Israel Jenkins House

Township, were purchased. This was in the summer of 1842, June 22. A small log cabin was soon built. To secure lumber for a floor it had to be hauled five miles from the nearest point; until other more substantial covering could be constructed, the wagon canvass served a convenient and comfortable roof. During the warm months of summer cooking was done against a large stump near their cabin. Mr. Thompson's first tax was the small sum of $2.43. From this small beginning, by well-directed industry, mostly in agricultural pursuits, he became wealthy, owning at one time nearly 600 acres of fine land, which he has given to his children, with the exception of 246 acres which he still reserves. An office seeker he has not been, preferring to give his attention to his own business and to his own success; and yet he has oftentimes been invited to serve, in various capacities, the interest of others and of the public. In the advocacy and support of education he has been active; in the advancing steps of public improvement he has contributed cheerful and liberal aid; under the organization of the first railroad in the county, since denominated the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, he was chosen one of its directors. At the building, too, of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad he proffered liberal aid, although living several miles from it. In the construction of the gravel road, running directly past his home, between Marion and Monroe, he took an active interest, and is at this time one of its directors. Mrs. Thompson has been a willing coworker with her husband in all their life enterprises, has with him enjoyed prosperity, while meekly submitting to adversities. As a member of the society of Friends she has led an exemplary life, has been a Christian mother and a devoted wife. Their children have been six in number - two sons and four daughters, viz.: Judith A., Sarah J., John L., Alma M., Uri and Mary A.

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

1884, when he located upon his present home farm in Section 10, Monroe Township, which he purchased in 1881. He owns at present 500 acres of fine and well improved land, and resides in an elegant and commodious brick house he erected in 1883, at the cost of about $6,000. He is the father of these six children, viz.: William T. §., George A. (deceased), Rosa A., John L., Errett (deceased) and Erwin E. Mr. Strange and wife are members of the Disciple Church, and are highly esteemed by all who know them. He was appointed postmaster at Arcana, Grant County, in 1879, and is its present incumbent. He was the first secretary of the Monroe Grange, and was master and secretary of the county Pomona Grange, and represented the same in the State Grange in its most brilliant day. His residence is located eight miles east of Marion on terminus of Marion and Monroe gravel road, five miles north of Upland Railroad Station and five miles south of Van Buren Railroad Station. He is an extensive dealer in thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, and he is one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of Grant County.

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 Monroe Township - 5,108 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.