USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 32
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WILLIAM S. POWER, the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch, was born on the farm where he now resides, March 10, 1842, son of John D. and Mary A. (Smisor) Power, and is the eldest of nine living children. Mr. Power chose for his profession in life that of a farmer, which he began at the age of twenty-one years, and which he has since continued with much success. In addition to farming, he was engaged in the mill- ing business in Milroy for a period of four years. In 1875, Mr. Power settled where he now resides. For many years he has given especial attention to stock raising, and now has some of the best stock in the township. Mr. Power was married in 1866, to Miss Mary Crosby, a native of Rush County. To that marriage are these children: Cora E., born 1868; Frank A., born 1870; An- nie K., born 1872, and Grace, born 1876. Mrs. Power died No- vember 2, IS77, and our subject was married May 29, 1884, to Miss Martha A. Spraker, a native of Decatur County, Ind., born February 3, IS43, daughter of Daniel and Martha Spraker, natives of Virginia, and who were among the early settlers of Indiana. The father of Mrs. Power was born December 20, ISII, and died August 19, 1855. Her mother was born December 13, 1815, and died December 29, 1859. In politics, Mr. Power always supports
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the men, who, in his judgment, are the best. He and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The portrait of Mr. Power appears on another page of this volume.
RICHARD M. POWER, farmer, was born near Milrov, Rush Co., Ind., September 18, 1844, son of John D. and Mary A. (Smisor) Power, and is of German-English descent. His father was born in 1819 and died in this county in 1856. The mother of Richard was born in Ohio about 1825, and now resides in this county. The subject of this biography is the second eldest in a family of ten children, and was reared on a farm, was a student at the country schools, and for a short time taught school. In 1868 he engaged in the milling business and continued until 1872, when he turned his attention to farming, which has since been his principal voca- tion. He was married in 1869 to Miss Melissa McNiel, a native of Wabash County, Ind., who died in 1871. In 1876 Mr. Power was married to Miss Sarah E. Reese, of Harrison County, Ky., born June 18, 1844. He is an ardent Democrat, and manifests much interest in behalf of his party, and is an honorable and greatly esteemed citizen. Mr. Power's second wife died August 12, 1884, and September 2, 1885, was a third time married, the bride being Miss Jennie Terhune, a native of Dearborn County, Ind., born in 1856. They have one child, Mary E.
WILLIAM RICKETTS, one of the principal farmers of Anderson Township, was born in Fleming County, Ky., March 21, 1820, son of Edward and. Sarah (Storey) Ricketts, and is of Scotch- Welsh origin. His father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1787, and died in Rush County, September 8, 1838. His mother was born in Kentucky, in 1789 and died in Rush County, in 1854. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Ricketts, a Pennsyl- vanian, and was one of the first settlers of Kentucky, and died in that state. The Ricketts family emigrated to Rush County, in 183I, and settled four miles northeast of Milroy. That portion of the county in that day was almost an unbroken wilderness. When the subject of this sketch was sixteen years of age or in the fall of the year 1836, as he was returning home from Jacob Plough, he met in the dense woods a large, black bear, and this perhaps was the last bear ever seen in this neighborhood. Mr. Ricketts was raised on the farm, and was a student at the Pleasant Run School- house. At nineteen years of age he went to Greene County, and there taught school one winter. In 1848, he settled on a farm just below Milroy, and there remained until 1864, he then moved to Greensburg and there remained until 1879, when he came back to Anderson Tomnship and settled where he now lives. He owns 188 acres of well improved land. He was married January 31,
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1850, to Miss Nancy J. Maunt, who was born in Anderson Town- ship, July 19, 1830; she was the daughter of William and Catherine Maunt early settlers of this county. From 1854 to 1858 he served as Justice of the Peace. He was elected Township Trustee of this township, in 1859, and re-elected in 1860, and also in 1861. Mr. Ricketts was formerly a Whig, but is now a staunch Republican. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church and are among the most highly respected people of this part of Rush County.
GEORGE W. ROWE, editor Milroy Weekly News, was born in Boone County, Ind., January 1, 1855, son of Elias and Sidney (Gochenour) Rowe. His father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother was by birth, a Virginian. Her death occurred in Boone County, Ind., in 1855. Our subject was reared on the farm, where he remained until seventeen years of age. He received a good education and in 1872, began teaching school which he continued fifteen years. January 1, 1887, he began publishing the Milroy Times, and the following July he changed the name to Milroy News, and this now continues. Mr. Rowe was married December 28, 1876, to Miss Izora Bell, of Boone County, Ind. They are the parents of two children, viz .: Arlie and Olive. Mr. Rowe is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, made such in 1886, and is po- litically a Republican. He is a popular and enterprising gentle- man, and deserves the patronage of the entire community. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM SHARP was born in Harrison County, Ky., June 12, 1827, and is the son of Archibald and Elenor (McClure) Sharp. The father of our subject was born in Harrison County, Ky., in 1802, and died in Rush County, Ind., in 1833. His mother was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1801, and died in Starke County, Ind., in 1868. The subject of this sketch came to Rush County in 1832, and settled in what is now Anderson Township. Mr. Sharp was raised on the farm and attended the early schools of the county. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he continued a short time, and in 1850 he settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Sharp was married July 17, 1851, to Miss Clementine Henderson, who was born in Kentucky, December 25, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are the parents of six living children, viz .: Gustus E., Sarah A., James N., Josephine, William W., and Frank. The death of Mrs. Sharp occurred January 24, 1883. Politically, Mr. Sharp is a Republican and is highly esteemed by all who know him. The family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
JOEL F. SMITH was born in Harrison County, Ky., March 5,
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1826, son of Paul and Christian (Jaquess) Smith, and is of Ger- man-English descent. His father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1786, and died in Milroy, in 1861. His mother was born in New Jersey in 1786, and died in Milroy, in 1864. The Smith family came to Rush County in 1836, and settled in Anderson Township. At the age of fourteen years, our subject began clerking in a store and the greater part of his life has been spent in the merchandise business. In 1856 Mr. Smith was elected Treasurer of this county, and in 1858 was re-elected, and was one of the best Treasurers the county ever had. Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth E. Marsh, November 3, 1853. She is a native of Union County, Ind., born in 1834. Mrs. Smith died in 1872, and in 1874 he was married to Mrs. Indiana Crawford, daughter of Col. Joel Wolf, who fell during the battle of Richmond, Ky. Mrs. Smith was born in Rush County, February 22, 1837. Politi- cally, Mr. Smith is a Republican; he is a Mason and an Odd Fel- low, and is one of the leading merchants of Milroy. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
JETSON W. SMITH (deceased) was born September 17, 1840, in Nicholas County, Ky., son of Jetson and Mary A. (James) Smith, who were natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively. The subject of this biography was the only child by his father's second marriage. He was reared on a farm, and was educated through his own exertion. Politically, he was a Democrat. In 1876, he was elected Clerk of Rush County, and re-elected to the same position in 18So. March 22, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Clarinda Rardin, a native of Rush County, Ind., born March 27, 1840, daughter of David and Abigail ( Wilson) Rardin. To this union was born two children, viz .: Cora E., born Septem- ber 24, 1866, and died January 12, 1884, and Oliver W., born December 26, 1871. Mr. Smith died September 8, 1879, and soon after Mrs. Smith removed to the farm southwest of Milroy, where she remained until 1885, when she came to Milroy, where she now resides. Mr. Smith was a Mason, an efficient officer, and was greatly beloved by those who knew him best. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM A. SOMMERVILL, one of the pioneer farmers of An- derson Township, was born in Fleming County, Ky., April 23, 1819, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Lee) Sommervill, and is of Irish origin. His father, a native of Ireland, was born near Belfast about 1792, and came to America about 1801, and settled in Fleming County, Ky., but afterward removed to Decatur County, Ind., where his death occurred May 1, 1847. The paternal grandfather of our subject, also a native of Ireland, came to Amer-
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ica, and died in Fleming County, Ky, about 1828. The mother of Mr. Sommervill was born in Fleming County, Ky., about 1792, and died in Rush County, November 22, 1860. The subject of this biography, is the eldest of six children and received a common school education. In 1838, he began serving an appren- ticeship at cabinet making and after completing the same, he con- tinued this occupation for himself, about twenty years. September I, IS42, our subject came to Rush County and settled near where he now resides. He now owns 310 acres of well improved land, and is one of the most successful farmers in this township. The marriage of Mr. Sommervill occurred September 7, 1842, to Miss Eliza Hood, born in Fleming County, Ky., October, 1819, daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Lee) Hood. To this union are three chil- dren, viz .: J. Samuel, Isabella J., and Ira A. Mr. Sommervill was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican, and cast his first presi- dental vote for William H. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Sommervill are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
JOSEPH SPURGEON, a native of Rush County, Ind., was born June 20, 1837; is the son of Joseph Spurgeon who was born in Ohio, and died in Rush County, in April, 1877, at the age of sev- enty-eight. He emigrated to Indiana at an early day, and was one of the first men to enter land in this county. The mother of Jo- seph was Fannie Spurgeon, whose maiden name was Lane. She was born in Ohio and died in Rush County, December 10, 1860, at fifty-four years of age. Mr. Spurgeon is the sixth.in a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are living. He grew to manhood on the farm and received a common school education. He began for himself at the age of nineteen years. For about sixteen years he has lived on his present farm, which consists of about 100 acres of fine land, and is also one of the best improved farms in this county. He was married in 1862 to Miss Hester A. Layton, who was born in Rush County in 1839, and died in 1876, leaving two children, viz .: Mary E., and Ossanette. Mr. Spurgeon was a sec- ond time married, the bride being Miss Julia Spohm who was born in Rush County, in 1847. To this union were born two children, viz .: Ira and Daisy. Mr. Spurgeon as a politician is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an enterprising farmer, and he and his family are extensively known and highly respected.
HON. WILLIAM THOMAS, the pioneer whose name intro- duces this sketch, is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born April 20, 1804, son of Daniel and Sarah Thomas, whose maiden name was Amos and who was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and emigrated to Rush County in the primitive days of this State, and,
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yours, Barker Brown
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here died. The father of Mr. Thomas was a native of Delaware, but in early life emigrated to Kentucky, where he was married and in 1822, came to Rush County. He was among the first to make settlement here and his death occurred here. The subject of this biography came to Rush County in 1827, and in 1835 settled where ' he resides. At that early date, the country was one unending wil- derness. Then neighbor helped neighbor, and in 1830, Mr. Thomas spent twenty-eight days assisting his neighbors, either raising log cabins or rolling logs. Politically, Mr. Thomas was formerly a Whig, but since the birth of the Republican party he has always been an ardent supporter of its principles. In 1846, he was elected to represent Rush County in the General Assembly of Indiana, and served in that body during the session of 1846 and 1847, and dis- charged the duties with a discreetness and judgment satisfactory to his constituents. Prior to his election to the legislature, he was elected as one of the Associate Judges of Rush County, but on account of the law being repealed he only served a short time. The marriage of Mr. Thomas occurred in 1825, to Miss Margaret Hannah, of Kentucky. By that union are these children, viz .: Wesley, Daniel, Sarah A., Martha and William. Mrs. Thomas died in 1849, and in 1850, the subject of this memoir was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah Green, whose maiden name was Houston, and whose death occurred in 1875. By occupation Mr. Thomas is a farmer, though in early life he worked at the carpenter trade for some time. He has 250 acres of good land, and for fifty-two years has been a resident of this township. Mr. Thomas is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and his life has always been above re- proach, and the respect for him is co-extensive with his acquaintance.
SAMUEL C. THOMAS, M. D., is a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born March 5, 1832, and is the eldest of eleven children born to John and Abigail (Carter) Thomas, and is of Welsh-Irish descent. His father was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1806, and died in Dark County, Ohio, in 1879. He was a ship carpen- ter and for more than twenty-five years was a Justice of the Peace. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Daniel Thomas, a na- tive of Kentucky, who came to Rush County in the pioneer days and settled near Milroy, about 1848. The mother of Dr. Thomas was born in New Jersey, in 1814, and died at Milroy, in 1887. The early boyhood of our subject was spent at Carthage, Ohio. At the age of eleven years he went to Darke County, Ohio, where he remained on the farm with his Grandfather Carter until 1850, when he removed to Milroy, and until 1853 his winters were spent in the school room, as teacher, and in summers he worked on the farm. In 1853 our subject entered Asbury -- now Depauw - Uni- 8
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versity, where he remained two years, and there began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. C. B. Wharton. In 1858, Dr. Thomas graduated at the Eclectic College of Medicine, at Cincinnati, and since that date has been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is one of the oldest practitioners in the county. October 14, 1858, Dr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Emily Clements, a native of Franklin, Ind., born March 13, 1833, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Birt) Clements, natives of Maryland. To this union are the following children: Abbie F., Kate A., Ernest B. and Claude B. Mr. Thomas is a Republican, and a Mason. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM WHITEMAN was born in Rush County, Ind., June 5, 1829, and is the fourth in a family of eight children born to Jacob and Mary (Farlan) Whiteman, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. His father, Jacob Whiteman, emigrated to Indiana in 1820, being one of the first settlers of Rush County. His death occurred in 1865. The mother of Mr. Whiteman was born in 1793 and died in 1880. The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools. He now owns ISo acres of land, which was entered in IS22, by his father. Mrs. Whiteman is a native of this county, born May 11, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman are the parents of the following children: Sarah E., Horace G., William H., Mary E., Martha J., and Emily E. He is a Republican, and a member of Milroy Lodge No. 139, F. & A. M. Mr. Whiteman has been a resident of this township for fifty-eight years, and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.
BENJAMIN F. WINSHIP was born in Rush County, Ind., De- cember IS, IS45, son of Jabez L. and Jane (Mullikin) Winship. His father was born in Fayette County, Ind., in 1814, and died in Rushville, in 1885, and his mother was a native of Bath County, Ky., born in 1818, and died in Anderson Township, this county, July 9, 1878. His paternal grandfather was Jesse Winship, a na- tive of Rochester County, N. Y., and one of the first settlers of this county. The father of our subject was also a pioneer of this county. At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Winship began life for himself, and now owns 160 acres of well improved land. The marriage of Mr. Winship took place in 1873 to Miss Aurelia Smith, who was born in Milroy, in 1854, daughter of Austin and Anna Smith. They have one child, Wilbur H., born May 15, 1875. Mr. Winship is a Democrat, and in 1869 was made a mem- ber of Milroy Lodge, No. 139, F. & A. M. Mrs. Winship is a member of the Christian Church.
AMOS WINSHIP, one of the most prosperous and enterprising farmers of Rush County, Ind., was born on the farm, where he
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now resides, in 1847. His father, John Winship, was born near where the city of Connersville, Ind., now stands, in 1812, and. was one of the first men, born in the State of Indiana. His death occurred in Rush County, in 1863. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Winship, whose maiden name was Posten and who- died in this county, in 1854. The subject of this biography re- ceived a common school education and before he gained his ma- jority, began the battle of life for himself. As a successful farmer, he has no superior in Anderson Township. For some time past Mr. Winship has been giving considerable attention to the breeding of fast horses, and now has some of the best stock in this part of the State. Mr. Winship now owns 270 acres of well improved land. His present residence was built in ISSo, at a cost of $5,000. He was united in marriage in 1869, to Miss Lizzie Hunt, a native of Franklin County, Ind., who was born in 1850. To this union are the following children: Gertrude and Noble C. Ile is a Demo- crat, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
PERRY AKERS, who has resided in Center Township for the past fifty-eight years, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 3, 1827, being the son of Burrel and Catharine ( Hartsell ) Akers, who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, the former of English and the latter of German descent. When he was two years old, his parents came to Rush County and settled upon a farm in Center Township, where both the mother and father spent the rest of their lives, the former dying October 10, 1869, and the latter dying December 28, 1869. The subject of this sketch grew up to manhood upon the farm where his parents settled, and upon it he has chiefly continued to reside ever since. His occupation throughout his entire life has been farming. He was married December 24, 1873, to Miss Loudoscia J. Cummings, who was born in Guilford County, N. C., October 11, 1844. Her parents were Enos F. and Emeline (Ballinger) Cummings. In November, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Akers removed to Carthage, this county, where Mrs. Akers died on the 7th day of the following February. Shortly after this, her surviving husband returned to his farm in Center Township, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Republican in poli- tics. He owns, in all, 120 acres of land, eighty of which are in Cen- ter Township and forty in Ripley Township. His home farm con- tains a good residence and is in other respect substantially improved.
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SAMUEL J. BELL, of Center Township, was born where he now lives, October 11, 1839. His parents, John and Margaret Bell, were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively, and are both deceased. His father was the son of Hugh Bell, and his mother was the daughter of John Kennedy. He was reared upon his birthplace where he continued until his marriage which occurred April 17, 1862. His wife was Mary C. Walker, and was born in Jackson Township, being the daughter of Aaron and Sarah Walker. From the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bell resided upon a farm in Center Township, until 1877, when they moved to Indianapolis. There our subject was engaged in the lumber business two years, after which he was similarly en- gaged in Venice, Ill., eighteen months, and three and one-half years in St. Louis, and about fourteen months in Memphis, Tenn. He returned to Rush County in June, 1884, and has since been a farmer and tile and brick manufacturer of Center Township. He has had eight children: Sophia, Julius E., Corena J., Ida I., Mag- gie P., Walter J., Josephine and Leroy, of whom Sophia, Corena J., and Walter J., are deceased. Mr. Bell is a member of the Chris- tian Church as is also his wife. In politics, Mr. Bell is a Prohibi- tionist. He owns 100 acres of land, four-fifths of which is in cultivation.
JAMES BILLINGS, an old citizen of Center Township, was born in Kent County, Del., October 27, 1816, being the son of James and Nellie ( Bostic) Billings, who were also natives of Delaware, the former of English descent and the latter of English-American de- scent. His father was the son of Everett Billings, who was a na- tive of England. His mother was the daughter of Shadrich Bostic. He was reared upon a farm in his native county, and at twenty years of age he came westward to Butler County, Ohio, where he resided for a period of eighteen years. While there, he was chiefly employed at chopping wood and making rails. In October, 1854, he came to Rush County, a resident of which he has been ever since. He was married in Union Township, this county, to Miss Mary Ann Lord December 2, 1856. She is also a native of Kent County, Del., born May 16, 1823, being the daughter of Andrew and Letitia (Reed) Lord, both of whom were also natives of Kent County, Del., the former of English and German descent, and the latter of Scotch descent. Her father was the son of Henry and Jennie Lord, and her mother was the daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Billings entered upon their married life in Union Township. In October, 1872, they removed to Center Township, and they have ever since occupied their present home. They have had two children: Martha E., born December 12, 1857;
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married to Terrence McMannis January 4, 1877; she died May 5, ISSo, leaving one child, Clara G., born December 31, 1877; their second child is Henry L. C., who was born October 24, 1860, and is now at home with his parents. Mrs. Billings is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Billings is an ardent Repub- lican. He owns ninety acres of land, nearly all of which is in cul- tivation.
JOIIN BITNER, one of Rush County's most prosperous and sub- stantial farmers, was born in Fayette County, Ind., January 3, 1829. He is the son of Hiram and Lydia (Low) Bitner, both of whom were natives of East Tennessee, of German descent. His par- ents came to Rush County before he was quite a year old and settled in Center Township, where he was reared upon a farm. He was married October 30, 1848, to Miss Judah Windsor, who was born in Grayson County, Va., August 6, 1827, being the daughter of Amos and Mary M. (McDaniel) Windsor, both of whom were natives of Surry County, N. C. Ever since their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Bitner have resided upon a farm in Center Township, and with the exception of one year they have occupied their present home. They have had born to them thirteen chil- dren as follows : Amos J., born August 28, 1849, died December 17, 1849; Amanda, born April 27, 1851, died April 17, 1863; Stephen, born September 14, 1853, died May 30, 1862; Hiram, born April 8, 1856, died April 20, 1863; Albert, born December 5, 1857, died April 11, 1863; Henry, born January 21, 1860, died April 16, 1863: Genias, born November 2, 1861, died April 8, 1863; John J., born July 12, 1864; Laura I., born August 1, 1866; Adda and Ida (twins), born November 26, 1868; Ira L., born July 8, 1871, died December 22, 1883; Lura J., born January 19, 1874, died July 14, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Bitner are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Bitner is a Democrat. He owns 1861/2 acres of excellent land, about 120 of which is in cultivation. His farm contains a good residence and one of the largest and best barns in Rush County. Mr. Bitner ranks among the well-to-do and substantial farmers of his township, and he and his wife are among its worthy and honored citizens. Mr. Bitner's portrait will be found on another page.
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