From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

JOHN O. FISHER was born in Franklin County Virginia, November 27, 1841. His parents, John B. and Alie A. (Teel) Fisher, were also both natives of Franklin County, Virginia. He came to Miami County, Indiana, in the fall of 1849, and in 1850 begun the carpenter trade, which he completed and has engaged in the same more or less since. He was married in Miami County, Indiana, July 3, 1871, to Sarah A., daughter of Benjamin and Hannah Graft. She was born in Miami County, Indiana, May 12, 1843. Soon after Mr. Fisher's marriage he settled at Canton, Ohio, where he resided until the spring of 1872, at which time he moved to Miami County, Indiana, and purchased and tied on a small farm in section 31, Jefferson Township, where he resided only about one year, when he purchased and settled on a farm in section 1, Jefferson Township, and in 1876 he moved to Wabash County, Indiana, where he resided until the spring of 1886, at which time he removed to Miami County, Indiana, and purchased and settled on the farm on which he now resides, in section 6, Jefferson Township. He owns at present 120 acres of fine and well-improved land. He has had born to him six children, viz.: Linnie B., Harvey A., Myrtie B., Ethel M., Charles (deceased) and Frederick.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

LEVI FISHER is the son of George and Barbara (Moss) Fisher, natives of Virginia and Indiana, respectively, and born as follows: The former in Franklin County, Virginia, July 23, 1820, and the latter in Union County, Indiana, August 19, 1822. They were married in Jefferson Township, this county, November 11, 1841, and afterward settled on his father's farm in Jefferson Township; where he resided about one year; then settled upon land in Section 30, Jefferson Township, where he resided until August, 1883, when he settled upon the farm on which he now resides, in Section 31 in Jefferson Township. He has had born to him nine children, viz.: William, born September 9, 1842; Henry, born May 11, 1845; Levi, born December 14, 1847; Sarah J., born November 13, 1850; Elizabeth, born May 30, 1853, died September 21, 1862; Minerva, born February 23, 1856, and died March 4, 1858; Peter M., born July 15, 1859; Alston W., born August 4, 1863, and died February 2, 1884; Christena, born July 10, 1868, and died April 15, 1871. Levi, our subject, was married in Cass County, Indiana, January 2, 1873, to Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Graft) Dillrnan. She was born in Cass County, Indiana, February 14, 1854. After our subject's marriage he settled upon a farm in Jefferson Township, where he engaged in farming, and where he resided until the fall of 1875, at which time he moved to Mexico, Indiana, and engaged in butchering in partnership with J. W. Turnipseed, for some time. He afterwards engaged in buying and shipping stock, and in the spring of 1877, removed to Cass County, Indiana, and engaged in farming and stockdealing until 1881, when he removed to Mexico, and again engaged in stock dealing. In the winter of 1886, he purchased the agency of this county for the Flint and Walling Manufacturing Company, and has since engaged in putting down the tubular wells and windmills. He owns 90 acres of land in Section 25, Jefferson Township. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He assessed Jefferson Township in 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1885.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

ISAAC FOUTS is a native of Preble County Ohio, and is one of ten children born to Michael and Sarah (Brower) Fouts, natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. They were born as follows: The father in North Carolina September 1, 1797 and the mother in Virginia, June 6, 1801. They were married in Preble County, Ohio, August 24, 1820, and from thence in the fall of 1838, moved to Miami County, Indiana, and settled upon land in Jefferson Township, Section 28, where they afterward resided until death, which occurred as follows: The father died January 10, 1857, and the mother September 27, 1871. They were the parents of ten children, viz.: Jacob, born June 8, 1821; Elizabeth, born February11, 1822; Anna, born October 28, 1824; Sarah, born October 6, 1826; Rosanna, born February 18, 1829; David, born April 22, 1831: Isaac, born January 13, 1834; Andrew, born May 2, 1836; Sophia, born January 23, 1840, and Mary, born January 3, 1845. Isaac, our subject, came with his parents to this country in 1838, where he has resided since. He was married in Wabash County, Indiana, January 7, 1858, to Diannah, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Harter) Hoff. She was born in Carroll County, Indiana, July 22, 1837. After his marriage he settled upon the same farm on which he now resides, in Jefferson Township, Section 34. He owns at present 222 acres of fine and well improved land. He has had born to him four children, viz.: William H., born January 31, 1859; John H., born August 28, 1861; Jacob M., born July 21, 1864, and Alice M., born March 14, 1869. Mr. Fouts and wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

ANDREW FOUTS, son of Michael and Sarah (Brower) Fouts, was born in Preble County, Ohio, May 2, 1836. He came with his parents to this county in 1838, and has resided here since. He was married in Jefferson Township, this county, Aug. 8, 1858 to Mary Roller and afterward settled upon the farm on which he now resides, his father's old homestead. He lost his wife by death Oct. 3, 1868, having born to him by her three children, viz.: Lavina, born Feb. 7, 1861; Albert, born April 25, 1863, and Nathan, born Oct. 17, 1866. Mr. Fouts was again married Feb.10, 1870, to Polly Hoff, by whom he has had three children, viz.: Cora D., born Sept. 4, 1872; Clarence M., born June 14, 1875, and Irene E., born Sept. 11, 1876. Mr. Fouts owns 220 acres of fine land in this county, and 80 acres in Wabash County, Indiana.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

ABRAHAM GRAFT, son of David and Anna (Grove) Graft, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, November 24, 1813. He came with his parents to Preble County, Ohio, where he was married March 3, 1839, to Anna, daughter George and Elizabeth (Swisher) Morningstar. She was born Preble County, Ohio, May 15, 1818. Her father was born Virginia, October 23, 1779, and her mother in Maryland in August, 1782. They were married in Maryland, April 16, 1805, and shortly afterward moved to Preble County, Ohio, where they afterward resided until death, which occurred as follows: The mother, October 16, 1851, and the father, May 16, 1861. They were the parents of nine children, viz: Elizabeth, Mary, Susanna, Catherine, Solomon, Jones, Anna, Julia A. and Lydia. In 1841 Mr. Graft, our subject, moved to Randolph County, Indiana, where he purchased land and. resided until the spring of 1850, at which time he moved to Preble County, Ohio, and in the following fall he moved to Miami County, Indiana, where he has since resided. In May, 1882, he settled on the farm on which he now resides, in Jefferson Township. He has had born to him seven children, viz: George, born November 24, 1839, and died October 13, 1882; David, born April 7, 1841, John, born May 14, 1843; Elizabeth, born February 5, 1848, Lydia, born November 22, 1852; Mary C., born October 20, 1856, and one son who died in infancy not named.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

BENJAMIN GRAFT (retired farmer and grain merchant, and one of the old and highly esteemed pioneers of Miami County, Indiana), is a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, born, August 3, 1815. His parents, David and Anna (Grove) Graft, were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. They were married in Augusta County, Virginia, and from thence, subsequently, moved to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, after which they removed to Augusta County, Virginia, and from there to Preble County, Ohio, where the mother died November 5th, 1851, at fifty-seven years of age. The father afterward retired and made his home with his children until death, which occurred in this county, July 29, 1854. He was the father of twelve children, viz.: Abraham, Benjamin, David, Eliza, Nancy, John, Samuel, Daniel, Margaret, Henry, and two which died in infancy not named. Benjamin, our subject, was married in Preble County, Ohio, April 14, 1839, to Hannah, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Dillman) Brower. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 22, 1818. In 1841, Mr. Graft, our subject, moved to Miami County, Indiana, landing here in September of that year. He purchased and settled upon land in Jefferson Township, Section 19, where he resided until the spring of 1864, at which time he settled upon a farm in Section 6, Jefferson Township, which he had purchased previously. Here he resided until the spring of 1880, at which time he moved to Mexico, Indiana, where he now resides. He has had born to him eleven children, viz.: Isaac H., born February 29, 1840; Nancy, born May 31, 1841, died April 23, 1868, Sarah A ,born May 12, 1843; John, born November 2,1844; Harriet, born August 14, 1846; David, born March 2, 1848; Isabelle, born January 24, 185O, died August 10, 1870; Margaret, born November 9, 1851; Catharine, born April 22, 1853, and died September 1, 1854; Mariah E., born May 25, 1855; Alonzo D., born June 27, 1859. Mr. Graft is an enterprising and highly esteemed citizen. He was one of the three early Trustees of Jefferson Township, and in 1870, was elected to the office of County Commissioner, and re-elected in 1873.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

ALONZO D. GRAFT son of Benjamin and Hannah (Brower) Graft, was born in Jefferson Township, this county, June 27, 1859. he was married in Berrien County, Michigan, December 13, 1877, to Martha A., daughter of Allen and Rebecca (Jenkins) McGuire. She was born in Jefferson Township, this county, March 7, 1860. After marriage, Mr. Graft first settled upon his father’s farm, in Jefferson Township, where he resided until the spring of 1886, when he moved Mexico, Indiana, where he now resided. He owns 160 acres of fine land in Fulton County, Indiana, which he purchased in April 1886. He has had born to him one child - Freddie E., born December 4, 1878. Mr. Graft is an enterprising and intelligent young man and has a prospering future.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

HARRISON GRIMES, one of Miami County's pioneers and one among the early settlers of Union Township, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, February 14, 1823. He was the oldest child born to Jeremiah and Barbara (Hashbarger) Grimes, natives of Maryland and Virginia respectively, the former of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. Harrison left home at the early age of ten years and went to Preble County, Ohio, where he worked upon a farm for his board and clothes until he reached the age of sixteen, when he was given his choice of keeping his place or learning the blacksmith's trade. After due consideration he chose the latter but owing to an inaccurate understanding with the man who was to give him the instruction he abandoned the notion of learning the trade and concluded to remain upon the farm, which he did until he was twenty-one of age. He had been bound to his employer, who, when Harrison became of age, was to give him one hundred and fifty dollars. He took a horse worth fifty dollars and one hundred dollars in money which represented his entire capital at that time. Upon leaving the farm he came on foot, with a thirty-seven and one-half pound budget upon his back, to this county. This was in March, 1844. Here he worked upon a farm until the following June when he walked the entire distance back to Preble County, Ohio, but in the following August he again came to this county - this time on horseback. During the first year of his residence here he worked by the month and job at any and all kinds of work which he could find to do. In 1846 he purchased a farm of ninety-three acres in Section 16, Union Township. There he located, and immediately set about clearing up a farm. To do this without any assistance necessarily devolved upon him a great deal of hard work. He chopped, grubbed, burned brush, rolled logs, plowed and in fact did all kinds of hard work which the development of a new country necessitates. Since then he has purchased other lands, until at one time he owned about 1,000 acres. His attention during his entire life has been given to agricultural pursuits, though he has in more recent years given some attention to the grain business, the buying and selling of hogs, and to the raising of fine stock. He was married on the 4th of May, 1845, to Elizabeth Brower, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born of Dutch descent, February 8, 1826. She was the daughter of George and Sarah (Swihart) Brower, both natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have had nine children, Their names are: Josiah, born July 31, 1846; Hiram, born January 5, 1848, died September 12, 1880; John H, born March 1, 1849, died February 11, 1853; Sarah D, born August 22, 1851; George T., born October 24, 1854; Albert, born September 5, 1856; Martha J., born December 24, 1857, William, born June 29, 1859, and Charles, born October 13, 1868. Politically, Mr. Grimes is a Republican. He has held the office of Assessor in Union Township two terms. He has, where he resides, a fine farm of 187 acres, nearly all of which is in a high state of cultivation. His farm is fitted up with good buildings and fences, and is one of the most desirable locations in the county. Mr. Grimes is an honest, upright, square-dealing man, a pushing and enterprising farmer, and a good citizen. He began life without a dollar, but through industry, perseverance and economy, he is now in good circumstances.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

DANIEL GRISWOLD (dealer in grain and seed, and also agent of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific R. R., Mexico, Ind.) was born in Lamoille County, Vermont, August 24, 1830. His parents, John and Mary (Weeks) Griswold, were natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively. The former was a son of Daniel and Sarah Griswold, who were both natives of Vermont, where the mother died, and he subsequently married a Miss Berry and moved to Miami County, Ind., in the year 1845, where he afterward resided until death. He was the father of six children. John Griswold, the father of our subject, was born in Franklin County, Vermont, in the year 1805, and was married to the above Mary Weeks in 1826, who was born in Massachusetts in the year 1801. After their marriage they settled in Lamoille County, Vermont, where they resided some time and from thence moved to Massachusetts, and from there Miami County, Ohio, and subsequently to Darke County, and from thence to Miami County, Ind., in 1844, settling at Mexico, where they afterwards resided until their deaths, which occurred as follows: The mother died in 1873, and the father in 1886. They were the parents of two children, Adelia and Daniel, our subject, the elder member of the family. He came with his parents to this county in 1844, and has resided here principally since. In 1852 he went to California, where he engaged in mining until 1854. Having engaged in the mercantile business at Mexico, Ind., with his father previously, after his return to Mexico, Ind., in 1854, he again engaged in the mercantile trade with his father and was united in marriage at Mexico May 1, 1854, to Louisa, daughter of Henry and Mary (Howard) Bliss. In 1860 he purchased 196 acres of land in Section 7, Jefferson Township. In 1863 he sold his interest in the store. In 1872 he began the grain and seed trade at Mexico, Ind., and has engaged in the same ever since. In 1876 he purchased stock in the Mexico Manufacturing Company, which he still owns. In 1867 he was elected to the office of trustee of Jefferson Township He is a member of the Masonic order. He has had born to him eight children viz.: Alton (deceased), John, Cassius N., George, Edward, Nellie (deceased), Emma and May. Mr. Griswold is an intelligent and enterprising man.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

DANIEL HARTER is a native of Preble County Ohio, and was born March 4, 1834. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Rhoads) Harter were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. They settled in Montgomery County, Ohio, in an early day, and from thence moved to Preble County, Ohio, and from there to Miami County, Indiana, in about the year 1849, and settled upon the same farm upon which our subject now resides, where they afterwards resided until deaths, which occurred as follows: The father died May 30, 1879, at the age of 77 years, 7 months and 18 days and the mother died May 8, 1881, at the age of 77 years and 7 months. They were the parents of eight children viz.: Rebecca, Mary, John, Daniel, George, Catharine, Elizabeth and Nancy. Daniel, our subject, came with his parents to this county in 1849, and has resided here since. He was united in marriage in Jefferson Township, this county, November 21, 1867, to Nancy, daughter of Levi and Ursula Miller. She was born in Miami County, Indiana, July 21, 1844. After Mr. Harter married, he settled upon his present farm, where he has resided since. He lost his wife by death, January 19, 1879, she having borne four children, viz: Dora O., born September 25, 1868; William E., born June 21, 1870; Iva L., born March 11, 1872 (deceased); Delbert D., born July 1, 1875. Mr. Harter is one of the substantial and enterprising men of Miami County. He is a wide-awake citizen and is highly esteemed by all who him.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

MICHAEL HINER, an old and highly esteemed pioneer of Miami County, Indiana, is a native of Highland County, Virginia, and was born July 10, 1819. His parents, John and Rachel (Hoover) Hiner, were also both natives of Highland County, Virginia, an of Scotch-Irish extraction. The former, John Hiner, was a son of John and Margaret (Burner) Hiner, who were married in Highland County, Virginia, where they resided until deaths. They were the parents of eleven children, viz.: Alexander, Joseph, Jacob, Herman, John, Esther, Jemima, Molly, Mary, Jane and Lucinda. John Hiner, the father of our subject, and Rachel Hoover, were united in marriage in Highland County, Ohio, and from thence in 1836, moved to Miami County, Indiana, settling in Peru Township, where they afterward resided until death. They were the parents of nine children, viz.: Margaret, Mariah, Catherine, Herman, Elizabeth, Michael, Eli, John and Joseph. Michael, our subject, came with his parents to this county, in 1836, and has resided here since. He was married in Richland Township, this county, May 1, 1843, to Catherine S., daughter of Samuel D. and Catherine (Deffenbaugh) Rank. She was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1826. In 1862, Mr. Hiner, our subject, settled upon the farm on which he now resides, in Jefferson Township, Section 18, and has since resided. He owns at present, 277 acres of fine and well improved land. He has had born to him eleven children, viz.: Mary, Rachel, Samuel, Mariah, Catherine, Ada, Agnes, Ruth, Jesse, and two which died in infancy and not named.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township

VINCENT C. HOMAN is a native of Preble County, Ohio. His parents, Benjamin and Rachel (Curtis) Homan, were natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. The former, Benjamin Homan, was a son of Eber and Jane (McPurdy) Homan, who were natives of New York and Ireland, and were born as follows: The former at Long Island City, New York, September 7, 1764, the latter in Ireland, May 25, 1775. They were married in Pennsylvania and settled in Fayette County, where the mother died April 14, 1810. He subsequently married again and moved to the State of Ohio, where he died March 25, 1840. They were the parents of seven children, viz.: David, born September 26, 1802; James; born October, 1803; Phebe, born November 7, 1804; Eder, born March 16, 1806; Jane, born June 7, 1807; Keder, born May 29, 1809, and Benjamin, the father of our subject, the eldest member of the family, born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1801. He and Rachel were married in Warren County, Ohio, .March 27, 1823. She was born in New Jersey, July 14, 1802. After Mr. Benjamin and Rachel Homan’s marriage, they first settled in Warren County, Ohio, and subsequently move to Clinton County, Ohio, and from thence to Preble County, Ohio, where he still resides. His wife died July 15, 1844, and he subsequently married Margaret Grissom. He is the father of seven children, viz.: William, born February 13, 1824, and died July 3, 1832; Ezra, born, October 24, 1827; and died July 9, 1832; Sarah J., born October 3, 1832; Vincent C., born October 18, 1837; and Mary E., born May 16, 1841, by the first wife Rachel; and Benjamin F., born September 17, 1847, and Nancy K., born August 5, 1849, by his last wife Margaret. Vincent C, our subject, was educated in Preble County, Ohio, was raised on a farm until his twenty-first year, after which he clerked in a grocery at Eaton, Ohio for a short time and in August, 1859, he, in partnership with his father, purchased a stock of groceries at that place and engaged in business until March, 1865, at which time he sold out and came at Mexico, Indiana, and in April of that year, purchased a half interest in a stock of general merchandise at Mexico, Indiana, with James L. Wilson, with whom he carried on business until September, 1882, at which time they traded their stock of goods for a tract of land in Pulaski County, Indiana, consisting of 662 acres of which Mr. Homan owns a half interest. He also owns 150 acres of fine land in Jefferson Township, Miami County, which he purchased in 1884. He also owns stock in the Mexico Manufacturing Company, and a fine residence in Mexico, where he resides. He was married at Mexico, Indiana, October 27, 1863, to Sarah J., daughter of James and Sarah (Ault) Wilson. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 1, 1840. Mr. Homan is an intelligent and enterprising man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a member of the Masonic order, and he and his wife are members of the M.E. Church.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Jefferson Township