USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 62
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
32
4.98
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding out about 200 head of hogs and a car load of cattle annually. From the days of his boyhood Mr. Nash has taken an active interest in polit- ical affairs and has long been regarded as one of the leaders of his party in the county. In 1914 he was elected trustee of Union town- ship and in the campaign of 1920 was his party's nominee for the office of county auditor, but the fortunes of the campaign were against him and he was forced to bow to defeat. In 1904 Homer M. Nash was united in marriage to Myrtella Hinchman, who was born in Rush county, daughter of Sanford and Clara (Stevens) Hinchman, members of old families in this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Noami C. J. Nash, who is now (1921) a student in the schools at Ging. Mr. and Mrs. Nash have a very pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and have cver taken a hospitable interest in the community's general social activities. Mrs. Nash is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Nash is a York Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Raleigh and of the Rushville commandery, Knights Templar, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
CHARLES F. WILSON, member of the firm of Pitman & Wil- son, druggists, at Rushville, prior to establishing himself in business at Rushville, in 1917, had ten years of valuable experience in the drug line at Chicago and since forming his present connection with Mr. Pitman his career has been one of consistent advancement. Mr. Wilson is a native of Rushville, born on July 9, 1885, a son of William W. and Ora (Frazee) Wilson. His grandfather, James Wilson, was a noted horseman of Rush county in his day and the owner of the famous old "Blue Bull," sire of a long line of fast horses. William W. Wilson was born in Noble township, this county, and carly took up farming, becoming the owner of an eighty-acre farm in Rushville township. Like his father, he was a great lover of horses and won something more than a local reputation as a breeder and trainer of fast trotting animals. He and his wife were the parents of two chil- dren, Marian and Charles F. Miss Marian Wilson was educated in the schools of Rushville and at Hamilton College, Lexington, Kentucky, in which latter institution she is now a teacher in the primary depart- ment. After completing his studies in the high school at Rushville, Charles F. Wilson pursued a course in chemistry and pharmacy at Northwestern University, Chicago, from which institution he was grad- uated in 1907. At that time he entered the drug business at Chicago, and continued as a resident of that city for ten years, forming there a number of profitable business connections. Mr. Wilson traveled extensively abroad making pharmaceutical and commercial observa- tions and spent a year in New York City in some special work along these lines. In 1917 he returned to his native city, where he has since been associated with Mr. Pitman in the drug business at Third and Main streets, where the firm maintains a thoroughly modern establishment. On June 24, 1915, Mr. Wilson was united in mar-
499
IIISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
riage to Eva S. Wilson, who was born at Hammond, Ind. She was graduated from the high school there and then took special work at Valparaiso (Ind.) University, the Ypsilanti (Mich) University and the Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, and taught primary arts in the Hammond schools for three years. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Charles J. and Anna (Groman) Wilson, the former of whom is employed by the Standard Steel Car Company at Hammond. Mrs. Wilson has one brother, Chauncey Wilson. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Donald F., born on November 15, 1916, and Marjorie Anne, April 13, 1919. Mr. Wilson is a member of Phoenix lodge, No. 62, Free and Accepted Masons; and St. Cecelia Chapter, No. 220, Royal Arch Masons, Chicago, and of the American Pharmaceutical Association. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Rushville Rotary Club, organized in January, 1920, and is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
J. ARTHUR LOONEY, farmer and landowner of Union town- ship, was born on the place on which he is now living, a member of one of the pioneer families of that community, and has lived there all his life. He was born on September 7, 1870, son of John W. and Mary F. (Hammonds) Looney, the latter of whom was born in Ken- tucky and had come here with her parents in the days of her girl- hood. John W. Looney also was born in Union township, the son of John Looney, a Kentuckian, who was one of the pioneers of the Farmington neighborhood. John Looney came up here from Kentucky as a young man and worked as a farm hand until he had acquired a sufficient sum to buy a tract of land in Union township. He mar- ried Matilda Bracken and established his home on that place, spending the rest of his life there. His son, John W. Looney, was reared on that farm and followed farming all his life, becoming the owner of a tract of 106 acres, the place now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. John W. Looney was one of the leading members of the Ben Davis Christian Church. He also took an active part in local public affairs and had for some time served as trustee of Union town- ship. He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Isolina, Alfred, Matilda and Amanda. Reared on the home farm in Union township, J. Arthur Looney received his schooling in the neighboring schools and until his mar- riage continued farming in association with his father. After his marriage he rented the place from his father and upon the latter's death bought from the other heirs their respective interests and has since owned the farm, continuing to make his home there. Since coming into possession of the farm Mr. Looney has made numerous notable improvements on the same, including a new and modern dwelling house, and now has a well equipped farm plant. In addition to his general farming he feeds out about 200 head of hogs a year and is doing well. J. Arthur Looney has been married twice. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Laura Winchell, who died in
500
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
1902, leaving one child, a son, John Looney. In 1904 Mr. Looney married Mary C. Geise, who also was born in this county, daughter of Henry and Frances Geise. Mr. and Mrs. Looney have an adopted daughter, Enid. They are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church and Mr. Looney is a member of the board of trustees of the church. Politically, he is a Republican.
GEORGE F. BILLINGS, a well-known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on June 29, 1887, son and only child of Elijah A. and Adaline (Kirkpatrick) Billings, both of whom also were born in this county and who are now living retired at Rush- ville. E. A. Billings was born on a farm in Jackson township, this county, son of Philip HI. Billings and wife, who had come here from Delaware, but who presently moved to the northern part of the state, where E. A. Billings received his schooling and grew to manhood. As a young man E. A. Billings returned to Rush county and here married Adaline Kirkpatrick. He established his home on a forty- acre farm in Union township and as his farming operations pros- pered increased that farm by the purchase of adjacent land until he became the owner of a fine place of 140 acres, and this he continued to farm until his retirement in 1918 and removal to Rushville, where he and his wife are now living. Reared on the home farm in Union township, George F. Billings received his schooling in the neighbor- hood schools and was early trained in the ways of farming, a vocation he since has followed. He remained at home until his marriage and then rented a farm of 105 acres in Union township. A year later he rented a farm of 160 acres and lived there for one year, at the end of which time he enlarged his interests by renting a farm of 365 acres and on this latter place made his home for three years, by which time he was in a position to take on a farm of his own and he bought the place of 207 acres on which he is now living in Union township and has since resided there. Since taking possession of this place Mr. Billings has made numerous substantial improvements on the same, including a new residence, a new tenant's house, a new barn, other buildings and a better equipment of fences and now has one of the best equipped farm plants in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming Mr. Billings gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing well in his operations. In 1908 George F. Billings was united in marriage to Lena B. Smith, of Union township, and to this union four children have been born, Ruth, Mil- dred, Jean and Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Billings have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take an interested part in the community's general social activities.
LAFAYETTE JOHNSON, a substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, has been a resident of Rush county all his life. He is a son of Casper and Katherine Johnson, who came here from Brown county, this state, in pioneer days and entered a quarter of a section of land in Walker township. Casper Johnson cleared the tract,
501
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
which is still known as the old Johnson place, established a good home there and on that pioneer farm he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom five are living, those besides the subject of this sketeli being Mrs. Katherine Sells, Mrs. Harriet Bekiser, Flemming Johnson and John B. Johnson. The deceased were Benjamin Johnson, Mrs. Sarah Atwater, Mrs. Eliza- beth Branham, Mrs. Mary Moss, Thomas Johnson and Mrs. Belle Ellison. Reared on that pioneer farm, Lafayette Johnson received his schooling in the local schools and as a young man remained at home assisting in the labors of the farm and continued thus engaged until his marriage in 1877 when he rented a farm of 120 acres and began operations on his own account. A year later he rented a farm of 170 acres in Walker township and there made his home until 1890 when he bought the farm of a fraction more than 155 acres on which he now lives in Union township and has ever since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Johnson has a well improved place and the operations of his farm are carried on in up-to-date fashion. In addition to his general farming he has always given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well, having developed an excellent piece of property. Lafayette Johnson has been twice married. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Amanda A. Bebout, who also was born in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and to that union were born six children, Casper, Edward, Mrs. Mary F. Fletcher, of Shelby county, Mrs. Nellie Miller, Mrs. Hazel Whiden and Belle (deceased). The mother of these children died in 1890 and in 1897 Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Emma E. (Mull) Miller, of Walker township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Christian Union of Walker township and have ever taken an interested part in the work of the church. They have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 7 out of Rushville and take a hospitable part in the com. munity's general social activities. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat but has never taken what may be called a particularly active part in politics, although ever maintaining the principles of his party in a county in which more often than not his party is found to be in the minority, thus continuing to display the courage of his convictions in the face of recurring defeat.
JOHN K. STIERS, who owns 200 acres of valuable land in Rush- ville township, is recognized as one of the representative farmers and substantial citizens of Rush county. He was born in Noble town- ship on May 20, 1872, son of Joseph and Elvira (Hildreth) Stiers, both of whom were born, reared and educated in Rush county. Dur- ing all of his active years Joseph Stiers was engaged in farming, but is now living retired at Rushville, the owner of 170 acres of land in Rush county. He and his wife had three children: James, Fannie and John K. After he had completed his schooling in the Circleville school and the Rushville Academy, John K. Stiers commenced farm- ing with his father on the homestead, and remained at home until
502
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
his marriage. At that time he rented his present farm, but six years later bought it, and since then has improved it considerably. He carries on general farming and stockraising and produces about 200 hogs and ten head of cattle annually. Mr. Stiers was married in September, 1894, to Maude Guffin, daughter of Andrew and Clara (Brooks) Guffin. Mrs. Stiers was born, reared and educated in Noble township. Mr. and Mrs. Stiers have two children, Fannie and Howard. Mr. Stiers is a member of Little Flat Rock Christian Church. He is a Democrat.
GESTON P. HUNT, postmaster at Rushville, was born at Orange, in the neighboring county of Fayette on March 8, 1875, and is a representative of one of the pioneer Indiana families, his grand- father, Abijah W. Hunt, although born in Hamilton county, Ohio, February 8, 1807, having located in Franklin county, Indiana, about the year 1808 with his parents, Jonathan and Jane (Smith) Hunt. In 1852, Abijah W. Hunt came to Rush county, acquired 240 acres of valuable land, and was known as a successful farmer. To him and his wife, Margaret (Stephen) IIunt, seven children were born, of whom Levi S. Hunt, the father of Geston P. Hunt, was the fourth. He was born in Noble township, this county, and received his educa- tion in the schools of the county, but after the Civil war, when he had grown to manhood, he moved to Fayette county and engaged in mercantile pursuits in the town of Orange where he met and married Matilda Stone. After forty-two years of an active business career in Orange, during which time he attained a gratifying measure of success, he sold out his business and moved to Rushville, where he lived until his death on April 11, 1909. He and his wife were the parents of three children: Riley, of Indianapolis; Lemoine C., of Cynthiana, Ky., and Geston P., the subject of this sketch, with whom his mother now resides. Geston P. Hunt received his schooling in Fayette county, and after completing the course of study prescribed in the high school entered the business establishment of his father, where he remained until the spring of 1898, when he came to Rush- ville. When the Spanish-American war broke out Mr. Hunt aban- doned his business to enlist in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty- first Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He entered the army as a private, was stationed first at Jacksonville, Fla., then at Savannah, Ga., and later at Havana, Cuba. After a period of service covering eleven months, from June 12, 1898, to April 30, 1899, he was discharged with the rank of top sergeant of his company. After he was mus- tered out of the service Mr. Hunt returned to Orange, where he remained for two years, returning to Rushville in 1902 to engage in the hardware business, in which he continued until 1913, when, at the time of his appointment to the position of postmaster, he sold out his interests that he might devote his entire time and efforts to con- ducting the affairs of the postoffice. During his eight years in office, Mr. Hunt has made many improvements, and has done credit- ably the tasks which have fallen to his office. During the World
503
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
war, when the almost overwhelming burden of the War Saving Stamps and Liberty Loan campaigns was assumed by the Post- office Department, the local office made the enviable record of "going over the top" in every instance, and this without additional aid or to the detriment of the usual mail service. What this meant to Mr. Hunt and his assistants can only be conjectured by those not intimate with the enormous amount of detail work allotted to the postal department. Mr. Hunt is prominent in local fraternal circles, being a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason and a noble of the Mystic Shrine, as well as a member of the Red Men, Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which latter he is a life member. He is a Democrat and member of the Christian church.
HARVEY F. BROWN, a farmer of Rushville . township and former agent for the Delco Light in Rush county, was born in Union township, Shelby county, Indiana, September 21, 1873, son of William and Missouri ( Hnme) Brown, natives of Shelby and Rush counties, respectively. Harvey F. Brown attended the public schools of Orange and Anderson townships, and was also for several terms a student of the normal school at Danville, Ind. After completing his studies, Mr. Brown became a school teacher and taught a school for one term in Anderson township. However, he found that he preferred farming to the confinement of the school room and rented eighty acres of land that he conducted until 1917 when he bought his present farm of seventy acres in Rushville. township, and became a general farmer. His wife also owns 157 acres of land in Orange township, this county, but this Mr. Brown rents to a tenant. On February 6, 1895, Mr. Brown was married to Carrie C. Poulus, daughter of Daniel and Huldah (Hungerford) Poulus, natives of Germany and Orange town- ship, respectively. Mr. Poulus was a farmer and stockraiser of Orange township, where he owned 330 acres of land. Mrs. Brown was born in Orange township and attended its schools and then for five years that at Oldenburg, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one child, Marie, who was born on May 31, 1896. She attended the com- mon and high schools of Orange township, and then was married to Glen Foster, assistant cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Rush- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have a son, Charles B. Foster. Mr. Brown belongs to Waldron lodge, No. 217, Free and Accepted Masons; Milroy lodge, Knights of Pythias, and Shelbyville lodge, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a member of the Christian church at Moscow and is a Democrat.
ERNEST R. TITSWORTH, trustee of Noble township, has been a lifelong resident of that township, having been born on his present farm on February 22, 1875. His parents were George W. and Rhoda J. (Applegate) Titsworth, the latter also a native of Rush county. George W. Titsworth was born in the state of Ohio, but in childhood was brought by his parents to Fayette county, Indiana. where he grew to manhood and secured his education in the common schools. He was married in Rush county, but for about a year there-
504
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
after he continued to live in Fayette county. He then came to Noble township and bought the nucleus of the present farm, comprising ninety-five acres. In the operation of this farm he was successful and eventually increased his estate to 195 aeres in one body. Here he carried on general farming and stock raising during the remainder of his active years. To him and his wife were born four children, of whom two are living, John A. and Ernest R. Ernest R. Titsworth attended the common schools of Noble township, completing his studies in the high school at Orange, where he was graduated in 1892. He then applied himself to the work of the home farm, assisting his father until the latter's death, when he took over the homestead farm, buying out the interests of the other heirs, and is thus now the owner of 195 acres of as good land as can be found in this locality. The place is well improved and here Mr. Titsworth is engaged in gen- eral farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the coun- try, and is also extensively engaged in stock dealing, buying and selling large numbers annually, and feeds about 300 hogs a year. Mr. Titsworth is also widely known as a thresher, in which he has served the farmers of this locality for years. He is thoroughly up-to- date in his methods and enjoys an enviable reputation as a successful and enterprising farmer. In 1896 Mr. Titsworth was married to Ella MeCrory, the daughter of Clayton and Louisa McCrory, the fruits of this union being two children, Marion, who was graduated from Purdue University in 1921, and Marjorie, who is a student at that institution. Mr. and Mrs. Titsworth are members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church. Mr. Titsworth is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs. He is now serving his second term as trustee of Noble township and is giving very satisfactory service to his constituents.
OTTO PARVIN DILLON, M. D., who died at his home in Rush- ville on February 9, 1908, after a professional practice there of more than seventeen years, had made many friends in the city, as well as throughout the county, and it is but fitting that in a volume of bi- ographies of the old families of Rush county such as this there should be carried some modest tribute to the memory he left. Doctor Dillon was born in Rush county, the son of a physician, and the grandson of a physician and had lived here all his life. He was born in Center township on April 1, 1869, son of Dr. Jefferson C. and Mary (Florea) Dillon, both of whom also were born in this county, members of pioneer families, the former a son of Dr. J. C. Dillon, who in his day was widely known hereabout as one of the pioneer physicians in this region. Reared in Center township, Otto P. Dillon received his early schooling in the schools of that township and supplemented the same by a course in the Rushville high school, after which he entered Butler College at Indianapolis. Thus equipped by preparatory study he entered the medical college at Cincinnati and upon completing his studies there returned home and became engaged in the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his life, entering practice in asso-
505
HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
ciation with his father, Dr. Jefferson C. Dillon. This mutually agree- able association was continued for several years or until in 1890, when Dr. Otto P. Dillon moved to Rushville and opened an office for the practice of his profession there, continuing in practice in that city until his death, February 9, 1908, he then being under forty years of age and in the very prime of what gave promise of a long and useful professional career. Doctor Dillon was the third of his line in successive generations to engage in medical practice in Rush county and worthily maintained the honorable traditions of the family and of the profession. Doctor Dillon was twice married, his second wife having been Cora Wright, who survives and is still living at Rush- ville, where she has a very pleasant home at 312 North Main street. Mrs. Dillon was born in this county, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Wright.
S. L. HUNT, the well-known and progressive hardware merchant of Rushville and sheriff-elect of Rush county, is a member of one of Rush county's old families and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on a farm in Noble township on December 31, 1867, son of George W. and Sarah F. (Holmes) Hunt, the former of whom also was born in this county and the latter at Andersonville, over the line in Franklin county. The Hunts are of an old American family, having had representation in this country since Colonial days. The name Hunt is from the Saxon word "hunti," a wolf. At one time in the history of England this destructive animal so abounded that it was the business of every man to assist in exterminating it. To this end the taxes in some parts were levied in wolves' ears. Hence the word hunting, which at first only meant pursuing wolves. Afterward it came to mean the pursuit of game generally. Probably the Hunts took their name from their prowess in the hunting field. One of the first of the name of whom any record exists was Adam le Hunt, at Nottingham, England, in 1295. The Hunts, as a family, have always been noted for their fine appearance, their type Saxon. The family crest in the early days of the family always was a wolf's head. Col- onel Sir William Hunt, fleeing from the disastrous field of Marston Moor, came to America and settled at Weymouth, Mass., concealing his identity under the name of Ephraim Hunt. The dashing Tory cavalry officer cropped his long hair and laid aside his fine dress as well as his title. He presently married Anna Richards, a Colonial heiress, and their three sons were the progenitors of the Hunts in this country, these sons becoming military leaders in those dangerous times of the French and Indian wars in the colonies. Thomas Hunt, a descendant of the cavalier, held a commission under General Wash- ington during the Revolutionary war. Among Hunts who are renowned in various ways, as writers, poets, artists or professional men, Leigh Hunt's name must at once occur to every one. He was not only a poet, but also one of the most delightful of English essay- ists. William Hunt was declared by Ruskin to have been the finest painter of still life that ever existed. George W. Hunt was the son
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.