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 71
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
ROBERT B. Cook was born in Union Township, April 16, 1848. His parents were James and Nancy Cook, old and honored resi- dents of Union Township. His boyhood and youth were spent up- on his father's farm, one-half mile west of Glenwood. He re- ceived a good common school education, but adopted farming as his life business. On October 17, 1871, he chose for his wife Frances D. Johnston, daughter of Atwell and Larinda Johnston, who were old residents of Richland Township, where Mrs. Cook was born in 1850. To this union were born three daughters: Laura, Attie M. and Fannie Ball, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a staunch Democrat. In the spring of 1886, he was elected to the office of Township Trustee, which position he now holds. He has carefully managed the affairs of the town- ship, and takes great interest in the schools. Mr. Cook owns a comfortable home near Glenwood, near where he was born and reared. He is an upright and industrious man.
WILLIAM CARSON Fox, son of Ellis and Mary ( Carson ) Fox, was born in Washington County, Pa., near Monongahela City, September 7, 1828. His father was a native of Maryland, and be- longed to the Society of Friends. He was a descendant of the Fox family who came to the United States with William Penn, in the Seventeenth century. Ellis (our subject's father ) was the son of Joshua and Sarah (Heath ) Fox, and Mary, his wife, was the daughter of William and Mary (Burgess) Carson. About the year 1829 or 1830, Ellis came from Washington County, Pa., to Union Township, Rush Co., Ind., and purchased a farm, car- rying with him $600 in silver, and then returned to his Penn- sylvania home, making the entire journey on foot. In the spring of 1831, with his wife and three children, viz .: Elizabeth, John, and William C. (the subject of this sketch), he began the journey toward his new home in the far west, and with the tide of western migration they floated down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, and in a few weeks located on the farm where William now resides. During his young manhood, the father worked at the trade of stone mason. He was one of the original members of the Chris- tian Church, which worshiped at Plum Creek, and during his en- tire life, his influence was on the side of truth, justice, and morality. He died in 1852; his wife, Mary, followed him in July, 1860, and to-
772
RUSH COUNTY.
gether they rest in the burying ground at Fairview. On the 19th of September, 1849, William C. married Margaret Rich, a daugh- ter of Tillman and Martha (Carson) Rich, who came from Ohio to Indiana, in an early day. The children of this marriage are Mary, married Joseph McFadden, 1870: John E. H., deceased, and Elgie. Mr. Fox has never been a candidate for any office, is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, respected by his neighbors and usually votes the Democratic ticket. He is living a quiet life on the farm where his father died.
LAWRENCE GING is a native of Rush County, and is one of the leading citizens of Union Township, being at present actively engaged in the manufacture of drain tile, and farming. He was born in 1829, and has made this his home all his life. His parents, William and Anna (Furry) Ging, the former of Irish, and the latter of German descent, were among the pioneer settlers of Union Township, and were residents of the township at the time of their deaths. Our subject was reared amid the scenes incident to farm life, and received a fair education in the common schools. He be- gan doing for himself after his maturity, and engaged in farming. In IS60, he was married to Mary J. Gray, daughter of John and Margaret (Dick ) Gray, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio, but both were reared in Kentucky. Mrs. Ging was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in IS24, and accompanied her parents to Rush County, and located in Union Township in 1833. Here her parents died. This union was blessed with two children: John W. (deceased), and Margaret A., now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ging are church members. Politically, Mr. Ging adheres to the Democratic party, and has filled the office of Township Trus- tee. Mr. and Mrs. Ging have led useful, industrious lives, and have provided themselves with a comfortable home. In 1869, Mr. Ging engaged in the manufacture of drain tile, and this was about the first factory started in this county. His business has steadily in- creased, and there is no better tile manufactured in the county. His factory is capable of turning out 500,000 rods per year. A man of integrity, and upright in all the affairs of life, he is now one of the respected citizens of the township.
JAMES GRAY was born on the farm where he now resides February 8, 1834. His parents were James and Mary (Nichols) Gray, natives of Monroe County, W. Va., of Anglo-Saxon origin mixed with Scotch blood. The former was the son of John and Mary (Rayburn) Gray, the former of whom was a very prominent worker in political circles. He was Circuit Judge, and held office in the Legislature for fourteen years. His parents were among the pioneer settlers of Virginia. James Gray, the third child of
773
UNION TOWNSHIP.
John Gray, was born in Monroe County, W. Va., May 23, 1797, and was reared on the farm. In April, 1816, when but nineteen years of age, he was united in marriage with Mary Nickell, daugh- ter of George and Margaret (Nelson) Nickell, natives of West Virginia, where Mary was born October 8, 1798. They located on a rented farm, and in the fall of IS22, resolved to seek a home in the west and removed to Union County, Ind., but, in 1824, Mr. Gray bought a part of the tract of land, which our subject now owns in Union Township, Rush County, Ind. He paid $155 for eighty acres. Here he made a home and resided until their re- spective deaths. James, our subject, was raised on the farm and has adopted farming as a life occupation. He received a good education in his youth: and on December 20, 1857, was married to Miss Martha Jane Nichols, daughter of James and Sina E. (Gerard) Nichols, natives of Franklin County, Ind., where Mrs. Gray was principally reared. This union was blessed with twelve children: John H., William II., Rebecca C., Nancy, George, An- drew, Vincent, Adda, Cary, Minnie, Mary and Madison, of whom George, Mary and Madison are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian Church. Politically, Mr. Gray is a Re- publican. He owns the old Gray homestead, which was settled in IS24, and upon which he has spent his entire life. Here he has brought up a large family of sons and daughters, half of whom have grown to maturity.
JOHN T. GRAY, the subject of this biography, is the grandson of John Gray, who, with, his family, was among the first pioneer settlers of Union Township in the fall of 1833. They came from Bourbon County, Ky., the family consisting of six children. They were: Samuel and Margaret, by his first wife, whose maiden name was Jane Purdy; Jane, William J., Elizabeth D. and Alice A., by his second wife. Prior to his removal, John Gray had purchased a part of the farm now owned by John T. Gray, his grandson. Here he resided until his death. During life, his principal occupa- tion was farming; but he also gave some attention to stock-raising. He died in the fall of 1854, a member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife survived him until March, IS71. Her maiden name was Margaret Dick. William, who was the fourth child, and who was the father of John T. Gray, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on September 17, 1825. At the age of eight years he came to this county. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own re- sponsibility, and on September 19, 1846, was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Allen, daughter of John and Susan ( Kirkpatrick) Allen. The former was born in Virginia, and the latter in Ken- tucky, but were married in Green County, Ohio, where Cynthia
774
RUSH COUNTY.
was born November 2, 1820. In 1834 they came to Rush County, and settled in Washington Township. William Gray and wife began housekeeping in a log house which stood on the farm owned by our subject. He resided in this county until the spring of 1870, when he'removed to Daviess County, Ind., and thence to Tennessee, in the spring of 1875, locating near Gallatin, where he died on July 17, 1876. His wife still survives him. He was a member of the Christian Church. During life he owned some very fine horses: Aleck, Charley and Tuckahoe, which he purchased at the sale of his father's personal property. Tuckahoe lived until he was twen- ty-four years old. These horses were sired by a horse owned by Joseph Gray, known as Aleck, then by William Gray: Jerry, of Archy-Lightfoot stock; Dick, of Bedford stock; Tom, of Gray Traveler stock: Jake, of Proud American stock : and from the latter he raised three stallions, and last Tom-Hal, sired by Shawhan. Tom Hal, sired by Bald-Stocking, who paced ninety miles in ten hours and forty minutes. Bald-Stocking was sired by an imported Tom-Hal, a bay-roan horse fifteen and one-half hands high. Bald- Stocking lived to be thirty-two years old, and was never known to lie down until the day of his death. Gray's Tom-Hal was purchased by William Gray when he was four years old, and was kept in the Gray family until he was twenty-seven years and six months old, when he died. His last season was the most successful, and he was owned by John T. Gray at the time of his death. He was of fast stock, and his colts have developed good speed. He was the sire of the dam of St. Denis, record 2:23; Buffalo Girl, 2:121/2: Jerome Turner, 2:1714 ; and sired Little Gipsy, record 2:22; Limber Jack, pacer, 2:1812; Bay Billy, pacer, 2:1334: Mattie Bond, pacer, 2:2714 ; Syalger, trotter, 2:3114. John T. Gray was born in a log cabin on the farm where he now resides, July 11, 1847. He was the oldest in a family of five sons: John, Joseph V., James W., Washington and Garrett D., of whom Washington is deceased. John grew to manhood on the farm, receiving a fair education. As his father was a horseman, it became necessary for John, in early life, as he was the eldest, to assist in caring for the horses. There- fore his early training in this respect was exceedingly good, and has placed him among the foremost horsemen in the county at the present time. On August 13, 1868, he was married to Mary C. McCrary, daughter of Samuel and Elsie (Parish) Mccrary, the former a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and was a boy when he came to this country. Samuel and Elsie Mccrary were mar- ried September 11, 1828, in Fayette County, and the former resided in this vicinity until his death, March 19, ISSI. His wife still sur- vives him. Mrs. Gray was born in Washington Township, Febru-
775
UNION TOWNSHIP.
ary 2, 1851, and was reared here. This union has been blessed with four children; Charlie I., Flora M., Bessie Pearl, and Sam- uel W., all living. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian Church; also Charlie and Flora. Mr. Gray, besides caring for his farm, owns and controls probably the most noted breeding barns in the county. It was established by John Gray in 1835, and has con- tinued ever since. After him came William Gray, and then his son, John T., who owns it at present. It now contains six stallions, two imported draft horses: Favory and Coco, the former one of the most noted Norman draft horses in America; two Hambeltonian gen- eral purpose horses named Medock, Sr., and Medock, Jr .: Frank Hale, one of the best bred horses in the west, sired by Ben Frank- Iin, by Daniel Lambert, by Ethan Allen, by Black Hawk, dam by Lapham's Horse, by Hill's Black Hawk, and sired and raised in Vermont, and is five years old; he is 1534 hands high and weighs IoSo pounds; Tom Hal, a two-year-old, sired by Gray's Tom Hal; dam by Davy Crocket, and shows great speed as a pacer. Mr. Gray gives his whole attention to his fine horses. He is an honest and upright citizen, and owns a comfortable home. Politically, he is a Democrat.
HENRY HALL is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and was born September 16, 1828. His parents were Daniel and Milly (Yelton) Hall, the former a native of Harrison County, Va., and the latter of Kentucky, where they were married on March 26, 1820. In 1828, they came to Rush County, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides. Henry was only six weeks old when his parents came here. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived a fair education in his youth. At the age of twenty he be- gan life on his own responsibility. On September 30, IS60, he was married to Miss Lucy J. Peak, daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Welsh) Peak. Lucy was born in Fayette County, Ind., May 21, 1825, but principally reared in Rush County. They were blessed with one child, Charles C., born June 19, 1862, and died August 30, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Christian Church, with which they have been united twenty-six years. Mr. Hall has acted in the capacity of Deacon most of this time. In 1867, he pur- chased the old homestead of 178 acres; the improvements have been made on it by himself and father. His residence is one of the best in the township, and he has a comfortable home. In politics, he is a Democrat, but never sought political honors.
JAMES HINCHMAN was a native of Monroe County, Va., born Jan- uary 24, 1800. He was the fourth in a family`of eleven children born to John and Sarah ( Vinson) Hinchman, the former a native of Maryland, where the Hinchmans settled during the time of the
776
RUSH COUNTY.
Calverts. The latter was a native of Shenandoah County, Va. At the age of fourteen, John Hinchman removed to Monroe County, Va., where he married Sarah Vinson, where they continued to reside until their deaths. James Hinchman was reared amid the scenes incident to farm life, and owing to his limited educational advant- ages was not enabled to attend school more than a year and a half during his youth. But in after life, by self-application, he obtained a fair English education. On April 11, IS22, he chose for a life companion Nancy Nickell, daughter of George and Margaret (Nelson) Nickell, natives of Monroe County, Va., where Mrs. Hinch- man was born, September 5, 1804. At the time of his marriage Mr. Hinchman received $250 from his father, and with this money he resolved to seek a home in the west. He accordingly started for Indiana on horseback, and finally purchased 160 acres of land in Section 14, Union Township, Rush County, Ind., and returned for his young wife. They put what few cooking utensils they had into a two-horse wagon and started overland to their far-off home in the western wilderness. Arriving here November 14, 1822, they moved into a rude log cabin which had been erected on one of his eighty-acre tracts. Soon afterward he built a more substantial house, in which he lived happily for many years. When he arrived here he had some fears as to whether or not he would succeed, but he went to work with a will and his first crop of corn averaged him ninety bushels to the acre. This assured him of success, and he resolved to make Rush County his future home. The family circle was blessed with fourteen children, viz .: George N., John T., An- drew, William N., Joseph V., James R., Carey, Alvin B., Jesse G., Sarah, Robert N., Amos C., Margaret and Nancy, of whom George N., John T., Joseph V., James R., Sarah H., Margaret, Alvin B., Carey, Amos C., Nancy, Jesse G., and Robert N. are still living. Mr. Hinchman began life a poor man, and after paying the expense of his trip to this county he found he had only $10 left, which he expended in provisions for the winter. He was very successful in his chosen occupation, and at one time owned over 1,000 acres of land in Rush County, besides 2,200 acres in Missouri and Iowa. He was liberal with his children, assisting them to get homes, and was a public-spirited man, encouraging, with time and money, rail- roads, canals, or any other improvement for the benefit of the pub- lic. Politically, he was a Republican, and in 1844 was elected to the Indiana Legislature, which position he held two terms. He was Probate Judge of Rush County for three years, and held the office of County Commissioner two years. He was a firm friend of the schools, and advocated the employment of the best teachers. On August 28, 1883, he passed away - a time-honored pioneer and
777
UNION TOWNSHIP.
citizen. He had been a member of the Christian Church since its organization in this county. His life companion still survives him, and is in remarkable good health for one of her age- eighty-three years.
JOHN T. HINCHMAN was born in Union Township, Rush Co., Ind., April 21, 1825. He was the son of John and Nancy (Nickell) Hinchman, whose personal history appears in this vol- ume. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth on the farm, and received a common school education. He adopted farming as his life occupation. At the age of twenty-one, or on February 26, 1846, he was married to Sarah A. Blacklidge, daughter of John and Nancy (Semons) Blacklidge, who settled in Union Township in 1823, and lived here until their deaths. Mrs. Hinchman was born September 23, 1826, and has spent her entire life here. They had two children: Roda A., deceased, and William M., now mar- ried and residing near his father. Our subject began housekeep- ing on the farm on which his brother Robert lives, but in December, IS47, removed to the farm where he now resides. This he pur- chased in the spring of that year. It was partly improved with ordinary improvements. It now consists of 160 acres under a high state of cultivation. His residence is a fine one. He began life a poor man, and by dint of industry has been eminently successful, and can be classed among the leading farmers of the township. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a staunch Republican, and firmly upholds the principles of that party. He is one of the honest and upright citizens of Rush County.
ALLEN HINCHMAN was born in Union Township, February 3, 1836. His parents were John and Margaret (Nickell) Hinchman, the former, the son of John and Margaret (Vinson) Hinchman, whose biographies appear in this volume. The latter was the daughter of George and Margaret (Nelson) Nickell, natives of Monroe County, Va. On August 12, 1823, John was married to Mar- garet (Nickell), and during that fall removed to Rush County and located on a wild tract of land which he had entered on a trip to this county in 1822, when James Hinchman came to this county. The tract of land entered by John Hinchman is owned at present by his son, Marshall Hinchman. John soon erected a rude log cabin, and spent the winter in it without doors or windows, and had 50 cents in money on his arrival here. The trials and hardships of those pioneer days can hardly now be realized by the present. generation. He began in the forest with a will and spent many a hard day's work in his clearing, and assisted by his indulgent wife, would burn brush until late at night. Thus, by degrees, he climbed the ladder of prosperity, and by industry and perseverance, had at
778
RUSH COUNTY.
the time of his death accumulated a fortune of $75,000, leaving his family in comfortable circumstances. He was one of the largest land owners of Rush County, and at the time of his death, owned over 1,000 acres, besides valuable property in Connersville. He was a good financier and had the reputation of being one of the shrewdest traders in the county. Politically, he cast his first vote with the Whigs, but on the formation of the Republican party, he heartily gave it his support, and was one of the foremost advocates of the abolition of slavery, in Rush County. He sent two of his sons, Ira and Morris, to defend their country's honor. The former received a severe wound, but both returned to enjoy the Union they fought so bravely to preserve. Mr. Hinchman was chosen by his party, as County Commissioner, and often served Union Township as its Trustee, in which offices he performed his duties in a man- ner creditable to himself and constituents. He was a public spirited man, and was ever ready to assist any laudable enterprise in the county. He gave freely to churches, schools, and probably as much as $3,000 to various railroads in the county. He assisted financially in the building of the White Water canal, besides doing his share toward the building of pikes and gravel roads, and all public improvements of merit. He was a member of the Christian Church, and passed away on June 2, 1865. Thus ended the life of one of Rush County's time honored citizens and pioneers. His loving wife, who had stood by his side through the trials and hard- ships for over forty years, survived him until October 3, 1876, when she, too, was called to rest. The seventh of his children is the subject of this biography, from whom this information was ob- tained. He has always lived in Union Township, and received a fair education for that day. On December 22, 1858, he was mar- ried to Nancy Moffitt, daughter of Andrew and Athalia (Rees) Moffitt, residents of Fayette County. Nancy was born in Fayette County, April 23, 1840. This union ivas blessed with five children : Margaret, Minnie M., Nora, Ulysses G., George W., all living. Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman are members of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a staunch Republican. When he began life his father gave him $1,000, and by carefully managing his affairs has been eminently successful. At present he owns a fine farm in Section 21, provided with modern improvements. He is an up- right citizen and one of the successful farmers of Union Township.
ROBERT N. HINCHMAN is one of the leading farmers of Union Township. He is a native of Rush County, and the son of James and Nancy Hinchman, early pioneers, whose biographies appear in this volume. He was born February 9, 1843, and spent his boy- hood and youth on the farm, receiving a fair education in the dis-
Robert, N. Hrichman
781
UNION TOWNSHIP.
trict schools. On August 10, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Kirkpatrick, a native of Union Township, and the daughter of David and Jane ( Oldham) Kirkpatrick, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Tennessee. The Kirk- patricks were among the first settlers of Rush County. The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman has been blessed with six children, four of whom are living at this writing. They are: Carrie B., Van A., Eva M., and William E. They began life together on the farm where they now reside, which will compare favorably with the best improved farms in the county. Farming has been his principal occupation in life, although in the fall of 1873, he removed to Rushville, where he resided until 1876, when he returned to the farm. Politically, he has been identified with the Republican party and has worked hard for its success in the county. In 1876, he was elected County Commissioner, and for eleven consecutive years he has held that responsible position. During his official term the county debt has been wiped out, and numerous bridges and other public improvements have been made. The county is now out of debt, and can be classed among the foremost in the State as to public improvements. Mr. Hinchman retires from the Board of Commissioners with the good will and praise that a faithful public servant should receive from all parties. In connection with his farm labors, he is also engaged in buying grain at Ging's Sta- tion, a village on the J., M. & I. R. R., located one-half mile northeast of his farm. Honest and upright in all his dealings, Mr. Hinchman can be classed among the substantial citizens of Rush County. His portrait appears in this volume.
JAMES KISER is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born No- vember 18, 1821. His parents were Joseph and Rebecca Kiser, natives of Kentucky, who immigrated to this State about fifty-six years ago, and settled in the southern part of Union Township. James was then a small boy, and assisted his parents in developing a home in the wilderness. Being reared on a farm, he adopted farming as a life occupation, and now is one of the successful farmers of the county. In 1844, he was married to Jane Smelser, daughter of John and Abigail Smelser, who were among the pio- neer settlers of Rush County. Mrs, Kiser was born in Bourbon County, Ky. This union has been blessed with twelve children, of whom seven are living, namely: Joseph, Sarah, George, James, Emma, Albert and Corry. Mrs. Kiser, a loving wife and mother, was called away on August 7, 1887. For about thirty-three years he has resided where he now lives, and has made the most of the improvements. His residence is one of the best in the vicinity, and his farm is under a high state of cultivation. Politically, he is a
31
ยท
782
RUSH COUNTY.
staunch Republican, but has never sought political honors. He is a citizen of integrity and honor, and was always ready to assist a public enterprise of benefit to the community.
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.