USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 87
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George W. Oldham was twice married. In the summer of 1857 he married Emeline Mullen, a member of one of the pioneer families of Fayette county, and to that union eight children were born, one of whom died in infancy and seven of whom grew to maturity. Of these latter, Sylvester A. Oldham died in 1900 and Jesse K. died in January, 1917. The four sur- vivors are, besides the subject of this sketch, Charles F., Mrs. Mary Isabel Melbourne. William and Mrs. Gertha Riggs. After the death of the mother
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of these children, George W. Oldham married Sarah Elizabeth Ferguson, who died in January, 1907, she having preceded her husband to the grave about seven years. That second union was without issue.
George E. Oldham was reared in Jennings township, receiving liis schooling in the local schools there, and has lived there all his life, following the vocation of farming, in which he has been successful. He remained at home until after his marriage in 1896, when he began farming on his own account and he now owns a well-kept farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres in Jennings township, about three miles east of Connersville, where he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. Mr. Old- ham is a Republican and has ever taken an earnest interest in local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
On January 12, 1896, George E. Oldham was united in marriage to Laura Belle Stanley, who also was born in Jennings township, this county, about one mile south of Lyons Station, a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Grimes) Stanley, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the latter, in Indiana, who were well-to-do and substantial residents of the eastern part of this county. Nathan Stanley was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, in 1810, son of Garland and Nellie (Noble) Stanley, and was about eleven years of age when he came to Indiana with his mother in 1821, his father having died in Tennessee in 1813, the family settling in Union county. In 1824 he came over into Fayette county with his mother and settled in Jennings town- ship, where she died in 1840 and where he also spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1893. Nathan Stanley was a good farmer and became the owner of nearly three hundred acres of land lying south of Lyons Station. He was an earnest Republican and ever took an active interest in local political affairs.
Nathan Stanley was twice married. About 1838 he married Mary Golden, who died in 1855, leaving eight children, Preston, Rush, Edwin, Sarah, Lewis, Eliza, Stephen and Elizabeth. In 1856 Mr. Stanley married Elizabeth Grimes, who was born in the neighboring county of Union, and to that union five children were born, those besides Mrs. Oldham being Frank, Samuel, Robert and one son who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Oldham have one child, a son, George. Heber Oldham, who was born on January 19, 1899. They are members of the Primitive Baptist church and Mr. Oldham is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and of the Improved Order of Red Men, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
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GEORGE GREEN.
Of the native sons of Fayette county who have lived their lives in the county, and have met with success and have become prominent in the district, is George Green, a well-known resident of Connersville, who was born in Waterloo township on March 20, 1857, the son of William and Martha Ann (Cross) Green.
William and Martha Ann (Cross) Green were born in Baltimore county, Maryland. William Green came with his parents when but a boy to Indi- ana, and with them settled in Wayne county. The father died shortly after coming to his new home, and the son. William, was left to his own resources. For nine years he lived with the family of Joseph Howard, when he started out for himself. He later came to Fayette county, where he was married. After his marriage he and his wife established their home in Wayne county, near the Fayette county line, and there he engaged in farming for some years. He later purchased a farm in Waterloo township, Fayette county, and there he engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death on January 7, 1895, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife died ten years later, at the age of eighty-one years. They were a most estimable people and their lives were devoted to the interests of their family and the community in which they lived and where they were held in high regard.
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William and Martha Green took an active interest in the affairs of the district, and had much to do with the moral and civic development of the township. Mrs. Green was an active member of the United Brethren church and had much to do with the activities of her home society. Mr. Green as a young man identified himself with the Democratic party, and always took a keen interest in the affairs of the township as well as the county. Although he was never a seeker after office, he felt it the duty of every man to assist in the election of the best men to office. He was a successful farmer and raiser of stock, and was known as a good business man and an excellent citizen. He and Mrs. Green were the parents of the following children, Samantha Melinda, Susan Elizabeth, Levi, George, William R. and Anna Martha. Samantha, now deceased, was the wife of William V. Crawford and lived in Waterloo township; Susan Elizabeth died in 1902; Levi N. married Christine Spencer and they reside in Waterloo township, where Mr. Green is a substantial and prominent farmer and stockman; William R., Anna Martha and George live together in Connersville.
Until 1905 George, William and Anna lived on the old home farm, when
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they left the farm and moved to their home at 716 Central avenue. They still look after the interests on the farm, where they spent so many years of their lives. George and William, reared on the farm, soon in life became impressed with the life of a farmer and stock raiser. They remained with their father as long as he lived, and were to him a great assistance in the management of the farm and the care of the stock. After the death of the mother, the three children moved to Connersville. As farmers and stock- men, George and William have been successful, and their management of the farm of five hundred and sixty acres has demonstrated their ability in that line.
William Green and his wife were devoted to the cause of education, and their best efforts were ever exerted on the behalf of better schools. Their children were all educated in the home schools, and have since become prom- inent in the affairs of the communities in which they live. Mr. Green was known throughout the county for his ability as a farmer and business man, and his advice and counsel were often sought in financial matters, as well as in the civic affairs of the district. Few men were better known over the county and few were held in higher regard and esteem. At his death, the community knew that a good and worthy man had gone to his reward, after a busy life of usefulness.
JOHN M. CULBERTSON.
John M. Culbertson, one of the best-known and most substantial farm- ers of the Glenwood neighborhood in this county, has lived here since 1863, when he established his home on the fine farm he has developed in Orange township, and has for years been recognized as one of the best-established citizens of Fayette county. Mr. Culbertson is a native of Ohio, born in the city of Cincinnati on April 20, 1837, son of John C. and Jane (Moody) Culbertson, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married and later moved to Cincinnati, where they established their home and where their last days were spent.
Jolin C. Culbertson was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and as a young man served as a soldier from that state during the War of 1812 and in the battle of Chippewa on July 5, 1814, was severely wounded. He later became a sutler and when Ft. Snelling was established on the upper course of the Mississippi in 1822 he conveyed a stock of goods to that point and started a trading station and for some time did a thriving business
MRS. CATHERINE CULBERTSON.
JOHN M. CULBERTSON.
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trading with the Indians, thus acquiring an excellent financial foundation for his later successful banking career in Cincinnati. It was in 1829 that he located in Cincinnati and there, during the forties, he and two others founded the Franklin Bank, Mr. Culbertson becoming one of the most successful bankers in the Queen City and a man of considerable means. It was in Pennsylvania that he married Jane Moody, who also was born in Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, and to that union were born seven sons who grew to maturity, of whom the subject of this sketch, the eldest and the last-born are now the only survivors.
John M. Culbertson grew up in Cincinnati and was given excellent edu- cational advantages in his youth. From the E. S. Brooks Academy in Cin- cinnati he was sent when twelve years of age to the H. and S. M. Hamill Classical and Commercial School at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and therice to Princeton University. Returning to Cincinnati upon the completion of his schooling he remained in his home city until 1863, the year of his mar- riage, when he came up into Indiana and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres one mile east of Glenwood, on the Connersville and Rushville pike, in this county, where he erected a large and substantial brick residence and where he ever since has made his home. When Mr. Culbertson's house was built it was regarded as one of the best houses in this part of the state and is still looked upon as one of the finest in that section. The other build- ings on the farm are in keeping with the appearance of the dwelling and the farm plant is kept up in admirable shape.
In June, 1863, John M. Culbertson was united in marriage to Catherine Donnelly, of Boston, who died in 1896, and to that union eight children were born, two of whom died in infancy, the others being Mary J., Alice C., Mar- garet J., Anna E., Jolin M., Jr., and Henry C. The junior John M. Culbert- son is now a resident of Indianapolis. Henry C. Culbertson, who lives on a farm not far from his father's place, married Nellie Jeffrey and has two children, a daughter, Mary Eleanor, and a son, Henry C., Jr. The mother died on December 10, 1896. The four Misses Culbertson are living with their father in the comfortable old farm home east of Glenwood. The Cul- bertsons have ever taken an earnest interest in the development of the gen- eral social life of the community in which they live. Henry C. Culbertson was a member of the class of 1898, Indiana University, and Margaret Cul- bertson attended college at Oxford, Ohio.
Mr. Culbertson has always voted the Republican ticket. His first presi- dential vote was for Abraham Lincoln.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
CHARLES W. MARTIN.
Charles W. Martin, one of Connersville township's best-known and most substantial farmers and who also is engaged in the road-building and con- tracting line, is a native son of Fayette county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm adjoining that on which he now lives, in the north- west part of Connersville township, March 24, 1859, son of Ezra and Caro- line (Dale) Martin, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter, in this county, both now deceased, who spent their last days on the old Martin homestead in Connersville township.
Ezra Martin was born in Miami county, Ohio, and was but a child when his parents, Samuel and Ann (Potter) Martin came over into Indiana and settled in Fayette county, on the farm where the subject of this sketch was born, in Connersville township. There Ezra Martin grew to manhood, tak- ing his part in the work of developing a pioneer farm. After his marriage he for some years conducted a store at Bentonville and also served as post- master of that village. After the death of his father he bought the interests of the other heirs in the home place and there established his home, becoming a well-to-do farmer. He served for some time as assessor of Fayette county and was later for some years a member of the board of county commission- ers, giving his earnest attention to public affairs. Ezra Martin died at his home on the old home farm in 1892 and his widow survived him about six years, her death occurring in June, 1898. She was horn on a pioneer farm near Harrisburg, this county, a daughter of Joseph Dale and wife, the latter of whom was a daughter of Doctor Bradburn, a pioneer physician and sur- geon, well-known throughout this part of the state in pioneer days. Joseph Dale was but a child when he came to this part of Indiana with his parents from Kentucky and he grew up in Harrison township and became a success- ful farmer there and one of the most influential men in that part of the county.
Charles W. Martin grew to manhood on the home farm in Connersville township and after his marriage in 1895 rented the home place and began farming there on his own account. Three years later he bought a tract of one hundred and twelve acres, the place on which he is now living, just south of the traction line, four miles west of Connersville, and has since made his home there. Mr. Martin has added to his original holdings until he now is the owner of two hundred acres of well-improved and profitably cultivated land. Of recent years he has given considerable attention to dairying and has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that there is profit in that phase
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of farming in this section. For thirty years, or until the fall of 1913, Mr. Martin was the proprietor of a threshing-rig and did a large business in that line throughout the part of the county in which he lives. About seven years ago he and Philip Wilk engaged in general road contracting and have done much in that line, building roads in Rush, Fayette, Franklin and Union counties, under the operation of the new three-mile road law. Mr. Martin is a public-spirited and energetic citizen and has done much for the general upbuilding of the county. It was he who circulated the petition for the con- struction of a good road past his farm and he was one of the few persons who gave land for the right-of-way for the traction line from Connersville to Rushville.
In 1895, as noted above, Charles W. Martin was united in marriage to Lydia J. Webster, who was born on a farm two miles south of Connersville, a daughter of Joseph M. and Ellen ( Parker) Webster, both of whom were born in Butler county, Ohio, and who came to Indiana in 1865 and died in Connersville. Joseph M. Webster was born on May 3, 1838, a son of Dr. Elias and Mary ( Kane) Webster, and grew up in Butler county, Ohio, where he married Ella Parker, who also was born and reared in that county, a daughter of John and Jane Parker. In the spring of 1865 he and his wife and his parents, Doctor Webster and wife came to Indiana, he and his wife locating on a farm near Knightstown, in Rush county, and Doctor Webster locating on the Whitewater, two miles south of Connersville. There Mary Kane Webster died and the Doctor afterward remarried and moved to Con- nersville, where he continued in practice until his death on November 2, 1891. He was an official in the Methodist Episcopal church and was for years active in church work.
Upon locating in the Knightstown neighborhood, Joseph M. Webster bought a farm there, but in 1869 traded the same for his father's farm south of Connersville, where he lived until 1909. when he retired and moved to . Connersville, where he died, prior to which he gave close attention to the operation of his farm of two hundred and sixty acres, on which for years he was extensively engaged in stock raising and for eighteen years also gave much attention to dairying, profitably maintaining a herd of from fifty to seventy-five dairy cattle. Joseph M. Webster and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There are five of these children, those hesides Mrs. Martin, the third in order of birth, being Mary, Mrs. Anna Williams, Mrs. Rosa Heck and Charles Henry Webster.
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Mr. and Mrs. Martin have three children, Rosella, Woodford and Frank. They have a very pleasant home and have ever given proper atten- tion to the general social activities of the community in which they live, help- ful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the com- mon welfare.
JAMES T. FISHER.
James T. Fisher, former trustee of Jennings township and one of the best-known old settlers in Fayette county, the proprietor of a farm in Jen- nings township and for years identified with the community in which he lives, is a native of the Keystone state, but has been a resident of Indiana since 1851 and of this county since 1866, coming here from the neighboring county of Union, where he had lived since he was eleven or twelve years of age. He was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1839, son of Samuel and Mary Ann ( Maloney) Fisher, both natives of Virginia.
The Fisher family is of Scotch-Irish origin and its history in Virginia can be traced back to Colonial days, Winchester, in that state, having been the home of the family since before the Revolutionary period. The paternal grandparents of James T. Fisher were Thomas and Margaret Fisher. It is said that Fisher's Hill, which was the scene of one of the important battles of the Civil War, the battle in which General Sheridan defeated the Con- federates under General Early, was so called in honor of Thomas Fisher. Thomas Fisher spent all his life in Virginia. His son, Samuel Fisher, father of the subject of this sketch, was one of a family of six brothers and was born on the old Fisher homestead in Virginia on November 13. 1808. In that state he grew to manhood and there married Mary Ann Maloney, who was born in that same locality on April 11, 1811. After their marriage he and his wife moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the butcher business and where he died in 1849, leaving his widow and their only son, James T., then ten years of age. The Widow Fisher returned to Virginia with her son and there, in the following December, gave birth to another son whom she named Jonathan Samuel. After a year spent at her old home in Virginia, she returned with her children to Pennsylvania and for a time made her home there with her deceased husband's brother. She then came to Indiana with her children and for some time made her home with her brother, B. F. Maloney, in Union county, a few years later going over
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into Ohio, where she made her home with a half-brother and some time later, at Dunlapsville, in Union county, this state, married Joseph Dungan, who died a few years later. She spent the latter years of her life with her younger son at Muncie, Indiana, where she died in 1895, at the age of eighty-three years.
James T. Fisher was twelve years of age when his father died and was still but a boy when he came to Indiana with his mother. Here he found a pleasant home with his uncle, B. F. Maloney, and when he was fifteen years of age his uncle, who desired him to remain with him, offered to pay him one hundred and fifty dollars when he was eighteen years of age if he would remain. When that time arrived his uncle urged him to remain longer and proposed that he would give him five hundred dollars if he would remain until he was twenty-one years of age. and, as the uncle was an invalid, bound that proposition by inserting a clause to that effect in his will. The uncle died before his nephew had reached his majority and the latter remained with the family, receiving the stipulated five hundred dollars upon coming of age. Four hundred dollars of this sum he loaned at good interest to a person whom he thought responsible, but the borrower turning out to be an irre- sponsible individual, he lost his loan. With the remaining hundred dollars he bought a horse, which he presently traded for another horse, receiving a twelve-dollar watch in "boot", and someone stole the watch. Mr. Fisher has always regarded that experience as a dear one, but valuable.
During his youth and young manhood, while living on his uncle's place, James T. Fisher was carefully trained as a farmer and upon leaving his uncle's place continued farming in Union county, Indiana, working for other farmers by the month. He was married in 1863 and remained in Union county until 1866, when he came over into Fayette county, where he ever since has resided, long having been regarded as one of the substantial old settlers of this county. In 1895 Mr. Fisher bought his present farm of ninety-two acres in section 22 of Jennings township, a farm originally owned by William Scholl, who made the initial improvements on the place. In con- nection with his farming operations in this county Mr. Fisher for twenty- five years was engaged in the buying and selling of live stock and did a prosperous business in that line. Mr. Fisher is a Democrat and has for years given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs, having served for eight years as trustee of Jennings township and in other ways contributed of his time and his energies to the public service.
On February 25, 1863, in Union county, this state, James T. Fisher was
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united in marriage to Mary E. Hill, who was born in that county on October 15, 1843, a daughter of Israel and Harriet (Edwards) Hill, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Ohio. Israel Hill was born on August 15, 1813, and before he was two years of age moved with his parents, Charles and Mercy Ann ( Hendrickson) Hill, to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and where he was married to Harriet Edwards, who was born five miles south of Hamilton, in Butler county, that state. About the year 1835 Israel Hill and wife moved over into Indiana and settled on a farm in Union county, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
To James T. and Mary E. (Hill) Fisher nine children have been born, namely : Benjamin F., a farmer, of Columbia township, this county, who married Elizabeth Price and has three children, Cynthia, Ruby and Frank ; Emma, who married George M. Davis, a farmer, living in the northwestern part of Jennings township, and has seven children, Jacob Phares, Benjamin Harrison, Israel Frank, Ruth Rebecca, Mary Eliza, Clara Isabel and Harriet Ethel; Harriet, who is at home with her parents; Samuel, a grocer, living in Union county, who married Jennie Lemon and has one daughter. Darlie Jeannette ; George, the owner of a farm across the highway front his father's place, who married Mary Scholl and has a daughter, Mary; Alice, who mar- ried Elmer Scholl, a farmer, of Jennings township, and has two children, Maurice LaVerne and Harriet Inez; Clara, who married James Lake, a farmer living southwest of Everton, and has two children, Dorothy Jane and James Earl; Alpha, who married Edwin Thomas and who, with her hus- band, is engaged in missionary work, and Frederick, living on a farm near Dunlapsville, who married Sophia Bryson and has three children, James Ray- mond, Herschel Eugene and Opal Rebecca. Alpha Fisher completed the course in the local schools and then attended Earlham College. later attend- ing Wittenburg College, in Ohio, where she inet Edwin Thomas, also a student of that institution. Both later became missionaries to India and were married in that country. Edwin Thomas was in India for more than seven years, having been there some time before Alpha Fisher was sent as a missionary to the same station, she having been there for nearly five years. They continued in their missionary labors some time after their marriage and are now in the United States on a furlough. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are mem- bers of the Primitive Baptist church and they and their family have ever been helpful in all local good works. Mr. Fisher is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, INDIANA.
EDMUND B. TRUSLER.
Edmund B. Trusler, one of Fayette county's most substantial farmers and the proprietor of "Spring Dale Farm", a well-kept place of one hundred and sixty-six acres in Connersville township, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of about nine years spent in Colorado. He was born on a farm in Decatur county, this state, March 4, 1871, son of Ezra and Emeranda Josephine (Miller) Trusler, both of whom were born in Franklin county, this state, members of pioneer families there.
Ezra Trusler was born in Blooming Grove township, Franklin county, Indiana, April 6, 1847, son of Edmund B. and Permelia (Moore) Trusler, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky, whose last days were spent in Franklin county, this state. The senior Edmund B. Trusler, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on August 18, 1804, son of James Trusler and wife, the former of whom, also a native of the Old Dominion, was born on June 7, 1755, and was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, and the latter of whom was born in that same colony on June 27, 1755. When a young man Edmund B. Trusler came over into Indiana and settled in Franklin county. He married Per- melia Moore, who was born in Kentucky on May 20, 1806, and he and his wife reared a large family. all their children having been born in Indiana. Of these, the first-born was born in 1824 and Ezra was the next to the last- born. Grandfather Trusler died in Franklin county on October 27, 1863, and his widow survived him for more than twenty-five years, her death occurring on February 13, 1889. Ezra Trusler grew to manhood on the home farm in Franklin county and in that county was married, June 22, 1869, to Emeranda Josephine Miller, who was born in that county, June 25, 1850, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Buckley) Miller, members of pioneer families in Franklin county and who were married there. Isaac Miller was a son of Abraliam and Elizabeth Miller, the former of whom was born on September 17, 1802, and the latter, June 28, 1798, and who came to Indiana in an early day in the settlement of this state and located in Franklin county. Elizabeth Buckley was born on September 23, 1830, a daughter Anson and Jane (Harrell) Buckley, the former of whom was born on October 2, 1803, and the latter, July 2, 1811. Isaac Miller died on October 1, 1865.
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