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James Kersey
JAMES KERSEY is one of the original pioneers of Center
township and a man who has reached the patriarchal age of
eighty-five years. The founder of the family came to America
before the war of the Revolution. He is descended from
excellent Scotch-Irish ancestry. James Kersey, father of our
subject, was born in Carolina. His parents died when he was
young and James Kersey was reared by others. He became a
farmer and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a
pioneer in Kentucky, and was acquainted with the famous
frontiersman, Daniel Boone, and was in several difficulties
with the Indians. He married Susan Bell, a relative of
Daniel Boone. The Bells were of English stock, but an old
American family. To Mr. and Mrs. Kersey were born six
children: Elisha, Vica, Elizabeth, John, James and Eliza.
This is the proper order of birth and all are now deceased,
except our subject. Mr. Kersey became a substantial farmer
of Nicholas county, Ky., owning a good farm. He lived to the
age of seventy-seven years. He was the typical American
pioneer farmer, straightforward in his dealings and in his
younger days he was a great hunter, the state of Kentucky
being a paradise for game of all kinds. In political
opinions he voted with the old-line whigs. James Kersey, our
subject, was born in Nicholas county, Ky., November 9, 1809,
on his father's farm. He received but little education, but
learned to read and write. He was taught to work as soon as
his young arms could bear the burden, and at nine years of
age he began to plow, since that time has assisted to make a
crop every year. He married at the age of twenty-one, in
Bath county, Ky., in October, 1830, Nancy, daughter of John
and Priscilla Neal, sister of Judge Stephen Neal of Lebanon.
Mr. Kersey bought land and engaged [in] farming. In the fall
of 1836, he came to Boone county, making the journey with a
four-horse wagon, and settled on land which he had bought
the August before, which consisted of eighty acres. By hard
labor and great industry, he cleared this land from the
primeval forest and by thrift he gradually added to it until
he owned 240 acres, which was an excellent farming property.
Being liberal to his children he gave them part of it and
sold some of it, and now retains 120 acres for a homestead,
which is well improved and drained. When he first settled on
his land, it was covered with large trees, except about five
acres, which were partly cleared, and on which a log cabin
stood, which had neither floor, chimney nor door. Part of
this cabin is still standing, now used as an outhouse. This
hardy pioneer, assisted by his sturdy wife, made light of
trifles and patiently endured the hardships of frontier life
and soon made a good home. They became the parents of six
children, John M., James W., Stephen J., Caroline, William
A. and Armstead J. - their names being in the order of
their birth. Mr. Kersey gave his children all good common
educations and reared a respected family. He has always been
one of the industrious and thrifty men of Boone county, and
honored for his integrity. He was a strong Union man during
the Civil war, in which he had one son, Stephen J., who
served nine months. In political opinions, Mr. Kersey was
one of the original republicans of Boone county, and he at
one time held the office of county supervisor. Armstead
Jerome Kersey, son of above, was born October 28, 1850, on
the old homestead, received a common education and was
brought up a farmer. He is one of the practical farmers and
stock raisers of Center township, and is straightforward in
his business transactions, and is now managing the home
farm. He voted with the republican party until recently,
when he became a populist. His father, James Kersey, is the
oldest man now living in Boone county, who came to this
county with a wife, who is now living. He has been married
the long period of sixty-four years.
Source: "Boone County, Indiana, Portrait and
Biographical Record," A. W. Bowen, Chicago, 1894, page
360
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