Jonesboro, Indiana

Mary (Parker) Coleman, was born in Wayne County, N. C., November 25, 1798. His father was a soldier in the war of the Revyolution, and took an active part in the struggle for liberty. Elias Coleman was reared on a farm and early learned the blacksmithing trade with his father, who was a skillful mechanic. At the age of twenty he came West, and stopped for awhile in Orange and Randolph Counties, Ind., but did not make a permanent settlement, returning to his native State within a short time, where, on the 10th of October, 1820, he married Miss Sallie Peebles, who was born iy North Carolina, May 21, 1791. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Coleman began working at blacksmithing and farming, and later took up the wagon-making trade. He returned to Indiana in 1828 and entered land in Randolph County, where he cleared a good farm and worked at his trade. In 1834 he moved to Fountain City, at which place he engaged in the manufacture of wagons, and continued the business for a series of years, abandoning it later and engaging as clerk in a mercantile house. He came to Jonesboro, Grant County, in 1848, and engaged in the dry goods business with A. L. Barnard, and five years later purchased his partner's interest, and continued the business some time with good success. He was postmaster at Jonesboro one year, and after retiring from active life spent some time in Marion. He has lived an active and industrious life, and has reached the ripe old age of eighty-eight years, honored and respected by all who know him. By his first marriage Mr. Coleman had six children, viz.: Eda Jane, Harriett, Nathan, Bennett B., Jessie and Mary. Mrs. Coleman died at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Coleman's second marriage was solemnized June 6, 1866, with Mrs. Susan (Ellis) Coffin, of Grant County, who is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are both members of the Society of Friends.

Passage source: History of Grant County, Indiana, published 1886.

The father was a farmer by occupation and an'early resident of Ohio, immigrating to Miami County, that State, in 1817. Aaron Shideler was born on the 18th of March, 1806, and grew to manhood onafarm. He received limited educational training, attending school but two or three months of the year, and began life for himself as a farmer at the age of twenty-three. He remained in Ohio until 1833, at which time he moved to Randolph County, Ind., and one year later came to Grant County and settled in Mill Township, at that time an almost unbroken wilderness. After selecting a site for his home he went to Fort Wayne for the purpose of entering the land, making the trip on horseback, and meeting with several interesting adventures on the way. He went to work with a will and soon had a cabin erected and a few acres of land ready for cultivation, the woods furnishing him with an abundance of wild meat in the meantime, while the rich stores of honey which then abounded in almost unlimited quantities served as a delicious desert to the frugal fare. Mr. Shideler experienced all the hardships and privations incident to life in the backwoods, but actuated by that energy for which he has always been noted, he succeeded as the years went by in devel- 'oping a beautiful home and accumulating a handsome competency. He followed agricultural pursuits with good success until 1867, at which time he retired from active life and removed to Jonesboro, where he has since resided in the enjoyment of that rest and quiet whicb only the hard working and conscientious can appreciate. He served as justice of the peace for five years and as school official a number of terms, discharging the duties of both positions in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. In 1828 he cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and since that time has been an uncompromising adherent of the Democratic party. On the 27th of November, 1828, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Jones, of Ohio, and daughter of Ellis and Jane (McDowell) Jones, parents natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Shideler was born November 15, 1807. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shideler are three in number, viz.: Sarah J., wife of William Moreland; John W. and David B. Shideler. Mr. and Mrs. Shideler are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Passage source: History of Grant County, Indiana, published 1886.

Carolina and of English-Irish and German-Welsh descent, respectively. Dr. Weddington was born on the 1dth of July, 1523, and spent the first nine years of his life in his native State. He came with his parents to Indiana in 1832 and located near Alexandria, Madison County, where he grew to manhood and where he obtained a fair English education in such schools as the country afforded. On attaining his majority he began teaching and reading medicine alternately, and in 1847 began the practice of his profession at the town of Chesterfield. In 1856 he removed to Randolph County and accepted the position of railroad agent at Union City, in which capacity he continued until 1865. In that year he entered the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers as assistant surgeon, and was soon after appointed surgeon-major, receiving the appointment through the influence of Col., now Goy. Gray, who was his personal friend. He left the army in 1865 and returning to Indiana resumed the practice of medicine at Jonesboro for a short time, abandoning it to accept the position of civil engineer on the Pan Handle Railroad, in which capacity he continued some time, operating between Union City and Logansport. He afterward engaged in his profession at Jonesboro, but discontinued it on the completion of the railroad through the town in order to take charge of the station, for which he acted as agent for some time. At the end of that time he engaged in surveying in the West, and later returned to Jonesboro and again took charge of the railroad office, which he retained one year. After a few months spent in the drug business he resumed the healing art, which he has since successfully continued, having a lucrative practice at the present time in Jonesboro and adjacent country. Dr. Weddington is a man eminently qualified to adapt himself to circumstances, and in his various enterprises has met with encouraging success. He has affiliated with the Republican party ever since its organization, but is not a partisan in the sense of seeking official position. He identified himself with the Masonic order in 1848, and is one of the active workers in the lodge at Jonesboro. He was married, January, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, of North Carolina, The Doctor is the father of nine children, four of whom are living, to wit: Emily J.. William M., Ulysses S. and Samuel C. Weddington, Mr. and Mrs. Weddington are members of the Pres-. byterian Church.

Passage source: History of Grant County, Indiana, published 1886.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Mill Township - it names this place 16 more 16 times.