Nowland, John H. B. Sketches of prominent citizens of 1876. Indianapolis:
Tilford & Carlon, printers, 1877, p 422. James W. HUFFER. Mr. Huffer is a
native of the Buckeye State; born on Mad River, Greene County Feb 7, 1826.
When he was one his parents moved to Fountain County, Indiana and he there
lived until 1843 at which time he returned to Ohio and learned the saddle
and harness making business in Dayton. In 1843, he was married to Miss
Caroline M. Landis of the latter place. In 1860 he removed to this city,
where he still resides. Mr. Huffer, in 1865, was a contractor and improved
several streets in the southeast part of the city. He built himself a
handsome residence on Fletcher Avenue where he resides, also several other
buildings in his immediate neighborhood. Like most other persons, he has
had misfortunes and reserves in business but never despaired but was always
ready to "pick his flint and try it again." Mrs. Huffer is an active worker
in the interest of the Ladies' Relief Society and seems to not forget htat
"we have the poor always with us," and is always ready to help them when in
her power, or as occasion requires. She has 5 children - two sons and 3
daughters. One son and one daughter are married. Mr. Huffer is fortunate
in having a wife who, when he is overtaken by the trials and ills of life,
can comfort and cheer him on his way.
===History of Cass County, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913, p 232.
James T. BRYER was born in Fountain County, Indiana, August 4, 1828 came
with his parents, Robert and Dorcas Bryer to Logansport in 1833, and resided
here until his death March 11, 1895. Mr. Bryer was married to Sarah E.
Hensley of Logansport May 15, 1852. To this union were born 7 girls and two
boys. Mr. Bryer was a soldier in the Mexican War, deputy postmaster under
Wm. Wilson during the Civil War, and held various county, state and
government appointive offices. From 1861 until his death he was editor or
contributor to the Logansport Journal and there was no more able writer in
northern Indiana. He was a versatile writer on all subjects of public
interest and contributed to the columns of outside papers and magazines. He
wrote a number of pamphlets on local history. "Fifty Years" with a list of
pioneers of Cass County published b Longwell and Cummings in 1892; History
of Logansport 1889. The first is in the Historical Society collection the
latter may be found in Biddle Miscellany, VOl. 97.
=============
David E. BRYER is the son of Robert H. and Dorcas Miller Bryer. Robert
was born in PA March 3, 1801 married Dorcas Miller in Ohio moved to Fountain
County, Indiana where David E. was born Jan 12, 1831 moved to Logansport in
1833 and followed contracting and bulding. He was an influential member of
the Presbyterian CHurch. He died at his residence, 614 Market Street in
1839 (sic - this is incorrect since son below was born 5 years later - maybe
1889?). His third son, Robert, Jr. was born 1842 enlisted in the 46th
Indiana Regiment and died in the service. David E. came with his parents to
Logansport and resided here until his death June 19, 1904. He was united in
marriage to Susanne Obenshain of Cass County May 16, 1855 and was blessed
with 8 children, 4 of whom with the widow survive. Mr. Bryer was a member
of the city council, 1857-9, internal revenue collector 1876-1884. He
possessed a rare poetical and musical faculty and a large number of
political songs for every campaign from 1856-1896 came from his pen. Many
of these have been published in pamphlet form. He also composed church and
Sunday School hymns and set the same to music. These were never collected
and published, except an occasional one in a Sunday School paper. The
following hymn was composed by Mr. Bryer some years prior to his death and
directed to be sung at his funeral, which was done by the GAR quartette with
whom he had so often sung and when the strains of the music, composed by the
silent sleerp in the casket filled the room in solemn tones, every eye was
dimmed with tears. There were four verses - we reproduce the 1st and last:
Trusting in Thee
Trusting dear Lord in Thee
Trusting in Thee
And in the atonement made
On Calvary
Jesus, with love divine
Fill, fill this heart of mine
Trusting dearl Lord in Thee
Trusting in Thee
Trusting dear Lord in Thee
Savior in Thee
For Thou has paid the price
That ransomed me
let Faith, hope and charity
Fit us to dwell with Thee
Trusting, dear Lord, in Thee,
Father in Thee.
=======
History of Cass County, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913, p 607. Dr.
H. N. PARROTT, born in Fountain County, Indiana in 1867 came to Cass County
in 1897, licensed to practice at Lincoln, where he remained until 1901 and
moved to Burnettsville and later Terre Haute. He married a Miss Myers in
1898 and they had two children when living in Lincoln.
=====
A Standard history of Champaign County, Illinois. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co.,
1918, p 620 -- Joseph KERR. One of the oldest and most honored names in
Champaign County is that of Kerr, and its substantial qualities are
fittingly commemorated by that name being assigned to one of the prosperous
townships. It is in Section 5 of this township that Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kerr
reside and have their fine country home. Mr. Joseph Kerr has for many years
been a hard working and prosperous farmer and has a great deal of real
accomplishments to his credit. He was born in Kerr Twp, a son of Samuel and
Betsy Ann Taylor Kerr. His father was born in OHio and mother in Ky.
Samuel Kerr, who was of Scotch-Irish stock was one of the earliest pioneers
in Champaign County and the first settler in the Sugar Grove community. He
located there when his nearest neighbor was six miles away. The country was
a raw and unbroken prairie. There were no railroads nor towns and the Kerr
home was a nucleus around which other settlers gradually gathered and began
the development of one of the finest sections of the entire county. Samuel
Kerr was not only a hard working pioneer but a man of splendid character and
it was for him the township was named. Mr. Joseph Kerr grew up in this
county attended the schools and started life independently when he married
Emma Bradshaw. Mrs. Joseph Kerr was born in Fountain county, Indiana, a
daughter of Thomas and Nancy Daily Bradshaw. She ws only two when her father
died. Her mother then married again and moved to Champaign County, locating
on the land which now constitutes the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kerr. Mrs. Kerr
was the youngest of 10 children. She secured her education in the Sugar
Grove district school. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kerr started
housekeeping on the place of her stepfather, David Morehouse. Mr. Morehouse
had bought the land, consisting of 80 acres from the Government at $1.50 an
acre. At this time the land could hardly be bought for $175 an acre. Mr.
and Mrs. Kerr had good ideas, sound ambition and industry and these
qualities have taken them far along the road to success. Into their home
came 4 children. One of them died in infancy. The three who grew up are
Nancy Belle, Rosa Lee and Joseph Foster. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr took great pains
to give them the best of advantages both at home and in school. They first
attended Sugar Grove School where Mrs. Kerr was educated and the daughters
also attended school at Rankin and Nancy took further courses in the WIngate
HS in Montgomery COunty, Indiana. She fitted herself for teaching and
followed that vocation for several years at the Strayer Shcool, the Campbell
School and the Trickle Grove School. She is now the wife of MIlton Strayer,
formerly a farmer but now living in Onarga, Illinois. The daughter Rosa Lee
married Thomas McIntosh, a carpenter living at Henning, Illinois. They have
a bright and attractive daughter, Leta Ilene, now 13 and entering upon her
work in 8th grade of the public schools. The son, Joseph F. Kerr is a
successful agriculturist in Eaton County, Michigan. He married Cora
McHaley. Their daughter, Agnes Cleo is 18 but has graduated with honors from
the college at Olivet, Michigan and has done some most creditable work in
school, her record being a matte rof pride to parents and grandparents. Mr.
Joseph Kerr is one of the public spirited citizens of Champaign County. For
six years his neighbors kept him in the office of road commissioner and for
25 years he was a school director. He believes that the best in schools are
none too good for the rural district. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr attend the Methodist
Episcopal Church, Pleasant Grove and are liberal supporters. Politically ,
Mr. Kerr is a stanch Republican and has cast his vote for the principles of
that part since early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have spent their lives in
Champaign County and have made their work and example count for good in the
uplift of the community. Their home is one of generous hospitality and a
distinct influence in the community. They are able to look back upon days
and duties well spent and performed and they may look back without regret
and to the future without fear.
========
Leas, Fay W. Leas genealogy
Waterloo, Ind.?: unknown, 1950, p 81. Norma Gregerson, Los Angeles says her
mother's maiden name was Mary Jane LEAS born in 1829 in Fountain County,
Indiana. Her father was Thomas Leas, who married Jane Walker in 1829. They
moved to Covington, Indiana and then in 1837 moved to Mt. Pleasant, Henry
County, Iowa. Thomas Leas died in 1849 while on his way West and is buried
in Laramie, Wyoming.
=====
Leas, Fay W. Leas genealogy
Waterloo, Ind.?: unknown, 1950, p. 82. Frank N. LEAS, Warsaw, IN furnished
the following information relative to his family. The Leas family of
Champaign, Illinois may be the branch to which he belongs, as Daniel Leas,
his paternal grandfather, lived near Carlisle Cumberland Co PA. He married
a lady by the name of Roberts. After his marriage, Daniel Leas located near
Louisburg, Preble, Co Oh. He says his grandparents never learned to speak
English. Their children were: 1. Robert Roberts Leas, born Oct 29, 1829.
He married Emeline Myers in Dayton, Oh. They lived in Darke County, Ohio.
Their children: Jesse Cordelia (more info on these); Mary Ellen; Frank
Neville. 2. Susanna. 3. George married Lydia Crane and located near Attica,
Fountain County, Indiana. 4. Sarah 5. Rebecca 6. Thompson 7. William
=====
Brenner, Allen Lewis. Brenner-James genealogy. unknown: unknown, 1949, p
106 -- Jacob BRENNER -- Born in Montgomery County, Ohio March 12, 1825 was
the 2nd child of 8 of John and Frances Etnire Brenner, both natives of VA.
Mr. Brenner obtained his education from the common schools of Ohio and
Indiana, having moved here with his parents at the age of 12. They puchased
204 acres in Pike Township. On November 23, 174, he was married to Miss
Suzanne James, a native of Fountain County, Indiana daughter of Samuel and
Syntha James, pioneers of Fountain. In 1850, they moved to Jasper County,
two miles east of Morocco, and purchased 120 acres. It was there that J.
Hugh was born. When he was six months old, the family returned to this
county and purchased a farm on Rock Creek.
===
Early, Samuel Stockwell. A history of the family of Early in America :
being the ancestors and descendants of Jeremiah Early, who came from the
county of Donegal, Ireland, and settled in what is now Madison County,
Virginia, early in the eighteenth century. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell's Sons,
1896, p 35
(Overview of what went before in the book) Joseph EARLY - wife Catherine
died 2-4-1816 married #2 Elizabeth Tully who died childless in 1836. In
1839 sold his property in Mason County (Ky) and went to Terre Haute, indiana
to his son Jacob's where Joseph died 7-2-1842. Issue by 1st wife:
Mary born in Fleming Co KY June 12, 1796 married Willis BELL in July 1811
and died Sept 18, 1846 having had issue:
Kenton Boone born April 3, 1812 married Lucy Ferguson and died without
children.
John Drennan born June 17, 1814 married Anne Reagan had issue : Mary Helen;
Jane; Martha; Charles; James and Catharine
Catharine Drennan born July 23, 1816 married John T. Bateman of Fleming
County, KY and bore one son, John T. Bateman, Jr. married second Dr. Samuel
J. WELDEN of Covington, Indiana and had issue: James Walter and Maraduke
Sarah twin to Catharine married George Rhodes of Shelby County, Illinios
and had issue: Elizabeth; William; Mary; Bruce and Albert.
William Marlyn born NOv 17, 1818 married Elizabeth only daughter of John
Russell a large land owner of Vermillion Co IN and had: Mary and Ruhama.
Married 2nd Caroline Reeves of Terre Haute and had issue: Elizabeth;
Caroline and Wm. Marlyn.
Mary born July 24, 1824 married James W. Stewart of Terre Haute: had:
Helen; Catharine; Matthew and James
Jane born July 11, 1826 married William Kirkpatrick a successful merchant
miller of Perrysville, Indiana and had: Emma; Joseph; Helen; John and ALice;
married 2ndly William Patten (sic) a wealthy farmer of Fountain County,
Indiana.
Helen: born Nov 1, 1828 married Dr. Benjamin H. Boyd of Perrysville and had
Mary and Helen.
===