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 66
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paternal grandfather of Mr. Lewark was a native of Virginia, a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his death took place in Hamilton County, Ohio, at about one hundred years of age. The Lewark family came to Rush County in a very early day, his father entering land here. Our subject is the fifth in a family of ten chil- dren by his father's first marriage, and was raised on the farm, and a student at the country schools. By occupation he is a farmer, and owns a well improved farm near the city of Rushville. HIis mar- riage occurred March 15, 1863, to Miss Malinda Jones, a native of Fayette County, Ind., born January 24, 1842. To this union are these two children: Van E. and Gessie. In politics, Mr. Lewark is a Democrat, and one of the honorable citizens of this township.
JOHN W. LOWER was born near Rushville, Indiana, May 3, 1830, and was the son of James and Mahala (James) Lower, and is of German descent. His father was born in Virginia, and came to this county in the pioneer days of the county, and died here in 1841, at the age of fifty years. His grandfather was John Lower, a pioneer man, and the first court ever held in this county was held on his farm. He removed to Iowa in 1840, and there died. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia and died in this county, in 1835. Of three children born to his parents our subject is the oldest. He was raised on a farm and began supporting himself at the age of fifteen years, working for $6 a month. He worked for
seven years by the month and then commenced farming; he settled where he now owns, in 1853. He now owns eighty acres of well improved land, and has the nicest little farm in the township, which by his own efforts he obtained. In 1853, Mr. Lower was married to Miss Rhoda Edmonson, born in this county, in April, 1833, and is the daughter of Wren and Elizabeth Edmonson, natives of Ken- tucky. To this union were born six children, viz .: Amanda E., James M., Annie E., Elma J., Thomas M. and Martha B. As a politician, this gentleman is a Democrat. Mrs. Lower is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lower is a well known and highly respected citizen.
JOHN B. MACY, one of Rushville's prominent and influential citizens, was born in Henry County, May 3, 1846. He was the oldest of four children, two sons and two daughters, born to Will- iam R. and Sally W. (Dicks) Macy, both natives of Guilford County, N. C., of English descent. His paternal grandparents were Enoch and Nancy (Rayle) Macy, both natives of North Caro- lina. His maternal grandparents were Job and Hannah (White) Dicks, both of whom were also natives of North Carolina. His one brother and two sisters were: Julius C., Samira H. and Emily J., of whom Samira H. died in infancy. He was reared in Spice-
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land, Henry County, and from the time he was old enough, he worked in his father's blacksmith shop. At about the age of nineteen, he entered upon the study of telegraphy at Dunreith, Henry County, which was completed in due time, and to which his attention was directed in various offices for about ten years. In about the fall of 1874, he entered the employ of the Quaker City Machine Works, at Indianapolis, as correspondent and traveling salesman, in which capacity he continued until August, 1880, when he came to Rushville, and since then has been in the employ of Nolan, Madden & Co., as book-keeper and correspondent. He was married February 14, 1869, to Lizzie A. Woolen, of Delaware County, this State. She died July 7, 1873, leaving two children : Dora and Eva Pearl, who are aged sixteen and fourteen, respect- ively. His second marriage occurred December 24, 1874, when Eunice J. Peirce, of Blountsville, Henry County, this State, became his wife. This union has resulted in the birth of two children: Fannie E. and Bertha M., aged respectively eleven and nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Macy are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the Royal Arcanum Society, and in politics, he is a pronounced Republican. Ile has been coun- cilman in First Ward since May, ISS6. He is an influential and reliable man, an efficient book-keeper and a first-class citizen.
THOMAS MADDEN, one of the proprietors of the foundry of Nolan, Madden & Co., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., December 27, 1849. He was the eighth of ten children - five sons. and five daughters - born to Bryan and Letitia (Rafferty) Madden, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They were reared and married in their native country, and in 1847, they emigrated to America, and located in Syracuse, N. Y. His four brothers were: Patrick, John, Bernard and Michael, all alive. His sisters were: Mary, Mar- garet, Mary Ann. Celia and Ellen, of whom, Mary, Margaret and Celia are deceased. When our subject was about four years old his parents emigrated westward, and, after spending about one year in the State of Ohio, they located permanently in Richmond, this State, where the subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth. At the age of fifteen, he became employed in the Quaker City Machine Works, of Richmond, where he learned the trade of machinist. He continued there about seven years. In 1873, he accompanied the machine works to Indianapolis, and continued with it there until the fall of 1877, when he came to Rushville, and, in connection with his brother, Bernard Madden, and Michael Nolan, built the foundry they at present operate. He was married May 3, 1883, to Mary E. Betker, a native of Cincinnati, born July 8, 1859, and daughter of Theodore and Eliza (McDonald) Betker. To
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them two children have been born: Thomas E., born February 2, 1884, and Clara, born July 11, ISS5, both living. Mr. and Mrs. Madden are members of the Catholic Church. In politics, the for- mer is a Democrat. His paternal grandparents were Patrick and Celia (McNally) Madden. His maternal grandparents were John and Sabina (McElynn) Rafferty, the former of whom was the son of Dominie and Mary (Clines) Rafferty, and the latter was the daughter of John and Ellen (Manion ) McElynn.
SAMUEL W. McMAHAN, M. D., of the Rushville Graphic, is a native Hoosier, born in Madison County, December 25, IS47. He is a son of James and Sarah (Smith) McMahan, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. The former is of Scotch- Irish, and the latter of English descent. The parents immigrated to Indiana at an early day and located on a farm in Madison County where our subject was reared, receiving his elementary training in the district schools. At the age of eighteen he entered Quincy Academy and after completing the prescribed course began teach- ing; but after two years abandoned the profession for the time being and entered the law office of his uncle, Capt. G. T. Smith of Anderson. He remained in the office as a student of law for one year, but on account of an increasing dislike for the profession he quit the office, coming to Rush County in 1870. Here he followed teaching for three consecutive years. In 1873 he was appoined Deputy County Clerk, but after one year resigned to accept the position of Assistant Cashier of the Rushville National Bank. This he soon relinquished to accept the responsible position of Cashier of the Franklin Life Insurance Company of Indianapolis. After a service of less than two years he was compelled, on account of fail- ing health, to select some vocation that would give him more out- door exercise, with a view of restoring his health. As this end could be secured in the practice of medicine he immediately entered the office of Dr. Marshall Sexton as a student, and after a thorough course of reading he entered the Indiana Medical College, from which institucion he graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1879. He at once began the practice in Rushville, and has from the begining been unusually successful. Ile is much interested in his profession, and is an active member of the American, State and County Medical Societies. May 19, 1875, Dr. McMahan was mar- ried to Miss Lydia Sexton, daughter of Hon. Leonidas Sexton, born March 29, 1856. This union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Anna, born September 15, 1876, and Blaine, born July 4, 1879. In politics, he is a Republican and one of the most earnest advocates of its principles; he is a member of the K. of P. Secret Society, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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JOHN D. MEGEE, a prominent young lawyer of Rushville, was born in Rushville Township, this county, two and one-half miles southeast of Rushville, November 20, 1850. He was the son of William E. and Ellen E. ( Morris) Megee, the former a native of Jessamine County, Ky., of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Woodford County, Ky., of Irish and German descent. He was reared upon the farm, and there continued until he reached the age of twenty, when he entered the Normal School of Lebanon, Ohio, and there remained one year, completing a business course, after which he acted as salesman in a dry goods store at Washington, Daviess Co., Ind., two years. He then acted as salesman in the dry goods store of J. H. Mauzy, of Rushville, nearly two years. He next engaged at mercantile pursuits with Z. E. Mauzy & W. A. Caldwell, and continued with them two years. He then sold his interest to his partners and entered upon the study of law with B. L. Smith. That was in January, 1876. He was soon afterward ad- mitted to the Bar and formed a partnership in the practice of law with Mr. B. L. Smith. That partnership lasted two years. He continued in the practice of law until the fall of ISSI, when he be- came one of the incorporators of the Chaffee County Gold and Sil- ver Mining Company, of Colorado, to which his entire attention was directed until 1885, during which time his place of residence was in Poncha Springs, Col. He was, during that time, the man- ager of the company. He still retains an interest in the stock, be- sides he has other mining interests in Saguache County, Col. In May, 1885, he returned to Rushville, where he has since been practicing law. He became the partner. in that profession, of T. M. Ochiltree, in the spring of 1887. The firm is now doing a good business. He was married March 3, 1874, to Susan O. Sneed, daughter of William C. S. Sneed, formerly of this county. Mr. Megee is the father of three children, two of whom, both daugh- ters, are living. Mr. Megee is a member of the Christian Church. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a staunch Democrat in politics. During the memorable session of the Indiana Legislature in 1887 he acted as Minute Clerk of the Senate. He takes an active part in politics, and is recognized as an influential factor in the local politics of the county.
WILLIAM S. MEREDITH, the present School Superintendent of Rush County, was born three and one-half miles west of Rush- ville, December 13th, 1853. He was the son of Thomas J. and Margaret C. (Cassady) Meredith, the former a native of Bourbon County, Ky., of English descent, and the latter a native of this county, of Irish descent. He was reared upon his father's farm,
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and at the age of twenty he took up the vocation of a teacher which has furnished his winter's employment ever since. He has now taught for thirteen consecutive winters in this county, and during seventy-two months of this time he taught in the same build- ing, which is evidence of the universal satisfaction he gave to his patrons. He has during this time built up an enviable reputation as an instructor, and is recognized as one of the most successful teachers in the county. His vacations have chiefly been spent in school, though during a portion of the time he was engaged at farm work. He completed a teachers' course in the Central Indiana Normal School of Danville, in 1879. The two summers following he spent in the Indianapolis Business College, where he acquainted himself with book-keeping. During the winter of ISS2-3, he was Principal of the graded schools at Raleigh, this county. June 6, 1887, he was selected by the Township Trustees of this county, to fill the office of County Superintendent, the duties of which posi- tion he is now discharging. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the I. O. O. F. Lodge.
THOMAS MILLER was born in Harrison County, Ky., January 21, 1824, son of Aaron and Polly ( Ravencroft) Miller, and is of Ger- man lineage. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. Miller is the eldest of nine children, seven of whom are now living. In 1830 he came with his parents to Rush County, and settled in this township, where our subject attended the common schools. At the age of nineteen years he began working by the month, for a man by the name of Richard Redrick, and for six months' hard labor, received $50. In 1848, he settled on his present farm which consists of 160 acres of good land. By hard work and strict economy he has secured a comfortable home. Mr. Miller was married in 1850, to Miss Cynthia E. Stewart, born in this town- ship, in 1834, and is the daughter of Thomas and Caroline ( West) Stewart, natives of Kentucky. To this union were born four children, two of whom are now living, viz .: Pleasant A., born Sep- tember 7, 1855, and India, born March 9, 1869. Mrs. Miller died July 24, 1884. Politically, Mr. Miller is an earnest . Republican. He has resided in this township for more than fifty-seven years, and is esteemed by all who know him.
HARRISON MILLER, one of the well-known and representative men of Rush County, was born near where he now resides, Sep- tember 8, 1831, son of Aaron and Polly (Ravencroft) Miller, and is of German descent. His father was born in Virginia in 1789, and died in Rush County, April 19, 1874. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Jacob Miller, a native of Germany, and who came to the United States prior to the Revolutionary War,
John Moffett, bes &.
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and settled in Virginia, but subsequently removed to Harrison County, Ky., where the mother of our subject was born in 1801, and who died in Rush County, Ind., in 1876. The maternal grand- father of Mr. Miller was Thomas Ravencroft, also a Virginian, and who spent seven years of his life in the Revolutionary War, and he was a Captain in the War of 1812. His death took place in Ken- tucky. The Miller family came to Rush County in 1830, and set- tled in the southwest part of Rushville Township. Mr. Miller is the fourth in a family of nine children born, seven of whom are now living. He was raised on the farm and attended the country schools, but gained the major part of his education through his own efforts after he became twenty-three years of age. In the fall of 1856, Mr. Miller went to Jasper County, Ill., and taught school in that county during the winter of 1856-7, and then returned to Rush County and continued school teaching for twelve years, during the winter season. In 1860. Mr. Miller began farming on rented land. In 1862, Mr. Miller removed to Van Buren Township, Shelby County, where he farmed three years, and then returned to Rush County, and in 1867 settled where he now resides. He is one of the en- terprising farmers of the county, and now owns 400 acres of well improved land. In 1860, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Mary F. Thomas, who died September 9, 1865, and by that union are these two children: Margaret and Ulysses S. G. The second marriage of our subject was solemnized April 25, 1867, to Miss Irene Webb, who was born in this county, July 5, 1828, daughter of Cuthbert and Hannah ( Knotts) Webb, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and were among the pioneers of this county. In politics our subject is a firm and true friend of the Republican party. In 1863, he was commissioned Captain, by Governor Oli- ver P. Morton, of the Hancock and Shelby County Home Guards. Mr. Miller is a true gentleman and an upright and honorable man, and wherever he is known he is highly respected.
JOHN MOFFETT, M. D., an able and scholarly physician of Rush- ville, was born in Washington County, Va., October 23, 1822. He was the son of William and Isabel ( Reed) Moffett, both of whom were also natives of Washington County, Va., the former of Irish and Welsh, and the latter of Irish and Scotch descent. His pater- nal grandparents were John and Isabel (Davis) Moffett, both natives of Virginia. His maternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Orr) Reed, both natives of Bucks County, Pa. The subject of this sketch was but one year old when his father and mother came westward to Indiana and settled upon an 'eighty-acre tract of land, two miles and one-half northeast of the present city of Rushville. Here our subject grew up to manhood, and here, he has ever since 28
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continued to reside. His early life was spent assisting to clear and cultivate the farm.
At the age of twenty he taught one term of school, after which he entered the Rushville Seminary, and there attended one year. During the earlier part of his life he received in the public school, a good common school education. On the 14th day of May, 1844, he entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. William H. Martin, of Rushville. In October, 1846, he entered the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, and there pursued his professional studies until March 4, 1849. when he received the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. Almost immediately after his grad- uation he was elected to the position of interne of College Hospital, which position he filled one year. On the 15th day of April, 1850, he entered upon the practice of his profession in Rushville, in which he has ever since been actively and successfully engaged. In 1850, he became a member of the old Fifth District Medical Society. He joined the Indiana State Medical Society at Lafayette, in May, 1853, which membership has never been broken. He was also for a number of years a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation. In 1879, he became a member of the Faculty of the Cen- tral College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, being elected to the Chair of the Principles of Medicine, a position he occupied three years, then was transferred to the Chair of Obstet- rics, and there continued until March 4, 1887, when he resigned. He is now emeritus professor of obstetrics of that institution. He formerly taught anatomy and physiology in the public school of Rushville for two years, and to his credit it may be said his stu- dents made remarkable progress. He was married in Allegheny City, Pa., May 8, 1851, to Elizabeth J. A. Harris, daughter of Isaac Harris, of Allegheny City. She was born in Pittsburgh, January 17, 1821. She died April 12, 1878. Dr. Moffett is . the father of four children, of whom two, the oldest and youngest-a son and daugter-are living. The Doctor is a member of the Regular Baptist Church. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was appointed United States Pension Examiner in April, 1886, and still fills that position. He has frequently been honored with vari- ous municipal offices, all of which he filled with credit. He was Town Trustee in all ten years, and. School Trustee a number of years. He held the position of Chairman of the Democratic Cen- tral Committee in Rush County, for twenty consecutive years. The portrait of Dr. Moffett can be found on another page of this book.
JOHN F. MOSES, editor, and one of the proprietors of the Rush- ville Republican, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, October 23, IS41. He was the son of John and Dorcas (Clemens) Moses, the former a native of Bedford County, Pa., of German descent, and
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the latter a native of Culpepper County, Va., of Swiss descent. His father accompanied his father and mother to Perry County, Ohio, in IS01, one year before Ohio was admitted as a State. He afterward moved to Delaware County, Ohio, and became one of the early settlers of that county. Our subject spent his boyhood in his native town, Delaware, and at the early age of twelve, he began learning the printer's trade. He continued at his trade in Delaware (town) until he had reached the age of sixteen years, when he went to Kansas Territory, and there, and in western Missouri, he worked at his trade two years. In March, 1861, he returned to Delaware, and April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he served until the fall of 1862, when he was transferred to Company A, Fourth United States Artillery. He continued with that until June 5, 1864, when his term of service expired. The following six years were spent working at his trade in Cincinnati and northeastern Kentucky. In May, 1870, he became one of the proprietors of the Indiana Herald of Huntington, with which paper he continued as editor, and one of the proprietors until October, 1875. He resumed newspaper work in January, 1877, at which time he became the sole owner of the Rushville Republican. He sold this property April 1, 1881. During the summer of 1882, he was connected with a paper at Franklin, Johnson County. He resumed a con- nection with the Rushville Republican, January 1, 1884, when he bought a half interest in the paper. To this his entire atten- tion has been given ever since. His first marriage occurred in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, October 18, 1870, when Jennie C. Goble became his wife. She died November 19, 1875. September 18, 1878, Mr. Moses was married to Annie Caldwell, by whom he is the father of one child. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. The former is a member of the G. A. R. He is a prominent Republican and his connection with the Rush- ville Republican has made it one of the leading Republican organs in this part of the State.
HENRY C. MULL, a representative of one of the early fam- ilies of this county, was born where he now resides February 2, 1832, son of George and Mary (Ball) Mull. His father was born in Loudoun County, Va., April 17, 1799, and died January 15, 1887, in this county, and the mother of Mr. Mull was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, December 7, 1807, and now resides on the old homestead in this county. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was David Mull, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1740, and settled in Pennsylvania, and later moved to Virginia, where he died. In 1814, the Mull family emigrated to
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Warren County, Ohio, and in 1821, came to Rush County, Ind. The family were among the early pioneers of this county, and the land which Henry now owns, was entered by his father, who was one of the early, useful and leading men of Rush County, and for many years was a Justice of the Peace, and served as County Com- missioner. The gentleman whose name is introduced in this sketch, was raised on a farm, and was a student at the subscription schools. At the age of twenty-one, he took up the business of life for himself, choosing the occupation of a farmer, and now owns 240 acres of well improved land, and is a leading farmer of this township. His present residence, which was erected in ISS2. cost about $4.000. He was married March 12, 1856, to Miss Lucinda Kirkpatrick, who died March 13, 1857, and November 6, 1859, Mr. Mull was united in marriage to Miss Elvira Shaw, who was born in Orange Township, this county, July 29, 1837, daughter of Alvin and Ruth (Welch ) Shaw, natives of Butler County, Ohio, the former born in ISOS, and the latter in 1807, and died October 9, 1870. They were early settlers 'of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mull, were born the following children: William A., born June 28, IS61; Lucinda E., born March 26, 1864, and died July 3, 1865: Mary A., born December 1, 1866; Clara A., born Septem- ber 11, IS69: Henry W., born August 10, 1876, and died February 19, 1878, and Katie, born January 11, 1883. Mr. Mull is a Demo- crat, and is one of the prominent men of this township.
CYRUS F. MULLIN, Deputy Auditor, was born in Ripley County, Ind., March 10, 1846. He was the son of Mark H. and Harriet L. (Ogden) Mullin, the former a native of Warren County, Ohio, and the latter a native of Franklin County, Ind. When he was eleven years old his father, who was an itinerant Methodist preacher, moved to Jefferson County, and during our subject's youth, he resided in Jefferson, Clark, Scott and Bartholomew counties, where he resided when Cyrus left home and entered the army in Company H, Twenty-second Indiana Infantry. This was before he was six- teen years of age. He served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Stone River, the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Battle of Bentonville, N. C. After the war he came to Rush County, and in 1866, he engaged in the dry goods business in Carthage. In August, 1877, he took charge of the Rush County Jail as Deputy and Bailiff, continued as such four years. In April, ISSo, he accepted the position of Deputy State Auditor, which position he filled until January, ISS2. In the fall of 1883, he took the position of Deputy Auditor, in which ca- pacity he now serves. He was married in May, IS67, to Viola Smith, by whom he is the father of four children: Annie, Mary,
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