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 38
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THE AMOS FAMILY is properly introduced in the personage of J. J. Amos, Sr., who was born in Bourbon County, Ky., September 30th, 1803, being the fourth child to Nicholas and Ann (Jones) Amos, natives of Maryland. Mr. Amos was a student at the sub- scription schools and only obtained a limited education. He came to Rush County in IS23 and lived with his uncle Abraham Jones, and the next spring returned to Kentucky and first bought fifty acres of land and then purchased the old Amos homestead which he owned for several years, and later engaged in stock trading and dis- tillery business, and was also engaged in the mercantile business. In 1840 he traded his stock of goods, for Soo acres of land in Wells County. In 1839 Mr. Amos returned to Rush County and located on a farm near New Salem. He has been a successful man in life and at one time owned 2,000 acres of land in this county. Mr. Amos was married January 19th, 1826, to Miss Ann W. How- ard, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and who died June 17th, 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Amos were born eight children, four of whom died in early life. Politically, he is a Democrat and a mem- ber of the Methodist Protestant Church. At one time Mr. Amos donated $2,000 to the Adrian, Michigan, College, of which he is a Trustee. Another member of the Amos family is Mrs. Amanda Mitchell, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky., September 28th, IS28, daughter of James Hildreth, and at the age of seven years, came with her parents to Rush County. March 13th, 1851, she was united in marriage to Johanan J. Amos, a native of Kentucky, and came to Rush County at twelve years of age. By occupation he was a stock dealer and shipper. His death occurred in this county, January 16th, 1864. To that marriage these three children survive : Johanan M., Willard H. and J. J. He was of Democratic faith, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Amos was married April 23rd, 1871, to Thomas V. Mitchell, who died in January, 1881. Mrs. Mitchell now resides on the home farm surrounded with the comforts of life and is a member of the Christian Church. J. M. Amos, a prominent stock breeder of this township, was born March 5th, 1854, and a son of Johanan J. Amos. He was raised on the farm and received a common school education and began doing for himself at eighteen years of age. His occupation in life has been that of a farmer, and for quite a number of years, he has been giving much attention to growing trotters and pacers, Legal Tender, Jr., No. 3409, a pacer, 2:27 " and sire of Lowland Girl, 2:1912." At his stock sale in 1887, Mr. Amos realized more than $2,500. He owns
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a good farm which consists of 215 acres. December 23rd, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Estella J. Poston, daughter of George W. Poston, and was born in this township, July 22, 1856. To the above marriage are three children: William, born Febru- ary 22, 1881; Ethel, born March 7, 1883, and Luella, born May 13, IS85. In politics, Mr. Amos is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Willard H. Amos, a brother of J. M. Amos, was born in Rushville Township, February 26, 1856, and was raised upon the farm, and is engaged in farming and stock breeding. He was married October 22, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth A. Poston, who was born in this township, January 31, 1861, second daughter of George W. and Nancy (McNeal) Poston. They have one child, Mary, born November 13, 1886. He is a Republican. Joseph J., Jr., another member of the Amos family, and youngest son now living of Johanan Amos, was born May 5, 1860, and grew to manhood upon the farm adjoining his present home. He received a common school education, and at sixteen years of age began farming and trading in stock, which he has since continued. He was married October 4, 1882, to Miss Fannie M., daughter of Seneca and Sallie (Patterson) Armstrong, born December 27, 1863. One daughter blessed this union, viz .: Rubie May, born April 13, 1887. He is a firm friend of the Republican party, and owns a well improved farm of 160 acres. Joseph Caldwell, the only son born to John and Arriette ( Amos) Caldwell, was born in this county, August 19, 1864. His mother died at two years of age, and he was raised by J. J. Amos, Sr. He first attended the coun- try schools, and later, attended Adrian College. Reaching his ma- jority, he began farming, which he continued until 1887, when he removed to Rushville, where he now resides. He was married April 28, 1886, to Miss Hattie Humes, who was born in this county, September 7, 1868, daughter of J. C. Humes. Mr. Caldwell is a Republican, and he and wife are highly esteemed people. The Amos family has been prominently known in this county for many years and has been noted for its industry and energy.
OSCAR APPLEGATE, a native of Noble Township, this county, was born November 27th, 1852, being one of two children born to John and Ann (Kerr) Applegate, the former born in Butler County, Ohio, November 21, ISIS, and the eldest son born to Enoch Apple- gate, and the latter, born in Fayette County, Ind., November 26, 1818, daughter of Alexander and Rachel (Potter) Applegate. John Applegate came to Fayette County, Ind., in boyhood, and was by occupation a wagon maker. His marriage occurred March 10, 1840, to Miss Kerr. In March, 1846, he removed to Rush County, locating in Noble Township, where he began manufacturing car-
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riages and buggies, which he continued until his death which oc- curred October 26, 1871. His companion yet survives him and now lives upon the home farm, with her only son. Oscar Apple- gate was reared on the farm and received a good education, hav- ing taken a commercial course at Richmond, Ind. He, like his father, is a staunch Republican and always takes an active interest in his party. His marriage occurred January 12, 1881, to Miss Nannie, daughter of Martin and Gusta (Buell) Blacklidge. By this union one daughter, Rhoda, was born August 10, ISS4.
HENRY ARMSTRONG, farmer, was born in Franklin County, Ind., February 25, 1822, son of James E. and Mary (Lines) Arm- strong, and is of English descent. His father was born in Hamil- ton County, Ohio, about 1797, and died January 1, 1883. His mother was a native of South Carolina, born in 1800, and died in ISSO. The family first came to Rush County about 1821, and re- mained a short time, when they returned to Franklin. County, where they lived until 1827, when they again came to this county, and settled in Noble Township. Our subject received a common school education, and has farmed for himself since his twenty-third year. He now owns 200 acres of fine land, and in 1852, pur- chased his present home. In 1844, he married Miss Amanda An- derson, a native of Boone County, Ky., born April 29, 1828, daughter of Henry and Nancy Anderson. They are the parents of six children, viz .: Leonidas, Anderson, Florence B., Missouri D., Pleasant A. and George. Mr. Armstrong is a Republican, and for more than sixty years has been a resident of this county. He has been a member of the Christian Church since 1874, and his wife has been a member of the same since 1869.
DAVID BEAVER, a retired farmer, was born in Harrison County, Ky., January 12, 1814, and is one of seven children, born to Michael and Margaret ( Coon) Beaver, both natives of Maryland, and of German lineage. The person here named came to Rush County in boyhood, and knows by practical experience, what clearing a home from the unbroken forest means. He remained at home until the purchase of his present farm, which consist of eighty acres. His marriage took place in the fall of 1855, to Miss Mary S. Graham, a native of this township, born September 14, 1834, and was a daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Smith) Graham, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. To this marriage were born six children, and of whom, the following are now living: Melissa A., Rachel, Viola and David R. Mrs. Beaver died June, 1869. Mr. Beaver is a Republican, and is an industrious man.
WILLIAM M. BROOKS, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Noble Township, was born in Nicholas County, Ky., July 7,
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184I, and is of English lineage. He is the seventh child born to Mosley and Susanna (Geohegan) Brooks, natives of the same county, the former born in 1805, and died in 1873, the latter born 1803, and died in 1871. The paternal grandfather, Zachariah Brooks, was a native of Virginia, who, at an early date, removed to Kentucky, where he died at the age of ninety years. His ma- ternal grandfather, a native of Delaware, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War, and died in Kentucky. In 1851, the family came to Rush County. Our subject received a common school educa- tion, and his occupation has always been that of a farmer. He now resides on the old Brooks homestead, and is the owner of more than 500 acres of land. In 1862, Mr. Brooks enlisted in Company I, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After serving seven months, he resigned on account of physical disability. The marriage of Mr. Brooks was solemnized October 6, 1869, to Miss Laura D. Downey, born in Warren County, Ohio, November 4, 1849. They are the parents of seven children, viz .: Minnie D., born 1870; Cora D., born 1871; Harry D., born 1873: Edith E., born 1875; Ida F., born 1878; William M., Jr., born 1884, and Leslie R., born 1887. Mr. Brooks is a staunch Republican and a member of the G. A. R. For four years he was Trustee of Noble Township. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members of the Christian Church.
MELVIN W. BROOKS was born in Nicholas County, Ky., April 18, 1844; son of Mosley Brooks. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to this county, when but five years of age, and re- ceived a common school education. At the age of eighteen years, he enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment, Company G, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Wolf and Capt. Ross Guffin. He participated at the battle of Fort Donelson where he was wounded. He was a true and brave soldier and at the end of three years and eight months was honorably discharged, came home and resumed the occupation of a farmer, and now owns a farm of 175 acres of well improved land. The marriage of Mr. Brooks wa solemnized April 23, 1867, to Miss Alice A., daughter of Horatio and Nancy (Townsend) Culver, natives of New York and Ohio. Mrs. Brooks was born January 31, 1849, and is the mother of the following children; Fannie, Forrest, Charles, Sadie, Mertie, Vernon and Oliver M. Politically, Mr. Brooks is a Republican, and also a mem- ber of the G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members of the Christian Church.
H. S. CARNEY, ex-Sheriff of this county, was born in Ripley County, Ind., August 18, 1838, the only son born to John D. and Sarah (Smith) Carney, and is of German-Irish lineage. John D.
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Carney was a native of Indiana County, Pa., who in early life came to Ohio, and later, removed to Fayette County, Ind., where he died in 1850, his wife dying two years later. The subject of this sketch was left an orphan at the age of fourteen years, and at this time was thrown upon his own resources. He soon after came to Rush County, and engaged as a farm hand. At the age of twenty- one years, he enlisted in Company G, Fifty-second Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and took part in a number of the most important battles of the late war. In 1862, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and seven days later, was placed in command of his company, which position he held during the remainder of his ser- vice in that company. After an active and faithful service for three years in his country's cause, he was honorably discharged, and return- ing home again took up the avocation of a farmer, and now owns IIO acres of good land, located on Little Flat Rock. His marriage occurred April 10, 1879, to Miss Gertrude, daughter of W. H. and Sarah E. Downey, who was born June 26, 1853. To this union are two children, viz .: Charles Garfield and Harriet E. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and G. A. R. Mr. Carney and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church and among Noble Town- ship's best citizens.
JAMES CULBERTSON, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Rush County, Ind., October 22, 1829, son of William and Cassandra (Kirk) Culbertson, and is of Irish-English descent. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1787, and died in this county in 1854. His mother was born in Kentucky in 1806, and died in Fayette County, Ind., in 1876. In 1828 the Culbertson family came to Rush County and settled in Noble Township. The father of Mr. Culbertson was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch was educated at the subscription schools, and at the age of twenty-one years began farming for himself, and now owns 150 acres of valuable land. For several years he has given his atten- tion to stock raising and has some fine Short Horn cattle; also Po- land China hogs. In 1852 he was married to Miss Mary E. Morris, born in Noble Township February 3, 1835. They have twelve living children, viz .: Lena, Martha A., Amanda, Eugene L., Am- brose E., Margaret, Mary, Nora, Ida, Grace, James E. and Alberta. He is a true Republican and a highly respected citizen.
JOHN DAVIDSON, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Noble Township, January 7, 1835, son of Ezekiel and Maria (Lewis) Davidson. The father was born in New Jersey in 1809, and is of Scotch parentage. In 1826, he, with his father, came to Rush County, and here married Miss Maria Lewis, a native of this county. In 1839, he removed to Hendricks County, Ind., locating in
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the forest on land that he had entered. Mr. Davidson and wife were members of the Christian Church, and were loved and es- teemed by all. Mrs. Davidson died September 18, 1848; Mr. Da- vidson followed July 13, 1865. The immediate subject of this sketch was raised on the farm and was a student at the country school, and at eighteen summers, began life on his own account, locating in White County, where he engaged in farming. In 1857, Mr. Davidson returned to Rush County, where he has since re- mained. His vocation has been that of a farmer, and he now owns a farm consisting of 218 acres, three and one-half miles southeast of Rushville. Mr. Davidson was married December 15, 1858, to Isabel M., daughter of Henry and Sallie (Ambers) Guffin, who was born May 20, 1841, and whose death occurred December 19, 1875, she leaving these three children: John A., Harrison S., and Elbert C. Mr. Davidson was married October 9, 1878, to Mrs. Mary S. Bedell, of this county, born June 16, 1847, daughter of Jacob and Eliza Wolf. Politically, Mr. Davidson is a staunch Republican. He is a worthy citizen and a member of the Chris- tian Church. Mrs. Davidson is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
BENJAMIN FRAZEE, the most extensive land-owner in Rush County, Ind., was born in Bracken County, Ky., April 6, 1824, son of William and Catherine (King) Frazee, the former born in Ken- tucky, March 10, 1800, and died September 11, 1877; the latter born in Kentucky, November 13, 1801, and died February 17, 1876. The Frazee family came to Indiana in 1829, and were among the pioneers of this county. The subject of this sketch received a very limited education, and at the age of twenty years began farming rented land, being too poor to purchase land. In 1851, he purchased a small farm, consisting of forty acres, for which he paid $624. He now owns 1,900 acres of land in this county and is worth over $150,000. In 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Tompson, born April 6, 1835. They are the parents of six children, viz .: Medaline, born February 6, 1855; John H., born July 22, 1857; Laura, born August 3, 1860; Alice, born December 7, 1862; Katie, born May 8, 1869, and James E., born November 15, 1872. Mr. Frazee was formerly a Whig, but is now an ardent Republican. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and among the best known people of Rush County. Mr. Frazee's portrait appears on another page of this volume.
EPHRAIM SAMUEL FRAZEE was born in Mayslick, Mason County, Ky., October 4, 1824. His father was of English descent. In the early part of the eighteenth century, two sons of Ephraim Frazee,
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who lived in the western part of England, emigrated to the new world, having obtained a grant of land from the English crown. They settled near Elizabethtown, N. J. One of these, Ephraim, was married three times and had eighteen children. Samuel - a son of his second wife - moved to Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1760. His father accompanied him and died there in 1776. In 1779, he emigrated to Kentucky, although he did not move his family there until 1784. He was associated with Boone and Ken- ton in the early history of that State and was in a number of battles. He was active, brave and very fleet of foot, and for these reasons was often sent on dangerous expeditions. He was once sent alone with government dispatches from the Falls of Ohio, where Louis- ville now stands, to Harrodsburg Station. He also blazed the road from Louisville to Lexington. He married Miss Rebecca Jacobs in Ohio in 1777. They had six children. Their third child, Eph- raim, was born in 1792, in Mason County, Ky. He was educated for a physician at the Medical College in Philadelphia. He had but just established a lucrative practice when he died suddenly, leaving a young widow and four sons, one Ephraim Samuel, an in- fant. This widowed mother was Susan Doniphan, a sister to Gen. A. W. Doniphan, of Missouri, and cousin to Gov. William Smith of Virginia, familiarly known as " Extra Billy. " Her great grandfather was a Spanish cavalier who was banished by King Philip II. for having spared the inhabitants of a captured town. He escaped to Scotland where he married an heiress, Miss Mott. Their children were loyal to Charles the First, and after the restoration of Charles the Second, they were rewarded with a grant of land in Virginia. Their grandson, Joseph Doniphan, married Miss Smith and emi- grated to Kentucky about the year 1785. Their daughter Susan was born near Washington, Ky., in 1794, the fifth child in a family of eight. She was a woman of keen intellect, unswerving integ- rity and thoroughly devoted to her family and friends. Ifer mar- ried life was spent in Mayslick, although her husband had entered several tracts of land in Rush and Fayette counties, Ind. She con- tinued to live near her friends in Kentucky, until her boys were nearly grown. She came to Indiana twice on horseback to con- tract for improvements on the farm in Noble Township, to which she moved when Samuel was fifteen years old. The farm selected for their home was an unbroken section adjoining Fayette County, and here Mr. Frazee has lived ever since. He was educated at Bethany College, Va., when Alexander Campbell, its founder, was in his prime. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Frances E. Austen of Fayette County, whose family came from Baltimore when she was a child. They have had twelve children, eight of
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whom, four sons and four daughters are living, and four, one son and three daughters are dead. Soon after his marriage he was made an Elder in the Christian Church at Fayetteville, a position he still holds. Since 1850 he has preached regularly for that church and those in the vicinity. He has conducted from early manhood a large farm and kept it well supplied with valuable stock. He has paid special attention to Short Horn cattle and heavy draft horses. He has also devoted considerable time in adminis- tering on estates and attending to the interests of many wards. He has always been ready to assist any enterprise that was for the public good, both with time and money. He has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party, and has twice been sent to the State Legislature, in 1882 and 1884; these being the only times he was ever candidate for office. In this capacity he repre- sented his county in a manner highly creditable to himself, and en- tirely satisfactory to his constituents, devoting his attention particu- larly to legislation affecting the agricultural interests. From that tinie to the present he has devoted himself to his profession as a minister, and his business, agricultural and live stock interests. His reputation as a successful breeder of Short Horn cattle is not lim- ited to his own State. He is widely and favorably known in the adjoining States, and his stock ranks among the very best. His show herd of ISS7 would compare favorably with the far-famed Kentucky cattle. It would be unjust to close this sketch without mentioning what Mr. Frazee has done to promote the educational interests of the State. He not only assisted in establishing the Fay- etteville Academy, but was one of the original stockholders of the Northwestern Christian University (now Butler University), and from its founding to the present has been one of its best friends, having served as one of its Board of Directors probably twenty years, being now a servant and devoted worker in that capacity. In short, his life has been exemplary and worthy of emulation, hay- ing been devoted constantly to the highest religious, moral and physical interests, not only of those immediately associated with him, but of the community and State in which he has lived.
ANDREW GUFFIN was born in Rushville Township, this county, January 5, IS32, son of George and Margaret (Reid) Guffin, and is of German and Scotch-Irish extraction. His father was born in Kentucky in ISoo and died in this county in IS45: his mother was born in Ohio in 1805, and died in this county in 1841. His grand- father was born in Virginia in 1774, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he died in Kentucky in 1850. The paternal grand- father of our subject was George Guffin, a native of Germany, and a soldier in the Revolution, and whose death occurred in Virginia.
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The immediate subject of this sketch is the second in a family of seven children, all of whom are yet living. He was educated at the subscription schools, and at the age of seventeen years began the battle of life for himself, and has by hard labor and strict econ- omy succeeded. In 1856 he located on his present farm which consists of 280 acres of valuable land. Mr. Guffin was married January 18, 1852, to Miss Clarinda Brooks, of Adams County, Ohio, born July 30, 1836. To this union were born ten children, viz .: Celinda A., Orlander F., Lincoln, Nellie, Josie, Charles, Andrew, Claude, Maude and Theodosia. Mr. Guffin is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.
GEORGE GUFFIN, a representative farmer and stock raiser, was born in Rush County, Ind., March 27, IS35, and is one of seven children, and was raised on a farm near the City of Rushville; be- ginning life for himself at fifteen years of age, and at eighteen began teaching school which he continued for several winter terms, farming during the summer. In 1854, he began the mercantile business at New Salem, which he continued until 1856, and in the fall of the same year entered Fairview Academy, where he con- tinued for eighteen months, and then taught school during the win- ter season and carried on farming during the summer. In 1866, Mr. Guffin purchased his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of fine land, and which he has made by close application to busi- ness. It can be said of him that he has been the builder of his own success. Mr. Guffin was united in marriage September 14, 1858, to Miss Rachel A. Hunt, who was born in Noble Township August 24, 1839. To Mr. and Mrs. Guffin were born the follow- ing children: Lot D., Chestina, Margaret A. and George P. In politics, Mr. Guffin is a Republican, and has filled some of the town- ship offices.
JOSEPH HEATON, one of the early settlers of Rush County, was born in Fleming County, Ky., May 18, 1821, son of John and Hester (Jarvis) Heaton, and is of German descent. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Indiana about 1822, and settled in Rush County, Ind., where they died. The immediate subject of this sketch is the youngest in a family of thirteen children, three of whom are now living. He was educated at the pioneer schools of this county, and at the age of twenty-one years, began life for himself. In 1843, he settled where he now resides. His farm consists of 305 acres, and is well improved. In 1841, he married Elizabeth -daughter of James and Mary Armstrong, who was born in Noble Township, this county, in 1824. To this union four children have been born, viz .: Salena, John, Thomas and San-
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ford. Mr. Heaton is a Democrat, and a member of the Christian Church.
JOSEPH HOLMAN, the gentleman whose name introduces this biography, was born in New Jersey, December 14, 1830, son of James and Nancy (Johnson ) Holman, natives of the same State, the former born in 1797, and the latter in 1804. They both died in this county. The family came to Rush County, Ind., about 1834, and settled in Noble Township. The immediate subject of this sketch is the eldest son in a family of eight children, six of whom are now living. In 1880, Mr. Holman purchased his present resi- dence, and is the owner of 160 acres of fine land. His marriage occurred October 18, 1864, to Miss Martha Wellman, born in this township, February 20, 1840, daughter of Aaron and Frances (Lines.) Wellman. They have three children, as follows: John P., born in 1866; Edmond, born 1869, and Lot, born 1870. The father of Mrs. Holman was born in Kentucky, in 1805, and was a son of Jasper and Drucilla Wellman. He came to Indiana, and settled in Rush County, in 1827, on a farm near New Salem, and March 25, IS28, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances Lines, who was born in Franklin County, Ind., July 19, 1812. Mr. Wellman died February 28, 1868, and Mrs. Wellman, September 23, IS77. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, but at the time of his death, a pronounced Republican. He and wife were members of the Metho- dist Protestant Church. They were pioneers of this county and of the fourteen children born to them, ten are now living. Mr. Holman is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
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