COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Of Henry County Indiana B.F. Bowen 1920 Surnames in this are: Hipes, Peed, House, Gray, Murphy,House, Prye, Gooding, Taylor, Ingalls                                                              JOHN HIPES                              The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne County, Indiana near the village of  Jacksonburg, on the 14th ofJanuary 1848, and died at his home in New Castle. Henry County, on the 1st dayof September 1901. His parents were Nicholas and Mary Hipes, who were among the honored early pioneers of Wayne County. His boyhood and early manhood were spent upon his father’sfarm in the famous Walnut Level region of  Wayne County. His father died when he was but seven yearsof age, after which he was taught the work of the farm and grew up under thecare of his mother, receiving the benefit of a common-school education.  About 1875 he and his mother traded theirWayne county farm to William Peed for a livery stable in New Castle and at once removed to this city. He ever afterward made that city his home and was actively engaged in various lines of business. On the 4th of July 1879, John Hipes was united in marriage with Mary J.(House) Gray, who survives him. Mr. Hipes was a kind, generous-heartedman.  No Person was ever turned awayfrom his door hungry, and he gave freely of his means to such benevolences charities and church interests as presented their claims to him and he had few, if any, enemies. He left a large circle of friends who will along pains nor expense in herefforts to restore him to health and took him to Traverse City in the hope that the change ofclimate might be helpful, but to no purpose. His end came peacefully and his last words were those of loveand affection to his wife and his many friends.  James Gray,the first husband of Mrs. John Hipes was a native of New Castle and was the sonof Phinander Gray, who in an early day came to this state from New Jersey. Heresided for eighteen years on the Eli Murphy farm, and finally passed away atAnderson this state, at an advanced age. James Gray was by trade a plasterer. He performed splendid service for his country during the war of the Rebellion. He originally enlistedfor the three months service, and at the expiration of that period enlisted in the Fremont Body Guard in Missouri for one rear, and at the expiration of that term of enlistment joined the Sixth Indiana Calvary, in which he held the rankof sergeant. Because of sickness he received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky. While at home atthe close of his three months’ service, Mr. Gray was united in marriage withMary J. House, the daughter of John and Eliza (Prye) House. She was born at Piketon. Pike County, Ohio, and was brought to New Castle when but a babe. Her father John House was a soldier during the Civil War being a member of theThirty-sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served as orderly to General Grose. He died at the home of his son, near New Lisbon, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife having previously passed away at the age of seventy-seven. He had as a child been brought to New Castle by Wesley Gooding, by whom he was reared. While yet a boy he had many times driven through to Cincinnati and had carried the mail on several routes. His early life was filled with all the hardships, which were necessary accompaniments of a pioneerl ife. He subsequently returned to Ohio, was there married and remained untilafter the birth of three of the children. James Gray died of consumption at the early age of thirty-eight years, leaving beside his widow one son, Frank, whowas at that time about thirteen years old, having been born August 6, 1863. Hewas a printer by trade and was considered a very expert typesetter. He wassuccessful at his calling and became foreman of the Democrat office. He marriedMiss Oskie Taylor, of Fairmont, Indiana, and they made their home at Hamilton,Ohio, until, his health failed. His death occurred May 5, 1897 at the, home of his mother, who atthis time was the wife of John Hipes. He early became a Christian and unitedwith the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow and one son, John, reside atFairmont, this state.  In the year1886Mr. and Mrs. Hipes took into their home Mrs. Hipes niece, May Dickerson, thenbut three years old, and reared her as they would a child of their own, though her ill health precluded her completing her education. She was married on the12th of December 1900, to Lewis A. Ingalls, and they now reside in Cincinnati,Ohio. Mrs. Hipes is a most estimable lady and because of her many valuabletraits of character has endeared herself to a host of warm personal friends.She is independent, self-reliant and outspoken and, with a keenness of insightinto ‘human nature, discerns many of the shams of society and the hollowness of modern life.