| ************************************************************************ "Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. Reprinted by Mayhill Publications of Knightstown, Indiana, 1974. This is the reprinted Jay County section out of the original combined 1887 History of Jay and Blackford counties. P. 310: "Washington T. PETTYJOHN, one of Jay County's leading agriculturists, residing on section 36, Jefferson Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Rush County, January 3, 1827, a son of Nide and Elizabeth (THARP) PETTYJOHN, his father born in Surrey County, North Carolina, and his mother a native of Preble County, Ohio. They were married in Rush County, Indiana, about the year 1824, and reared a family of seven children to maturity -- William, living in Republic County, Kansas; Washington T., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lydia Ellen HAYES, living in California; Mrs. Susan Ann BENNETT, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Rebecca Jane RIGGIN, of Andrew County, Missouri; Christopher C., residing in Washington Territory, and Solomon who died in California, aged thirty years. In 1836 the parents removed with their family from Rush County to Shelby County, Indiana, and in 1840 removed to Andrew County, Missouri. In March 1879, the parents left Andrew County with their son William, for Republic County, Kansas, where the father died January 1, 1883, aged about eighty-six years. The mother died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. RIGGIN, in Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri, October 4, 1886, in her seventy-ninth year. Washington T. PETTYJOHN, whose name heads this sketch, reached manhood in Andrew County, Missouri, remaining with his parents until reaching his twenty-second year. He then spent a few years in Randolph County, Indiana, where he was married October 26, 1854, to Miss Eleanor WARD, a daughter of Joab and Amy (GRAVES) WARD. They have had born to them seven children -- Mrs. Elizabeth BOYER of Cloud County, Kansas; Lot, now living with his parents, married Miss Minnie HENIZER, who died leaving two children named Ora and Charles; Dan, living at Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado; Jay, of Cloud County, Kansas; Mrs. Grace ARTMAN, of Jay County; Ely, of Aurora, Nebraska and Asa, at home. Mr. and Mrs. PETTYJOHN established their home in Jefferson Township, in March 1855, on the property they now own and occupy, their first house being a rude log cabin. Mr. PETTYJOHN first purchased 125 acres for [p. 311] $2,000 cash, about thirty acres of his land having been opened. He continued the work of improving his property until 1864, when he rented his land for two years, and moved his family to Ridgeville and enlisted as a recruit in Company A, Fortieth Indiana Infantry in November of the same year. He joined his regiment at Columbia, Tennessee, and with it participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and received his discharge in June, 1865. He returned to his farm two years after leaving it, and has since added to it until it contains 250 acres, his farm being well improved and very productive. His residence is one of the best in Jefferson Township, and his farm buildings are correspondingly good. Politically Mr. PETTYJOHN is a Republican. He has served three years as county commissioner, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Ridgeville Lodge, No. 116. The parents of Mrs. PETTYJOHN were both natives of North Carolina, but reared and married in Ohio. They were among the earliest settlers of Randolph County, Indiana, settling in what was afterward Ward Township, in April 1819, where they improved a large farm on which they resided until their death. The mother died April 27, 1864, aged sixty-seven years. The father survived until November 7, 1874, dying in his eighty-fourth year. Of their fourteen children eight are still living -- Thomas, of Winchester, Randolph County; Mrs. Margery McKEW, of Ridgeville, Randolph County; Mrs. PETTYJOHN; Mrs. Edith MOFFITT, of Hancock County, Ohio; Mrs. Harriet THOMPSON, of Whitley County, Indiana; Joel, of Randolph County, Indiana; Mrs. Lydia WAY, living at Winchester, Indiana, and Joab, of Ridgeville, Indiana. William died in early manhood; Sarah died in childhood; Sarah died aged two years; Mrs. Mary SUMPTION died in Randolph County; David died in the same county, and Mrs. Berzilla SUMPTION died in Madison, Nebraska, the last three leaving families." |