"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 Jay County section out of the original combined 1887 History of Jay and Blackford counties. P. 443: "Edward E. VANCE, residing on section 16, Greene Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Franklin Township, Randolph County, October 10, 1837. His parents, John and Sarah (KOLP) VANCE, were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, and were married in Montgomery County, Ohio. They were among the pioneer settlers of Randolph County, establishing their home there about 1827. In 1848 they removed to Jefferson Township, Jay County, being residents of this county until their death. Of their eight children our subject was the fourth child. He was reared to manhood on the home farm in Jay County, coming to the county with his parents in the year 1848. He was married in Randolph County in 1860 to Miss Isabella MEEK, a daughter of George and Mary MEEK. She died about eighteen months after her marriage, and Mr. VANCE was again married in December, 1862, to Mary Ann MEEK, a sister of his first wife. They have five children living -- George W.; John Sherman, married and living in Greene Township; Orange V., William A., and Della E. living at home. Their fourth child, Mary I., died in her fourth year. Mrs. VANCE's parents immigrated from their home in Coshocton County, Ohio, to Ridgeville, Randolph County, Indiana, among the early pioneers, where her father lived until his death. Her mother is still living. Mr. VANCE has resided on his present farm since [p. 444) his second marriage. His farm has been cleared by himself, and now contains eighty acres of well improved and cultivated land. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Democratic party on national issues, but in local politics he votes independent of party ties. Both Mr. and Mrs. VANCE are members of the Christian church." P. 425: "Joseph B. HAWKINS, a representative of one of the best known families in Jay County, resides on section 34, Wayne Township. He is a native of Jay County, born October 31, 1855, a son of Joseph C. HAWKINS. He was reared and educated in his native county, receiving the advantages of the public schools and Liber College. He has given his attention to agriculture since his youth, and now has a fine farm, well stocked. He married Louisa ERTEL, a native of Jay County, born in Jefferson Township, March 7, 1858, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary ERTEL. Mr. and Mrs. HAWKINS have four children -- Edith G., Sarah E., Benjamin Wade and Mary C." P. 303: "Dr. Augustus RALSTON, of Wabash Township, came to New Corydon, this county, in April, 1880. He was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, September 1, 1845, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age. In 1861, when a mere boy, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-third Ohio Infantry, for three years. After serving two years he was transferred to the marine service, and was on the B. G. ADAMS gunboat that ran up and down the Mississippi River and its tributaries. He was discharged in December, 1864, after having been engaged in twenty-two battles and skirmishes, including the siege of Vicksburg. He then commenced the study of medicine. He graduated at the business college at Delaware, Ohio, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated at the medical college in 1881. Dr. RALSTON was a son of James and Mary Ann (GRUBB) RALSTON, the father a native of Adams County, Ohio, and died in Greenup County, Kentucky, when his son was quite small, leaving six children. The mother was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, and she also died young, leaving four children, the Doctor being the youngest of the family. He was married December 3, 1883, to Rosetta M. ADAMS, who was born in Jay County, March 27, 1860, and has lived in the county ever since. Her parents were David W. and Harriet (JOHNSON) ADAMS, the father born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 28, 1837, and the mother in Montgomery County, same State, April 6, 1844; both are living in Wabash Township on a farm. Doctor and Mrs. RALSTON have two children -- William, born August 1, 1884, and Augustus, born October 19, 1885. Mr. RALSTON's grandfather, Robert RALSTON, was of Scotch-Irish descent; he came to this country and died in Adams County, Ohio, where he probably settled when he first came to America. His grandmother, Isabella RALSTON, also died in Adams County. The Doctor first commenced his practice in Geneva, Adams County, remaining there one year, then removed to this county where he has a large and successful practice." P. 303: "I. G. BARRICK, one of the active and enterprising citizens of Wayne Township, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 20, 1829. His father, Isaac BARRICK, was born in Londoun County, Virginia, and was of German ancestry. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Mary GLASS, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and to them were born twelve children. The mother of our subject is still living in Rice County, Minnesota, aged eighty years. I. G. BARRICK, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the avocation of a farmer, and received his education in the subscription schools of that [p 304] early day. He was united in marriage January 23, 1850, to Miss Sarah RISH, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 7, 1831, a daughter of Simeon and Ann (BADGER) RISH, her father being of German and her mother of Irish ancestry. They were also the parents of twelve children. To Mr. and Mrs. BARRICK have been born six children -- Ann Eliza, William B., John C., Charles R., Martha Jane and George M. Mr. BARRICK remained in his native State until 1858, when he came with his family to Jay County, Indiana, and for a time lived on rented land. He subsequently bought forty acres of heavily timbered land in Wayne Township, which he cleared and improved. In 1878 he settled on his present farm, which had been improved before he located there. In politics Mr. BARRICK is a Democrat. He is a worthy and consistent member of the German Baptist church, in which he has served as minister in the second degree for many years, and has been an active worker in the cause of his Master. He is a man of strict integrity, honorable in all his dealings, and is respected by all who know him." P. 304: "Washington GRIMES, a worthy representative of one of the old pioneer families of Jay County, and an enterprising farmer of Jackson Township, is a native of Frederick County, Maryland, born December 5, 1831, his parents, John and Elizabeth (MILLER) GRIMES, being natives of the same county. They reared a family of four children, named Henrietta, John H., Mary Ann and Washington. In 1837 the parents left their native State with their family and settled in Preble County, Ohio, and in 1843 came to Jay County, Indiana when they located on the farm which is now the home of our subject. The land at the time of the settlement in the township was covered with dense timber, and their first dwelling was a log cabin, 18 X 20 feet, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and stick and mud chimney. Here the father, assisted by his sons, cleared and improved their land until the GRIMES farm was considered one of the best in the neighborhood. Here the father lived until his death which occurred June 9, 1865. Mrs. GRIMES died August 28, 1876. Washington GRIMES grew to manhood in Jay County, being reared amid scenes incident to pioneer life. He began his education in Preble County, Ohio, and after coming to Jay County he attended the schools of his district. He has always followed the avocation of a farmer, and the surroundings of his homestead betoken the care and thrift of the owner. The old log cabin built in 1843 has disappeared, and in its place stands a fine two story residence, built in modern style, and comfortably furnished throughout, and the barn and out buildings are noticeably good. Mr. GRIMES was married September 18, 1855, to Miss Mary Ann PRIEST, and to this union were born seven children of whom only four survive -- James Newton, William H., John F. and George W. Two died in early childhood, and a daughter, Martha A., died January 27, 1885, aged twenty-two years. Mrs. GRIMES died September 10, 1876. Mr. GRIMES was married a second time, in Jay County, Indiana April 18, 1880, to Mrs. Esther Ann (HOUSE) STEPHENSON, who was born May 27, 1843, a daughter of Edmond and Mary (GRAFTON) HOUSE. Mrs. GRIMES was first married in Jackson County, Ohio, to James STEPHENSON, and to them were born three children -- James N., Richard E. and Irena Jane. Mr. STEPHENSON died January 1, 1874. Politically Mr. GRIMES affiliates with the Republican party. He has never sought official [p 305) position, yet at the wishes of his friends, he accepted the nomination for the office of county commissioner, and was elected by a majority of 204 votes which shows his popularity in the county. Financially he is numbered among the leading men of his township, and by his honorable dealings he has secured the confidence and respect of the entire community." P. 305: "Thomas S. BRISCOE was born in Kent County, Maryland, October 10, 1828, his parents being Samuel E. and Margaret Elizabeth (FRISBY) BRISCOE. Both his grandfathers were ministers, his paternal grandfather an Episcopalian, and his mother's father a Methodist. His father was a farmer, and died September 9, 1871, at the age of sixty-three years, at Galena, Kent County, Maryland, and his mother died at Centerville, Queen Anne County, Maryland, in August, 1851, at the age of about forty-five or forty-six years. Mr. BRISCOE was brought up to the hard work of the farm; but in the prime of young manhood he betook himself to the study of law, and was admitted to the bar November 4, 1852, at Centerville, Maryland. The next year he emigrated West, locating in Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa, and practiced law there and at Clinton for ten years; in 1862 was mayor of Clinton. In 1863 he moved with his family to Linneus, Linn County, Missouri, and lived there until August 24, when his wife died. He next returned East, and in 1865-'66 was employed in the claim agency office of the noted S. S. COX. During the latter year he came to Indiana and settled in Fort Wayne, where he practiced law four years. Next, in the employ of J. C. BOWSER, he laid the ties on the railroad from Bluffton to Hartford City, completing the job in September, 1870. Locating in this city, he practiced law until he took editorial charge of the "Telegram" in July, 1886. He was the president of the board of trustees of Hartford City in 1873, and State Senator from 1878 to 1882. Although brought up an Episcopalian, he is not a member of any church. Was made an Odd Fellow in 1854. Mr. BRISCOE was first married April 14, 1854, to Margaret Anna MACLAY, of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth MACLAY. (It is a coincindence worth noticing that both her and her husband's parents were named respectively Samuel and Elizabeth.) Mrs. BRISCOE's grandfather, William MACLAY, was at one time a United States Senator. The children by Mr. BRISCOE's first marriage were -- E. F. J. B., born in 1855, and Fannie Mary, both of whom are teaching school at Wilmington, Delaware; and Samuel MACLAY, at present the publisher of the Hartford City "Telegram." Mrs. BRISCOE died, as already mentioned, and August 24, 1871, Mr. BRISCOE was again married, this time to Miss Rachel A. HENLEY, of this county, and daughter of John M. HENLEY, of Wheeling, Delaware County, Indiana." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Betty Creath