Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Jesse B. Colbert
History of Daviess County
Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886
JESSE B. COLBERT, a pioneer farmer of Daviess County, Ind., was born May 30, 1822, son of Tolliver and Sarah (Miller) Colbert, and is of English extraction. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in Ohio. The Colberts came to what is now Daviess County, Ind., in 1816. Tolliver Colbert was one of the first men in the county. He killed a bear on the tract of land now owned by our subject, and the old rifle he used is in the possession of the family and is kept as a relic of the primitive days of the county. Subject grew to manhood in Daviess County and attended the subscription schools in boyhood. When twenty years old he began farming for himself and has continued that occupation ever since. He was engaged in the general merchandise business in Epsom, Ind. for about three years. He owns a farm of eighty acres. In 1841 he took for his life companion Phoebe Brown, who died in 1843. In 1845 he wedded Winnie Gilley, who bore him twelve children, five of whom are living: Tolliver P., Viola J., Bettie G., Laura M. and George W. Mr. Colbert is a Republican, and has been justice of the peace and was trustee of the township under the old law. He is a member of the 1. 0. 0. F., and is one of the oldest native residents of the county.
Contributed by: Michael L Tedrow