of Vermillion County, public-spirited and influential in promoting all worthy enterprises.
C. P. POTTS, farmer and stock-raiser, section 3, Vermillion Township, is a native of Vermillion County, born April 17, 1848, a son of Richard and Rebecca (Jackson) Potts. His father was from Monmouth County, New Jersey, and his mother from Clermont County, Ohio. They came to Vermillion County in 1845, making this their home the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1875, aged seventy-four years, and the mother in 1885, at about the same age. They had two sons -- Thomas, who is now deceased, and our subject. C. P. Potts was reared a farmer, an ooccupation he has always followed successfully, and now has 680 acres of valuable land. In his stock-raising he makes a specialty of cattle, and in his herd are many valuable breeds, He is one of the enterprising farmers of his township, and, although not yet forty years old, is one of the substantial and prominent citizens of the county. He was married in 1876 to Josephine Culley, a navtive of Vermillion County, born in 1852, a daughter of John and Marha Culley. Mr. and Mrs. Potts have two children -- Clara B. and Joseph G. Mr. Potts is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 209. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
JAMES RUSH, a pioneer of Helt Township, resides on section 24. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 25, 1817, a son of George Rush, who came to Indiana in 1818, and lived in Parke County a year, and in 1819 moved to Vermillion County, where he settled in the woods among Indians and wild animals, and in this county James was reared. One summer 500 Indians were encamped near their house. They were generally peaceable and gave the settlers but little trouble. Mr. Rush has always been a farmer and has done a great deal to advance the interests of agriculture in his township. He was married February 23, 1854, to Dorcas Andrews, daughter of James Andrews, who came to Vermillion County from Butler County, Ohio, in 1823, and settled on the farm where Mr. Rush now lives and where Mrs. Rush was born July 30, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Rush have had five children; but three are living -- Fred, Mark and Mary E. Mrs. Rush is a member of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN R. McNEILL, of Perrysville, was born in Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia, February 25, 1811, a son of John and Hannah (Mayne) McNeill. He came to Vermillion County, Indiana, with his father's family in 1836 and here he has since made his home, a period of fifty-one years. He was reared to the avocation of a farmer which he made his life with no capital but health and a determination to succeed he has by his persevering energy and habits of industry become classed among the most propserous of the many successful citizens of Highland Township. Mr. McNeill has been twice married. January 1, 1840, he married Miss Martha Rudy, who was born in Pennsylvania a daughter of Martin Rudy, one of the county's early settlers. Mrs. McNeill died May 15, 1848, leaving two children -- Irene, born
October 23, 1846, now the wife of Theophilus Holloway, of Vigo County, Indiana, and Frank, born February 6, 1848, an artist living in the city of New York. Mr. McNeill was married a second time to Mrs. Elizabeth (Rudy) Barger, a sister of his first wife, and to this union were born seven children, four sons and three daughters -- Scott, Albert, John B. and Charles G., and Josephine, wife of F. A. Walker; Anna Laura, wife of Thomas J. Armsrong, and Jennie Lind living at home. In his religious belief Mr. McNeill inclines toward Unitarianism, although he has a greater respect for good deeds than for creeds. He has been a student of religious literature the greater part of his life and has found so many conflicting theories that he long ago decided to take reason for his guide. His motto is: "Do not unto others that which you would not have others do unto you." In politics he was in early life a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. He now affiliates with the Republican party. Mr. McNeill is one of the active and public spirited citizens of Vermillion County, and is ever ready to aid in the promotion of whatever enterprise he believes if for the best interests of his fellow men.
JOHN WRIGHT, a worthy representative of one of the earliest pioneer families of Vermillion County, is a native of New York State, born in Ontario County, March 22, 1818, a son of George and Anna (Handy) Wright, the father born in the State of New York, and the mother a native of Massachusetts. In 1819 they came to Indiana with their family of nine children, the subject of this sketch being then a babe. After one year's residence in Terre Haute, they, in 1820, came to Vermillion County, and in the forest of Clinton Township established their future home on Lenderman Creek, five miles southwest of Clinton. The county at that time was a wilderness, containing but few families, being inhabited principally by Indians and wild animals. George Wright was a poor man, able only to secure a tract of 160 acres, and most of his children were too young to render any assistance in their struggle for a livelihood. Labor in the pioneer settlement commanded no money. There were no mills in the country, and corn when raised had to be pounded into meal in huge improvised mortars. Gradually the opening in the forest grew larger and the circumstances of the family improved, and the boys, each year added strength to the working force! Two children were added to the family in their pioneer home. Mrs. Wright did not live to see the fruition of her hopes, dying in 1827, in her forty-first year. Mr. Wright was spared to enjoy the fruits of his years of persevering toil, having a comfortable home. He died in 1844 at the age of sixty-six years. He was a hard working man, full of energy and ambition, and was kind and accommodating to all, and he is still favorably remembered by many of the old pioneers. Of his eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all have passed away but John, the subject of this sketch, and Truman who lives in Edgar County, Illinois. John Wright associates his earliest recollections of life with events in the pioneer days of Vermillion County. His educational advantages were limited, but contact with the world has enabled him to fully overcome the deficiencies of his youthful days. He was reared to the avocation of a farmer, and he has made farming his principal occupation through life, though the past six years he has lived retired from active life, in Clinton, where he owns a good residence,