was the father of seventeen children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Josiah C. Jackson, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on the home farm, and received such educational advantages as the subscription schools of that early day afforded, attending schools taught in log cabins with puncheon floors, clapboard roofs and slab seats. During the late war he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, remaining in the service of his country almost three years. Among the engagements in which he participated may be mentioned the battles of Resaca, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. He was taken sick after the last mentioned battle, which was the last engagement in which he took part. He returned to his home in Vermillion County and engaged in farming. November 6, 1867, he was married to Miss Priscilla C. Shane, daughter of James D. Shane, of Effingham County, Illinois. They are the parents of eight children -- James C., Lela, Ida B., Ira E., Cyrus, Bertha, Adaline and Ethel C. Mr. Jackson engaged in his general mercantile business in 1883, and now carries a capital stock of $3,000 doing an annual business of $5,000, and also deals extensively in stock and grain. He still lives on his farm, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. His farm contains 120 acres of fine land, and is located on section 4, Helt Township. In politics Mr. Jackson is a staunch Republican, but never seeks official honors. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and takes an active interest in that organization.
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ROBERT B. SEARS, one of the leading citizens of Vermillion, is the present State Senator of the district comprising Parke and Vermillion counties, being elected on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1886, receiving a majority of 623 votes over his opponent, Joseph L. Boyd. He is a son of George H. Sears, who was born in Harrison County, Indiana, in August, 1818, coming to Vermillion County with his father, Jacob Sears, when a boy. Jacob Sears was a native of North Carolina, removing thence to Kentucky, and from there to Harrison County, Indiana. On coming to Vermillion County he settled in Vermillion Township, three miles southwest of Newport, where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided until his death. George Sears was one of the representative citizens of Vermillion County, and long one of the prominent merchants of Eugene. In 1854 he was elected treasurer of the county, but died before his first term expired although not before he had received the nomination for a second term, the date of his death being July 30, 1856. He left at his death a widow and three sons, all living at the present time but his youngest son, George O., who died at the age of eighteen years. Robert B. Sears, whose name heads this sketch, was the eldest son in his father's family, and was born in Eugene, Vermillion County, January 6, 1844. He was about twelve years old when his father died, and after his death the family returned to the homestead farm. At the age of eighteen years our subject enlisted in Company I, Forty-third Indiana Infantry and after serving in the ranks about a year and a half he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and soon after to First Lieutenant, and June 24, 1865, he was mustered out as Captain of his company. He was constantly in active service, and participated in all the engagements in which the Forty-third took part, and during the last twenty months of his service he commanded his company. After the war he was engaged as clerk in a
wholesale clothing store. In 1868 he returned to Vermillion County, and began the study of law with the law firm of Eggleston & Harvey, and in 1870 was admitted to the bar at Newport. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the counties of Parke, Vermillion, Vigo and Sullivan, serving as such two years. In 1881 he was elected assistant secretary of the State Senate, and in January, 1883, received an appointment as clerk in the Treasury department at Washington D. C., but on reaching that city he was transferred to the Pension and Interior department. He resigned this position six months later, and returned to his home in Newport and resumed his law practice. In 1884 he was elected to the lower branch of the General Assembly of Indiana, and, as above stated, became State Senator in 1886, in which position he is serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Sears was united in marriage, March 20, 1870, to Miss Ivy Aston, a daughter of Ure Aston, who was a prominent merchant in the early history of Newport. He died in 1863. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sears, of whom three died in early infancy. Claud, their only surviving child, was born Feburary 29, 1873.
PHILO HOSFORD, one of the early pioneers of Eugene Township, is a native of Ontario County, New York, born September 18, 1811, a son of Ambrose Hosford, a native of Connecticut. The father removed to Dearborn County, Indiana, with his family in 1821, settling in Lawrenceburg, and died near there in 1824. Philo Hosford came with his twin brother, Milo, to Crawfordsville in 1832, and in the spring of 1833 to Eugene, where he has since made his home. He was married November 4, 1841, to Miss Evaline Wigley, a daughter of Joseph Wigley and of the six children born to this union three are yet living -- Monroe C., Richard W. and Eliza. One son, Charles C., and a daughter, Naomi, died after reaching maturity. Mrs. Hosford died June 18, 1883. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Milo Hosford, twin brother of our subject, was married the November following his arrival in the county, to Miss Maria Holtz, and to them were born two children -- Henry H., and Lucy, now the wife of Prof. David Meade, of Danville, Illinois. Mr. Milo Hosford lived at Eugene until his death, which occurred January 22, 1880. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the most respected men of Vermillion County.
HOMER LUSADDER, residing on section 22, Highland Township, is one of the representative citizens of Vermillion County. His father, John Lusadder, settled on the place now occupied by the subject of this sketch, in 1856. He was born in Ohio, December 18, 1819. He resided many years in Fountain County, Indiana, before settling in Vermillion County, and was married while a resident of the former county, to Mrs. Sarah Ann (Beers) Prevost, who was born April 1, 1817, and died July 13, 1867. To them were born six children, two of whom are deceased. The names of those yet living are -- Snowdon, Homer, John and Franklin. John Lusadder married for his second wife, Miss Mary J. Nabors, and to this union a daughter, named Lura, was born. He died April 4, 1872, in his fifty-third year. His widow still survives. Homer Lusadder, whose name heads this sketch, is a native of Foun-