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 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
JUDGE WILLIAM A. CULLEN was born of Scotch parentage in Patriot, Switzerland County, Ind., on the 2nd day of August, 1834.
-
Jim Anderson
691
RUSHVILLE, CITY AND TOWN SHIP.
Received a common school education, with one year at Hanover and one year at Wabash colleges, in the scientific department. He read law with Gen. E. Dumont, of Indianapolis, and graduated at Greencastle, in law school, under Hon. A. C. Downey. On the 7th day of May, 1857, he came to Rushville, and began the prac- tice of his profession. On the 14th day of October following, he was married at Rising Sun, Ind., to Frances S. Davis. He was a Democrat in politics, until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he promptly espoused the cause of the Union, and labored vigor- ously and untiringly in recruiting soldiers for the Government. In March, 1864, he was appointed by Gov. Morton, Lieut. Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Regiment. Served in command of the regiment, during the Atlanta Campaign, was honorably discharged in July following on account of sickness. In the fall of 1864, was nominated by the Republican party of Rush County, and elected to the State Senate, and served four years, when he was appointed by the Governor, Judge of the Common Pleas Court, as such appointee he served nine months, when he was nominated and elected over Hon. Barton W. Wilson, a Democrat. for a term of four years. Before the term expired Hon. J. M. Wilson, then Judge of the Circuit Court, was elected to Congress, and Judge Cullen was appointed Circuit Judge by Gov. Baker, to serve out the unexpired term of Judge Wilson. In the fall following Judge Cullen was nominated and elected Circuit Judge for the term of six years, over Hon. John. S. Scoby, Democrat. Judge Cullen 'served as Circuit Judge six years, and then partially re- sumed the practice of law dividing his time between the cultivation of his farm and the practice of his profession. He has been success- ful in his profession and the acquisition of property. In 1886, he was elected a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member for twenty years.
WILLIAM DAGLER, farmer and stock-breeder, was born in Ger- many, November 2, 1852, son of William and Mary (Foegle) Dagler, both natives of Germany, and still reside in that country. Our subject attended school but little, and after coming to America, settled in this county where he has since resided. For his first year's work in this county he received $40, and for the second, $75. By occupation he is a farmer, and for several years has given his attention to the breeding of fine stock, and now owns some of the best thoroughbred stock in the State. His marriage occurred January 1, 1874, to Miss Isslo King, born in Rush County, Ind., in 1853. They have five children, viz .: Charles, Stella, Willie, John and Fredrick. Mr. Dagler is a Republican and a member of Royal Arcanum Lodge No. 887. Mr. Dagler is a member of the Pres- 26
692
RUSH COUNTY.
byterian Church, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Dagler are highly respected by all who know them.
MORTON H. DOWNEY, the present Surveyor of Rush County, and a very exemplary young man, was born in Noble Township, this county, January 3, 1863. He is the son of John D. and Emily M. (Boyless) Downey, who were natives of Shenandoah and Frederick counties, Va., respectively. They are now old res- idents of Noble Township. He was reared upon the farm and re- ceived in the district schools a good common school education. At seventeen years of age he entered the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he took a full course in civil engineering. He then became employed by the Surveyor of Marion County, Ind., whose assistant he was about three months. From March, 1883, to March, 1884, he traveled through central Tennessee and northern Alabama for the Central Publishing House, Cincinnati. Owing to ill-health he resigned his position, returned home, and in June, 1884, he was nominated by his party for the office of County Surveyor. to which office he was elected the following fall. He was then but twenty- one years of age and was perhaps the youngest man ever elected to an office in Rush County. He was re-elected in the fall of 1886, and has now entered upon his second term. He is a member of Ivy K. of P. Lodge No. 27, and of Ivy Division ( Uniform Rank ) No. 35. Politically, he is a Republican. He is an upright, straight- forward young man, and an efficient officer.
ALFRED DUKE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Rush County, Ind., March 24, 1839, son of Amos and Rosanna (Dunn) Duke, and is of German-Irish descent. His father, a native of Kentucky, was born May 3, 1800, and died in this county, August 8, 1862. The mother of Mr. Duke was born in Berkley County. Va., April 22, 1803, and at the age of eight years emigrated to Ken- tucky. She now resides in Kansas. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Matthew Duke, a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in Kentucky. His maternal grandfather was William Dunn, a Virginian by birth, also a soldier of 1812, and died in Lucas County, Ky. Mr. Duke is the seventh in a family of nine children and received his education at the early schools of this county. In 1841, he removed from Walker to Anderson Township, and in 1872, settled on his present farm which consists of 370 acres of choice land. His marriage occurred September, 1866, to Miss America Moore, born at Morristown, Shelby County, January 4, 1847, and is the daughter of Elijah and Leah Moore. They have three chil- dren, viz .: Nettie, born June 2, 1870; Walter G., born September 3, 1879, and Howard E., born July 21, 1882. Mr. Duke is an ar- dent Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Duke are members of the Christian Church.
693
RUSHVILLE, CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
ROBERT DUNN was born in the State of South Carolina, Octo- ber 11, 1830. He was the second of nine children - five sons and four daughters - born to James and Bethenia (Ivans) Dunn, both of whom were reared in South Carolina. His father was the son of Robert Dunn, who was born in Europe. His four brothers were: Richardson, Andrew J., William L. and George, of whom only two- Andrew J. and George are living. His four sisters were: Elizabeth J., Nancy, Martha G. and Louisa, all of whom are dead except Nancy, who resides in Chicago. When he was yet a young child less than three years old his parents came to In- diana and settled in Fayette County. One year later they removed to Rush County. Two years later they removed to Hancock County where Robert spent his boyhood upon a farm. In the spring of 1845 the family removed to Marion County and settled upon a farm north of Indianapolis where the mother of our subject shortly died. In the spring of 1847 the father and children re- moved to Indianapolis. A year later they again settled upon a farm in Marion County. In 1848 our subject began learning the plasterer's trade in Indianapolis. This has been the chief occupa- tion of his life. He has worked at his trade in Indianapolis, Knightstown, Rushville and in the country surrounding those places. He first came to Rushville in 1868, a resident of which he has been ever since, excepting one year during which he re- sided in Indianapolis. In September, 1885, he engaged at the butch- ering trade with Thacker H. Gulbreth, and the firm still continues. In I851 he married Martha Day, who died in 1870, leaving five chil- ren: William L., Mary A., Richard W., Harvey E. and George, all of whom are living. One other, James M., died in childhood. In 1871 Mr. Dunn was married to Eliza J. Lairmore, who is his present wife. Mr. Dunn.is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the I. O. O. F., and K. of L. lodges, and in politics, he is a pronounced Republican.
GEORGE W. EBRIGHT was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, July 25, 1836. He was the son of Abram and Rachel Ebright, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German, and the latter of English descent. He was reared up to the age of thirteen on a farm in his native county. At that age he went to Waynesville, Warren Co., Ohio, where he worked in a harness shop and attended school one year. He then went to Groveport, Franklin Co., Ohio, where he attended school two years. He then engaged as a sales- man in a dry goods store of that place, and six months later he took a like position in Waynesville. He remained there three years. In 1860, he went to Xenia, Ohio, and became a clerk in a hardware store. April 19, 1861, he entered Company D, Twelfth
694
RUSH COUNTY.
Ohio Infantry, with which he served three months. Owing to a sunstroke he did not re-enlist until until July 25, 1861, when he en- tered Company F, Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He entered as a private and was afterward promoted to First Lieutenant. At the close of the war he returned to Xenia, Ohio, and opened a music store which he conducted until 1870. In that year he engaged in the dry goods business at Waynesville, where he continued until the spring of ISS4. when he came to Rushville, and has since been one of her dry goods merchants. He was married February 16, 1870, to Miss Joannah Hutchison, of Xenia, Ohio. He has two children: Em- ma H. and Clark B., both living. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, the G. A. R., and a Republican.
JEROME ELLISON, an enterprising farmer of Rushville Town- ship, was born where he resides, February 4, 1837. son of William and Jane (Miller) Ellison. His father, a native of Virginia, was born May 15, 1782, and came to Rush County, Ind., in 1824, where his death occurred in 1868. The mother of Mr. Ellison was a Kentucky woman, born December 13, 1799, and died in this county July 5th, ISSO. The subject is the eldest of nine children born to his father's third marriage, and only three of whom are now living. Mr. Ellison was raised on the farm, and his educational advantages were limited. By occupation his life has been that of a farmer, and he now owns the old Ellison homestead, which is well improved. His present residence was built in 1885. The marriage of our sub- ject was solemnized 1870, to Miss Mary Rhodes, a native of Shelby. County, Ind., born January 28, 1854, and daughter of Ephraim Rhodes. To the marriage above noted are these children: Dora, born 1872, and Earl, born 1881. In politics, the subject of this sketch is a firm friend of the Republican party. For a half cen- tury he has lived in the same neighborhood, being a successful farmer and a worthy man.
JACOB FEUDNER, one of the proprietors of the Rushville Repub- lican, was born in the village of Uffhofen, near Bingen on the Rhine, in the Grand Duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, Feb- ruary 25, 1854. He was the son of Carl and Elizabeth (Jung) Feudner, with whom his boyhood was spent. He attended school from the age of six years until the age of fifteen, the last three years of which were spent in the college at Alzei. At fifteen years of age he left home and made his way to America. He reached the City of New York, July 6, 1869, and came directly to Huntington, Ind., where about a year later he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Indiana Herald. Three years later he took work on the Huntington Democrat, and a year later
695,
RUSHVILLE, CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
he went to Lafayette. He spent some months at journey work in Lafayette . and Logansport, after which he went to Ft. Wayne. There he was the foreman in the office of The Volks Freund, a German paper, until the fall of 1876, when he, in connection with two others, founded the Daily Tagblatt of Ft. Wayne. In the fol- lowing December he sold his interest in that paper, and after a short stay in Huntington he came in March, 1877, to Rushville, and engaged at journey work on the Rushville Republican. He is now one of the proprietors of that paper, and his entire time and attention are devoted to the mechanical work of the office. May 20, 1876, he was married to Lisette Gemmer of Huntington, Ind., by whom he has had four children: Henry, William, Cornelia liv- ing, and an infant daughter that died unnamed. Mr. Feudner is a member of the K. of P. order, and a Republican in politics.
AARON FRAZEE, a prominent farmer and influential citizen of Rush County, was born in Noble Township, this county, February 27, IS40. He was the youngest of seven children- five sons and two daughters-born to James and Catharine (King) Frazee, the former a native of Mason County, Ky., and the latter a native of Bracken County, Ky., both of English descent. His parents were reared and married in their native State, and emigrated from that State to Rush County in about the year 1826, and located in the woods of Noble Township, where the father and mother spent the rest of their lives. Our subject was reared upon his father's farm in this county, working upon the farm in summer and attending the 'district school in winter. At twenty years of age he took up the vocation of a farmer for himself, and continued in that pursuit in Noble Township about five years. In 1862, he moved to Hunting- ton County, this State, and located in Wayne Township, where he resided about ten years. He then returned to Rush County, and located where he now resides south of the city of Rushville. He was married September 4, 1862, to Sarah Brooks, who was born in Nicholas County, Ky., October 11, 1837. She was the daugh- ter of Mosely R. and Susan (Geohegan) Brooks, the former a native of Virginia. and the latter a native of Nicholas County, Ky. Her father was of English, and her mother of Scotch-Irish descent. They were married in Nicholas County, Ky., and in about the year 1850, they came to Rush County, and located in Noble Township, where the parents continued to reside until the time of their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Frazee are the parents of four children as follows: Orietta E., born August 6, 1863; William M., born December 23, 1868; Myrta E., born September 26, 1872, and Charles A., born December 11, 1875. The eldest daughter, Orietta E., was mar- ried April 24, 1884, to William W. Wilson, and resides in Noble
696
RUSH COUNTY.
Township. Mr. Frazee is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a Republican in politics. He owns a handsome farm of 500 acres, about three-fourths of which is in an excellent state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with good buildings and fences, and is alto- gether one of the best grain and stock farms in Rush County. He also owns a farm of eighty-two acres in Noble Township. He is an enterprising and successful farmer and stock-raiser.
JOHN GANTNER, a prominent citizen of Rushville, was born in Prussia, June 16, 1834. He was the second of six children-three sons and three daughters-born to Nicholas and Anna (Coleman) Gantner, with whom he came to America when he was six years old. His two brothers were Nicholas and Michael, both living. His three sisters were Catharine, Mary and Anna, of whom Anna is deceased. The family first located in Jennings County, Ind., where our subject spent his boyhood and youth, chiefly upon a farm. At the age of twenty-two he went to Chicago and there learned the trade of a stone cutter, at which he worked in that city for nearly three years. He then returned to Jennings County and worked at his trade in North Vernon about three years. He was married September 11, 1860, to Catharine Gahl, a native of Prus- sia, born April 12, 1838, and was the daughter of Peter and Susan Gahl, with whom she came to America when she was eight years old. In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Gantner came to Rushville, in which place they have ever since resided. Here Mr. Gantner first worked at his trade two years. He then engaged in the retail liquor busi- ness, and in connection with that he is now engaged in the ice. business and in pisciculture. He has a fine pond covering one and one-half acres of ground well stocked with German Carp. He is also the proprietor of a first-class restaurant on Main Street. Mr. and Mrs. Gantner have eight children: Nicholas, Anna C., Mary H., Amelia T., Michael A., Catharine J., John, and Edward H., all living. Mr. and Mrs. Gantner are members of the Catholic Church. In politics, the former is a Republican.
CHARLES H. GILBERT, M. D., was born in Louisville, Ky., May 1, 1858. He was the son of Rev. Alfred M. and Rosanna G. (Endress) Gilbert, now residents of Jacksonville, Illinois. His father is a very noted minister in the Christian Church. During the childhood of our subject his father and mother resided in Louis- ville, Ky., Danbury, Conn., New York City, and Syracuse, N. Y., where his calling as a minister demanded his services. When he was nine years old his parents became residents of the city of Bal- timore, where his youth was spent. He graduated in the Balti- more City College in his nineteenth year. In the meantime he had determined to fit himself for the medical profession, and to that end
697
RUSHVILLE, CITY AND TOWNHSIP.
during college life, he gave especial attention to studies bearing upon that subject. Shortly after his graduation his parents removed to Cincinnati, where our subject entered the Pulte Medical College. He graduated from that institution with honors, February 26, 1879, having received the Trustees' Prize. Immediately after he gradu- ated he formed a partnership in the practice of medicine with his old preceptor, Dr. Joseph Garretson, of Cincinnati, the former giv- ing especial attention to the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear, for which practice he had taken a course in the Cincinnati School of Ophthalmology and Otology, just after completing the course in the Pulte Medical College. His relationship with Dr. Garretson existed one year, at the end of which he came to Rush- ville. Here he has been actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, which is the treatment of the eye and ear. His marriage to Therese L. Norris, daughter of De Witt C. Norris, occurred February 8, 1882. They are the parents of one child - Florence, born December 9, 1882. The Doctor and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican in politics.
JAMES D. GLORE, was born in Campbell County, Ky., August 20, 1825. He was the son of Alexander and Catharine ( Doolittle) Glore, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. His parents removed to Rushville when he was but four months old, where he was reared and where he has ever since resided. At the age of nineteen he began to learn the trade of a plasterer and gave it his chief attention until 1869. He entered the Union service July 2, 1862, in Company H, 16th Indiana Regiment, as First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until March 5, 1863. He was captured at Richmond, Ky., about the last of July, 1862, but was exchanged in the following November. He afterward participated in an at- tack on Vicksburg and the battle of Arkansas Post. In 1869, he engaged in the restaurant business, to which was united in 1875, the business of baking. December 24, 1846, he married Martha Henderson, by whom he had twelve children, seven of whom, David M., Samuel A., Catharine F., Mary A., Minoor L., Anna L., and Inez V., are living. Those dead are: Floyd M., Hannah M., John A., Oliver G., and Charles A. In politics, Mr. Glore is a Republican.
WILLIAM F. GORDON, a prominent citizen of Rushville, and at present a retired farmer, was born in Franklin County, Ind., Sep- tember 7, 1843. He was the fourth child and oldest son in a family of six children, three sons and three daughters - born to Orval and Druzilla (Blacklidge) Gordon, both natives of Ken- tucky. His paternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Gordon. His maternal grandfather was James Blacklidge. His
698
RUSH COUNTY.
two brothers were Orval C., and John N., both of whom are liv- ing. His three sisters were Lovina, Carlotte and Elizabeth, the first two of whom are deceased. By his second wife, who, when he married her, was Mrs. Mary Alsworth, his father had three children: Martha. E., Manetta and Edward, the last of whom is deceased. He was reared upon a farm in his native county. At eighteen he entered the service of the Union Army in Company C, Sixty-eighth Indiana Regiment, with which he served until the close of the war. He entered as a private but was promoted to Quar- ter-Master Sergeant, from which rank he was mustered out. He participated in the battles of Hover's Gap, Chickamauga, Mission- ary Ridge, Nashville and other smaller engagements, in all of which he discharged his duties as became a loyal soldier. He re- turned to Franklin County after the war and took up the occupa- tion of a farmer. He was married December 2, 1866, to Laura J. Martindale, who was born in Franklin County, February 13, IS43, and was the daughter of Abner and Eliza (Butcher) Martindale, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. Her pater- nal grandparents were Amos and Martha Martindale. Her mater- nal grandfather was Thomas Butcher. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gordon continued to reside upon a farm in Franklin County, until 1872, when they removed to Rush County and lo- cated first in Union Township. Four years later they removed to Jackson Township. In 18So he was elected Treasurer of Rush County, when he moved to Rushville and filled that office one term. Since his term expired his attention has been given to superintend- ing his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of two chil- dren. The first was a son that died in infancy, unnamed, and Guy L., now a young man of eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the G. A. R., and a Republican in politics. He has held the office of Treasurer of the Agricultural Society a number of years, and at present he is a member of the Board of Cemetery Directors, and is President of the Rushville Natural Gas, Oil and Water Company. He is a reliable and influential man. Mrs. Gordon taught school several terms before her marriage.
JOHN K. GOWDY, the present Auditor of Rush County, was born in Burlington (now Arlington) this county, August 23, 1843. His parents were Adam M. C. and Nancy ( Oliver) Gowdy, the former a native of Green County, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish descent, son of Alexander Gowdy, the latter a native of Bourbon County, Ky., of English descent, daughter of John Oliver. His father, Adam, a blacksmith, was an early settler here and helped to lay out the town of Rushville .. But in 1849, he removed with his family to a
699
RUSHVILLE, CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
farm near Rensselaer, in Jasper County, this State, and there died January 22, 1857. One year later the subject of this sketch returned to this county and entered school at Burlington. September I, 1862, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in Company L, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and served until October 5, 1865, when mustered out. With his regiment he participated in the pursuit and capture of John Morgan, in all the battles in and about Knoxville, and later in the Atlanta Campaign. At the close of the war he returned to this county, and engaged in farming. January 20, 1867, he was married to Eve E. Gordon, who was born at Burlington, May 30, 1848, was the daughter of Uriah and Priscilla ( McDuffie) Gordon, both natives of Kentucky. He has had two children: Latta T. and Fannie A., the former of whom died in childhood. For many years Mr. Gowdy has been conspicuously identified with public affairs and the successes of the Republican party in Rush County. He has been twice elected Sheriff and twice County Auditor. As Sheriff he served from August 25, 1871, to August 25, 1875. IIe was first elected County Auditor in 1882, and again in 1886. From 1867, to 1871, and from 1875 to 1879, when not in office, he resided in Posey Township, and was engaged chiefly in farming. In February, 1880, a Republican Mass Convention chose Mr. Gowdy as Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, which honorable position he held until January 21, 1888, having acceptably managed the affairs of his party through four important campaigns. To his wise management and marked ability, as a leader, much of the success of the Republican party in Rush County is generally attributed. Since December, 1886, he has been one of the pro- prietors and editors of The Graphic. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. lodges, and the G. A. R.
PROF. DAVID GRAHAM, a worthy and esteemed citizen of Rush- ville, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 13, 1826. He was the eldest of three children, all sons, born to William G. and Mary (French) Graham, both natives of Washington County, N. Y., the former of Scotch, and the latter of French descent. His paternal grandparents were George and Anna (Cowden ) Graham, the former of whom was the son of William Graham. Both his great grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war, William Graham, who came from County Down, Ireland, in 1774, serving during the whole war, coming home but once or twice and seldom hearing from his family during the seven years. His maternal grandpar- ents were John and James (Graham) French. His two brothers are Thomas W. and Ebenezer, both of whom are living. Our sub- ject was reared upon a farm in his native county. In summer, he
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.