USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions > Part 48
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Jacob Lockhart, probably the youngest soldier who went to the front during the Civil War, and now a prosperous farmer of Eel River township, was born April 14, 1847, one mile east of Martinsville, Morgan county, In- diana. His parents were Jorman and Leah (Robbins) Lockhart, the father
JACOB LOCKHART
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a native of Kentucky, who came to Indiana with his parents, who settled near Martinsville. His father had at one time been a man of means in Kentucky, but lost a great deal of his wealth by trying to help some of his friends. When Jorman Lockhart became of age in Morgan county he entered forty acres of land from the government and there lived and died. Jacob, whose history is here given, was but three years of age when his father died. Leah Robbins, the mother of Jacob, was born in 1825, in North Carolina, the daughter of Jacob and Barbara Robbins. Her parents came to Indiana from North Carolina, making the overland trip in wagons, and about the year 1830 settled in the north part of Marion township, Hendricks county, where her father bought forty acres of land with a log house on it, and on this farm he died, leaving his widow and their children.
After the death of Jorman Lockhart his widow was left with four children, William Thomas, Jacob, James M. and Sarah E. Mrs. Lockhart then moved to her father's farm in Marion township, this county, and here they lived until after the war. William Thomas served in the war in Company H, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, until June, 1864, when his arm was shot off in the battle of the Wilderness and he was compelled to return to his home. He died in 1873. James farmed in Eel River town- ship until his death, in 1913. Mrs. Lockhart died about 1894.
Jacob Lockhart was reared in Hendricks county, and when a stripling youth of sixteen he enlisted on November 25, 1863, in Company I, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, under General Wilson, and participated in all the marches and engagements under his com- mand until his final muster in 1865. His service extended through Tennes- see, Alabama and Mississippi and. although he was never wounded, he had many a narrow escape from being captured.
After the close of the war Mr. Lockhart returned to his home in Hen- dricks county and, although still only a boy of eighteen, he bought a little patch of ground of about five or six acres, on which he worked for two years, selling out in 1867. Afterwards he bought thirty-two acres near his present home and a part of his present farm. Here is where the fine quali- ties of Mr. Lockhart are made manifest. He showed indomitable courage and pluck, which is characteristic of successful men and which has brought him that prosperity which he now enjoys. He went into debt for the thirty- two acres, but, with heart to work, saved his money and, by good manage- ment, persevering industry and thrift, soon had the farm paid for and had
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purchased more land adjoining. He now married and he and his good wife worked hand in hand, Mr. Lockhart attributing no small part of his success to the faithful help which his wife rendered him in their early struggles. He kept adding to his land holdings until he is now the owner of six hundred and eighty-one acres of fine farming land. This does not include the eighty acres which he gave to his son. He raises a large amount of live stock and pays especial attention to sheep and cattle, having at one time had nine hun- dred sheep and lambs on his farm.
Mr. Lockhart was married on March 5, 1870, to Adeline Davis, the daughter of Walter Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart are the parents of four children, Oscar and Ruby, who are still with their parents, and twins, who died in early childhood. The family are members of the Christian church. Mr. Lockhart is a loyal and faithful member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, which was organized in 1866 at Decatur, Illinois. It is interesting to note that the first national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic was held at Indianapolis in 1866, and that today there are more than five thousand Grand Army posts in the United States. Mr. Lockhart believes that a good recipe for success is to attend strictly to one's own business, keep your credit good and refrain from intoxicating liquors and tobacco of all kinds. He has endeavored at all times to live such a life as to keep himself free from the censure of the world. He has been a man of domestic tastes and has been devoted to his wife and family, and yet has taken his full share in the life of the community in which he has lived.
ALBERT L. WEBB.
Fealty to facts in the analyzation of the character of a citizen of the type of Albert L. Webb is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, be- cause it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration, that gives character and stability to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of repute ever invite, the name and character of Albert L. Webb stand revealed and secure and, though of modest demeanor, with no ambition as a leader of men, his career has been signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the young entering upon their life work.
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Albert L. Webb, for sixteen years postmaster for the town of Browns- burg, Hendricks county, Indiana, was born January 29, 1863, the son of Ira C. and Lorinda (Shirley) Webb. Ira C. Webb was born in New York state and when about sixteen years old came westward, with his mother, to live with a brother of hers who had located near Pittsboro, this county. There he made his home until the time of his marriage to Lorinda Shirley daughter of William P. and Lydia (Pugh) Shirley, both of whom were natives of North Carolina who had located in Marion county, this state. Albert L. Webb was the only child of this union and when one year of age was taken to live with his mother's parents, where he remained until his marriage on February 7, 1883, to Florence Messick.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Webb farmed for a year or two and in 1897 Mr. Webb was appointed postmaster at Brownsburg, which position he held until July 1, 1913. In 1904 he opened and operated Brownsburg's first hotel, which was located in the Hunter block, he and wife operating it in connection with the postoffice. At the end of four years, they dis- posed of this hostelry and Mrs. Webb took charge of a stationery store which had been run in connection with the postoffice. In 1913, after giving up the postoffice, Mrs. Webb enlarged her store when the postoffice was moved across the street from its former location. She deals in stationery and notions and is succeeding admirably. Mr. Webb is a painter and paper- hanger by trade and has followed that occupation for the past thirty years in addition to his business interests elsewhere.
Mrs. Webb was born November 11, 1864. in Greencastle, Indiana, the daughter of Samuel and Armilda (Lynch) Messick. They were both natives of the Hoosier state, Samuel being born in Ladoga, a son of John Messick, who was an extensive landholder near Ladoga. Mrs. John Messick died when her son, Samuel, was quite a small infant. Armilda Lynch, mother of Mrs. Webb, was a daughter of Colonel John and Lucy Lynch and was twice married. Her first husband was John McGinnis and to their union were born four children, William, Lucy, Elizabeth and Ella, the first born dying in infancy. William McGinnis was operator for the Big Four Rail- road Company in Brownsburg for eight years. After the death of John McGinnis, his widow married Samuel Messick, by whom she had one child. Florence, the present Mrs. Webb. When Florence was fifteen years old, her mother departed this life. To Mr. and Mrs. Webb have been born five children, namely: Raymond A., who is engaged in insurance business ; Eugene, who graduated from high school in 1913 and now operates a tailor- ing and pressing establishment in Brownsburg; Neil, who is still in school;
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Chester, the second child, died at the age of nineteen months, and the fourth child died when twelve weeks old, having never been named.
Mr. Webb is a member of the respected order of Freemasonry and is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He is interested in the welfare of the Christian church, of which Mrs. Webb is a member, and takes a very active part in the affairs of the church. She also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of Rebekah and the Pythian Sisters. She filled the chair of district deputy grand chief in the last named order. Mrs. Webb is a woman of many excellent qualities and no small business ability and numbers her friends on a large scale. She is a lady of splendid personal qualities of character and liked by all who know her. Mr. Webb has become well and most favorably known throughout the community for his loyalty to the truth, his uprightness in business, his public spirit and his friendly disposition. He and his wife are among the most influential and popular citizens of their community, being abreast of the times in every way and always willing to give their time and substance, if need be, to further any movement looking to the betterment of the locality where they reside. religiously, socially or educationally.
JAMES W. RUSE.
It is with pleasure that the biographer has an opportunity to place be- fore the readers of this work the life record of the honorable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, for he is deemed eminently worthy of representation along with the best and most industrious citizens of Hen- dricks county, owing to the fact that he belongs to the energetic and enter- prising class that has made this favored section one of the most noted and rich- est in the great Hoosier state and has the added credit of having raised him- self to this enviable position solely through his own efforts, his early years having been a time of hardship for him. Enjoying distinctive prestige as a farmer, he has achieved marked success, while his practical intelligence, mature judgment and sound business principles have had much to do in moulding public sentiment in the community where he has long maintained his home.
James W. Ruse is a native of the state of Ohio, born in Perry county, near New Lexington, on January 19, 1857, the son of George and Clara (Brown) Ruse. The mother died when the subject of this sketch was but
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five years of age, leaving two other children besides him. The father kept the little family together for two years, until the beginning of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company C, Sixty-second Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, serving throughout the rebellion. Previous to becoming a soldier, he took as his second wife Maggie L. McPherson. When the sub- ject of this sketch was seven years old, his father bound him out to one Charles VanNatta, of Perry county, Ohio. Mr. VanNatta was a good master to him, permitted him to go to school whenever possible, and gave him good training in agricultural work. When he became of age and the period of his bound service was over, he received from Mr. VanNatta the customary compensation. This was the gift of a horse, saddle and bridle or its equiva- lent in money. Mr. Ruse chose the money, receiving one hundred and twenty-five dollars. For a year thereafter he worked for one of the farmers in that community and at the end of that time was married and came to Indiana, locating in Marion county. He was there but a short time, when he removed to Hendricks county where he rented the Arbuckle farm, an eighty-acre tract, and lived thereon for four years. He then moved in with the Prebster brothers on their farm a mile and a half west of Brownsburg. They were unmarried and too old to work their farm and Mr. and Mrs. Ruse cared for them and their farm for four years. During that time they bought one hundred and six acres adjoining the Prebster land and built a home on it and after the four years with Prebsters spent three years on their own farm. They then moved back with the Prebster brothers and re- mained with them for thirteen years, a total of seventeen years, or until the death of Christian Prebster. They then moved onto their own farm, taking Reuben Prebster into their own home and cared for him until his death, a year and a half later. In consideration of the care given by Mr. and Mrs. Ruse. Reuben left the Prebster farm to Mrs. Ruse. Mr. Ruse then bought property in Brownsburg and built thereon a comfortable home where he has since resided.
After the close of the war, George Ruse, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Indiana and settled in Marion county for a time, later coming to Hendricks county. He took up his residence near Brownsburg and there passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring on September 21, 1906.
On January 28, 1880, Mr. Ruse was united in marriage with Jennie Nixon, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Diller) Nixon, both being natives of Ohio. Her mother died when Mrs. Ruse was a little girl of six years and she remained in the care of an elder sister until her tenth year, when she
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went to make her home with an aunt, remaining there four years. She then began earning her own way in the world, but continued to make her home with her sister until the time of her marriage to Mr. Ruse. To their union has come one child, George E., born February 4, 1883. He is married, his wife being Elva Lowder, daughter of James Lowder, of Brown town- ship, this county, and they have two interesting children, Raymond L. and Lois Irene. The subject takes just pride in these two children, dividing his time between them and the work of his farm. He has always been con- sidered one of the best farmers in his section, conducting his business in a manner to win and retain the respect and confidence of his fellow men, and the success he has won has come to him as a result of untiring energy and wise management.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruse are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, being considered among the most earnest of its members. They give liberally of both time and means to further the cause of that society. Mr. Ruse takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of the community as af- fecting the educational, moral and material welfare of the people and gives his support to every worthy benevolent or charitable object. He has lived and labored to worthy ends and is one of the sterling citizens and representative men of his community.
JOHN F. BROWN.
It is proper to judge of the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe the operation of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are, therefore, competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been said: "Worth makes the man" and "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that the subject of this sketch has passed a life of unusual honor, that he has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have the pleasure of his friendship.
John F. Brown, well known citizen of Brownsburg, Hendricks county, Indiana, was born in Brown township, this county, in the part now known as Lincoln on November 4, 1854, being the son of Daniel and Polly N.
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
(Ballard) Brown, both of whom were natives of the state of Kentucky and were brought to Indiana in their childhood by their respective parents. Daniel Brown was the son of Daniel Brown, Sr., whose wife, Elizabeth (Short) Brown, was a native of Delaware. The father of Polly Ballard, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was Beverly Ballard, originally from Kentucky, a man well known in his community. Upon coming to Indiana, Daniel Brown, Sr., settled in Hendricks county, where he acquired government land in Brown township, about three miles east of Browns- burg, and there he passed the remainder of his life. He was one of two brothers who came at the same time to this locality and from them the set- tlement which became the town of Brownsburg got its name. Daniel Brown, Sr., was the father of a family of eleven children, among them being Daniel, Jr., father of the immediate subject of this sketch. Daniel Brown, Jr., remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work about the home place, until the time of his marriage. He then took up his abode on a farm near that of his father, and passed the remainder of his life there, his death occurring in February, 1862. The widow continued to live on the home place, surrounded and assisted by her children, and there her death occurred on March 23, 1883. She was the mother of eight children, four of whom died in infancy.
After his mother's death, John F. Brown continued to reside on the home place and in 1886 was united in marriage with Dora B. Gore, daughter of Silas and Sarah (Barnes) Gore, the former of whom was a native of Virginia and the latter a Hoosier by birth, having been born in Shelby county. In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Brown arranged to rent out their farm and took up their residence in Brownsburg. At that time he also purchased a farm on the edge of the town, three acres of which were within the corpora- tion, and there they lived for nine years, building their present home on Main street in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy, the other being Grace, wife of Byron Ayres, son of John L. and Ella (Gorham) Ayres. Byron Ayres was born in Browns- burg and has lived in or near there all his life, at present residing on the Gorham farm one mile east of Brownsburg. He and his wife have one child, Agatha Leona.
Politically, Mr. Brown gives his support to the Democratic party and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He served as a member of the advisory board for a number of years, discharging the duties of that position in a way satisfactory to all. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Presbyterian church, in the affairs of which Mr. Brown also takes an
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interest, although not being a member himself. All throughout his life, Mr. Brown has given evidence of unflagging energy and ambition and has won for himself a competency, being possessed of his excellent home in Browns- burg and one hundred and thirty acres of the old homestead. He is a man of many praiseworthy traits of character, being scrupulously honest in all his dealings with the world, generous and pleasant, possessing rare fortitude and good judgment, advocating clean policies, wholesome living and honesty in business. Needless to add that such a man has a host of friends and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
GABRIEL NICHOLAS RUDD.
Conspicuous among the representative men and public-spirited citizens of Hendricks county, Indiana, was Gabriel Nicholas Rudd, who died on January 8, 1913, at a time in his career when he was a most useful member of society. He made his influence felt for good in his community and was a man of such sterling worth that his name will be long remembered by those with whom he was closely associated. His life had been interwoven with the interests of the community in which he resided and his efforts were al- ways for the material, moral and intellectual advancement of the same. The well regulated life he led gained him the respect and admiration of all of his fellow citizens and the heritage he leaves to his widow and children is that of a life well spent in the service of his fellow men.
Gabriel Nicholas Rudd was born May 9, 1873, in this county and died January 8, 1913, his death being the result of injuries received in a railroad wreck at Terre Haute, Indiana. His parents were Jehu and Sarah (Lasley) Rudd, both of whom were natives of this county. Jehu Rudd received his education in his home schools and, after leaving school, worked on his father's farm until his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Rudd were the parents of eight children: Norton, who married Josephine Osborn; Orpheus, who married Anna Hastings; Thomas, who married Alice Adams ; Zula, the wife of Oscar Smith; Gabriel, the immediate subject of this sketch; Ray, who married Alice Wright; Grace, who died at the age of eight years, and Erwin, who is unmarried.
Gabriel N. Rudd received a good, common school education and from his boyhood up was a youth of more than ordinary seriousness, and was taught to look upon the better and brighter side of things. As a boy he knew
GABRIEL N. RUDD
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what it was to work and when he was only fifteen years of age he came to Indianapolis and learned the box-making trade. He continued to reside in Indianapolis until two years after his marriage, when he moved to Clay township, Hendricks county, where he remained the rest of his life. As a farmer he was recognized as an up-to-date agriculturist, who kept fully abreast of all the latest advances in farming methods.
Mr. Rudd was married on September 28, 1895, to Luella Kendall, the daughter of Harry and Mary Kendall, and to this union were born three children, Lottie Verenia, who died at the age of seventeen months; Eloise and Theodore. Mr. Rudd was very much attached to his family and was essentially.a domestic man in his tastes. He was never happier than when seated by his own fireside, and the joys of conjugal bliss were made com- plete by the chatter of his little children and the gentle voice of his loving wife.
Mr. Rudd was affiliated with the Republican party, but was never actively engaged in the campaigns of his party. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Indianapolis, belonging to Center Lodge. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Amo, Mr. Rudd being a trustee at the time of his death. He always took an active in- terest in religious affairs, believing the church was the greatest single instru- ment for good in our country. He lived such a life that he could "wrap the drapery of his couch about him and lie down to pleasant dreams," with the assurance that his sleep was only to be an awakening in a better and brighter world.
JAMES F. HARDIN.
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in tol- lowing out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplish- ment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admira- tion. The qualities which have made Mr. Hardin one of the prominent men of Brownsburg have also brought him the esteem of his fellow towns- men, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.
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HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA.
James F. Hardin, the present postmaster of Brownsburg, was born in Boone county, this state, on August 29, 1865, the son of William Elliott and Hannah Elizabeth (Lackey) Hardin, both of whom were natives of this state. William Elliott was born in Marion county and Hannah Elizabeth Lackey was born near Red Key. William Elliott Hardin was a son of Isaac J. Hardin, of Kentucky, and was one of a family of six children. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits and young William Elliott re- mained at home until the time of his marriage, in the meantime receiving from his father instructions in the secrets of agriculture. After his marriage he lived in Marion county for a time and then moved to Boone county, where he had purchased an eighty-acre farm in the southeastern part of that county and there they lived for a few years. It was on that farm the im- mediate subject of this sketch was born and, when he was five or six years old, William Elliott Hardin traded that tract for a farm of sixty acres lo- cated about two miles north of the town of Lebanon. There he lived for some five or six years, when he moved to Lebanon and later back to Marion county to the farm of Isaac, his father, where they lived for some three or four years, or until the death of Isaac Hardin. William Elliott Hardin then moved to Clermont, near Indianapolis, when he remained for six years, en- gaged in the sawmill business. After selling that business, he moved to Brownsburg, where he passed the remainder of his life. His death occurred on October 25, 1893, being killed while working about a clover seed huller. He was a man of quite a mechanical turn of mind and after moving to Brownsburg he purchased a complete threshing outfit, in which he seemed to take much pleasure aside from the profit derived from the operation of same. His wife, Hannah Elizabeth, passed from this life in August, 1909.
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