Jackson County Indiana Biographies

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

H. W. WACKER, merchant, Brownstown, was born in Germany July 23, 1840. He came to America in the fall of 1853,and located at Louisville, Kentucky, where he served an apprenticeship as a machinist, and worked at his trade till 1861, when he came to Jackson County, and engaged in the mercantile business at Crane’s Mill for four years, after which he went to Seymour. He subsequently went to Shields, where he engaged in merchandising and milling. In 1876 he was elected county treasurer, was reelected for a second term, which office he filled creditably. In1882 he retired from his office and engaged in his present mercantile business, the firm being Wacker & Acker. In 1884 Mr. Acker retired from business, since which time the firm has been Wacker & Ireland. They now carry on a trade which is one of the most extensive in the county, their stock invoicing about$12,000. November 4, 1860, he was married at Louisville, Kentucky, to Miss Rust, a native of Germany, born January 1, 1844. By this union they have five children: Lillie F., Adlheido C., Charles H. W., Alexander H. and Mattie F. Mr. Wacker is a Mason and a Democrat. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 628

JONAS D. WATERS, deceased, was a native of New York. He was born July 25, 1838, being a son of Harmon and Catherine Waters. At about the age of three years Jonas, with his parents, came to Indiana and located in Jennings County. He resided in Jennings County till 1864, when he located on a farm in Vernon Township. February 8, 1862, he married Miss Rachel Deputy, a native of Jennings County. As a result of this union one child was born, now deceased. In the second year, November 13, he lost his wife. On the 9th of March, 1965, he married Emily J. Hughs, a native of Jennings County. Their union has been blessed with eight children, but three of whom are living: Katie, David H. and Nora J. Mr. Waters was not a man who could boast of any vast amount of "book knowledge," his education having been gained in the common schools, but his force of character, energy and common sense were factors of his composition which the school had not given him, and without which he could never have become, as he was, a successful business man. Mr. Waters died April 30, 1878, being in his fortieth year. He was a member of the F. and A. M. His widow assumed the management of his estate. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 757 - 758

DR. WILLIAM H. WARNER, a well known citizen of Crothersville, was born in Clarke County, Indiana, May 24, 1841. He is the eldest son of Levi and Mary A. (Wilson) Warner, natives of-New York and Tennessee. He received a good education in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen, he began the printer's trade in the office of the Courier-Journal. He remained there for three years, and in September, 1861, enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Indiana Regiment, where he served one year. In 1862he began the study of medicine at Columbus, Indiana Two years later he began a course in the Ohio Medical College, where he afterward graduated. He located at Crothersville in 1864, and began the practice of his profession. This he continued for some six or eight years, when he abandoned it on account of his health. He accepted a position with the Union Central Life Insurance Company, in which he has a general agency. June 23, 1867, his marriage with Miss Margaret Lutz, of Lawrenceburg, was solemnized. Of their seven children, these six are now living: Ella, Albert, Mabel, Sina, George and Bertha. He is a member of the I. O.O. F., and K. of P. His political sentiments are in full accord with the principles of the Democratic Party. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 758

DR. JAMES C. WELLS was the sixth born to Jacob and Sarah (Carruthers) Wells. Jacob Wells and wife were natives of Jessamine County, Kentucky. They removed to Indiana in 1816. Jacob Wells was born May 10, 1791. Sarah Wells was born in 1788.They were married November 29, 1818. They were among the very earliest pioneers of Jackson County and among the first settlers in Owen Township. Jacob Wells held the office of county commissioner and was also justice of the peace for many years. Sarah Wells was a member of the Baptist Church. James C. Wells, the subject of this sketch, was born April 20, 1831. His early life was spent upon his father's farm in Owen Township. His early school advantages were the district school where he acquired the common branches. He subsequently attended the State University at Bloomington, Indiana He pursued his studies here until the senior year when he was obliged to return home upon the death of his father. He began the study of medicine in 1853, under Dr. Mussey, of Cincinnati, one of the most celebrated physicians in the West in his day. He remained in Dr.Mussy's [Mussey] office for four years. In the year 1856, he was house surgeon of the city hospital. He attended lectures in Philadelphia in 1854. He returned to Clear Spring, Jackson County, in1857, where he opened an office and began the practice of medicine. In March, 1863, he enlisted in the Fiftieth Indiana Volunteers as surgeon. He served under Gen. Steele at the capture of Little Rock, Ark. He returned home during the summer of 1864 and resumed the practice of medicine at ClearSpring. He was injured in the left ankle and seriously disabled while in the army. He served as county commissioner from1867 to 1873, two terms. He was appointed in June, 1885, examining surgeon for the pension department, and occupied the position of president of the board of examining surgeons at North Vernon, Indiana He was married, in 1858, to Nancy C. Carr, and four children have been born to them, three of whom are living: Sarah, born August 1, 1859; Kitty, a twin sister of the former; John C., born September 17, 1861; Caroline Virginia, born April 22, 1867. The Doctor's ancestors were Virginians. Both of his grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers for the full term of seven years. His maternal line of ancestors were from James River. No physician in Jackson County stands higher than Dr. Wells, and very few are his peers in his profession. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 731 - 732

COL. SAMUEL T. WELLS was born November 4, 1821,in Owen Township, Jackson Co., Indiana, and is the second of a family of six born to Jacob and Salley (Caruthers) Wells. He began life as the son of a farmer and such education and advantages as the schools of those days gave him until he was twenty years of age, at which time, having made suitable proficiency, and having an ambition to a higher sphere of education, he entered the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, where he took a scientific course of two and a half years. Then he re-turned to the farm, and in 1846 he was elected sheriff of Jack-son County and served in that capacity about six months, and re-signed and went into the United States service in the Mexican war and served during the war. He returned to his farm as before and in 1849 was elected as representative - as a Democrat - from Jackson County, and was re-elected in 1851, this being the first meeting of the legislature under the new constitution. He made the race for the same office in 1858, but was defeated. At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he raised a company and joined the Fiftieth Indiana Volunteers. In 1862 he was promoted to major and in the following September he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, but served, however, as colonel of his regiment from September, 1862, until 1865. After the close of his military career he resumed his occupation of farming and was not in politics again until 1876, when he was elected to the Legislature as a Republican, he having severed his connection with the Democratic Party on the war question. In 1876 he was elected in the face of about 1,100 Democratic majority. Then in 1884 his party nominated him for the office of State senator, for which he was defeated by a somewhat reduced majority. In 1849 he was married to Mary C. Dunham, who died in 1861. To them were born two children: Caroline (deceased) and Sarah E., now living in Colorado. In 1865 he was again married to Mrs. Wilson, daughter of John Ready, who came from Ohio. She was the widow of the late Dr. Thomas Wilson, of Jennings County. To this union have been born two children: one dying in infancy, and Edward C., born in 1868. Jacob Wells came to this county in 1817. Col. Wells has, as will be seen, a splendid career, both military and civil, in both of which he was very distinguished; added to which is his private life, no less distinguished, especially on account of his high character and moral worth. .-- History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 655 -656

ELIJAH WHITE, deceased, a former resident of Salt Creek Township, where he was born April 26, 1840, was the eldest son of Colman and Mary (Smith) White. The parents were natives of North Carolina and this county, respectively. Elijah received a good education in the common schools, and taught a few terms. He attended the Clear Spring Academy. After that he engaged in teaching for some time, and was one of the best teachers in Jackson County. He nearly always taught in his own neighbor-hood. In January, 1870, he was ordained a minister in the Christian Church, having prepared himself for this work at the Lexington, Kentucky, College. After this he preached at many points and his services were in good demand. He married, in 1865, Eliza Chute, a native of "Washington County, Ohio, and daughter of Dr. George Chute, of this township. To this union were born eight children, these six now living: Elijah T., Hiram H. John F., Knowles E., Edna R. and Mary A. January 14, 1886, Mr. White died, his death having been caused from exposure while engaged in his ministerial labors. He was universally mourned by those who knew him as a good man and an upright citizen. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 748 - 749

ELIHU WHITE, a prominent farmer of Salt Creek Town-ship, was born in North Carolina, October 20, 1828. His parents were James and Ellen (Brown) White, natives of the same State. He is of Irish and English descent. His early schooling was limited, and the little he received was acquired in the schools of Indiana. When about four years of age he located, with his parents, in Jackson County, where he has remained ever since. His whole life has been devoted to farming, and with good success. April 6, 1848, he married Cynthia Acton, a native of Kentucky. To them have been born ten children, these five now living: Amanda, William R., John, Ellen and David. Mr. White is a well respected citizen, and, in its time, was a leading member of the P. of H. order. His political sentiments are like those of the large portion of the county, Democratic. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 749

FREDERICK WHITE is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born in 1821. His early schooling was received in his native country, and he obtained what the most of his countrymen do, a good practical education. At the age of twenty-one he concluded to come to America, and in 1842 he landed at New Orleans, and after considerable traveling he located on a farm near Vallonia. In1870 he bought and moved to a farm in Hamilton Township, near Courtland, and is now one of Hamilton Township's most prosperous farmers and valuable citizens. He was married to Miss Lizzie Miller, a native of Germany. This union has been blessed by four children, of whom three are living: John, Carle and Catherine. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 672

EPHRIAM WILSON was born in 1846 to John A. and Wilmouth Smallwood Wilson. He served with Co. G. 54th Regiment and Co. C. 137th Regiment in the Civil War. In 1867 he married Louise J. Alexander and they lived in Ewing, Indiana. He was a stock buyer and had stock yards in Ewing, Jackson County. His brother, Tip Wilson, had a butcher shop in Ewing. Ephriam's granddaughter, Gertrude, enjoyed watching her grandfather and father take the animals through the shutes. Ephriam and Louise Wilson had five children Minnie, Oraland, Dillard, Pirtle, and Willard. They were all born and raised in Ewing. Oraland had meat store in Bedford; Pirtle was a meat-cutter in Indianapolis; and Willard had a meat and grocery store in Brownstown. Willard joined the army and fought in the Spanish-American War. When he returned home, he was married to Emma Pearl Cockerham on October 2, 1898. They had ten children, three having died in infancy; Mildred, Mabel, Edgar, Gertrude, Hollis, Woodrow, and Louise. Louise died at age 1. Willard's family lived at Shieldstown for a short time, where he had a grocery store. Returning to Brownstown, he had a grocery and meat store. His daughter, Gertrude, helped as a meat-cutter. He drove a horse-drawn meat wagon around town making deliveries. He also drove the school-hack to the Durland school. Willard was always one to help, especially during the 1930's depression years. He gave food to the needy and never refused credit to anyone. The children of Willard and Pearl all grew up and married in Brownstown. Mildred married Silas Kaiken, later married Albert Doell; she died in 1986. Mabel married William Toppe; she survives. Edgar married Junita Hatton; he died in 1970. Gertrude married Chester Holeman; she still survives. Hollis married Evelyn Heller; he died in 1964. Woodrow married Dorothy Schyeor; he died in 1986. Louisa died in 1919. - (Contributed by James D. VanDerMark - from page 489 of The History of Jackson County, Indiana, 1988)

JEFFERSON B. WILSON, of Driftwood Township, where he is one of the leading farmers, was born in Washington County in 1840. His parents were William and Nancy Wilson, and hews the fifth in their family of eight children. The father and mother were among the earliest settlers of Washington County, and were among its leading citizens. J. B. was raised on a farm and his early training was such that it created in him a fondness for farming. He has followed from choice that occupation through life, and with success. In 1873 he moved to Clarke County, where he remained four years and then returned to Jackson County. He owns 120 acres of well-improved land in Driftwood Township. His wife, who was Carrie M. Bowen, was born October 13, 1840. Their wedding was February 8,1866,and to them have been born seven children: William T., Julia(deceased), Nannie B. (deceased), Charles A. (deceased), Robert E., Thomas B. and Mary A. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Christian Church, and a Democrat in politics. He usually takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. .-- History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 657

MARSHAL V. WILSON is one of the men met with in our Western country who is apparently the product of his own energy and resources, who, more than any other kind of men, fills the era of his life and the sphere of his action full of his own individuality. He is a physician which he made out of himself just to the extent he aimed, and just to the extent wanted by his people around him. His father before him, Dr. Creed T. Wilson, was one of the leading men of his day in his profession. Dr. Marshal V. was the oldest child born to Creed T., and was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, March 9, 1835. His mother was Ann E. Marshall, born in Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was educated in the schools of his time. He adopted the profession of his father, and read in the office of Dr. William H. Smith, of Leesville, three years. He entered the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1858, and attended through the year 1859 and part of 1860. After finishing his term there he located at Leesville, his old homestead, then afterward moved to Sparksville, where he lived twelve months, and afterward to Heltonville, Lawrence County, where he lived one year, and then returned to Leesville and lived there about one year, then located in 1864 at Medora, Jackson County, where he has lived ever since. He is a success and everyone knows it. He is progressive and the people like him for it. In one year his practice is at least $2,000.In 1861 he was married to Miss Carrie Reed, of Lawrence County, Indiana, who died in 1869. To them were born three children, two of whom are living: Anna and John T. April 14,1872, he was again married to Mrs. N. C. Robinson (Murphy),who was the widow of the late Dr. Thomas Robinson. To them was born one child: Goldie, born February 8, 1879. -History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 643

ALEXANDER H. WRAY, a resident of Owen Township, Jackson Co., Indiana, was born in Garnett County, Kentucky, January 20, 1834. His parents were Eli and Paulina (Henderson) Wray, who came to this county not long after Alexander's birth and ranked among the pioneers of Jackson County: The father is said to have been one of the earliest Whigs in the county. The son’s education was acquired in the early log schoolhouses of his day, that formed a wide contrast with those of the present time. Puncheon floors and large fire-places were then universal. Throughout life Mr. Wray's calling has been that of a farmer. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On account of disability he was compelled to quit service. In January, 1865, he again entered the army, this time in Company F, of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, where he served fifteen months. He took part in campaigns in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and other States, and returned home badly disabled from injuries received. His marriage with Martha Fountain was solemnized in February, 1853. Of the ten children that have been born to them only these four are now living: Henry, Rebecca J., Sarah and Martha Isabel. The parents are members of the Christian Church and are among its leading members. Mr. Wray has been a consistent Republican. - History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Pages 732 - 733

WEST LEE WRIGHT, one of the old settlers of Carr Township, and the founder of the town of Medora, was a son of William Wright, a native of North Carolina, and was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, February 14, 1803, and came with his parents to Washington County, Indiana, in 1809, and was married in Mon-roe County, Indiana, in 1825, to Nancy Wright, who was the daughter of James Wright, and who lived to the extreme age of one hundred and two years. West Lee and wife moved to Carr Township, this county, in 1832, locating about one mile south of where Medora now stands. In 1839 he moved to Pea Ridge, some two miles west of Medora, where he remained until 1856, when he returned to Medora, where he remained until his death. His principal pursuit in life was farming and stock raising, in which heat times engaged extensively and successfully. He made many trips on horseback to the land-office at Jeffersonville, where he entered a great many tracts of land. It is represented (no doubt correctly)that he has owned more land in the township than any other one person. At the time the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad was located through the county, he owned a mile square of land, on the southeast corner of which the town of Medora now stands. At the same time he owned other bottom land, and probably 400acres of ridge land in the township, and at the same time, or soon after, owned various other tracts in different parts of the county. He was always friendly to the poor, often sold land and other property to poor men on long credit, and without security, many of whom took advantage of his confidence and never paid him. In this way he lost a great deal. While naturally of a mirthful disposition, he always abhorred lawlessness and rowdy-ism of every sort, and his sympathies were easily enlisted in be-half of the down-trodden and oppressed of every race, "whatever their station might be, whether of high or low degree". Took great delight in writing poetry and rhyme, in which he gained considerable notoriety. Being a strong friend to the cause of the Union and of temperance, wrote a great deal on those subjects. He at one time belonged to the order of Freemasons, but during the last few years of his life was very much de-voted to the order of Odd Fellows, of which he was a member at the time of his death, and in the honors of which he was buried in September, 1876, by the lodge then existing at Medora, there being a great many members of the order from Seymour and Brownstown in attendance, who came on a train run especially for the occasion. During his lifetime he wrote several odes for use in the lodges. His widow, Nancy, is now living at Medora, and is seventy-six years old. Of their descendants the following are known to the writer, to-wit: fifteen children, born in the following order: Elizabeth, Selah, David, James P., Wriley, Sarah, Isaac J., Mary A., Nancy, Levi C., Franklin, Phebe E., Reason A., Newton, West Lee Worran; forty-one grandchildren, forty-seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild -total, 104, of whom all, except six children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren are how living. History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page s 643 – 645

LEVI C. WRIGHT belongs to one o£ the earliest families in Jackson County. His father was West Lee Wright, a man of marked character, and his mother was Nancy Wright, to whom were born fifteen children. They settled where the town of Medora is in Carr Township, of which he was founder; and here Levi O. was born August 30, 1844, and here he lived until 1861, when he entered the United States service in that historic organization, the Twenty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in Company G, under Capt. John W. Poole. He was in the service until 1865, and took part in many of the hard fought battles of that organization. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was wounded in the left leg and afterward was wounded in the left thigh, on account o£ which he was furloughed home about three months. He again joined his regiment and remained until the close o£ the war. After the close of the war he attended school and followed farming until 1867, when he began the study of law, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been a regular practicing attorney in the courts. He is now and has been several years deputy prosecuting attorney. In 1883he began the publication of the Medora Eagle a Republican newspaper, which he edited about one year and eight months. December 27, 1868, he was married to Miss Lucy A. Day, daughter of James S. Day, of Hamilton Township, and to them have, been born three children: Ida, Thomas J., and Anna. Mr. W. is also a farmer. He is one among the many respected defenders of his country to whom honor is due. History of Jackson County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1886, Page 645

Return to Jackson County Home Page

Submit Biography

Return To Indiana Home Page