Fountain County IN Archives Biographies.....Lighty, Conrad 1814 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 12, 2006, 4:30 am

Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Conrad Lighty, farmer and mechanic, Newtown, was born in Montgomery county.
Ohio, December 12, 1814. His father, Jacob, was born in Pennsylvania, and his
mother, Elizabeth (Hewitt), in North Carolina. He was the oldest son of these
parents. In November, 1825, they arrived in Richland township, and opened a farm
one mile south and two miles west of Newtown. Mr. Lighty's father was a cooper
by trade, and he worked at the same business until after he had become of age,
when he engaged in carpentering, threshing, milling, and farming. The mills,
which he ran about eight years after he was married, were situated on the east
fork of Coal creek. He was married July 14, 1836, to Mary Kellogg, who bore him
nine children, of whom we mention the following: Jacob, born October 2, 1837
(dead); John E., October 19, 1839; Elizabeth, September, 1841; Nancy, August,
1844 (died in infancy); Daniel, 1846 (died in infancy). His wife died January
23, 1853. He married again, August 2, 1854, the widow of John Akin, formerly
Mary Ann Stephens. By her he had four children: Addie Jane, born December 28,
1856, wife of Joseph Whole, of Vermilion county, Illinois; James Carroll,
January 19, 1860; Emma Laura, March 13,1S62, and Charles, January 15, 1865,
(died in infancy). His wife died of inflammatory rheumatism August 12, 1876. His
third marriage was with the widow of Columbus Chamberlain, her maiden name being
Mary Jane Marlatt, February 20, 1877. Mr. Lighty has led an active and busy
life. He was one of the first settlers, and being a great observer, and having a
retentive memory, added to a lively relish for reminiscences of the olden time,
makes him one of the most entertaining and enjoyable men that it has been our
fortune to meet. At every old settlers' reunion he may be seen with his little
wheel that once was so common for spinning flax, illustrating to the young
people its novel, amazing, and almost incredible use. In numerous ways besides
does Conrad Lighty refresh the dimming recollections of the past among those of
his own age, and interest and gratify the later generation. For thirty seasons,
beginning with 1850, Mr. Lighty has followed threshing grain, and during the
greater part of the same period has run a corn-sheller. For many years he was in
the business of selling farm implements and machinery, and it was through his
exertions and example that grain-drills were introduced into the community. He
is a member of the United Brethren church, and his wife of the Christian church.
He has been a democrat ever since he was able to lisp the shibboleth of that
party. The office of township trustee was three times conferred upon him. His
father served his country six months in the war of 1812. He was a lieutenant
under Capt. Samuel Brier, and did duty on the frontier at forts Brier, Amanda,
and Greenville, without falling into any actions. He hauled the lumber for the
first buildings that were erected in Attica. He died December 5, 1839, and his
widow drew a pension, and a land-warrant for 160 acres.

Additional Comments:
Richland Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.

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