Centennial history of Rush
County, Indiana
Edited by A. L Gary and E. B. Thomas
Rushville, Ind.
In Two Volumes
Illustrated
VOLUME II
1921
HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS

DORA M. HILLIGOSS, a well known farmer of Rushville township, living on rural mail route No. 4 out of Rushville, was born in that township on August 22, 1863, son of Ira C. and Elizabeth (English) Hilligoss, both of whom were born, reared and educated in that same township. The father followed farming all his life in that locality and became the owner of 240 acres of land in Rushville and Walker townships. To him and his wife were born two children, the subject of this sketch and Joanna, who is deceased. Dora M. Hilligoss received his education in the Webb school, district No. 10, Rushville township, and thereafter he applied himself to work on the home farm up to the time of his marriage. He then engaged in farming on his own account on a farm of eighty acres which he had inherited from his father some time prior to his marriage. He also rented more land from his father-in-law. During the subsequent years he has been successful in his labors and is now, with his wife, the owner of 340 acres of land in Rush county. He and his son operate 206 acres of this land, the balance being rented out. Mr. Hilligoss carries on general farming operations and also gives some attention to the raising of live stock. His farm is well improved and is rated as one of the best farms in Rush county. On January 10, 1884, Mr. Hilligoss was married to Emma Ramsey, who was born in Anderson township, this county, the daughter of Eugene and Ann M. (Tyler) Ramsey, the former a native of Cumberland Gap, Va., and the latter of Anderson township, this county. Mr. Ramsey came to Rush county in an early day and here spent the remainder of his days, being engaged in farming. He owned 160 acres of land in Anderson township. To him and wife were born two children, Emma (wife of the subject) and one who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Hilligoss have been born three children, Leona May, born August 13, 1885 ; Lavon Estel, December 11, 1886, who died on June 2, 1908, and Elsa Mivard, born on January 31, 1893. Leona May Hilligoss married Casper Johnson, son of Lafayette Johnson and a farmer of this county, and has three children, Viola Lavon, Chlorine Bernice and Dora Lafayette. Lavon Estel Hilligoss married Bert Osborn, son of L. B. Osborn, also a farmer of this county. To this union one child was born, a son, Lowell Marshall. Mrs. Osborn was a noted horsewoman and drove at many of the horse shows given in this section of Indiana. Elsa Mivard Hilligoss married Nellie Logan, daughter of Ora Logan, and is farming on the Hilligoss home place. He and his wife have two children, Lavon Estel and Harold Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Hilligoss are earnest members of the Main Street Christian Church in Rushville. Mr. Hilligoss is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, while, fraternally, he is a member of Ivy Lodge No. 27, Knights of Pythias, at Rushville, and Lodge No. 1307, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mrs. Hilligoss is a member of and holds official position in the Pythian Sisters. Since 1908 the Hilligoss family has been holding an annual reunion, the organization having been perfected by Mrs. Hilligoss and the late Levi Hilligoss, of Foley, Minn. Mrs. Dora M. Hilligoss is secretary of the association, and has been for ten years. In 1913 Levi Hilligoss published a history of the Hilligoss family, a profusely illustrated book of more than 200 pages.