Other surnames mentioned: Gigandent , Papon , Dodier , Humbert , Ewing , Miller

FRANCIS VINCENT GIGANDET, a prominent and enterprising citizen of Wayne Township, was born in France, June 14, 1830, a son of Nicholas and Mary (Papon) Gigandet, natives of France. His parents came to America a few years after their marriage, when he was about one year and a half old, and first settled in Stark County, Ohio. They subsequently removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, and later to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining there three years. They settled in Darke County about the year 1836 or 1837, where the father died in October, 1847. He was a saddler by trade, and followed that avocation for several years after coming to America. F.V., the subject of this sketch, was reared a farmer, and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood and by study at home. He was united in marriage, June 13, 1854, to Miss Mary Humbert, a native of France, and a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Dodier) Humbert. Nine children have been born to this union, as follows -William Eugene, Martha Isabelle, Hubert Amos, Emanuel Isidore (born in 1863, and died in October, 1885), Walter Augustus, Aurelia Celina, Maria Flora, Francis Vincent and Lovina Ann. Mr. Gigandet continued to reside in Darke County until 1873, when he came with his family to Jay County, Indiana. He bought his farm in Jay County from Henry Ewing, almost unimproved. A few acres has been cleared and twenty acres deadened, and two log cabins and a log stable had been erected. He has made good improvements during his residence on the place, making it one of the best farms in his neighborhood. His farm contains eighty acres, of which fifty-two acres is cleared and under fine cultivation. He has a fine, substantial residence, built in modern style, and considered one of the best in Wayne Township. In connection with his general farming he devotes some attention to stock-raising, his farm being divided into different fields for that object. In his political views Mr. Gigandet is a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852, and at all succeeding presidential elections he has voted the Democratic ticket. Although an adherent of the Democratic principles, he believes in a good, honest Government for the people; and in local elections where he is acquainted with the candidates, if his party nominates a candidate who in his judgment has not the qualifications of a good officer, able and willing to discharge his official duties in the interests of the people and the good of the country, he does not hesitate to look in the ranks of the opposing parties for an honest man, and if he finds him he votes without regard to party affiliation. Mr. Gigandet is one of the most active member of the Catholic church. In his religious views he is not bigoted, but rather liberal, and is always ready to hold out the hand of friendship and help to his dissenting neighbors and friends, having no ill-feeling toward them because they do not believe as he does. Nor has he any ill-will toward any man on account of his religious or political views, believing that all, let them be Jew or Gentile, Protestant or infidel, have rights which ought to be respected by all good citizens, and that if a man is honest and upright he should be welcomed in any neighborhood without questioning his creed or political views. He believes that all have a right to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. Mr. Gigandet took an active part in the building of his church, of which he was one of the first trustees, and is one of its most liberal supporters. William E. Gigandet, the eldest son of F.V. Gigandet, was born in Darke County, Ohio, August 7,1855, where he was reared, coming to Jay County with his father in 1873. He was married April 30, 1880, to Miss Edna Ann Miller, a daughter of A. Miller, of Wayne Township, Jay County. They are the parents of two children, named Agatha A. and Estella E.

Submitted by: Peggy Karol
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 - Page 554-555

JAQUA, Frank B.

Other surnames mentioned: Avery , Jaqua , Morriss , Tuthill

Frank B. JAQUA, long recognized as one of the leaders at the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, with offices at Portland, where he has been engaged in the practice of law for nearly thirty years, was born in that city and has resided there practically all his life, thus coming to be one of the substantial and influential figures in the general life and affairs of the city and of this section of Indiana. Mr. Jaqua was born on September 21, 1871, and is a son of James B. and Eliza Jane (AVERY) JAQUA, the latter of whom was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1829, a daughter of Daniel AVERY, The late James B. JAQUA, lawyer and banker, and in his generation one of the real leaders in the community in which his last days were spent, was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1820, and became engaged in the practice of law at Portland in 1853, as is set out elsewhere in this work. He was one of the county's early school examiners, served as draft commissioner for Jay county during the Civil war, practiced law successfully for more than thirty years and found time to organize a bank as well as, to engage in other forms of enterprise, it being noted of him that "he had the happy faculty of being able to have several irons in the fire at one time and to successfully attend to all of them," and further that "he was endowed with that class of hard sense that led him to form an accurate judgment in any matter of importance." Reared amid admirable home surroundings, Frank B. JAQUA early turned his attention to the study of stenography and at fifteen years of age entered a business college at Cincinnati, where he made a specialty of shorthand writing and upon his return home was appointed stenographer for the Jay Circuit Court, a position in which he served until he was twenty years of age, or until 1891, when he went to Chicago to take service with the Chicago Herald. In the meantime he had been pursuing his studies in law in such leisure as his active duties would permit and after two years of valuable experience in Chicago returned to Portland and was again appointed court stenographer. Upon 'his return to Portland Mr. JAQUA was admitted to the bar of the Jay Circuit Court and entered upon the practice of law. Two years later, in 1895, he resigned his position as court stenographer and ever since has devoted himself to his practice, with the exception of the year 1898, which he spent at Indianapolis, where he was engaged as law clerk and stenographer in the state Supreme Court. He is the general counsel for the Hawkins Mortgage Company, of which concern he also is the vice president. Mr. JAQUA is a Democrat and for years has been recognized as one of the leaders of that party in the Eighth district. He is a 32 degree, Scottish Rite, Mason, a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and also is affiliated with the lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. On March 2, 1904, Frank B. JAQUA was united in marriage to Carrie E. TUTHILL, who was born in Washington, D. C., daughter of Charles H. and Lily T. ( MORRIS ) TUTHILL. and to this union one child has been born. a daughter. Anna Louise JAQUA, born on May 15, 1907, who is now a student at the Choate School at Boston, Mass. The JAQUA's have a pleasant home at 720 West Main street, Portland.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II

KADERLY, Fred J.

Other surnames mentioned: Kaderly , Feasel , Orr

Fred J. KADERLY, former trustee of Pike township and one of the best known agriculturists of that township, is a native of the Buckeye state, as are so many of the residents of this part of Indiana, but has lived in Jay county since the days of his infancy, his parents having located here when he was a babe in arms. Mr. KADERLY was born on a farm in the vicinity of the city of Columbus, In Franklin county, Ohio, October 8, 1879, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (FEASEL) KADERLY, both of whom were born in that same state. Jacob KADERLY was reared on a farm in the vicinity of Columbus and received his schooling in the schools of that city. After his marriage he began farming on his own account and remained in Ohio until in the spring of 1880, when he came with his family to Jay county and settled on an "eighty" which he had bought in Pike township and there established his home. As his affairs prospered he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of 332 acres. There he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1902. and his widow is still making her home there, the management of the farm being in the hands of her son Fred, who is carrying on the operations of the farm in up-to-date fashion. As noted above, Fred J. KADERLY was but a babe when his parents came to Jay county in the spring of 1880 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Pike township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools. From the days of his boyhood he was a helpful factor m the labors of developing the farm and since his father's death has been operating the place in his mother's behalf. He was married at the age of twenty-seven and established his home on the old home place, where he still resides, he and his family being very comfortably situated. He has a well equipped farm plant and is doing well. The KADERLY's are members of the Boundary Reformed church and Mr. KADERLY is a Freemason and an Odd Fellow, affiliated with the local lodges of those orders at Portland, and is also a member of the Boundary lodge of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Mr. KADERLY is a Democrat and has long been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. In November, 1908, he was elected trustee of Pike township and in that important public capacity served the people for six years. It was on December 24, 1906, that Fred J. KADERLY was united in marriage to Hattie ORR, who was born in this county, a daughter of Oliver and Rosetta ORR, and to this union have been born six children, Elmer, Lester, Dorsey, Leon, Ora and John. The KADERLY's have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 8 out of Portland and take an interested part in the general social activities of 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

MARTIN, Frank

Other surnames mentioned: Martin , Stratton , Nikon , Livingston

Frank MARTIN, junior member of the firm of MARTIN Bros., manufacturers of tile and hollow building block at Dunkirk, and further mention of which company's origin and operations in this county has been made above, has been a resident of Jay county since he was six months of age. He was born at Winchester, in the neighboring county of Randolph, March 6, 1878, son of Oliver and Julia (LIVINGSTON) MARTIN, who became residents of this county in that same year and whose last days were spent here, both dying in January, 1907, within one week of each other, at their home at Greene Post office, as is set out above, together with further details of the history of the MARTIN family and of the establishment at Greene of the MARTIN tile factory by Oliver MARTIN in 1878 and of its development into the present extensive plant of MARTIN Bros., at Dunkirk. As noted above, Frank MARTIN was but a babe when his parents came to Jay county and he was reared at Greene, receiving his schooling in the Hopewell school. As a lad he began to be of assistance to his father in the operation of the tile mill and continued working at the mill after his elder brother, O. P. MARTIN, formed a partnership with their father. In 1902 he bought a fourth interest in the mill and in 1906 bought his father's remaining fourth interest, he and his brother thus becoming equal partners in the business, which has since been continued under the firm style of MARTIN Bros., all of which is set out above. In 1907 the operations of MARTIN Bros. were transferred from Greene to Dunkirk, where a modern plant was erected for the manufacture of tile and hollow building block and where Mr. MARTIN and his brother since have made their homes. On November 20, 1903, Frank MARTIN was united in marriage to Blanche STRATTON, who was born on a farm in Jefferson township, this county, daughter of Cyrus M. and Lucetta (NIKON) STRATTON, who were the parents of five children, all of whom are still living, those besides Mrs. MARTIN being John, Montana, Nevada and William. Mr. and Mrs. MARTIN have two sons, Otho and Earl, both of whom are attending high school, the former a member of the class of 1922 and the latter of the class of 1923. Mr. MARTIN is ''independent" in his political allegiance. He is a Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Dunkirk and of the council. Royal and Select Masters, at Muncie, and is also a member of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He likewise is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and of the D. of A. at Dunkirk.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II

WALTER, Floyd E.

Other surnames mentioned: Dennis , Walter , Fellers

Floyd E. WALTER, one of Greene township's well known and progressive farmers and the proprietor of a well kept farm on rural mail route No. 7 out of Portland, where he makes his home, has been a resident of Jay county since the days of his childhood. Mr. WALTER was born on a farm in Hancock county, Ohio, December 18, 1879, and is a son of Noah and Nancy (FELLERS) WALTER, both of whom also were born in Ohio and who are now living in this county, where they have resided for nearly thirty-five years. Noah WALTER was born in Hancock county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood and was married. For ten years he followed farming there and then in 1888 disposed of his interests in that county and with his family moved over into Indiana and settled on a farm of eighty acres which he bought in Greene township, this county, where he since has made his home and where he has a very well established farm plant. Mr. and Mrs. WALTER have four children, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Elma, Eva and Clara. Floyd E. WALTER was nine years of age when he came: with his parents to Jay county in 1888 and he completed his schooling in the schools in the neighborhood of the home farm in Greene township. From the days of his boyhood until his marriage he was an aid to his father in the labors of developing the home and farm and remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty years, after which he became engaged in farming on his own account, renting lands in the neighborhood of his old home. For six years he continued as a renter, generally handling about 100 acres, and then in 1906 bought a tract of forty acres in Greene township, to which he presently added an adjoining tract of twenty-four acres, and since 1907 has been making his home on that place. Since taking possession of this place Mr. WALTER has made numerous improvements of a substantial and modern character and has an excellent farm plant. It was on February 13, 1900, that Floyd E. WALTER's was united in marriage to Anna DENNIS, who also was born in Hancock county, Ohio, daughter of George and Rachel DENNIS, and to this union six children have been born, two of whom Wesley and Opal, are deceased, the others being Arlet, Inez, Emmet and Imo. Mr. and Mrs. WALTER are members of the Center United Brethren church and are Democrats. They have a pleasant home and have ever taken an interest (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

WHITE, Frank

Other surnames mentioned: White , Baker , Creamer , Hawkins , Swayzee , White

Frank WHITE, negotiator of loans, and dealer in real estate and insurance, is a Canadian by birth, moving with his parents to Chicago in 1873, in 1875 to Champaign county. Illinois, in 1879 to Harper, Kan.; 1889 to Trinidad, Col.. and on May 8. 1890, to Portland, Ind., where he has since resided continuously. Mr. WHITE was born at Woodhouse, Ontario, March 4, 1859. and is a son of Dorwin Metna and. Penelope (SWAYZEE) WHITE, both of whom were born in Canada. Dorwin Metna WHITE was raised on a farm and later engaged in the hotel business at Stratford, Ontario, and Harper, Kansas. Frank WHITE was instrumental in organizing the Home Telephone Company of Portland in March. 1902, and has been president and manager continuously since that time. He is a Republican, a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the B. P. O. Elks and Portland Country Club, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. On October 7, 1885, Mr. WHITE was united in marriage to Flora V. BAKER, who was born in Portland, Ind., April 5, 1864, daughter of David V. and Jane (HAWKINS ) BAKER, former well known residents oi Portland. From this union were born two children, Dorwin Baker WHITE, born on July 8, 1886, and Ida Margaret (WHITE) CREAMER, October 18, 1888.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II

DAIL, George

Other surnames mentioned: Dail , Hill , Murphy , Redmond , Ross

George Dail, former trustee of Jefferson township and for years one of the best known citizens of that township, a substantial farmer and landowner and proprietor of a well kept farm on rural mail route No. 4 out of Ridgeville, is a native Hoosier and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Jay county since he was sixteen years of age. Mr. DAIL was born on a farm in Wayne county, this state, October 27, 1858, and is a son of William and Dorothy (HILL) DAIL, who became residents of Jay county nearly fifty years ago. William DAIL was a native of North Carolina, born in Perquimans county, that state, where he grew to manhood and was married. In 1855, not long after his marriage, he came to Indiana and located in Wayne county, where he was engaged in farming until 1874, when he came up into Jay county with his family and bought a tract of forty acres in Jefferson township, where he established his home and where he died about two years later, June 6, 1876. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch now alone survives. As noted above, George H. DAIL was sixteen years of age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1874. He completed his schooling in the schools of this county and was seventeen years of age when his father died. He continued to make his home on the home place in Jefferson township and after his marriage established his home there, presently coming into possession of the farm, which in 1895 he traded in on his present farm of 146 acres in that same township and has since made his home on this latter place, he and his wife being very comfortably situated there. Mr. DAIL is a Democrat and for seven years, 1888-95, served as trustee of Jefferson township. He is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus at Union City and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church at Portland. Mr. DAIL has been twice married. In 1887 he was united in marriage to Mary ROSS. who was born in this county and who died in 1889, leaving one child, a daughter Nina. also now deceased. On April 9, 1893, Mr. DAIL married Ella REDMOND, who also was born in this county, daughter of Patrick and Mary ( MURPHY ) REDMOND. Mr. and Mrs. DAIL have a pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in neighborhood social activities.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II

GARRINGER, George A.

Other surnames mentioned: BECKTEL , BONNELL , FINCH , Garringer , Moneysmith

George A. GARRINGER, one of Jay county's well known and substantial farmers and landowners and proprietor of an excellent farm in Pike township, where he and his family are living, rural mail route No. 2 out of Portland, is a native son of this county and has resided here all his life. Three of his sons served as soldiers in the American army during the World war, two serving overseas, and one, James GARRINGER, did not return, giving his life in France for the cause for which he was fighting. George A. GARRINGER was born on a farm in Pike township, a part of which farm he now owns and is living on, April 29, 1863, and is a son of Alexander and Betsey ( BONNELL ) GARRINGER, who in their generation were among the best known residents of that neighborhood. Alexander GARRINGER was born in Columbus, Ohio [Franklin Co.], and there grew to manhood. He married at about the age of twenty-one and then came over into Indiana and established his home on a tract of forty acres which he had bought in Pike township, this county. He was a good farmer and as his affairs prospered he added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of 300 acres and was regarded as one of the substantial members of that community. He and his wife were the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Hannah, Mary and Ida. Reared on the farm on which he was born, George A. GARRINGER received his schooling in the neighboring schools and from the days of his boyhood his attention has been given to farming. He married at the age of twenty-two and then began to work a part of the home place and there established his home. Upon the death of his father he inherited eighty acres of the home farm and has continued to make his home there, meanwhile having improved the place until now he has a well equipped farm plant. Mr. GARRINGER is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. On June 13, 1885, George A. GARRINGER was united in marriage to Amelia FINCH, who also was born in this county, and to that union eight children were born, James, Betsey, Alexander, Grover, Ruth, Myrtle, Ivy and Pauline, all of whom are living save James, who died while serving the cause of American arms in France during the World war. James GARRINGER enlisted for service in September, 1917, and was sent to Camp Taylor for preliminary training. He was sent thence to Camp Shelby, Miss., and from that camp was sent to France, where he died in service, as is set out in the ''Gold Star" roster of service men from Jay county elsewhere in this work, a member of Company A, 323d Field Artillery Signal Battalion. Alexander GARRINGER, the second son, responded to the call to service on July 24, 1918, and from Camp Taylor was sent to Ft. McClellan, Ala., where he remained until the conclusion of the war, when he was returned to Camp Taylor, where he received his discharge. Grover GARRINGER, the third son, was sent from Camp Taylor to Camp Shelby and thence to France, where he was attached to the military police and where he served for ten months. Of the daughters of this family, Betsey GARRINGER married James MONEYSMITH, of this county, and has two children. Florence and Adrain. Ruth GARRINGER married Toney BECKTEL, of Bearcreek township, this county.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II

GEMMILL, Grier Franklin

Other surnames mentioned: BLAINE , GEMMILL , PYLE , SHOAFF , SMITH , SPAHR

Grier Franklin GEMMILL, a former member of the board of county commissioners of Jay county, former vice president of the Bank of Pennville, an extensive landowner in Penn township and formerly and for years engaged in the mercantile and milling business at Pennville, who died at his home in that place in the spring of 1913, left a good memory at his passing and it is but fitting that in this formal history of the county in which nearly all his long life of usefulness was spent there should be set out some modest tribute to that memory. Mr. GEMMILL was born in York county, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1833, and was not yet ten years of age when his father became a resident of Jay county in the early spring of 1842, so that he grew up here and was a witness to and a participant in the development of this county from the days of the pioneers. He was a son of William and Frances (BLAINE) GEMMILL, the latter of whom was born in 1807, a daughter of John. BLAINE, who had come to this country from Ireland. William GEMMILL was born in York county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1798, and was a son of William GEMMILL, who also was born in Pennsylvania, of Scottish descent. William GEMMILL and Frances BLAINE were married in the spring of 1823 and remained in Pennsylvania until 1835, when they came to Indiana with their family and located in Wayne county, where the wife and mother died in the fall of 1842, shortly after which time William GEMMILL bought a tract of land northwest of Pennville in Jay county and moved up here. He married Elizabeth PYLE, of Wayne county, and established his new home in this county, where he remained until 1863, when he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on September 13, 1867. He was a good manager and left a good piece of farm property at his death. He had eight children, seven of .whom, five sons and two daughters, lived to maturity and as most of these married and had children of their own the GEMMILL connection hereabout in the present generation is a no inconsiderable one. Of these children, Grier Franklin GEMMILL was the fifth in order of birth. As noted above he was about ten years of age when he came up here with his father in 1842 and he grew to manhood here, early becoming a farmer on his own account, his first purchase of land being that of a tract of eighty acres of timber, which he cleared and proceeded to develop, later finding a ready purchaser for the same. After the death of his father he bought from the other heirs ninety-five acres of the home farm and after his marriage established his home there. To this tract he gradually added as his affairs prospered until he became the owner of more than 400 acres and was accounted one of the county's most substantial citizens. In 1876 Mr. GEMMILL, who was one of the leading Democrats of that part of the county, was elected to represent his district on the board of county commissioners and by successive re-elections occupied that position for eight years. For years also he was engaged in association with Samuel A. SHOAFF in the milling business at Pennville and in other ways took an active part in the general affairs of the community, one notable phase of these activities having been his long connection with the Bank of Pennville as vice president of that institution. He was a charter member of the Pennville lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His death occurred on April 27, 1913, he then being in his eightieth year. On September 14, 1876, G. Franklin GEMMILL was united in marriage to Amanda Jane SPAHR, who was born in this county, daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (SMITH) SPAHR pioneers of Jay county, who had come over here from Greene county, Ohio, and to this union were born four children, two of whom are still living, William R. and Elizabeth Leona. The mother of these children died on January 19, 1888. Further reference to the pioneer SPAHR family, of which she was a member, is made elsewhere in this work.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II