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 55
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LUKE NEWSOM, deceased, was born in North Carolina, Decem- ber 12, 1802, being the son of Ransom and Sarah (Tippett) New- som. He settled in Section 29, Ripley Township, this county, in 1829, and there continued to reside until he died. He was twice married-the first time in Randolph County, Ky., to Elizabeth Hill in 1825. By her he had four children: Martha, Henry H., Jabez H. and Elizabeth, the last of whom is deceased. In 1834 he was married in this county to Miss Cynthia Bulley, who was a native of Ran- dolph County, Ky. By her he became the father of eleven chil- dren: Elizabeth B., Mary Ann, George W., John G., Allen W., William P., Thomas C., Daniel W., Alban W., Charles H., and Melissa Jane, of whom Elizabeth B., George W., Thomas C., Al- ban W. and Charles H. are deceased. He owned a good farm and was one of the enterprising and representative citizens of the county.
ALLEN W. NEWSOM, a member of the firm of Hill, Henley & Co., of Carthage, is a native of Ripley Township, born June 7, IS42, being the son of Luke and Cynthia (Bulley) Newsom, who were natives or Randolph County, N. C., of English descent. He was reared upon a farm in his native township, and at twenty-one years of age he took up the avocation of a teacher, which furnished his winter's employment for three years. He was married, Octo- ber 5, 1865, to Anna M. White, a native of Shelby County, this State, born April 1, 1847, being the daughter of John and Amanda (Adams) White, who were natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Newsom entered upon their married life in Carthage, where the former found employment as salesman in a general store. He was thus employed for a period of thirteen years, when he became the partner of his employer, O'Brien Gwynne, and the firm continued to do business for a period of five years, beginning January 1, 1879. It was dissolved by the death of Mr. Gwynne, September 4, 1884. For three years thereafter Mr. Newsom was engaged settling the business of the firm, still re- taining an interest in the store, which had partially fallen into new
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hands. His undivided attention is now given to the store, which is a large dry-goods establishment, conducted under the firm name of Hill, Henley & Co. The first wife of Mr. Newsom died Febru- ary IS, 1878, and on the 28th day of February, 1883, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Pusey, who was born in Ripley Township, November 18, 1847, being the daughter of Jesse F. and Jane (White) Pusey, who were natives of Ohio and North Carolina, respectively. His first marriage resulted in the birth of four chil- dren: Winona, Samuel L., Cora B and Mattie, of whom the last is deceased. He and his present wife have one child: Floyd P. Mr. and Mrs. Newsom are members of the Friends' Church. In pol- itics, the former is a Republican. He possesses good business qualifications, and is a reliable, honorable and upright man. He is at this time a member of the Board of Equalization of Rush County.
JOHN NIPP, son of George and Rebecca (Townsend) Nipp, was born in Wythe County, Va., November IS, ISII. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1814, he removed to Ten- nessee, and the following year came to Indiana and stopped at Con- nersville, a small Indian station on the outposts of the white settlements. In 1821, on the IIth day of March, the father with his wife and several small children, located on the farm now belong- ing to Dr. W. H. Smith, on Flat Rock. The children were Nancy, John (our subject), Jane and Martha. The following were born after the family came to Indiana: William, now in Marshall County; Leonidas, now in Grant County; Reuben, now in Seymour, Jack- son County, and a sister, Anna. John's father was a tanner by trade, and located a tannery on his farm in the wilderness just south of a point a quarter of a mile east of the bridge over Flat Rock, near Dr. Smith's country residence. Here the family remained until 1826, when the farm was purchased by the late Dr. H. G. Sexton, and the family removed to a farm now owned by Martin Blacklidge. Here this pioneer prosecuted his farm work in sea- son, and carried on shoe-making in winter. John grew to manhood among the scenes incident to pioneer life, and on September 15, 1836, married Catherine Goodmon, a native of Ohio. She was the daughter of James and Sarah (Johnson) Goodmon. These young people began house-keeping on the farm just west of Purnell Bishop's farm in Union Township. The subject of this sketch was a natural mechanic and during the transition from log to frame buildings he stepped immediately to the front as a very skillful car- penter, as many of the best frame buildings in the county will testify. After remaining here three years he removed to a farm now belonging to A. N. Norris. In 1842, he went to Grant County, and after spend- ing two years there he came back to Rush County and worked at his
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trade; during his life he built ten mills in Rush County, two in Grant County, and one in Decatur County. Streams which to-day would not furnish sufficient water to "turn a wheel," were, in those days, quite enough for the needs. In 1852, John moved to the farm on which he now resides, in Washington township. Here he hired to Adam Ammons by the year. He built the saw mill here in 1851 for Am- mons, and in 1856, he built the grist mill known all over the country as Nipp's mill. He helped to build the second mill at Smelser's (the first having been built in 1822 by Stephen Cory). John Nipp built a combination mill for Philip Ertel. This was a woolen mill, a grist mill and a saw mill, on Flat Rock, near where Joel Carson now resides. In 1858, in the month of July, his father, George Nipp, died at his (John's) home, after having walked from New Castle, in Henry County. In a few days the mother passed away; she died on Ist day of January, 1859. The following children were born to John and Sarah Nipp: George, deceased: Sarah, married W. Hendricks; James, married Malissa Hahn; William, Jane, married George Booth; John, married Lydia Glimpse; Vinson, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased. A few days after this sketch was written, John Nipp was called to his reward. His life closed on September 13, 1887. He was an honest, unassuming, conscientious man, respected by all. At the time of his death there was only one man living who had resided longer in the county than John Nipp; that man is Harmony Laughlin, of Rushville. Mr. Nipp was a man of remarkable memory, and gave the writer valuable information in the preparation of the school chapter in this work. His reputation for truthfulness and accuracy was so recognized that no one is found who questions his statements when talking of pioneer matters. "The good that men do lives after them," and the influence of the life of John Nipp will be felt in this community when the spot which marks his last resting place will have been forgotten.
JOSEPH OVERMAN was born in Wayne County, near Center- ville, on April 7, 1817. He was the son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Ratliff) Overman. His parents settled on their farm in Indiana Territory in 1813, having spent two years in Richmond, then a small town on the frontier. They left North Carolina about ISII. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm of his father, and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. The first school house he attended was without any floor except mother earth, and other conveniences in accord. In the spring of 1838, he came with his father's family to Ripley Township, Rush County, and bought a farm of Micajah Binford, which was occu- pied at that time by Henry Macy. In 1836-37, Joseph attended
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school at Centerville, under the tutorage of that pioneer of Indiana educators, Samuel K. Hoshour. It was in this school that he be- came acquainted with Oliver P. Morton, who was a pupil. This mutual friendship lasted until the death of the old " War Governor." In 1838, he attended school again in Centerville, and in the fall of the same year, he taught in Rush County. In 1839, Mr. Over- man married Eleanor Commons, one of his former pupils. She was the mother of ten children, as follows: Cyrus W. (insurance business), Oliver P., Ezekiel, Lydia Ann, Sarah E., Jrene, Emma, Horace, Julian, and Mary E. Mrs. Overman was the daughter of Ezekiel and Sarah (Julian) Commons. Her mother is still living, at the age of ninety-four, with her daughter at Charlottes- ville, Mrs. Hatfield. On July 13, 1870, Mrs. Overman died, after a life full of usefulness and responsibility. She was a noble woman, a good and kind mother, and loved by her neighbors. On the Sth of January, 1873, Mr. Overman married Susan Thornburg. There are no children as the result of this marriage. Susan Thornburg was the widow of John Paxson, by whom she had two children, both married. Under the old schoollaw, Mr. Overman was one of the three Township Trustees. In 1863, he took his place on the Board of County Commissioners, to which he had been chosen at the preceding election. He served satisfactorily for seven years, during some trying times. In 1871, Mr. Overman removed to Carthage, and was made a member of the Board of Education, and held the place for seven years. He assisted in the consolidation of the Friends' School, and township and town corporations, and helped to make the Ripley Township and the Carthage schools what they have been and are at present. In 1879, Mr. Overman bought the farm on which he now resides, of Samuel Gates, and moved to it the same year. Here he resides contentedly, a public spirited gentleman, and liked by the people. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican.
MRS. PRISCILLA PARKER, of Ripley Township, is a native of Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, born September 4, 1820, being the daughter of William and Esther (Ladd) Butler, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her father was the son of Joseph and Miriam (Hunnicutt) Butler, and her mother was the daughter of Jared and Sarah (Gillum) Ladd, both of whom were of foreign birth. When she was two years old her parents came to this State and settled in Wayne County, where they resided about thirteen years. They then removed to Raysville, Henry County, and a year later to Hancock County, where our subject resided with them until the time of her marriage, which occurred October 24, 1838. Her husband, who was Mr. Silas Parker, was born in
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Northampton County, N. C., September 29, 1817, being the son of Samuel and Rebecca (Binford) Parker, who were natives of North Carolina. His father was the son of Josiah and Martha (Peele) Parker, and his mother was the daughter of James and Hannah (Crew) Binford, all of whom were natives of North Caro- lina. Mr. and Mrs. Parker entered upon their married life in Ripley Township, upon the farm now occupied by Mr. John P. Parker. In March, 1853, they removed to the farm where Mrs. Parker now resides, in Section 27, Ripley Township. There Mr. Parker pursued the occupation of a farmer and carpenter, until his death, which occurred August 27, 1884. Mrs. Parker is the mother of eleven children, four of whom are deceased. Those living are: Louisa, Samuel W., Lindley M., Albert S., Olney T., Mary and Charles M., and those deceased are: Oliver S., Lydia A., Rebecca and Esther L. Mrs. Parker and all of her children are members of the Friends' Church. She has a farm of 100 acres and a comfortable home where she resides in a quiet way. She is esteemed by a large circle of relatives and friends.
OLNEY T. PARKER, a prominent young farmer of Ripley Town- ship, was born in that township, near where he now resides, April 2, 1858, being the son of Silas and Priscilla (Butler ) Parker, whose history appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon his father's farm and received in the district school a good common school education. In the graded school at Walnut Ridge, this county, he also obtained a knowledge of algebra, rhetoric, philoso- phy, ancient history and Latin. Later on in his youth he attended Earlham College, during one term. He was married when he was twenty-one, or November 20, 1879, to Miss Rilda A. Cox, who is a native of Randolph County, this State, born March IS, 1858, be- ing the daughter of Benjamin and Alice (Harris) Cox, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. Her father was the son of Benjamin and Ann Cox, and her mother was the daughter of David and Mary Harris. A few months after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Parker settled upon the farm they now occupy, where they have ever since resided. In addition to attending to the manage- ment of his farm, Mr. Parker gives considerable attention to the carpenter's trade. He owns forty acres of land which are in a good state of improvement and cultivation. He and wife are the parents of two children: Ethel L., born November 17, 1880, and Silas F., born May 4, ISS3. Our subject and wife are members of the Friends' Church. In politics, the former is a Republican. He is an industrious young man, a skillful mechanic, and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens. The father of Mrs. Parker died when she was but one year old, and she was but five years old
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when her mother died. At the age of nine she accompanied a brother to Marshall County, Iowa, but three years later she re- turned with a married sister to Randolph County. At eighteen years of age she came to Charlottesville, Hancock County, where she made her home in the family of Woodard Fulghum, until her marriage, which occurred three years later.
HENRY C. PHELPS, born in Randolph County, N. C. His pa- rents, Mark Phelps and Sarah (Lewis) Phelps, were both natives of North Carolina. Henry came with the tide of emigration to Indiana with his parents in 1830, settled on a farm the father pur- chased of Aaron Beck, now belonging to the heirs of Daniel Clark. The father died in 1832. Henry was the only child and spent his early life on a farm. In 1845, at the age of sixteen, he began to make trips to Cincinnati for the Carthage merchants. He made eighteen trips to Cincinnati on foot driving hogs to market. In 1834, Mrs. Phelps married Samuel Noe, who died after one year. In 1837, she married Elisha Prevo. She kept the Prevo House in Carthage for many years and died in 1874, November 10. Henry did a great deal of teaming for the railroad and Carthage mills. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the service of his country in the Nineteenth Indiana, under Colonel, afterward Gen., Sol. Meredith. He married Susannah Hill, daughter of Thomas and Tamar ( Clark ) Hill in May, 1849. The result of this marriage is one son, Elisha, now passenger conductor on the Evansville & Henderson Railroad. His wife, Susannah, died in the spring of 1852. He served three years as a private soldier in the Iron Brigade, First Army Corps, and participated in the battles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Wilderness, Petersburg, Five Forks and Appomattox. In December 9, 1875, Henry married Mrs. Eunice S. Cox, daughter of Henry and Ruth (Morrow) Henley. For several years the subject of this sketch has been the genial landlord of the Phelps House in Carthage, near the site of the old Prevo House, where his mother for so many years kept hotel. In politics, Mr. Phelps is a radical Republican.
JESSE L. PHELPS, farmer of Ripley Township, is a native of the township in which he resides, born March 31, 1835. He was the son of Jonathan and Susannah ( Henley) Phelps, both of whom were natives of Randolph County, N. C. He was reared upon his fath- er's farm in his native township. He continued with his father until he reached the age of twenty-one, after which, for about four years he was employed upon a farm by the month. At the age of twenty-five, or October 25, 1860, he was married to Miss Eliza- beth Ann Junken, who was born in Posey Township, this county, June 26, 1832, being the daughter of Noble and Ellen ( Wilson)
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Junken, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Ever since their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have resided in Ripley Township. They first settled upon a farm in the southeast part of the town- ship, in Section 28. A year and a half later, they removed to Sec- tion 15, where they resided from the spring of 1862 to the fall of 1867. They then removed to Section 17, and there resided upon a farm for a period of sixteen years. During all this time, Mr. Phelps was a renter, and the fact that he was continued so long upon the same farm is evidence, of the proper manner in which he conducted it. After a brief residence in Section 25, he removed to his present handsome farm in Section 24. It contains 188 acres of first-class land, about 160 of which are in cultivation. Its good barn and elegant residence make it a most desirable location. When Mr. Phelps began life for himself, his only capital was willing hands; and the present state of his circumstances reflects very creditably upon his industry and good management. He and wife have had eight children, as follows: Henry B., Sadie E., Amos O., Jona- than E., Gurney O., Susannah M., Lenora B., and Mary C., all of whom are living except Jonathan, who died in childhood. In poli- tics, Mr. Phelps is a Republican.
SAMUEL C. PITTS, a farmer of Ripley Township, is a native of Guilford County, N. C., born September 3, 1833, being the son of James and Rebecca (Moore) Pitts, who were natives of Guil- ford and Perquimans Counties, N. C., respectively. His father was the son of John and Elizabeth Pitts, and his mother was the daughter of Jesse and Mary (Morris) Moore. He was but eight years old when his father died, and some two or three years later he went to live with his grandfather Jesse Moore, with whom he remained upon a farm until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then returned home and remained with his mother in Guilford County about three years. In 1857 he accompanied her to this county, and the family settled in Ripley Township where the mother spent the rest of her life, her death occurring in about 1872. On November 19, 1862, Mr. Pitts was married to Lydia Ann Parker, and soon after this marriage he settled upon a farm in Hancock County, near his present home in this county. Mrs. Lydia Pitts was a native of this county, born January 7, 1842, and daughter of Silas and Priscilla (Butler) Parker. She died in April 1865. May 5, 1869, Mr. Pitts was married to Miss Dinah J. Ken- dall, who was born in Hendricks County, this State, being the daughter of Joel and Sarah Ann Hodson. She died May 5, 1870, and on November II, 1874, our subject was married to Miss Cem- ilda Fawcett, who was born in Belmont County, Ohio, January II, 1841, being the daughter of Samuel and Nancy ( Branson) Faw-
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cett, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Her father was the son of Samuel and Armelia ( Carpenter) Fawcett, and her mother was the daughter of John and Miriam ( Holloway) Branson. Mr. Pitts continued to reside in Hancock County, until in the year ISSI, when he moved his family to their present home in Ripley Town- ship. His first marriage resulted in the birth of two children: Clara I., and a son that died in infancy. By his second wife he is the father of one child, Lydia A. He and his present wife have had five children: John F., Emery J., Flora A., and a daughter and son that died in infancy. Mr. Pitts owns 200 acres of land, fifty of which are in this county, and 150 in Hancock County. Both tracts lie side by side, making in this way one large farm. In poli- tics, Mr. Pitts is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Friends' Church. He is a substantial and well-to-do farmer, and he and his wife are good citizens. His maternal great grandparents were Samuel and Margaret (Hix) Moore. In his earlier manhood Mr. Pitts taught public school some. He taught in Posey Town- ship during the winter of 1857-8, and during the winter of 1871-2, he taught school in Hancock County. His life occupation has been farming, though he has also worked some at the carpenter's trade.
MRS. PHEBE PORTER is a native of Rockbridge County, Va., born February 24, 1823, being the daughter of Jacob and Mary M. (Clemor) Brosius, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When she was fourteen years old, she accom- panied her father and mother to Rush County, in which she has resided ever since, excepting six months since her husband died, dur- ing which she resided in Knightstown. The family, on reaching this county, settled in Ripley Township, in which the father and mother spent the rest of their lives, the former dying May 5, 1854, and the latter dying December 12, 1858. She continued with her parents until her marriage, which occurred November 11, 1849. Her hus- band, Lemuel J. Porter, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 22, IS17, being the son of Thomas and Phebe (Gard) Porter. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Porter settled where the latter now resides, where the former pursued the vocation of a farmer until his death, which occurred November 25, IS69. Since then Mrs. Porter has been a widow. She is the mother of eight children, as follows: Charles N., born October 7, IS50, married to Lottie Cuddington April 29, 1875, becoming the father of one child, Eddie; Charles died July 13, 1887; John C., born November 18, IS51, married to Nellie Mitchell April 25, 1876, be- coming the father of one child, Earl C., who died in childhood; John C. Porter, died September 27, 1881; Mary F., born Decem- ber 25, 1852, married to Edward Emerson June 10, IS75, and is
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the mother of six children: Daniel, Burdett and Carrie B. living, and Robert T., Edward B. and Charles P. dead; the fourth child of Mrs. Porter is Joseph H., born November 9, 1854, married to Fannie Bennett, November 4, 1875, having one child, Grace; Fre- mont, born November 30, 1856, married to Mary Mitchell Novem- ber IS, 18So, having one child, William L .; Henrietta, born April 27, 1858, married to Elias T. Reddick, February 28, 1878, having had two children, Ralph and Mary L., of whom the latter died in childhood; Henrietta died April 7, 1884: Gersham, born April 6, 1863, married to Ida Keith in April, 1884, having one child, Nellie; the eighth and last child is Albert, born November 22, 1860, died June 3, 1861. Mrs. Porter is a member of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Porter was a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Porter was the owner of 325 acres of land when he died, all of which was the result of his own industry. Besides pro- viding comfortably for her children, Mrs. Porter is still the owner of ninety-eight acres, most of which is in cultivation. The pater- nal grandparents of Mrs. Porter were Abram and Rosanna (Crow) Brosius, and her maternal grandparents were George L. and Mary M. Clemor.
JOSEPH F. PUBLOW, of the firm of Hill, Henley & Company, merchants of Carthage, was born in Perth, Province of Ontario, Canada, November 12, 1853, being the son of Joseph and Annie (O'Donnell) Publow, the former of whom was born in Watertown, New York, of English and Spanish descent, and the latter was born in Ireland of Irish descent. His father died when he was eleven years old, and shortly afterward he accompanied his widowed mother to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the mother fell sick and for a few weeks our subject was cared for at The Children's Home, of that city. In October, 1865, he found a home in the family of Daniel Clark, of Ripley Township, with whom his youth was spent upon a farm. He received from the estate of Mr. Clark when he became of age $250, which was then his sole capital. In the meantime at the age of twenty-one, he took up the avocation of a teacher, and taught in all nine terms, his labors in that capacity all having been performed in Ripley Township. Ilis vacations were chiefly spent at the Normal School, at Valparaiso, which in- stitution he attended four terms, perfecting his knowledge in the common branches and completing a commercial course. On retir- ing from the school room, he on the 21st day of August, 1879, ac- cepted the position of salesman in the dry goods establishment of Gwynne, Johnson & Company, of Carthage. He continued in the capacity of a clerk until in September, 1884, when he became one of the partners of the firm of Hill, Henley & Company, and has
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retained an interest ever since. His whole attention outside of his official business is now given to the store. He was married April 9, ISS4, to Miss Eunice M. Henley, who was born in Ripley Town- ship, August 2, IS59, being the daughter of Thomas W. and Han- nah C. (Williams) Henley, who were natives of North Carolina and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Publow is the father of two children: Ethel H. and Joseph R., both of whom are living. Mrs. Publow is a member of the Friends' Church. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and a Republican in politics. In the spring of 1886, he was elected Trustee of his township, and is now dis- charging the duties of that office in an able manner.
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