Jackson County Indiana Biographies

If you have a Jackson County Biography you would like to share, please contact us.

JACOB PETER was one of the pioneer merchants of Jack-son County. He was born in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. He immigrated to America with his stepfather, Henry Bruner. They settled in Indiana, where Jacob Peter engaged by the month to drive oxen for John Fishlay, a large land owner in those days. He then entered 160 acres of land. He attempted to farm this, but gave up farming and removed to Scipio, Jennings County, where he established a trading post. Becoming disgusted with his business here he removed to Rockford, Jack-son County, situated upon White River. Here he bought an interest in the store of Solomon Ruddick, who kept a sort of general supply store at this point. Upon the death of Mr. Ruddick the management of the business devolved upon Mr. Peter. He later married the widow of his partner. He added pork packing to an otherwise extensive business, and bought large tracts of land, besides shipping large quantities of produce south by flat-boat. He removed to Jeffersonville in 1860, where he engaged in a general commission business in Louisville, Ky., dealing largely in provisions. He also became identified with many of the leading enterprises of the day. They made extensive contracts with the Government during the civil war for the supply of provisions. He owned a large share of the stock in the "Mary Houston", a steamer that plied upon the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He now owns 2,000 acres of land in Jackson County; about the same quantity at Gosport. He owns considerable of the wharfage at Galveston, Tex., besides large quantities of land in Kansas and Michigan. He was formerly president of the First National Bank, of Louisville, Ky. Mr. Peter is a brilliant example of a self-made man. Beginning as an ox driver he now counts his wealth by the hundreds of thousands. J. H. PETER was born in Jackson County, May 27, 1847.He attended college at Bloomington and also Hanover, in this State. He was married to Ella M. Kester, November 18, 1876.Two children were born to this union: John and Estelle. Mr. Peter is engaged in farming and looking after the landed interests of his father in Jackson County. He is a Republican in politics. .-- History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 709 – 710

HENRY PIERSON, the subject of our sketch, is one of the successful farmers of Vernon Township. He was born November6, 1844. He was the youngest child of James W. and Lucretia (Morgan) Pierson, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. His father, who has been dead about thirty years, was one of the pioneers of the county. Henry received his education in the common schools. July 4, 1865, he married Miss Nancy Allen, a native of Scott County; to them have been born nine children, of whom six are living. They are Meede W., Cary L., Leatha (dead), Arielius (dead), Stella, Ferdinand (dead), Edgar, Charles and Clyde. Mr. Pierson is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and in religious faith is a Methodist. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 756

PETER PLATTER, photographer at Seymour, is a native of Ripley County, this State, where he was born July 29, 1825, being a son of Henry and Emily (Redding) Platter, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Remaining on the farm until the age of nineteen, he then began to learn the trade of brick-laying and plastering, under the supervision of Seth Platt, remaining with him two years. After following his trade a few years longer, he in 1849 embarked in mercantile business at Aurora, which he carried on for some time with success; but he is now a photographic artist at Seymour, in partnership with his sons. Although his early schooling was meager, he has succeeded well in business, and done much to make the city where he resides what it is to-day in respect to its high standing. He is honest, upright, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. In his politics he is a Republican, and he has been honored with the office of postmaster of Seymour from 1868 to1876; was deputy United States assessor of this district under Col. Tripp, of Vernon, during the administration of President Johnson; and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Platter’s marriage to Miss Sarah Jane McCracken, of Dearborn County, this State, occurred October 17, 1847. Their three children are Hartzell H., Herbert T. and Amelia W. The two first named are now engaged in trade in books, stationery, fancy goods, queens-ware, etc., and, as above mentioned, are in partnership with their father in photography. .-- History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 710

THOMSON J. PLUMMER, SR., was born in Jefferson County, Ky., about twelve miles from Louisville, in 1808. He is the third child of John and Altha (Bandfield) Plummer. His father was of French descent and his mother of English descent. They were both born and raised in the State of Maryland, near Fredericktown, in Frederick County. About 1806 they moved to Jefferson County, Ky., where Thomson was born. In 1820 he and his father moved to Clarke County, Ind. (his mother having died previously), where he lived until 1837, when he moved to Carr Township, Jackson Co., Ind., where he now lives. He was trustee of his township nine years, but has, as a rule, kept out of public office from choice as much as anything else. He has always been a leading farmer and has been interested in the fruit growing business, having had a nursery on his farm several years. He now owns 256 acres of land, and has within recent years sold off a good deal. He was married, January 17, 1828, to Mary Martin, of Clarke County, who was born in Jefferson County, Ky.,in 1804. She was a daughter of Alexander and Hester (Ramsey) Martin. To this union there were born thirteen children: Mary A., Sarah A., John A., Angeline, Margarett A., William J.,Hester A., Susan E., Alexander C., Mordecai C., Martha E.,Thomson J. and Walter S. The children take pride in saying, "We never saw our father drunk." In August, 1852, Mrs. Plummer died, and October 25, 1853, Mr. Plummer married Mrs. Susan E. Butler, whose maiden name was Pineston, and was born September 18, 1810, at Nashville, Tenn., and is a grand-niece of Gen. Andrew Jackson. Mr. Plummer is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Republican in politics. He is now at the end of a well-spent life in his seventy-eighth year. History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 640

COL. JOHN W. POOLE, deceased, was born in Washington County, Ind., Aug. 18, 1827, and when but a few years old his parents moved to Jackson County and located near what was the known as Weddleville, where our subject was reared. He remained with his parents till the breaking out of the war with Mexico, and then at the age of nineteen entered the army of the United States as a private in the Second Indiana Infantry. He served about one year, after which he returned to Medora and devoted himself to the study of medicine. He soon began the practice of his profession, at which he was engaged at the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. Aroused by the spirit of patriotism, he for the second time went forward to defend his country. He entered the Twenty-fifth Indiana as captain of Company G, in which capacity he served for more than one year, when he was promoted to the rank of major of the Ninety-third, and was soon after promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the same regiment, and while in command of the regiment was wounded in several places and fell into the hands of the enemy. He was heard from once or twice after his capture, and is believed to have died a prisoner at Macon, Ga., about February, 1865.Col. Poole was in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh while captain of the Twenty-fifth, and in both of those engagements was slightly wounded. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and all the engagements participated in by the Ninety-third until the time of his capture. It is claimed by his comrades that a braver soldier never entered the Federal army, and all mourned the loss of the worthy citizen and patriotic soldier. He was united in marriage February 6, 1847, to Miss Matilda Weddle, who is still living, and at present resides in Medora with her son, Mr. E. M. Alter. Col. Poole was one of the most gallant soldiers of Indiana, and so great was the loss that Gov. Morton spoke of it as being irreparable. History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 640 – 641

THOMAS N. POSTLETHWAITE is a native of Louisville, Ky. He was born on the 23d of June, 1822. He is a son of William and Mary (Neal) Postlethwaite, who were both natives of Germany. Thomas N. Postlethwaite's early school advantages were good. He attended St. Joseph's College, at Bardstown, Ky., and graduated from that institution at the age of twenty-three years. He then served an apprenticeship to the milling business, under Dye & Alsop, of Louisville, Ky. He continued with this firm for five years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in business on his own account. In 1867 he removed to Jackson County, and located at Rockford. He continued hereabout four years, in the employ of Peter & Pfaffenberg. In 1871he removed to Seymour, and took charge of the milling department of the Steinbrink Mill. He was subsequently engaged as an employee for a period of six years. In 1877 he built the First Ward Mill, of which he is proprietor. He has built up, by honorable dealing and fair treatment of his customers, a nice trade. In 1844 he married Sarah Sanders, a native of Louisville, Ky. Seven children have blessed this union, six of whom are living: Kate, Raymond, Willie, Sallie and Addie. His wife died in 1876. He is a member of the order of Masons and the K. of P. In politics he is a Democrat. .-- History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 710 – 711

BENJAMIN F. PRICE, of Brownstown, was born near Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, February 14, 1833. He is the third of eight children born to William and Sarah Johnstone, who were of Irish extraction, and natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. William Price came to Ohio when a mere lad, and engaged in farming. The latter part of his life was spent in the mercantile business. He subsequently moved to Missouri, where he died in 1876. His widow still survives him and resides at Sedalia, Mo. Our subject's early life was spent on a farm, where he attended such schools as the community afforded. At the age of seventeen he engaged in canal boating; and later as a clerk in a country store at Gaysport, Ohio, where he remained for five years. In 1857 he engaged as bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house at Findlay, Ohio, continuing until 1860, when he came to Indiana, locating at Jonesville, where he embarked in the drug business with his brother. In 1864 he came to Seymour, Ind., and again engaged in the drug business, continuing until 1876, after which he engaged in the grain business. In1878, upon the death of the auditor of Jackson County, he was appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy. In 1880 he was elected by the Democratic Party to fill that office; was reelected in 1882, and is its present incumbent. By his courtesy and gentlemanly manners he has secured the friendship of all who know him; has filled his office creditably and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the I. O. O.F., and a stanch Democrat. November 5,1855, he married Harriet E. Peden, of Washington County, Penn., and this union has been blessed by two daughters, Ida E., a mute, now engaged as a teacher in the deaf and dumb institution at Indianapolis, and Katie, wife of M. Stillwell, a prominent railroad gentleman. Mr. Price has by his unremitting energy and devotion to duty won the esteem and confidence of the people, and is one of the most universally popular men in Jackson County. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 625 - 626

Return to Jackson County Home Page

Submit Biography

Return To Indiana Home Page