Jay County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XXI 1896
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2007, 1:50 am

Book Title: Reminiscences Of Adams, Jay And Randolph Counties

CHAPTER XXI.

    William G. Sutton was born in Green County, Ohio, on the 12th of April, 1828.

    In the month of September, 1837, his father (Isaiah Sutton) and family
emirated to eastern Indiana, opening a farm on the present site of the beautiful
city of Dunkirk, in Jay County.

    At that time this country was a vast wilderness. His father had to cut a
road three miles or more throuh the timber to reach his land. The nearest
neighbor on the south was three miles; on the east, four miles: on the west,
five miles, and on the north, eight miles.

    The nearest postoffice was at Muncie, eighteen miles distance. The nearest
mills for grinding grain were at Chesterfield, Madison County, and Hagerstown,
Wayne County.

    Newspapers were unknown.

    When they began to build school houses they made them of unhewn logs with
fire places big enough to burn wood four feet long, the back wall and jams made
of mud; as were also the chimnies with sticks and mud. The cracks of the
buildings were daubed with mud, that making the houses comparatively
comfortable. To secure light, sufficient openings were made in the walls, over
which was pasted greased paper instead of glass, thus permitting light - enough
for the pupils to pursue their studies. The seats for the children were made of
long puncheons hewn from a large sappling split, with legs and arranged so the
pupils all faced inward. The teachers were suposed to have some knowledge of
reading, writing and arithemetic.

    Mr. Sutton's younger days were devoted to securing an education in the
common schools of the neighborhood, after which he engaged in farming and
teaching. He began teaching at 20 years of age, devoting thirteen years to the
profession in this immediate vicinity, where he has lived since childhood,
excepting nine years, from 1859 to 1868, he lived in Portland, the county seat.

    In April, 1859, he was nominated for the office of auditor on the Republican
ticket, and in October was elected to said office by a majority of sixty-five
votes over Dr. Manuel Reed, Democrat. At the October election in 1863, he was
re-elected by a majority of eighty over James G. Adair, Democrat, serving in
said office eight years.

    Mr. Sutton has lived in Jay County almost sixty years and has witnessed the
growth and development of his early home with pardonable pride, for to himself
and father, more than any others is due the credit for placing the substantial
foundations upon which the city of Dunkiry is built. He has used every
legitimate means within his power to induce the location of manufacturing
industries that would tend to increase the importance of the town.

    When natural gas was discovered in 1887, he platted three additions to
Dunkirk and placed sixty-five lots on the market at Si00 each, the proceeds,
$6,500, being presented as a bonus to J. T. Wilcox, who established the first
window glass factory in the city. He has been foremost in all enterprises that
had for their object increased municipal importance. Socially he is a genial and
friendly gentleman who stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens, who
are not slow to recognize the true value of such a man in the community. He is a
member of the Congregational church, also a member of the leading local
fraternial organizations, and there, as elsewhere, he stands in the foremost ranks.

    September 5th, 1847, Mr. Sutton was married to Miss Judith Gauntt, of
Randolph County, who died on the 11th day of April, 1893. Their three sons and
one daughter, who are now living, are residents of Dunkirk, and are highly
respected citizens.

    January 4th, 1894, Mr. Sutton was united in marriage to his second wife,
Miss Angie Graham, of Julesburg, Colorado.

    Although practically retired from active business life, Mr. Sutton is still
directly interested in a number of leading enterprises, and his judgment and
advice is eagerly sought by business men of the younger generation.

    For his generosity, benevolence and leniency he is known far and near, and
by his courteous manner and pleasant way has done what few can do—made every
acquaintance a steadfast friend.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Reminiscences of Adams, Jay and Randolph Counties

Compiled by Martha C. M. Lynch

Ft. Wayne, IN: Lipes, Nelson & Singmaster

Circa 1896


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