JOHN BAILEY, stock-grower, P.O. Prairie Creek, was born in Ohio July 25, 1818, and is a son of Resin (Rezin) and Susiana (Susanna) BAILEY, who came to this county in 1825. The mother died here, and the father in Illinois. Their family consisted of six children, of whom John is the third in order of birth. He was married October 1, 1838, to Fannie S., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (ELLIOTT) SHOEMAKER, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers of this county, where they died. They had a family of seven children, Fannie S. being the eldest, having been born in Kentucky November 28, 1818. Mr. and Mrs. BAILEY have been blessed with a family of seven children, viz: Joseph, who married Jemima FRAKES; William H., who married Nancy HEMTER; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas SCOTT; Mary A., wife of Charles HANDY; Nancy, wife of Theodore HANDY; James, who married Sarah KIRKHAM; and Oliver M., who married Mollie FRAKES. Mrs. BAILEY died June 2, 1889. Mr. Bailey was reared on the farm, and has made his way in the world by his own exertions. He is an old settler of Prairie Creek Township, and owns a farm containing 103 acres. In his political convictions he is a Republican.

SAMUEL PIETY, P. O. Prairie Creek, a minister and evangelist of the Christian Church, resides on a nicely improved farm at Middletown, Prairie Creek township, the home of his birth, which occurred March 6, 1853. His parents, James D. and Laurinda (THOMAS) PIETY, were early settlers of this county. James D. PEITY was born in Hardin county, Ky., in 1796, and died in April, 1875, on the farm where Samuel now resides, and which the latter’s father purchased in 1826. He was a successful farmer and enterprising citizen, also a prominent member of the Christian Church. His father, Thomas PIETY, who died in Knox county, Ind. was of English and Irish descent. Samuel’s mother, who was of Welsh descent, was born in Vigo county in 1814, where she died in 1877. She was Mr. PIETY’s second wife, by which marriage three sons and six daughters were born, of whom two sons and four daughters are living, Samuel being the eighth child. When a boy our subject attended the common schools, subsequently the State University at Champaign, Ill., and Butler University of Indiana. Mr. PIETY was married April 8, 1875, to Miss Mary R. De BAUN, a native of this county, born in 1857, and they are blessed with three children, viz.: Marcus D., Edith B. and John H. Mr. PIETY has been in the ministry since 1879, traveling in several different States as an evangelist. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity. He was formerly a Republican, casting his first vote for R. B. HAYES, but is now a Prohibitionist. Mrs. PIETY is a member of the Christian Church.

JAMES MORRISON WATSON, P.O. Prairie Creek, is a native of Nelson county, KY., born December 3, 1827 and is a son of Scarlet and Kiziah (WALKER) WATSON, former of whom was born near Fairfax Court House, VA., in 1801, and emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in an early day. His parents were John M. and Permelia (FISHER) WATSON, natives of Virginia, former of Irish descent, a farmer by occupation. They emigrated from Kentucky to Sullivan county, Ind., in 1828, subsequently moving to Vigo county where they died. Scarlet WATSON was reared and married in Kentucky, coming to Sullivan county with his family and parents in 1828, afterward moving to this county. He was an influential citizen, having served as township trustee several years, and as assessor, two terms. he died in Vigo county, February 9, 1876. His wife, Kiziah (WALKER) was born in Kentucky, July 21, 1805 and died January 4, 1885, in this county. She reared five daughters and four sons - of whom three sons and one daughter are living - James M. being the second child. Our subject has resided in Vigo county since eight years of age, his limited education being received in the subscription schools, he having to walk three miles through dense forests, then inhabited by wolves, panthers and other wild animals. He resided with this parents till March 23, 1848, when he married Miss Sarah Ann DRAKE, a native of Illinois, who died December 7, same year. October 31, 1850, Mr. WATSON married Mary E. KINSOR, who was born in Sullivan county, Ind., and died June 10,1880. Three children survive her, viz: Edmund, Ansel W. and James W. Mr. Watson is now living with his third wife, who was Miss Dosie E. THOMPSON. When our subject began life for himself he had forty acres of unimproved timberland, and by hard work and close attention to business he has accumulated considerable property, having 186 acres of good land, 98 in the farm where he resides, with 78 in cultivation. The property is located fifteen miles southwest of the county seat. Mr. WATSON cast his first presidential vote for Franklin PIERCE. He is an enterprising and highly respected citizen.

LOUIS L. WEEKS, farmer and stock-grower, Linton township P. O. Pimento, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, November 14, 1820 and is a son of William L. and Nancy (KESTER) WEEKS, former a native of Virginia, of English descent, latter of Kentucky, of English and German descent. They came to this county about 1838, where he was a farmer. His death occurred August 21, 1875, and his wife’s in October, 1845. They had a family of five sons and four daughters, of whom Louis L. is the eldest. Our subject was married April 9, 1845, to Sarah Ann, daughter of David and Ruth (ARMSTRONG) KELLEY, natives of Kentucky, former of Irish and latter of Irish and German descent. They were pioneer settlers of this county, and had a family of seven children, of whom Sarah Ann is the fourth. Her father died in Prairie Creek township, Vigo county, in October, 1859, and her mother, March 18, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. WEEKS had born to them eleven children, viz.: Nancy D., deceased; John K., who married Sarah F. KESTER; David, who married Martha WATSON; Chancy, married to Mary HICKMAN; Julia B., who married Alex. BEARD; Louis H., married to Mary E. SINER; Carrie, deceased; Ruth, deceased; Ida, Daniel V. and Eura. Mr. WEEKS is a prominent farmer of Linton township, and owns a farm of 400 acres, in a good state of cultivation. He taught a subscription school two terms. He is a member of the Baptist Church, of which he is clerk at the present time. Politically he is a Democrat, and served two terms as county commissioner, and one term as township trustee.

Submitted by:
Ken Reed - ken@verdenet.com
Derek Gilbert - dgilbert99@hotmail.com
Jamie Krebs - krebsmike@aol.com

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