USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
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BILLY W. WAGONER, a well known and progressive farmer of Orange township, was born in this county and has lived here the greater part of his life, now making his home on the old home place, lie and his sister Auda being very pleasantly situated there. He was born on August 21, 1861, son of Robert M. and Harriet (Kelly) Wagoner, both of whom also were born in this county, members of old families here, and who spent their last days here. Dr. Robert M. Wagoner was a veterinary surgeon and in his professional capacity was widely known throughout this section. He had a farm of 120 acres and was also for years largely engaged in the buying of live stock. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch and his sister Auda and their brother, Hannegan Wagoner. Reared on the home farm, Billy W. Wagoner received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and as a young man was for some years engaged in farming his father's place. He then took
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employment in a farm implement store at Blue Ridge and was there engaged as a clerk for about fifteen years, at the end of which time he went to Shelbyville where he was in charge of the implement and automobile department of the O. L. Means department store until in 1918 when he returned to the old home place in Orange township, this county, resumed charge of part of the same and has since been farming there, he and his sister Auda making their home there, as noted above. Mr. Wagoner has the place in an excellent state of repair, well improved, a well equipped farm plant, and is carrying on his operations in up-to-date fashion. Mr. Wagoner is a Republi- can and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. He and his sister are members of the Methodist church and take a proper part in church activities. Mr. Wagoner is a charter member and past chancellor commander of the Blue Ridge lodge of the Knights of Pythias and has for years taken an active interest in the doings of the lodge.
OLIVER A. J. HALL, who has been a lifelong resident of Washington township, this county, still resides on the old family home- stead and is engaged in farming and raising stock. Mr. Hall was born there August 24, 1856, a son of Aaron S. and Adeline (Ivins) Hall. His father was born in Fayette county, Indiana, one of the six children of Joseph Hall. Joseph Hall was the founder of the family in Rush county, coming here early and entering 160 acres from the Government. He developed his land and lived on it during the rest of his life. Aaron S. Hall grew up in Washington township, helped his father on the pioneer farm and subsequently owned it. He married Adeline Ivins, February 26, 1855, and they had four children, only one of whom survives. Oliver A. J. Hall attended the district schools in boyhood and was brought up to be a farmer. He married Serepta Eaton, who was born in Union county, Indiana, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Waddell) Eaton, and they have one son, Millard L. Mr. Hall is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Lewisville. He has been active in politics and has always done his full duty as a citizen, having served as township trustee for several years, his services covering the years 1895 to 1900 and 1908 to 1914.
JOHN L. ENGLISH, a prosperous farmer of this county, was born in Walker township, July 17, 1863, and has practically spent his life here. He is a son of John A. and Mahala (Plummer) English, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter in Rush county. They had three children, Andrew F., Mary C. and John S. The father followed farming in Rush county and owned 109 acres of good land in Walker township. John L. English obtained his educa- tion in Walker township attending the Goddard school, after which he assisted his father on the home farm, where he remained until his own marriage, when he began farming the land on which he now resides. He has 105 acres of well improved land in Walker township, which he devotes to general farming and hog raising, shipping usually
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two car loads of hogs annually. His different industries are carried on with good judgment and prove profitable. On August 10, 1892, Mr. English married Alice E. Mull, who also was born in Walker township, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Mull. The father of Mrs. English was a large farmer in Walker township and an extensive landowner, at one time having 880 acres. Of his eight children, the following are living: Madeline, Omar, Chrissa, Alice, Nellie, Jacob and Earl. Mr. and Mrs. English have had five children, four of whom survive: Frank E., now a resident of Chicago, Ill., who married Leah Burnett; William, a farmer in Rushville township, this county, who married Gladys Hill; and Glorinne and Charles. In politics Mr. English and his sons are Democrats. Mr. English is a member of the local lodge of Odd Fellows at Homer.
FRANKLIN P. WAGONER, a well-known and substantial farmer of Orange township and who years ago was well known as a teacher in that township, was born in Rush county and has lived here all his life, now owning a part of the farm on which he was born in Orange township. The date of his birth was February 7, 1853, and his parents were William A. and Sally (Jones) Wagoner, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a member of one of the pioneer families here. William A. Wagoner was a Kentuckian, who came up here into Indiana with his parents in the days of his infancy. He was married here and early became engaged in farming in Orange county, where he became the owner of an excellent farm of 380 acres. There he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Hayden and Bracken, and a sister, Mary. Reared on the home farm in Orange township, Franklin P. Wagoner received his early schooling at the old Tombs school house and sup- plemented the course there by a course in the university at Valparaiso in which he prepared himself for the teaching profession and was for four years thereafter engaged during the winters in teaching in his home township. He married at the age of twenty-five and then began farming on his own account, looking after 100 acres, a part of which his father gave him and part of which he rented, and which tract is a part of the fine farm of 230 acres now owned by him and which he has improved in admirable shape, having one of the best equipped farm plants in that part of the township. In addition to his general farming Mr. Wagoner gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well. In his political views Mr. Wagoner is a Democrat and gives proper attention to local civic affairs. For thirteen years he has been the Government crop official for Orange township. It was on March 17, 1878, that Franklin P. Wagoner was united in marriage to Rachel Jones, who also was born in Rush county, a daughter of Sheridan and Amanda (Peck) Jones, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Effie G., who married Glen- don Brown, a farmer of Madison county, this state, and has five children, Verl, Dorothy, Nondus, Marjorie and Erfa; Pearl, who
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married Edward Alexander, a farmer of Orange township, this county, and has five children, Bernice, Lowell, Loren, Velmah and Marie; May, who married Elmer Kirk, a farmer of Shelby county, this state, and has one child, a son, Ansel, and Inez, wife of Walter Reese, a Shelby county farmer.
GEORGE H. MEYER, a well known and substantial farmer of Union township, living now practically retired from the labors of the farm, the place being operated by his son, Charles G. Meyer, was born in Cincinnati, but has been a resident of Indiana since he was a boy and of this county since attaining his majority. He was born on January 6, 1852, son of Gerhardt and Hannah (Tripshank) Meyer, Europeans, born in the kingdom of Hanover, who had come to this country after their marriage and located in Cincinnati, where they remained until in 1863 when they came up into Indiana and located in Franklin county, where Gerhardt Meyer bought a farm and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. It was on that farm in Franklin county where George II. Meyer grew to manhood, having been but eleven years of age when he came into Indiana with his parents from Cincinnati. Ile finished his school- ing in the neighboring schools, and from boyhood was a useful as- sistant to his father in the labors of the farm, remaining with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came over into Rush county, rented a farm in Union township and began farm- ing "on his own." Thirteen years later he bought that farm, to the development of which he had done so much while operating it merely as a tenant. In the meantime he had married and estab- lished his home on the place and he thus has had that as a home ever since his marriage. Since coming into possession of the farm Mr. Meyer has made numerous substantial improvements to the same and has a well-improved and well-kept place of 178 acres. In addition to his general farming he has long made a considerable specialty of the raising of hogs and generally markets around 175 or 200 head of hogs a year. Of late Mr. Meyer has been living prac- tically retired and his son, Charles G. Meyer, as noted above, has been directing the affairs of the farm and is carrying on the same in up-to-date fashion. It was in 1882 that George II. Meyer mar- ried Martha A. Peake, who was born in this county, daughter of Smith and Margaret (Gray) Peake, members of old families here, and to this union three sons have been born, namely : Charles G., mentioned above, who married Leila Hinchman and is living on the home place; Edwin G., who married Lena Gray and has two chil- dren, Robert E. and William C., and William H., who married Mary V. Peters and has two children, Walter Jesse and Martha May. The Meyers have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Rushville, and have for years taken a hospitable and genial inter- est in the social activities of their home neighborhood. All mem- bers of the family are members of the Plum Creek Christian church,
IN
FAMILY OF MR. AND MRS. GEORGE H. MEYER Reading from left to right-Edwin G. Meyer, Mrs. Edwin G. Meyer,
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and have long taken an active interest in the work of the church as well as in the general good works of the community, helpful in many ways in promoting such movements as are designed for the common welfare. All members of the family also are Republicans and have ever thrown their strength to the cause of that party, to the further successes of which they are warmly devoted.
H. R. BROWN, a veterinary surgeon who has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Manilla for eight years, was born in the neighboring county of Shelby on March 2, 1882, a son of Thomas J. and America (Cotton) Brown, both of whom also were natives of Shelby county. After leaving Union township, Shelby county, Thomas J. Brown moved to Posey township, Rush county, where he is engaged in farming. Of his family of four children two survive, Rosa and H. R. In boyhood H. R. Brown attended school in Union township, Shelby county, following which he became a student in the high school at Manilla, and later, after determining his future pro- fession, entered the Indiana Veterinary College, from which he was graduated in 1913. On leaving college he located at Manilla, where he has built up a substantial practice. On January 27, 1904, Doctor Brown married Susie Talbert, who also was born in Shelby county, daughter of Albert and Belle (Kemp) Talbert, whose family consisted of three children : Harry V., Rexie and Susie, the elder son being a dentist. The father of Mrs. Brown was a farmer in Shelby county. Doctor and Mrs. Brown have four children, America, Mary, Hugh and Earl, all attending school at Manilla. Doctor Brown is a member of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association and keeps fully abreast of the times in scientific research. He is a Mason, belonging to blue lodge, chapter and council at Manilla, and is a member also of the order of Modern Woodmen at Manilla. In politics he has always been affiliated with the Democratic party. Doctor Brown and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Manilla.
WALTER H. KUHN, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Orange township, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Shelby, January 6, 1887, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Kney) Kuhn, the later of whom was born in Rush county. Jacob Kuhn was born in Germany, but was but a child when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling in Indiana. He became the owner of a well improved farm of 300 acres in Shelby county and there spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, all of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Anna, Andrew, Edward, Albert, Katie, Robert, Riley, Leander and Bertha. Reared on the home farm in Shelby county, Walter H. Kuhn received his schooling in the schools of that county and early became engaged as a farmer. He married at the age of twenty-one and after his marriage rented a farm, a year later moving to the place he now owns in Orange township, this county, and has here made his home ever since. Mr. Kuhn has a well kept
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farm of eighty acres and since coming into possession of the same has made numerous improvements, including the erection of a new house, the building of a new barn and the drilling of a gas well for his own use. It was on October 7, 1908, that Walter H. Kuhn was united in marriage to Bertha M. Gahimer, who was born in this county, daughter and only child of William, Jr., and Kathryn (Posz) Gahimer, and to this union six children have been born, Fern, Frances, Maurice, Irvin, Doris and Lois N., the three eldest of whom are now (1921) attending school at the Gahimer school house. Mr. Kuhn is a Repub- lican and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church in Shelby county.
EDWARD V. JACKSON, trustee of Washington township and a well-known farmer of that township, belongs to one of the old and substantial pioneer families of Rush county. He was born in Wash- ington township on June 26, 1872, a son of William M. and Amanda (Sherry) Jackson. William M. Jackson also was born in Washing- ton township, a son of John H. and Mahala (Hood) Jackson. John H. Jackson was four years old when he accompanied his father to Wayne county, Indiana, and later came to Rush county where his father entered 240 acres of land. John H. Jackson assisted his father in clearing this land and received from him 160 acres, after which he married Mahala Hood, who was born in Rush county. Three of their five children are still living, John, Eliza and William M. William M. Jackson became a farmer in Washington township. He married Amanda Sherry, who was born in Delaware county, Indiana, and they have five children, Edward V., Claude, Stella, Fred and Rozzie Beryl. Edward V. Jackson grew up on the home farm and attended the public schools. After marriage he rented a farm of 120 acres and operated it for four years, moving then to another farm in Washing- ton township on which he lived two years, then moved into Raleigh, where he conducted a blacksmith shop until 1915. Since then he has been successfully operating his farm of forty acres in Washington township. On May 26, 1890, Mr. Jackson married Ola Miles, of Rush county, daughter of Richard S. and Jennie (Spencer) Miller, the former a pioneer of Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have one child, Lorene, who is the wife of John L. Nipp, of Rushville. Mr. and Mrs. Nipp have a daughter, Eloise, who is six years old. Mr. Jackson has always been a sturdy Democrat, and on that party ticket was elected township trustee in 1915 and re-elected in 1919. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
EDSON L. AIKEN, a substantial citizen of Rush county, a former member of the board of county commissioners, a general farmer in Washington township, former trustee of that township, and interested along other business lines, was born near East Spring- field, Ohio, January 5, 1861, a son of John and Martha (Trainor) Aiken. His father was a native of Ohio who, in 1862, settled in Allen county where he carried on the wagon-making trade for some years and afterward conducted a farm of 100 acres. Ten children were
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born to his marriage with Martha Trainor, two of whom died in infancy, and Mrs. Minnie Beard later in life. Those surviving are : Mrs. Ida Shepler, James, Mrs. Jennie Wilson, Mrs. Ella Dixon, John H., Mrs. Anna Larimore, and Edson. Edson Aiken was an infant when the family settled in Allen county, Ohio, where he grew up and obtained his education in the public schools. For about seven years in early manhood, he worked in sawmills and operated a threshing machine. On April 3, 1889, when twenty-eight years old, he married Cora McCrory, who was born in Rush county, daughter of John and Martha (Brown) McCrory. For six years after his marriage Mr. Aiken operated a sawmill in Scott, Ohio, and then came to Rush county and purchased 157 acres of fine land, advantageously located adjacent to the town of Raleigh, in which town at the present Mr. Aiken is rebuilding a modern sawmill. He has very substantially improved his farm and it is among the valuable properties in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken have two children, Cecil, formerly and for five years a teacher in Rush county, who married Orval Estell, of Oklahoma City, and has one child, William; and Milo, who was graduated in 1921 from the Raleigh high school. Mr. Aiken is a director in the Lewisville National Bank, and has other interests. He has been a leading factor in Democratic politics in Rush county for years and has frequently been called on to serve in public office. From 1900 to 1904 he was the trustee of Washington township, and in 1913-14-15 he was a member of the board of county commissioners. He is a charter member of Raleigh lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar.
JOHN R. DEARINGER, who owns and operates eighty-three acres of his father's homestead in Rushville township, was born in Walker township, this county, June 1, 1871, son of James M. and Minerva (Hilligoss) Dearinger, natives of Kentucky and Walker township, respectively. When he was seven years old James M. Dearinger was brought to Rush county by his parents who settled on a farm in Walker township now occupied by E. M. Dearinger, a brother of John R. Dearinger. James M. Dearinger continued to live on this farm until his death, but had acquired other land, owning at the time of his demise 320 acres of land. He and his wife had five children, four of whom survive, David M., Armilda G., John R. and D. M. Growing up in Walker township, John R. Dearinger attended the Goddard school, and then, after leaving school, began con- ducting the homestead, where he remained until his marriage. Fol- lowing that he bought eighty acres of land in Posey township and farmed it for about three years, but then sold and moved back to his father's farm, renting a portion of it for three years. Since then Mr. Dearinger has bought and sold several farms, and then bought his present place from his father's estate, and here he is doing general farming and raises about 100 head of hogs annually. On August 9, 1893, Mr. Dearinger was married to Ida M., daughter of George W. and America A. (Louden) Krames. Mrs. Dearinger was born in
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Walker township, but was educated in Rushville township, attending district school No. 9. Mr. and Mrs. Dearinger have one daughter, Elsie L., who was born in April, 1895. She married Claud Collings, of Scottsburg, Ind., but now of Rush county, where he is a sawmill operator. Mr. and Mrs. Collings have three children : Charles K., John W. and Jaunita M. Mr. Dearinger is a Democrat, and for three years served as road supervisor. Fraternally he belongs to Homer Lodge, No. 27, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Ivy Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Rushville. He is a member of the Pleasant Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM P. AND ROBERT B. HENLEY, twin brothers and sons of Henry and Ruth (Morrow) Henley, were born at Carthage, in this county, August 11, 1846. They both attended Friends school at Carthage and Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., and each taught school one year. They then went into a general store at Carthage and were for about twenty years thereafter engaged in selling goods. In 1886 Robert B. Henley removed to Florida, where he spent about two years, at the end of which time he be- came engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Cincinnati, a connection which continued for about twenty-five years. Since then he has spent his time about equally between his residence in Cincinnati and his residence in Florida, his summers being spent in the former and his winters in the latter. William P. IIenley, who is now the only survivor of the original stockholders of the Bank of Carthage, organized in 1876, began his active connection with that bank as bookkeeper in 1888. He presently was advanced to the position of cashier of the bank and since 1903 has been pres- ident of the same. He has been a member of the financial board of Earlham College since 1890, and treasurer of the college endow- ment and trust funds since 1908, and was a member of the board of trustees of the Carthage joint graded schools for about thirty years. The twin brothers, William P. and Robert B. Henley, mar- ried sisters, Ida S. and Florence E. Steere, of Adrian, Mich., daugh- ters of Benjamin W. and Emily (Hoag) Steere. To William P. and Ida S. (Steere) Henley, who were married on October 18, 1876, five children have been born, namely: Florence Ruth, who mar- ried Dr. M. N. IIadley, of Indianapolis, and has three children, Frederic, William and David; Lillian E., unmarried, who is the editorial secretary of the National Municipal League, New York City ; Howard E., cashier of the Bank of Carthage, who married Willella Woodbridge and has three children, Howard Earle, Maria and James; Robert M. and Henry B. (twins), both of whom are florists, the former located at Hartford City and the latter at Terre Haute. Robert M. IIenley married Mary Kenworthy, of Richmond, Ind., and has two children, Marian and William R. Henry B. Henley married Katherine Newsom, of Carthage. Will- iam P. Henley and Robert B. Henley are both birthright members
WILLIAM P. AND ROBERT B. HENLEY
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of the Friends church and are thorough believers in its teachings. William P. Henley all his life has lived in Carthage. His twin brother, Robert B. IIenley, has three daughters, Grace, who is un- married and at home with her parents; Ruth, who married W. P. Kirk, of Cincinnati, and has three children, and Edith, who mar- ried Arthur C. Judd, of New York City, and has three children.
GEORGE M. KUHN, a well-known farmer of Orange township, this county, was born on the farm where he is now living with his mother, his brother and three sisters, and has lived there all his life, ever attentive to the affairs of the farm which he has helped to operate since the days of his boyhood. He was born on September 15, 1876, son of Conrad and Mary (Kney) Kuhn, the latter of whom also was born in this county and is still living, as noted above. Conrad Kuhn was born in Germany and when a lad came to this country with his parents, the family locating in Indiana, where he grew to manhood and in time became a substantial farmer of Orange town- ship, this county, the owner of a well kept farm of 320 acres on which his last days were spent and on which his widow is still making her home. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Caroline, Rose, Mollie, Henry and Jacob. Reared on the farm here referred to, George M. Kuhn received his schooling in district school No. 2 and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the farm, working with his father until the latter's death and after that taking supervisory charge of the farm in behalf of his mother and has so continued, his brother Henry and his three sisters, all unmarried, also making their home there, the family unity thus being preserved in an unusual degree. In addi- tion to looking after the home farm, a well improved place of 200 acres, Mr. Kuhn at one time was the owner of a "forty" of his own in Orange township. In addition to his general farming he gives proper attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well. The Kuhn family are members of the Evangelical church in the neigh- boring county of Shelby and have ever taken an interested part in church work. Mr. Kuhn is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 554, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand of the lodge. He also is a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 473, Knights of Pythias, and has likewise been "through the chairs" in that lodge, having for years given close attention to the affairs of these popular fraternal orders.
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