The Hon. Woodson W. Thrasher was for many years one of Fayette county's most prominent citizens, having served as a member of the board of county commissioners, as representative in the Legislature from this district and in other positions of public trust. He was born in Pendleton county, Kentucky, February 4, 1812, son of John and Elizabeth (Rush) Thrasher, natives of Kentucky and of English and Irish extraction. John Thrasher was a son of Josiah Thrasher, a native of Maryland, and the latter was a son of John Thrasher, one of three brothers who emigrated from England to the American colonies during the progress of the Revolutionary War and settled in Maryland. John Thrasher, the immigrant, served as a soldier of the patriot army during the struggle of the colonies to throw off the yoke of British rule and afterward moved to Kentucky, then a county of Virginia, and there spent the remainder of his life. He married Elizabeth Hooker, of Maryland, and was the father of a large family, Josiah being his eldest son. Josiah Thrasher was reared in Pendleton county, Kentucky, and there married Nancy Bonar, who bore him four children, John, Josiah, Sarah and Stephen. About 1830 the elder Josiah Thrasher came to Indiana with his family and settled on the eastern edge of Rush county, where his wife died shortly afterward and where he spent the remainder of his life, surviving her several years. John Thrasher also was reared in Pendleton county, Kentucky, and there married Elizabeth Rush, daughter of Peter and Mary Rush, who bore him ten children, Woodson W., Mary, Nancy, William, Josiah, Maria, Lucinda, Caroline, Joseph and an infant, who died unnamed.

In 1824 John Thrasher came to Indiana with his family and settled in Rush county, near the eastern border of the county, where he established his home. His wife died there in 1855. He subsequently married Mary Copeland and continued to live on his farm until his death in 1876, for fifty years having been regarded as one of the leading citizens of that part of the county.

Woodson W. Thrasher was twelve years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents in 1824 and he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Rush county, remaining there until his marriage in 1831, when he settled on a farm just over the county line from his father's place, in Fairview township, this county, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, becoming one of the extensive landowners and most substantial farmers in that part of the county. For years he was extensively engaged in the raising of pure-bred live stock and in that connection did much to improve the strain of live stock in this part of the state. In educational and religious matters he also took an active part, and was one of the leading promoters of the old Fairview Academy and one of the most liberal supporters of the Christian church nearby, of which for many years he was an elder. His eight children were given the benefits of college, all graduating from some higher institution of learning. One became a physician in Cincinnati, another a professor of mathematics in Butler College at Indianapolis and another a graduate student of law. Mr. Thrasher's father was a Whig and in his early life he also was identified with that party, his first vote having been cast for Henry Clay. Upon the organization of the Republican party he became an ardent advocate of its principles and remained a stanch supporter of the same the rest of his life. He was early elected a member of the board of county commissioners from his district and in 1867 was elected representative from this district to the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly. During his service in the Legislature Mr. Thrasher became one of the conspicuous figures in that body, was chairman of the committee on roads and highways and served as a member of the committee appointed to report on conditions at the old southern Indiana prison at Jeffersonville. He declined to accept the majority report of that committee and in conjunction with another of his colleagues drew up a minority report, which was adopted by the Legislature. He was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the ditch law, enacted during that session and was also connected with the promotion of much other valuable legislation. Woodson W. Thrasher died at his home in Fairview township on January 31, 1888, and his widow survived him about five years, her death occurring in 1893. She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, February 14, 1811, the daughter of Philip and Barbara (Smelser) Daubenspeck, of German descent, and had come to Indiana with her parents about the time the Thrashers came up here, the Daubenspecks also settling in the eastern part of Rush county, where the family stil1 is prominently represented. To the union of Woodson W. Thrasher and Barbara Daubenspeck eight children were born, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the third in order of birth, and all of whom grew to maturity, the others being William M., Elizabeth, Marion, Harriet, Sarah, Allen B. and Olive.

John P. Thrasher grew up on the home farm at Fairview and after completing the course in the old Fairview Academy entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in due time, and in 1859 opened an office for the practice of his profession at Kokomo, this state, and was thus engaged there at the time of the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted in Captain Hanna's company of the Sixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served for nearly two years as a soldier of the Union, the most of this time being attached to the quartermaster's department, with headquarters in Maryland. It was during the progress of the war, September 11, 1862, that Mr. Thrasher was married, at Cincinnati, to Rebecca L. Walker, of that city. At that time Cincinnati was being threatened by a raid under Gen. Kirby Smith and a rigid guard had been thrown around the city, no one being permitted to enter or depart save under the strictest military regulations and Mr. Thrasher was compelled to give bond in the sum of three thousand dollars before being permitted to enter the city to claim his bride. Instead of resuming his law practice at Kokomo, upon completing his military service, Mr. Thrasher established his home on the old Thrasher homestead in Fairview township, this county, after his marriage and there spent the remainder of his life successfully engaged in farming. He was a member of the Christian church and, fraternally, was affiliated with the Masonic order, in the affairs of which he took a warm interest. John P. Thrasher died on March 9, 1906, and his widow is still living at Fairview. She was born at Cincinnati, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Beasley) Walker, natives of England, both born in the city of Manchester. Robert Walker was left an orphan in childhood and his future wife's brother was appointed his guardian. The Beasleys came to America and proceeded on out to Indiana, settling on a farm near Brookville, in Franklin county, where they later were joined by young Walker. After their marriage Robert Walker and his wife went to Iowa, but presently returned to Indiana and not long afterward located in Cincinnati, where Mr. Walker became proprietor of a dyeing establishment and where he spent the remainder of his life. To John P. Thrasher and wife two children were born. George W., who married Mrs. Margaret DePoute and now lives in Los Angeles, California, where he is engaged in the railway service, and Ada, who married Miles H. Daubenspeck, now farming the old Thrasher farm, and has one child, a son, Walker.

Miles H. Daubenspeck was born near Glenwood, over the line in Rush county, October 1, 1871, a son of Harvey and Margaret (Hinchman) Daubenspeck, the former of whom was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and the latter, in Rush county, this state. Harvey Daubenspeck was born on April 5, 1825, and was not yet three years of age when his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Mock) Daubenspeck, left their home in Bourbon county, Kentucky, September 12, 1827, and came up here into the then "wilds'' of Indiana, settling on a farm just west of Glenwood, in Rush county, where they established their home and where Harvey Daubenspeck has ever since lived, being now in his ninety-second year and a continuous resident of that one farm for a period of nearly ninety years. His wife, who died on April 3, 1915, was born in Rush county, daughter of John and Margaret (Nichols) Hinchman, who came from Virginia to Indiana in pioneer times and entered a tract of "Congress land" about two miles southwest of Fairview, in Rush county. Jacob Daubenspeck, grandfather of Miles H. Daubenspeck, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, December 9, 1797, son of Philip and Barbara (Smelser) Daubenspeck, of German descent and early settlers in Kentucky. Jacob Daubenspeck was not able to obtain the advantage of a formal schooling in his boyhood days, yet he was an ardent student and early learned to read and write and acquired an excellent working knowledge of arithmetic. He was a great lover of books and after his marriage got together quite a library, his children never being without plenty of reading matter. It was on November 3, 1822, that Jacob Daubenspeck married Elizabeth Mock and on September 12, 1827, he settled with his family on section 24 of Union township, Rush county, close to the former camp of the old Indian chief, Ben Davis. Later in life he moved to near Raleigh, where his last days were spent. Upon coming up into this country he was a rather wild and profane man, but not long afterward he determined to alter his ways and to that end joined the church and became one of the leaders in church and other good works in the community, few persons thereabout being more influential in bringing about a proper social order in the pioneer community than he. For nineteen years Jacob Daubenspeck was engaged in the hog trade and in the pork-packing business, in association with W. N. Thomas & Company, of Cincinnati, and was an extensive dealer in live stock. It is still said of Jacob Daubenspeck that he never drank whiskey nor used tobacco and that he would not talk disparagingly of his neighbors nor permit others to do so and that he invariably was as polite in his home conversation with his wife and children as when out "in company." His son, the venerable Harvey Daubenspeck, inherited many of the same strong characteristics and is also a lover of hooks, a great reader, and keeps closely informed on current events. Harvey Daubenspeck and his wife celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of their marriage on November 9, 1912, he then being eighty-five years of age and she, eighty-two. The latter was the only daughter in a family of thirteen children born to John Hinchman, Jr., and wife. It was on November 24, 1897, that Miles H. Daubenspeck married Ada Thrasher. For ten years after their marriage they lived in Rush county and then moved to the farm at Fairview, where they now live with Mrs. Daubenspeck's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Daubenspeck are members of the Christian church and the former is an active member of the Masonic fraternity.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Marshall Hinchman, Jr., a well-known Fairview township farmer, was born on a farm in Union township, in the adjoining county of Rush, and has lived in that vicinity all his life. He was born on November 10, 1875, son of John Harvey and Amanda (Moffett) Hinchman, the former of whom was also born in Union township, Rush county, and the latter in Fairview township, this county, and the latter of whom is still living, making her home in Howard county, this state, which has been her place of residence for the past eighteen or twenty years.

John Harvey Hinchman was a son of John and Margaret Hinchman, Virginians, who came out to this part of Indiana many years ago and settled on a tract of "Congress land" in Union township, Rush county, about a mile and a half west of the place where their grandson, the subject of this sketch now lives. There John H. Hinchman was born and reared and there he remained, continuously engaged in farming, until about 1899, when he moved to Howard county, where his death occurred on March 8, 1914, and where his widow is still living. She was born, Amanda Moffett, in Fairview township, this county, daughter of Andrew and Rachel (Rees) Moffett, the former of whom, one of the pioneers of Fayette county, came here with his parents from Pennsylvania back in the days of the early settlement of this region.

Marshall Hinchman, Jr., grew up on the paternal farm in Rush county and about thirteen years ago began farming on his own account on a tract of rented land in the neighborhood of his old home in Union township, along the line of Fayette county. In 1913 he bought the farm on which he now lives, in Fairview township, this county, two and one-half miles north of Glenwood, and there has since made his home, he and his family being very pleasantly situated there. Mr. Hinchman has a well-improved farm of fifty-seven acres and is doing quite well in his farming operations. He is a Republican and gives close attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after office.

On March 10, 1896, Marshall Hinchman, Jr. was united in marriage to Sarah Carr, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, daughter of John and Melinda (Hanna) Carr, and who jived in that county until she was fourteen years of age, when she came to this county to make her home with her aunt, Mrs. Green Thompson, and was living there when she married Mr. Hinchman. John Carr was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 23, 1849, son of Guy A. and Elizabeth (Blue) Carr, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey, and after his marriage made his home in Warren county, Ohio, until his wife died about twenty-five years ago. He is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman. His wife, Melinda Hanna, was born at Westchester, in Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Tanner) Hanna, the former of whom lost his life while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War. For many years John Carr has been a plasterer and contractor and continues to follow that vocation.

Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman have three children, Frank, Don and Josephine. They are members of the Christian church, as is their eldest son, and take an earnest interest in church work. Frank Hinchman was graduated from the Fairview township high school in 1916 and then took a course in the Normal School at Muncie. He is now teaching in the Moffett school in Fairview township.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

George Heinemann arrived in Connersville in the fall of 1850 and soon became one of the business men of the village. At a point corresponding with the present street east of the Big Four freight depot (the canal landing-place covered the latter site) he opened a general store, in partnership with Paul Grosse. In the early spring of 1854 the partnership was dissolved, and he bought the old Sample Inn, southwest corner of Fifth street and Eastern avenue, where he opened up a grocery business for himself. He made some improvements on the building immediately and about a dozen years later greatly enlarged it by adding to its length. His business place proved to be a permanent asset in the Connersville business world, for it has remained in action continuously since that date. At George Heinemann's death in November, 1885, the business was taken over by his son Charles, who still conducts it, making a record of sixty-one years uninterrupted business at a given location.

George Heinemann was born at Dingelstaedt, Germany, October 9, 1817. On the 25th of August, 1845, he married Sophie Schwerdt of the same place. Two children were born at their old home - Elnora, who became Mrs. Joseph Fischer in this country, and Frances, who died in Connersville about 1853.

The coming of Mrs. Heinemann to the new home set up by her husband in Connersville, contains a traveling experience somewhat unique. From her inland village, in central Germany, about an hour's ride by wagon, she brought her with two small daughters and the usual baggage of emigrants of those days, to the river Weser. This river is navigable for small boats, by which means she reached Bremen. At Bremen she took sail for the port of New Orleans. From there she took a river boat to Cincinnati, and at Cincinnati used the canal boat to get to Connersville. As she left home on August 25, 1852, and reached Connersville on Thanksgiving Day, the unusual water voyage, central Germany to southeastern Indiana, covered a period of more than ninety days. Mrs. Sophie Heinemann died at the old home in Connersville on July 29, 1306.

Of George Heinemann's family, born in Connersville, four daughters died in infancy. Those growing to maturity are as follow: Elnora, being six years old when arriving here in 1852, married Joseph Fischer, of Dayton, Ohio, in 1867. Elnora Fischer died in New York City on October 4, 1902, leaving two sons and two daughters.

Mary Heinemann, born on December 30, 1853, became a member of the religious order of the Sisters of Providence in 1880 and died at their home, St. Mary of the Woods, September 16, 1903.

Theodore P. Heinemann, born on March 5, 1856, first associated himself with his father's business, and later originated one of Connersville's most unique industries - the triple sign, an advertising novelty used the world over between the years of 1888 to 1908 - and still later giving his attention exclusively to the real-estate holdings he possesses. He married Emma Woods on October 4, 1888.

Charles F. L. Heinemann was born on December 22, 1862, and after some years of experience in other retail stores of Connersville, took over the grocery business of his father in October, 1885; and with such eminent success, that he has created an envious reputation, reaching out into a multitude of directions among the oldest families - the old corner being one of the familiar landmarks to which they all gravitate - as well as to comparative newcomers, who quickly find a most valuable asset of his every transaction to be sterling worth.

J. L. Heinemann, the youngest of the family, was born, as were all of the others named, at the home adjoining the old business corner, May 17, 1865. Of an active nature, his boyhood and youth and young manhood were connected with many of Connersville's doings, but in a business way he finally settled his efforts to the creation of the Connersville Mirror Works about 1894 which has grown to be one of the community's special industries, covering most of the field wherein plate glass finds uses, and which is his individual property.

On January 8, 1903, J. L. Heinemann married Mary McLaughlin, of this city, and their children are: Teresa, William, George, and Elizabeth. Aside from the association the members of this family have constantly maintained with the business activities of the neighborhood, there has been also a perceptible effort on their part to influence on all possible occasions every department of human endeavor looking towards the better things of life. In art, literature and the practical workings of religion, several pages of Connersville's story would be shortened indeed except for their participation in the events which enter into its telling.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Thomas Fitzgerald, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Fairview township, this county, is a native of the Buckeye state, but has lived in Indiana since he was fourteen years of age. He was born on a farm in Stark county, Ohio, November 19, 1858, son of John and Hanoria (Shea) Fitzgerald, natives of Ireland, whose last days were spent in Jennings county, this state.

John Fitzgerald was born in County Cork and when a young man left Ireland and came to the United States, locating in Stark county, Ohio, where about two years later he married Hanoria Shea, also a native of County Cork, who had come to this country from Ireland about two years before her marriage. After his marriage John Fitzgerald remained in Stark county until 1872, in which year he moved to Indiana with his family and settled on a farm in Jennings county, where he followed farming the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1893. His widow survived him until 1911. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are still living. Two of the children died in infancy and another, Mrs. Mary Cox, died about 1899. Besides the subject of this sketch those living are Timothy, of Indianapolis; William, of North Vernon, and John and Cornelius, who are farming near Butlerville, in Jennings county, this state.

Thomas Fitzgerald was the third son of his parents and was about fourteen years of age when the family moved from Ohio to Indiana and settled in Jennings county. There he completed his schooling and as a young man worked at farm labor in that county, in Bartholomew county and in Fayette county. While working in this county he became acquainted with a young woman who lived just over the line in Rush county and in 1887 he married her. After his marriage he rented a farm in Union township, Rush county, and there made his home for ten years. When he was moving onto that farm neighbors tried to tell him that he would find his landlord a hard man to get along with and that he would not stay on the place a year. On the contrary, he found his landlord most agreeable and conditions so much to his liking that he remained on the place until 1897 and might have remained longer had not he met with the misfortune of being burned out of house and home on October 15 of that year, with an almost total destruction of his household effects. When the fire broke out a strenuous effort was made to remove the household goods from the burning building, but the piano became jammed in the doorway and thus barred the way of further salvage, very few of the household effects being saved. After the fire Mr. Fitzgerald moved over into this county and occupied the farm which he now owns in Fairview township, a well-improved and profitably cultivated place of one hundred and fifty-one and one-third acres, and there he has made his home ever since. In 1907, about ten years after moving there Mr. Fitzgerald and his family again were burned out, their farm house being destroyed by fire. Following this second misfortune Mr. Fitzgerald built his present substantial house and there he and his family are now very comfortably situated. Mr. Fitzgerald is a Democrat and takes due interest in local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the local lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

On January 19, 1887, Thomas Fitzgerald was united in marriage to Kittie Belle Wright, who was born on a farm near the eastern line of Rush county, across the line from Fairview, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Hanoria, who married Edward Keller, of Connersville, and has two children, sons, Francis and Marion; Mary Helen, who married Joseph Theobald, a farmer of the Strawns Station neighborhood and has two sons, Joseph and Maynard, and John Thomas, who married Bertha Johnson and has remained on the home farm, farming with his father.

Mrs. Fitzgerald is a member of one of the old families in this part of the state, her parents, Thomas M. and Matilda C. (Groves) Wright, having been prominent residents of the Fairview neighborhood, where their last days were spent. Thomas M. Wright was a Kentuckian, born near Millersburg, in Bourbon county, June 22, 1833, and there grew to manhood. When a young man he came up into Indiana on a visit to the Bakers, kinsfolk of his, who lived then, as now, in the northeastern part of Fairview township, this county, and there he met Matilda C. Groves, a member of one of the pioneer families of that neighborhood, and from that time on she was "the only girl in the world for him." They were married on November 30, 1859, and established their home on a farm at the west edge of Fairview, where Mrs. Fitzgerald was born, the old Donovan Groves homestead, where Matilda C. Groves also was born, a daughter of Donovan and Eleanor (Baker) Groves, pioneers of that section and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. In addition to his general farming Thomas M. Wright also was widely known as a buyer and shipper of live stock and became one of the well-to-do citizens of that part of the county. He was for years a justice of the peace in and for his home township and he and his wife were members of the Christian church, in the various beneficences of which they were much interested. Mrs. Wright died on February 4, 1898, and Thomas M. Wright survived her for nearly three years, his death occurring on December 15, 1900.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

John W. Hackleman, one of the best-known farmers of Fairview township, former trustee of that township and proprietor of "Spring View Farm," a well-improved and profitably cultivated place of eighty-five acres on rural mail route No. 2 out of Connersville, is a native of Fayette county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm northeast of Harrisburg, in Harrison township, March 15, 1843, son of William and Nancy (Hawkins) Hackleman, substantial residents of that community and the latter of whom is still living, being now past ninety-five years of age.

William Hackleman was reared in Harrison township, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Hackleman, the former of whom, born on March 26, 1780, died on December 10, 1814, and the latter of whom, born on May 22, 1783, died on July 30, 1835. Isaac Hackleman was born in South Carolina, a son of Jacob and Mary Hackleman, the former of whom was born in Germany and who, with two brothers, came to this country by way of New Orleans, presently settling in what is now the state of Mississippi and later making his way into South Carolina, where he married and reared his family. It was on July 2, 1801, that Isaac Hackleman, in South Carolina, married Elizabeth Hawkins. Immediately after their marriage they started for the wilds of what then was the territory of Indiana, which at that time included all the territory west of Ohio to the Mississippi river and north of the Ohio river to the Canadian border, taking in the territory now included in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. They proceeded down the Ohio river by flatboat and upon arriving at Lawrenceburg decided there to stop. They picked out a farm about two miles and a half from Harrison, in Dearborn county, and there they made their home until 1815, in which year they decided to dispose of their interests there and come on up the White Water valley to Fayette county, this part of the territory at that time beginning to attract a great deal of attention on the part of prospective settlers. Upon coming up here Isaac Hackleman settled on a tract of land in Harrison township and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, useful pioneers of that community. William Hackleman grew up on that pioneer farm and early became a maker of boots and shoes, a skilled workman in that line, a trade he continued to follow as long as he was able to work. It is related of him that a neighbor offered to "shuck" one hundred and forty bushels of corn for him from sunrise to sunset, in consideration of a pair of boots. The man worked with desperate haste and by noon his hands were bleeding from the chafing of the corn husks. At sunset he had husked but one hundred and thirty-six bushels, four bushels short of the mark; but Mr. Hackleman was so well pleased with the pluck and skill displayed that he not only gave the man the pair of boots that were at stake, but five dollars besides. William Hackleman married Nancy Hawkins, who was born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of Longwood, this county, December 7, 1821, a member of one of the first families in Fayette county, and to that union six sons were born, of whom the subject of this sketch and his brother Edward, who is now living on the old home farm with his mother, are the only survivors. One of these sons died when two years of age. The other three, Oliver, Isaac and Sylvester, all now deceased, served as soldiers of the Union during the Civil War. William Hackleman died when he was thirty-six years of age and his widow is still living on the old home farm in Harrison township, being now past the ninety-fifth year of her age. She possesses an excellent memory and is a veritable mine of information regarding incidents of pioneer days connected with this region.

John W. Hackleman was but a boy when his father died and he remained on the home farm with his mother until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married and started farming on his own account. During the Civil War he did not enlist for the regular service, his three elder brothers having gone to the front the family concluded that his place was at home with the widowed mother, but during the excitement incident to the Morgan raid he took part in the valiant operations of the home defenders and thus was able to fee1 that he had done something in the way of active service. After his marriage he lived for a year on the Broadus farm and then moved to the farm of his father-in-law, the old Shortridge farm, and there lived for three years, at the end of which time he moved to the Huston farm, where he lived for nine years and six months. He then, in July, 1891, bought the farm on which he is now living in Fairview township, moved there and has ever since made that his place of residence. The farm when Mr. Hackleman bought it contained fifty-five acres, but he shortly afterward bought an adjoining tract of thirty acres and now has a well-improved place of eighty-five acres, clear of all incumbrance. On this farm there are a number of excellent springs and on this account Mr. Hackleman has given his place the name of "Spring View Farm." He has a comfortable, two-story brick house, with a broad lawn in front bounded by a neat iron fence, fine maple and locust trees growing about the house; altogether one of the most attractive places in that part of the county. Mr. Hackleman has for years given his earnest attention to local civic affairs and twenty-five years or more ago served for some time as trustee of his home township. During that incumbency he caused to be erected the first graded-school building in Fairview township and possibly the first such school house in the county. That school house was a four room, furnace-heated building which stood between Fairview and Falmouth, at the point where the present handsome brick school building now stands.

John W. Hackleman has been twice married. In October, 1867, he was united in marriage to Martha Shortridge, who was born in Fairview township, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (King) Shortridge, pioneers of that community and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. She died on February 13, 1892, leaving six sons and one daughter, namely: Charles, who is living at Indianapolis, where he is engaged with the Stafford Engraving Company, and who married Grace Lamberson, of Posev township, this county, and has two daughters, Helen and Margaret; Frank, trustee of Posey township, engaged in the hardware and blacksmithing business at Bentonville, who married Jennie Patterson; Fred, an extensive dealer in live stock, living on one of his three farms one mile south of Bentonville, who married Alice Caldwell and has three children, Ina, Frances and Chester; Emery, engaged in the undertaking and farm supplies business at Falmouth and for the past three years secretary of the Falmouth Telephone Company, who married Ruby Crawford and has two children, Mary and Daniel; Huston, a jeweler and optician at Appleton, Wisconsin, who married Bessie Miller, who died, leaving one child, a son, Willard, after which he married Catherine Jones; Carl, employed in Kahl's jewelry store at Connersville, who married Helen Westburg, and Lillie, who died when twelve years of age.

On February 8, 1894, Mr. Hackleman married, secondly, Lena Scofield, who was born on a farm near Connersville, a daughter of Sherman and Eliza (Ross) Scofield, the former of whom was born in 1810 at Stamford, Connecticut, and who, at the age of eleven years, came to Indiana with his parents, the family settling in Fayette county. Here Sherman Scofield grew to manhood and in later life was variously engaged, for some time a brickmason, later a canal boatman, afterward a building contractor and for some years a merchant, and was also a farm owner. He was twice married. His first wife, Eliza Milner, was the mother of six children, Eliza, who died in infancy, Melinda, Thaddeus, Frank, Cecelia and Eliza Jane, the latter of whom died in infancy, the mother dying at the birth of the child. Mr. Scofield's second wife, Eliza Ross, was born in Kentucky and also was the mother of six children, Balzora, Ella, Lena, Sherman, Jr., Eugene and Albert. The mother of these children died in October, 1860, and the father survived until October, 1877. He gave the ground on which to erect the first Christian church in his community and was ever a pillar in that church, an active contributor to all its works. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hackleman also are members of the Christian church, which Mr. Hackleman joined when twenty years of age and in which he has been an elder for the past quarter of a century. All his sons save Carl are members of the same church and the Scofields also have been leaders in the work of that denomination ever since the first of that name settled in this county back in the twenties.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Alfred Collyer, well-known merchant at Falmouth, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Franklin on June 26, 1855, a son of Ezekiel and Eliza (Coleman) Collyer, both of whom were born in that same county, members of pioneer families in that section of the state. Ezekiel Collyer grew up on a pioneer farm about eight miles southeast of Brookville and his wife was born at Laurel. Late in life they moved to Wayne county and there Ezekiel Collyer was killed by a log rolling off a wagon he was helping to load. His widow afterward moved to Rush county, where her last days were spent.

Reared in Franklin county, Alfred Collyer remained there until his marriage in 1879, after which he began farming for himself in the southeastern part of Rush county, where he remained about two years, at the end of which time he came to this county and located at Falmouth, farming in that vicinity until 1900, in which year he bought a store at Falmouth and has ever since been engaged in business there, doing an extensive business in the way of general merchandise, and long regarded as one of the leaders in the general business activities of that village.

In 1879 Alfred Collyer was united in marriage to Hattie Quenzer, who was born at Falmouth, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Quenzer, who were born in the city of Strasburg, capital of Alsace-Lorraine, who located at Cincinnati upon coming to this country about 1856 and there remained until about 1860, when they came up into Indiana and located at Falmouth, where Mr. Quenzer engaged in the shoemaking business and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1875. His widow survived him for years, her death occurring on June 15, 1915, she then being eighty-four years of age. They were the parents of four children, those besides Mrs. Collyer, the second in order of birth, being Mrs. Emma Blesch, of San Diego, California; Louis, of East Connersville, and Mrs. Rose Grose.

To Mr. and Mrs. Collyer five children have been born, Will, Fred, Gertie, Gus and Lowell. Will Collyer is a successful farmer, living near Falmouth, the owner of one hundred and fifteen acres of land, part of which lies in this county and part in Rush county. Fred Collyer, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, is proprietor of the greenhouse at Falmouth. Gertie Collyer married Fred Knotts and lives on a farm one and one-half miles north of Falmouth. Gus Collyer, who lives on a farm a half mile west of Falmouth, in Rush county, married Gleda Link and has one child, a son, Deloris. Lowell Collyer is an able assistant to his father in the management of the store at Falmouth. Mr. Collyer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Miss Caroline Louise Sumner, one of the founders and owners of the Elmhurst School for Girls at Connersville and a leader among the educators in private schools in Indiana and throughout the Central States, is of distinguished lineage, on the paternal side of the family being related to the great Charles Sumner aid on the maternal side, is descended from Richard Warren, who came over in the "Mayflower," and from Capt. Samuel Morey, the inventor of the steamboat. She was born at Holyoke, Massachusetts, a daughter of William James and Eveline Sturtevant Sumner, and grew up amid the refining influences of New England, from youth evincing an extraordinary interest in her studies and early devoting her life to the cause of education.

Following her graduation from Smith College, Miss Sumner was engaged as a teacher of Greek and Latin in the high school at Titusville, Pennsylvania, and after five years of service there returned to Smith College to teach Latin. At the end of six years she transferred her services to Miss Wheeler's school at Providence, Rhode Island, where she remained as an instructor for three years. She then returned to Smith as instructor of Latin and a year later she became a student in the American School of Classical Studies at Rome and Athens. She spent a summer in travel in Germany and another summer in France and England. In 1909 Miss Sumner became one of the founders of the Elmhurst School for Girls at Connersville and has ever since been thus engaged.

Miss Sumner is a member of the Unitarian church and is a member of the Archaeological Institute of America, of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, and of the Smith College Alumnae Association, in the deliberations of which learned societies she takes a warm and active interest.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Noah Cummins, one of the real "old settlers" of Fayette county and a well-known and substantial farmer of Fairview township, former trustee of that township and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty-seven and one-half acres on the north edge of Fairview township, a little more than a mile east of the Rush county line, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of Fayette county since he was five or six years of age and may thus be accounted one of the pioneers of that part of the county in which he lives. He was born on a farm in Bourbon county, Kentucky, a son of John D. and Caroline (Williams) Cummins, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Indiana nearly seventy years ago and settled in this county, where they spent their last days.

In 1850 John D. Cummins and his family came up here from Kentucky and settled on a farm in the southwest part of Posey township, this county, the trip through from Kentucky being made in covered wagons. Upon coming here John D. Cummins bought a tract of land that was for the most part covered by timber and spice bush and it required years of toil to bring that farm under proper cultivation. There John D. Cummins farmed the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1885. His widow survived him for nearly twenty years, her death occurring in 1904. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Charles, who married Elizabeth Hood, of Rush county, and spent his last days farming on a farm adjoining that of his father, his death occurring on November 27, 1911; John T., also a farmer, who lived near the old home place and who was killed by a train at Dublin, Wayne county, leaving a widow and three children; Olivia, who died when about eighteen years of age; Sarah Elizabeth, who married James Freeman and is living on a farm near the old home place; Amanda, who died at the same time as her sister Olivia, both girls falling victims to the dread spotted fever; Fillmore, who lives just east of the Maplewood school in Connersville; Frank, who lives on a farm a half mile west of Bentonville, in Posey township, and Grant, who died when about seven years of age.

As noted above, Noah Cummins was but a child when he came to this county with his parents from Kentucky and he grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Posey township, even from the days of his boyhood a valued assistant to his father in developing and improving the home place. After his marriage in 1869 he began farming on his own account on a farm near the old home and in 1872 bought the place on which he is now living on the north edge of Fairview township a little more than a mile east of the Rush county line. That place then was a veritable swamp and Mr. Cummins's father very strongly urged him not to invest in what then generally was regarded as worthless land; but, with a clear idea of what could be done with such land, Mr. Cummins took over the place and there established his home. His original purchase there comprised one hundred and seven and one-half acres, about half of which had been cleared and on which stood an old log house back from the road. There was a regular lake of water almost surrounding the house and the initial outlook was not very encouraging, but Mr. Cummins went to work bravely and it was not long until he had his place properly drained and cleared and was beginning to see his way clear to the making of a fine farm. In 1881 he built a new barn out by the road and the next year built the house in which he now lives. Ever since he has been adding to his farm plant in the way of buildings and now has one of the best-kept farms in that part of the county. As he prospered in his farming operations he bought an adjoining "forty" and now has a well-improved farm of one hundred and forty-seven and one-half acres. In addition to his general farming Mr. Cummins has given considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and has done quite well. Mr. Cummins has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and for some time served as trustee of his home township, resigning that office in 1910.

Noah Cummins has been twice married. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Jane Manlove, who was born on a pioneer farm in the southwestern part of Posey township, this county, daughter of Jesse and Ann (Colvin) Manlove, and to that union four children were born, namely: Carrie, who died when about five years of age; Edith, who married James Clifton, a farmer, of Rush county, and has three children, Harold, Ray and Paul; Emory, who died when about two years of age, and Estella, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1879 and in 1881 Mr. Cummins married Ella F. Swift, who was born on a farm near Greenfield, Hancock county, this state, a daughter of Asbury C. and Clarissa Jane (Grubb) Swift, formerly and for years well-known residents of this county, who later moved West and there spent their last days.

Asbury C. Swift was born at Connersville on December 25, 1836, a son of John Swift and wife, the former of whom was one of the pioneers of Connersville and who for some time conducted one of the first hotels in that city, doing an extensive business with the drovers and canal boatmen of that day. He left the hotel and bought a farm south of East Connersville, now known as the Jemison farm, which he later sold to the Jemisons. He not only was the owner of a considerable tract of land in that section, but owned four or five farms in other parts of the county and was long recognized as one of Fayette county's most substantial residents. Asbury C. Swift grew to manhood on his father's farm and from there went to Colmar, Illinois, where he married Clarissa Jane Grubb, who was born on a farm near Lexington, Kentucky, and who had moved to Colmar with her widowed mother when a girl, her mother afterward marrying a Hanks. After his marriage A. C. Swift returned to this county and spent a year or two on his father's farm, after which he moved to a farm west of Alquina, where he made his home for about four years, at the end of which time he sold that place and moved to one of his father's farms in the adjoining county of Rush, a mile or more west of Fairview, where he lived for about ten years. He then returned to the old home farm - the present Jemison place - and was there probably five years, at the end of which time he quit farming and he and Thomas Ruff opened a carriage shop at Glenwood, from which place Mr. Swift presently moved to Colorado and was for some time engaged in the hotel business in that state. He then moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he engaged in the grocery business and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on February 11, 1898. His widow spent her last days in St. Louis, Missouri, where her death occurred on November 6, 1916, she then being eighty-two years of age.

To Noah and Ella F. (Swift) Cummins six children have been born, namely: Eva Marie, who married Charles D. Ertle and now lives at Ft. Collins, near Greeley, Colorado; Blanch Caroline, who married George F. Ertle, a brother of Charles D., and who died in December, 1912, leaving her husband and one son, Carl H.; Murl Donald, a farmer, living in the south edge of Posey township, across the road from his father's place, and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, who married Rhoda Suter and has four children, Juanita, Murl Garnet, Donald C. and Webb Suter; Fred C., now living in Falmouth, who married Mary Suter, who came from Owenton, Kentucky, a sister of his brother Murl's wife, Mary, and has two children, Edna C. and Ercell S.; Guerney, who also lives in Falmouth and who married Maude Golden, of this county, and has two children, Vivien E. and Eileen, and Maggie Grace, who married John Suter, a farmer living in Rush county, six miles west of the Cummins place, and has one child, a daughter, Nina Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Curnmins have a very pleasant country home and have ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in promoting all worthy causes thereabout.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

John Thomas Blevins, one of Fairview township's substantial farmers and the proprietor of a well-improved farm of more than one hundred acres about two and one-half miles northeast of Glenwood, is a native of the Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of this county since his childhood. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county, Kentucky, August 13, 1861, son of James and Mary (Kinney) Blevins, also natives of Kentucky, who came to this state during the days of the Civil War and settled in Fayette county.

James Blevins was the son of Virginian parents, who had settled in Kentucky, and he grew up in the state of his birth and was there married. About 1863 he and his family came to this county and located on the Bates farm, east of Falmouth, in Fairview township, later moving to Cambridge City and thence to Richmond, whence they later moved to Centerville, where Mrs. Blevins died during the later seventies. About ten years later James Blevins remarried and again established his home in Richmond, where he spent practically all the remainder of his life. He died at the home of his son, the subject of this sketch, in Fairview township, this county, February 15, 1912.

John T. Blevins began farming for himself at the time of his marriage in 1884, he and his wife going to housekeeping on the farm on which Bert Rich now lives in Fairview township. After renting that place for two years he moved to the Ludlow farm on which he made his home for seven years, at the end of which time he rented a farm southeast of Glenwood, where he made his home for two years, or until 1898, when he moved to the place on which he now lives in the southwest quarter of section 23, about two and one-half miles northeast of Glenwood, where he has lived ever since. Abut ten years ago Mr. Blevins bought that place and is now the owner of a well-kept and substantially improved farm of one hundred and fourteen and one-half acres, on which he has two sets of buildings and on which he has been quite successfully engaged in general farming.

On November 25, 1884. John T. Blevins was united in marriage to Victoria McConnell, who was born on a farm about a half mile east of her present home, a daughter of James Wilson and Rachel (Reese) McConnel1, both natives of this county, members of pioneer families in Fairview township. James W. McConnell was born on a farm just east of the Blevins farm on March 2, 1826, a son of Ellis and Nancy McConnell, who had come here from Ohio in pioneer days. Ellis McConnell and his brother, James, came here together from Ohio and settled on adjoining farms, James on the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Blevins and Ellis, on the farm just east of the same, each brother owning a tract of one hundred and fourteen and one-half acres. They cleared the land, established their homes and there spent the remainder of their lives.

James Wilson McConnell spent practically all his life on the pioneer farm where he was born and was both a farmer and a carpenter. He married Rachel Reese, who was born on a pioneer farm about a mile east of the Blevins farm on October 24, 1828, a daughter of Stephen Reese and wife, and after his marriage established his home on the old home farm. There he died on January 28, 1905. His wife had preceded him to the grave seven years, her death having occurred on January 18, 1898. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Mrs. Mary Hinchman, of Greenfield, this state: Ellis, who lives southwest of Connersville; Mrs. Nancy Kinder, of Fairview township; Mrs. Belle Reese, of Connersville; Victoria, wife of Mr. Blevins; Stephen T., of Glenwood, and Oliver, also of Glenwood.

To Mr. and Mrs. Blevins seven children have been born, as follow: Clyde, now living in Connersville, who married Bessie Cullins and has one child, a daughter, Merle; Clarence, also of Connersville; Claude, who lived but nine months; Glen and Grace (twins), the former of whom is at home and the latter of whom married Charles Stout, of Rush county, and has one child, a son, Howard; Donald, who is at home, and Edith, who died when nine months of age. Mr. and Mrs. Blevins are members of the Christian church and have ever taken an earnest interest in church work and in neighborhood good works.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917

Joseph B. Wiles, former trustee of Fairview township and the proprietor of a well-improved farm in that township, was born on a pioneer farm near his present place of residence and has lived in that neighborhood all his life. He was born on June 11, 1853, son of Peter M. and Harriet (Goodwise) Wiles, the former a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the latter ofOhio, pioneers of that section, whose last days were spent there.

Peter M. Wiles was born not far from the city of Pittsburgh and grew to manhood in Pennsylvania. He served as a soldier during the War of 1812 and later moved to Butler county, Ohio. For his services in the War of 1812 he was given a land warrant, but not being then ready to enter a claim on the same sold it. Later he came up the White Water valley and settled in Fayette county, buying a tract of land in Fairview township, one and one-half miles east of Glenwood, established his home there and there spent the remainder of his life, becoming one of the most substantial pioneers of that part of the county. He took an active part in local affairs and held various township offices at one time and another. He was an earnest member of the Christian church and although not an ordained minister of the gospel frequently occupied the pulpit and was widely known throughout this part of the state as a preacher of much power. Peter M. Wiles was a man of sturdy and vigorous physique and retained his extraordinary physical powers almost to the time of his death, at the age of eighty-five riding a horse that younger men feared to ride. He was twice married. His first wife bore him nine children. His second wife, Harriet Goodwise, survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1904. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, and was but a child when her parents came up the valley of the White Water and settled in Fayette county. She was the mother of five children, of whom two, Morton and Charlotte, are deceased, the others besides the subject of this sketch being Ross and George Wiles.

Joseph B. Wiles was reared on the paternal farm in Fairview township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood school, and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the home farm, until his marriage when twenty-three years of age, when he started farming for himself on the farm on which he now lives and where he ever since has made his home. Mr. Wiles is now the owner of a fine farm of about two hundred acres and has made all the improvements on the same. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. He is a Republican, as was his father, and has held various local offices, including that of township trustee, which latter position he held for a little more than four years, his term of office expiring in 1904. Mr. Wiles also has served on numerous occasions in a fiduciary capacity, as executor, administrator or guardian, and at one time held guardianship papers in the cases of seven different wards.

On January I, 1878, Joseph B. Wiles was united in marriage to Armilda Worsham, who was born on a farm in the west half of section 25 of Fairview township, this county, daughter of Franklin M. and Mary S. (Newbold) Worsham, members of pioneer families in this county. Franklin M. Worsham was born on a pioneer farm in the White Water valley a few miles south of Connersville, a son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Fullen) Worsham, the latter of whom was descended from one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. There is also a family tradition that Jeremiah Worsham had the blood of one of the signers of that immortal document in his veins. He was a Virginian, born near the Natural Bridge, who came out here to Indiana in pioneer times and settled in Fayette county, buying a tract of land west of Bunker Hill, in Fairview township, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring nearly seventy years ago. He became a considerable landowner, possessing, in addition to his home farm, lands south of Connersville and in the southeast part of Fairview township, in this county, as well as a tract of land ten miles southwest of Indianapolis, in Marion county, and another tract in Kosciusko county. His son, Franklin M. Worsham, grew to manhood on the home farm and spent the remainder of his life as a farmer in Fairview township. He married Mary S. Newbold, who was born on the old Wotten farm on the south side of the Rushville pike, several miles west of Connersville, a daughter of Robert and Jemima (Messersmith) Newbold, pioneers of that part of Fayette county and the former of whom was a direct lineal descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In the old days of the stagecoach Robert Newbold drove a stagecoach from Connersville to Rushville, his stopping place for the night being the Frybarger stone house about midway between the two towns. Later he moved to Kosciusko county, this state, but a few years later returned to this part of Indiana and settled in Rush county, where he spent the remainder of his life and where his daughter, Mary, lived until her marriage to Franklin M. Worsham.

To Joseph B. and Armilda (Worsham) Wiles five children have been born, namely: Allen, who married Mary McClure and now lives in Connersville; Frank, who died at the age of seventeen years; Maude, who is at home with her parents; Iva, who lives at Indianapolis, and Ernest, who lives at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Wiles are members of the Christian church and have ever taken an earnest interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of their community, ever helpful in advancing all movements designed to better local conditions.

"History of Fayette Counties, Indiana"
published by B. F. Bowen & Co. Indianapolis, IN 1917