VINCENT L. BEEM was born September 14, 1827, in Carr Township, Jackson Co., Ind., about one mile from Medora, where he now lives. He is the sixth of a family of ten children born to Michael and Mary (Lockman) Beem, who were among the early pioneers of Jackson County, having come to Indiana Territory, then a wilderness, in 1811 and 1813, respectively. Michael Beem was one of the leaders of the new settlers in their defense against the depredations of the vicious red man. They fought the Indians, hunted the game and cleared away the dense forest for for present farmers. Vincent L. was born and raised on a farm, and when he began life for himself he adopted farming as his occupation, which he followed until 1875 or 1876, when he moved to Medora. He there engaged in the hardware and hotel business, which he still follows successfully. He has been justice of the peace four years since he lived in Medora, which office he filled with satisfaction. He is owner and proprietor of the "Beem House", the leading house in this place. In 1852 he was married to Tabitha A. Muden [Munden], of Salem, Washington Co., Ind, and is now in his fifty-seventh year. To them have been born six children; Mary F., Surrin D., Maud O., Willard B., Vivian and one dying in infancy. Mr. Beem has always been enterprising and interested in the society in which has lived. He has been a member of the Christian Church sixteen years. He is also a Democrat in politics.

Data Entry Volunteer: Larry Munden "larry@royal.net"
History of Jackson County, Indiana Chicago Brant & Fuller 1886



JAMES McCORY, of Owens Township, is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and was born June 24, 1808, being the third son of Clement and Abigail (Mudge) McCory. The parents were also natives of New York and were of Scotch-Irish and Dutch decent. They came to Clarke County, Ind., in 1818, and remained there the balance of their lives. Mahala Scott, a native of Kentucky , born June 27, 1810 became his wife January 7, 1830. The result of this unison is a family of nine children; only Elizabeth, Isabelle, Abigail and Louisa now living. Mr. McCory has been a citizen of Jackson County about fifty years, and is now one of its oldest and most respected men. He lives on the land he first bought from the Government and which he has cleared. When he first located here the wolves were yet so thick that sheep had to be penned up nights for protection. His early education was limited, but by much reading he has acquired a good general knowledge. He has led a life of temperance, having never been drunk nor used tobacco in any form. He has always been a Democrat and voted for Jackson at his first term, to whom he was formally introduced at the steamer "Triton," en route to New Orleans. Both Mr, and Mrs. McCory are prominent members of the Christian Church and have been such for several years.

Data Entry Volunteer: Larry Munden "larry@royal.net"
"History of Jackson County, Indiana" 1886



Thomson J. Plummer, Sr.

Was born in Jefferson Co., Ky., about 12 miles from Louisville, in 1808. He is the 3rd child of John and Altha (Bandfield) Plummer. His father was of French descent and his mother of English descent. They were both born and raised in the State of Maryland, near Fredericktown, in Frederick County. About 1806 they moved to Jefferson Co., Ky., where Thomson was born. In 1820 he and his father moved to Clark Co., Ind. (his mother having died previously) where he lived until 1837, when he moved to Carr Township, Jackson Co., Ind., where he now lives. He was trustee of his township 9 years, but has, as a rule, kept out of public office from choice as much as anything else. He has always been a leading farmer and has been interested in the fruit growing business, having had a nursery on his farm several years. He now owns 256 acres of land, and has within recent years sold off a good deal. He was married, January 17, 1828, to Mary Martin, of Clarke County, who was born in Jefferson Co., Ky., in 1804. She was a daughter of Alexander and Hester (Ramsey) Martin. To this union there were born 13 children. Mary A., Sarah A., John A., Angeline, Margarett A., William J., Hester A., Susan E., Alexander C., Mordecai C, Martha E., Thomson J., and Walter Scott. The children take pride in saying, "We never saw our father drunk." In August 1852, Mrs. Plummer died and October 25, 1852, Mr. Plummer married Mrs. Susan E. Butler, whose maiden name was Pineston, and was born Sept. 18, 1810, at Nashville, Tenn., and is a grand-niece of Gen. Andrew Jackson. Mr. Plummer is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Republican in politics. He is now at the end of a well-spent life in his 78th year. Submitted by: Shelley Hill
The History of Jackson County, Indiana 1886



George W. Beezley

One of the leading farmers and citizens of Carr Township, was born Mar. 7, 1827, in Lawrence Co., Ind. His parents were Isaiah and Sally (Mullen) Beezley, who came to Ind. From N. Carolina and Kentucky about 1814. George was the eldest of a family of 5, and was raised on a farm, which was congenial to his taste, and he became a farmer accordingly, and now owns 327 acres of land. He is one of the many American Citizens who have succeeded by dint of hard labor and frugality, which is the only sure road for the honest farmer. In 1849 he was married to Mary A. Plummer, daughter of Thomas J. Plummer, she died leaving two children; Silas W. and William N. In 1857 he was again married to Rebecca A. Reed, daughter of John Reed, of Lawrence Co. To this union there were born five children: Susan C., Thomas B., John I, Clarinda Ida and an infant. Losing his 2nd companion, he again married in 1869, a Miss Eliza R. Breckenridge, of Lawrence Co., Ind., who was a native of Kentucky, but together with her parents, came to Ind., in an early day. Mr. Beezley is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Democrat in politics.

Submitted by: Shelley Hill
The History of Jackson County, Indiana 1886



Thomas F. Fitzgibbon

Was born July 22, 1861, at Fort Ritner, Lawrence Co., Ind., is of Irish nationality. His parents, Marshall and Anna (Ryan) Fitzgibbon, were born in Limerick and Tiperary, Ireland, respectively, and came to this country in 1855 and settled on a farm where Thomas F. was born and raised, he being the 3rd in a family of 4. He is one of the young men often met with who believe in special preparation for any profession, and to this end he availed himself of the schools about him, and in 1877 he took a course in the Campbellburg Academy, under Prof. James May in Washington Co., and in 1880 began teaching, but in the meantime he attended 3 terms at Leesville, Lawrence Co., under Prof., D.H. Ellison, and one term at the Central Normal, at Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind. He is also a farmer, which he follows during the spring and summer of each year, and owns 115 acres in Carr Twp. In 1882-83 he completed a course in telegraphy at Mitchell, Ind. In 1884 he was married to Miss Rillah Beezley, daughter of Silas Beezley, of Kansas. To them have been born one child, Mamie. Mr. Fitzgibbon is a member of the Catholic Church, and is a Democrat in politics. He stands high as a teacher, and is respected as an upright citizen, and as a young man has a bright future before him.

Submitted by: Shelley Hill
The History of Jackson County, Indiana 1886



The following record is taken from pp. 571-72 of Biographical Record of Bartholomew and Jackson Counties, published 1904, in Indianapolis, Indiana by B. A. Bowen.

JOEL JACKSON

"One of the honored citizens and native sons of Jackson county, where he has maintained his home for nearly seventy years, is he whose name introduces this brief sketch, and he is a scion of one of the representative pioneer families of this now opulent and attractive section of the state.

"Mr. Jackson was born on the old homestead farm in Salt Creek township on the 30th of April, 1835, and bears the full patronymic of his father, Joel Jackson, Sr., who was a native of North Carolina, where he remained until 1813, when he came to Indiana, making the trip with team and wagon, in company with his parents, having been about twelve years old at the time. The family was numbered among the very first settlers in Jackson county, and the father of the subject did his part in initiating the work of developing the wild land to cultivation and his early experiences in the forest wilds included not only the labors involved in clearing off the timber and underbrush but also the hunting of various wild animals which found habitat here. He was a hard worker, a man of distinctive energy and ambition, and he died in the very prime of life, honored by all who knew him. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Cordill, survived him by a number of years. They became the parents of six children, namely: Elizabeth and Greenwood, both of whom are deceased; Joel, the immediate subject of this review; and Jesse, Margaret J., John and William I. Joel Jackson, Sr. was a Democrat in politics and was a prominent figure in local affairs of a public nature, having been captain of a company of militia for some time having been prospered in a temporal way, reclaiming a good farm in Salt Creek township.

"The subject of this sketch grew up under the influences and conditions of the pioneer epoch and lent his aid in the reclaiming and cultivation of the home farm, while his early educational advantages were such as were afforded in the common schools of the locality, the same being maintained principally upon the subscription plan and being necessarily somewhat primitive in character. He early manifested a marked mechanical ability and as a youth became a skilled wagonmaker, to which trade he has continued to devote more or less attention throughout life, while he has also been constantly identified with the great basic industry of agriculture. Through consecutive application and good management he has attained a position of independence and definite prosperity, while he has so ordered his life in all its relations as to ever command the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. It may be further said that in connection with his mechanical pursuits he, in the early days, manufactured many wagons, doing all the work by hand and securing the necessary timber from the tree, cutting and splitting the lumber and not utilizing sawed lumber of any description in the entire operation. He also enjoyed the sports of the field and forest and has killed many deer in the township where he now maintains his home owning a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Salt Creek township, and having made excellent improvements in the way of buildings, etc. In politics he clings to the faith in which he was reared and is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party, in whose cause he has ever shown a lively interest. He and his wife are consistent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Freetown.

"On the 17th of April, 1856, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jackson to Miss Sarah Reeda, [correct surname for Sarah was Reedy, b. 22 Oct 1836, d. 14 Sep 1904, Freetown, Jackson Co., Indiana], a daughter of William and Elizabeth [Motsinger] Reeda, who came to Jackson County from Pennsylvania in the pioneer days, Mr. Reeda being a farmer and blacksmith by vocation. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have ten children:

        a.Laban [b. ca. 1860]

        b.Greenwood [b. 16 Jan 1861, d. 1 Feb 1880]

        c.Rome [b. ca. 1863, m. Margaret Carmichael, d. 1945]

        d.Charlotte ["Lottie" b. ca. 1865, m. James Henry Strawn]

        e.Jefferson ["Jeff" b. ca. 1865]

        f.Jason [b. ca. 1870, m. Clara ?]

        g.Minnie B. [b. 8 Jun 1872, d. 4 Nov 1880]

        h.Olive [b. 30 Aug 1874, d. 6 Feb 1896]

        i.Gilbert [b. 21 Jul 1877]

        j.Nora [b. 18 Jan 1881, m. John Mortimer Hamilton, 30 Jul 1905, d. 1 Apr 1929]."
[Another son was born to Joel and Elizabeth (Reedy) Jackson, who was not listed in the above sketch, Will Jackson, who was born after Gilbert and before Nora, but his exact date of birth was not provided; it is possible that he died young. Joel Jackson, Jr. died on 14 Aug 1919.]

Submitted by: Bonnie Bunce
See her Homepage for other Jackson bios

Deb Murray