Category Archives: Jefferson County

John Ayers

John Ayers
birth: 1789 New Jersey Jedediah Ayers – Experience Unknown
death: July 24, 1871, Jefferson County, Indiana
burial: Cave-Dixon Cemetery, Jennings County, Indiana

marriage: August 19, 1813, Hamilton County, Ohio
Sarah Ann Ward
birth: 1797 Virginia
death: February 11, 1878, Paris, Jennings County, Indiana
burial: Cave-Dixon Cemetery, Paris, Jennings County, Indiana

Children of Sarah Ann Ward and John Ayers:

  • Louis Ayers born 1818 Ohio death date and place unknown
  • George W. Ayers born 1820 Ohio death unknown
  • Milton Ayers born June 3, 1821 died 1898 Crawford County, Kansas, spouse Mary Sturgess
  • Benjamin S Ayers born February 16, 1826, Ohio died November 6, 1904, Boone County, Indiana, spouse Frances “Fanny” Unknown
  • Joseph Ayers born December 19, 1828, Hamilton County, Ohio died April 16, 1920 Paris, Jennings County, Indiana spouse Harriet Agnes Zener
  • Isaac Newton Ayers, born May 9, 1831, Hamilton County, Ohio died November 7, 1904, Boone County, Indiana , spouse Rebecca Davis
  • Mary Jane Ayers, March 22, 1837, Ohio died date unknown, Boone County, Indiana

Ancestor here lived in:

Jefferson County, Indiana 1845 – death in 1871

Other Locations where person lived:
New Jersey, New York, Ohio

Additional information about person:
Fought in the War of 1812 as a member of the Ohio Militia

Submitted by:
Sheila Kell
Email: kfurballkell@aol.com

Thomas Gilchrist

Thomas Gilchrist
birth: 14 Apr 1839 – Jefferson County, IN to James Gilchrist & Mary Anderson
death: 26 Apr 1926 in Richland Twp., Fulton County, IN
burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Leiters Ford, Fulton Co., IN

marriage: 11 June 1862 – Fulton County, IN
Phoebe Keely
birth: 04 Nov 1846 – Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN to  James Keely & Mary A. McKee
death: 04 Dec. 1895 – Rochester Twp., Fulton Co., IN
burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Leiters Ford, Fulton Co., IN

Children of Thomas Gilchrist and Phoebe Keely:

  • James K. Gilchrist (10 May 1863 – 29 Feb 1906) m. 03 Jul 1889 in Muskingum Co., OH to Theresa E. Miller Painter
  • William Jefferson Gilchrist (31 Mar 1869 – 20 Dec. 1943) m. 31 Dec. 1898 in Rochester, Fulton Co., IN to Millie Artemicia Mow
  • Mary Anderson Gilchrist (13 Sep 1875 – 05 Jul 1949) m. 26 Feb 1893 in Rochester, Fulton Co., IN to John Ault

The following children are buried with Thomas and Phoebe Gilchrist, but there has been no documentation to prove they are their children; the markers on these graves give only the first name of each child.

  • Sideny (10 Mar 1876 – 28 Oct. 1876)
  • Nellie (17 Mar 1888 – 13 May 1889)
  • Edward L. (11 Jan 1890 – 25 Feb. 1890)

Thomas Gilchrist lived in:

  • 1839- Abt. 1850 Thomas lived in Hanover Twp., Jefferson County, IN
  • 1850 – 1902 Rochester Township, Fulton County, IN
  • 1902 – death in 1926 Richland Township, Fulton County, IN
  • 1846 -1853 Phoebe Keely Gilchrist lived in Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
  • 1853- death in 1895 Fulton County, IN

Other Information:

James Gilchrist, the father of Thomas and James Gilchrist conveyed nearly all of his farmland to his two sons and his daughter, Jennet Campbell in 1860. In 1881, the two brothers divided their 180 acres between them. When Thomas married, he and his wife remained in his parents’ home in Rochester Township. In 1890 James conveyed his share of the property to Thomas and Phoebe “for one dollar plus love and affection,” reserving for himself a life estate on the land that had belonged to him. Thomas sold the farm in 1902, after James’ death in 1897, and purchased 122 acres on the north side of the Tippecanoe River in Richland Township. On this property he built a log home where he remained until his death. In 1898 William Gilchrist, Thomas’ son, brought his bride to live with Thomas and Phoebe. William remained there after Thomas’ and Phoebe’s deaths, and for several years thereafter.

Submitted by: 
E. Ann Grubb
Your Email: eanng1177@gmail.com

James Gilchrist

James Gilchrist
birth: 04 Nov. 1798/99 – Scotland
death: 13 Oct. 1876 – Rochester, Fulton County, IN
burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Leiters Ford, Fulton County, IN

marriage: 13 Aug. 1826 – Jefferson County, IN
Mary Anderson
birth: 08 Sep. 1799 – Johnstone, Dumfries, Scotland to Thomas Anderson & Elizabeth Bridget Beck
death: 01 Jan. 1877 – Rochester, Fulton County, IN
burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Leiters Ford, Fulton County, IN

Children of James Gilchrist and Mary Anderson:

  • Elizabeth Gilchrist (25 Jan 1828 – 17 Jan 1835)
  • James Gilchrist (1832 – 1897)
  • Jennet Gilchrist (16 Jun 1835- 04 Oct 1865) m. 19 Jan 1860 in Rochester, Fulton Co., IN to Christopher Campbell
  • Thomas Gilchrist (14 Apr 1839 – 26 Apr 1926) m. 11 June 1862 in Fulton County, IN to Phoebe Keely

James Gilchrist lived in:

  • Recorded in both his first and second papers for citizenship, James Gilchrist was “a native of Lennockshire, Scotland (assumed Lanarkshire). He arrived at Port of Baltimore in late June 1821.
  • 1826 Jefferson County, IN
  • 1845 Fulton County, IN

Other Information:

James and Mary Gilchrist were members of the Carmel Associate Presbyterian Church in Hanover Township, Jefferson County, IN. Their first child, Elizabeth is buried in the cemetery there in the block of graves of the Thomas Taylor family, neighbors of the Gilchrists and also natives of Scotland.

Apparently James and Mary Gilchrist were well thought of in the Fulton County area where they lived. The obituary for James includes the following tribute:
“…Never was a neighborhood blest with more honest, accommodating
and useful neighbors than were Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist. They died as
they had lived, loved and esteemed by all, and are at peace with God…”

Submitted by: 
E. Ann Grubb
Your Email: eanng1177@gmail.com

Luther Sly

Luther Sly
birth: 2 Dec 1884, Jefferson County, Indiana to Benjamin Martin Sly and Caroline Mehne
death: 12 Aug 1947, Pokagon Township, Cass County, Michigan

married:
Viola Delia Lewis
birth: May 8, 1896  Marcellus, Cass County, Michigan
death: Feb 1953 Niles, Berrien County, Michigan

Children of Luther Sly and Viola Delia Lewis:

  • Luther Armin Sly
  • Evelyn Sly
  • Donna Sly
  • Martin Sly
  • James Sly

Luther lived in Jefferson County, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Panama Canal Zone; San Diego, California; Decatur, Michigan; and Niles, Michigan.

Luther erved in USMC in Panama Canal Zone during construction of canal. He served one tour of duty in US Army and served in USMC during WWI.

Submitted by:
Your Name: James Sly
Your Email: james.sly@opm.gov

Allen Jasper Hart

Allen Jasper Hart
b. 10 January 1882, Salt Creek Township, Decatur County, Indiana, to James L. Marion and Harriett Jane (Shouse) Hart
d. 11 September 1957, Kiowa, Kansas

m. 14 February 1902, New Pennington, Decatur County, Indiana
Lou Ella Davis
b. 1 May 1881, Missouri, to David Arthur Thackrey and Anna Eliza (Hart) Davis
d. 3 August 1963, Jefferson County, Indiana

Allen was a farmer, and it is unknown when he left Indiana. Lou Ella had been committed to the Madison State Hospital on 2 September 1914, but Allen died in Kansas in 1957 before she died in Indiana in 1963.

Submitted by:
Irene Krieger
Batesville IN
E-mail: ihdkrieger@yahoo.com

John McElroy, II

John McElroy, II
b. to Robert and Matilda (Trout) McElroy
d. 6 April 1887, Kankakee County, Illinois

m. 11 February 1840, Jefferson County, Indiana
Margaret Crozier
b. to James and Mary (Woods) Crozier
d. November 1871, Kankakee County, Illinois

Children with Margaret Crozier:
• Sarah (1849-1920) married Ben Roberts
• George McKee (1852-1939) married Lydia Cooper
• Julia E. (b. 1854) married James Smiley
• James (1857-1948) married Melissa Ann Hoyt Cooper
• Mary Frances “Mace” (1858-1939) married John Blackstone Cooper
• John, Jr. (1861-1938) married Cora Jane Cooper
• Edwin McLellan (1864-1938) (twin) married (1) Belle Sullinder, (2) Magda T. Kopstad
• Elvina “Allie” (b. 1864) (twin) married Harry Watkins
• Wilbur (1868-1899) (twin)
• Willis (1868-1929) (twin) married Katie Mann

John came Indiana in 1830 as a boy. He moved to LaPorte County about 1854 and to Kankakee County, Illinois, in 1860. He was a farmer, a stock breeder, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by:
Tammy Wilson
Newton NC
E-mail: tym50@bellsouth.net

Sarah Ann Wright

Sarah Ann Wright
b. 20 March 1820, Jefferson County, Indiana, to Levy and Sarah Wright
d. 20 May 1865, Clarke County, Iowa

m. 29 November 1838, Jefferson County, Indiana
Robert Harvey Miner
b. 2 May 1818, Jefferson County, Indiana, to Robert and Martha (Skeen) Miner/Minor
d. 29 December 1896, Allendale, Worth County, Missouri

Children with Robert Harvey Miner:
• Sarah (1839-1895) married James B. Edwards
• Martha (1842-1845)
• Andrew (1844-1844)
• Olive Malissa (1845-1899) married William S. Moore
• Nancy Ellen (1847-1852)
• Levi Thomas (1850-1851) (twin)
• William (1850-1850) (twin)
• Mary Elizabeth (1852-1931) married William Henry Smith
• Louisa Jane (1855-1921) married T. Benton Boyd
• Sylvia Ann (1858-1860)
• Harvey Judson (Judd) (1862-1931) married Hattie Amanda Shaw

Sarah lived in Jefferson County, Indiana, before emigrating about 1855 to Iowa. Her father was born in Virginia, but came to Indiana from Kentucky.

Submitted by:
Mrs. Helen M. Fridblom
Lawrence KS

John M. Wallace

John M. Wallace
b. 7 July 1827, near Volga, Jefferson County, Indiana, to John (1798-1866) and Elizabeth Sarah “Betsy” (1800-1854) (Giltner) Wallace
d. 14 October 1915, Moscow, Latah County, Idaho

m/1. 17 December 1846, Indiana
Minerva Ellen Duffy
b. to William R. and Malissa W. Duffy
d. 1853, Indiana

m/2. 21 September 1854, Jefferson County, Indiana
Retta Ann Lawler
b. 25 May 1833, Jefferson County, Indiana, to Ausborn (1804-1871) and Elizabeth Neal (1808-1885) (Westbrook) Lawler
d. 17 October 1915, Moscow, Latah County, Idaho

Children with Minerva Ellen Duffy:
• infant son (d. 1848)
• Mary F. (b. 1849) married Thomas P. Harbaugh
• William D. (b. 1852)
• John Samuel (b. 1853) married Eliza Sarah Geneva

Children with Retta Ann Lawler:
• Allen Hale (1859-1897) married Augusta Louise Zastrow
• Charles C. (1860-1894)
• James Lincoln (1862-1930)
• Anna Gevene (1865-1948)
• Artie Cordelia (1869-1950)
• Ednora (1872-1872)
• Jennie E. (1874-1962)

John Wallace was a millwright and he built mills in Keokuk County, Iowa; Norton County, Kansas; and Kendrick, Latah County, Idaho. He emigrated from Jefferson County, Indiana, about 1855.

Submitted by:
Connie Wallace Dawe
Arvada CO
E-mail: connie5337@juno.com

John Wallace

John Wallace
b. 4 May 1798, Iredell County, North Carolina, to John and Ruth (Barlow) Wallace
d. 26 August 1866, near Cottage Inn, Lafayette County, Wisconsin

m/1. 7 February 1823, Jefferson County, Indiana
Elizabeth Sarah “Betsy” Giltner
b. 31 March 1798, Bourbon County, Kentucky, to John Francis and Anne Elizabeth (Boyer) Giltner
d. 11 October 1854, near Volga, Jefferson County, Indiana

m/2. 12 April 1855, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Eliza DeLong

Children with Elizabeth Sarah Giltner:
• Mary (1823-1850) married Richard Cox
• Okey (1825-1826)
• John (1827-1915) married (1) Minerva Ellen Duffy, (2) Retta Ann Lawler
• Elizabeth (b. 1829)
• Ben (1831-1867)
• James (b. 1834)
• Barnett (b. 1836)
• William (1839-1862)

Children with Eliza DeLong:
• Ada May (b. 1861)

John first bought land in Jefferson County, Indiana, in 1824; however, the first two children were born in Kentucky. The family lived in Jefferson County until about 1855.

Submitted by:
Connie Wallace Dawe
Arvada CO
E-mail: connie5337@juno.com

William Henry Smith

William Henry Smith
b. 19 May 1846, Orleans, Orange County, Indiana, to Zebulon Collins and Mary Ann “Polly” (Moore) Smith
d. 7 November 1919, Douglas Township, Madison County, Iowa

m. 31 October 1869
Mary Elizabeth Miner
b. 11 May 1852, Jefferson County, Indiana, to Robert Harvey and Sarah Ann (Wright) Miner
d. 27 January 1931, Winterset, Madison County, Iowa

Children with Mary Elizabeth Miner:
• Fannie Grace (1871-1953) married Marcus James Boyce
• Edith May (1874-1952) married John F. Harrell

William Henry was a cabinet maker, a painter, a paperhanger, and sometimes built houses. He was called “Pilgrim” for a tune he used to whistle while working. His parents moved their family to Clarke County, Iowa in October 1855.

Submitted by:
Mrs. Helen M. Fridblom
Lawrence KS