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 67
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Herbert and Howard, all living. He is a Republican and a mem- ber of the G. A. R. He is a trustworthy man and a good citizen.
THOMAS J. NEWKIRK, a prominent young member of the Rush- ville Bar, was born in Madison County, Ind., October 31, 1855. He is the son of Daniel B. and Polly ( Hamilton) Newkirk, both natives of Rush County, Ind. In 1869, his parents returned to Rush County, which they had left to move to Madison Connty in 1848. They settled in Union Township, where Thomas spent his youth upon a farm. He entered Adrian College, Michigan, in the fall of 1873, where he completed the Junior year and part of the Senior year. He then returned to Rushville and turned his atten- tion to the study of law. In 1877, he turned his attention to civil engineering, having been appointed to do the surveying in Rush County. He did the county and city surveying until 1883, and the city work until the spring of ISS7. During November, 1883, he formed a partnership with Claude Cambern in the practice of law, to which his attention is now entirely given. The firm is enjoying a liberal practice, and is recognized as one of the most successful law firms in Rushville. He was married November 8, 1877, to Katie Fay, daughter of Michael Fay, now of Howard County. She died about one year later, leaving one child, that survived her about three months. His marriage to Emma A. Warren occurred in 1879. She was the daughter of Zina Warren, of Hamilton County, Ind. This marriage has resulted in the birth of two chil- dren, both sons, and both living. Our subject is a member of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., K. of H. and Royal Arcanum lodges, and a Democrat. He takes a lively interest in the success of his party, and was its candidate for State Senator in ISSo, but failed to over- come an opposing majority. He was an alternate to the Chicago Convention that nominated Cleveland in 1884, and he has partici- pated in more political conventions perhaps than any man of his years in the State.
CHARLES O. NIXON, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Risk ) Nixon, was born in Ripley Township, Rush Co., Ind., May 25, 1845. His father, born January 10, 1819, was a native of Perquimans County, N. C., and came to Carthage with his uncle, Elijah llenby, in I835. He was Justice of the Peace in Carthage for twenty-four years, and never had a case reversed, when appealed from his de- cision, in that time. Ile was a local preacher in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and died in Rushville, December 4, 1883, as he lived-a Christian gentleman. Charles' mother was born Septem- ber 12, 1824, in Virginia, and came to Indiana in an early day. Charles is the eldest of ten children, six boys and four girls, only three of whom are now living, the other two, Lucius residing at
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Centerville, and Lee in Rushville, Ind. Charles attended school at Carthage, and grew to manhood among the scenes of his boy- hood. At the age of eighteen, when the country needed his ser- vices, he enlisted in Company E, 9th Indiana Cavalry, on December 12, 1863: was taken prisoner at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., in 1864, December I, and was a prisoner four months. Ile came home broken in health. as did so many thousands of the brave boys who spent the best years of their lives in their country's service. When he came home, after partly regaining his health, he went into the mercantile business, which he followed for several years. In April, 1866, he married Jeannette Mullin, daughter of Rev. M. H. and Harriet (Ogden) Mullin. Rev. Mullin was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and came from Ohio to Indiana. His life ended at the home of his son-in-law, the subject of this sketch. He had been a preacher of the gospel for nearly thirty years, all of which time he was a member of the Southeastern Indiana Con- ference. The names of the children born to Charles O. and Jean- nette (Mullin) Nixon are: Gurney, born August 11, 1868; Frederick, born December 12, 1874: Grace, born December 14, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Carthage for several years. At the election for county officers in 1886, Charles was the Republican candidate for County Recorder, and was elected for a term of four years. This fact speaks for itself, as to the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and friends. He possesses the elements of an efficient and obliging official, and such he will doubtless prove to be.
MICHAEL NOLAN, of the firm of Nolan, Madden & Co., machin- ists, was born in Ireland, November 1, 1846. He was the son of James and Mary Nolan, the former of whom was the son of James and Margaret Nolan. He came to America in IS58, or when he was twelve years old. His father had preceded him to this country seven years. His mother died when he was between two and two and a half years old. Our subject came directly to In- diana, and for a number of years he was employed as a farm hand in Rush and Henry counties. In 1862, he entered Company G, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteers, with which he served till the close of the war. In April, 1864, he was captured at Sabine Cross Roads, La., and was imprisoned at Tyler, Texas, for fourteen months. He was in the battles of Richmond, Ky., Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills and Black River. At the close of the war he came to Raysville, Henry County, attended school one term, and was otherwise employed until in March, 1866, when he went to Richmond, and there was employed in the Robinson Machine Works, where he spent over three years learning the trade of a
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machinist. He then became foreman in the Quaker City Machine Works, of Richmond, moved with them to Indianapolis, in 1873, and continued with them till 1876, when he came to Rushville, and in connection with Messrs, Thomas and Bernard Madden, he founded the Rushville Machine Works. He was married January 26, 1871, to Jennie A. Mead, of Centreville, Wayne County. She died May 1, 1874, leaving one child: John L., now a young man of fifteen. In January, 1881, he was married to Laura Bodine, daughter of Charles B. Bodine, of Rushville. Two children have been born: Charles J., born August 5, 1882; Richard B., born December 23, 1886. Mr. Nolan is a member of the Catholic Church.
THOMAS M. OCHILTREE, lawyer, was born in Vienna, now Glenwood, this county, June 18, 1849. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Hamilton)' Ochiltree, the former a native of Rock- bridge County, Va., of Scotch descent, and the latter, who is a de- scendant of Alexander Hamilton, was born in Union County, Ind., of Irish descent. He was reared in Glenwood, and during his youth he assisted his father, who was the proprietor of a planing mill. Early in his youth, however, aside from assisting his father, he, with the help of his father, began dealing in live stock and farming, and continued in this way from the age of fifteen until the age of twenty. At the latter age, or December 22, 1869, he was married to Miss Annie Carpenter, daughter of James and Sarah Carpenter. He continued in the live stock trade after his mar- riage, and some two or three years later, in connection with that pursuit, he entered upon the study of law. In 1873, he located upon a farm which he had purchased, adjoining the town of Glen- wood. There he continued to reside about ten years, during which time he attended to the management of his farm, dealt in live stock and gave some attention to the study of law. He figured quite prominently in the local politics of that part of the county, and also his influence was felt in other ways leading to the public good. Among the latter may be mentioned his aid in securing the present good school the citizens of Glenwood now enjoy. In 1883 he pur- chased a farm one-half mile northwest of Rushville, which he still continues to own. In April, 1884, he removed to Rushville. Here he dealt in live stock and superintended the management of his farm until the spring of 1887, when he entered upon the practice of law in partnership with John D. Megee. The firm is now enjoying a liberal practice. Mr. Ochiltree is the father of six children-all girls-four of whom are living. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. " In politics, Mr. Ochiltree is a pro- nounced Democrat, and as such he has attained considerable prom-
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inence as a politician. He held the position of Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee during the campaign of ISS4, and he made a strong campaign. In November, 1886, he became a member of the Federal Grand Jury, of which he served as foreman one term. Mr. Ochiltree began life a poor boy, but through industry, perseverance and economy he is now in com- fortable circumstances. His character is irreproachable and his honesty and integrity are unquestioned. Our subject is a second cousin of the noted Tom Ochiltree, a successful politician and ex- Congressman of Texas. June 13, 1887, Mr. Ochiltree was ap- pointed by President Cleveland, Postmaster of the City of Rushville, which position he now occupies. His portrait appears ยท elsewhere.
HENRY ORME, one of the leading farmers of this county, was born in Virginia, October 25, 1823, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Jones) Orme, and is of Scotch-English descent. The parents of our subject were both natives of Virginia, and both died in Nota- way County, Mo. When our subject was one year of age, his parents emigrated from Virginia to Fleming County, Ky., where they remained seven years and then came to Rush County and settled in Rushville Township, and subsequently removed to Walker Township. About 1852, they removed to Missouri. Mr. Orme is the third in the family of five children, three of whom are now liv- ing. He was reared on the farm and attended school a short time during the winter. In 1867 he settled where he now resides, and has 326 acres of good land. The marriage of Mr. Oime occurred June 8, 1848, to Miss Minerva Morrison, who was born in Flem- ing County, Ky., September 22, 1830, and came with her parents to this county in 1840. They have seven children, viz .: Mahala, Willlam M., Phidella V., Elbert, Flora B., Emma and Royal. Po- litically, Mr. Orme is a Democrat and is a very enterprising farmer. The father of Mrs. Orme died in 1846 and her mother in 1840.
W. S. ORWIN, jeweler, was born in Washington County, Pa., September 25, 1849. He was the son of Henry and Hannah (Conrad) Orwin, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. He was reared upon a farm, receiving an ordinary common school education. When he was five years old his parents came west- ward to Indiana, and located in Cass County, where our, subject spent his youth. At eighteen he began learning the jeweler's trade, in Logansport. After working at the trade three years he took a position as traveling salesman for J. S. Pool, of Louisville, Ky., in which capacity he continued three years. After spending eight months at his trade again, he engaged in business for him- self in Logansport. In 1878, he removed to Rensselaer, and in
-
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the fall of 1879, he came to Rushville and has here conducted a first-class jewelry store ever since. He now has the leading store of the kind in Rushville. He was married November 22, 1875, to Delilah A. Hilligoss, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Justice) Hilligoss. She was born in Rush County. They are the parents of four children : Willis H., born October 3, 1876; Bessie H., born January 10, 1878; Myrtie, born January 29, 1881, and Josie, born June 17, 1884. Mr. Orwin is a member of the Christian Church, the F. & A. M., the K. of P., and Royal Arcanum societies, and a Republican in politics.
JOHN H. OSBORNE, the present Recorder of Rush County, and one of her worthy and honored citizens, was born in the village of Fairfield, Franklin County, this State, January 27, 1821. He was the oldest of nine children -- five sons and four daughters - born to James and Alice ( Armstrong) Osborne, the former a native of South Carolina, of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scott County, Ky., of English descent. His father was the son of John Osborne, also a native of South Carolina. His mother was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eads) Armstrong, the former of whom was born near Fredericksburg, Md., and the latter was born in Kentucky. When our subject was but five years old his parents came to Rush County, but three years later they returned to Franklin County, where he was reared upon a farm. When he was twelve years of age, he went to live with his grandfather, John Armstrong, with whom he remained until he was twenty. At that age, he went to Metamora, Franklin Co., where he remained a few months, then went to Fayette County, and there worked upon a farm one year. He then returned to Metamora and there was em- ployed as a clerk in a store one year. He was married, Febru- ary 25, 1845, to Nancy Evans, a native of Franklin County, born August 11, 1823, and was the daughter of William Evans, one of the early settlers of Franklin County. After his marriage, Mr. Osborne farmed two years, then took up the avocation of a teacher, to which his attention was directed four years. He then took a position as clerk in a store of Metamora, and from that time until 1858, his attention was given to clerking, farming and school teach- ing. In 1858, he moved to this county and engaged in general merchandising at New Salem. He opened his store April 6, 1858, and sold out in 1864, giving possession April 6th, of that year. He then removed to Waldron, Shelby Co., and took a position as trav- eling salesman for a wholesale house in Cincinnati. He was thus employed one year. He then became a resident of Indianapolis, and engaged there in the dry goods business. He resided in that city until 1874, during which time his attention was given to the
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dry goods trade, to selling on the road and to the real estate busi- ness. In 1874, he returned again to this county, and engaged in the dry goods trade at New Salem. In 1876, he was the candi- date of his party for the office of Recorder, but was defeated. In January, 1876, he moved his family to Rushville. In 1878, he was elected County Recorder by his party, and took the office in 1879. In 1882, he was re-elected. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne are the parents of one child, George W., born July 11, 1848, now a resident of Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Osborne is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and an ardent Republican in politics. He is an hon- est man, an efficient and trustworthy official and one of the esteemed citizens of Rush County. He and wife are the parents of one adopted daughter, Dora Osborne, who has been with them since four-and-a-half years old. For the past ten years she has occupied a position as teacher in the Rushville High School. They had another daughter of their own named Angeline G., born in Decem- ber, 1845, died in June, 1846.
THEODORE OSBORN, of the firm of Brann & Osborn, proprietors of saw mill and lumber yard, was born in Union County, this State, January 22, 1846. He was the seventh of eight children-four sons and four daughters-born to Larkin and. Mary ( Howell) Os- born, with whom he came to this county in 1852. They located upon a farm about two miles south of Rushville, where the father spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in October, 1863. He will be remembered by the older residents as "Uncle Larkin," by which title he was familiarly known all over Rush County. His wife and the mother of our subject resides at present in Rushville, and is now in the seventy-seventh year of her age. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Osborn, a native of Kentucky. His three brothers were: Aaron T., Lewis L. and Lucien B., the first of whom is deceased. His four sisters were: Sarah J., Mary E., Clemma A. and Julia E., the last of whom is deceased. He was raised upon his father's farm, and as early as seventeen he assumed the full management of the farm, his father having died many years before. He continued upon the farm until in IS80, when he went to Marshall County, Kan., where he spent some time looking after some land interests he had there. In 1882, he returned to Rushville and formed a partnership with Noble Brann in the lum- ber trade, which has occupied his entire attention ever since. In politics, Mr. Osborn is a Republican.
REV. JAMES L. PARSONS was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, October 11, 1841. His parents were Matthias and Mary A. (Dill) Parsons, who had moved to that State from Rush County, but when he was two years of age, they returned to this county,
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where they have since resided. James L. remained with his par- ents until reaching the age of twenty-one, having in the meantime taught two terms of school. In September, 1860, he entered what is now Butler University, at Indianapolis, and in that institution obtained a liberal education. August 12, 1862, Caroline M., daughter of Silas and Rebecca (Barnes) Mauzy, became his wife. Her parents were among the leading early settlers of the county, the father having died September 10, 1876, and the mother now lives in Union Township in her seventy-eighth year. For a short time after his marriage, Mr. Parsons was engaged in teaching school and farming, but the following year resumed his studies in the University. Beginning in the fall of 1864, he pursued his studies in the University of Kentucky, at Lexington, for one year. After that he entered regularly upon his ministerial duties, for which he had specially prepared himself. His first charge was at Ashland, Ohio, and since April, 1866, has been almost constantly engaged in the ministry of the Christian Church. During this time he has been stationed at Noblesville, Anderson, Logansport, New Albany, Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Richmond, in this State, at Chicago, Ill., and New Orleans, La. At Logansport and New Albany, his success was marked, and at all those places in which he has been, he has left a name of which he may feel justly proud. In 1884, he returned to Rush County, and has since then been a resident of Rushville. The Christian congregations at Cambridge City, Dublin and Greensburg, have for some time been under his charge. Rev. Parsons is rapidly gaining an enviable fame as a lecturer, and is also recognized as an eloquent advocate of the Master's cause. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are the parents of two chil- dren, named: Lola Pearl and Mary R.
ABSALOM PAVEY, hardware dealer, was born in Decatur County, February 4, 1849. He was the son of Washington and Sarah A. (Back) Pavey, both natives of Kentucky, the former of Irish descent. His boyhood was spent in Milford, Decatur County. At sixteen he accompanied his parents to St. Paul, Decatur County. In 1865, our subject went to Shelbyville where he became a sales- man in a hardware store. Two years latter he took a like position in Franklin. Less than two years later he removed to Martinsville where he clerked in a hardware store two years. He was then transferred to a wholesale hardware house in Indianapolis. He came to Rushville in 1877, and took a position in the hardware store of J. B. Kennedy, with whom he remained five years. In 1882 he entered into a partnership with A. C. Brown in the hardware busi- ness. He sold out to Mr. Brown about two years later and imme- diately afterward he opened up another hardware store for himself.
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May 11, 1871, he was married to Mary S. Monfort by whom he has two sons, Henry W. and Jesse D., both living. Mr. and Mrs. Pavey are members of the Missionary Baptist Church; the former is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and in politics he is a Repub- lican. He has been a member of the City Council ever since the city was organized.
ROBERT W. PERRY was born in Montour County, Pa., January 4, 1849. He was the sixth of eight children born to James and Elizabeth (Walker) Perry, natives of New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania, respectively, the former of English, and the latter of Irish de- scent. His boyhood and early youth were spent in his native county, upon a farm. While there he became a member of the Pennsylvania State Militia, whose duty it was to guard the capital of the State against Gen. R. E. Lee. About 1866, he went to Milton, Pa., and took charge of the car works at that place, a po- sition he retained between two and three years. He was then en- gaged in the patent right business between one and two years. In 1872, he came to Rushville, and became employed as foreman in a planing mill. A year later he became a contracting carpenter. About three years later he took an interest in a planing mill. He retired from this soon afterward, and he has since followed the pur- suit of a contracting carpenter. He was married May 2, 1877, to Laura A. Moore, daughter of Daniel and Anna Moore, of Rush- ville. She was born in Union County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have had two children: Pearl, born September 16, 1879, and Elmer May, born May 2, 1883. Our subject and his wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Perry is a Republican.
JOHN PLOUGH, liveryman, and an influential citizen of Rushville, was born in Richland Township, this county, April 16, 1837. He was the son of Jacob and Mary Ann ( Young) Plough, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter a native of Kentucky. He was reared upon a farm, and at the age of twenty-two, he took up the vocation of a farmer for himself. He thus continued until in August, 1862. when he enlisted in Company I, Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, with which he served until October 29, 1862. He then returned to Rush County and resumed farming, in which pursuit he continued until in February, 1884, since which time he has been engaged in the livery business in Rushville. He was married De- cember 21, 1859, to Anna A. Wamsley, a native of Cincinnati, born October 31, 1839, and daughter of William B. Wamsley. Five children have been born: Mary L., Jasper W., Erastus, Nel- lie and Jacob, of whom Mary L., and Erastus are living. Our sub- ject is a member of the G. A. R., and a Republican in politics. He is a worthy citizen, and he and wife enjoy the respect of all. Mrs.
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Plough's parents were William B. and Mary J. (Ingram) Wam- sley, the former a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio, of French descent, and the latter a native of the city of Philadelphia, of English de- scent. Her paternal grandparents were William and Nancy ( Bus- sell) Wamsley. Her maternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Lucy (Ogben) Ingram. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Plough are as follows: M. Lulu, born October 5, 1860; J. Walter, born December 24, 1861, died June II, 1883; Erastus, born January 6, 1866; Nellie, born November 6, 1878, died February 23, 1883; J. Clyde born March 25, 1880, died February 15, 1883. The grandmother of Mrs. Plough's father was a first cousin to the father of our country, Gen. George Washington. Mr. Plough had one brother and three sisters, as follows: Caroline, Mary J., Amanda and William J., of whom the last two are deceased. Mrs. Plough had two brothers and two sisters, as follows: Lida, Charles B., William C. and Lizzie, all living except Charles B., who died in infancy.
JOHN H. POWER, a prominent citizen of Rushville, was born in Anderson Township, February 21, 1846, being the son of John D. and Mary A. Power, who were natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively, the former being the son of Richard Power, and the latter the daughter of John Smisor. He was reared upon the old Power homestead in his native township, helping to clear the ground and cultivate the crops in summer and attending the district school in winter. His father died when he was but twelve years old, after which he continued upon the farm with his widowed mother until he reached the age of twenty-two. A year previous to this he had engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself, and after spending one year in this manner, upon the old homestead he became the tiller of another farm in Anderson Township. He and Miss Viola Mur- ray were united in marriage October 27, 1871. Mrs. Power was born in Rushville Township, June 7, 1853, being the daughter of James and Evaline Murray, both of whom were natives of Indiana, the former of Franklin County, and the latter of Anderson Town- ship, this county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Power con- tinued to reside upon a farm in Anderson Township, until in January, 1875, when they removed to Jackson Township. In October, 1883, they removed to the city of Rushville, residents of which they have been ever since. The attention of Mr. Power is still given to the management of his farming interests, and in this connection he possesses a rank among the most substantial and prosperous farmers of the county. Besides a splendid farm in Jackson Township of 205 acres, he is the owner of two tracts of land -one containing forty-six acres and the other 172 acres, in
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