Other surnames mentioned: Jaqua , Avery , Braffet , Cooley , Hawkina , Martin , Spahn
Judson A. JAQUA, cashier of the Citizens Bank of Portland and for many years regarded as one of the leading factors in the commercial life of Jay county, was born in Portland and has been a resident of that city all his life. Mr. JAQUA was born on March 3, 1861, and is a son of James B. and Eliza J. (AVERY) JAQUA, who had located at Portland in 1853 and whose last days were spent there. James B. JAQUA, who for years was one of the leading members of the bar of the Jay Circuit Court, as is set out elsewhere in this work, was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1820, and was a son of Judson and Lucinda (BRAFFET) JAQUA, the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of James BRAFFET, who was a native of Massachusetts, a member of an old colonial family. Judson JAQUA also was a member of a colonial family, his father, Gamaliel JAQUA, a New Yorker, having been a soldier of the Revolution. James B. JAQUA was reared on a farm and his schooling was completed
in the old academy at Centerville, Ind .[Wayne Co.] For four or five years thereafter he taught school, meanwhile pursuing the study of law under careful preceptorship, and in 1852, three or four years after his marriage, was admitted to the bar at Hamilton, [Butler Co.] Ohio. Upon his admission to the bar Mr. JAQUA cast about for a likely place in which to open an office for the practice of his profession and in 1853 located at Portland, where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the leaders of the bar and a helpful influence in all good works, the organizer of the Citizens Bank and in other ways influential in the development of the city's cultural and commercial activities. A few years after coming to Jay county he was appointed school examiner for the county and served in that capacity for several years. When the Civil war came on he was appointed draft commissioner for this county arid rendered impartial service in his administration of that
trying position. Mr. JAQUA not only was a good lawyer but a prudent business man. He acquired large land interests in the county and was one of the most active builders in the county seat town, in addition to his banking interests having interests in a mill) a hotel and several commercial buildings. It was in 1848 that James B. JAQUA was united in marriage to Eliza J. AVERY, who was born in Nashville, [Davidson Co.] Tenn., a daughter of Daniel AVERY, and who died in Portland in 1871. Of the nine children born to that union six lived to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being Alonzo L. JAQUA, of whom further mention is made elsewhere; Genevra I., who married Nathan B. HAWKINS, who was for many years one of the foremost figures in the general commercial life of Portland, and Minnie "L., Carl W. and Frank B. JAQUA. Reared at Portland, Judson A. JAQUA received his schooling in the schools of that city and as a young man for several years
studied law in the office of his father. His inclinations, however, favored commercialism rather than the law and in 1878 he entered the Citizens Bank, which had been organized by his father in 1875, and as a clerk in that institution gave his whole thought to the banking business, in which he ever since has been engaged. In due time Mr. JAQUA was made assistant cashier of the bank and in May, 1908, was elected cashier, the position he since has occupied and during which time the interests of the bank have been largely increased. In his political views Mr. JAQUA is "independent." He is a member of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Portland. In 1884 Judson A. JAQUA was united in marriage to Addie C. COOLEY, daughter of Charles R. and Catherine COOLEY, and to this union two sons have been born, Charles A., now a resident of Indianapolis, [Marion Co.] who married Geneva MARTIN and has two children, Byron and Janet, and Paul C.
JAQUA, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank of Portland, who married Vera M. SPOHN and has two children, John and Catherine.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Kay , Dull , Kendrick , Main , Newton , White
James KAY, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of Greene township, now living retired on his place there, on rural mail route No. 1 out of Pennville, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of Indiana since the days of his young manhood and of Jay county for more than thirty-five years. Mr. KAY was born on a farm in Shelby county, Ohio, September 22, 1856, and is a son of Job and Mary ( KENDICK ) KAY, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Dayton, in Montgomery county, Ohio. Job KAY was a son of James and Rebecca (NEWTON) KAY, who had come to this country from their native England and had settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where James KAY became a well-to-do farmer. Job KAY remained in Montgomery county until shortly after his marriage to Mary KENDICK, when he moved to Shelby county, in that same state, and bought a quarter section of land, on which he established his home, living there until his retirement from the farm
and removal to Newport, Ohio, where he became a merchant and where he died in 1900. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four are living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Jacob and Lot KAY, and a sister, Susan. Reared on the home farm in Shelby county, Ohio, James KAY received his schooling in the schools of that county and remained there until he started out "on his own," coming then over into Indiana and locating in Henry county, where he remained for thirteen years, or until 1886, when he came up into Jay county and bought an "eighty" in Greene township, the place on which he is now- living, and there established his home. When he took that place it was unimproved and he erected the present set of buildings and in other ways brought it to its present state of development, also increasing his holding to 105 acres. In 1915 Mr. KAY retired from the farm and he and his wife moved to Pennville, where his wife died
in 1918. Two years later he returned to the farm, which meanwhile had been operated by his son, and has since been making his home with his daughter and her husband. James KAY married Laura A. MAIN, a daughter of Alexander and Mary MAIN, and to this union four children were born, two of whom are now living, Grace, who married Jay WHITE and is living on the home place, and Warren, who married Ima DULL and has one child, a daughter, Betty Ann. Mr. KAY is a Democrat and takes an interested part in local politics, but has not been a seeker after public office.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Kwis , Juillerat , Linog , Petitory , Walter
John KWIS, a. well known and substantial farmer and landowner of Jay county, now living practically retired from the active labors of the farm at his pleasant farm home in Greene township, rural mail route No.1 out of Portland, has been a resident of this county for the past thirty years or more and has created for himself a well established place in the community in which he lives. Mr. KWIS was born at Findlay, Ohio, February 7, 1865, and is a son of Frank and Sarah (WALTER) KWIS, the latter of whom also was born in Ohio, in the immediate vicinity of Findlay. Frank KWIS was born in Austria and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to America, the family settling in the state of Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood. He then moved to Ohio and became engaged at Findlay in the brewing business, a vocation he followed for the most part the remainder of his life. He married at Findlay and there established his home. He and his wife were the
parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Amanda and Mary. Reared at Findlay, John KWIS received his schooling there and early became engaged in farming and in work in the oil fields, remaining in Ohio until 1891 when he came over into Indiana and bought a tract of sixty acres of farm land in Greene township, this county, the place on which he is now living, and there established his home. Mr. KWIS is a good farmer and it was not long until he found, his affairs prospering and he was able to increase his land holdings until now he is the owner of a fine farm of 272 acres and has an admirable farm plant. In 1917 Mr. KWIS retired from the active labors of the farm and is now content to see the work being carried on by other hands, though he continues to make his home on the place and to keep a supervisory eye on things. He is a Democrat and is a Freemason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of
the encampment of the latter order. John KWIS married Emma JUILLERAT, who also was born in Ohio, and to this union two children were born. Glen, who married Myrtle LINGO and has one child, a daughter, Helen; and Carl, who died on September 16, 1917. Mrs. KWIS was born in Highland county, Ohio, and is a daughter of John and Catherine ( PETITORY ) JUILLERAT, who years ago became residents of Jay county and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. John JUILLERAT was born in Switzerland and came to this country with his parents when seven years of age, the family settling in Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married. In 1884 he came to this county and bought a farm of 120 acres in Greene township, where he established his home, later increasing his holdings to 320 acres. He died on May 1, 1905. He and his wife were the parents of three ch! ildren, Mrs. KWIS having two brothers, Edward and Clarence JUILLERAT.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Baughn , Dull , May , Stuber , Stump
Jacob P. MAY, a well known farmer and landowner of Jefferson township, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Mercer, over in Ohio, but has been a resident of Jay county for many years and thus feels himself perfectly "at home" here. Mr. MAY was born on August 12, 1865, and is a son of Christian and Mary (STUBER) MAY, who later became residents of Indiana, locating in Randolph, county. Christian MAY was an European by birth, a native of the grand duchy of Baden, in Germany, and was twenty-two years of age when he came to America with his father, Kraft MAY, the family proceeding on out into Indiana and settling in Wabash township, this county. Kraft MAY rented a farm here for a while and then moved to Marion, Ohio, where he became engaged working at his trade, that of a cabinet maker, and there spent the remainder of his life. Upon coming to Jay county Christian MAY rented a farm in Wabash township and after his marriage established his
home there. Two years later he moved over the line into Mercer county, Ohio, and there bought an eighty acre farm on which he lived for about thirty years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interests there and came back to Indiana, buying a quarter section of land in Greene township, Randolph county, where he made his home for some years, at the end of which time he retired from the farm and moved to Ridgeville. After the death of his wife there he returned to Jay county and made his home here with his son, George C. MAY. To Christian MAY and wife were born seven children, all of whom are living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Mary and Carrie, and four brothers, George C., John E., Robert and Henry MAY. Jacob P. MAY was fourteen years of age when his parents moved from Mercer county to Randolph county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in the latter county, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood.
He married when twenty-four years of age and then came up into Jay county and rented a farm of eighty acres in. Jefferson township, a part of the farm which he now owns. His affairs prospered and he presently bought the "eighty." In time he bought an adjoining "forty" and now has an excellent farm of 120 acres and a well equipped farm plant. The MAY's have a pleasant home on rural mail route .No. 1 out of Redkey and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activities. They are members of the Christian church at Powers and for years Mr. MAY has been an active promoter of the principles of the Prohibition party. It was on January 28, 1890, that Jacob P. MAY was united in marriage to Elizabeth DULL, who also was born in Ohio, a daughter of Morton and Mahalia DULL, and to this union three children have been born, Virgie, Obed H. and Marietta, the latter of whom is unmarried and at home with her parents. Virgie MAY married
Mark BAUGHN and has two children, Bruce and Elva Alice. Obed H. MAY married Lenora STUMP and has one child, a daughter, Wanda Jean.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Mays , Degler , Ellis , Stewart , Wright
James S. MAYS, one of the well known and substantial farmers and landowners of Pike township and formerly and for years engaged in saw milling in that township, is a native son of Jay county, a member of one of the pioneer families here, and has lived here all his life. Mr. MAYS was born on a farm in Pike township on May 29, 1864, and is a son of George and Charlotte (STEWART) MAYS, the former of whom died while in the service of his country as a soldier of the Union during the time of the Civil war. George MAYS was a Virginian by birth, born in that section of the Old Dominion now comprised in West Virginia, and was but a lad when he came to Jay county with his parents, John MAYS and wife, back in pioneer days, the family settling on a quarter section of land which John MAYS had entered from the Government in Pike township. John. MAYS was a good manager and came to be the owner of right around 500 acres of land in that part of the county, where
he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, useful pioneers of that neighborhood. They were the parents of eight children and the MAYS connection of this line in the present generation is a considerable one. George MAYS grew to manhood on his father's farm in Pike township and after his marriage established his home in that same township and was living there when the Civil war broke out. Despite the considerable family obligations he had assumed meanwhile, he was drafted for service and sent to the front. He never came back, his death occurring in a military hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and his widow was left with four children to look after. Of these children the subject of this sketch now alone survives, the others having been John, Margaret and Sarah Ann. James S. MAYS was but six or seven months of age when his soldier father died and he early began to assume mature responsibilities about the home. He received his schooling in the
Green Hill school in Pike township and was married at the age of twenty-one. He then began farming on his own account on a farm of forty acres which he owned in Pike township, a part of the place on which he is now living, and there established his home. He also presently became engaged in saw milling on that place, that having been in the days when "timber was king" hereabout, and for eighteen years he operated the mill, or until the timber became too scarce to permit further profitable milling in that neighborhood. Mr. MAYS from time to time added to his land holdings, once by the purchase of an adjoining ''eighty," of which he later sold forty acres, and now has a well improved farm of 100 acres, which he continues to operate. He and his wife are members of the Boundary Reformed church and he is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen at Salamonia. James S. MAYS has been twice married. In 1877 he was united in marriage to Fannie WRIGHT,
who also was born in Pike township, and who died leaving one child, a son, Perry, also now deceased. On July 20, 1898, Mr. Hays married Hannah DEGLER, who was born in Pennsylvania, and to this union three children have been born, a son, Basil, and two daughters, Minnie and Leila. Basil MAYS married Perfenia ELLIS and has three children, Velda, Violet and Leon. The MAYS have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 10 out of Portland and take an interested part in the 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: Paxson , Peacock , Swigert
John Riley PAXSON, a well known and substantial farmer and landowner of Penn township, living on rural mail route No. 4 out of Bryant, and who formerly and for many years was widely known hereabout as a stock buyer, is a member of one of the real pioneer families of Jay county, the PAXSON's having been here since 1836, the year in which Jay county was organized. Mr. PAXSON was born on a pioneer farm in Penn township on July 21, 1848, and is a son of Cyrus C. and Axie ( PEACOCK ) PAXSON, the latter of whom was born in Randolph county, this state. Cyrus C. PAXSON was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came here with his parents, Joseph J. and Ann PAXSON, who settled on a tract of land which Joseph J. PAXSON had entered from the Government in Penn township. Joseph J. PAXSON, who was one of the best known pioneers of this county, carried the mail through here from Greenville, Ohio, to Huntingdon, Ind. for eight years and was one of the influential
factors in bringing about proper social and economic conditions here in the formative period of the county's development. Cyrus C. PAXSON, one of the sons of this pioneer, grew to manhood here and after his marriage became engaged in farming. He also took up the buying of live stock and became widely known throughout this region as a stock buyer. He added to his original land holdings until he became the owner of 300 acres of land. In 1885 he disposed of his interests here and moved to Dixon county, Kansas, where he bought a farm of 240 acres and on that place continued his operations until his retirement and removal to a suburb of Topeka, where his last days were spent. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch now alone survives, he having had two sisters, Ruth Anna and Mary Jane, and a brother. Miles M. PAXSON. Reared on the home farm in Penn township, John R. PAXSON received his schooling in the old
PAXSON and Griest school houses. He married when twenty-one years of age and then started farming on his own account, renting land from his father. Not long afterward he bought the original '"eighty" of his grandfather's old homestead place and established his home there. He started operations with one horse, a set of harness, a cow, one sheep and a pig and in addition to the heart-breaking job of finishing the clearing of the place helped to build corduroy roads in the neighborhood and in such other time as he had to spare engaged in teaming between here and Ft. Wayne. Mr. PAXSON vividly recalls the fact that the first money he earned was at a wage of 12 cents a day. As he got his farm under cultivation and his affairs prospered he added to his holdings and now has a well improved place of 121-1/2 acres, on which he is very comfortably situated. For twenty years Mr. PAXSON was engaged in the buying of live stock throughout this region and thus
acquired a wide acquaintance among stockmen. He is a Republican and a birthright member of the Friends Meeting at Pennville. On March 3, 1859, John R. PAXSON was united in marriage to Harriet SWIGERT, daughter of Peter and Rebecca SWIGERT. and to this union were born four children, Walter C., Ernest L., Rosa B. and Elsie L, all now deceased. The mother of these children died on April 19, 1921, and Mr. PAXSON is now alone in so far as immediate kindred are concerned.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Bowersox , Flesher , Harter , Hull , Pierce , Vail , Selby
J. O. PIERCE, one of Pike township's well known and substantial farmers, was born at Ridgeville, in the neighboring county of Randolph. April 6, 1884, and is a son of James O. and Susan ( BOWERSOX ) PIERCE, the latter of whom, born in Darke county, Ohio, a daughter of John H. and Diana ( HARTER ) BOWERSOX, who later became residents of Indiana, is still living, making her home at Portland, where she has resided for the past thirty years and more. The late James O. PIERCE, who died at his home in Portland on December 4 1920, and of whom further and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this work, was born in Ohio, a son of Orange and Caroline ( SELBY ) PIERCE, who later became residents of Jay county. Upon coming to this county Orange PIERCE bought a tract of 120 acres in Pike township and there made his home until his retirement from the farm at the age of sixty years and removal to Ridgeville, where he spent his last days. As is noted elsewhere,
James O. PIERCE completed his schooling in Ridgeville College and then was for eight years engaged as an instructor in that institution. He then was called to accept the position of superintendent of the public schools of Redkey, this county, and was thus engaged for five years, at the end of which time he was made principal of the East ward school at Portland and in 1891 moved to that city. Three years later he was made secretary-treasurer of the Bimel Manufacturing Company at Portland and was thus engaged with that company until his retirement in 1913. He and his wife were the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Mrs. Inez VAIL, of Michigan City, Ind., and Mrs. Mabel HULL, of Oshkosh, Wis., and a brother, Earl PIERCE, who is living with his mother at Portland. J. O. PIERCE was but a babe in arms when his parents moved to Redkey and he was about six years of age when they moved to Portland. He was graduated
from the Portland high school and then entered Purdue University, where for two years he pursued the mechanical engineering course and then for a year thereafter was engaged on a Southern trip in behalf of the Bimel Manufacturing Company. He then went to Los Angeles, Cal., where for six years he was employed in the technical department of the gas company at that place. At the end of this period of employment he returned to Portland and not long afterward took up farming on the tract of eighty acres on which he is now living in the Bluff Point neighborhood and after his marriage established his home there, where he and his family are now very comfortably situated. It was on December 15, 1911, that, J. O. PIERCE was united in marriage to Bessie FLESHER, of this county, daughter of Daniel Vinton and Flora FLESHER and a member of the pioneer FLESHER family which has been represented herd since 1835, and to this union two daughters have been born,
Marian and Mary Louise. The PIERCE'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. Mr. and Mrs. PIERCE are Republicans and are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Portland.
Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut
Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II
Other surnames mentioned: Polley
J.W. POLLEY, who has been a member of the bar of Jay County since October, 1884, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born September 9, 1845. He was reared to the vocation of a farmer in his native county, and received a fair common school education. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching school, but before completing his first term he enlisted, in February, 1864, in Company G, Eightieth Ohio Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, his regiment operating in Virginia the greater part of their term of enlistment. On his return from the army, desiring to fit himself thoroughly for a teacher, he took a course at the Southwestern Normal at Lebanon, and subsequently engaged in teaching school, following his profession successfully until 1883. He became a resident of Jay County, Indiana, in April, 1874, when he purchased a farm on section 16, Wayne Township, which he still owns. The same year, 1874, he engaged to teach a normal institute at
Winchester, and before the close of the session he was appointed principal of the high-school at that place, where he remained three years. He then held the position of superintendent of the city schools at Pendleton, Madison County, for one year, when he came to Portland, and for four years had charge of the high-school of this city, after which he taught in the Camden schools for one year. At present Mr. Polley is principally engaged in loaning money and dealing in real estate. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. Mrs. Polley was formerly Miss Jennie Boyd. She is a native of Darke County, Ohio.
Submitted by: Dusti
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 Page 667