Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 238-240.

JOSIAH SLUSHER.

Although this gentleman was left an orphan when a mere infant, he is today one of the substantial and most respected farmers of Wells County, Indiana. He was born August 27, 1844, on section 17, Jackson township, this county, a son of William and Hettie (Cale) SLUSHER, the former of whom was the first to pass away, and on the death of the latter the child, Josiah SLUSHER, was taken to the home of Isaac Jones, by whom he was reared on a farm until he reached his majority, when he was given a horse and saddle by Mr. Jones, with which he made a trip to Iowa, where he passed one year.

When Mr. Slusher returned to Wells County he worked out as a farm hand for about twelve months, then went back to Iowa and worked in the same capacity for another year, then made a trip through Missouri, Kansas and other parts of the west, and finally, in the fall of 1868, returned to Wells County and again worked out by the month until his marriage, October 29, 1869, to Naomi Morgan. This estimable lady was born September 3, 1848, in Wayne county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Charles H. and Mary Morgan, natives of South Carolina, the latter of whom passed away on the farm on which Josiah SLUSHER now lives, and the former in Warren, Indiana, in 1901.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Slusher lived on rented land in Jackson township, Wells County, for a considerable time and then lived on Dr. Good's farm in Huntington county for three years. He then made a sale of his personal effects and went to Arkansas in November, 1876, but, not liking the country, returned to Wells County, Indiana, the following February and purchased forty acres of the farm on which he now lives, but which was then a wilderness and had no improvements except an old log cabin containing but one room, but in 1886 Mr. Slusher erected a comfortable house in which he and his family lived until 1901. In the meanwhile he worked industriously at clearing off the land from its incumbrance of timber and converting it into a fruitful and profitable farm.

By 1901 Mr. Slusher had acquired the means with which to purchase the parental homestead, of which he then took possession. He continued to follow his industrious habits and now owns one hundred and twenty acres of as fine farm land as can be found in Wells County, and has besides seven oil wells which yield him about forty dollars per month. He carries on general farming and at the same time devotes much of his time and attention to the breeding of live stock, giving the preference to Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Slusher has been blessed with nine children, namely: Emma Eliza, born July 23, 1870, is now the wife of Oliver Williams, of Jackson township, and is the mother of four children, Frederick C., Arthur C., Howard D. and an infant; William, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Slusher, was born August 14, 1872, is a farmer in Jackson township, is married to Miss Daisy Riggs, and is the father of two children, Ruie G. and Randall C.; Samuel was born November 20, 1874, and died February 4, 1877; Leora, born November 25, 1877, died September 2, 1878; Charles H., born September 20, 1879, still lives under the parental roof; Mary L. was born March 23, 1882, is married to Eugene Cruse; James R. was born July 27, 1885, and is still at home; Goldie was born June 28, 1891, and the youngest child died in infancy unnamed.

In politics in his earlier manhood Mr. Slusher did not identify himself with any particular party, but voted for such candidates as were best suited in his opinion to fill the various offices for which they were nominated, but he is now a strict Prohibitionist. With his family, he is a member of the Radical United Brethren church, is an active worker in the congregation and has also been a trustee in the church ever since the erection of the church edifice.

Too much credit cannot be given to Mr. Slusher for the prudence he has exercised throughout life and the care with which he and his estimable wife have reared such of their children as have reached mature years and who are now ornaments to the communities in which they live.