Other surnames mentioned: Manor , Lacey , McFarland , Mauller , Shumaker , Whaley
William W. MANOR, one of Jefferson township's well known farmers, living on rural mail route No. 2 out of Redkey, was born in Jay county and has lived here most of his life, the exception being some years during the years of his youth, when the family lived in the adjoining county of Randolph. Mr. MANOR was born at Powers Station and is a son of John E. and Maggie (McFARLAND) MANOR, both of whom were members of pioneer families in this section of Indiana. John E. MANOR, who is now making his home with his son, William, in Jefferson township, was born in Virginia and was but a child when he came to Indiana with his parents, Zeblan W. and Mary Ann (SHUMAKER) MANOR, who located in. Randolph county, where the father bought a farm. Some years later Zeblan W. MANOR disposed of his interests in that county and came with his family up into Jay county and bought a farm of 112 acres in Richland township, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder
of his life. Five of his children are still living, John E. MANOR being the eldest of these. John. E. MANOR received his schooling in. Randolph county and for some time after his parents moved to Jay county he worked on the home farm in Richland township. He then became engaged in the saw-milling business at Powers Station and was thus engaged at that place until the big timber was pretty well worked out of that vicinity, after which he resumed farming, making his home on a rented farm in this county. Two years later he returned to Powers and two years afterward moved back to Randolph county and made his home on a farm belonging to his father in that county and there he remained until his retirement in 1915, since which time he has been making his home with his son. William, in this county. He has six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Pearl, Jesse, Cleat, Gladys and Ollie. William W. MANOR was but a lad when his parents moved from
Powers to the farm in Randolph county and in the schools of this latter county he completed his schooling. He remained with his father on the farm until his marriage in the fall of 1899, when he established his home on the farm of 487 acres in Jefferson and Greene townships, on which he is now living, and has since resided there, continuing to rent the land which he has farmed to advantage, his operations having been carried on in up-to-date fashion. In his political views Mr. MANOR is a Democrat. It was in September, 1899, that William W. MANOR was united in marriage to Ella LACEY, of this county, and to this union two children have been born, Agnes and Earl, the latter of whom is at home with his father on the farm.. Agnes MANOR married Dewey MAULLER, of Randolph county, and has one child, a daughter, Helen V. Mrs. Ella MANOR, who died on October 23, 1921, was a member of one of the pioneer families of Jay county, a daughter of Fernando and Anna (WHALEY)
MAULLER, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and had lived in this county all her life.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: North , Anderson , Cring , Delhousen , Fraizer , Hopkins , Lare
William North, veteran of the Civil war, who recently died at his home in Portland in his eighty-fourth year, had for many years been actively connected with the business affairs of that city, a former merchant and lumber mill man, one of the organizers and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Portland, a stockholder in the Citizens Bank and in other ways interested in the general commercial life of the community, and at his passing left a good memory. And to this memory it is but fitting that some modest tribute here be paid. Mr. NORTH was a native of the old Keystone state, but had been a resident of Indiana for many years and of Portland since 1871. He was born on a farm in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1838, and was a son of Jacob and Sarah ( DELHOUSEN) NORTH, both of whom were born in that same state. Jacob NORTH was a substantial farmer, the owner of 114 acres, and he and his wife were the parents of fifteen
children, of whom the late William NORTH was the last survivor. William NORTH was reared in Pennsylvania and received his schooling' in the schools of his native county. He early learned the trade of weaver and was for three years engaged working- in a woolen mill. After the death of his father his mother moved to Lima, Ohio [Allen Co.], and he accompanied her there and was for a year or more engaged In working at his trade in that place. He then took an extended trip West, but in. 1860 returned and was living in Ohio when the Civil war broke out. He presently enlisted his services in behalf of the Union cause and went to the front as a member of Company I, 139th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. NORTH became engaged in saw-milling at Conway, in Van Wert county, Ohio. After familiarizing himself with the milling business Mr. NORTH bought a sawmill in Ohio and established his home in that state, where he
continued engaged in lumber milling for about ten years, or until 1871, when he came to Indiana and bought a grocery store at Portland. For four years he continued in the grocery business at Portland and then became associated with his brother in the operation of a flour mill up in Wells county, though continuing to make his home at Portland. Three years later he withdrew from that business and became engaged in the lumber business at Portland and for some years operated three sawmills, at the same time becoming interested in land investments, and became the owner of 240 acres of land in Greene township, this county, which he rented. Mr. NORTH's business activities were carried on also along other lines and he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Portland and at the time of his death had been for years a member of the board of directors of this institution. He also was a stockholder in the Citizens Bank and had other local interests. Mr.
NORTH continued active in business until 1919, when failing sight compelled his retirement, and his death occurred in that city on January 15, 1922. His wife had long preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred on October 15, 1907. In his political views Mr. NORTH was a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a Royal Arch Mason and for many years took a warm interest in local Masonic affairs. In 1862, in Ohio, William NORTH was united in marriage to Sarah LARE, who was born in Crawford county, that state, and to that union were born five children, namely: Margaret, who is unmarried and who continues to maintain the old home at 604 West Race street, Portland, where her father's last days were spent: Delia, who married Edwin HOPKINS, now living at Lynn, Ind.[Randolph Co.], and has one child, a daughter, Marie, who married Denzel ANDERSON and has one child, a son, Harold Hopkins Anderson; Elta, who married Luther FRAZIER, now
living at Bluffton, Ind.[Wells Co.], and has five children, Dr. Chester Frazier, of Indianapolis, Merle, Hobart, Harold and Catharine: William L., who married Fannie CRING and who died on July 1, 1921, leaving one child, a daughter, Mary Helen, and John NORTH, who died on October 5, 1872.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Gregg , Moore , Pilling , Rice
Wilson RICE, vice president and a member of the board of directors of the Portland Oil and Refining Company, of which he was one of the organizers, a veteran well driller and oil producer, and for years one of the best known men in that field of endeavor in Indiana, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, but has been a resident of Indiana for the past twenty-five years or more. He was born at Waterford, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1850, son of Henry and Martha ( MOORE ) RICE, the latter of whom was a native of Ireland, born in County Derry, October 27, 1811, who came to America with her parents when she was eight years of age, the family locating in Erie county, Pennsylvania. Henry RICE was born in New York City on January 8, 1808, and was but a child when his parents moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he received his schooling. After his marriage he became a substantial farmer in Erie county, that same state, where he also was for years engaged
in the sale of farm implements. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, four of whom are living, the subject of this sketch having one brother, James RICE, and two sisters, Lydia and Jessie. Wilson RICE completed his schooling in the old Waterford Academy, an institution of learning that was erected in 1811, and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he started to work in the oil field about Pleasantville, Pa., as a pumper. A year later he took up drilling and was thus engaged with the Standard Oil Company for about twenty years, working with rigs throughout the Eastern oil field. He then very properly came to the conclusion to engage in business on his own account and bought a rig and began his career as a contractor. Mr. RICE began his independent career as a contractor in Pennsylvania. About eight years later he moved to Ohio and two years later came to Indiana. The first well he brought in for himself in Indiana was on the
Starr farm in Wells county in 1896. In the fall of that year he brought in his first well in Jay county, on the Weller farm, and has since made his headquarters at Portland. In 1904 Mr. RICE opened the rich pool on the Antles farm, the first well there being a twenty-five-barrel well, which was quickly followed by others of much larger proportions. Mr. RICE's most productive well was a 120-barrel producer on the Weller farm, which came in at a depth of 1,070 feet, and his deepest well was that he brought in for the Alberta Land Company on the Bow river, in Alberta, Canada, in 1911, when he struck a productive flow of gas at a depth of 2,060 feet. Mr. RICE has two rigs working and has long been recognized as one of the real veterans of the business, his whole attention having been given to drilling since he was eighteen years of age, a record of experience exceeding that of any other producer hereabout. Mr. RICE is a Republican and a member of the Chamber
of Commerce and the Country Club of Portland. He also is a member of the local lodges of Masons, the Elks and the Eagles at Portland, of the Odd Fellows at Anderson, Ind., and of the Knights of the Maccabees at Bradford, Pa. On April II, 1871, Wilson RICE was united in marriage in Pennsylvania to Wilda GREGG and to this union two children have been born, Lenna, who died at the age of three years, and Mae. Mrs. RICE was born at Sugar Grove, in Warren, county, Pennsylvania, and her schooling was completed at the Edinburg , Pa., Normal School, after which for ten years she was engaged as a teacher in her home state. She and her sister Margaret are the only survivors of the nine children born to her parents, John and Anna ( PILLING ) GREGG, both of whom were born in England, but who were married in Warren county, Pennsylvania, their respective parents having (note - end of bio cut off).
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Flesher , May , Ross
William O. ROSS, one of the well known and substantial farmers and landowners of Jefferson township, was born in Jay county and has lived here all his life. Mr. ROSS was born in Jefferson township and is a son of Cyrus L. and Rebecca ( MAY ) ROSS, who in their generation were among the well known residents of that township, Cyrus L. ROSS was born in the neighboring county of Randolph and was fifteen years of age when his father, John ROSS, moved with his family up into Jay county and bought a farm of eighty acres in Jefferson township, where he spent the remainder of his life. On that farm Cyrus L. ROSS grew to manhood and after his marriage established his home there. After the death of his father he bought the interests of the other heirs in the place and continued to make that his home until his retirement from the farm and removal to Redkey, where his last days were spent. He acquired other lands in the vicinity and was long accounted one of the
substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He and his wife were the parents of four children, all of whom are living save the one daughter, Mary E., the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Charles and Elmer ROSS. Reared on the home farm in Jefferson township, William O. ROSS received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing the farm. He married at the age of twenty-five and then established his home on a tract of 100 acres owned by his father in Jefferson township, a part of the place on which he is still living, and has resided there since. Upon his father's death he inherited that tract and has since added an adjoining tract of sixty acres, now having a well improved and profitably operated place of 160 acres, which he rents out by the field, having some time ago practically retired from the active labors of the farm. Mr. ROSS is a Democrat and is
a Freemason, a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons at Ridgeville. On MAY 6, 1899, William O. ROSS was united in marriage to Nora E. FLESHER, who was born in this county, daughter of Wesley and Tabitha FLESHER, members of pioneer families in Jay county. Mr. and Mrs. ROSS have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Ridgeville and take an interested part in the general social activities of the neighborhood 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: Skinner , Lee , Patterson
Walter Lee SKINNER, former mayor of the city of Dunkirk, proprietor of the notable "Skinner Spotted Stock Farm" at the western edge of the city, a former merchant and grain dealer, president of the Square Deal Auto Company of Dunkirk and for years one of the best known men in Jay county, ,is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Dunkirk for the past thirty years and thus has been a witness to and a participant in the development which has marked that city's progress during this period. Mr. SKINNER was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of West Salem, Ohio, January 19, 1865, son of Moses O. and Susan (LEE) SKINNER, who were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Elsworth R. SKINNER, and a sister, Violet. Moses O. SKINNER was born in Orange county, New York, where he was reared. As a young man he went to Ohio and engaged in farming, becoming the owner of a well developed farm m the vicinity
of West Salem, where he and his wife spent their last days. Walter LEE SKINNER was reared on the home farm and received his elementary schooling in the schools of West Salem. He supplemented this by two years attendance at Ashland College and then became engaged as a traveling salesman for the Ely Manufacturing Company of Pennsylvania. In 1891 Mr. SKINNER married and a few months later "left the road" and located at Dunkirk, where he became engaged in the hardware business, a line which he continued for more than twenty years, or until he sold his hardware store in 1911 to McKinney Bros. Not long after locating at Dunkirk Mr. SKINNER also became engaged in the grain business and established a string of elevators, including locations at Dunkirk, Redkey and Mill Grove, and was equally successful in his operations along this line, continuing the same until 1920, when he sold his grain business to Shirley Bros. and retired from that line. In the meantime, in
1909, he bought an eighty-acre tract at the west edge of town, just over the line in Blackford county, and there began to develop his stock farm, gradually increasing his land holdings there until ''Skinners's Spotted Stock Farm" now covers 325 acres and is one of the best farm plants of the sort hereabout. Following a fancy which long ago interested him, Mr. SKINNER has nothing but spotted stock on his farm, spotted varieties being carried out even in his dogs, chickens, horses and mules, a fancy which has given more than local celebrity to his stock farm. In addition to his other activities Mr. SKINNER is the principal stockholder and president of the Square Deal Auto Company of Dunkirk and has other local interests, even in his retirement from the main lines which so long occupied his attention finding it impossible to sit idly and watch the world go by. He has from the time of taking up his residence in Dunkirk ever given his interested and earnest
attention to local civic affairs and for four years served as mayor of the city. Prior to that term of public service he had served for nine years as a member of the city council and in all his public service kept the best interests of the city constantly in view. Mr. SKINNER is a Republican, a Scottish Rite 32 degree Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, an Odd Fellow, a Redman and a member of the Episcopal church. It was in 1891 that Mr. SKINNER was united in marriage to Clarabelle PATTERSON, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Adelia M. PATTERSON, and he and his wife have a very pleasant and hospitable home. Mrs. SKINNER is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Straussburg , Ayers , Bishop , Poling
Willis O. STRAUSBURG, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of Jackson township, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on May 23, 1872, and is a son of Samuel and Louisa (AYRES) STRAUSBURG, well known residents of that community and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. The late Samuel STRAUSBURG was born in Clark county, Ohio, but was reared at Marion, Ind.[Grant Co.], to which city his parents had moved when he was but a boy. He married in Darke county, Ohio, and continued to make that place his home until in 1870, when he came over into Jay county, where he had previously bought an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township and established his home there, having also added a tract of forty acres. His father also came to this county not long after he had settled here and also became the owner of a 160-acre farm. Samuel STRAUSBURG spent the remainder of his life in this county, his death occurring
on August 5, 1921. He and his wife were the parents of five children, three of whom are living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Viretta and Ellery. Two daughters, Florence O. and Margaret S., are deceased. Willis O. STRAUSBURG grew to manhood on the home farm in Jackson township and received his schooling in the old Glenwood school. He remained on the home farm, a valued assistant in the labors of developing the same, until he was twenty-six years of age, when he became engaged working at the carpenter's trade. For four years he followed that vocation and then, having bought a tract of fifty acres, a part of the farm on which he is now living in Jackson township, he became actively engaged in farming. Since taking possession of that place Mr. STRAUSBURG not only has done much in the way of improving the same, but has added an adjoining tract of thirty acres to his place and has created an. excellent farm plant, he and his family having a
pleasant home on rural mail route No. 2 out of Portland. Mr. STRAUSBURG is a Democrat and has ever taken, a good citizen's interest in local political affairs. His wife is a member of the Glenwood Meeting of Friends. On March 22, 1903, Willis O. STRAUSBURG was united in marriage to Minnie J. BISHOP who also was born in this county, and to this union six children have been born, Ora Belle, Ernestine and Effie May, who are living, and Irene, Harriet and a son who died in infancy. Mrs. STRAUSBURG is a member of one of the pioneer families of Jay county. She was born in Bearcreek township and is a daughter of William P. and Harriet (POLING) BISHOP, the former of whom was born in that same township, a son of Peter and Elizabeth BISHOP, pioneers of that section of the county. The POLING's were pioneers of Darke county, Ohio. The late William P. BISHOP, a former member of the board of count! ! y commissioners for Jay county, who died at his home in Bearcreek
township on June 19, 1920, spent all his life in that township. He helped to clear several farms of the heavy timber and convert them into fertile fields and also for years worked at the carpenter trade, many of the older buildings in that neighborhood thus standing" as monuments to the character of his workmanship. He was active in public affairs, served as constable for several terms in his home township, later as justice of the peace in and for that township, and also served for one term as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district. He and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides Mrs. STRAUSBURG being Cassius, John, Charles (deceased), Edward and Ella (deceased).
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
A. J. BICKEL, one of the representative citizens of Wayne Township, is the oldest person living at the present time who was born in Jay County, the date of his birth being November 8, 1833. His father, George BICKEL, was born in Centre County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Preble County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Nancy GLASSFORD. To them were born ten children, nine daughters and one son -- Christina, Elizabeth, Andrew J., Maria, Catherine, Jane, Henrietta, Rachel, Nancy A. and Matilda. A few years after his marriage the father with his family, then consisting of his wife and two daughters, came to Jay County, making the journey by team. They first located in the woods of Pike Township when but six or eight families were living in the township. The father cleared and improved his land in Pike Township, where he made a good home for his family, living there until his death, which occurred in April, 1877. Mrs. BICKEL had died many
years before, her death occurring in August 1859. Andrew Jackson BICKEL, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the old homestead where he was born, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear and improve their farm and in attending the subscription schools of that early day, where he received but a limited education. He was married in November, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth THARP, a native of Perry County, Ohio, a daughter of Asa and Margaret (IMEL) THARP. Her father died in Perry County, Ohio, and in 1855 her mother came with her children to Indiana and made her home in Pike County [sic]. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. BICKEL -- George, William, Sarah M., Rebecca Ann, Simeon, Christina and Adella Alice. Mr. BICKEL continued to live on his father's homestead for a time after his marriage, then bought land adjoining, where he resided until 1881. In that year he removed to the farm on section 25, Wayne Township, where he still
resides. His farm contains eighty acres of valuable land, which he has improved in a good manner. He has about sixty acres cleared and divided into different fields for stock-raising, to which he devotes some attention. He has a comfortable residence, pleasantly situated, and good farm buildings, and his land is underlaid with tile
drainage, the entire farm showing the thrift and care of its owner. In politics he is a strong adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. BICKEL has witnessed the many wonderful changes that have taken place in the county, seeing it transform from a wilderness into its present prosperous condition. The population of Jay County at the time of his birth was about fifty person [p 623] and now the inhabitants are 20,000. Mr. BICKEL has always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his township or county, and in every movement calculated to aid in building up the place has his encouragement and assistance.
Submitted by Betty Creath
"Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887
Samuel BLAZER, one of the old and honored pioneers of Greene Township, has been identified with the interests of Jay County since 1838. He was born in Gallia County, Ohio, August 2, 1813, a son of Philip and Elizabeth BLAZER, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Dutch descent. They were married in their native State, and of the nine children born to them only two are living -- Samuel B., who was the fourth son and sixth child, and Henry, who lives on the old homestead of his parents. Of the remaining children, George came to Jay County a year or so before our subject, and settled in Pike Township, where he lived until his death, which occurred the first year of the late war; John, another son, settled in Madison County, Indiana, and died a few years since; one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth GILMORE, died a few years ago in Madison County, Indiana; Jacob, Adam, Philip and Margaret are the names of the other children who are deceased. Jacob, the eldest
child, was never married, and died at the age of seventy-five years. The other children were married and had families. The parents after their marriage settled on wild land in Ohio, where they made a home, and lived in that State until their death. Samuel BLAZER, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm in Ohio, remaining with his parents until attaining the age of twenty-one years. On coming to Jay County in the fall of 1838 he commenced chopping and clearing his land, a tract of 160 acres that he had entered from the Government prior to his coming, and by persevering industry he soon had enough cleared to make a home. He was married April 9, 1840, to Miss Prudence COLLINS, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, August 4, 1820, where she lived until coming to Jay County, Indiana, with her parents, John and Elizabeth COLLINS, about the year 1836. Both of her parents died of fever soon after coming to the county. Mr. and Mrs. BLAZER
have had born to them twelve children -- Elizabeth, widow of John KERNS, is living in Jefferson Township; Mary died aged five years; Henry died aged three years; the next two children died in infancy; Nancy married John SPAHR, of Greene Township; Mrs. Catharine WESTON lives in Jefferson Township; Elvira and Elvina (twins), the former married James McFADDEN and is now deceased, and the latter is living with her parents; Jacob resides in Greene Township, and Emma is the wife of Ozro SANDERS, of Jefferson Township. Mr. BLAZER has lived on his farm on section 36, Greene Township, since his marriage, his [p 354] first residence being a small cabin, located near the site of his present more commodious residence. He has a good home property of eighty-three acres, he having given the rest of his land to his children. He has been prosperous in his farming pursuits, and has owned and improved much over 300 acres of land, and by his honorable and upright dealings
he has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but has voted the Republican ticket since the organization of that party.
Submitted by Betty Creath
"Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887