Other surnames mentioned: Craig , Finch , Graves
PRICE K. CRAIG, trustee of Jefferson Township, resides in the village of New Mount Pleasant. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, August 27, 1842, a son of Wesley and Sarah A. (Jones) Craig, natives of Pennsylvania, but married in Columbiana County, Ohio, where they lived many years. Later they moved to Stark County, Ohio, where they both died. Price K. Craig left home Christmas week of 1860, and came to Jay County, Indiana, to the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Finch, in Jefferson Township, with whom he remained until the following June, when in response to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers he enlisted for three months, in the Fifty-sixth Indiana Infantry, his service being in Kentucky. He participated in the battle at Richmond, that State. After his discharge he returned to the home of his parents in Ohio, and enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, hoping to thus procure the discharge of his father, who although
over age had volunteered. He partially failed in this however, but served eighteen months, his father completing his term. After his service in the One Hundred and Fifteenth he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1864 visited the State of Illinois, and there enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, for 100 days, the most of his service being guard duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Soon after his last discharge he came again to Jay County and for fifteen years he engaged in teaching school during the winter, spending the summer in working on farms, or clerking in stores. From 1874 to 1876 he was deputy treasurer of Jay County, and while thus employed lived at Portland. He then taught a few terms of school, and then until 1885 was in the general mercantile business at New Mount Pleasant. In 1884 he was elected trustee of Jefferson Township, and was re-elected in 1886. He is an active public spirited citizen and has the confidence
and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a prominent man in the councils of the democratic party, always upholding its principles with a firm hand. Mr. Craig was married October 15, 1870, to Miss Amelia Jane Graves, a native of Union County, Indiana, born April 27, 1847, a daughter of Layton I. Graves. To them have been born six children, but three of whom are living -Alverda, Arthur and Russell. Harrison died in infancy; Priscilla, aged four years and eight days, and Anna aged sixteen months. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the Christian church.
Submitted by: Dusti
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 Page 684
Other surnames mentioned: Bloomberg , Breier , Eichler , Hersch , Marsh
Philip Leopold HERSCH, founder of the Model Clothing House at Portland and for many years one of the leading merchants of that city, who died at his home there a little more than six years ago, was long recognized as one of the important factors in the business life of this community and at his passing left a good memory. It therefore is but fitting that in the definite history of the county in which he had so long resided and in whose various interests he ever took a proper pride there should be set out some modest tribute to that memory . . . . Philip L. HERSCH was of European birth but had been a resident of this country since he was seventeen years of age. Thus he had become thoroughly imbued with the lessons of the best American traditions and took a patriotic interest in all that pertained to the best welfare of this country. He was born in the dual kingdom of Austria-Hungary on July 1, 1858, and was a son of Emmanuel and Freeda HERSCH, both natives
of that same country. He received his youthful schooling in his native country and when seventeen years of age, in the year 1876, came to America. He proceeded on out into Ohio, presently locating at Defiance County, where he became employed in a clothing store and in time became engaged in the clothing business on his own account and was there married. Almost immediately after his marriage Mr. HERSCH, who had for some time been considering a change of location, disposed of his interests in Defiance and came over into Indiana. He established his home at Portland, opening there on December 5, 1885, a store to which he gave the name of the Model Clothing House and to which he devoted his attention the remainder of his life, soon coming to be recognized as one of the most enterprising and energetic merchants of his day in that city. Mr. HERSCH opened his store in what then was known as the Marsh building in North Meridian street, the building in which Elias
J. MARSH was then engaged in the publication of the old Commercial, the HERSCH store being next door to the newspaper office. Mr. HERSCH soon found his business expanding and, compelled by the need of more space, several years later moved into the room adjoining on the south in the Reed & Mackenbach building. Here he was able to better display a full line of all goods in the way of men's and boys' wear and his business grew rapidly. In that room Mr. HERSCH carried on his business until in the spring of 1897, when the necessity for further expansion caused him to seek a new location. He moved his store into the corner room of what then was known as the Miller building, now known as the Adair block, at the southwest corner of Main and Meridian streets. Here, under the able direction of the proprietor, who by his friendly manner and by his fair and honest business methods won a host of pleased customers, Mr. HERSCH continued in business until his death. He also
had established branch stores at Dunkirk and at Pennville, in this county, to supply the patrons living in those vicinities, and thus the fame of the Model Clothing House was carried widely throughout this section of the state. Philip L. HERSCH died at his home, 303 West High street, Portland, on the morning of December 24, 1915, and was survived by his widow, who was Charlotte BLOOMBERG, and two children, a daughter, Miss Jennie Rae HERSCH, and a son, F. Levine HERSCH, besides two brothers, Will HERSCH, of Parkersburg, W. Va., and Charles HERSCH, of Dunkirk, and two sisters, Mrs. Marcus BREIER, of New York City, and Mrs. Benjamin EICHLER, who was still living in the old country. Mr. HERSCH was one of the active members of the local Chamber of Commerce and was affiliated with the Muncie branch of the Jewish organization, B'nai B'rith. He was an Encampment Odd Fellow and one of the charter members of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah and was also
a member of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Since the death of Mr. HERSCH the business of the Model Clothing House has been carried on by his daughter, Jennie Rae HERSCH, and his son, F. Levine HERSCH, who had been associated with their father in the organization and who are continuing to conduct the business in up-to-date fashion, with the newest equipment and with complete stocks representing all the standard lines of wearing apparel for men and boys.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Walter , Montgommery , Hahn , Phillips , Hine , Runnell , Wickerd
PETER WALTER, farmer, Wabash Township, resides on section 30, wherehe owns 160 acres of land. He was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1816, and when he was nine years old went with his parents to Columbiana County, Ohio, where the father rented an improved farm. They lived there thirteen years, then removed to this county, locating on section 22, Wabash Township, where the father entered eighty acres of land from the Government. He lived upon that farm until his death. He was born in Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1790, was a shoemaker in early life but later followed farming. He died in 1865, and is buried at the cemetery situated on the State line. The mother, Susanna Walter, died in 1873 and is buried beside the father. They had three sons that served during the late war -Daniel, William and Washington. The father was drafted during the war of 1812, and furnished a substitute. Peter was married November 10, 1842, to Miss Harriet
Montgomery, born in Steuben County, New York, January 25, 1816, where she passed her early life. In the spring of 1839 she came to this county with her father, who settled on section 31, Wabash Township. Her mother died before they came from New York. Mrs. Walter died October 20, 1868, leaving seven children -Arabella J., born September 40, 1844, died in January, 1877; Catherine A., born June 3, 1847, wife of G. Phillips; Thomas S., born July 15, 1849; Mary A., born July 28, 1851, died in July, 1877; Fletcher G., born May 24, 1854, married Nettie West April 10, 1879; William H., born February 4, 1857, married in Noble Township; Roger S., born August 18, 1859. April 7, 1872, Mr. Walter was married to Mary Hahn, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 30, 1825. She came to this county in 1872. Her father, Jacob Hahn, was born in Maryland and died when eighty-three years of age in 1869. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her mother, Mary (Wickerd)
Hahn, was born in Germany and came to America when three years old with her parents and three other children, the family locating in Columbiana County, Ohio. Mrs. Walter was first married to Jacob Hine, a native of Pennsylvania, who died of apoplexy in January, 1860, aged thirty-seven years. She had two children by this marriage -Albertus D., born August 30, 1850, and John B., born May 28, 1852. Mrs. Walter's mother died in Stark County, Ohio, at the age of eighty-eight years. Mr. Walter's grandfather, Henry Walter, was born in Schuykill County, Pennsylvania, and died in Adams County, same State, aged eighty-four years; he was of German descent. The Runnells were probably born in Maryland, near Hagerstown. Mrs. Walter's grandparents all died before her recollection. The Hahns and Wickerds were of German descent, and the Montgomerys were of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Walter settled upon their present farm in 1844. Mr. Walter was a Republican until 1884, at
which time he voted for St. John.
Submitted by: Dusti
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 Page 644
Other surnames mentioned: Peerman , Duncan , West , Wolf
Dr. R. W. PEERMAN, D. C., a well-known Chiropractic practitioner of Dunkirk and Redkey, with offices at both places and his home at Dunkirk, is a native Hoosier and has been a resident of this state practically all his life. He was born on a farm in Black township, Posey county, Indiana, about seven miles north of Mt. Vernon, a son of Joseph .L. and Emma (WEST) PEERMAN, both of whom also were born in southern Indiana, members of pioneer families in that section of the state, and who were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still living, those besides Doctor PEERMAN, being Joseph L. Jr., Ruth, Edgar T., Charles E., Kathryn and Elsie M. Doctor PEERMAN received his elementary schooling in the district school in the vicinity of his home and supplemented this by attendance at the Mt. Vernon high school. Following his graduation from the high school he entered the Palmer School of Chiropractic and was graduated from that institution in 1919. Thus
admirably equipped for the practice of the profession to which he had devoted his talents, Doctor PEERMAN located at Portland, this county, where he became engaged as a practitioner m the office of Doctor Davidson, D. C., but about three weeks later, determined to engage in practice alone and with that end in view, went to Eldorado, Ill., [Saline Co.] where he opened an office and was there engaged in practice for about a year, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county, and on June II, 1920, opened an office at Dunkirk, which since has been his home. Several months later Doctor PEERMAN opened an office at Redkey and has since carried on his practice in both towns, his office hours covering Redkey during the forenoons and Dunkirk, afternoons and evenings, his field of operations thus covering an extensive territory hereabout. On May 5, 1919, Dr. R. W. PEERMAN was united in marriage to Emily DUNCAN, who was born at Mt. Vernon, Ind., daughter of William
and Louise (WOLF) DUNCAN, and to this union two children have been born, a daughter, Charlotte Louise, born on May 5, 1930, whose birthdays thus fall on the anniversaries of her parents marriage, and a son, Roy, Jr., July 25, 1921. Doctor PEERMAN is a Republican. He is one of the active figures in the celebrated Boosters Club at Dunkirk and is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Improved Order of Red Men at Dunkirk. He also is the scoutmaster of the Dunkirk camp of the Boy Scouts of America, to the affairs of which organization he has given much thoughtful attention and in the development of which he has been a valuable factor.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Redmond , Donahue , Hottel , Murphy , Redmond
Sylvester REDMOND, one of the best known bachelor farmers of Pike township, was born on the place on which he is now living in that township, rural mail route No. 4 out of Ridgeville, and has lived there all his life. Mr. REDMOND was born on February 28, 1868, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (MURPHY) REDMOND, both of whom were natives of Ireland and the latter of whom is still living on the home farm, where she has resided ever since she came to this county, nearly sixty years ago. The late Patrick REDMOND was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and there grew to manhood. In 1852 he came to this country, landing at New Orleans, and after prospecting about for a couple of years returned to Ireland, but three years later the lure of America again drew him across the Atlantic. This time he landed at New York and presently made his way west and became engaged in steam boating on the Ohio, later taking up railroad work and helped build the Iron Mountain railroad.
In 1861 he returned to Ireland and some time afterward married Mary MURPHY, who also was born in County Wexford, and in 1865 came with his wife to the United States and proceeded on out into Indiana and settled on a farm of forty acres which he bought in Pike township, this county, and there he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 21, 1915. Mr. REDMOND was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered he added to his land holdings until at the time of his death he was the owner of a good farm of 120 acres. To him and his wife were born five children, all of whom are living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Ella, wife of George DAIL; Elizabeth, who is making- her home with her mother, and Louicia, who married Lynn HOTTEL and has one child, Frances; and a brother, William REDMOND, who married Thresia DONAHUE and has four children, Lucile, William, Catherine and Ruth. Reared on the farm on which he was born in Pike
township, Sylvester REDMOND received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his youth has been devoted lo farming, ever remaining on the home place, which he helped his father develop and which he is now operating in his mother's behalf, who continues to make her home there. Mr. REDMOND also owns a farm of 100 acres of his own, which he operates in addition to the 120 acres of the home farm, and has an excellent farm plant, everything about his place being in shipshape order. He gives particular attention to the raising of pure bred big type Poland China hogs. He is a member of the local Farmers Federation, to the affairs of which he has long given his earnest attention, and is a Democrat. He is a member of the Catholic church, in which faith his parents reared their family, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. The REDMOND's have a comfortable home and have done well their part in the labors of developing the community in which they live.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: BARRETT , HART , LILLICH
T. Francis HART, vice-president and general manager of the HART Glass Manufacturing Company of Dunkirk and one of the best known young business men of that city, was born in Mason City, W. Va. [Mason Co.] in March, 1882, son of Henry H. and Mary L. (LILLICH) HART, who were the parents of eleven children, two of whom, Emma and Edward, are deceased, the others besides the subject of this sketch being James, Louis, Mary, Isabella, Anna, Julia, Harry A. and Matthew. Henry H. HART, father of these children and a successful mine operator, was born in West Columbia., W. Va. T. Francis HART received his elementary schooling in West Virginia and when fifteen years of age, in 1897, entered St. Marys College at Dayton, Ohio He completed the four years course there in 1901 and was for two years thereafter, 1901-02, engaged in professional baseball, playing with the Dayton and Ft. Wayne teams of the Central League. He then was variously engaged, principally in connection
with the operations of oil pipe lilies, until 1905 when he became connected with the pipe line system of the Standard Oil Company at Norwalk, Ohio [Huron Co.]. Six months later, following his marriage, he transferred his services to the Pure Oil Company of Philadelphia and in 1913 was promoted to the position of efficiency engineer for that concern. He continued with the Pure Oil people until 1916, when he resigned his position as efficiency engineer to take charge of the plant of the glass manufacturing concern of Maring, Hart & Co., at Dunkirk, and has ever since been a resident of that city. This concern, which was founded in 1879, was reorganized in 1918 and incorporated as the HART Glass Manufacturing Company, which name it still bears and of which Mr. HART has since been the vice president and general manager. The plant of this company is a fully equipped automatic plant for the manufacture of bottles and jars and employs at capacity production right
around 175 persons, one of the important industries of the city. Under the management of Mr. HART the plant has been enlarged and modernized and is admirably equipped in all essential details. The plant has 100,000 feet of floor space and has a capacity of six car loads of bottles a day. Mr. HART is a Democrat and he and his family are members of the Catholic church. He is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus at Chester, Pa., and of the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at the same place. In 1905 T. Francis HART was united in marriage to Grace L. BARRETT, of Oil City, Pa., and to this union have been born four children, Grace L., Thomas V., Mary E. and Harry B. The HART's have a pleasant home at Dunkirk and take an interested part in the general social activities of the community.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Lyons , Cook , Hotmire , Krichbaum , Rupe , Templeman
Thomas S. LYONS, a well known farmer and landowner of Pike township, living on rural mail route No. 8 out of Portland, is a native son of Jay county and has resided here all his life save for some years during the period of his young manhood when he made his home in the West. Mr. LYONS was born in a log cabin on the farm on which he is now living on October 23, 1859, and is a son of Thomas and Amanda (TEMPLEMAN) LYONS, who were pioneers in that section of the county. The elder Thomas LYONS was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood trained in the ways of farming. As a young man he came over into Indiana and entered from the Government a tract of eighty acres of land in Pike township, built a log cabin for a home and settled down to clear the tract and make a farm out of it. That log cabin is still standing and is being preserved as a valuable relic of pioneer days. On that place this pioneer spent the remainder of his life. He was a
good farmer and in time increased his land holdings to 312 acres and was long recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Susan, Amanda and Sarah, and three brothers, John, Joseph and Jack LYONS. Reared on the home farm in Pike township, Thomas S. LYONS received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and remained at home until he was twenty years of age' when he went to Kansas and bought an eighty-acre farm, which he began to develop. He married at the age of twenty-four and established his home on that Kansas farm. For twelve years Mr. LYONS made his home in Kansas and then he moved down into the Cherokee Strip, where he began farming and where he remained for two years, at the end of which he disposed of his interests there and returned to Jay county and bought ninety-two acres of his father's
place and settled down here. Since taking possession of this latter place Mr. LYONS has erected new buildings and otherwise improved the farm and he and his family are comfortably situated. It was on December 25, 1883, that Thomas S. LYONS was united in marriage to Emeline KRICHBAUM, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana, daughter of Jacob and Melvina KRICHBAUM, and to this union two children have been born. Ollie and Dennis M., both of whom are married. Ollie LYONS has been twice married and by her first husband, James H. RUPE, has two children, Chloe and Willis, who are making their home with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. LYONS. By her second husband, Clarence HOTMIRE, of this county, she has one child, a daughter, May. Dennis M. LYONS married Beulah COOK, of Adams county, this state. and has two children, Doris L. and Florence C.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Hart , Brandon , Lewis , Mendenhall , Spade
William A. HART, a member of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court and a landowner of Jay county, proprietor of a farm in Jefferson township, where he has resided for the past twenty years or more, is a native of the Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Jay county since he was four years of age. Mr. HART was born on a farm in Adams county, Ohio, February 4, 1862, and is a son of John R. and Aletha ( MENDENHALL ) HART, the latter of whom was born and reared in Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of Marmaduke MENDENHALL. The late John R. HART, an honored veteran of the Civil war and for many years one of the leading citizens of Bearcreek township, this county, also was a native of Ohio, born in Highland county, that state, December 4, 1833, and was a son of James and Mary ( LEWIS ) HART, both of whom were born in the state of Delaware and who were among the early settlers in Highland county, Ohio. John R. HART was the seventh in order of birth of the eight
children born to this parentage. He was reared on the farm and his schooling was completed at the academy at North Liberty and in Delaware College. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school, a vocation he followed, with occasional interruptions, for many years thereafter. When twenty-two years of age he married and established his home in Adams county, Ohio, where he became engaged in farming and where he continued to teach school during the winters. On June 28, 1863, despite the family obligations he meanwhile had incurred, he enlisted for service as a soldier of the Union and went to the front as a member of the 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, with which command he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, and returned home. He remained there until 1866, when he disposed of his interests in Ohio and came with his family over into Indiana and located on a forty-acre tract of land he had bought in Bearcreek township,
this county, ten acres of which had been partially cleared and in which clearing had been erected, a log cabin and a log barn. In this log cabin he established his home until presently he was able to erect a more suitable house and in good time had a farm instead of a timber tract. Mr. HART continued farming until his retirement and removal to Bryant, where his last days were spent. He helped organize the Wesleyan Methodist church at Bryant and was for years the superintendent of the Sunday school. His long service in the school room gave value to his counsels on local educational questions and he did much to promote the betterment of the schools at Bryant and in that vicinity. He was an ardent Republican and took an earnest interest in local civic affairs, helpful ever in the cause of better government. To John R. HART and wife were born seven children, all of whom are living save two, Mary A. and David H., the others, besides the subject of this sketch,
being Mrs. Margaret Jane SPADE, James M., Orla E. and Charles C. HART. As noted above, William A. HART was but four years of age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1866. He grew up on the home farm in Bearcreek township and when seventeen years of age began to teach school, a vocation he continued to follow during the winters until he had rendered service in the school room, in the district schools of his home township, aggregating eighty months. Meanwhile he had turned his attention to the study of law and under the preceptorship of the law firm of Headington & LaFollette at Portland carried these studies to a conclusion and was admitted to the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Portland. For nearly twenty years thereafter Mr. HART continued his practice at Portland and then failing health caused him to seek relief in the open and in 1900 he moved onto a farm of 100 acres which he had bought in
Jefferson township, a part of the place on which he is now living, and has there resided ever since. Since taking possession of that place Mr. HART has added to his holdings until now he has 2:00 acres. On June 26, 1888, William A. HART was united in marriage to Louana BRANDON, of Franklin, Ohio, and to this union three children have been born. Opal R., William and Florence, deceased. Miss Opal R. HART was graduated from Earlham College and took a post-graduate course at Chicago University and is now a teacher in the New Mt. Pleasant schools.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II