USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 63
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
of Harrison Hunt, a native of Ohio who came to this county in a very early day, being one of the first settlers in the county, and here the father of our subject grew to manhood. After receiving the educa- tion afforded by the public schools of the day and place he took up farming, following this business all his life in Noble and Rushville townships. His agricultural operations were extensive as he always rented from 200 to 300 acres. To him and his wife twelve children were born of whom seven are now living. Claude, Ray, Blaine, S. L .. Blanche, Sallie, and Ina. S. L. Hunt was educated in the public schools of Rushville township, upon completing which he engaged in farming in association with his father until he reached the age of twenty-three years. At this time he took up the painting trade, in which he was employed for three years. But he felt the call of the land again, and returned to farming, working as a hand for four years. He then rented land and for fifteen years was engaged thus, at the end of that period having saved enough money to buy a farm of 127 acres in Noble township. When he had spent a year on his own place, he decided that greater opportunities lay before him in mercantile pursuits, and he accordingly sold out and moved to Rush- ville to take up the hardware business. In April, 1918, he bought the hardware stock of E. E. Polk, and since that time has continued in business for himself. His business requires two floors 30 by 120 feet in a building on Main street between First and Second streets, and here a complete stock of up-to-date hardware and farming equipment is carried. Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Myrtle A. Humes, a daughter of Thomas J. and Indiana (Lyons) Humes, and to their union three children have been born, Loren, Leland, and Miriam, all now attending school. Mr. Hunt is a member of the United Presby- terion church and is a Republican. He is a Mason and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1920, as the nominee of the Republican party, Mr. Hunt was elected sheriff of Rush county and will enter upon his office upon the expiration of the term of the present incumbent.
EARL W. RUFF, a well-known and substantial farmer and landowner of Union township, now living at Glenwood, has been a resident of this section of Indiana all his life. He was born in the neighboring county of Fayette on May 15, 1872, son of Thomas B. and Adaline. (White) Ruff, the latter of whom was born in this county, daughter of Stamper White and wife, members of pioneer families hereabout. Stamper White in his generation was one of the best known men in Rush county, a large landowner in the Glenwood neighborhood and a man of influence in his community, a community in which the Whites have been represented since pioneer days. Thomas B. Ruff was born in Ohio and grew up in that state, being early trained to the trade of carriage maker. As a young man he came over into Indiana and located at Glenwood, where he began working at his trade and not long after coming here was married to Adaline White. He continued to make his home here and in Fayette
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county for a number of years and then returned to Ohio and was engaged as superintendent of a carriage factory at Columbus, that state, where he spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of four children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Blanche, Roy and Margaret. Earl W. Ruff completed his schooling at Glenwood and early became engaged in farming on the big farm of his grandfather, Stamper White, in the neighborhood of that village, and thus remained with his grandfather until he was married, after which he rented a portion of his grandfather's land and farmed as a renter for about ten years, at the end of which time he inherited a portion of the White estate, that portion including the old homestead site, and there continued to reside, actively engaged in farming, until his retirement and removal to Glenwood in 1913. Mr. Ruff is the owner of 275 acres of excellent land in Union township, and though living "retired" continues to give his agricultural interests his pretty active attention. In addition to his general farming he has long given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well in his operations. Mr. Ruff and his wife are members of the Christian church and in their political affiliations are Republicans. Earl W. Ruff was united in marriage to Elsie Shortridge, who was born in the neighboring county of Fayette, and to this union have been born two children, Russell and Edna, the latter of whom is unmarried and at home with her parents. Russell Ruff married Effie Matney and is giving his attention to the affairs of the home farm in Union township. Mrs. Elsie Ruff, as noted above, was born in Fayette county and her parents, Jesse and Indiana (McConnell) Shortridge, also were born in that county, both members of pioneer families in that section. Jesse Shortridge was a farmer and land- owner, owner of a farm of eighty acres, and all his life was devoted to farming. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Ruff and her sister, Erma.
CHARLES BEAVER, a well-known farmer of Noble township, is a member of one of Rush county's real pioneer families, the Beavers having been represented here since the days of the beginning of a social order, hereabout, as is set out elsewhere in this work. Mr. Beaver was born in Noble township and has lived in this county all his life with the exception of fourteen years spent in industrial pur- suits at Anderson and South Bend, this state. He was born on August 30, 1865, son of James and Harriet (Emmett) Beaver, both of whom also were born in Rush county, members of pioneer families here, and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and the latter of whom is still living, a resident of New Salem. Reared in Noble township, Mr. Beaver received his schooling in the schools of that township, having the advantage of the excellent schools of New Salem, and grew up to the ways of the farm, his father having been the owner of a fine farm in the New Salem neighborhood. Leaving the farm in the days of his young manhood, Mr. Beaver went to Anderson, Ind., where and at South Bend he was for fourteen years
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
engaged in industrial occupations. At the end of that time he returned to Rush county, in the meantime having married, and in 1906 became engaged in farming in Richland township. For six years he was thus engaged in that township and then he tried another location, where for three years he was engaged in farming, at the end of which time he returned to this county and has since then been engaged in farming a part of the old home place in the vicinity of New Salem, renting a tract of eighty acres from his mother, and is doing well in his operations. In 1903 Charles Beaver was united in marriage to Zora MeDonald, daughter of Michael McDonald, and to that union were born four children, James, Frances Leona, Bernice and Noal. The mother of these children died on November 19, 1918. Mr. Beaver is a Republican and is a member of the United Brethren church. He is well known in the community in which he has long lived and has ever done his part in the general activities of the neigh- borhood, helpful in promoting such movements as have had to do with the advancement of the common good.
ROLAND LESLIE HINCHMAN, a well-known young farmer of Union township, now living at Glenwood, where he has made his home for some years past, was born on a farm in Union township on March 30, 1887, son of Sanford and Clara (Stevens) Hinchman, the latter of whom was born in the neighboring county of Franklin and the former in Rush county, a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, further and repeated reference to the Hinchman family being found elsewhere in this volume. Reared on the home farm in Union township, Roland Leslie Hinchman received his schooling in the Glenwood schools and as a young man remained on the home farm, a valued assistant in the labors of developing the same, and after his marriage at the age of twenty-two continued there, farming the place and making his home there until in 1917 when he moved to Glenwood, where he and his family are now living and where they are very com- fortably situated. It was on October 20, 1909, that Roland Leslie Hinchman was united in marriage to Clara Gray, also a member of one of the old families of Rush county, and to this union have been born two children, Orval (deceased) and Lowell Walter Hinchman. Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman are Republicans and are members of the Ben Davis Christian Church. They have a pleasant home at Glenwood and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the community's general social activities. Mrs. Hinchman was born in the neighboring county of Fayette but her parents, William H. and Carrie B. (Hinch- man) Gray, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume, both were born in Rush county, members of pioneer families here, and are now living at Glenwood.
EDWARD KESSLER, an enterprising general farmer of Walker township, this county, was born on his father's farm in that township, April 16, 1885. He is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Hertzel) Kessler, and a grandson of Frederick and Barbara (Nicholas) Kessler. His parents were born in Germany, from which country his
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
father came to the United States when twenty years of age. Edward Kessler completed his schooling in district No. 3, Walker township, and afterward assisted his father on the home farm until his marriage, following which he continued to farm on rented land still owned by his father, who is one of the substantial men of Walker township. Mr. Kessler is a capable farmer and gives attention to stockraising, feeding 125 head of hogs yearly. On December 11, 1911, he married Nora C. Theabald, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, daughter of August and Mary (Mook) Theabald, natives of Shelby county and farming people in Shelby and Decatur counties. Mr. and Mrs. Thea- bald had a family of nine children and of these the following are still living : Walter, Nora C., Nettie, Herman, Harry and Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler have one child, Raymond, who is attending school. They are members of the Christian church at Manilla. Mr. Kessler is a Republican.
EARL B. WINSHIP is one of the extensive farmers and stock- raisers of Rushville township, he and his brother Charles operating the large Winship homestead, 'which is one of the most valuable farms in Rush county. Earl B. Winship was born in Rushville township, January 14, 1882, son of Albert and Mary E. (Moore) Winship, and was educated in the schools of his native township. After he com- pleted his school days he took a trip through some of the Western states, which consumed two years. Upon his return to Rush county he began farming in partnership with his father on the homestead of 630 acres, and this farm is now operated by the two brothers. They are general farmers and stockraisers, and feed out about 1,500 head of hogs annually. On February 22, 1903, Earl B. Winship was mar- ried to Jessie R. Finley, daughter of John C. and Mary E. (Perkins) Finley, who was born in Hancock county, Indiana, where her father was at one time a farmer, but he is now a rural free delivery mailman. Mr. and Mrs. Finley had ten children : John, Francis, May, Joseph, Golda, Pearl, Ralph, Leslie, Bay and Jessie R., all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Winship have one child, Mary Elizabeth, born on October 24, 1909, who is attending the Webb school in Rushville township. Mr. Winship belongs to Rushville lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Indianapolis, and to the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. His religious home is in the Methodist Episcopal church of Rushville, with which he has been connected for years. He is a Republican and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, although not an office seeker.
JOSEPH STIERS, retired farmer, has resided during the greater part of his life at Rushville, but for many years actively superintended the operation of his large farms in Rush county, two of which he still owns. Joseph Stiers was born in Noble township, this county, September 15, 1835. His parents were Benjamin and Barbara (Jones) Stiers, both of whom were born in Clermont county,
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Ohio, from which section they drove overland to Indiana, settling as pioneers on wild land in Noble township, Rush county. Of their nine children there are four survivors: John M., of Rushville; Benjamin, F., of Marion, Ind .; Joseph and Polly Ann. Joseph Stiers attended the country schools near his father's farm in boyhood and remained at home as a farmer until twenty years of age, when he rented land and engaged in farming for himself for about twelve years. He then bought a farm of forty acres situated in Noble township, which he later sold to advantage, then bought eighty acres in Rushville town- ship and subsequently another eighty-acre farm, located in Noble township. Although he never resided on these farms, he has given a great deal of attention to their development and they are considered valuable properties. In March, 1861, Mr. Stiers married Sarah E. Hildreth, who also was horn in Rush county, daughter of James and Rebecca (Canada) Hildreth. Mrs. Stiers passed away on February 23, 1916, and was buried in East Hill cemetery. They had three children, James H., John K. and Fannie R. James H. Stiers is a farmer in Noble township. His first marriage was to Alice Frazee, who died within a few years, after which he married Mary E. Buell. John K. Stiers is a farmer in Rushville township. He married Maud Guffin and they have two children, Fannie and Howard, the latter of whom is in business at Phoenix, Ariz. Fannie R. Stiers married Ora Logan, a farmer in Noble township, and they have two children : Nellie and Carl. Nellie Logan married Edsie Hilligoss, a farmer in Rush- ville township, and they have two children, Lavon and Harold. Carl Logan, a farmer in Noble township, married Wilma Bowen and they have one child, Louise. Joseph Stiers is a member of the Presbyterian church at Rushville. He has always voted the Democratic ticket.
T. J. DOWNEY, a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Noble township, is a native of the township in which he now resides and was born on January 5, 1857, being the son of William H. and Ellen (Cowen) Downey, the latter a native of Ohio. William H. Downey was a native of West Virginia and the son of William Downey. When about seventeen years of age he went to Ohio, where he learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed for a number of years, his construction work being applied mostly to grist mills. He was married in Ohio and soon afterward came to Indiana, where he bought eighty acres of land in Rush county, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted himself with such success that he was enabled to increase his holdings to more than 500 acres. He carried on general farming operations and stock raising and followed progressive and up-to-date ideas in his labors. His death occurred in 1894 and his widow died two years later. Of the seven children who blessed the union of this worthy couple, four are now living, namely: Della, Florence, Alma and T. J. T. J. Downey attended the public schools of Noble township, in which he secured a good practical education, He followed farming on the home place, assisting his father up to the time of his marriage. He then rented from his father and mother
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
until the latter's death, since which time he has cultivated land of his own. He is the owner of two hundred and fifty-two acres of excellent, well improved land, all in Noble township, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising, feeding out quite a number of cattle and hogs. He is energetic and methodical in his work and has achieved a distinctive success in his vocation. In 1879 T. J. Downey was mar- ried to Alice Wellman, the daughter of Robert and Robena (Guffin) Wellman, and they have one child, Stella, who is the wife of Dr. Ernest Cofield, doctor of dental surgery, of Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Downey are active members of the Little Flat Rock Christian Church, and in politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Mrs. Downey also was born in Rush county, as were her parents, both of the latter having been members of pioneer families here. Her father, Robert Wellman, was a well known farmer and trader and he and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Downey being Eva, Rhoda, Ross and Aaron Wellman.
JOHN A. GRAY, a well-known farmer and landowner of Union township, proprietor of an excellent farm on rural mail route No. 1 out of Glenwood, but now living retired at Rushville, was born in Union township and has lived there most of his life, the exceptions being a period during which he was engaged in business in Rushville and another period during which he was "trying his fortune" in Kansas. Mr. Gray is of pioneer stock, his parents, George and Mary (Hinchman) Gray, having been members of old families here. Both were born in Monroe county, Virginia, now West Virginia, and were but children when their respective parents came to Indiana with a considerable colony of Virginians who were coming out here about that time and taking up the promising new lands then being offered as "Congress tracts" in the Hoosier state. George Gray was the son of James Gray and wife, the latter of whom was a Nichols, who came to Indiana in 1822 and located in Union county. Two years later they came over into Rush county and "entered" a tract of land in Union township on which they established their home and spent the remainder of their lives, influential pioneer residents of that section. James Gray, who died there in 1872, was a good farmer and became quite a large landowner, a well-to-do citizen in his genera- tion. He and his wife had six children, those besides George having been John, James, Mary, Nancy and Peggy. George Gray was but two years of age when his parents came to Indiana and he "grew up" on the homestead farm in Union township, this county, in turn becom- ing a farmer on his own account. His affairs prospered and he became the owner of around 600 acres of land in Union township, one of the most substantial farmers thereabout. George Gray was mar- ried in this county, his wife, Mary Hinchman, also having been a member of the Virginia colony of pioneers, and he and his wife spent their last days in Union township, useful and influential members of that community. They had nine children who grew to maturity, those besides John A., the subject of this sketch, being James
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(deceased), Rebecca (deceased), Mary (deceased), Susan (deceased), Minnie, Margaret, Morton P. and George. John A. Gray was born on the farm above referred to in Union township on January 6, 1854. He grew to manhood there, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and as a young man left the farm and went to Rushville, where he became engaged in the livery business and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he went to Kansas where he remained until news of his father's death brought him home and upon his return here he resumed farming and has ever since been thus engaged, the owner of an excellent farm of 240 acres in Union town- ship on which besides his general farming he carries on quite exten- sive operations in the way of live stock breeding and has long done well. Mr. Gray has a well improved place and one of the most sub- stantial farm plants in that section, it ever having been a matter of pride with him to keep his place up in "ship-shape" form. In 1891 John A. Gray was united in marriage to Fannie Norris, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Margaret Virginia, who married Wesley J. Kelly and has two children, John Wesley and Richard Gray; James Russell Gray and Helen Gould Gray. Mrs. Gray is a daughter of Albert Newton and Emaline (Hunt) Norris, the latter of whom also was born in " Rush county, a member of one of the old families here. Albert Newton Norris was born in Kentucky and was but a child when his parents came up into Indiana and located in Rush county, settling on a farm in Noble township, where he grew to manhood and in turn became a farmer on his own account and also was for years engaged in the manufacture of grain drills for local distribution in the days before there was such a wide distribution of the products of the great factories hereabout. Albert N. Norris and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides Mrs. Gray being Anna, Eutie, Clifton, Dempsey and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian church at Rushville. In his political affiliation Mr. Gray is a Republican and, fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The Grays in the spring of 1921 retired from the farm and moved to Rushville, where they have a very pleasant home.
ANGUS C. MILLER, a well-known citizen of Richland township, who by a life of persistent and well-applied energy has achieved material success and gained the good will of his fellow citizens, was born in that township on November 10, 1883, and is the son of Eliphalet and Mary (Blue) Miller, both also natives of Rush county. The subject's paternal grandfather, Archibald Miller, was a native of the state of Virginia, whence he came to Indiana, first locating in Franklin county, where he entered land. Later he bought 343 acres of land in Rush county, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1882. He was a member of the United Brethren church. He married Ann Barber, who died in 1883, and they became the parents of eight children, all of whom are deceased. Eliphalet Miller was reared to manhood in this county and was indebted to the common
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schools for his educational training. On completing his studies he turned his attention to farming, but on the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in defense of his country, becoming a member of Company C, Sixty-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he rendered valiant service for three years. After leaving the army, Mr. Miller went to Illinois, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1883, when he returned to Rush county and bought 147 acres of land, on which he followed general farming and stock raising to the time of his death, which occurred in 1886. His wife had passed away during the preceding year. They became the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living, namely : Stella, Earl, Otis, Angus and Harry. Angus Miller was reared in Richland township, attending the common schools. After completing his schooling, he began farming the old Miller home place which he has operated continuously now for eighteen years and where he has gained an excellent reputation as a practical and progressive farmer, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and also gives some attention to live stock, feeding about 150 head of hogs annually. Mr. Miller is a Republican in his political faith and takes a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity in which he lives.
MRS. AUGUSTA BROWNELL, a well known resident of Wash- ington township, is a representative of two of the old pioneer families of the county, both her paternal and maternal grandparents and great-grandparents having been among the first settlers of the county. Mrs. Brownell was born in Washington township, a daughter of George S. and Rozza Belle (Glidden) Lail, the latter the only daugh- ter of Augustus and Olive Belle (Loder) Glidden. George S. Lail was born in Rush county, a son of George Henry and Mary (Shaw- han) Lail, the latter of whom also was born in this county, a daughter of John M. and Sarah Shawhan. George H. Lail was a Kentuckian and his marriage to Mary Shawhan took place in the old Shawhan homestead at Falmouth in this county. He established his home in this county and became prominent in the affairs of the pioneer community. Mrs. Brownell received her schooling in Manual Train- ing high school, at Indianapolis, and in DePauw University, at Greencastle. On November 16, 1903, Augusta Lail was united in marriage to Charles Albert Brownell, a resident of Cincinnati, a native of Ohio and a graduate of Andover College and Yale Uni- versity. To this union was born one child, a son, George Stenson Brownell, who resides with his mother at their pleasant home in Raleigh.
MARSHALL HINCHIMAN, a well known retired farmer and substantial landowner of Union township, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. Mr. Hinchman is a member of one of the real pioneer families of Rush county, his parents, John and Margaret (Niekell) IIinchman, having settled in Union township upon coming to Indiana from Virginia in the fall of
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
1823, following their marriage in their native state. John Hinchman was a son of John and Margaret (Vinson) Hinchman. In 1822 he had come out into Indiana on a prospecting trip and had entered from the Government an eighty-acre tract in Union township, this county. Upon his arrival here with his bride in the fall of 1823 he put up a log cabin on this tract and established his home there. He early became recognized as one of the forceful figures in that part of the county and did much toward developing proper conditions in the formative period of the county's development. He took an active part in the county's civic affairs and for some time served as a member of the board of county commissioners. John Hinchman became one of the county's large landowners and at the time of his death in 1865 was the possessor of more than 1,000 acres of land besides other valuable property. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom four are still living. Marshall Hinchman having three brothers, Sanford, Ira and Morris Hinchman, the two latter of whom are veterans of the Civil war. Marshall Hinchman was born on December 3. 1846, and was reared on the home farm in Union town- ship, receiving his schooling in the old Stringtown school and at Glenwood. He was but eighteen years of age when his father died and he continued making his home on the home place, presently starting operations there on his own account and after his marriage established his home there and has ever since continued to reside on the place. To his inheritance in the place Mr. Hinchman added until he became the owner of 280 acres, but this holding he has reduced until he now has but 160 acres, one of the best improved farms in that section of the county. Mr. Hinchman continned actively engaged in farming and stock raising until 1916 when he retired from active labors and has since been renting his farm, though continuing to make his home on the place, where he is very comfortably situated. Mr. Hinchman is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful attention to the general civic affairs of his community as well as of the county at large.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MARTIN, one of the best known residents of Rush county, formerly and for years engaged in the mer- cantile business at Raleigh, where he is now living retired, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of this county practically all the time since the days of his young manhood. Mr. Martin was born at Centerville, in Wayne county, September 23, 1864, only son of Benjamin F. and Sarah A. (Jameson) Martin, the former of whom was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, son of Benjamin Lloyd and Sarah (Christianson) Martin, who became pio- neers of Wayne county, this state. Benjamin Lloyd Martin was born in Pennsylvania in 1806 and his schooling was completed in a com- mercial college at Philadelphia. He married in 1831 and in 1839 moved with his family to Indiana and located in Wayne county, where he at once became one of the influential factors in the develop- ment of the commercial interests of that section of the state, one
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important act of his being his part in the work of organization of the first bank in Wayne county. He also was an important factor in the development of the social and religions life of the community and in 1840, the year after his arrival in Indiana, was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal church, his services as a minister of the Gospel coming to be in wide demand thereabout. When the Civil war broke out Benjamin Lloyd Martin enlisted his services and was com- missioned paymaster in the army with the rank of major. During the period 1869-73 he served as representative in the state legislature from Wayne county, and later served for eight years as anditor of that county and for a like period as deputy auditor. His son, Benjamin F. Martin, father of the subject of this sketch, was but a lad when he accompanied his parents to Indiana in 1839 and his schooling was completed in the old Centerville Academy. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and was attached to the Seventy-eighth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, presently being given a lieutenant's commission and with that command served for two years or more. In 1863, while home on a furlough Lientenant Martin married Sarah A. Jameson and npon the completion of his military service settled down on a farm owned by his father and was for six years engaged as a farmer in' Wayne county. He then bought a general store at Chester and was there engaged in the mercantile business until his death in 1885. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Maude Gerrard, of Indianapolis. The junior Benjamin F. Franklin completed his schooling at Earlham College at Richmond and for a year following the completion of his college course served as assistant in the office of the treasurer of Wayne county. The next year he spent as bookkeeper in a business house at Richmond and then decided to enter into business for himself. With this end in view he came to Rush county and bought a general store at Raleigh and was thus engaged in business in that pleasant village for twenty-three years, at the end of which time he left the store and became traveling auditor for the D. M. Osborne Company, of Indi- anapolis, continuing in that capacity until 1899 when he bought a farm of 186 acres in Washington township and began farming on an extensive scale, gradually adding to his holdings until he is now the owner of 593 acres, all in Washington township. In 1915 Mr. Martin practically retired from the active labors of the farm and erected a handsome modern house at Raleigh, where he and his family are now making their home. Mr. Martin was reared a Quaker and is affiliated with the Friends Meeting at Spiceland. He is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Murat Temple at Indi- anapolis. He and his family are Republicans. On September 5, 1888, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Cora E. Elwell, who was born in Washington township, this county, daughter of Horace and Mary J. Elwell, and to this union three children have been born, Eli E ..
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Benjamin F. and Myra G. (deceased). Eli E. Martin completed his schooling at Purdue University. He married Mary Finney, of Rush- ville, and has two children, Martha and Mary K. The younger son, Benjamin F. Martin, Jr., completed the high school course at Raleigh and is now a student at Purdue University.
BIRNEY D. FARTHING, superintendent of the Glenwood schools and one of the best known and most successful young educa- tors in Rush county, was born in this county and has ever been devoted to the interests of the same. He was born on a farm in Richland township on May 9, 1886, son of Edward A. and Gertrude (Dobyns) Farthing, well known residents of that community, who are still living there. Reared on the home farm in Richland township, Birney D. Farthing was graduated from the Clarksburg high school in 1904, when eighteen years of age. Trained to the ways of the farm, he thought to follow that vocation and for two or three years after leaving the high school engaged in farming as a renter on his father's place. In the meantime he had been giving his thought to the notion of teaching and when twenty-one years of age secured a license to teach and conducted his first term of school in Orange township. The next year he secured a school in his home township and taught there for three years, at the end of which time he was employed as principal of the graded school at Milford and was thus engaged for two years. meantime continuing his studies in preparation for advancement in his chosen profession. From Milford Mr. Farthing went to Ging as principal of the high school there and after two years thus engaged at that place was appointed superintendent of the high school at Arling- ton and a year later, in 1919, was appointed superintendent of the schools at Glenwood, a position he since has occupied and in the per- formance of the duties of which position he has done much to pro- mote the interests of the excellent schools of that pleasant village. Mr. Farthing's first normal school training was received at the normal school at Angola, Indiana, in 1907. In 1912 he entered the normal school at Marion, Indiana, and was graduated from that institution in 1915. Supplementing this admirable preparatory study Mr. Farthing later entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute and was graduated from that institution in 1920, and further supplemental study secured for him the degree of Philosophiae Baccalaureus bestowed by the state normal school at Muncie. On May 9, 1920, Birney D. Farthing was united in marriage to La Verne Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Davis, and has since made his home at Glenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Farthing are members of the Christian church and take a proper interest in the work of the church as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live. By political affiliation they are Republicans. Fraternally. Mr. Farthing is affiliated with the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons at Clarksburg and with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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