USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. ********************************************************************** Jay County Bio.4 JAY, Milton T., editor, "1922 History of Jay County, Indiana," Indianapolis, Historical Publishing Company, 1922. Reprinted 1978 by the Bookmark of Knightstown, Indiana, with new all-name index. Originally published as Vol. II of a 2 volume set that included the Montgomery History. P 417: "Daniel V. FLESHER, one of Pike township's well known farmers and landowners and proprietor of an excellent farm on rural mail route No. 12 out of Portland, has been a resident of Jay county all his life. Mr. FLESHER was born on a farm in Jefferson township, this county, August 21, 1861, and is a son of Israel and Angeline (RATHBUN) FLESHER, whose last days were spent at Redkey. Israel FLESHER was born in Virginia and was but six months of age when his father, Joseph FLESHER, came to Indiana with his family and settled on a quarter section of land he had entered from the Government in Jefferson township, this county, becoming one of the substantial pioneers of that part of the county. On that pioneer farm Israel FLESHER grew to manhood, and there started farming on his own account. Three years later he went to Missouri with a view to settling in that state, but within less than a year returned to Jay county and bought a farm of 219 acres in the southeast corner of Greene township, where he established his home and where he remained until his retirement about the year 1898 and removed to Redkey, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on June 8, 1913. He and his wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are living save one, Jasper, the others (besides the subject of this sketch) being Diantha, George and Arzia. Reared on the home farm in Greene township, Daniel V. FLESHER received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained on the home farm until his marriage at the age of twenty-seven, after which for five years he was engaged in farming on his father-in-law's place (the DARBY farm) in Pike township. He then bought a tract of seventy-seven acres in that township and has since been farming the same, meanwhile having increased his holdings until he has a well kept farm [p 418] of 192 acres, a part of which lies over the line in Greene township. Mr. FLESHER is a Democrat. It was on November 25, 1888, that Daniel V. FLESHER was united in marriage to Flora DARBY, of this county, and to this union six children have been born, all of whom are living save one, Merritt, the others being Clynas C., Bessie D., Carl, Kenneth and Keith, the two latter of whom are unmarried. Clynas C. FLESHER married Edith FRANK, of this county, and has two children, Robert and Virginia. Bessie FLESHER married J. O. PIERCE, of Bluff Point, and has two children, Marian and Mary L. Carl FLESHER married Mildred FORD, of Ridgeville, Ind., and has three children, Lowell, Mary and William R. Mrs. Flora FLESHER was born in Pike township, this county, and is a daughter of Silas and Laura L. DARBY, the former of whom was born in Clinton county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, later coming over into Indiana and settling in Jay county, where he bought a considerable tract of land and established his home, here spending the remainder of his life, one of the substantial farmers of Pike township." Jay County Bio.5 "Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. Reprinted by Mayhill Publications of Knightstown, Indiana, 1974. This is the reprinted section out of the original combined 1887 History of Jay and Blackford counties. P 323: "Joseph P. NIXON is one of the leading citizens of Jefferson Township and a representative of one of its pioneer families. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 18, 1833, a son of John and Hannah (PENNOCK) NIXON, natives also of Ohio, his grandfather, William NIXON, being a pioneer of Columbiana County, coming from Londoun County, Virginia. The parents of our subject came to Jay County in 1835, and settled on section 15, Jefferson Township, and commenced to make a home in the dense forest. The father still lives within 200 yards of the spot where his rude cabin was erected. The mother died in 1866, after living to rear her family. They had a family of twelve children -- Joseph P.; Sarah Jane became the wife of T. M. C. LUTES, and died in 1857; Rebecca Ann, deceased, was the wife of L. M. DODDRIDGE; William, of Jefferson Township; Ruth, wife of L. M. DODDRIDGE, of Michigan; Emanuel; Lucette, wife of Cyrus M. STRATTON, and Matilda, wife of B. F. SKYOCK, of Jefferson Township; Eliza, deceased; Charlotte, wife of George TAYLOR, of Michigan; Lucinda, and John, a physician at Farmland, Randolph County. Joseph P. NIXON was in his third year when his parents moved to Jay County, and with the exception of the year 1857, spent in Missouri, has since lived in the county. His education was obtained in the old log school house at Mount Pleasant. He made his home with his father until 1861, working the few years preceding in different neighborhoods at the carpenter's trade. He was married in August 1861, to Emeline HITE, a native of Jefferson Township, where her parents, William and Sarah HITE, settled in the spring of 1835. Mr. and Mrs. NIXON commenced housekeeping on their present homestead, and the fine building improvements have all been erected by him. The homestead contains 280 acres on sections 10, 15 and 16, about 200 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. NIXON have had eight children. Their first-born, Cyrus, died, aged a little more than two years. Those living are -- James G., of Como; Millard, Anna, Walter, Elmer, Jesse and Ida May. In 1874 he was elected Treasurer of Jay County and served two years. He has served twelve years as trustee and one term as assessor of his township." P 342: "Henry S. STRATTON, is one of the oldest settlers of Jay County, having been closely connected with its history nearly fifty years. He was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1809, the sixth of ten children of Timothy and Hester (HORTON) STRATTON, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Delaware. Of this family he and a younger brother, Isaac H., now of Clarke County, Ohio, and a sister, Calista A. BUDD, of Montgomery, Indiana, are the only ones living. In 1814 the parents moved from Pennsylvania to Cincinnati, Ohio, and six years later moved to Clarke County, Ohio, where they built a home and lived the remainder of their lives. His mother died in 1838, his father surviving her nearly twenty years. Henry S. STRATTON remained at home until twenty-two years of age, at that time commencing life for himself. He was married May 8, 1836. to Rebecca HEDRICK, a native of Clarke County, Ohio, born near South Charleston, September 24, 1818. Three years after their marriage they moved to Jay County, reaching the home of Samuel W. SUTTON, October 26. From there to his future home, one and a half miles distant, Mr. STRATTON chopped a road, and hastily built a log cabin. That cabin with its additions made at different times sheltered the family until 1862, when they moved into their present comfortable house, which is but a few rods from the old cabin. The homestead contains 180 acres all fenced and 120 acres being under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. STRATTON are enjoying a good degree of health, and all the comforts that plenty of means can furnish are theirs. Their friends are legion, their long residence in the county giving them a wide acquaintance. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their house in the pioneer days was the home of the itinerant. May 8, 1886, they celebrated their golden wedding, and the day was gladdened by the presence of several of their children and a few intimate friends. Mr. and Mrs. STRATTON have had twelve children -- David H., Timothy L., William H., Euphemia M. (wife of Henry ATKINSON), Solon C., John H., Findlay R., Laura L., (wife of Silas DARBY), Milton L., Rebecca Jane (deceased, wife of James BOYD), Florine L. (died aged six years), and Emma F. (died aged ten months). Five of the sons were in the war of the Rebellion -- Timothy L., William H., Solon C., John H. and Findlay R., and two gave their lives for their country. William H. died at Memphis, March 1st, 1863, and Solon C. died December 2, 1862, at Holly Springs, Mississippi. In early life Mr. STRATTON was a Whig, and naturally when the Republican party was formed transferred his allegiance to its principles and was a strong supporter of LINCOLN's administration, and since the war has been a firm upholder of his party and its representatives." P 611: "Dr. Jacob BOSWORTH, one of the prominent pioneers of Jay County, who is now deceased, was born in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1791, and was of New England ancestry, two brothers of the name BOSWORTH having come from England in the early history of the colonies, from whom all of the name have descended. When a young man Doctor BOSWORTH came West, locating first at Marietta, Ohio, and from [p 612] there went to Gallipolis. He followed teaching both before and after coming West, and for a time was a teacher in Winchester College, Massachusetts. He was married in Gallia County, Ohio, to Miss Nancy WESTLAKE, who was born in Virginia, of English descent. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Four sons and three daughters still survive -- Augustus, residing on land which he entered on section 22, Wayne Township; Dr. Richard, living in Winchester, Randolph County, is a graduate of the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and was surgeon of the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry in the war of the Rebellion; Thomas, a member of the law firm of BOSWORTH, MARKLAND & SNYDER; Jacob, a physician of Camden, Jay County; Elizabeth, wife of Lewis J. BELL, of Pike Township; Ann, wife of John MILLER, living on the old homestead of her father; Mary, wife of George TURNER, of Randolph County. Joseph died in Ohio in early infancy; Leander died in Ohio, aged eleven years. Hannah died aged seven years, in the spring of 1837, her coffin being made from the boards of a box in which the first goods were brought to Portland. Sarah married Joseph C. HAWKINS, and died in Wayne Township, and Nancy B. was the wife of J. W. HEADINGTON, and died in Wayne Township. Doctor BOSWORTH was prominently identified with the early history of Gallia County. He followed the teacher's profession in that county for a considerable time, and during his career as a teacher he devoted his leisure time to the practice of medicine, which he adopted as a profession, and practiced medicine until late in life. He came to Jay County, Indiana, with his family in May, 1836, locating on section 33, Wayne Township, where he had entered land earlier in that year, and in connection with clearing his heavily timbered land he answered to the calls of the suffering, and far and near the name of Doctor BOSWORTH became a household word. He made his home in Wayne Township until his death, which occurred January 8, 1866. He was quiet in his manner and benevolent in his character, and always foremost in any enterprise which had for its object the advancement of his township or county, or public good. He ever maintained an interest in the cause of education, and in 1837, with the assistance of a few of his neighbors, erected a log school-house on his land, and here he and his wife, without compensation, alternately taught the children of the early settlers. This was the first school-house erected until a public school building was erected." P 590: "Thomas BOSWORTH, senior member of the firm of BOSWORTH, MARKLAND & SNYDER, is one of the leading members of the bar in Jay County. He is a representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of Jay County, a son of Dr. Jacob and Nancy (WESTLAKE) BOSWORTH, and is himself a native of the county, born in Wayne Township, July 31, 1836. He was reared on his father's farm, and was educated principally at Liber College, where he pursued a scientific course, and at Farmer's Academy. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion August 7, 1861, and was assigned to Company C, Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry, which afterward became the Eighth Cavalry. He served his country two years, and participated in a number of the most important campaigns and battles of the war. He was at Shiloh under BUELL, and in the Corinth campaign which followed that desperate battle, his regiment being the first to enter that city. In May, 1863, the Thirty-ninth was mounted, and served under General SHERIDAN in the Tullahoma campaign. He also took part in the battle of Chickamauga, and in the Atlanta campaign, continuing with General SHERMAN's army as far as Dalton, Georgia, taking part in the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. He received his discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1864, when he returned to his home. Mr. BOSWORTH was married January 1, 1865, to Miss Theresa R. WEBER, a native of the State of New York, who died June 3, 1881, leaving four sons and one daughter -- Clarence, Richard, James, Herbert and Rocelia. Mr. BOSWORTH was one of the successful teachers of Jay County for many years, and from 1868 until 1871 he was county superintendent of schools. He began reading law in 1871 with Colonel J. W. HEADINGTON, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He was associated in the practice of law with Colonel HEADINGTON for one year, then practiced alone for three years. His next partner was General SHANKS, with whom he was associated for two years, when after an interval of one year he formed a partnership with O. H. ADAIR, which continued until [p 591] December, 1886, when Mr. ADAIR having been elected prosecuting attorney of this district the partnership was dissolved, and the firm of BOSWORTH, MARKLAND & SNYDER was then formed. Mr. BOSWORTH has been identified with the Republican party since attaining his majority. On questions affecting the moral and social interests of the community he takes a decided stand, and on the temperance question especially his views are very pronounced. He is classed among the enterprising and public spirited men of Portland, and is much respected by all who know him." Jay Bio6. "Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. Reprinted by Mayhill Publications of Knightstown, Indiana, 1974. This is the reprinted section out of the original combined 1887 History of Jay and Blackford counties. P 692: "Isaac WHITENACK, one of Jay County's prominent pioneers, is a native of New Jersey, born December 23, 1817, his parents Cornelius and Mary WHITENACK, being natives of the same State. They settled in Warren County, Ohio, in the year 1821, where the father died. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother still survives, and is living with her son-in-law, David HARKER, of Randolph County, Indiana, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Isaac WHITENACK, the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage September 16, 1838 in Warren County, Ohio, to Miss Maria Louisa COLLINS, a native of that county. The following summer they came to Jay County, Indiana, and settled near their present home, on section 29, Pike Township. Winter found them well sheltered in a hewed log house, and in the spring of 1840 they had five acres cleared and ready for planting. By persevering industry and strict economy they have succeeded well in life, and now own a fine farm property of 140 acres in the south part of the same section, their present residence, the land being cleared and very productive. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. WHITENACK -- Joseph, of Pike Township, was a member of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry during the war of the Rebellion; Cornelius, also of Pike Township, served a few months in the same war; Amos was a member of the Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, and was killed in Virginia at the battle of [p 693] the Wilderness; William and Newton reside in Pike Township; Sherman lives at home with his parents; Mrs. Mary C. GARINGER lives in Pike Township; Mrs. Cynthia COLLETT lives in Randolph County; Mrs. Sarah GARINGER resides in Pike Township, and Rachel, deceased. Mr. WHITENACK in one of the public spirited men of Jay county, and has done his share toward building up Pike Township, being among the foremost men in promoting public enterprises. He is especially interested in the building of churches and school houses, and improving the highways. Politically he was in early life a Democrat, with free soil proclivities, and naturally became a Republican, having affiliated with that party since he voted for Abraham LINCOLN in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. WHITENACK are members of the Methodist church, and he has contributed toward the building of the Zoar church, and also to the United Brethren church." Betty Creath rcreath@azstarnet.com