ROWLAND, Joseph Freeman

Other surnames mentioned: Cash , Earhart , Gaunt , Hartman , Lanson , Pelham , Rowland , Scarf

Joseph Freeman ROWLAND, who died at his home in Greene township in the summer of 1921, left a good memory at his passing and it is but fitting that there should be carried in this formal history of the county in which he had spent all his life some modest tribute to that memory. Mr. ROWLAND was born on a farm in Knox township, this county, November 19, 1851, and was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( GAUNT ) ROWLAND, both members of pioneer families in this county and the latter of whom was the daughter of Joseph GAUNT, who was a soldier of the War of 1812. Samuel ROWLAND was born in the state of New York and was a son of Michael ROWLAND, who settled in Jay county in 1838. Samuel ROWLAND, who was a veteran of the Civil war, became a substantial farmer of Jay county and died at his home here in 1885. His wife had preceded him to the grave some four years, her death having occurred in 1881. They were the parents of three children, the subject of this memorial sketch having had a brother, Michael Mellett ROWLAND, and a sister, Mary Emily. Reared in the farm home in which he was born in Knox township, Joseph F. ROWLAND received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained with his father until he attained his majority, after which he began working "on his own." He married at the age of twenty-four and established his home on the place in Greene township on which his widow is now living, renting the place from. the latter's father. Upon the death of Mrs. ROWLAND's father she inherited the farm of 160 acres and it ever since has been the ROWLAND family home. In addition to his general farming Mr. ROWLAND for many years operated a threshing rig during the season and in that connection was widely known hereabout. He also gave considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred live stock and in his operations did well. He was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to civic affairs, but was not a seeker after public office. Mr. ROWLAND died at his home in Greene township on June 3, 1921, he then being in the seventy-first year of his age. It was on August 5, 1876, that Joseph F. ROWLAND was united, in marriage to Sarah D. PELHAM, who was born on the place on which she is now living, daughter and only child of Benjamin F. and Sarah ( SCARF ) PELHAM, the latter of whom died four days after the birth of her babe. Benjamin F. PELHAM was born in Greene county, Ohio, a member of one of the pioneer families of that county, and there grew to manhood and was: married, his wife also having been a member of one of the old families of Greene county. After their marriage he and his wife came over into Indiana and settled on a tract of land he had secured by original entry in Greene township, this county. He cleared and drained that tract and created there an excellent farm, gradually adding to his land holdings until at the time of his death he was the owner of 237 acres of land in this county. His last days were spent here, his death occurring on October 28, 1900. To Joseph F. and Sarah D. ( PELHAM ) ROWLAND were born twelve children, of whom seven are living, namely; Arthur, Calvert, Melvin, Bessie, Russell, Ernest and Doris, the latter of whom married Ira EARHEART and has one child, Demsel. Arthur ROWLAND married Elota HARTMAN and has three children, Myron, John and Mary Catherine. Calvert ROWLAND married Dollie EARHEART. Bessie ROWLAND married Edward LANSON and has two children, Theril and Juanita. Russell ROWLAND is married and has two children, James and Helen Elizabeth, and Ernest ROWLAND married Mary CASH. Since the death of her husband Mrs. ROWLAND has continued to make her home on the old home place where she has always lived and where she is very comfortably situated, the operations of the farm being looked after by her sons. The ROWLAND's have a pleasant home on rural mail route No. I out of Pennville.

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


RUPEL, Jacob

Other surnames mentioned: Rupel , Richelderfer , Elmer , Vernon

JACOB RUPEL, one of the leading agriculturists of Jay County, engaged in farming and stock-raising in Jackson Township, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born October 4, 1850. When he was four years old his father came to Jay County and settled in Jackson Township, and there he was reared amid pioneer scenes. His youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm, and in attending the common schools of his neighborhood, completing his education at Liber College. He was united in marriage February 12, 1878, to Miss Julia Ann Richelderfer, a native of Indiana, born in Adams County, July 21, 1853, a daughter of Charles and Sophia Richelderfer. They are the parents of two sons -Ezra Elmer and Charles Vernon. After his marriage Mr. Rupel settled on a farm on section 33, Hartford Township, Adams County, where he resided seven years. In October, 1885, he brought his family to the farm in Jackson Township, Jay County, where they have since made their home. He is now the owner of 192 acres of choice land in one body, 114 acres in Jackson Township and seventy-eight acres adjoining in Hartford Township. His farm is divided into different fields for the convenience of his stock, his farm being well adapted to stock-raising, to which enterprise he devotes considerable attention. His residence, a two story brick, is one of the finest in Jackson Township, and his large barn erected in 1887, is not surpassed in the county. The latter is a two story building, 40 x 70 feet, and is very conveniently arranged for his stock and grain. In fact all the surroundings of the Rupel farm, shows the owner to be a thorough, practical farmer. In his political views Mr. Rupel affiliates with the Republican party.

Submitted by: Dusti
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 Page 340


SMITH, John

Other surnames mentioned: Coldren , Ensminger , Premer , Schlosser , Smith

John C. SMITH, one of Pike township's well known farmers, was born on the farm on which he is now living, and has resided there all his life, with the exception of a period of two years in the days of his young manhood when he lived in Ohio. Mr. Smith was born on March 13, 1858, and is a son of Daniel and Catherine (SCHLOSSER) SMITH, both natives of Ohio. In 1848, Daniel SMITH came to Indiana and bought a quarter section of uncleared land in Pike township, this county, moving into a log cabin erected by George ENSMINGER at an earlier date, and there established his home. His affairs prospered, and among his pioneer activities he burned a kiln of brick in 1850, probably the first undertaking of the kind in Jay county, and from which he erected for himself in 1851, a brick house, said to be the first of the kind in the county. This house is still standing, one of the pioneer landmarks of this region. Daniel SMITH spent the remainder of his life in this new house, his death occurring there in 1880. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, but four of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Susan and Catherine, and a brother William H. SMITH. Reared on the farm in Pike township, John C. SMITH received his early schooling in the neighborhood schools, and supplemented this by a term in the old Ridgeville College, and one session of the Portland Normal School. He had intended in his youth to prepare himself to teach school, but after attending a term of school at the Portland Normal he was offered a position as salesman in the co-operative store at Boundary, this county, and accepted this place, which he held for several years. On March 3, 1883, John C. SMITH was married to Lucinda SMITH, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, daughter of Benjamin and Abigail SMITH. Mr. SMITH lived in Jay county for nine months following his marriage, when his wife's mother died and at the request of her father they removed to Fairfield county, to take care of him in his declining years. They lived there for two years, when the father-in-law passed away and then they returned to live in Jay county on the farm that he now occupies of one hundred acres, where he and his family are comfortably situated. Mr. and Mrs. John C. SMITH have two daughters, Carrie and Goldie, both of whom are married. Goldie SMITH married Harvey PREMER, of Ohio, and has four children, Daisy, Elizabeth, John and Ralph. Carrie SMITH married Caldwell COLDREN and has seven children, Edith, Beatrice, Lillian, Charles. Mary, Thelma and Caldwell. Mr. and Mrs. SMITH are members of the Reformed church and are Democrats in their political faith. Mr. SMITH is a member of Salamonia Lodge No. 803, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The SMITH home is situated on rural mail route No. 8 out of the city of Portland.

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


SPAHR, J. Finley

Other surnames mentioned: Bergdoll , Mote , Smith , Spahr , Wiget

J. Finley SPAHR, one of the best known and most substantial farmers and landowners of Greene township, now living practically retired from the labors of the farm at his pleasant home in that township. rural mail route No.1 out of Dunkirk, was born in a log cabin on the place; on which he is now living and has resided there all his life. Mr. SPAHR was born on October 27, 1857, and is a son of James Morgan and Elizabeth ( SMITH ) SPAHR, both of whom were born in Greene county, Ohio, and who became pioneers of Jay county. James Morgan SPAHR was a member of the pioneer SPAHR family in Greene county, Ohio, further mention of which is made elsewhere in this volume, and he grew to manhood in that county and was there married. Prior to his marriage he had "prospected" over here in Jay county, along with a considerable number of others from his home county, and had entered a quarter section of land in Greene township, this county. After his marriage he established his home on that place, erected a log cabin on the tract and proceeded to clear and develop the farm. He succeeded in his labors and after a while took on an additional quarter section, thus making him the owner of an excellent farm of 320 acres, and on this place he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Catherine, deceased, Amanda, deceased,, Isabelle, Phoebe, Lavina, Emma and SMITH. Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, J. Finley SPAHR received his schooling in the once locally celebrated old Timberlake school and from the days of his boyhood was helpful in the labors attendant on the cultivation and development of his father's farm. After their father's death he and his brother, Smith SPAHR, took over the management of the farm and Mr. SPAHR has continued to reside there, having made his home on the place after his marriage. He now owns 160 acres of the place, but formerly was the owner of 240 acres, an "eighty" of which he later sold. In addition to his general farming Mr. SPAHR has always given proper attention to the raising of live stock and has done well. In 1917 he practically retired from the active labors of the farm, though he continues to make his home there. He is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal church, of which for twenty years he was class leader. He also was a steward of the church for many years, was a member of the board of trustees when the church was erected and for some years also was superintendent of the Sunday school. In 1885, J. Finley SPAHR was united in marriage to Minerva WINGET, daughter of Caleb and Martha WINGET, of this county, and to this union three children have been born, namely, Oscar, who married Mary MOTE and has one child, a son, Donald; Elsie, who married Lesty BERGDOLL and died leaving one child, a son, Manford; and Gladys, who died at the age of eight years. The SPAHR's have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activities.

Submitted by: Eloine Chesnut


WEAVER, John H.

Other surnames mentioned: Weaver , Coulter , Fout , Frost , Ireland , Stratton

John H. WEAVER, one of Jay county's well known octogenarians, formerly and for years a resident of Greene township, now living with his son, George WEAVER, in Jefferson township, rural mail route No. I out of Portland, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of this county for more than forty years. Mr. WEAVER was born in Greene county, Ohio, May 16, 1838, and is a son of George and Hannah (FOUT) WEAVER, who were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch having been Christian, James, Robert, Mary Alice, and Frank. George WEAVER, the father, was a, Virginian by birth, but was but a lad when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, the family settling in Greene county, where he grew to manhood and where he established his home, becoming the owner of a well kept farm of 100 acres, on which place he spent his last days, one of the substantial members of the community in which he lived. On that farm John H. WEAVER grew to manhood and remained until his marriage in his twenty-second year, after which he began farming for himself. He remained in his home county until he was forty years of age, or until 1877, when he disposed oi his interests in Ohio and moved with his family over into Indiana and settled on a farm of 160 acres which belonged to his wife in Greene township, this county, the township which was so largely made up of Greene county, Ohio, people and which was named in honor of the home county of those early settlers. Mr. WEAVER later bought twenty-five acres in Jefferson township and on that farm made his home for twenty-five years, or until his retirement and removal to the home of his son, George, a substantial farmer of Jefferson township, where he is now living in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Mr. WEAVER is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. It was on May 10, 1860, that John H. WEAVER was united in marriage to Hannah E. IRELAND, who also was born in Ohio. Of the children born to this union four are still living, George S., Jacob, Frank and Mina, the latter of whom married Melvin STRATTON and has five children, Clarence, Nellie, Forest, Mabel and Hazel. George S. WEAVER married Lillie FROST and has two children, John and Ellen. Jacob WEAVER married Eva COLTER and has four children, Clay, Fay, Lila and Maude.

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


WEAVER, John H. Other surnames mentioned: Weaver , Coulter , Fout , Frost , Ireland , Stratton

John H. WEAVER, one of Jay county's well known octogenarians, formerly and for years a resident of Greene township, now living with his son, George WEAVER, in Jefferson township, rural mail route No. I out of Portland, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of this county for more than forty years. Mr. WEAVER was born in Greene county, Ohio, May 16, 1838, and is a son of George and Hannah (FOUT) WEAVER, who were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch having been Christian, James, Robert, Mary Alice, and Frank. George WEAVER, the father, was a, Virginian by birth, but was but a lad when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, the family settling in Greene county, where he grew to manhood and where he established his home, becoming the owner of a well kept farm of 100 acres, on which place he spent his last days, one of the substantial members of the community in which he lived. On that farm John H. WEAVER grew to manhood and remained until his marriage in his twenty-second year, after which he began farming for himself. He remained in his home county until he was forty years of age, or until 1877, when he disposed oi his interests in Ohio and moved with his family over into Indiana and settled on a farm of 160 acres which belonged to his wife in Greene township, this county, the township which was so largely made up of Greene county, Ohio, people and which was named in honor of the home county of those early settlers. Mr. WEAVER later bought twenty-five acres in Jefferson township and on that farm made his home for twenty-five years, or until his retirement and removal to the home of his son, George, a substantial farmer of Jefferson township, where he is now living in the eighty-fourth year of his age. Mr. WEAVER is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. It was on May 10, 1860, that John H. WEAVER was united in marriage to Hannah E. IRELAND, who also was born in Ohio. Of the children born to this union four are still living, George S., Jacob, Frank and Mina, the latter of whom married Melvin STRATTON and has five children, Clarence, Nellie, Forest, Mabel and Hazel. George S. WEAVER married Lillie FROST and has two children, John and Ellen. Jacob WEAVER married Eva COLTER and has four children, Clay, Fay, Lila and Maude.

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


WOODS, James F.

Other surnames mentioned: Woods , Oliver , Bailey , Porter , Shofer , Barr

JAMES F. WOODS, of Portland, one of the early settlers of Knox Township, Jay County, was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being November 7, 1823, a son of Hezekiah and Mary (Oliver)Woods. The father was a native of the State of New Jersey, and in his youth removed with his father, Levi Woods to Pennsylvania, where he was married, and in 1833 removed with his family to Darke County, Ohio. Traveling in those days was slow and tedious, they making the journey from Pennsylvania down the Ohio River in a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and then with teams to Darke County. Hezekiah Oliver and wife lived in Darke County until their death. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. Four of the sons and two daughters grew to maturity, but one daughter has since died, leaving four sons and one daughter the surviving members of the family. Levi Woods , the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Oliver, was one of the well known pioneers of Pike Township, Jay county, Indiana. He was a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he grew to manhood. Soon after his marriage he immigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, later removed to Darke County, Ohio, and from there he came to Jay County, settling in Pike Township. He lived in Jay County many years, and late in life returned to Darke County, where he and his wife lived until their death. He was a manufacturer of shingles, which he made his principal occupation. He was the father of a large family, thirteen children living at one time. James F. Woods, whose name heads this sketch, was ten years old when his parents settled in Darke County, and there he was reared to maturity, and in his youth he often visited the home of his grandfather in Pike Township, Jay County. He was married in Darke County, to Miss Susanna Bailey, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Porter) Bailey, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. To this union three children have been born -Melissa, wife of Henry Shofer; Susie, wife of David Barr, and John B. By a former marriage Mr. Woods has two children, named Martha and James C. Peter Bailey, the father of Mrs. Woods, was twice married, Mrs. Woods being a child of the second marriage. Some years after his marriage Mr. Bailey settled with his family in Perry County, Ohio, and in 1849 removed to Darke County. The father died in Darke County, and the mother of Mrs. Woods died near Briant, Jay County, Indiana, at the home of one of her daughters, in her eighty-fourth year. In 1856 Mr. Woods came to Jay County, and settled in Knox Township, where he and his wife lived for eight years. They then removed to Pike Township, where they resided a number of years, and in September, 1883, came to the city of Portland, where they have a pleasant home. In politics Mr. Woods affiliates with the Republican party.

Submitted by: Peggy Karol
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 - Page 683-684


CRAIG, L.J.

Other surnames mentioned: Craig , Elberson

L.J. CRAIG, county commissioner of Jay County,one of the leading business men of Bryant, is a native of Ohio, born in Mercer County, October 1, 1852, a son of H.J. and Alpha (Baker) Craig, natives of Darke County, Ohio, the father of Scotch and Welsh ancestry. The Craig family came to Ohio in 1839 and were among the early settlers of Mercer County. L.J. Craig was reared to manhood in Mercer County, and received his education in the schools of that county. At the age of seventeen years he commenced to work for the Royer Wheel Company, where he was employed for four years. When twenty-one years old he entered the employ of the firm of S.H. Adams & Company, as a common laborer, but by strict attention to his business, and always having the interests of the company at heart, he was rapidly promoted until he held a responsible position, which he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the company. After being in their employ but a short time he located at Bryant, to take charge of their extensive business at that point. He is now extensively engaged in dealing in hardwood lumber and ties, and is also contractor for gas and oil wells. He is still making his home in Bryant, where he has a good house and valuable farm property. Mr. Craig was married July 4, 1878, to Miss L.J. Elberson, who was born and reared in Hancock County, Ohio, a daughter of S.C. Elberson. Four children have been born to this union -Frank, Ada, Grover C. and an infant son. In politics Mr. Craig casts his suffrage with the Democratic ticket to the same office, for a term of three years, and is serving to the best interests of the county. He has taken an active part in the improvement of the county, and has been instrumental in having built some of the best pikes in Jay County, to be found in the State of Indiana. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, belonging to Lodge No. 88, of Portland.

Submitted by: Dusti
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 Page 532


HORN, Lester

Other surnames mentioned: Horn , Wright , Davis

Lester HORN, one of Jackson township's well known and progressive young farmers, is a native son of Jay county, a member of one of the old families here, and has lived in this county all his life. Mr. HORN was born on a farm in Penn township on August 20, 1888, and is a son of Ira M. and Mary ( DAVIS ) HORN, who are still living in that township. Ira M. HORN was born in Penn township and is a son of William and Emaline HORN, who were pioneers of that township, William HORN, having settled there when he came to this county from Ohio in pioneer days, establishing his home on a farm in that township and spending the remainder of his life there. In the schools of that township Ira M. HORN received his schooling and after his marriage began farming for himself on a rented farm in Penn township, later buying 124 acres in that same township, on which he made his home until he some years ago bought a "forty" in Penn township, in the neighborhood of his old home, and has since resided there. To him and his wife have been born four children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Meru, Russell and Forest HORN. Reared on a farm in Penn township, Lester HORN received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-five, after which he rented the farm of eighty acres on which he is now making his home in Jackson township and has since resided there. Mr. HORN is carrying on his farming operations in accordance with modern methods and is doing well. It was in February, 1913, that Lester HORN was united in marriage to Ruby WRIGHT, who also was born in this county, daughter of John C. and Hester WRIGHT, and to this union two children have been born, a son and a daughter, Harold and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. HORN have a pleasant home and take a proper interest in the community's general social activities. In their political views they are Republicans.

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


JONES, MARK

Other surnames mentioned: Jones , Conklin , Davis , Hinshaw , Jones , Mullen , Rose , Smith , Wagner

Mark W. JONES, a former member of the board of commissioners for Jay county and for many years one of the best known and most substantial farmers and landowners of Penn township, where he had resided since 1887, and where he died in January, 1922, was a native Hoosier and had lived in this state all his life. Mr. JONES was born on a farm in Rush county, Indiana, August 30, 1859, and was a son of Ithamar and Elizabeth ( WAGNER ) JONES, the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania, Ithamar JONES was born in Wayne county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood as a farmer and was married. After his marriage he moved over into Rush county and resided there until in the early '60s, when he moved to the adjoining county of Hancock, where he was engaged in farming for awhile, afterward moving up into Henry county, where he lived until about 1873, when he moved to Randolph county and established a home on a rented farm there. In this latter county he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this memorial sketch; Mary, who died at the age of thirteen years, and Elizabeth. The late Mark W. JONES was reared on the farm. He completed his schooling in Randolph county, having been about fourteen years of age when his parents moved to that county, and he was engaged in farming operations with his father until after his marriage in 1886. A year after his marriage he came up into Jay county and bought a tract of seventy-seven acres in Penn township, a part of the farm of which he died possessed, and there spent the remainder of his life. Mr. JONES cleared and ditched that tract and as his affairs prospered he added to his holdings until at the time of his death he was the owner of a well improved farm of 293 acres, 160 acres of which he cleared himself, and on which he erected a well equipped farm plant, including two sets of buildings on the place. There also are four producing oil wells on the place. In addition to his general farming Mr. JONES gave considerable attention to the raising of pure bred Shorthorn cattle and did well. He died at his home on that place, on rural mail route No. I out of Pennville, January 23, 1922, and his widow is still making her home there, where she is very comfortably situated. Mr. JONES was a Democrat and for the term beginning in 1908 served his district as a member of the board of county commissioners. He was past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Pennville and also was a member of the local grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. It was while living in Randolph county that the late Mark W. JONES was united in marriage to Nettie Mae HINSHAW, a daughter of Silas and Sophronia (MULLEN) HINSHAW, and to this union were born nine children, Lulu, Bertha, Oscar, Daisy, Flossie, Arnold, Florence, Clyde and Minnie, the two latter of whom, as well as Bertha and Arnold, are unmarried. Lulu JONES married Charles ABBOTT and has twelve children, Ralph, Opal, Lennie, Daisy, Dorothy, Martha, Mary, Russell, Margaret, Verne, Charles Edward and Rebe Daleine. Oscar JONES married Pearl ROSE and has one child, a daughter, Irene. Daisy JONES married Theodore DAVIS and has one child, William Ellis. Flossie JONES married Fred CONKLIN and has one child, a son, Fred, Jr., and Florence JONES married George SMITH and has one child, a daughter, Virginia. During the time of America's participation in the World war Oscar JONES served as a soldier, attached to the 23d Engineers Corps, and was eighteen months overseas.

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


Deb Murray