenbaugh is a Republican, but while ever giving a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs has never been particularly active in "politics." Mr. and Mrs. Redenbaugh are members of the Christian church at Moscow.
JOHN H. COLLINS, one of the substantial farmers of Posey township, and a worthy representative of old families of this part of the state, was born in Marion county, Indiana, on September 17, 1890, and is the son of Perry and Maggie J. (Nelson) Collins, the former a native of Hancock county, Indiana, and the latter of Rush county. The father followed the vocation of farming during the major portion of his life and was a man of respectability and stand- ing in his community. Of his five children, two are now living, the subject of this sketch and Claude. John II. Collins secured his edu- cation in the public schools of Shelby and Rush counties. He re- mained at home until seventeen years of age, giving his attention to the work of the home farm, but at that age he began to work out as a farm hand, being so employed for seven years. He then en- gaged in farming on his own account, locating on the place where he now resides, consisting of seventy-nine acres, which he inherited from his grandfather Nelson. Mr. Collins has made extensive im- provements on the place, putting everything in good repair and maintaining the soil cultivation at the highest possible standard of
excellence. He follows general farming and also raises some stock, shipping about a carload of hogs a year. On August 16, 1913, Mr. Collins was married to Agnes Gardner, who was born in Decatur county, Indiana, and educated in the schools of Decatur and Rush counties. She is the daughter of Levi D. and Alice (Elli- ott) Gardner, both of whom were born and reared in Decatur county and who became the parents of seven children, of whom the following are living : Olsa, Dora and Agnes. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins have been born two children, Delphia M. and Frederick L., the latter dying in infancy. Politically, Mr. Collins gives his sup- port to the Democratic party and he is a member of Beech Grove Lodge, No. 399, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Arlington. Personally, Mr. Collins is genial and companionable and has a host of warm and loyal friends.
JOHN SILER, who after many years of connection with farm- ing in Ripley township, is now living retired, one of the captains of success who has piloted his own craft to harbor in his several va- rieties of experience has followed farming and stock raising, and has served his community in public office. Mr. Siler was born on
350
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
a farm in Ripley township, this county, July 13, 1845, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reddick) Siler, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Ohio, who came to Indiana in the early days of Rush county with their respective parents. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Siler entered about 480 acres of land in Rush county, and became one of this locality's prominent and influential citizens. Jacob Siler also followed farming throughout his career in Rush county, and at one time was the owner of 160 acres of good land in Ripley township, where his death occurred. He was the father of eight children, of whom four are living: Anna, John, Henry and Jesse. William, Susan and Peter are deceased. John Siler was educated in Ripley township, where he attended the Earnest schoolhouse, and after leaving school took up farming on the home place. He continued to be associated in farming opera- tions with his father until three years after his marriage, when, with two of his brothers, he bought the homestead from the other heirs of the estate, the father having died. Later John and Jesse Siler bought the interest of the other brother, and continued to be associated in its operation until their retirement. Since then John Siler has rented his share of the property to his son-in-law. Dur- ing the active years of his career Mr. Siler was known as a capable and industrious agriculturist, who was progressive in his methods and. energetic in carrying his plans to completion. On September 24, 1868, he married Elizabeth Brosius, who was born in Rush county, daughter of George and Evaline (Campbell) Brosius, and to this union there have been born two children, Louise and Eliza- beth. Louise married Oren Saunder, a farmer of Ripley township, and has four children : Pearl, who married George Fanchier, a farmer of Rush county, and has two children; Helen, who married John Dyer, a farmer of Posey township, Rush county, and has one child, Claribel; Paul, and Claude. Edith Siler married Mike Lov- ett, a farmer of Center township, Rush county. Mrs. Elizabeth (Brosius) Siler died on March 2, 1904, aged fifty-nine years, nine months and twenty-three days. On February 27, 1908, Mr. Siler married Ella Steffey, who was born and educated in Hancock county, Indiana, daughter of Henry L. and Elizabeth A. (Ormston) Steffey, the former a native of West Virginia, and the latter of Hancock county, Indiana. Henry L. Steffey was brought as a small boy to Hancock county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and was married, and throughout his active career followed farm- ing in Hancock county, where he was the owner of eighty acres of good land. He and his wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living: Frances, Nettie, Melvin and Ella. Mr. Siler is a Democrat, and at various times has been called upon to serve in public office, having filled the positions of school director and road supervisor of his township. Mr. and Mrs. Siler belong to the Christian and Friends churches respectively, at Carthage.
351
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
HENRY E. GUFFIN, who died at his home in Union township in the summer of 1918, and whose widow is still living there, was not only one of the substantial farmers and landowners of Rush county, but had rendered valuable public service and at his passing left a good memory that not only is a priceless heritage to his fam- ily, but will long be cherished in the community at large. He had served as representative in the Indiana General Assembly from this district and in other ways had rendered to the public that which was due in every relation of life; a good man, a true patriot, a faithful friend, a neighbor beyond reproach, and had done well those things which his hand had found to do. Though not a native of Rush county, for he was born in the neighboring county of Franklin, he had been a resident of this county since the days of his young manhood, having located here immediately after his mar- riage in the spring of 1884, and had thus grown to regard himself as a very part of the community to which he thus by choice devoted himself and in all his relations to that community had rendered a true account, so that at his passing, as noted above, he left a mem- ory that will long survive. Henry E. Guffin was born in the pleas- ant village of Andersonville, not far from the Rush county line in Franklin county, this state, January 25, 1863, son of Harry and Mary (Leach) Guffin, the latter of whom was born in that same county, a member of one of the old families there. Harry Guffin was born in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families and here grew to manhood. After his marriage to Mary Leach he for some time made his home over the line at Andersonville, but presently moved to Rushville, where he became engaged in the mercantile business. Some years later he moved to Indianapolis and there became engaged in the real estate business, a line he followed the rest of his life, his last days being spent in Indian- apolis. IIe and his wife were the parents of three children, all now deceased. Having been but a lad when his parents moved from Rushville to Indianapolis, Henry E. Guffin received his schooling in the schools of the latter city and there remained until his mar- riage to a Rush county girl when he returned to this county and became engaged in farming, locating on the farm on which his widow is still living, and there spent the rest of his life success- fully engaged in the vocation to which he had devoted himself, his death occurring there on June 11, 1918. Mr. Guffin not only was a good farmer, but a successful breeder of live stock and his opera- tions were carried on on a quite extensive scale. As his affairs prospered he gradually added to his land holdings in Union town- ship until he was the owner of a fine farm of 550 acres and had long been accounted one of the substantial men of the county. He was an ardent Republican and in 1904 was elected to represent this legislative district in the lower House of the Indiana General Assembly. He was a member of the Ben Davis Christian church,
352
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
as is his widow. Fraternally, Mr. Guffin was affiliated with the local lodge of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. On April 3, 1884, Henry E. Guffin was united in marriage to Minnie Gray, who was born in Union township, and who, as noted above, survives. To this union were born five children, Mary G., Fred E., Nellie G., Florence E. and Chase L., all of whom are living. Mary G. mar- ried Gano Perry and Florence E. married Alva O. Bitner and has two children, Helen Louise and Marthena. During the period of this country's participation in the World war Chase L. Guffin served as a soldier, attached to the Three Hundred and Thirty- fourth regiment, located at Camp Taylor. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Guffin has continued to make her home on the farm, her sons carrying on the operations of the place. The Guffins have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rush- ville. Mrs. Guffin has lived in Union township all her life. Her parents were Virginians who had come to Indiana after their mar- riage and had located in Rush county, making their home in Union township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. George Gray was a good farmer and he and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom five are still living, Mrs. Guffin having three brothers, John, George and Morton Gray, and a sister, Margaret.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.