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 62
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matics, and an aptness to solve difficult problems, that was a promise of future ability, which in later years have been more than fulfilled. As a lawyer, Mr. Bigger stood first among the first. He has a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of legal princi- ples, and his pleadings are celebrated throughout eastern Indiana for their terseness and logical conclusions. As a writer on both politi- cal and social topics he has few equals. His style is concise, and exhibits great command of the English language. His sentences are often pointed with the keenest satire, and always linked to- gether with perfect logic. Those who know him personally and through his writings, say his mind is one of comprehensiveness and power. He was very faithful to his clients and to friends, punctual in any agreement, and in all relations of life a true gentle- man. Mr. Bigger married Miss Nancy Wilson, of Warren County, Ohio, March 6, 1827.
JAMES W. BROWN, attorney at law, was born in Marion County, Ind., September 29, 1837. His parents were Thomas B. and Jane M. (Day) Brown, both of English descent, and natives of Mason County, Ky., and Clermont County, Ohio, respectively. His pa- ternal grandparents were George and Maria (Lee) Brown, na- tives of Virginia, the latter a niece of the illustrious Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. From Virginia these grandparents emigrated to Mason County, Ky., and thence to Marion County, Ind. In 1847, when but ten years of age, the subject of this sketch left the parental roof and, going forth to seek his fortune, went to Noblesville, Ind., where for a time he lived with an uncle. At the early age of fourteen years he became Deputy County Clerk of Hamilton County, and served as such for seven years. In 1863 he came to Rushville and here served eight years as Deputy Clerk of Rush County, when in 1870, his faithful services were rewarded by an election to be chief of the office in which he had so long served as a subordinate. At the end of his official term he commenced the practice of law with Mr. George C. Clark, continuing thereat, until September, 1879, when again he became County Clerk by appoint- ment, and by reason of a subsequent election remained in office until November, 1884. Thus, it will be seen, twenty-four years of his life have been devoted to the public service. His entire atten- tion is now given to the practice of his profession. He was mar- ried at Noblesville, Ind., September 3, 1860, to Lucinda Francelia Plato, daughter of Steward and Eliza ( Hall) Plato. Mrs. Brown was born in Rome, N. Y., and was reared at Utica, N. Y. Her paternal grandmother was a cousin of Millard Fillmore and Zach- ariah Taylor. Mr. Brown is the father of three children: Sarah
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H., Laura P., and Charles C., all of whom are living. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. lodges, and in politics a Republican, staunch and active. From 1882 to 1884, he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee as Chairman of the Sixth Congressional District Committee, and in April, 1884, presided over the convention that nominated Hon. Thomas M. Brown for Congress, and that to select delegates to the Chicago Republican Convention.
DANIEL BROWN, JR., was born in Rush County, Ind., December 5, 1838, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Duke) Brown, the former born in Virginia, September 23, 1788, and died in this county, November 11, 1857, and the latter born in Kentucky, February 14, 1800, and died October 2, 1883. The father of our subject came to Rush County, from Kentucky, in 1824, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides. Mr. Brown was the recipient of a common school education, but for an occupation he chose that of a farmer, and in 1857, began doing for himself, and now owns 380 acres of choice land. In addition he has for many years been en- gaged in breeding fine stock. As a farmer and stock-raiser he is prosperous. In 1864, February 25th, he was united in marriage to Miss Lavina Parker, born in this county, May 24, 1843, and daughter of John and Catherine (James) Parker, who died in this county when Mrs. Brown was but a child. To the Brown-Parker marriage were born seven children, as follows: William L., John M., Mary A., Fannie C., Nora D., Raymond D. and one son yet un- named. Mr. Brown is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and a member of the Christian Church, and for forty-nine years has resided where he now lives.
DEWITT C. BUELL, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Rush County, Ind., February 22, IS54. His father, Eli Buell, was born in New York, January 22, 1812, son of Isarel and Roxanna ( Blair) Buell, natives respectively of Connecticut and New York, the former born in 1771 and died in 1845, and the latter born in 1778 and died in Hamilton County. Ohio, in 1831. Levi Buell was mar- ried in 1837 to Miss Mary Hoel. To this union were born four children, viz .: Caroline, Emaline, Dewitt C. and Ella. Mrs. Buell died August 26, 1885. He is a staunch Republican, and has resided in this county since 1839. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for six years served as County Commissioner. Dewitt C. Buell, the immediate subject of this sketch, is the seventh in a family of eight children, and his life has been that of a farmer and stock-raiser. He now owns 160 acres of valuable land, also the old Buell homestead. Mr. Buell was married October 29, 1879, to Miss Dora Wilkins, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born March
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13, 1857. To this marriage are these children: Don C., born No- vember 7, 1880, and Ida, born December S, 1882. Mrs. Buell died in 1884, and in 1886, Mr. Buell was again married, the bride being Mrs. Eva Amos, whose maiden name was Wellman. Mr. Buell is a Republican and an honored citizen.
JAMES H. CALDWELL was born in Grant County, Ky., Novem- ber 9, 1835. He was the son of Thomas and Rebecca (Swine- ford) Caldwell, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. He was reared upon a farm in his native county. At the age of twenty-one he took up the vocation of a farmer for himself. A year later he removed to Champaign County, Ills. When he came to Indiana he located in Decatur County. He has lived in this State ever since, part of the time in Decatur, part of the time in Starke, and the rest of the time in Rush County. In April, 1886, he engaged in the livery business in Rushville, in which he has since continued. He was married August 16, 1858, to Lucinda Robbins, a native of Madison County, this State, and daughter of George Robbins. They have had four children: Charles, Anna, George and Edward, of whom Anna died in childhood. Mr. Cald- well is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H. lodges.
GEORGE T. CALDWELL was born in Greensburg, January 5, 1863. He was chiefly reared in Decatur County. He came to Rush County with his parents in April, 1886, and since then has been associated with his father in the livery business. He was married October 26, 1886, to Minnie Tremain, a native of Decatur County and daughter of Harry S. Tremain.
GEORGE W. CAMPBELL, now Prosecuting Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, was born in Benton County, Ind., March IS, 1854. He was the youngest of six children, five sons and one daughter, born to Elder George and Sarah A. (Wiles) Campbell, the former a native of Maine, of Scotch-Irish descent, the latter a native of Harrison, Ohio, of English descent. His paternal grand- father, Thomas Campbell, a native of Scotland, served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War. His four brothers were: Walter S., Alexander B., Charles W. and Wood T .: his sister, Mary E., all of whom are living. Elder George Campbell, above named, a min- ister of the Christian Church, came to Rush County about 1834. He organized the first Christian Sabbath School in Rushville, founded an Academy at Farmington and was its Principal for sev- eral years, preached three years at Fairview and being especially fitted for evangelistic labors, did much Christian missionary work in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Maine. In 1873, at Eureka, Ill., he died, aged sixty-three years. At that time George W. was a stu- dent in Eureka College. For five years after leaving college he
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was a teacher in Menard and Sangamon counties, Ills., and at Fay- etteville, Ind. While in Sangamon County, Ills., he commenced the study of law, was admitted to the Bar at Lebanon, Ind., and in 1880, commenced the practice of his profession in Rushville. His popu- larity and professional success are shown by the public office now held, to which he was elected in November, 1886. In June, 1882, with Dr. S. W. McMahan, he founded The Graphie, and was its editor until September, 1886. In 1887, with W. T. Campbell, he established the Woodside Stock Farm, near Rushville, and now devotes a portion of his time to the breeding of blooded horses. He was married January 9, 1884, to Belle Frazee, who, born in this county, March 13, 1854, is the daughter of Hon. E. S. and Frances E. (Austen) Frazee, of Noble Township. Two children have blessed this union: Bruce, born December 2, 1884, and Helen, born March 7, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Chris- tian Church. The former is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and in politics, a Republican.
JEFFERSON CHURCHILL, a prominent citizen of Rushville, was born in Richland Township, this county, March 14, 1830. He was the third of nine children, six sons and three daughters, born to Daniel and Nancy (Street) Churchill: the former who was a na- tive of New York, was the son of Asahel and Mary ( Hart) Churchill, and the latter was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gordan)' Street. His five brothers were: James M., William, John W., George T., and Milton, all of whom are living except James M. His three sisters were: Sarah A., Mary E., and Ma- linda, all of whom are deceased. When he was nine years old, his parents removed to Noble Township, where he spent his youth and early manhood upon a farm. There his marriage occurred January 13, 1856, when Miss Eliza M. Reeve became his wife. She was born in Noble Township, this county, November 11, 1837, and was the youngest of eight children, four sons and four daugh- ters, born to Benjamin F. and Elizabeth D. (Driskell) Reeve, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Her paternal grandfather was Benjamin Reeve. Her four brothers were: George W., Francis M., Henry C., and John B., of whom Francis M., is deceased. Her three sisters were: Martha D., Sarah D., and Mary E., the last of whom is deceased. Mrs. Churchill also had one-half brother and two half-sisters, Hester H. W., Benjamin F., and Nancy J., all living, the children of her father. Imme- diately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill located upon a farm in Richland Township. In 1864, they removed to Wabash County, and located upon a farm adjoining the city of Wabash. Early in 1877, they returned to Rush County, and located in Rush-
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ville, since which time the attention of Mr. Churchill has been given to dealing in timber and lumber, to the buying, grazing and selling of live stock, and to farming. He and wife are the parents of four children: Lora M., Ernest M., Nannie B., and Earle R., of whom the second and third are deceased. Mrs. Churchill is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Churchill is an ardent Re- publican. Their daughter, Lora M., was married February 6, 1878, to Wesley C. Bechtol, of Wabash County, which marriage has resulted in the birth of one child, Bertha C., born November 19, 1878. Their daughter and son-in-law reside in Toledo, Ohio, the latter being one of the proprietors of a large flouring mill.
GEORGE C. CLARK, Ex-President of the Bank of the State of Indiana, and President of the Rushville National Bank, whose por- trait appears elsewhere, was born in North Carolina, November 5, 1821. The place of his nativity suggests the contrasts that time presents; for, from having been part of the battlefield of Guilford Court House, N. C., where had been carnage and death, it had be- come a scene of quiet and prosperity. His father was Hezekiah S. Clark, whose ancestors mioved from England to Ireland, from Ireland to Pennsylvania, and thence to Virginia. There his pa- rents, Daniel Clark and Mary Sanders were married, and from that State they removed to Randolph County, N. C. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Abigail G. Mendenhall. Her progenitors emigrated from the manor of Mildenhall, in Wilt- shire, England (the family name then being Mildenhall, sometimes contracted to Millhall), about the time William Penn first visited America, and located in Chester County, Pa. Her mother, Judith Gardner, was of Welsh descent, and was born and raised on Nan- tucket Island. The Mendenhall and Sanders families both were very long-lived. While he was yet a child, Mr. Clark's parents re- moved from Guilford to Randolph County, N. C., some ten miles northeast of the county seat, Ashboro, where his father who was a tanner, carried on a tan-yard, and engaged also, though less di- rectly, in making pottery, shoes and harness, and in blacksmithing. George Clark assisted in the lighter work of the tannery until the spring of 1835, when the building and contents, including books, were burned. The loss thus incurred, added to liabilities which his father had to pay, as surety, left him with only enough to move comfortably to, Rush County, Ind., where he had previously bought eighty acres of land, mostly in green timber, seven miles west of Rushville. Mr. Clark was blessed with an educated mother, who like her husband, was liberal in promoting the education of her family. She taught every one of them to read before leaving the parental roof to attend school, and her son George had learned to
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read at the age of four. In North Carolina he attended a subscrip- tion school about nine months. In Indiana he became a pupil, dur- ing a winter term at school in Carthage, and spent a second winter at another school in Walnut Ridge, supporting himself at both places by doing chores. Both of these schools were in Rush County, and in charge of the Society of Friends. But Mr. Clark's advantages had not been limited to the meager ones afforded in these schools, for in his native State, under the instruction of an elder brother, he had learned Latin so far as to read " Viri Romæ." His progress was then interrupted by the departure of the family for Indiana, where other more pressing necessities left little time for study; yet, while clearing up green, beech forests. the nights and rainy days were employed in continued striving after knowledge. When the family left North Carolina, his maternal uncle, George C. Mendenhall, a wealthy slave holder and prominent lawyer of Guil- ford County, exacted a promise from Mr. and Mrs. Clark to allow their son George to return to his home when eighteen years of age. The father was extremely desirous to fulfill this promise, but his necessities prevented, until at last an opportunity was presented for him to ride back to North Carolina with relatives, who had driven through to Indiana in a private carriage. They had been directed by the uncle above named to bring George back with them. He went, and soon after his arrival his uncle sent him for one year to the Friends' boarding school at New Garden, near Greensboro. His predelictions, up to this time, were for the profession of medicine, and he had read with care, "Bell's Anatomy," "Gibson's Surgery" and other medical works. He was now a good Latin scholar, and had some knowledge of Greek; and, encouraged by an offer of his uncle, he commenced the study of the law under his instruction. After two years of close reading he passed a long and severe exam- ination, by three Judges of the Supreme Court, without missing a question, and was duly licensed to practice in the County Courts. This was in June, IS43, and after he had studied another year he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State. On the 30th of that month, with horse and saddle-bags given him by his uncle, and $100, Mr. Clark set out for Indiana. Going through Kentucky he called on Henry Clay, then a candidate for the pres- idency. On reaching home he remained there until the 13th of the following October, when he located in Rushville to practice law. Having no money nor influential friends, business came slowly. A Bar consisting of such men as Rariden, Newman, Parker, Test, O. H. Smith, C. B. Smith, Perry, Hackleman, Tingley, Cox, Finley, Bigger, etc., left little room for a tyro, and he was compelled to engage temporarily in other pursuits. He acted as clerk in a store;
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taught school two years near Monrovia, Morgan County; was tel- egraph operator in the first office in Rushville, and became Town- ship Clerk. Finally, in March, 1851, he settled down to the practice of law, but the fates seemed unpropitious until 1854, when his suc- cess really began. In the fall of that year he was elected on the Whig ticket to the Lower House of the Legislature, and served one term, which wholly satisfied his political ambition. In March, 1856, Mr. Clark entered into partnership with Pleasant A. Hack- leman, a prominent attorney and politician, and afterward a Briga- dier-General. In this relation he toiled hard, chiefly in the preparation of papers, and the firm became one of the ablest in Eastern Indiana. In 1861, it was 'dissolved, Mr. Hackleman en- tering the army. The wranglings of pettifoggers in Justices' Courts were always distasteful to Mr. Clark, and he had now gained experience and reputation that enabled him to dispense with such practice. He had given much attention to that branch of the law which has to do with the titles of lands and the rights of heirs, and he came to be regarded as a safe counselor. In 1864 he was elected President of the Rushville branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana, and held that office by successive re-elections until the bank closed in April, 1875. In October, 1871, he was elected President of the Bank of the State of Indiana, which position he held until the closing of the bank, as above indicated. In 1865, he was chosen President of the Rushville National Bank, and still acts in that capacity. In all these responsible positions he performed his duties to the entire satisfaction of Directors and stockholders. In October, 1872, the Governor appointed him a Director of the Southern State Prison of Indiana, to fill a vacancy until the meeting of the General Assembly. Mr. Clark was formerly a Whig, and is now a pronounced Republican; and though not a politician in the sense of being an office-seeker, he has always held positive views of public policy, maintaining them manfully in debate. In 1846, at Rushville, he joined the I. O. O. F., and is now Past Grand. Mr. Clark's ancestors, on both sides, were mostly of the Society of Friends, and he has a birthright membership which he has never broken. Personally, he is of good figure, rather above the average size, and his bearing is dignified and impressive. Nat- urally thoughtful, he early evinced a preference for the intimate acquaintance of men advanced in years; and among the lessons of wisdom derived from these associations he acquired that precision of language and steadfastness of deportment that have long char- acterized him. He believes that the legal profession is, or should be, the most exalted of all pursuits, and therefore holds in just con- tempt that class denominated shysters. He is profoundly versed
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in law, especially in the branch to which we have referred, and is one of the most reliable of counselors. It may seem at first glance paradoxical that a man who delights in the investigation of abstruse legal subjects should find equal pleasure in the cultivation of flowers: yet to this he devotes much attention. It affords him needed rec- reation, and he has displayed much care and taste in ornamenting his grounds. He not only excels in horticulture, but is a skillful botanist. Mr. Clark has a large fund of information, and the happy faculty of making it readily available. Naturally, and from long habit, he is so careful that he seldom makes a mistake or engages in a hazardous enterprise. He shrinks instinctively from the throng of men; but with chosen friends he is very companionable. His professional abilities and extensive reading, his perfect honesty and pure morals, and his many quiet acts of charity have rendered him one of the most useful and respected citizens of both the county and the State.
How. ULYSSES D. COLE, a prominent member of the Rush County Bar, is a native of Union County, Ohio, born September 19, 1841. He was the son of Philander B. and Dorothea ( Witter) Cole, the former a native of Columbus, Ohio, born in October, 1815, and the latter a native of Union County, Ohio, born in June, 1820. He was reared in his native county his employment being chiefly upon a farm. His father was a prominent attorney of Union County, Ohio, and was for many years one of the leading men of that part of Ohio. He at times held the following responsible posi- tions: Prosecuting Attorney, Member of House of Representatives three terms; one term as State Senator; Delegate to the National Republican Convention at Baltimore in 1864; Republican Presi- dential Elector in 1884: Judge Common Pleas Court five years. He now resides in Marysville, Union County, Ohio. Ulysses gradu- ated at Kenyon College in 1862. In the meantime he taught one term of school in 1860. In May, 1862, he entered the service of the Union Army as a private in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In May, 1863, he was elected First Lieutenant Company B, Eighty sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which capacity he served until the winter of 1863-4, and in the spring of 1864, he re-entered the service as Captain of Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served thus until the close of the War, when he returned to Marysville, Ohio, and began the study of law with his father. The winter of 1865-6 was spent in the Law Department of Harvard College. In January, 1867, he took charge of the Indiana Herald of Huntington, this State, as Editor and one of the proprietors. In 1869 he became the sole owner of that property. He took as a half partner, John F.
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Moses, in 1870, and they continued together until October, 1875. In connection with the newspaper work he also gave attention to the practice of law and after retiring from the paper in 1875, he continued to practice his profession in Huntington until in January, 1880. He then removed to Indianapolis and there practiced his profession until April, ISSI, when he came to Rushville, and pur- chased the Rushville Republican of John F. Moses. In January, 1884, he sold a half interest in that property to John F. Moses and Jacob Feudner; April 1, 1887, he sold his remaining interest to them and now his exclusive attention is given to the practice of law. He was married February 19, 1873, to Ella J. Purviance, daughter of the late Samuel H. Purviance, formerly President First National Bank of Huntington. She died February 13, 1876, leaving two children: Dorothea and George P., the latter of whom died in infancy. June 3, 1880, Mr. Cole was married to Sarah E. Mauzy, daughter of Abram G. Mauzy, of Rushville. Subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church, the F. & A. M., the A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R. lodges. Politically, he is a Republican. In 1876, he was elected a member of the Legislature from Huntington and Wabash counties; served in the session of 1877. While a member of that body he introduced and secured the passage of the bill em- bracing the first free gravel road law - an act which has resulted in revolutionizing the road system of the State. In 1871, he founded the Citizens' Bank of Huntington and was connected with it five years. While a resident of Huntington, Mr. Cole, in 1872, organ- ized the first Building and Loan Association of that city, of which organization he served as President a number of years. He takes an active part in Sabbath School work and in that connection he has served as Superintendent a number of years.
JOHN H. CULBERTSON, a native of Mason County, Ky., was born October 22, 1819, being the eldest son of seven children born to Robert and Nancy ( Hunter) Culbertson, and is of Scotch-Irish origin. The parents of our subject were natives of Kentucky, and the father died there. He was by occupation a wheelwright, and for many years carried on an extensive business in that line. The mother of Mr. Culbertson died in Rush County, Ind., prior to the war. The subject of this biography came to Rush County in 1851, and located in the western part of Rushville Township. He was educated at the common schools, and was reared a farmer. He now owns 212 acres of well improved and valuable land. Polit- ically, Mr. Culbertson is a staunch Republican, and is respected by all who know him, and as a farmer has been successful.
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