USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 57
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to Elizabeth Hooker, and subsequently moved to Kentucky, where he remained until his death. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; was the father of a large family, of whom Josiah (the grand- father of our subject) was the eldest. He was mar- ried in Pendleton County, Ky., to Nancy Bonar, and about the year 1830 moved to Rush County, Ind., where she died shortly afterward. He survived her several years. Their children were John, Josiah, Sarah and Stephen. John Thrasher and Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Mary Rush, were united in wedlock in Pendleton, Ky., and in 1824 moved to Rush County, Ind., where she died in 1855. He sub- sequently married Mary Copland, and died in 1876. He was the father of ten children: Woodson W., Mary, Nancy, William, Josiah, Maria, Lucinda, Caro- line, Joseph and an infant son who died unnamed. Our subject with his parents moved to Rush County, this State, in 1824, and resided with them until his marriage in 1831, with Barbara, daughter of Philip and Barbara Daubenspeck, born in Bourbon County, Ky., February 14, 1811. After his marriage Mr. Thrasher settled just over the line from his father in Fayette County, where he has since resided, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits, having been extensively engaged in breeding and raising improved stock, and to him are the people of this section of Indiana largely indebted for the fine stock with which the farmns abound. He has as prominently, too, been connected with all enterprises and interests of the county which have had a tendency to develop the resources and to educate and Christianize her people. The subjects of education and Christianity have ever been close to his heart and to their advancement he has given much of his mighty energy and liberally of his means, being largely instrumental in establishing the academy at Fairview and the Christian Church near by, with which both himself and wife have been connected for forty years or more; he having been an Elder therein during the greater part of the time. As an evidence of his interest in the subject of edu- cation we have but to state that all his eight children are collegiate graduates and among them are a prom- inent physician in Cincinnati, a Professor of Mathe- matics in Butler College at Indianapolis, and another a graduate of the profession of law. The father of Mr. Thrasher before him was a Whig, with which party our subject was in his younger life identified, casting his first vote for Henry Clay. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been a warm advocate of its principles. He at one time was one of the County Commissioners, and in 1867 was chosen by the citizens of the county a Representative in the State Legislature, where he at once became conspicuous and was identified with the leading 18
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measures that came before the Legislature during his term of service in the years 1867 and 1868. He was Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Highways; he also served on a committee appointed to visit and report the condition of the Southern prison at Jef- fersonville; the Chairman's report he refused to sign. and with another colleague drew up a minority report, which was accepted by the Legislature. He was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the Indiana drain or ditching law enacted during his service, which bill he was greatly interested in. His name is also prominently connected with other im- portant measures of which for the want of space we must here leave unmentioned. Mr. Thrasher has been evidently successful in life, and has been blessed with most excellent health. Seldom, if ever, has he been confined to bed during his long life on account of sickness; and it is greatly to his credit to remark that he has never been engaged in a lawsuit. He started in life with small means, but by thrift and industry he has accumulated a handsome competency. His children all grew to manhood and womanhood. Their names are William M., Elizabeth, John P., Marion, Harriet, Sarah, Allen B. and Oliver.
WILLIAM R. TYNER, farmer, Harrison Town- ship, is a native of Indiana, born May 3, 1835. His father, Samuel G. Tyner, was born in Brookville, Ind., and died June 3, 1883. He farmed all his life. Our subject received a common school education. He was married, February 13, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Williams, a native of Indiana. To this union has been born one child-Sadie. Mr. Tyner has been Road Supervisor. He has spent his life in farming, and is an industrious, reputable citizen.
GEORGE VAN BUSKIRK, farmer, Posey Town- ship, was born in Kentucky, July 9, 1802, son of George, Sr., and Mary (Rulony) Buskirk, who settled in Wayne County, Ind., in 1815, where both died. They had six children, all now deceased but our subject. He was married, in 1826, to Rachel Helm, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 9, 1805. In 1830 he left Wayne County, Ind., and settled in Posey Township, Fayette County, same State, where he has since resided, and has prospered. He is the father of twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Harriet, Tillman, Daniel, Ruben, Martha, Nancy, Martin, Catherine and Perry. Sidney, Elizabeth and Mary are deceased. Daniel is a minister of the Christian Church, and is called the "Beecher of the West." Mr. and Mrs. Van Buskirk are members of the same church, with which they have been connected over half a century.
JAMES VANHORN, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, one of the wealthiest and most prominent colored men of this county, was born a slave in Pendleton
County, Ky., January 15, 1804. His father was a white native of Germany, which fact perhaps accounts for the persevering and industrious habits which have characterized Mr. Vanhorn's whole life. Mr. Van- horn passed his early years in his native State on the plantation of his master, Josiah Thrasher, by whom he was retained till nearly twenty-two years of age. He then made his escape to the North and located in Rush County, Ind., where he resided but a few years, when he came to this county. For one year he made his home with John Thrasher, a son of his former master: from there he went to Billy McCarty's, where he resided two years; thence he moved to John Cald- well's, also to Gen. Caldwell's, where he was engaged chiefly in teaming goods from Cincinnati to this sec- tion of the county for the resident merchants, and where he bought his freedom for $250, his own money. About 1840 he purchased 160 acres in Blackford County, Ind., trading this tract for eighty acres of his present farm about 1854. By hard and continued labor he has since been able to add to his original possessions till he now owns 121 acres of valuable land. ยท Previous to his marriage, Mr. Vanhorn was employed as bar keeper on the steamboat "Adri- atic," plying between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and although constantly engaged for some time in mixing and dealing out liquors of various kinds, was never known to taste them himself. Mr. Vanhorn was married, July 3, 1842, to Miss Nancy Foster, who was born in Ohio. Nine children blessed this union, seven now surviving: Oliver, John A., Francis M., Harriet, Malinda, Charles and Cordelia. Wesley and Eliza are deceased. Mrs. Vanhorn passed away January 3, 1880. Mr. Vanhorn may well be re- garded as one of the successful farmers of this county. He is a most worthy example to his race, and his life furnishes abundant proof of the advan- tages of freedom of thought and action. He is regarded as one of the most reliable citizens in this community, and is entitled to great credit for his industry and good character.
JOHN WALKER, farmer, Jennings Township, was born on the old homestead, April 13, 1828, son of William Walker, who was born in Virginia in 1777. The latter, a son of Charles Walker, also a Virginian, settled near Chillicothe, Ohio, among the Indians, at a very early day in the settlement of Ohio, and there died. William Walker was married in Ohio to Jane Corbet, by whom he had twelve children, four of whom are now living: Joseph, James, Samuel and John. The deceased are Jane, Henry, Willis, Alexander, William, Frances, Eliza J. and Lewis. In 1819 Mr. and Mrs. Walker, with their two chil- dren, Henry and William, removed to and settled in Jennings Township, this county, entering 160 acres
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of land. Mr. Walker was poor in purse, depending entirely on his own exertions for a living, but he was energetic and made good progress from the start, accumulating, with the aid of his family, about 3,500 acres of land. He was a man of honor, ster- ling character, and whose word was as good as his bond. He and his wife were members of the Meth- odist Church, in which they worked for Christ and their soul's salvation till called to a higher reward. Mr. Walker served in the war of 1812. He was a Jacksonian Democrat at one time, but joined the Whig party, and died in the ranks of the Repub- lican party. Ho died May 17, 1859, aged eighty- two years, his wife having preceded him June 15, 1855, aged seventy-two years, six months. Our subject was married, in 1853, to Mary E., daughter of David and Elizabeth (Lemmon) Berry, by whom he had three children: Eugeue J., Frances S. and Albert S. He has always lived within half a mile of his birth-place. He has prospered, and now owns 230 acres of good land. He is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has been connected for many years. He is an uncompromising Republican, and takes more than an average interest in public affairs.
FOREST M. WEBB, farmer, Columbia Town- ship, is a native of Fayette County, Ind., and is descended from an old and well respected family of the county. His parents were Forest M. and Clarissa (Bryant) Webb, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to this county in a very early day. The former was born in Boone County, April 4, 1802, a son of Ed- ward Webb, who was born in Virginia, November 21, 1769, and who emigrated thence to Boone County, Ky., in a very early day. From there he moved to the Territory of Indiana, first settling near Harrison, Ohio, and in 1814 came to Fayette County, Ind., set- tling in Columbia Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 29, 1851. He was a man of considerable ability, and figured con- spicuously in the early affairs of the county. He was chosen on the organization of the county one of its Associate Judges, which position he filled for twenty-seven years consecutively-see history proper of Columbia Township. Forest M., his son, and the father of our subject, came with him to this county in 1814, and was here uuited in marriage with Clarissa Bryant, who was born near Georgetown, Scott Co., Ky., November 18, 1806. To this union were born: Mary F., February 12, 1825; Sarah A., May 17, 1827; Jamos E., October 8, 1831; Robert L., March 31, 1835; Catherine, May 19, 1838; John P., August 19, 1841; Theodore F., April 2, 1844, and Forest M., our subject, February 2, 1848. After his mar- riage Mr. Webb settled in this county, where his wife
died November 25, 1883. He is now a resident of Kokomo, Ind. Our subject was married November 17, 1870, to Cornelia, daughter of Homan and Lydia (Hughes) Jones, whose sketch will be found else- where. She died May 24, 1880, having borne three children: Forest M. (deceased), Nellie M. and Paul J. Mr. Webb was again married in this county, January 1, 1884, this time to Gertrude Burgoyne, who was born in Franklin County, Ind., December 28, 1864, daughter of J. C. and Georgiana (Hazard) Burgoyne.
THOMAS WEST, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, is a native of County Armagh, Ireland, born in March, 1811. His parents, William and Eleanor (Patterson) West, were natives of Scotland, and emigrated from that country to Quebec, Canada, in 1828. From there the family moved to Vermont, and soon after to Pennsylvania, from which State about four years later they moved to Franklin Coun- ty, Ohio, where the father purchased 170 acres of land, and subsequently attained an enviable position of wealth. In 1830 Thomas West began the trade of stone-cutter in Beaver County, Penn., where he was em- ployed four years. He next spent one year as an operator in the rolling mills of Pittsburgh, and then moved down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, from which city he came to this township, where he has since resided. In 1847 Mr. West purchased his pres- ent farm of eighty acres, on which he has since been toiling for the improvement of his worldly interests. In 1831 he married Margery Moore, a native of Coun- ty Donegal, Ireland, a daughter of John and Sophia (McNutt) Moore. They have no family.
GEORGE J. WICKERD, farmer, Connersville Township, a native of Franklin County, Ind., was born September 26, 1835. His father, Jacob Wick- erd, was born in the State of Delaware, September 14, 1815; and his mother, Susan (Stams) Wickerd, was a native of Pennsylvania. They were married November 28, 1834. Jacob Wickerd was a shoe- maker, and came to Indiana in 1836. The means the subject of this sketch had for obtaining an educa- tion were limited. He was united in marriage, De- cember 20, 1865, with Miss Mary J. Martin, who was born June 22, 1844, in Franklin County, Ind., and by this union three children have been born: William D., Minnie E. (deceased August 11, 1876, aged two years and ten months) and Edward. Mr. Wickerd is a member of the Fayette County Protec- tion Society, and Everton Grange. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Our subject is an industrious, qniet citizen, highly respected by all who know him.
ABSALOM R. WILDRIDGE, farmer and stock- dealer, Jackson Township, is a native of Dearborn
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BIOGRAPHIES.
County, Ind., born December 11, 1845, son of Ralph and Eliza (Bougham) Wildridge, who were born in New Jersey, the former October 13, 1806, the latter July 6, 1814. They were married November 20, 1831, and reared a family of eight children. Ralph Wild- ridge died September 25, 1850. Our subject received a common school education. He was united in mar- riage, April 28, 1869, with Miss Hattie Roberts, a native of Franklin County, Ind., born March 1, 1850, and by this union one child, Mary, was born May 2, 1874. Mr. Wildridge came to this county in 1870, and now resides on Section 33, his farm comprising seventy-six acres. He is a member of Everton Grange, No. 1670, and Fayette County Protection Society. He and his wife are adherents of the Meth- odist Church.
RICHARD W. WILLIAMS, farmer, Columbia Township, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Octo. ber 31, 1815, and is one of the nine children born to Thomas and Mary (Newcomer) Williams, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, and who were married in Hamilton County, Ohio, where they afterward settled, remaining there uutil their death. Their children were as follows: William W., Rachel A., Thomas N., Sanford S., Peter C., Richard W., Elizabeth, Mary and Catherine J. Our subject was married in Franklin County, Ind., January 24, 1849, to Phebe Carter, born in Franklin County, Ind., Octo- ber 1, 1821, and daughter of Abraham and Margaret (Hitchner) Carter. To this union were born ten children: Margaret E., Thomas W., John N., New- ton (deceased), Hester A. (deceased), Arthur E., Alice A. (deceased), Abraham C., Phebe J. (deceased), and Oliver M. After marriage Mr. Williams settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, where he remained until 1850, thence moved to Fayette County, Ind., settling in Columbia Township, where he has since resided. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
MARY A. WILLIAMS, widow of the late Jere- miah Williams, Orange Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., August 5, 1828, daughter of John and Sarah (Logan) McIlwain, natives of Ire- land. John McIlwain was a son of John McIlwain, Sr., a native of Scotland, where he married Jennie Hughston; thence they emigrated to the north of Ireland abont the time Cromwell ruled England, Ire- land and Scotland, settling near Belfast, where they remained until 1798, when they immigrated to the United States, settling in South Carolina, where they remained until their death. Mrs. McIlwain died shortly after their arrival here, and Mr. McIlwain subsequently married Ann Logan. He was the father of eight children: James H., Thomas, John, Mary, William, Hugh, Samuel, by first wife; and James, by
last wife. John, the father of our subject, was born in 1786, and came with his parents to South Carolina in 1798, where he and Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Steele) Logan, were united in marriage. She was born in 1784. After their marriage they first settled near Abbeville, S. C., and in 1814 moved to Fayette County, Ind., where he remained until his death, which occurred June 25, 1870. His widow died June 14, 1872. Their children were John, Thomas, William, Jane, Elizabeth, Hugh, Oliver, James, Nancy, Sarah and Mary A. Our subject was united in marriage, in Fayette County, February 25, 1849, with Jeremiah Williams, who was born in this county June 21, 1828, son of Elisha and Martha (Baker) Williams. To this union were born Leander C. (de- ceased), Terrissa L., Emma Z., Martha J., Sarah J., John (deceased) and Elisha. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Williams settled near Everton, this county, but moved in 1861 on the farm where the widow now lives, her husband dying May 23, 1875.
FRANK T. WILLIAMS, general merchandise, Harrison Township, was born in Harrison Township, Fayette County, March 31, 1852, son of Hon. Charles R. Williams, ex-County Auditor, a sketch of whom is given among the biographies in the city of Conners- ville. He was raised a farmer, and received a good common school education. In May, 1876, he pur- chased his present business from John W. Foster, and has been very successful in the enterprise. June 4, 1878, he was married to Miss Florence M. Will- iams, who was born May 31, 1858. Mr. Williams, to prepare himself for his present business, took a thorough course and graduated in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
MADISON WILLIAMSON, farmer, Jennings Township, was born on the place where he now lives in Fayette County, in the year 1836. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Connoway) Williamson, who were married January 19, 1832, and had a family of thirteen children: Adeline, Elmon, Franklin, Madi- son, James, Mary, Daniel, Sarah, Theresa, Nancy, Elizabeth, and two that died in infancy. Samuel Williamson was born in Ohio July 3, 1807. His parents were Moses (born in Virginia September 23, 1774,) and Jane (Riggs) Williamson (born December 25, 1778,) who had only one child. The father of our subject, Moses Williamson, was a man of good executive ability, and held for several years the office of Justice of the Peace. During the war of 1812- 15 he served on the frontier. He died January 5, 1850. His wife was a good Christian lady, a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. They located here in 1830. Samuel Williamson came with his parents to this township about 1830. He was a progressive
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
man and a respected citizen. He died September 10, 1855; his widow died November 27, 1884. Our sub- ject was twice married; on first occasion, in 1857, to Martha, daughter of David Ross, by whom he had three children: Samuel, Elsie, David (deceased in infancy). He was married, December 22, 1882, to his second wife, Sarah, daughter of John and Lydia (Behney) Rudy, the latter a daughter of Valentine Behney. Mrs. Sarah Williamson was born January 18, 1851, in North Lebanon Township, Lebanon County, Penn., and was baptized June 23, 1851; she came to Indiana in 1871; is a member of the Evan- gelical Methodist Church. By this union there is no issue. Mr. Williamson owns seventy-five acres of land, which is well improved.
FRANKLIN M. WORSHAM, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., April 9, 1829, son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Fullin) Wor- sham, who were among the first settlers of this county. His father was born in 1786 in Washington County, Va .; thence, in 1811, he moved to Brook- ville, Franklin Co., Ind., and the same year en- tered land and settled on the banks of Whitewater River, two miles south of Connersville. At that time Indiana was a Territory. There were but few families in Connersville, and the Indians who were encamped in the river bottoms were very troublesome. Mr. Worsham was married, while residing on this farm, to Nancy Fullin, a native of Tennessee, born in 1795, and who came with her parents to this county in 1811. To this union were born William W., Elizabeth, Ruth, Malinda, Samuel, Robert, John J., George W., Franklin M., Jeremiah, Charles W., Joseph T. and Sarah. Mr. Worsham resided on his farm on the banks of the Whitewater about ten years, then purchased another west of Connersville, where he remained until his death, which occurred October 20, 1861, his wife having preceded him July 16, 1859. He owned at the time of his demise over 500 acres of land. Franklin M., our subject, was married, in Rush County, Ind., March 13, 1856, to Mary S., daughter of Robert H. and Jemima (Messersmith) Newbould. She was born in this county March 5, 1835. They have a family of nine children: Armilda, Samantha A., John T., Robert F., Martha M., Albert H. S., Alva P. B., William M. and Daisy E. After our subject's marriage he settled on the farm where he has since resided. He owns at present about 200 acres of excellent land.
JOSEPH T. WORSHAM, farmer, Connersville Township, was born in 1835, a native of this county, son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Fullin) Worsham, who were born and married in Virginia, and moved to Franklin County, Ind., in 1811, moving to this county soon after. Here the father died in 1861, the mother
having preceded him in 1859. Jeremiah Worsham was among the first settlers of the county, a successful and wealthy farmer, owuing at one time 354 acres of land. Joseph T. Worsham, the subject of this sketch, was employed at home on the farm with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. He obtained a practical education in the district schools, and made farming his chief occupation through life. In 1862 he married Sarah Hartzel, a native of Penn- sylvania and daughter of John Hartzel, and two children have been born to this union: Edwin T. and Oscar. Mr. Worsham is still residing on the old homestead purchased in 1861. He took care of his parents till their death, thus rewarding them for their care of him in his childhood and youth. He does a general farming business, and has on his farm one of the finest limestone quarries in the State, and this he has operated quite extensively. In politics he is a Democrat.
JAMES WORSTER (deceased), late of Jen- nings Township, was born December 31, 1782, in Pennsylvania, son of Rev. Robert and Mary (Gorman) Worster, the former a native of Eng- land, the latter of German descent. Rev. Robert Worster came to Indiana some time after his son James. It is said that he preached the first Method- ist sermon delivered west of the Alleghenies. He was a forcible preacher, whose labors ended only with his life. He also taught the first school in Jennings Township. His children, eight in number, were Sarah, Daniel, James, Margaret, Hugh, Nellie, Jennie and Thomas. He died in 1830, aged one hundred and one years; his widow in 1832, aged seventy-five. Our subject went with his parents to Bracken County, Ky., where he was married, August' 8, 1805, to Nancy Milner, born in Kentucky September 1, 1789, daughter of Amos and Hannah (Rice) Milner, of Pennsylvania, who settled in Bracken County, Ky., in an early day, and in 1819 moved thence to Fayette County, Ind. They were parents of three children: Sarah (wife of Elijah Corbin), John and Nancy. Amos Milner was one of the heroes of the Revolu- tionary war. He died September 1, 1851, aged ninety-one years, one month and twenty-two days. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. In 1814 Mr. and Mrs. James Worster, with their three children, moved to Indiana Territory, selecting a location in what is now Jennings Town- ship. (Before settling here Mr. Worster had served in the war of 1812-15). They had nine children: Hannah, Mary J., Amos M., Robert, John O., Sarah E., Lucinda A., Thomas W., Elizabeth M. Mr. Worster died September 29, 1849; his widow Septem- ber 24, 1876, aged eighty-seven years and twenty-three days. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church. Thomas W. Worster, son of our subject, was born February 8, 1828. He was married, in 1851, to Mary A. Blue, who has borne him six chil- dren: James A., John O., Charles S., Thomas L. (deceased), Mary J. and Grace H. He is the owner of 485 acres of excellent land. Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically a Repub- lican. Richard R. Nuzum (deceased) was born in Virginia in 1803, and was a son of William and Martha (Reece) Nuzum. Ile came to this township in 1829, and August 4, 1831, he was married to Mary J., daughter of James Worster, who bore him one child, James W., who enlisted, in 1861, in the three months' service. In August, 1862, he re-enlisted in the Sixty-ninth I. V. I. for three years, and was killed at Richmond, Ky., August 30, 1862. Richard R. Nuzum died October 21, 1858.
THOMAS WRIGHT, Columbia Township, is, perhaps, the oldest resident of this county living at this date. He was born in Gloucester County, Va., October 11, 1793, and is of English and French par- entage. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Pointer) Wright, were born in England, both dying when he was but a child, and he was reared to the age of sixteen by an elder brother. He then began a sea-faring life, embarking on a vessel owned by John Gressett. He continued on the wave about thirteen years, being promoted from one posi- tion to another till he became Captain of a vessel of his own, which same slip was used by the citizens of Yorktown on the occasion of welcoming LaFayette when on one of his visits to this country. It was also honored by the presence of the celebrated Irish poet, Thomas Moore, who was one of its passengers while on his tour to the United States. Mr. Wright was married, June 5, 1822, to Catharine W. Stubbs, a native of Gloucester County, Va., born July 20, 1805, daughter of Francis and Ann (Hall) Stubbs, of English and French descent respectively. Her grand- father was born in England and married there. Her maternal grandmother was named Mildred Du Vall. Her parents were married in Gloucester County, Va., and reared two children, Mrs. Wright being a daugh- ter by her father's second wife (his first wife was a Miss Robbins, by whom he had one son). Her father died in Virginia before she was born, and her mother died in this State in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have four children living: Matilda, Laura, Willa A. and Julia E. Soon after his marriage Mr. Wright gave up the life of a sailor, sold his vessel, and settled down to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture in Vir- ginia. In 1837 they sold their property there and moved to this county, where Mr. Wright purchased his present farm. Here he has since resided and played his part in the great drama of life. His facul-
ties were well preserved till recently, but nature has run its course, and the vital forces are well-nigh spent. Ninety years have sufficed to dim the eye, dull the ear and enfeeble the mind; and a few more years must end the long eventful race.
HENRY M. WRIGHT (deceased), formerly of Orange Township, and latterly of Glenwood, Rush Co., Ind., an old and well-respected pioneer of Fay. ette County, was born in Greene County, Penn., November 16, 1819. His parents were Justico and Elizabeth (Morris) Wright, natives of Greene Coun- ty, l'enn., where the former was born May 21, 1789, and the latter March 9, 1799, Justice was the second of four children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Wright, who were also natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married and where they remained until their death. He was married in his native county, March 22, 1810. to Rachel Morris, a daughter of George and Margaret Morris, and afterward settled in same county, where his wife died February 23, 1814. He was again mar- ried, in Greene County, May 13, 1816, to Elizabeth, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Morris, and in 1821 moved to Fayette County, Ind., settling five miles southwest of Connersville, on what is known as Fall Creek, where he lived the balance of his days. His second wife died October 14, 1827, and on March 20, 1828, he married Mary, daughter of John and Eliza- beth Dailey, and who died June 10, 1847. Hedied Feb- ruary 22, 1873, having had five children -- by his first wife, Sarah, John and Rachel, and by his second mar- riage Ephraim and Henry M. (our subject). Justice Wright was a man highly respected by all. He was a zealous and devoted member of the Baptist Church, and during his life held many offices of trust. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace of the county, and served about twenty years as Probate Judge. Our subject came with his father to this county when about two years of age, and here spent the greater part of his life. He was married in Mason County, Ill., May 16, 1852, to Lucy A., born August 6, 1831, daughter of Lorenzo R. and Jane (Eddy) Hastings. Immediately after marriage he returned with his wife to this county, and settled on his father's old home- stead until the latter's death; then purchased the farm, and there remained until November, 1882, when he moved to Glenwood, Rush Co., Ind., where he resided up to the day of his death. His first wife died December 19, 1856, and he was married, August 1, 1878, to Sarah J., daughter of William S. and Nancy (Martin) Brown, who was born at Conners- ville, Ind., November 30, 1843. He was the father of three children: William J. (deceased), and James L. by first wife, and Martin B. by last marriage. Mr. Wright had suffered much from childhood with a diseased limb, pronounced at first to be white swell-
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
ing, which ultimately necessitated amputation, and this was performed at his own desire in November, 1884, four experienced surgeons being in attendance, but the patient had not sufficient vitality to sur- vive the operation, and he sank to rest, after thirteen days intense suffering, December 3, 1884. Mr. Wright was not a member of any church or any Soci- ety, but was withal a true Christian and a strong temperance man. In politics he was a Republican. His remains are interred in the cemetery at Conners- ville, Fayette Co., Ind.
JAMES L. WRIGHT, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, son of Henry M. and Lucy A. (Hastings) Wright, of Glenwood, Ind., was born in Fayette County, Ind., December 1, 1856, and was here mar- ried, February 28, 1883, to Elizabeth, daughter of Washington and Elizabeth (Mount) Michener, who was also born in this county, May 6, 1864. After his marriage he settled on the farm where he now lives and has since resided. He is an affable young gentleman of energy, whose future seems promising.
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