USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
Cyrus Ilodgin normal school at Richmond, Ind., and in the fall of 1886 began teaching school, a vocation he continued for some years, farming during the summers and teaching during the winters. Meanwhile he entered DePauw University, and in 1895 was grad- nated from that institution, a part of the funds which enabled him to complete the course in the university having been earned by serving as a "Columbian guard" during the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. In June, 1897, Mr. Gary was elected superintendent of schools of Rush county. He continued to serve in that capacity until in 1902, when he resigned in order to take charge of the Indiana State Reading Circle work, and for five years thereafter was thus engaged, manager at headquarters of this work in Indianapolis. During the period of this service he entered Indiana Law School at Indianapolis, carrying on his studies there in addition to his Reading Circle work, and in 1907 was graduated from law school. Thus equipped for the practice of his profession Mr. Gary returned to Rushville and has since been en- gaged in practice in that city, for some time past in partnership with Anna L. Bohannan, under the firm name of Gary & Bohannan, with offices in the Payne building. Mr. Gary is a Republican. For one year during the period of this country's participation in the World war he served as chairman of the Rush County Council of Defense, and was also the Government appeal agent of the draft board .. In 1908 A. L. Gary was united in marriage to Jessie E. Spann, daughter of Jesse J. Spann, formerly and for years a mem- her of the bar of the Rush Circuit Court, and former state senator from this district, and to this union was born one child, which died in infancy.
JOHN J. FRAZIER, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Anderson township, this county, owns one of the fine farms of this section and operates it in a highly scientific manner. Mr. Frazier was born in Anderson township, October 23, 1880, one of two children comprising the family of Thomas and Hattie ( Askren) Frazier. He has one sister, Isabel, who is the wife of J. D. Farlow. His father, Thomas Frazier, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and his mother was born in Ohio. Orphaned when young, Thomas Frazier was bound out to a man who did not treat him well, and a few years later the boy ran away and came to Rush county, grew to manhood here and taught school for some time. During the rest of his life he followed farming and died in 1901. His widow survived until 1916. John J. Frazier received his early education in the schools of Anderson town- ship, after which he attended Purdue University, where he took a course in agriculture, and still later took a business course in the normal school at Marion. Thus equipped, Mr. Frazier took charge of his mother's farm in Anderson township which he conducted for her for ten years, at the time of her death taking over eighty acres of the home place, in addition to which he has a farm of 160 acres under
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rental. Mr. Frazier feeds out about 125 head of hogs a year. He carries on his operations according to modern methods and is able to make his undertakings profitable. John J. Frazier married Flor- ence (Harcourt) Crosby, daughter of Marion and Ida Harcourt, and they have two sons, James Wilson Crosby and John Robert Frazier. Mr. and Mrs. Frazier are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Frazier formerly was a deacon in the church and he has also been superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a Republican.
FRANK MORGAN, a well-known farmer of Anderson township, this county, is a member of one of the old families of this section, his parents, John A. and Rhoda (Amos) Morgan both being natives of Rush county. His father followed farming in Anderson township, where he owned 200 acres of land, until a few years before his death, when he moved to Rushville township, where he bought a place of eighty acres and passed the rest of his life there, dying in 1909. Of his family of eleven children the following are living: Joseph, Alice, Anna, Charles, William, Claude, Frank, Jack, Daisy and Ora. Frank Morgan was born in Anderson township on April 2, 1880, and obtained his education in the schools of that township. He assisted his father on the home farm until within two years of his marriage, then worked on neighboring farms, and following his marriage, rented land and operated rented farm land in Anderson and Orange townships for fourteen years. About 1919 Mr. Morgan purchased his present farm of 136 acres and carries on general farming and stock raising. In 1903 he married Gertrude Lee, daughter of Solomon and Lucy Lee, and they have five children : Howard, Lowell, Donald, Harold and Ura. Mr. Morgan is a Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Milroy.
ARTHUR H. GEORGE. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the favorably known and representative citizens of this section of Indiana. He has by his enterprise and progressive methods contributed to the advancement of his locality and during the course of an honorable career has met with success as a general farmer and stock raiser. Arthur H. George was born in Franklin county, Indiana, on May 24, 1881, and is the son of William H. and Lavina R. (George) George, who were natives of Franklin county, where they were reared and married. William H. George was edu- cated in his native county and turned his attention to farming while still a youth, remaining until the age of eighteen years with his parents, Henry and Anna George, natives, respectively, of Pennsyl- vania and Ohio. Mr. George then came to this county and engaged in farming in Richland township for a few years, and then moved to Noble township, where he was engaged in farming up to the time of his death, at which time he was the owner of 320 acres of land. To him and his wife were born eight children, of which number seven are living, namely : E. O., Chester, Arthur, Anna, Frank, Riley and Earl. Arthur HI. George received his education in the schools of Franklin
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and Rush counties. After leaving school he engaged in farming opera- tions in partnership with his brother, E. O. George, remaining with him for eight or ten years. He then bought the farm where he now lives, and which consists of eighty acres of well situated and fertile land, where he has met with gratifying success. He carries on general farming, putting out twenty-five acres to corn, twenty-five acres to small grain and twenty-five acres to clover, and he also gives some attention to live stock, feeding from 100 to 125 hogs and a carload of cattle yearly. He has put many substantial improvements on the place, which is known as the "Helendale" farm. In 1905 Mr. George married Ollie Abercrombie, the daughter of Joseph and Susan Aber- crombie, and their union has been blessed in the birth of three chil- dren, Cecil, Helen and Bert. By a prior marriage, to Anna Cameron, who died, Mr. George is the father of a son, Rex. The subject is a Republican in his political views and, fraternally, is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
PHILANDER LEFFORGE. None of the older citizens of the present generation in Richland township is better or more favorably known than Philander Lefforge, long an enterprising farmer and stock raiser and a citizen who, while advancing the interests of him- self and immediate family, has never neglected his duties to his neigh- bors and the community at large. Whatever of success he has attained has been entirely owing to his individual efforts, his energy and natural ability. Philander Lefforge, who is now retired from active labor and residing in Andersonville, was born in Noble town- ship, Rush county, on February 18, 1853, and is the son of Isaac and Florinda (Brown) Lefforge. The latter was a native of Maysville, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Brown. Isaac Lefforge was born in Franklin county, Indiana, but in childhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Rush county. They settled in Noble township, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the old Perkins Corner log school house, one of the best known of the pioneer schools of that day in this locality. During his entire active life he followed the vocation of farming. While living in Noble township he operated rented land, but about 1870 he moved to Richland township and bought his first land, comprising 160 acres, and there he spent the remainder of his life, engaging in general farming. To him and his wife were born five children, Lewis, Mary and Philander, living, and two, Thomas and Jesse, who are deceased. Philander Lefforge received his education in the common schools of Noble and Richland townships, after which he applied himself to work on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then was employed elsewhere until he had saved enough to enable him to buy a team of horses, when he began farming rented land in association with his brother Jesse, with whom he farmed as a renter for about twelve years. He then rented on his own account and was thus engaged until 1899, when he bought eighty acres of land at Neffs' Corner. In the operation of this place he was so successful that he was enabled to
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add to his acreage until he became the owner of 320 acres, which, however, he later reduced to 240 acres, all of which lies in Richland township. He devoted himself to general farming and stock raising, feeding each year from one to two carloads of hogs and a carload of cattle. Mr. Lefforge was married to Ninetta Scott, the daughter of John and Sarah (Jackman) Scott, and to them was born a son, Roscoe, who married Lela King and has two children, Angus and Lowell. Mr. and Mrs. Lefforge are members of the United Brethren church, of which he formerly served as class leader. Politically, he has for many years been a warm supporter of the Prohibition party, being an uncompromising opponent of the liquor traffic, and he now rejoices in the revolution in public sentiment which has resulted in the over- throw of the licensed saloon. He has led a quiet life and his integrity has been unassailable, he being numbered among the substantial and worthy men of this part of the county. Mrs. Lefforge was born on the old Scott farm a mile south of Neffs Corner in Richland township. Her mother, Sarah Jackman, was born in the neighboring county of Franklin, a member of one of the well known pioneer families of that county. Her father, John Scott, who for years was one of the best known farmers in Richland township, the proprietor of a fine farm of 160 acres, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and was but a lad when he came to Indiana with his parents. He and his wife had nine children, those besides Mrs. Lefforge being Margaret, Will- iam, Huse, Elsie, Caroline, Smith, Eliza and Jane, and the Scott con- nection hereabout in this generation is a considerable one.
U. S. MAFFETT is one of the representative men of Rushville township who is making a success as a farmer, and he is held in high esteem by all who know him. He was born in Anderson township on March 6, 1869, son of William A. and Mary E. (Maffett) Maffett, both of whom were born in Harrison county, Kentucky, where they were reared, educated and married. Later they came to Indiana and for a time were engaged in farming in Anderson township, this county, but subsequently became farmers of Shelby county, Indiana, where William A. Maffett still resides. His wife died many years ago. Five children were born to them, of whom three survive, U. S. Maffett having a brother, Harvey O., and a sister, Mrs. Eva Marshall. After completing his studies at Blue Ridge, in Shelby county, U. S. Maffett returned to Rush county and worked on a farm here until he was twenty-four years old at which time he was married. He then began farming for himself on rented land in Rushville township, but after five years bought his present farm of ninety-six acres, and here he is doing general farming and stockraising, specializing on raising the Big Type Poland China hogs for breeding purposes, pro- ducing about 150 head of registered hogs annually. Mr. Maffett also raises Holstein cattle, and is well known as a stockman. He is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Milroy. On December 12, 1893, U. S. Maffett married Bessie Armstrong, daugh- ter of A. S. and Sarah (Perkin) Armstrong, farming people of Rush
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county, who had six children, of whom Mrs. Maffett is the only survivor. She was born in Rushville township, and there educated. Mr. and Mrs. Maffett have one son, Virgil A. Maffett, who attended the schools of Rushville township and the Milroy high school. He married Miss Georgia Rollings and is now engaged in the automobile business at Rushville.
ISRAEL McCANN, who died at his farm home in Union town- ship in 1896, at the age of eighty years, was a member of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state, had been a resident of Rush county since the days of his boyhood and had thus been a wit- ness to and a participant in the amazing development that had been brought about here during the period of his long and useful life. Mr. McCann was a "Buckeye" by birth, born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of Centerville in Montgomery county, Ohio, in the vear 1816, a son of William and Nancy (Riley) McCann, both of Scottish stock, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Virginia, a member of one of the colonial families of the Old Dominion. William McCann was but a lad when he came to this country from Ireland with his parents not long after the creation of the republic. The family settled in Kentucky where he grew to manhood and was married. After his marriage he located at Cincinnati and was there engaged in the hotel business for some years, at the end of which time he moved up into Montgomery county and was living in the Centerville neighborhood when the War of 1812 broke out. He enlisted his services and served as a soldier in America's second war for independence, settling down on his farm again upon the completion of this service. About the year 1829 he came over into Indiana with his family and settled in Rush county, among the pioneers of Washington township, his elder son, William McCann, Jr. having "entered" a tract of land in the vicinity of where Raleigh later was laid out, and in time becoming a quite extensive landowner thereabout. In that township the elder William McCann spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, five sons, William, Robert, Joseph, James and Israel, and five daughters, Elizabeth, who married Israel Harris; Jane, who married William Russell; Effie, who married Leon- ard Keep; Anna, who married Samuel Greenwood, and Mary, who married Samuel Hopper. Israel McCann was but twelve or thirteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1829 and he completed his schooling here. Until he was twenty-one years of age he assisted his elder brother William in the development of the latter's lands here and then he began farming on his own account. He married at the age of twenty-four and then bought a farm of 100 acres in Washington township and there established his home. Through an act of mistaken kindness-going "security" on the note of a faithless friend-he lost this farm and was compelled to begin all over again. As a means of recuperation he followed an investment up into Tipton county and there remained for four years, at the end of which time he returned to Rush county and here spent the remainder of his
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life, his death occurring in Union township in 1896, as noted above. His widow survived him for about seven years, her death occurring on July 16, 1903. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was on October 17, 1840, that Israel McCann was united in marriage to Lucinda Beard, who was born in the neigh- boring county of Fayette, a daughter of William and Sarah (Mulli- neanx) Beard, natives of North Carolina, who became pioneers of the Raleigh neighborhood in this county. William Beard and his wife had two children when they left their home in North Carolina and came to Indiana, driving through with their children and some essential household belongings in a one-horse wagon. Their first loca- tion in this state was in Wayne county, but not long afterward they moved to Fayette county, where they remained until they came over into Rush county and settled in Washington township, their farm comprising the site of the present village of Raleigh, which William Beard platted and put on the market, naming the place in honor of the capital of his native state. There William Beard and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of seven children, those besides Mrs. McCann having been Martha, Christina, John, Thomas, Greenberry and William Jr. Greenberry Beard enlisted as a soldier upon the call of arms for the Mexican war and lost his life in that service. To Israel and Lucinda (Beard) McCann were born eight children, William, John Riley, Mary Ann, Sarah Green, Robert, Lynn B., Emily C. and Marion W., of whom but three, Robert, Lynn and Marion, are now living, the first born, Will- iam, and the three daughters dying in infancy and John R., in 1900. An adopted daughter, Catherine McCann, died in 1909. John R. McCann married Sarah E. Hall and had three children, Emma Dale, Laura Lucinda and Hallie Belle. Marion W. McCann married Nora Hinchman, who died in 1907. In 1893 Robert, Lynn and Marion McCann bought eighty acres of the farm on which they are now living in Union township and have ever since resided there. They increased their holdings by the purchase of an adjacent "eighty" and now have an excellent farm of 160 acres nicely situated on rural mail route No. 1 out of Falmouth. The McCann brothers have their place well improved and are carrying on their operations in up-to-date fashion, long having been regarded as among the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. In their political affiliations they are Democrats.
EARL B. MOORE, a progressive farmer and reliable citizen of Anderson township, this county, where he is operating a considerable body of land, was born in Rush county on December 31, 1888. His parents are William T. and Alma Viola (Watson) Moore, who also were born in Rush county, coming of pioneer stock. William T. Moore, who is one of the county's most substantial agriculturists, has devoted his entire life to farm pursuits. After his schooldays and some early farm experience, he purchased a tract of good land in Richland township, comprising 1371/2 acres, to which, through busi-
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ness judgment and foresight he subsequently added, and at the present time owns 670 acres of valuable land in Rush county, and is still active as a farmer and stockraiser. To his marriage with Alma Viola Watson ten children were born and of these the following survive: Earl, Edward, Harold, Charles, Andrew, Louis, Luella, Thelma and Howard. Earl B. Moore attended school in both Anderson and Rich- land townships, and afterward spent two years in the high school at Richland, following which he assisted his father for one year on the home farm. After his marriage he began for himself, working for his father by the day for a year, then renting land from his father for a year and a half. In 1910 he rented his present farm comprising 270 acres, in the management of which he has shown exceptional capacity, being able to bring every acre under profitable tillage. Mr. Moore is a wideawake, intelligent farmer, entertaining modern ideas con- cerning farm methods and putting them into execution. He devotes eighty-five acres to corn and the rest of his land to small grains and pasture, and feeds and markets 25 head of cattle and 300 head of hogs annually. Earl B. Moore married Iva Henderson, daughter of Jonathan S. and Hannah Henderson, and they have five children : Lowell, Hubert, Lois, Maurice and Thelma Gleda. Mr. Moore is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has always been a Democrat.
EDWARD J. CHAMBERS, who is accounted one of the most successful farmers of Rush county, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, May 18, 1870, the son of Benjamin W. and Martha (Scar- borough) Chambers, the former of whom was engaged in farming throughout his entire active life in Bartholomew county. Edward J. Chambers was educated in the public schools of his native county, and after the completion of his studies took up farming with his father, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then undertook agricultural operations on his own account upon a rented farm, engaging in trading, feeding, and stock raising, which he has made his life business with the exception of four years spent as a contractor. In the year 1909 he removed to Rush county, buying a farm of 240 acres in Washington township, subsequently buying 160 acres, making a total of 400 acres now in his possession. He has made numerous improvements on the property since he has been its owner, building several fine barns and outbuildings, excellent fencing, and vastly bettering the appearance of the entire estate. He is one of the most extensive stock raisers in the entire county, feeding out as an annual average 1,400 head of hogs and 150 of cattle, in addition to which he feeds quite a number of mules, having at one time had as many as 125 on his place. On November 14, 1906, Mr. Chambers married Ruby Grace Jones, a daughter of Newton S. and Caroline (Davidson) Jones. In 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers moved to Rushville, although he continues the active management of his farm. They are earnest workers in the cause of the Christian church. In his political allegiance Mr. Chambers is counted one of the Repub-
EDWARD J. CHAMBERS
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
lican party, but while he takes a good citizen's interest in local and national political matters, he has never sought preferment of this kind for himself. He is chairman of the live stock sanitary board of Indiana, a board which came into being in 1919.
THOMAS ORA LOGAN. Not only is T. Ora Logan, of Noble township, the architect of a substantial competence, acquired through agricultural enterprise, but in its acquisition he has maintained the reputation for industry and reliability established in Rush county by his father, Jonas W. Logan, and his pioneer grandfather, James L. Logan. James L. Logan was born in Ireland, and was but one and one-half years old when brought to the United States by his mother, who settled in Fayette county, Indiana. There he grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Mann, a native of Ohio, and shortly afterward came to Rush county and settled in Noble township, where he entered Government land and built a log cabin home. He cleared and culti- vated his property, added to it until he had 700 acres, and died as one of the substantial and highly respected men of his community. He and his wife had nine children : Alice, Abbie, Mary Ann, Thomas, John M., Oliver P., Samuel H., James W. and Jonas W. Jonas W. Logan was born in Noble township, October 25, 1846, received a public school education and worked with his father until his marriage, when he was given a farm of 160 acres by his father. This he increased by good management and industry to 500 acres, and continued to be engaged in general farming until his death, March 11, 1914. He was a citizen of reliability and sterling worth and had the esteem and respect of all who knew him. On March 18, 1869, he married Sarah J., daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Bedill) Jones, and to this union there was born one son : Thomas Ora. Mrs. Logan still survives her husband and resides, in advanced years, on the old Logan home- stead. She is a faithful member of the Christian church, to which her husband also belonged. T. Ora Logan was given his education in the district school in the vicinity of his home in Noble township, after leaving which he began assisting his father, and in the latter's later years bore the responsibility of the management of the home estate. Born on January 1, 1871, he was married at the age of twenty years, in October, 1891. to Fannie R. Stiers, daughter of Joseph Stiers, and at that time commenced farming on his own account. For a time he rented land from his father, but later acquired 260 acres from the elder man and continued its operation as a general farmer and stock feeder until 1916, in which year he retired from active labor. Since that time he has devoted himself to the management of his interests, his land being operated by tenants. In politics Mr. Logan is a Demo- crat. He was formerly a deacon and member of the board of trustees of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church, but the family are now members of the church of that denomination at Rushville. Mr. Logan is a man of progressive and enlightened views who readily gives lıis support to worthy measures, religious, educational and civic. He and his wife are the parents of two children : J. Carl Logan, who married
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