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 43
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16, 1839; Adalino, November 15, 1841; William Dallas, July II, 1844, and Arthur, November 15, 1851. For one year after the marriage of our subject he lived in Shelby County, and then re- moved to Rush County, where he has since resided, and followed agricultural pursuits. He has always been a main factor in whatever communities he has resided,and has always been an industrious, ener- getic and progressive man. He has been a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church for many years, and has always advocated and aided churches, schools and public improvements. He has al- ways been reserved, however in life, and has never aspired to pub- lic life, but has preferred the life of an independent farmer. In politics he has never taken an active part, but is an ardent Repub- lican, having never voted with any other party since the organiza- tion of the Republican party. He is now in his seventy-seventh year, and while far along in the decline of life he is surrounded by property and many faithful friends.
SAMUEL GRIFFITH, the subject of the following biography, is the grandson of John Griffith, who was the son of an early emi- grant from Wales to America. John was born in Pennsylvania, Bedford County, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Catherine Helm. The marriage was blessed by two sons, John and Samuel, both of whom are dead. John, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Bedford County, Pa., March 10, 1806. He was reared on a farm in Bedford County, Pa., and received a limited education in the country schools of his native county. He was married in Bedford County to Margaret Feaster. In August, 1837, he located in Moscow, Orange Township, Rush County, Ind. The rest of his life was spent in Rush County. He followed farming as an occupation. He was successful in his undertakings and was energetic and enterprising. A self-made man, he was uni- versally respected by all who knew him. He lived a useful life, and was benevolent and charitable in character, and was a faithful friend and a representative citizen. The mother of our subject was born in Bedford County, Pa., May 14, 1819, and was the mother of two sons and two daughters, viz .: Sarah, Samuel, Martin D., and Caroline. Our subject is the only one now living. He was born in Rush County, Ind., August 10, 1838, and was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools, and has followed agri- cultural pursuits as an avocation, making success. In 1865, Octo- ber 29, he was united in marriage with Susan Apple, daughter of Elias and Magdaline (Slifer) Apple. Susan was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, October 5, 1846. Three children have blessed her marriage, viz .: Elmor Ellsworth, Van Elias (deceased), and Caroline. Our subject and his wife are members of the
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Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a progressive man and is a Republican.
J. F. HENDERSON, the subject of the following sketch, is a citizen of Orange Township, Rush County, Ind., and was born in that township, February 2, 1841, and is the son of George and Eliza (Spurgeon) Henderson. The father was born in Ohio, in ISII, and was the son of Joseph Henderson, who was of Irish and Dutch lineage. Joseph was a farmer by occupation and removed from Ohio to Indiana and became an early settler of Rush County, in which county he lived for many years. His life was identified with the pioneer settlers of this county. lle was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a well respected citizen. George, the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was reared on a farm, and he followed his occupation with zeal, and was an industrious and well respected citizen. He was married early in life, and when he began the battle of life, had no capital other than willing hands, but by his honesty and industry, together with fru- gality, he made an average success in life, and was surrounded at death with many friends, and with prosperity. His death occurred in the fall of 1875. He was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and was universally respected by all who knew him. The mother of our subject was born in Kentucky, in 1807, and now re- sides in Rush County. She is the mother of three sons and four daughters, who are now living: Joseph S., John, Nancy, Jefferson Franklin, Matilda, Melvina and Mary. Our subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the country schools, and has followed farming as an occupation, and had no capital to begin the occupa- tion, and many have been the obstacles that have appeared before him, but by industry and hard toil he has made a success of life. He is a self-made man, and a representative citizen. He has established an unquestioned character and in the spring of 1886, he was elected as the Democratic candidate, for Township Trustee, for Orange Township. He has always been an advocate of free education, and has manifested an interest in schools, to churches he has been an aid, and is a member of the Christian Union Church, and is a progressive citizen. In 1864, November II, he married Sarah A. McDuffee, daughter of Robert McDuffee, of Shelby County, Ind.
ELIAS TRUITT HILLIGOSS .- George Hilligoss, the paternal grand- parent of our subject, was a native of Germany, and before he emigrated to America, he had married Lizzie Clavel, and together these two emigrated to America a very short time before the American Revolution, and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a tailor by trade, and in late life followed farming as an occupation
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About 1781 he removed from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and set- tled in Fleming County, in which county he and his wife both lived till the close of their long and useful lives. They reared a family of five sons and two daughters, viz .: Jacob, John, Conrad, Solomon and William, who were the sons, and we are not able to give the names of the daughters. John Hilligoss was the father of our subject, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1775, and was but a small boy when his parents removed to Kentucky. He was reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits throughout life. Soon after he reached his majority he was united in marriage with Nancy Shockley, a native of Maryland, who was born about 1783. She was of English descent, and was the daughter of William Shockley, who was a citizen of Maryland in early life, during which time he was a sailor at sea for fifteen years, and in later life emi- grated to Kentucky and became a pioneer settler of that State. The above marriage was blessed by eight sons and two daugh- ters, viz .: William S., George B., Eli, Mary, John W., James S., Elias T., Sanford H., Hulda Ann and Johnathan S. The father of these children and his family emigrated to Brown County, Ohio, from Kentucky, in 1825, and in 1834 removed to Indiana, and set- tled in Rush County. Elias T. Hilligoss was born in Fleming County, Ky., March 2, 1819, and was reared on a farm and received a common school education in the schools of Ohio. He has fol- lowed farming as an occupation, and when he began life had no capital other than eighty acres of "Congress Land." He has been an energetic and industrious man, and has been a success in his calling, and is now surrounded by prosperity. He was united in marriage with Nancy Thomas, September 27, 1838. Nancy was born in Lewis County, Ky., November 3, 1817, and is a daughter of David and Mary (McQueen) Thomas. The children born unto this marriage are: Missouri, Jane, Nancy I., Daniel W., Winfield Scott, Mary A. and Henry Clay. Our subject became a member of the Christian Church in the spring of 1839, and has been a friend to churches, schools and public improvements, and has been an Elder in the church for the last thirty-eight years, and has been a very zealous member. T. H. C. Hilligoss, a young and enterpris- ing farmer and stock-raiser of Orange Township, Rush County, was born in said township, May, 14, 1855, and is the son of Elias T. and Nancy (Thomas) Hilligoss. The sketch of the parents is ob- served above. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Rush County, and has devoted time and attention to the pursuit of farming and raising fine stock. In June of 1876 he was united in marriage with Margaret M. Machlan. Two children have been born unto the union, viz .: Benjamin T. (deceased), and Raymond.
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The subject is a zealous member of the Christian Church in which he has been Deacon for several years. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and is a representative citizen.
BENJAMIN AND WILLIAM MACHILAN. - Over a century ago, in 1763, and in Scotland, there was born John Machlan, the paternal grandparent of William and Benjamin. This grandparent came across the Atlantic to America, when a youth, and afterward set- tled and married in Lycoming County, Pa. He was married to Hester Updegraft, who was American born, and of French lineage. This marriage was blessed by the following children: Rebecca, John, William, George and two others who died in early life. The mother of these children died in Pennsylvania, and adversity after adversity beset the father, and the family was reduced to poverty. The father determined on a removal to Ohio, and in the fall of 1816, removed to Butler County, of that State, where he settled and lived for seven years. The stay in Ohio was accompanied by a finan- cial success, for the father was a farmer, and by his industry, to- gether with the co-operation of his children, he was successful in that pursuit in Ohio, and he determined to remove to Indiana. Ac- cordingly in the spring of 1823, the removal was made, and a set- tlement was made in Rush County, where lands were purchased. The father continued his agricultural pursuits, and his following life was identified with the pioneer settlement of Rush County. In his calling his success was evident, and at last he became a prosperous man. Though his early life was beset by many difficulties, his last days were more of sunshine. He was a descendant of a Quaker family, and was faithful to the Quaker faith. He lived a long and useful life, and in the fall of 1839, was called away. We have ob- served the death of his wife, who died in Pennsylvania. She was a devoted mother and wife, an ardent Friend in truth and in sect. She was of the Quaker faith, in which she was reared, and lived and died in that faith. After her death, and after the removal to Ohio, Mr. Machlan married for a second wife, Sarah Woods, who lived nine years after Mr. Machlan's death, and then was called away. John Machlan, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Lycoming County, Pa., in May of 1795. He was reared on a farm, and never attended school a day in his life, but in later days he learned to read, and being a man of strong intellectual power, he became conversant on general subjects. He was an industrious and frugal man, reserved in character, and a very considerate citizen, pos- sessing conservativeness, honesty, sobriety and sincerity. Born a poor boy, he died a prosperous man; his success in life was due to his untiring energy, firmness and perseverance. His life pursuit was that of farming, in which he was practical and successful. He came to In-
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diana in 1823, the date of his father's settlement in the State, and purchased a small tract of land in Rush County, and when he died he owned a broad tract of more than 400 acres. His early life was beset by many difficulties. In the spring of 1818, he chose a com- panion for life, and was united in marriage with Sally Day, in But- ler County, Ohio. Sally was born in York State, in the year IS00, and was of English and Dutch lineage. She was a strong and sturdy woman, and proved a faithful companion to her husband, whose struggle in early life was difficult. At his marriage he be- gan a hard battle, for he was very poor, and hard toil was his lot. He often said in after life, that hard toil seasoned his bread, and that he thanked God that he was blessed with Sally, to whom he attributed much of his success in life. Sally was not only a faith- ful wife, but a kind and faithful friend and mother, and a devout Christian. She lived a useful life of forty-seven years, and in the spring of 1846, was called away, leaving a family of seven children to mourn her loss. The number of children that were born unto her marriage was eleven, but four died in early life. The names of the others are: Benjamin, William, Sarah, Joseph, Mary, Martha and Phibia. The father of those children married for a second wife, Alvira Garner nce Alvira Shaw. He was reared in the Quaker faith, but at the age of twenty-eight, he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a zealous member throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred in the fall of 1857. Benjamin is the older of our subjects, and was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 12, 1822, but was reared in Rush County, Ind., receiving a fair education in the country schools. He has followed farming for an occupation. In July, 1840, he married Louisa Hume, who was born in Boone County, Ky., in 1820; her death occurred in July of 1875. Seven children were born unto her as follows: Sarah, Mary, Wilbert, Margaret, George and two others who died early in life. In 1876, Benjamin married for a second wife, Susan Bows, nce Susan Hume. William, the younger of our subjects, was born in Rush County, Ind., February 2, 1825, and was reared on a farm in his native county, receiving a common school education in the country schools. He has followed farming as an occupation, and is one of the most extensive farmers of Orange Township. In the spring of 1845, he was united in marriage with Sarah Carpenter, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 3, 1825. Unto them have been born John, Catherine and Merrit.
BENJAMIN L. McFARLAN, whose portrait appears in this volume, is a farmer and stock-raiser of Orange Township, Rush Co., Ind., and was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 14, 1844, and is
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the son of James and Jane (Kelly) McFarlan. The father was born in Mercer County, Pa., and was the son of a native of Scotland. He was a steamboatman by calling, but died in early life, and when our subject was only a small boy. Our subject was reared by his maternal grandparents, who resided in Mercer County, Pa., but who removed to Indiana in 1853, and settled in Decatur County. Benjamin received a common school edu- cation in country schools. He was born a poor boy, and in early life had many obstacles to contend with. He was but a youth of seventeen years when the Civil War broke out, and in August, of 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Indiana Infantry, and was the youngest of his company, in which company he served till '64, when he re-inlisted as a veteran volunteer of the same; and at the expiration of the three years, of the Seventh Infantry, the veter- ans of the Seventh, Fourteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth were consolidated and known as the Twentieth Infantry, and in which Regiment our subject served till he was mustered out of the service on the 14th of July, 1865, as Orderly Sergeant of his company. At the close of the war he returned to Rush County, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, commencing with a very limited means, but by hard toil and energy he has been suc- cessful in the pursuit. He now owns a fine and well improved farm of eighty acres, and is one of the representative farmers of the County of Rush. He is a progressive and representative citizen. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and has served as County Commissioner of Rush County for one term. In 1866, he was united in marriage with Susan Wood, daughter of Benjamin Wood. One child, a daughter, Alice by name, has blessed the marriage.
LOYD W. MCGINNIS, a citizen of Orange Township, Rush County, Ind., was born in Anderson Township, Rush County, No- vember 1, 1837, and is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Earlywine) McGinnis. The father was born in Nicholas County, Ky., April I, 1795, and was the son of William McGinnis. William was a native of Ireland, and after he emigrated to America, settled in Kentucky; later he removed with his family to Indiana, and set- tled in Rush County; still later he removed to Hancock County, and remained in that county until his death. He was a teacher by profession, and was an able district school teacher, and was an in- telligent and respected man. Samuel, his son, was reared to farm- ing, and followed it for an avocation. When his father removed to Indiana, he was left behind. He was married in Kentucky to the mother of our subject, and afterward came to Indiana and settled in Rush County, and here he lived and followed farming up to the time of his death which occurred June 14, 1869. The
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mother of our subject was born in Nicholas County, Ky., April 13, 1798, and died in Rush County, Ind., April 20, 1869. She was married to Samuel October 10, 1816. The following chil- dren blessed her marriage: William, Mary, Dulcina, Orville S., James, Franklin, John M., Sanford, Elizabeth, Samuel and Loyd W. Loyd W. was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools. He was born a poor boy, and has had many obstacles to contend with through life, but has been energetic and firm, and has generally accomplished success in whatever he has undertaken. He has followed farming as an avocation, and is a progressive and self-made man. In politics, he is a Republican, and is a mem- ber of the Homer Lodge No. 471, of the I. O. O. F. January 16, 1856, he married Sarah Earlywine, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gohegan) Earlywine. She was born in Nicholas County, Ky., May 6, 1833. Three children have blessed their marriage, viz .: Josephine, William and Arthur M.
JOSEPH OWEN .-- The paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Georgia, and was of Scotch lineage. His father was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America about the time of the French and Indian War, and during the American Revolution he was living in Georgia and was killed by a band of Tories. The grand- father, Owen, was a farmer and miller. He was an early settler of Rush County, Ind. About 1821, he came from Ohio, Montgomery County, to where he removed from North Carolina to Indiana, and settled on Flat Rock Creek, Orange Township, Rush County, where he built about the first mill that was operated in Orange Township. The father of our subject, Benjamin Owen, was born in North Carolina, November 15, 1808. He removed with his father to this State and was reared on a farm, and followed farming for an occupation. He lived to be seventy-one years old, and after coming to the State he continuously lived in Orange Township, till his death. Thus his life is identified with the history of Orange Township. In 1829, he was united in marriage with Millie Hay- mond. Ten children were born unto this marriage, of whom one son and two daughters are still living. He was married a second and third times, his second wife was Sarah Berry, and the third Jane Sliger. Our subject was born in Rush County, November IS, 1833, was reared on a farm and received a limited education in the country schools. He has followed farming for an occupation. He had a limited capital to begin the battle of life, but he is now a prosperous citizen, enterprising and industrious. In 1857, he mar- ried Sarah Farlow. Three sons and one daughter have blessed the marriage, viz .: Benjamin, John, Elmer and Mary. Our subject has never aspired to public life, but has preferred the life of an in-
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dependent and prosperous farmer. In politics he is a Republican. He is a friend to all laudable public improvement, and is a progres- sive citizen.
H. F. PRILL is the son of Thomas and Francis (Evans) Prill. The father was born in Rockingham County, Va., February 21, 1800. He was the son of Thomas Prill, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and is a lineal descendant of Lord Bargasser of Hessedarm- stat, Germany. He was a single man when he went to Virginia, where he was married. The father of our subject was a mechanic by trade, and in 1821 located in Ohio, and was married in that State May 21, 1833, in Preble County. The fruits of his marriage were one son and two daughters, the son, who is our subject is the only one now living to represent this family of children. His father removed to Rush County, in 1835, where he settled and lived until his death occurred, which was December 15, 1873. He was a practical and successful man in his calling. He was an early set- tler of Rush County, and followed farming. He was a representa- tive citizen, universally respected by all who knew him. He was a member of the German Reform Church, and was a quiet and unoffensive man, noted for his reserved and honest, as well as faith- ful character. The mother of our subject was born in Bedford County, Va., August 7, 1805. She was of Welsh and English lineage. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when a child joined this church under the influence of Rev. Ren- sor Dow. She died November 14, 1886, leaving our subject as the only representative of her family. Her daughters, Mary (who died November 21, 1855,) and Elizabeth (who died November 28, 1884), had never married; and our subject has never entered the relationship of marriage, and thus it will be seen he is the only representative of one of the oldest families of Orange Township. He was born in Rush County, Ind., December 31, 1846, and was reared on a farm and received a common school education at the country schools. He has followed farming as an occupation, and together with farming has been in the nursery business. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a progressive man, and an advocate of schools, churches, and public improvement.
PHILIP REDENBAUGH, a farmer and citizen of Orange Town- ship, Rush County, Ind., was born in Jefferson County, Ind., May 13, 1826, and is the son of Philip and Frances ( Arbuckell) Reden- baugh. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German lineage. He was a farmer by avocation. He was mar- ried in Pennsylvania, and afterward removed to Ohio, and thence to Indiana, and settled in Jefferson County, of this State. He was married twice, his second wife was the mother of our subject, and
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was a native of Kentucky, and was of Irish descent. She was the mother of six sons and two daughters-four sons and one daugh- ter are living at present. Our subject was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools. His school days were of an early date, and then the schools were supported by subscription, and were taught in queer log houses. He has followed farming as an occupation, and when he began the battle of life, he began under many difficulties. His parents died when he was young, and he was reared by James Arbuckell, an uncle. He was a poor youth, and when he reached his majority had no capital other than willing hands to begin the battle of life. He has, however, been an energetic and industrious man, and has succeeded in surmount- ing the many obstacles encountered in his course of life. He is truly a self-made man, a prosperous farmer and a representative citizen. In 1851, February 6, he was united in marriage with Cinderella Wag- oner, and unto the union was born a daughter, who died at the age of four years. This wife died January 29, 1852, thu sliving but a short time to contribute her influence toward the happiness of our subject. He was married to Mary Ann McDuffee, November 3, 1853, and unto the second marriage have been born ten children, five of whom are dead. The names of the living are: Alpheus Theodore, Robert McDuffee, Ulysses Grant, Elbert Morton, Stella May. Our subject has held several positions of honor and trust --- among which are the positions of Road Superintendent and Town- ship Trustee. The former position he held for one term, during which time he advanced the idea of graveling the public roads, which idea has been successfully placed into practice. The office of Township Trustee of Orange Township, he held for one term, in which capacity he served with ability and satisfaction. He is a progressive man, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican. He has ever been an ardent advocate of churches, schools and public improvements. He has served his church twenty-two years as class leader.
JAMES H. SELBY is one of the oldest citizens of Orange Town- ship, Rush County, and was born in Harrison County, Ky., Decem- ber 21, 1813, and is the son of John and Annie (McCallie) Selby. The father was born on the east shore of Maryland, in 1783, and was of English lineage. He was a young man when he emigrated to Kentucky, in which State he married the mother of our subject, unto whom were born the following children: John A., Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Jamima and James H., who reached man and woman- hood. In 1827, the father removed from Kentucky to Orange Township, Rush County, where he settled and lived for a number of years. He was a farmer, and a practical and successful one.
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