Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 37

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MORTIMER JEFFRIES was born in Greenville County, Va., August 22, 1820, and was the son of Herbert and Ridley Jeffries. In 1842 or 1843, Herbert Jeffries moved to Greene County, Ohio, and the following year came to this township, where he bought 160 acres of wild land and cleared up a farm, cutting the lumber for his cabin with a cross-cut handsaw. Our

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subject was altogether deprived of school privileges, but acquired a fair education by his own exertions at study. December 6, 1850, he married Elizabeth Keen, who was born in Hertford Co., N. C., February 25, 1835, being the daughter of Miles H. and Mary (Holmes) Keen, natives of the said State. To their union have been born the following-named children: Levi; Priscilla, now Mrs. Crone; Herbert, Lizzie and Mary. After his marriage, Mr. Jeffries settled on forty acres of land in this township, which he had bought and partially cleared some years before. In 1864, he sold out, and bought 320 acres in the same township, which he occupied till his death, Sep- tember 17, 1879. Levi Jeffries was born in this township, June 10, 1855, and lives on the home farm. He married, June 9, 1881, Adella S. Vaughn, who was born in Cass Co., Mich., July 23, 1873, the daughter of Henry and May Vaughn. In politics he is a Republican, and is looked upon as an enterprising farmer.

MARCUS L. JEFFRIES was born in Greenville Co., Va., May 15, 1825, one of the seven children born to Herbert and Ridley (Pruit) Jeffries, natives of Greenville Co., Va., and Halifax Co., N. C. Herbert Jeffries was married in North Carolina, but owned a farm and lived in Greenville Co., Va., until about 1832, when he moved with his family to Greene Co., Ohio, remained the spring of 1843, removed to this township, bought a farm of 160 acres, and resided thereon until his death, November 16, 1849, Mrs. Ridley Jones following him April 10, 1855, and dying in the Methodist faith. Marcus L. Jeffries, our subject, assisted on his father's farm till he reached thirty years of age, going to school three days only during that period. He was married February 14, 1855, to Martha A. Keen, a native of Hertford County, N. C. This lady, a member of the M. E. Church, died at her home in Smith Township, October 2, 1878. Mr. Jeffries bought his land at different times, and now owns a well- cultivated farm of 160 acres, and is an enterprising farmer. In politics, he is a Republican.

AUGUSTUS W. JEFFRIES was born in this township October 20, 1843, and is one of the four living children born to Wyatt and Eliza J. (Jones) Jeffries, natives of Greenville County, Va. While still young, Wyatt Jeffries went to Greene Co., Ohio, was married there, and until 1835 farmed on shares, and then moved with his family to this township, where he entered eighty acres of land, to which he added until he became the owner of 340 acres of well-im- proved land. Here he died February 14, 1869, his widow following Octo- ber 20, of the same year. They were both members of the M. E. Church, and among the earlier settlers of the township, they and Benjamin Jones having located on adjoining farms before the township was organized, with their nearest neighbor three miles away. Augustus W. Jeffries, our subject, received the ordinary common-school education of his day, and worked on the home farm till twenty-one years old. November 19, 1862, he married Mary J. Akers, who was born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 29, 1842, the daugh-

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ter of Richard and Ann E. (Scott) Akers. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries are the parents of six children, viz .: Milton J., Walker W., Albert A., Georgia L., Fredie R. and Anna M. Mr. Jeffries now owns 300 acres first-class land, including the old homestead, on which he has lived all his life, two years excepted, and for the past twelve years has been extensively engaged in the live stock trade. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

BRINTON JONES was born in Greenville County, Va., December 27, 1813, one of nine children of Benjamin and Winifred (Shehorn) Jones, natives of said county. Benjamin Jones moved with his family to Greene County, Ohio, in 1825, where he farmed on shares till February, 1835, when he removed to this township, then unorganized, where he entered eighty acres of land, cleared a farm, and resided until his death, February 17, 1854, his widow surviving till December 16, 1873. They were both members of the M. E. Church, and were among the first pioneers of the county. Our subject, Brinton Jones, received a very fair education, and remained on the home farm till thirty years of age, and for a time taught a subscription school. April 20, 1843, he married Susan Thomas, born in Mecklenburg County, Va., in Sep- tember, 1825, the daughter of Stephen and Lucy (King) Thompson. To their union were born Harriet M., now Mrs. William Pampy; Ceney A., now Mrs. John Smith; Johanna, now Mrs. Fielding Pampy, and Sarah A. D., now Mrs. Marshall Winburn. Mr. Jones still owns and lives on the land he entered when a young man-forty acres in 1837 and forty in 1840. He and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a Republican. The grandfather of Mr. Jones, Brinton Jones, Sr., was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war.

JEREMIAH KRIDER was born in Franklin County, Penn., November 1, 1812, the son of George and Fanny Krider. George Krider was a farmer, and moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1820. His wife died there in about 1872, and he followed in 1874. Jeremiah Krider moved with his parents to Stark County, when but eight years old, and was there reared to manhood. September 12, 1833, he married Miss S. Zent, and for the following five years did job work for their support. He then moved to Rich- land County, Ohio, and farmed nine years. In 1847, he came to Smith Township, bought 160 acres wooded land, and went through all the hardships of a frontier life. He resided on this land until 1874, when he placed it in charge of his children, and moved to Churubusco, where he and his wife are living a quiet and retired life. He began a poor boy, but by industry acquired a farm of 252 acres, and some valuable property in the city. His children were twelve in number: John, Samuel, Sarah, William, Fanny, George W., Eliza, Melinda, Mary, Huldah, Benjamin and Jeremiah, of whom Samuel, Sarah and Huldah are dead. The living all reside in Whitley County, ex- cepting a married daughter in Missouri and one in Denver, Colo. The

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mother was born in Franklin County, Penn., March 9, 1815, and is a member of the U. B. Church. Mr. Krider is Republican in politics, and an old and esteemed citizen of the county.

A. H. KRIDER was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1823, one of seven children born to George and Fanny Krider, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Our subject was reared a farmer, and passed his winters principally in threshing grain, so that his opportunities for school- ing were but scant. In October, 1846, he married Eleanor Monroe, who was born in Stark County, in 1829, and was the daughter of Moses and Sarah Monroe, of Scotland and New York respectively. In the fall of 1847, our subject started empty-handed, with his family, in search of a home. He first located in Defiance County, Ohio, then an unbroken wilderness, re- mained five years, then came to Thorn Creek Township, this county ; located on the shore of Round Lake ; sold out at the expiration of two years, on account of ill health, and purchased his present home in this township in 1856. The improvements then consisted of a cabin and a clearing of two acres, but he has, by his perseverance, brought out of it 115 acres of well-cultivated land, with substantial improvements. Our subject has held aloof from politics, but has lent his aid to other public pursuits. He organized the first Sunday school in Churubusco, beginning with ten scholars and closing with thirty, and has been an active worker in that field for forty-one years, ably assisted by his wife. He and wife are strict members of the United Brethren Church, and are the parents of seven children, of whom four sons and two daughtars are now living.

GEORGE W. KRIDER was born in Stark County, Ohio, July 2, 1842, one of twelve children, nine yet living, of Jeremiah and Mrs. S. Krider, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Our subject came with his parents to this county when but two years old, and when old enough, assisted his fath- er in carving from the forest a comfortable home. At the age of nineteen he enlisted in Company E, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served nine months, and was then honorably discharged, on account of disabili- ty. After recruiting his health at home a year, he re-enlisted, this time in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in November, 1863, and was honorably discharged in August, 1865, but, unable to get transportation home, joined Sherman at Goldsboro, and was with him as far as Atlanta ; afterward joined Gen. Thomas, and went with him down the Tennessee River to its mouth. He was in eight hard-fought battles, but escaped uninjured, but with a number of holes through his clothing. On his return home, he resumed farming, and March 22, 1866, married Susanna Bear, daughter of George and Susan Bear, and became the father of one son and two daughters. Mrs. Krider died in 1874, at the age of twenty-eight, and our subject married, July 14, 1875, Eliza Deem, daughter of Lewis and Cath- arine Deem, and to this union have been born two sons. He and wife are

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members of the United Brethren Church, and he also belongs to the Knights of Honor.

THOMAS LARIMORE, one of eight children, four living, born to Thomas and Hannah (Young) Larimore was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 12, 1827. His father was a farmer and a native of and was married in Penn- sylvania, and moved thence to Licking County, where he was killed by a fall- ing tree, in March, 1832. The widow and youngest son moved to Sparta Township, Noble County, Ind., in 1849, and eight years later removed to Lake Township, Allen County, where Mrs. Larimore died in March, 1866. Our subject was bound out shortly after his father's death, but the master's wife dying a few months later, the family broke up, and young Larimore was left among strangers. From the age of eight upward he led a life of hardship, and was self-supporting. In October, 1848, he married Mahala Evans, and in the fall of 1850 he moved to Lake Township, Allen County, bought eighty acres of land, and with his wife, child and a bound boy, began life in this State with- out a cent in his pocket, or a cabin on his land wherein to take shelter, and a winter before him. But he was possessed of determination and industrious habits, and succeeded in surrounding his family with most of the comforts of life. In November, 1881, he moved to Churubusco, and took charge of what is now known as the Larimore House, having purchased the property the pre- vious May. Besides this, Mr. Larimore owns 360 acres of land in Allen County, and Blocks 3 and 4 in Churubusco. Mr. and Mrs. Larimore are the parents of twelve children-Lydia, Cynthia, Thomas J., Hannah M., Levi B., Eli, Mary, Howard, Charley, all living; Alexander, William F. and Norris, deceased. Mr. L. is a Democrat, a Mason, and a K. of H., and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He he held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, and has filled a number of minor offices ; has been a Sab- bath school worker since 1851, and keeps a much better hotel than is usually found in villages the size of Churubusco.

JAMES LEECH (deceased) was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1824, and was the son of John and Fanny Leech, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Irish descent. Mr. Leech was reared on a farm, and in 1846 came to this township to occupy land entered by his father some years previ- ously, which he made his permanent home. August 2, 1849, he married Elizabeth Strean, daughter of John and Maria Strean, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Irish and German extraction, and to their union were born seven children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living. Mr. Leech was an active Democrat in politics, and much interested in home enter- prises. He brought out from the forest a fertile and productive farm, and built up for himself a pleasant home after much toil and enduring many priva- tions, and February 28, 1879, departed this life at the age of fifty-five years. His widow survives him and is now a resident upon the old homestead. Mr. Leech was one of eleven children, and in June, 1873, attended a re-union of

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his father's family at his youngest brother's residence, near Marshfield, Ohio, there being present the father, five sons, six daughters, six sons-in-law, three. daughters-in-law and twenty-seven grandchildren-the family circle being complete, with the exception of the mother, who had been called to her last home but a few years previously.

JOSEPH ORR LONG was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 14, 1834, one of nine children born to Jesse W. and Hannah (Heglar) Long, seven of whom are still living. The father was born in Virginia, May 13, 1799, and the mother September 7, 1809, in the same State. The father was taken by his parents to Ohio while he was but a small boy. He was married in Greene County, where he owned a small farm, and in May, 1834, moved with his family to what is now Smith Township, where he had pre-empted 320 acres the previous fall. His first cabin was of the most primitive character, not a nail being used in its construction. He was probably the first white settler within the limits of Smith Township, and here died January 26, 1863. Joseph O. Long, our subject, remained with his father till he reached his majority, receiving a common-school education. Afterward he assisted in building Whartburg College, in Union Township, taking private lessons during the time from Rev. Jacob Woolf, Principal, also attending the first term taught at that school. Mr. Long began teaching at the age of nineteen, and gave in- struction in Allen and Whitley Counties three terms. January 24, 1866, he married Ruhannah Nickey, born in Ross County, Ohio, October 1, 1838, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Briggs) Nickey. The issue of this marriage was seven children, viz .: Charles O., J. L., Frank E., Ora E., Bertie and Ruah E. (twins), and Addie R. Immediately after his marriage he removed to La Fayette Township, Keokuk County, Iowa, remained two and a half years, then moved to De Kalb County, Mo., and in 1860 returned to this township, rented a part of his father's farm, and at the latter's death bought the shares of the other heirs and now owns the old homestead of 320 acres. His surviving brothers and sisters are located as follows : Mrs. Mary E. Cleveland, Keokuk County, Iowa ; Mrs. Elder J. Nicholls, Woodbury County, Iowa; Anderson H., Keo- kuk County, Iowa; Alexander Mc., Woodbury County, Iowa ; Nelson C., at the Dalles, Oregon, and Noah S., Beatrice, Neb.

P. MALONEY (deceased) was born in Limerick, Ireland, about the year 1812, and emigrated to America in 1832, locating in Vermont, and two years later removed to Fort Wayne, this State. He was left an orphan when but a small child, landed in this country in destitute circumstances, and had always to take care of himself. At Fort Wayne he followed teaming for a livelihood, and was there married to Mary Cushion, of that city, who shortly after died. In 1840, he married Katherine Welsh, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, who was born in 1812, emigrated with her parents to this country in 1837, and located the first year in Fort Wayne. Mr. Maloney came to this township in 1839, located on Section 12, and began farming in the unbroken

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wilderness. By hard work, thrift and perseverance, he succeeded in providing for his family a comfortable home of 400 acres, the better part well improved. In his latter days, he dealt extensively in live stock, raising a great many head. He was the father of seven children, of whom three sons and three daughters are still living. After a well-spent life and a useful one, he died February 24, 1862. His widow still survives, and resides with her youngest son on the home farm at the age of seventy years, a member, as was her husband, of the Catholic Church.

DR. F. M. MAGERS was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 28, 1838, the youngest of eight sons born to Nathan and Winifred (Logsdon) Magers, of Cumberland County, Md., and of English and French descent. The advent of their ancestors in this country was in Lord Baltimore's time. The father of Dr. Magers was a farmer, and one of the very early settlers of Knox County, Ohio. He died September 10, 1842. At the age of thirteen, our subject left his mother to attend St. Mary's Seminary, St. Louis, at which institution and at St. Thomas' College, Ky., he pursued his studies till seven- teen years old, and then returned home. In 1855, he came to Avilla, Noble County, this State, and engaged in teaching, which he continued till 1857, and then returned home to manage the farm. The fall of 1862, he came to Allen County, this State, taught school that winter, returned home in the spring of 1863, when his mother died. He settled up the estate and for two years read medicine with Dr. Bryant, of Mt. Vernon, attended lectures at the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and in May, 1865, located in Churubusco, and began practice, at which he has been very successful. Dr. Magers is a Democrat, and a member of the Catholic Church. November 24, 1865, he married Mary E. Metzger, daughter of Judge A. Metzger, of Fort Wayne, and to their union have been born six children, viz .: Cassimer B., Mary F., Edmund L., Eliza- beth W., Ursula J. and Francis A.

GEORGE W. MAXWELL was born in Eel River Township, Allen County, Ind., February 23, 1853, and his father, Abraham Maxwell, in Sumner County, Penn., in 1809. The latter, at the age of fifteen, came to Knox County, Ohio, and in 1835 to Indiana. November 24, 1836, he married Mary Ann (Geiger) Parks, born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1811, and an immigrant to Allen County, in 1833. Mr. Maxwell first located in Indiana on Haw Patch, Noble County; then moved to Eel River Township, Allen County, where he married, purchased a piece of land, and ended his days March 27, 1863. His widow survives him, and resides on the old homestead. They had a family of seven children, five of whom are yet living, the mother also having two children living, of three born to her first husband, John Parks. Our subject was reared a farmer, but was well educated, and taught two terms of school. In 1873, he came to Churubusco, engaged in clerking and as part- ner, and for a number of years sold organs and sewing machines. September 9, 1875, he married Miss Sarah F. Deck, and 1876, he and John Deck (his father-

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in-law), joined as partners in a general store. This partnership lasted five years and a half; Mr. Maxwell now continues the business alone, has been very suc- cessful, and carries a stock valued at $17,000, comprising dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc. He and his wife are the parents of two children-Iva A. and Myrta M. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F.

J. F. McNEAR was born in Morrow County, Ohio, January 10, 1838, the son of Philip and Rebecca (Williams) McNear, of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. Philip McNear was a farmer, and visited Noble County, Ind., about 1850, but finally settled in Smith Township, this county, in October, 1851, on forty-one acres in Section 24, and passed through all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Mrs. McNear died December 25, 1878, aged seventy years, since when Mr. McNear has married Mrs. Emillie Strong, and still re- sides in Smith Township. J. F. McNear was reared on the farm, and received the ordinary common -school education; he then attended one or two terms at Columbia City, after which he entered Otterbein University, near Columbus, Ohio ; came home in 1860, and cast his first vote for Lincoln; attended school a term, and then taught until 1862, when he enlisted, August 5, in Company B, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to the front. He was in the fights at Perryville, Chickamauga, all through the Atlanta cam- paign, with Sherman in his memorable march to the sea, and through the Carolinas. During the last year of his service, he was Provost Marshal of the brigade part of the time, and aid-de-camp to Gen. Green. He was honorably discharged June 21, 1865. He enlisted as a private; was appointed Corporal and then Orderly Sergeant; after the battle of Chickamauga, was sent home on a recruiting expedition, and there received a commission, in January, 1864, as First Lieutenant. After the war he engaged in school teaching in Colum- bia City and elsewhere, and in 1869 went to Kansas and engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He returned to Whitley County in 1874, and has since remained here. September 5, 1867, he married Antoinette A. Tucker, who died June 2, 1875, leaving two children, Aggie I. and Burdette. Mr. McNear is a Republican, and a member of the U. B. Church. He is owner of sixty acres of land in Smith Township, besides other real estate.

JACOB NICKEY was born in Augusta Co., Va., July 1, 1814, one of ten children of Samuel and Catherine (Balsley) Nickey. Samuel Nickey's parents came from Germany when he was but three years old, in 1769, and settled in Pennsylvania, but removed to Virginia, where he married and resided till his death, February 17, 1832. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Lutheran Church. In the fall of 1832, Mrs. Catherine Nickey moved with her family to Ross Co., Ohio, and in the fall of 1834 removed to Lake Township, Allen Co., Ind., and then to Union Township, this county, where she bought sixty acres of land and lived for many years, but died in 1852 at the home of her son David, in this township. She was a member of

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the M. E. Church. Jacob Nickey, our subject, has acquired a very good edu- cation by self-teaching, his early opportunities having been meager. February 19, 1834, he married, in Ross Co., Ohio, Elizabeth Briggs, native of the place, and daughter of Samuel and Agnes (Sheppard) Briggs. By this marriage he became the father of six children, viz .: Elizabeth J., now Mrs. Alex. More; Rose A., now Mrs. George Perry; Ruhannah, now Mrs. J. O. Long; Sarah A., now Mrs. William Krider; Clarissa, now Mrs. Metsker, and Allen S., now practicing medicine in Boone County, Ind. After marriage, Mr. Nickey farmed on shares, in Ross County, till the fall of 1839, when he came to this township and bought 120 acres unimproved land the following spring, and here erected probably the first frame dwelling built in the county. He has increased his farm to 307 acres of well-improved land by adding to it from time to time. Mrs. Elizabeth Nickey died here Septem- ber 19, 1844, and January 18, 1849, he married Mrs. Catherine (Crabill) Fredericks, born in Shenandoah County, Va., October 29, 1821, daughter of William and Catherine (Funk) Crabill, natives of that State, and from this second marriage three children are living, viz .: William S., Mary N. (now Mrs. N. Metsker), and Jacob W. Mr. Nickey has served many years as Township Trustee under both the old and new constitutions, and six years as one of the County Commissioners; he was on the first grand jury ever held in Columbia City, and has always been a Democrat. He and wife are members of the U. B. Church, and are among the leading citizens of the township.

D. W. NICKEY was born in this township July 6, 1837, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gradeless) Nickey, who were parents of the following- named children: Rebecca, now Mr. Silas Briggs, of Union Township; David W .; Mary A., now Mrs. Samuel Pierce, of Kendallville, Noble County ; Martha E., deceased; William A., deceased; and Addison B., who married Orpha Mossman, and lives in Allen County. Samuel Nickey was born in Augusta County, Va., in 1809, and came to Ross County, Ohio, with his widowed mother; taught school there, and there married Miss Gradeless in 1832. In 1833, he and his father-in-law, William Gradeless, and Absalom Hyre came to Indiana, and Messrs. Nickey and Hyre settled in this township, and Mr. Gradeless in Lake Township, Allen County, taking permanent possession in 1834. After many years, Mr. Nickey moved across Eel River to his father-in-law's place in Allen County, and there died August 29, 1864. Mrs. Nickey died April 17, 1861. D. W. Nickey was reared on the farm in this township, which has always been his home. January 4, 1860, he married Miss Alcinda J. Mossman, daughter of Francis Mossman, one of the old citizens of Whitley County. To their union have been born two children -Rhua E. and Alfred J. Mr. Nickey is a farmer, and also deals largely in live stock. He owns 360 acres of good land in Smith Township, and 180 acres in Allen County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a Re- publican, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 37

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962