OZMENT, Rufus E. - Putnam

Among the enterprising men who have taken an active part in promoting the material growth of Putnam County, Rufus E. Ozment. of Washington township, occupies a conspicuous place. Ever since reaching the age of manhood he has contributed to the prosperity of the country, earning by legitimate effort honorable position and wide influence and using both for the advancement of the community along legitimate lines. Rufus E. Ozment, farmer, stock raiser and contractor, was born in Guilford County. North Carolina, November 17, 1863. being a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Ozment, the father a native of the old North state, the mother of Virginia. Howard Ozment, the subject's grandfather, was a Virginian, but in young manhood went to Guilford County, North Carolina, where he married Betsey Lister, whose antecedents were among the old families of that part of the state. Nathan, whose birth occurred in 1817, was a farmer and wagonmaker and a man of standing in the community where he resided. He served in the Confederate army, until released by paying the bounty required, but later was drafted and continued with the army until the close of the war, his duty a part of the time being the butchering of cattle and hogs for the troops. He married, in his native County, Elizabeth Martin, who was born September 22, 1829, among the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. He had a family of ten children and departed this life near the place of his birth in 1883, aged sixty-seven years. His widow is still living in the same locality, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. Rufus E. Ozment remained with his parents until attaining his majority, spending the intervening years on the home farm, which he helped cultivate, but devoting the greater part of the time to the trade of wagonmaking, which his father followed and at which he early became a proficient workman. In 1882 he came to Putnam County to visit certain relatives that had settled here some years before and, being pleased with the country and its opportunities, decided not to return to his North Carolina home. Being a skillful mechanic, he soon had all the carpentry work he could do and during the six or seven years ensuing his reputation as a builder became widely known throughout the County, his partner the meanwhile being J. C. Plummer, who is now his nearest neighbor. On October 11, 1885, Mr. Ozment was joined in the holy bonds of wedlock with Julia Rissler, whose parents, Jasper and Harriet Rissler, were members of old and highly esteemed families of Putnam County. Jasper Rissler was born in Harrison County, Indiana. June 15, 1831, and after becoming a resident of Putnam County located on a farm in Washington township near the Clay County line, where his death occurred in the month of August, 1898; his wife, whose birth occurred on January 22, 1832, is still living, making her home at this time with her daughter, Mrs. Ozment. For three years after his marriage Mr. Ozment operated his father-in-law's farm and at the expiration of that period moved to Clay County where he spent about the same length of time as a mechanic and tiller of the soil. In November, 1892, he moved to his present place of residence, formerly a part of the Simpson Harris farm, which he now owns, in addition to which he also owns the old Rissler homestead, about one and a half miles distant. In connection with agriculture he is engaged in carpentry, which he carries on quite extensively, being one of the largest contractors in the township, in addition to which he also does a large and successful business in constructing cement bridges, culverts, basements, etc. As a carpenter he has erected many farm and town residences in various parts of Putnam County and elsewhere, also a number of large barns and not a few public buildings, his reputation as a successful contractor being second to that of no other in this part of Indiana. For a number of years he has been associated at intervals with Mr. Plummer, and many of the largest and finest buildings in Putnam County stand as monuments to the efiiciency and skill of these two spirited and widely known mechanics. In contracting for the erection of any kind of an edifice Mr. Ozment stipulates that it shall be turned over to the owner complete in all its parts, and his business has grown to such magnitude that he now employs from four to eight men in order to meet the demands on his time and skill. He is indeed a busy man and, judged by his labors, none have done more to advance the material interests of his section of country and as a citizen no one stands higher in the esteem and confidence of the people. He gives his support to the Democratic party, takes an active part in furthering all enterprises for the general welfare and his influence, which has always been potent and widespread, is exerted in behalf of what promises to be for the greatest good of the greatest number. He holds membership with the Masonic fraternity at Knightsville and belongs to the Royal Arch chapter at Greencastle, in addition to which he is also an active worker in the Odd Fellows lodge at Harmony and a trusted official in the several organizations with which identified. Some years ago Mr. Ozment built the beautiful and commodious residence which his family occupies and has taken great pains to make it as nearly as possible an ideal home. The building is a model of architectural beauty and with its modern conveniences and attractive surroundings impress the beholder as the dwelhng of an intelligent, public-spirited American who believes in the dignity of his calling and takes pride in the community in which he lives. Mrs. Ozment. whose birth occurred in Washington township on the i6th day of January, 1867, has borne her hsuband ten children, viz: Jessie Lee, who married C. Huffman and lives in Putnam County. Alfred Roy, a carpenter by trade and his father"s partner, married Goldie McCormack and resides near the home farm. Lillie Mac; Harriet Elizabeth, Ruthie Mildred. Bertha Evalyn, Man, Susan, Josephine, Lola Violet and Eugene Rissler being still members of the home circle, excepting Josephine, who died at the age of three months.