Indiana Local History <-> Genealogy 
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Rush County, Indiana History <-> Genealogy - 1875 Map

RUSH COUNTY, Indiana

*First created in 1821, from the Delaware New Purchase.
*County seat: Rushville.
Located in southeast central Indiana.
*Cities, Towns & Communities include: Arlington, Boyd, Carthage, Circleville, Farmers, Farmington, Gings, Glenwood, Gowdy, Henderson, Homer, Manilla, Mauzy, Mays, Milroy, Moscow, New Salem, Occident, Raleigh, Richland, Rushville, Sexton and Williamstown.

The communities of Falmouth, Glenwood, and Orange are located on the RUSH and FAYETTE County line, and Williamstown is located on the RUSH and DECATUR County line.

Select this LINK to see GENERAL Rush County information and links.
Select from the TOWN list above to learn which township the community is located in, and view information and links specific to that area.
Select from the TOWNSHIPs Table below to view information and links specific to the township.
Please note:  Though the information on this web page is believed to be correct, the possibility of error remains.  Please notify the webmaster should an error be found.
 

Surrounding Counties:
 NW = Hancock County, IN    N = Henry County, IN
W = Shelby County, IN    RUSH COUNTY     E = Fayette County, IN
                                         S = Decatur County, IN  SE = Franklin County, IN

RUSH COUNTY, INDIANA
Established in 1821, from the Delaware New Purchase; County seat is Rushville.
Dr. W. B. LAUGHLIN was a member of the Legislature when the county was set off, and had given it the name in honor of his preceptor, the illustrious Dr. Benjamin RUSH, of Philadelphia.
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Portions from History of Rush County, Chicago: Brant and Fuller, 1888.
Graciously transcribed, and donated to this site, by Lora <Lora1957@aol.com>.
+ Early Settlements + First Settlers + Organization and Early Court Cases +

+ Early Industries +

Early Settlements 

     The very first settlers were squatters.  Some of these after the land office in Brookville was opened purchased their homes and went to work to open up a farm, but the majority were hunters and trappers, whom a restless spirit of adventure ever kept on the frontiers; they were the avant conreurs of the white race; always in advance of emigration; as soon as the men who sought a permanent home settled near them, they pushed farther into the wilderness, where the ringing blows of the axe had not driven away the game.  This type of squatters were a peculiar people, brave, skilled in all the mysteries of woodcraft, wonderfully self reliant and cool, hospitable and generous, they were utterly uncultivated and rude; they despised the learning of the schools, and polished and refinement of society, deeming them frivolous and effeminate, unworthy the attention of the free rovers of the forest.

First Settlers 

     The Indians having ceded their title to the land, in the early part of 1819, and the most of them having left this part of the country, the squatters soon found their way into the abandoned hunting grounds, some for the sake of the abundant game, others with an eye to a future home, to be secured when the land was thrown into the market.  Of the latter class were several afterward well known in the early history of our county.  Henry SIDORUS was a squatter on land now owned by T. P. WHITE, on the south side of Flat Rock; it was where the Indiana trail leading from Connersville to the White River towns crossed that stream.  He settled there in 1819, he was a keen hunter and skillful trapper.  He built a house and stable, cleared some land, and had a wagon and horses.  After the sale of the land he entertained land viewers and movers, assisting them with his team when needed. In 1821, he sold his claim to Joseph SMITH for $100, with which he purchased eighty acres on the north side of Flat Rock, now a part of the farm of Mr. Jesse W. SMELSER.  After Indianapolis was laid out, he hauled the first dry goods from Cincinnati to that place, and also assisted in moving families and their household goods there.  In 1823, he sold his land to John SMELSER, for $300 and pushed out into what is now Champaign County, Illinois, and located in a beautiful grove, which bears his name, as does the Post Office and Railroad station now there.  His son William has his home there still.  Richard THORNBERRY settled on Flat Rock, some four miles below Rushville, at the mouth of Hurricane Creek in 1819.  He entered his land on the 2nd of October 1820.  He remained an honored citizen of Rush, leaving many descendants.  Isaac WILLIAMS squatted on the farm now owned by Andrew GUFFIN, a mile and a half north of New Salem, also in 1819; he entered his land in 1820.  Samuel GRUELL squatted on what is now Arnold’s Home farm, and his brother in law, Weir CASSADY, on the Joseph HINCHMAN farm.  This was in 1819.  GRUELL sold his claim to John ARNOLD for $50, in 1820, and then bought eighty acres where Matthias PARSON now lives; this he traded to John PARSON for a farm on Noland’s Fork of Whitewater.  Weir CASSADY also bought land in Rush, and was a citizen until his death.  He left numerous descendants.  His widow died at the house of her son in law, John OLIVER, in Rushville, within the last year.  John HALE was a squatter on the land
belonging to Thomas CASSADY.  He entered 160 acres of land and afterward sold it to Wilson
LAUGHLIN, which is now Judge W. A. CULLEN’S home farm.  He was a famous hunter, and as a slayer of deer there was but one in the county that could compete with him, and that was Ben
BURTON, another squatter and afterward a permanent settler.  Those early days were not without
exciting episodes, independent of the adventure and dangers of the forest.  John HALE had made
considerable improvements on the land he designed entering, and was making every effort to get
together a sufficient sum to make the purchase.  At this time, 1822, he ascertained that some parties
from Kentucky had taken the numbers of the land, and had started to Brookville to make the entry.  In this emergency he mounted his horse and galloped to Judge W.B. LAUGHLIN to ask for aid in his distress.  He started the case to the judge and he immediately furnished him with the necessary cash.   He then besought Harmony LAUGHLIN to take his money and his horse and endeavor to overtake and pass the other party, who had some hours the start, and get to the land office first and secure the land. Fortunately, for the party so deeply interested in the race, his horse had both speed and endurance and HALE had charges Harmony to beat them there if it killed his horse.  Inspired by this order and his natural energy, he dashed away through the dim pathway, at furious speed.  Night had overtaken the Kentuckians at Judge MOUNT’S at the point afterward known as Metamora.  Here they put up for the night, but Harmony made no halt but pushed on toward Brookville, where he arrived near morning and as soon as it was light, hunted up the land office officials and made entry, that secured to his friend HALE, the desired home.  Shortly after the business was completed the Kentuckians arrived and to their intense chagrin, found that they were too late, that the other party had traveled while they slept.


For further information, see also:  History of The City of Rushville, Indiana

Organization and Early Court Cases 

     The organization of Rush Circuit Court, took place on April 4, 1822, at the house of Stephen SIMS, just south of the City of Rushville.  William W. WICK, President Judge, and North PARKER and Elias POSTON, Associate Judges, presented their certificates of appointment and were all sworn into office.  Robert THOMPSON, as Clerk, and John HAYS, as Sheriff, also presented their certificates of appointment and took the legal oath.  A rudely constructed device capable of making some unintelligible impression on paper was presented by the Clerk, and adopted by the court as its seal.  Court then adjourned to meet at 2 o’clock P.M., at the house of Jehu PERKINS, about five miles southeast of Rushville; no reason is known why the court left the county seat to meet five miles away, the late George SEXTON, said it was because PERKINS kept a distillery there.  Court met at the appointed time, and Hiram M. CURRY was admitted to the Bar, and sworn as Prosecuting Attorney.  The Sheriff brought in a Grand Jury, consisting of William JUNKINS, Jesse PERKINS, Nate PERKINS, Christian CLYMER, John WALKER, Powell PRIEST, Garrett DURLIN, John LOWER, Jacob REED, John HALL, Richard HACKLEMAN, Benjamin Sailors, and Peter H. Patterson.  The Grand Jury was sworn and charged and reported no indictments, and were paid 75 cents each for their services.  The court then adjourned, to meet next term, at the house of John Lower.   At this first term of Court no business was transacted, the Rush Circuit Court in embryo had organized and lasted a
single day.  Of the Judges, Court Officers, and Grand Jury, of that term, not one is living,
sixty – five years after the adjournment.

      The October Term, 1822, convened on the fourth of that month at the house of John Lower, about three miles south, and a little west, of Rushville.  Lower kept a tavern, and his place was known far and near.  Judge Wick, failed to put in an appearance, and the Associate Judges convened the court.  John Hays, the Sheriff, did not appear.  His mind had become impaired, and while wandering about Hancock County he was arrested and put in the county jail, which he set on fire and perished in the flames.  Richard Hackleman, the Coroner, empanelled a Grand Jury, of which Edward J. Swanson, afterward conspicuous in the criminal annals of the county, was foreman.  At this term Martin A. Ray, Charles H. Test, Joseph A. Hopkins, James Noble, James Raridan, and Charles H. Veeder were admitted to the Bar.  The first case in court was that of
Thomas Colbert vs. Rachael Colbert, alias Rachael James, “on libel for divorce.”   James Noble appeared for plaintiff.  The defendant was defaulted, notice of the pendency of the action having been given by publication in the Brookville Enquirer.    The court fixed the tavern license at $10.00, and license was granted Jehu Perkins, and Richard Thornburgh.   The Grand Jury, at this tem returned several indictments, among them one against John Ray for hog marking.  The defendant was acquitted on the ground that the offense was committed before the organization of the county.  The court then adjourned to meet next term at the house of Robert Thompson, in Rushville.

     The April Term, 1823, met on the 24th of that month, at Robert Thompson’s house in Rushville, only the Associate Judges being present.  Nathaniel W. Marks, having been appointed Sheriff, entered upon the discharge of his duties.  Hiram M. Curry resigned as Prosecuting Attorney, and Charles H. Test was appointed to fill the vacancy.  At this term of court, Aaron Anderson, a native of Ireland, renounced his allegiance to George Fourth and became the first person naturalized in Rush County.  Oliver H. Smith was admitted to the Bar.  Daniel Lawman was convicted for selling liquor without license, and fined $2 in each of two cases.  The Judges allowed themselves $6 each for services.

     The August Term, 1823, convened on the 14th day of that month with Miles C. Eggleston, President Judge, Parker, and Poston, Associates, and the same Clerk and Sheriff.  The case of Israel Cox vs. James Greer, slander came on for trial.  The slander consisted of Greer’s having charged Cox with stealing his hogs.  Charles H. Test appeared for plaintiff, and Oliver H. Smith for defendant.  The trial took place in a log court house, and in the course of his argument, Smith said that the speaking of the words had not been shown by the evidence; at this, Greer, who was outside, run his head through the window and yelled out, “Don’t lie Smith, I did say he stole my hogs, and I stick to it.”  Smith then told the court Greer had been drunk ever since the trial commenced, and asked that he be sent to jail until the trial was over.  This was done and Smith gained the case.

     The April Term, 1824, was uneventful; a number of State cases against Joseph Looney were disposed of Joseph being worsted in all of them.  James Greer came into court drunk, and was fined for contempt. Clerk Thompson and Sheriff Marks were each allowed $30 for one year’s service.

     The September Term, 1824, was held at the house of Robert Thompson, in Rushville.  At this term of court the following order was made:  “Ordered by the Court, now here, that the prison bounds for the County of Rush shall be the limits of the town play of Rushville, as recorded in the Recorder’s office of the County of Rush.”  This prison limit was made for the prisoner for debt.

     The April Term, 1825, was held at the house of Christian Clymer. Hon. Bethuel F. Morris entered upon his duties as President Judge.  Rue Pugh was appointed Master in Chancery.  Isaac Arnold, a native of “Isle of Wright, Old England.” Made his application and was naturalized.

     At the September Term, 1825, John Gregg succeeded North Parker, as one of the Associate Judges.  Calvin Fletcher, Esq. Presented his commission and was sworn in as Prosecuting Attorney. 

At the April Term, 1826, William S. Bussell entered upon the discharge of the duties of his office as Sheriff, and Calvin Fletcher as Prosecuting Attorney.  At this term James Divers was tried and convicted of larceny, and given one year in the penitentiary.  The business of this term was about all criminals, the defendants being in most cases charges with assault and battery and betting, and were generally found guilty.  The October Term, 1826, was held in the courthouse, in Rushville.  James Mitchell presented his commission and was sworn in as Prosecuting Attorney.  Sampson Cassady
was one of the Grand Jurors.  He is now (November 1887) the only man living who served on a Grand Jury at so early a date.  William Klumm, and Charles H. Veeder, were indicted, tried and found guilty of an affray.  They appealed the case to the Supreme Court where it was reversed.  This was the first case appealed to the Supreme Court from Rush County.

     At the April Term, 1827, James Whitcomb presented his commission and was sworn in as Prosecuting Attorney.  The business of this term as heretofore was mostly criminal.  The slander suit of Frances Clark vs. George Taylor was tried and verdict rendered for $50 against defendant.

     The Young Murder Trial.  The October Term, 1827, convened with Judge Bethuel F. Morris as President Judge, and John Gregg and Elias Poston, Associates.  It was at this term that the first murder trial in Rush County took place.  Alexander Young had been indicted for the murder of John Points A jury consisting of Robert Groves, Benjamin Heady, Nicholas Barton, Asa Beck, John W. Barbour, Richard Thornbury, Landy Hurst, William Kitchen, George Conrad, John Iier, John Ferris, and Josiah Lee, was empanelled, and the trial prosecuted.  The prosecution was conducted by Hon, Oliver H. Smith, and James Whitcomb.  The defense was by Charles H. Test, James Raridan,
and James T. Brown.  The facts in the case were very unfortunate.  Young was a thrifty, well to do farmer, and had a beautiful daughter about seventeen years old.  Points was a young man of respectability, the son of a neighboring farmer.  He was much attracted to Miss Young, but her father would not consent to their marriage, and elopement followed.  Young pursued the fleeing couple and by running across the corner of the woods got ahead of them.  He concealed himself behind a tree, and when the couple, who were both riding the same horse, came up, Young fired upon them with his rifle.  The ball grazed the head of Miss Young, and entered that of Points who died two hours later.  From the time the fatal shot was fired Young was completely overcome with sorrow, and expressed such evidence of grief that he enlisted public sympathy in his favor.  His
defense was so ably conducted that he was only found guilty of manslaughter and received the minimum sentence of the law, one year in the penitentiary.  Thus justice had been tempered by mercy.  The Governor soon pardoned Young.  He returned to his home broken and ruined in fortune and hopes, and it is said he never smiled after he fired the shot.  The daughter afterward married, but the strain of her awful experience preyed upon her until her mind became wrecked.  For thirty years before her death she was a raving maniac, oblivious to all things, but the memory of June 4, 1827.

     The Swanson Case.  At the April Term 1829, Edward J. Swanson was indicted and tried for the murder of Elishi Clark.  The prosecution was conducted by William W. Wick, and James Whitcomb, and the defense by Charles H. Test.  The indictment embodied the essentials of the common law.  It was drawn by James Whitcomb, and from it the crushing prosecution escape was hopeless.  The jury returned a verdict of guilty, which stands alone in the severity of punishment in the judicial history of the county.  The defendants filed a motion for a new trial, assigning as one of the reasons that the Judge had charged the jury “that they were the judges of the facts and the court of the judge of the law.”  The Judge, Hon. B. F. Morris, over ruled all the motions and sentenced Swanson to be hanged on the following May 11, one month after the trial.  Swanson disheartened, yielded to the inevitable and refused to appeal his case to the Supreme Court where there is scarcely any doubt that it would have been reversed.   The execution occurred at the time fixed, and Swanson was the only man who ever paid the extreme penalty of the law in Rush County by an ignominious death upon scaffold.

     At the October Term, 1829, Hugh Monroe was tried for murder.  Monroe and deceased had been on bad terms for some time, and while at a shooting match, deceased while fixing a target was shot and instantly killed by Monroe, who was found guilty and sent to the penitentiary for sixteen years, but was afterward pardoned by the Governor.  It was at this term of court that John Greeg, and Montgomery McCall took their seats as Associate Judges.

     At the March Term, 1830, Charles H. Test came upon the bench as President Judge.  James Perry was prosecutor.  Business was very dull at this term.  James Tyler was fined for contempt for coming into court intoxicated and talking loud.

     September Term, 1830, Alfred Posey having been elected Sheriff, assumes control of the affairs of that office.  At this term Judge Test made an examination of the records and gave the Clerk a sound lecturing on account of erasures and interlineations.

     March Term, 1832, William J. Brown. Prosecutor.  The following order was entered at this term.  “James Raridan, Esq, fined $1 for standing up before the fire, in contempt of court” The fine was remitted next day.  The courthouse took fire March 22, and created a commotion in court.   John F. Irvin and Avanant T. Lewis ventured on the roof and extinguished the flames, receiving therefore the thanks of the court for this brave act.  The Grand Jury examined the jail and reported, “It was in a sad state of decay, for several of the logs are much rotted and the door has no lock”

     The most important civil case ever-tried in Rush Circuit Court was that to contest the will of John Megee.  The plaintiffs were represented by Daniel W. Voorhees, Benjamin F. Claypool and William A. Cullen, the defendants by Thomas A. Hendricks, Leonidas Sexton, Oscar B. Hord, and Abram W. Hendricks.  The charges of Judge Jeremiah M. Wilson were excepted to and appealed from.  The judgment of the Supreme Court include the entire charges of Judge Wilson, and complimented that distinguished jurist in the following language.  “We have given these instructions, repeated, and careful and thorough examination, and we fully indorse them, in all respects fully applicable and
warranted by the evidence in and circumstances of the case.

Early Industries 

Judge W. B. LAUGHLIN built the first gristmill in the county, in 1821.  It was south of where the town of Rushville stands, on the land now owned by Aaron FRAZEE; the dam was where the south bridge now crosses Flat Rock.  This was a great convenience to the pioneers of this county, as they had to go heretofore to Connersville to do their milling.  But some two years later a season of unprecedented amount and fatality of, sickness devastated the young town of Rushville.  The citizens excited and alarmed attributed this to the damming of Flat Rock, and considering it their right and duty to abate the fatal nuisance, rose en masse and destroyed the dam.   But this did not materially lessen the malarious elements generated by the exposure of a damp soil teeming with decaying vegetable matter to the direct rays of the sun.  At this time Jehu PERKINS had a distillery on his farm and a horsepower tread mill for the grinding of corn.  Some years later he built a mill on Little Flat Rock, near where the Pleasant Run Baptist Church now stands.  William ROBINSON built a steam mill on the farm now owned by Abijah HUNT; these were in what is now Noble Township At an early day John WOODS put up a mill at Moscow, built of round logs, he also had a still-house there, as had Joseph Owens.   These with their old fashion copper stills amply supplied the spirituous wants of this, then notorious, town, and its vicinity.  Robert HILL built a sawmill in 1827, and one year later a gristmill, at the place now known as Carthage.  Dayton HOLLOWAY built the next mill in that neighborhood. 

MAPS
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  • Interactive Census Bureau Map of Rush County, Indiana
  • 1875 Map of Rush County, Indiana, from Higgins Belden & Co. ( see citation )
  • 1895 Map of Rush County, Indiana, by Pam Rietsch
  • Use the query form, at USGS, to map features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more.  Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature.  This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.

NATIVE AMERICAN
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MUSEUMS & HISTORIC SITES
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  • Rush County Historical Society

    619 N. Perkins Street - Rushville, IN 46173  Phone: (765) 932-2492.


CHURCHES
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CEMETERIES
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·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o    Indiana Cemetery Locator Database

  • Use the query form, at USGS, to map features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more.  Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature.  This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.

COMMERCE, TOURISM & ONLINE COMMUNITY
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NATURE
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NEWS & NEWSPAPERS
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·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o    Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county (in Indianapolis)

BIOGRAPHIES
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HISTORY <-> GENEALOGY: Articles and Online Databases
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+ History of the City of Rushville, Rush County, Indiana + Early Industries +
+ Religious History : Churches of Rush County, Indiana +

  • Reminiscences of an Old Settler : concerning Ben DAVIS & Ben Davis Creek, known to the Native Americans as "Mahoning Creek", of Rush County, IN.
  • Welcome to Rush County, Indiana, USGenWeb Genealogy
  • Connie Lindzy has graciously volunteered an offer to check the following resource which contains information relevant to Madison, Hancock and Rush Counties for mentions of particular surnames or ancestors:


    "The Pioneer", [Cover title: The Pioneers of Madison and Hancock Counties, Indiana], by Samuel Harden, Greenfield, Indiana : W. Mitchell Printing Co., 1895.  This book covers Hancock, Madison and Rush Counties.  A Facsimile reprint of work originally published in Greenfield, Ind., 1895, was also printed by Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, 1990.

·         Indiana State Library.    140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o    Online Databases

o    Indiana Cemetery Locator Database

o    Indiana Biography Index (published before 1990)

o    Indiana Biography Index (published since 1990)

o    Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850.

o    Index of Indiana Marriages, 1993 through 2002

o    Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county (in Indianapolis)

o    Images of Indiana: 92 Counties // from Adams to Whitley

o    Indiana Public Libraries

o    WWII Servicemen Database

o    Indiana Plat Books

o    Vital Information Exchange (VINE)

·         1880 Census Index, by familysearch.org

·         1820 Indiana Census Index, by Lori!

ARCHIVES & LIBRARIES for Further Research
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Collections in the Indiana room include: "... full histories, census records (1830-1920), marriages, births, cemeteries, and individual histories of various Rush County towns, schools and churches..."

 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT & Vital Records
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Contacts to obtain many documents and certified copies.  There is a small fee:

   Courthouse, Room 5 - Rushville, IN 46173-1854  Phone: (765) 932-3103.

     Main Street - 3rd Floor - Rushville, IN  46173  Phone: (765) 932-2078.

     101 E 2nd St # 9 - Rushville, IN  46173  Phone: (765) 932-2086.
 

  101 E. 2nd Street # 208 - Rushville, IN 46173  Phone:  (765) 932-2388.

    102 N. Main Street - Rushville, IN  Phone: (765) 932-3184.

Rush County Communities

  • Anderson Township communities include:  Milroy.  Williamstown is located at the RUSH (Anderson Township) and DECATUR (Clinton Township) County line.

 

  • Center Township communities include:  Mays.  Sexton, RUSH COUNTY (Jackson and Center Townships' line).

"The Town of Mays, Indiana"
from History of Rush County, Chicago: Brant and Fuller, 1888,
graciously transcribed, and donated to this site, by Lora Addison Radiches.

Mays is a station on the Ft. Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad in Center Township.  The town was laid out by Samuel KIRKPATRICK and Charles H. THROWLEY, June 25, 1884.  The original plat contained seventy-four lots.  The first merchants were Swarr & Cooper, who occupied the small frame store building in which J. J. MARTIN is now doing business.  Henry CARTER was the first Postmaster.  The principle enterprises of the town are two large grain elevators owned by Samuel COHEE, and James AYERS.  John WINDAU had a large warehouse, and Brackner & Schook a heading factory.  Others doing business here are Warner & Co., sawmill; W. M. McBRIDE drugs, and J. J. MARTIN, general merchandise.  The name of Hiram PAXTON also deserves mention among the businessmen of Mays.

  • Jackson Township communities include:  Henderson, Occident and Sexton.  Sexton, RUSH COUNTY (Jackson and Center Townships' line).

Noble Township communities include:  New Salem.  Orange, is situated on the RUSH (Noble Township) & Fayette (Orange Township) county line.

 


Orange Township communities include:  Gowdy and Moscow.

  • Posey Township communities include:  Arlington.  Farmers is situated on the Ripley and Posey Townships' line, and Henderson on the Ripley and Jackson Townships' line.

 


Richland Township communities include:  Richland.


Ripley Township communities include:  Boyd and Carthage.

  • Carthage Henry Henley Library


   102 N. Main  - Carthage, IN  46115  Phone: (765) 565-6631.


Rushville Township communities include:  Circleville and Rushville (the county seat).


    619 N. Perkins Street - Rushville, IN 46173  Phone: (765) 932-2492.


   130 W. 3rd Street - Rushville, IN  46173  Phone: (765) 932-3496.

    • Collections in the Indiana room include: "... full histories, census records (1830-1920), marriages, births, cemeteries, and individual histories of various Rush County towns, schools and churches..."

The City of Rushville 
from History of Rush County, Chicago: Brant and Fuller, 1888,
graciously transcribed, and donated to this site, by Lora Addison Radiches; 
digital formatting by Ann Mensch.

Doubtless the people of to day would like to know something of the founding of the present flourishing City of Rushville, sixty –five years ago.  Located in the mist of an unbroken forest, it required brave hearts and industrious hands to undertake to build up a town.  But the men were found able and willing to undertake it and succeed in spite of all difficulties in their way.  Amaiah MORGAN, Jehu PERKINS, and John JULIAN, the first Commissioners of Rush County, met at the house of Jehu PERKINS on the 1st of April, 1822, organized as a Board, and at once entered on their multiform duties.  At a called meeting held on the 17th of June 1822, they received and approved the report of the Commissioners, Train CALDWELL, Robert LUCE, Samuel JACK, and James DELANEY, who had been appointed to locate the county seat.  The next day, the 18th, they appointed Conrad SAILORS agent to lay out the town, which was to consist of not less than 150, nor more than 200 lots, with a central square, of a size sufficient for the public buildings that would be required.   Dr. W. B. LAUGHLIN had donated twenty-five acres, and Zachariah HODGES forty-five, to the county, to secure the location.  Dr. W. B. LAUGHLIN was a member of the Legislature when the county was set off, and had given it the name in honor of his preceptor, the illustrious Dr. Benjamin RUSH, of Philadelphia.  Actuated by the same tender remembrance, he named the town.  The 29th day of July was appointed for the public sale of lots.  A number of lots were sold on that day, and soon the crash of fallen trees was heard, and the smoke and flame of burning log heaps was seen, as the clearing went on.  Then the building of cabins speedily followed, and Rushville was begun.  Next the public square and the principle streets were cleared through ungraded and full of stumps.  In 1822 a jail was built, and in 1823 a courthouse was contracted for.  This was the old fashion, square two story, brick building, and though there was little architectural beauty to recommend it, it was a substantial structure, and answered every purpose until in 1848, when the present more convenient and commodious building was erected.

At the October Term of court, 1822, the price of tavern license was fixed at $10, and the number of beds that must be kept for the accommodations of travelers, and the number of stalls in the stable were definitely set forth.  The proof of these things was a pre-requisite for the obtaining of the license.  Richard THORNBERRY and Jehu PERKINS were the first to avail them selves of this privilege of keeping a tavern.  Modern fashion would call these hotels.  It may be noticed that both of these were in the country.  The very first house erected upon the ground now occupied by Rushville, was a large double cabin built by Dr. W.B. LAUGHLIN, in December of 1820, near the river, back of where John FOUTS now resides.  This location was selected on account of its nearness to a fine spring that gushes from the riverbank.  This was an unusually large double cabin, with a hall running through the middle.  It was necessarily large to accommodate the doctor's family of three sons and ten daughters.

Among the first to build after the sale of the lots, may be mentioned Stephen SIMMS, who built near where Dr. John MOFFETT lives, Clum, a shoemaker, had his cabin where the Orphans' Home now is.  MINER's cabin was just south of Caldwell's livery stable, John ALLEY's, where HUFFORD's is, William HART's, immediately west of this, Robert THOMPSON's, where J.R. CARMICHAEL's store stands, A. LAUMAN, in the same block, a little north of it, Dr. H.G. SEXTON's where the Mauzy double store is, Job PUGH's double two story house, stood where the National Bank now stands, Joseph NICHOL's, where James PATTISON now lives, Charles VEEDER's in the park, where three or four locust trees now grow, Charles TEST, where Dr. W.H. SMITH's house stands, this he occupied as an office and dwelling until he married, when he bought William HART's property on the mill race east of John CARMICHAEL's mill; here he built a two story log house, which still remains, though changes from its original appearance by weather boarding, etc.  The first stock of goods was brought by a Mr. PATTERSON, from Pittsburgh, who sold them in a house where Dr. M. SEXTON's block is, east of the Windsor Hotel.  Reu PUGH opened a dry goods store on the National Bank lot, DEMING brought a stock and sold them in a building where Rush County Bank now stands, he afterward built the brick, south of the court house, where he carried on the business for several years, Major NEWELL built a two story log house, and sold goods, where Dr. W.A. PUGH lives, then came W. McCleary & Co. west of court house.  Thomas WOOSTER opened a dry goods store in 1828.  He had previously kept a grocery.  The very first tavern was one kept by William HART, west of HUFFORD's house.  He kept this house for perhaps two years, then sold out to Charles TEST, and moved away.  LAUMAN, in 1823, opened one west of the courthouse, and Job PUGH, one north of the courthouse.  This he sold to his brother Reu PUGH, after he was elected Recorder, the latter enlarged and improved the house, and carried on the business most successfully for many years.  Reu PUGH was a most energetic businessman.  He kept a first rate tavern, a dry goods and grocery store, had an extensive tanyard and a shoemaker's shop, thus largely increasing the business of the town.  Joseph HAMILTON came to Rushville in 1830, and opened a dry goods and grocery store, in a room where Toolen's block now stands.  He afterward moved it to the McPike corner and finally built a brick building, which is now a part of the Grand Hotel.  Here, at the old white corner, as it was usually called, he was for many years, carried on successfully, a general mercantile business and also kept a hotel, which made glad the heart of the weary traveler.  In later years George HIBBEN, Laren & Flinn, Hibben & Flinn, Maddux & Havens, Hibben & Mauzy, and William MAUZEY & Co. were among the leading merchants of Rushville.  Joseph THRASHER was one of the early blacksmiths.  His shop stood where Reeve & Burt's store is.  Jack IRVIN had a tailor's shop where Mrs. MASON's millinery store stands.  Henry BECKWITH had a wagon maker's shop on the south side of the courthouse.  Alexander GLON was a well-known shoemaker in early times.  Thomas PUGH carried on the business of hatter, in a shop that stood where GWIN's livery stable now stands.  Hiram BELL had a blacksmith's shop south of the courthouse.

The first postmaster in Rushville was Charles VEEDER, in 1822.  The first school taught in the township and county, was by Dr. W. B. LAUGHLIN, in 1821.

Plats Of Rushville:

The original plat of Rushville contained 151 lots.  As time rolled on and the population increased, it became necessary to enlarge the limits.  The Laughlin addition was laid out and platted, November 17, 1836.  It was immediately west of the original plat.  This sufficed until September 17, 1847, when BRIDGES and TINGLEY recorded their addition situated west of the Laughlin addition along Buena Vista Avenue.  In 1850, SMITH and CARR platted their addition, lying west of BRIDGES and TINGLEY's, between the Indianapolis road and Ruth Street and north of the J. M. & I depot.  This area was found to be insufficient for the increased and increasing population, and in April 1867, G. C. CLARK, in response to the demand for more room, made his first addition, extending east of Main Street, between Elm and Lilac.  Our High School is on Perkins between Lilac and Magnolia.  These lots were taken up so rapidly that in May, 1868, he made his second addition, east of the first, and extending to Maple Street, and in May, 1869, he made his third from Maple to the point on which the second or colored Methodist Church stands.  In February 1870, H.G. SEXTON's first addition was made to the northwest part of town.  In 1879, Lon Sexton made his addition between Main and Morgan streets.  Theodore Jennings made an addition to the West and South part of town.  H .G. Sexton's heirs made their second addition lying west of Jackson and north of West Fifth Street. 

Besides the above important additions, there have been quite a number of smaller ones not necessary to be enumerated.  These later additions have been rapidly taken up and improved by laboring men, through the benefit aid of the building associations.  These associations are emphatically the friends of the poor man.  Many a man now enjoys the blessings of a home that is in verity his own by their aid; without this organization he would be now a renter at the mercy of a landlord. The growth and development of Rushville has been steady and real, but scarcely keeping pace with the advance of the county in wealth and financial prosperity.  Rushville has never been cursed by that unfounded and fictitious inflation of values, usually known as a boom, and which unscrupulous speculators, and tricksters for their own gain work up.  About 1856, Col. Alfred POSEY built, and for several years run a large distillery, in what is now Circleville.  This afforded a good market for all surplus grain.  But the farmers found that it was more profitable to feed their corn to their hogs than to sell it, so that the distillery could not get enough to make the manufacture of whisky very remunerative to the owner.

Mills

In 1840, Harvey W. CARR, Joseph NICHOLS, Joseph McPIKE, and Dr. William FRAME formed a company and built the steam mill to which was attached a saw mill.  In the spring of 1845, John and Jesse CARMICHAEL bought it.  After running it some time, Jesse went out, and Lewis MADDUX, James HIBBEN and John CARMICHAEL became the owners.  In a short time HIBBEN and MADDUX sold their interest, and it has been ever since the property of John CARMICHAEL.  This mill was for many years the most popular mill in the county, and did an immense amount of work.  In July of 1887, Mr. CARMICHAEL put in the roller process works, so that he is now prepared to successfully compete with any mill in the county.  In June 1857, T. & E. MOFFETT and John WINSHIP built a large and very complete and well-equipped woolen mill, whose foundations stand on the riverbank south of the Presbyterian Church, it having been consumed by fire in 1887.  This factory turned out first-class goods and gave employment to about twenty-five hands.  In 1870, John CARMICHAEL bought out the interests of WINSHIP and Estell MOFFETT, it being the one-half interest of the concern; he paid for this $20,000.  It was run a few years longer to the pecuniary loss of the proprietors.  The City Mills were built by J. B. FOUCH, in 1881, and are now doing a fine custom business under the present proprietor, T. W. HILLIGOSS.  The latest devices in mill machinery are used in this mill.

Incorporation

It is not easy to fix definitely the date of incorporation of Rushville, as a town.  Prior to the building of the present city hall, council meetings were held wherever convenient for the members, and the town records were not safely kept.  For a time they were left in the office of a Justice of the Peace, on whose dockets were recorded fines and penalties against certain law-breakers.  These individuals, thinking to destroy the judgments against them, broke into the Justice's office at night and carrying forth what books they could find, which unfortunately were the town records, built a fire in the streets and destroyed them. However, old citizens agree that the incorporation was effected prior to 1845, and it is generally believed that it was about 1842.  The town Board held its last meeting September 6, 1883 (the records are signed by J. H. BEBOUT, president, and H. P. McGUIRE, Clerk), and on the same day the first meeting of the City Council was held, when Mayor George H. PUNTENNEY, Clerk Joseph A. ARMSTRONG, Marshal Samuel G. VANCE, Treasurer William E. HARMES, and Councilmen L. LINK, A. PAVY, J.J. FOUTS, J. READLE, Martin BOHANNON and J.B. REEVE were duly installed.  These gentlemen had been elected to the respective offices named, at a special election held on September 4, 1883.  The Mayors of the city have been: George H. PUNTENNEY from September 6, 1883, Wilson T. JACKSON from May 9, 1884, H. G. L. S. HILLIGOSS from May7, 1886.

[Rush County, Indiana] Press:

As the press is one of the educators of our country, and exerts a powerful influence in giving tone and character to society, mention of its history in this county is made.  It is rather difficult to give the correct data, as the files of newspapers have not been preserved, and the historian must depend mainly on the personal recollections of old citizens.

The first paper ever published in Rush County was a unique sheet dubbed the Dog Fennel Gazette, about ten by twelve inches.  Though small, it was spicy and rich, filled with the local news of the county, humor, drollery and keen sarcasm.  Its sole editor and proprietor was William D. M. WICKMAN, an original genius of the first water.  The press itself was decidedly pioneer; the bed of it was the top of a sycamore stump, and the lever a long pole inserted into a mortise in a tree standing by its side; on this he printed his Gazette and all the bills called for by the business of the county. This he used for some time, but finally made a great advance by constructing a press of heavy oak timbers.  This he called “Wickman's Velocity Press”, and did what was then considered good printing.  The first number of the Dog Fennel Gazette was issued in the latter part of 1822 or early part of 1823.  This paper for many years supplied the wants of the community, until Samuel DAVIS and Thomas WALLACE, two young and practical printers from Cincinnati, started a more pretentious sheet, called the Rushville Herald.
  • Union Township communities include:  Farmington, Gings and Mauzy.  Glenwood, is on the RUSH (Union Township) & Fayette (Orange Township) county line.

 


Walker Township communities include:  Homer and Manilla.

  • Washington Township communities include:  Raleigh.  Falmouth, is on the RUSH (Union and Washington Townships) & Fayette (Fairview Township) county line.

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PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH
Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist

Researching on-site, and with the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library, holding one of the largest genealogical collections in North America.  Search the Library's online catalogue to see some of the printed resources available for a location or topic.

Printed resources for this page include:

  • Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer.  First Edition, Second Printing.  Yarmouth, Maine:  Delorme.  1998.
  • School and Library Atlas of the World.  Fred W. Foster, Ph.D. (Editor).  Sycamore, Illinois:  School and Library Publishing Company.  1982.
  • New Sectional Township Map of Indiana.  Chicago, Illinois : Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.

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Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001-2009, by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.