In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Alvord's history of Noble County, Indiana ... : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of local biography - memoirs of representative men and women of the county, whose works of merit have ma (1902), Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical (1882)
GEORGE RUMBAUGH was born in Berkeley County, Va., August 14, 1829. He is a son of William and Mary (Mussetter) Rurabaugh, who were natives of Virginia, but of Irish-German descent. From Virginia the parents came to Seneca County, Ohio, and there died, the mother in 1848 and the father in 1871. The latter was a farmer. His family numbered nine children, two of them now dead. George Rumbaugh remained with his parents in Ohio, assisting them until he reached his majority. He received but a common school education, and came to Indiana in 1850 and purchased a piece of land. He was married, in September, 1854, to Martha Pike of Jefferson Township, and shortly after moved on his place, which he sold after clearing twelve acres, and returned to Ohio, where he remained one winter, when he came back to Noble County and purchased sixty acres of the farm now owned by John Eley. In the spring of 1864, he purchased his present farm, and has since made it his home. He owns sixty-four and a half acres of good land, is a stanch Republican and a genial, intelligent gentleman. The fall of 1864, he entered the United States Army, in Company D, Thirteenth Regiment, and was discharged from Newbern Hospital, N. C, in June, 1865. He was in one severe engagement — Fort Fisher. He contracted disease while in the service, from which he is yet a sufferer. Mr. and Mrs. Rumbaugh have four children — Daniel, Willard, Laura A. and Nettie J.
LEWIS SEELY was born in Elkhart County, Ind., June 8, 1830, son of Ephraim and Abigail (Runnels) Seely, and one of nine children, six of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Seely were natives of the State of New York, and at an early day came to Ohio, where they resided until about 1829, when they emigrated to Elkhart County, Ind., entered a piece of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits. This family were among the very first settlers of the whole country. From Elkhart County they moved to Milford Township, La Grange County, and after a number of years to Orange Township, Noble County, where Mr. Seely died in August, 1865, and Mrs. Seely in September, 1877. They were honest, industrious people, and an honor to the community. Lewis Seely resided with his parents, assisting them, until his marriage with Fidelia Collins, daughter of Barten Collins, which occurred in 1856. Mr. Seely received a common-school education, and after his marriage, resided in
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As printed in Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
GEORGE RUMBAUGH.
It is well known historically that when the ordinance of secession was passed and was adopted by most of the southern states, many of the best and wisest men of old Virginia deplored the condition of affairs and strove, though in vain, td save the state from the clutches of the secessionists. A large section in the northwest part of the old state, however, remained loyal to the Union, and representatives from forty counties met in convention at Wheeling, on the Ohio river, June 11, 1861, rejected the ordinance of secession and organized a state government, the constitution of which was
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G& rge Rumbaugh, be it then explained, was born in Berkeley county \"a., August 14. 1829, and was about five years of age when taken by his parents to Seneca county, Ohio, where the family settled on a farm, on which young George was reared to manhood. In the spring of 1850 George came from Ohio to Noble county. Ind., with no capital save his strong arms and his knowledge of farming. He also possessed a strong determination to succeed in life, if determination and industry were to count for anything.
By practicing frugality and by laboring diligently and by keeping his eyes open to the main chance. Mr. Rumbaugh worked his way upward until he became the owner of several farms in Jefferson township, and in 1883 came to Orange township and purchased his present fine homestead of eighty acres, all of which is handsomely improved.
Mr. Rumbaugh was united in marriage at Albion, Ind., September T4, 1854, with Miss Martha Pike, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, November 4. 1838. and to this union have been horn four children, who still live to honor, love and cheer the declining years of their parents, and whose births took place in the following order: Daniel, Willard. Laura and Nettie J., and of these highly cultivated children further mention will be made before this sketch shall have been brought to a close. In the meantime something may be and ought to be said relative to the military career of the brave and patriotic father.
In September, [864, George Rumbaugh enlisted in Company 1). Thirteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he took part in the engagement at Fort Fisher, and also in several severe skirmishes, and served until honorably discharged on account of disability at New Berne, X. C, in June 1865. After his discharge from the military service Mi. Rumbaugh returned to his wife and children, whom he had left behind, while he risked his life on the battle field. Mr. Rumbaugh's regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and he was on the famous march through the Carolinas. and he was in New Berrie, N. C, when the glad intelligence reached the poor hoys of the surrender of General R. E. Lee, and just at this time these glad tidings meant home and friends and loved ones again. Five days subsequently the sad news of the assassination of the great and good Lincoln came, which was a sore contrast to the former.
Daniel Rumbaugh. the eldest child of Martha (Pike) Rumbaugh's
Jefferson township,
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William Rumbaugh, the father of the above named George, was born in Virginia and there married Miss Mary Musetter, a native of the same state, who became the mother of the respected family already named in detail. From Virginia Mr. and Mrs. William Rumbaugh removed to Seneca county, Ohio, in the latter part of the 'thirties, and in that count)* the mother died when fourth-four years old and the father when about seventy years of age. They were greatly respected by their neighbors and reared a family of nine children, of whom George, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth.
Samuel Pike, the father of Mrs. Martha Rumbaugh, was born in the state of New York, and married Miss Mary Cutright, a native of Seneca county Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Pike came to Noble dainty. ind., in 1852, and located in Jefferson township, but later removed to Wayne township, where the mother passed away, but the father, returningto Jefferson township, died there when sixty-nine years old.
George Rumbaugh has been one of the most energetic and progressive men that ever lived in Orange township. He has through his personal efforts raised himself from the plane of comparative poverty to the height of prosperity, has reared a family of which the township and county may well feel proud, and he enjoys the respect and unaffected esteem of all his neighbors, ] near and far. His son Daniel, especially, j promises to be indeed a worthy successor, i while the record of the career of the other I children, so far as given, fully shows that they are not a whit behind in the march of civilization and progressive usefulness.
As printed in Alvord's history of Noble County, Indiana ... : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of local biography - memoirs of representative men and women of the county, whose works of merit have ma (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Willard Rumbaugh (b. 1858)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.