Josiah Florea, farmer of Center Township, was born in Adams County, Ohio, October 30, 1823, being the son of Joshua and Mary (Spurgeon) Florea, and a twin brother of Joseph S. Florea, of Center Township, whose history appears below in this work. His father and mother were natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respectively; the former, who was the son of Albert Florea, was chiefly of German descent, and the later, who was the daughter of John Spurgeon, was of English descent. When he was fourteen years old, or in October 1837, his parents came to Rush County, and settled upon a tract of land in the southwest part of Center Township, and the farm now occupied by Joseph S. Florea. There our subject spent his youth assisting to clear and cultivate the farm. He was married at the age of twenty-three, or February 26, 1846, when Miss Martha Price became his wife. She was born in Center Township, this county, March 30, 1829, being the daughter of Jonah H, and Susannah (Burton) Price, the former of whom was born in Clarke County, Ohio, being the son of David and Sarah Price, and the latter, who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Burton, was born in Virginia. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. Florea, located upon the farm they now occupy, where Mr. Florea has ever since pursued the avocation of a farmer. His home farm in this county contains 121 acres, about 100 of which are in a good state of cultivation. It contains a good residence and is in other respects well improved. Besides this he is the owner of 120 acres of first class land in Howard County, Indiana. He and wife are the parents of eleven children, as follows: Sarah M, Louisa, Mary F, Lydia E, Martha S, Joseph A, Vilena, Isabell, John C, William O, and Bertha L, all of whom are living except William, who died in childhood. Mr. And Mrs. Florea are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Florea endorses the principals of the Union Labor Party.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Perry Akers, who has resided in Center Township for the past fifty-eight years, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 3, 1827, being the son of Burrell and Catharine (Hartsell) Akers, who were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, the former of English and the latter of German descent. When he was two years old, his parents came to Rush County and settled upon a farm in Center Township, where both the mother and father spent the rest of their lives, the former dying October 10, 1869, and the latter dying December 28, 1869. The subject of this sketch grew up to manhood upon the farm where his parents settled, and upon it he has chiefly continued to reside ever since. His occupation throughout his entire life has been farming. He was married December 24, 1873, to Miss Loudoscia J. Cummings, who was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, October 11, 1844. Her parents were Enos F, and Emeline (Ballinger) Cummings. In November 1884, Mr. And Mrs. Akers removed to Carthage, this county, where Mrs. Akers died on the 7th day following February. Shortly after this, her surviving husband returned to his farm in Center Township, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Republican in politics. He owns, in all, 120 acres of land, eighty of which are in Center Township and forty in Ripley Township. His home farm contains a good residence and is in other respect substantially improved.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Samuel J. Bell, of Center Township, was born where he now lives, October 11, 1839. His parents, John and Margaret Bell, were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively, and are both deceased. His father was the son of Hugh Bell, and his mother was the daughter of John Kennedy. He was reared upon his birthplace where he continued until his marriage, which occurred April 17, 1862. His wife was Mary C. Walker, and was born in Jackson Township, being the daughter of Aaron and Sarah Walker. From the time of their marriage Mr. And Mrs. Bell resided upon a farm in Center Township, until 1877, when they moved to Indiana. There our subject was engaged in the lumber business two years, after which he was similarly engaged in Venice, Ill, eighteen months, and three and one half years in St. Louis, and about fourteen months in Memphis, Tenn. He returned to Rush County, Indiana in June 1884, and has since been a farmer and tile and brick manufacturer of Center Township. He has eight children: Sophia, Julius E, Corena J, Ida I, Maggie P, Walter J, Josephine, and LeRoy, of whom Sophia, Corena J, and Walter J, are deceased. Mr. Bell is a member of the Christian Church as is also his wife. In Politics, Mr. Bell is a Prohibitionist. He owns 100 acres of land, four-fifths of which is in cultivation.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Samuel Werking was born in Lancaster County, Penn., January 2, 1818. His parents were John and Catharine (Moyer) Werking. Samuel was about nine years old when his parents removed to Frederick County, Md. There he remained until his nineteenth year, when he came with his parents to Wayne County, Indiana. About 1840, he removed to Fayette County, and on September 9, 1847, he was married to Malinda Irven, daughter of Elam and Sarah (Munger) Irven. This union was blessed with five children: Frances H., Eva S., Otto E., Ortes M., and Ida, all living. Mrs. Werking was called away January 12, 1887. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1851, Mr. Werking came to Rush County, and located on the farm where he is at present locate; but the first four years of his married life he ran a blacksmith shop in Bentonville, Indiana. Since he came he has done nothing but farm, and is one of the successful farmers of the county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he was a Republican, until about seven years ago, when he began to advocate the doctrines of the Greenback party, also the Prohibition principles. When he began life on his own responsibility he had but one suit of cloths, and was in debt $30 for a set of blacksmith tools. By close application he has made a comfortable home.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Thomas Logan is a native of Rush County, Indiana, born May 19, 1827, second child born to James L and Elizabeth (Mann) Logan, natives of Ireland and Ohio. The former died August 13, 1881, and the latter June 13, 1880. The subject of this sketch received a limited education and was raised on the farm. In 1847, he removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, and settled on a farm and here remained seventeen years, when he returned to Rush county, and soon afterward settled on the farm he now owns, and which contains 160 acres of good land. Mr. Logan was married August 30, 1847, to Miss Sarah Lefforge, born in Noble Township, November 22, 1829, daughter of John and Harriet (Herndon) Lefforge natives of New Jersey and Virginia. To this union were born twelve children viz; Elizabeth J, born 1849, John N, born 1850, Harriet A, born 1852, Mary E, born 1855, Emisetta, born, 1856, Charlotta A, born 1858, Laura C, born 1861, Charles B, born 1865, James T, born 1867, Myrtle M, born 1869, Omer D, born 1870 (deceased) and Mattie, born 1873. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Washington Gilson, a prominent citizen of Center Township, was born in Rushville Township, March 6, 1829. His is the son of Andrew and Mary Gilson, who were born natives of Virginia. His boyhood was spent in his native Township upon a farm. His father died of cholera in 1832, after which he remained with his widowed mother until he was fifteen, when he went to live with uncle, Thomas Moffett, also of Rushville, Township. He was with him two years, and then went to live with his brother in Center Township, where he continued to live until his marriage, which occurred December 10, 1850. The lady that became his wife was Miss Mary J. Curry, who was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, September 10, 1826, being the daughter of James A, and Nancy Curry, who also were natives of Kentucky. Shortly after their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. Gilson located where they now reside in Center Township, where Mr. Gilson has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns a handsome farm of 110 acres, which is in a good state of improvement and cultivation. He and his wife are the parents of two children both living. They are Thomas L, and Mary B, both of whom are married. Mrs. Gilson has never identified himself with any church, but is a firm believer in the principles of Christianity. In politics he is a Democrat. He has served his township as Justice of the Peace one term.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Hon. John M. Hudelson (photo) , deceased, was one of those rugged pioneers of Rush County, who have left the impress of their character and energy upon their communities. He began life with this century having been born January 1, 1800. The place of his nativity was Millersburg, Bourbon County, KY; and his parents were John M, and Catharine (Irvin) Hudelson, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. He passed his youth and early manhood in Kentucky, and in the spring of 1828, located in the woods of Center Township, this county, where the remainder of his life was spent in usefulness and industry. He had visited this locality in 1822, and entered the land that afterward became his home. Possessing a strong and splendid physique, he was enabled by unceasing toil and frugality to gain a competence that was more than enough to soften the asperities of declining years, and smooth the pathway to the tomb. In 1824, Matilda Hinds, also a native of Kentucky, became his wife. She bore him these five children: Francis I, Sarah J, Margaret E, Mary A, and Robert A. She departed this life in 1837, having been a devoted wife and mother and a consistant Christian. The second wife was Ann Hudelson, who became such in 1838. By her Mr. Hudelson was the father of two children, Lizzie and Henry. He was always foremost in his advocacy of whatever was for the good of society, and in him the public schools found an ardent supporter. In early life he was a Whig but with the downfall of that, he espoused the cause of the Republican Party. He was Justice of The Peace, in Center Township, for two terms, having been the first to fill that position in the township. In addition to this he served one term as Associate Judge of the county, under the old judiciary system, and was for three terms a member of the State Legislature. His death occurred October 18, 1879, an event that caused much gloom throughout the community in which he had for more than fifty years been an honored and respected citizen. His portrait is presented with this volume as a fitting representative of those early settlers who contributed so largely to raise Rush County to its present prosperity.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Benjamin F. Hudelson, a well to do farmer and prominent citizen of Center Township, was born in Spiceland Township, Henry County, January 28, 1848. He was the son of William and Lucinda Hudelson, the former a native of Nicholas County, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Henry county, this state. He was reared upon a farmer in his native county and received in the district school, a good common school education. At twenty years of age he took up the avocation of a teacher, which furnished him winter employment for a period of six years. During the summer season, he worked upon a farm. He was married at the age of twenty-four, or October 31, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Allen, who was born in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana. July 31, 1849, being the daughter of Eli and Eleanor Allen who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Mr. And Mrs. Hudelson entered upon their married life upon a farm in Center Township. Two years later, they removed to Henry County, where they resided upon a farm until March 1885, when they returned to Center Township and settled where they now live. The attention of Mr. Hudelson is given to farming thought he has in connection with this pursuit accommodated the public to a considerable extent in the capacity of an insurance agent. He and wife are the parents of four children as follows: Fred E., born September 17, 1873, Clara E., born February 22, 1876. Floy B., born December 2, 1878., and Allen F., born January 3, 1884., died September 4, 1885. In politics, Mr. Hudelson is an ardent Republican. While not a political prohibitionist, he is a strict temperance man and eschews the use of tobacco and intoxicants in every form. He owns a farm of 164 acres, about 140 of which are in cultivation. His convictions of right, through positive, are honest and he does not believe in concealing the truth of whatever character it may be. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in April 1886, which reflects very creditably upon his standing in the township, owning to the fact that it is strongly Democratic.

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David Beaver, a retired farmer, was born in Harrison County, Ky., January 12, 1814, and is one of the seven children, born to Michael and Margaret (Coon) Beaver, both natives of Maryland, and of German lineage. The person here named came to Rush County in boyhood, and knows by practical experience, what clearing a home from the unbroken forest means. He remained at home until the purchase of his present farm, which consists of eighty acres. His marriage took place in the fall of 1855, to Miss Mary S. Graham, a native of this township, born September 14, 1834, and was a daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Smith) Graham, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. To this marriage were born six children, and of whom, the following are now living: Melissa A., Rachel, Viola, and David R. Mrs. Beaver died June 1869. Mr. Beaver is a Republican, and is an industrious man.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Elder Harvey Wright, of Center Township, is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born September 9, 1820, being the son of Dan and Catharine (Reeder) Wright, who were respectively natives of Vermont and Ohio, the former of English and the latter of Welsh and German decent. His father was the son of Dan Wright; his mother was the daughter of George and Margaret (Van Cleve) Reeder, who are presumed to be natives of Pennsylvania. When he was yet a young child less than a year old his parents came to Rush County, and became among the first settlers of Richland Township. There his early life was spent assisting to clear and cultivate his father's farm. When he was in his twentieth year, or in 1840, he accompanied his parents to Orange Township, Fayette County, where they settled upon a farm. During his boyhood he attended the district school, but the advantages were poor, consequently his early education was quite limited. This lack of early training has been somewhat mitigated through by reading and home study. During the winter of 1842-3, and 1843-4, he taught public school in Fayette County. Before his second term of school closed he was married, on the 27th day of December, 1843, to Miss Delilah Stephen, who was born in Fayette County, Indiana, March 2, 1827, being the daughter of Thomas G. and Hannah (Sutton) Stephen, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Her father was the son of Levi and Delila (Gatrell) Stephen, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Her mother was the daughter of David and Letitia (Gard) Sutton. Mr. And Mrs. Wright entered upon their married life upon a farm in Orange Township, Fayette County. They continued to reside in that township until the year 1865, when they removed to Center Township, this county, and they have ever since occupied their present home. Mr. Wright has a farm of 182 acres, about 130 of which is in cultivation. His farm is well improved and very desirably located. Mr. And Mrs. Wright have had eleven children as follows: Drusilla, born November 27, 1845, Thomas, born January 12, 1848, George, born April 28, 1850, Frances A, born November 26, 1852, Dan, born September 26, 1854, John, born April 8, 1856, Emma J, born April 2, 1858, Joseph A, born November 26, 1860, died August 19, 1887, Rhoda C, born September 16, 1866, Eva E., born August 29, 1869, and Luella G., born February 23, 1872. In July 1850, Mr. And Mrs. Wright joined the Baptist Church, of which they have been devoted members ever since. In 1854, Mr. Wright was ordained as a minister in that church, and he has continued to labor in that capacity ever since. His ministerial labors have chiefly been preformed in Rush and Fayette counties, through his transient labors as a minister extend to eleven different States of the Union. In politics, Mr. Wright is a Democrat. He is an intelligent, well read man, and in addition to general information, he possesses a masterly knowledge of the Holly Scriptures, to the discussion and correct interpretation of which a good portion of his time is devoted. He is unequivocally opposed to Secret Societies, and believes that our affiliations should be confined strictly to that society which embraces the principles of the Christian religion.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Eli B. Collins, one of Rush County's progressive and successful teachers, was born in Posey Township, upon the farm where he now resides, April 29, 1861. He was the son of William and Martha A. (Bentley) Collins, both of whom were natives of Rush County. He was but two years old when his mother died, and his boyhood and youth were spent at the home of his father who still resides in Posey Township. In winter he attended the public school receiving his first lessons in a country schoolhouse. Soon afterward, however, he became a student in the public schools of Arlington, in which he completed a course of study embracing the ordinary branches of learning and received a diploma at about the age of seventeen years. At about this time he took up the avocation of a teacher, discharging his first duties in this capacity in the schools at Arlington. This has furnished him winter employment ever since, and he is now recognized among the industrious and efficient teachers of the county. His vacations have been spent upon the farm and attending normal schools. He has attended, in all, five terms of school of this kind, three of which were in the Central Normal College of Danville, Indiana. In the fall of 1886, he entered upon his duties as principal of the Arlington Schools, and he so discharges them that the Trustee has seen fit to re-employ him for another year. On the 20th day of December 1882, he was married to Miss Nannie M. (Beckner), daughter of Henry W. and Sarah J. Beckner, who are esteemed citizens of Posey Township. She was born in Arlington, may 12, 1863. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child: Bula D., born January 27, 1884. Our subject and wife are members of the Christian Church. In politics, the former is a Democrat.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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George W. Leisure, an aged and venerable pioneer of Rush County, and one of its most worthy and honored citizens, is a native of Garrard County, Ky., born June 9, 1809. His parents, Nathan and Sarah (Irvin) Leisure, were respectively natives of Frederick County, Md., and Halifax County, Va., the former of English and the latter of Irish descent. The parents of his father Joseph and Rachel (Ryan) Leisure, the former of whom lived to be one hundred and five years old. His death was then premature, being caused by a cancerous affection. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Leisure was Joseph Irvin, who lived to be nearly eighty years of age. The early life of our subject was spent in his native county. In winter he attended the district school, and in summer he was chiefly employed in the culture of tobacco. He was married at the age of twenty on October 8, 1829. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Myers, was born in Lincoln (Now Boyle) County, Ky., July 27, 1810, and was the daughter of Michael and Christena (Pope) Myers, both natives of Kentucky, of German descent. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of Mrs. Leisure were born in Germany. Almost immediately after the marriage of Mr. And Mrs. Leisure they came to Rush County and first made a temporary settlement on Big Blue River in Ripley Township. A few months later, Mr. Leisure entered an eighty- acre tract of land within the present limits of Posey Township. There he erected a cabin into which he moved his family and immediately set about clearing up a farm. This necessarily occasioned a great deal of hard work. He chopped, burned brush, rolled logs, split rails, and not infrequently did his wife, too, enter the forest and assist in ways that she could to prepare the ground for the plow. Mr. Leisure toiled on as only a man of iron will and rugged constitution could, and Mrs. Leisure stood bravely by his side sharing alike his adversity and prosperity and presiding over the duties of the household as only a faithful wife and Christian mother could. Their labors were liberally rewarded and in the course of time Mr. Leisure was enabled to enter and purchase other lands until he finally became one of the most extensive free-holders in the county. He was not only able to comfortably provide for all his children as they reached maturity, but he has a good farm and a comfortable home left where he and wife are spending the decline of life in a quite, happy way. They have resided where they now live since 1854. The fruit of their marriage were fourteen children: Sarah, Mary A., John, Joseph, Henry, Christena, Nathan, George M., Elizabeth, Lucinda, James P., William, Maria, and Rachel A., eleven of whom are living, grown, married and have comfortable homes. Those deceased are: Mary A., Christena, and George M. Mr. And Mrs. Leisure, their sons and their wives, and their five daughters and their husbands are all members of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Leisure is a staunch Democrat, and he prides himself that of his twenty-two children, both by birth and marriage, twenty -one of them are the same political faith. He has frequently been elected to the office of Trustee and Justice of The Peace, and in 1875 he was elected County Commissioner, overcoming an opposing majority of two hundred. He has a number of times been solicited to become a candidate for offices of importance and trust, but always declined, preferring the quietude of domestic life to the bustle of politics. He and wife how now lived together more than fifty-eight years, and though aged as they are, both enjoy the blessings of health, and both bid fair to live for many years to come. They are among the county's most worthy and honored citizens, and are among the few early settlers who yet stand as living monuments of the pleasures and hardships of pioneer life. They have sixty-seven grandchildren and thirty-five great grand children of whom fifty-four of the former and thirty-three of the latter are living.

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History of Rush County Indiana 1888
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Deb Murray