DEER-Job - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

This leading and influential agriculturist and stockman of Montgomery county lives with his family in a commodious and comfortable home at No. 401 North Second street, Independence. He has been a resident of the county since 1881, the earlier portion of the time having been passed on farms in different parts of the county, one of which, an eighty acre tract, he still owns. Mr. Deer was born in Fountain county, Indiana, April 26, 1848, the son of Urial and Frances (Long) Deer, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. They were thrifty farmers, pioneers of the blue grass region of Kentucky, and later of Fountain county, Indiana. Here they lived out the measure of their days, the mother dying at the early age of thirty-six, the father marrying a second time and dying in 1889, at the advanced age of seventy-six. They were faithful adherents of the Baptist church (old school) and were prominent in every work that meant the betterment of the social or religious condition of their neighborhood. Intensely patriotic, they engaged enthusiastically in the work of ameliorating the condition of the soldier and their widows and children during the war, the father possessed, in a high degree, the confidence of Indiana’s grand old war Governor, Oliver P. Morton. There were seven children in the first family and two in the second, seven living. Job Deer was reared to farm life in the old “Hoosier State” and secured a fair common school education, though, like many another lad of his time, it was sadly interfered with by the great Civil War. He was most restive under the age limit, and welcomed the day when, at sixteen years of age, he entered the service of his country. He became a member of Company “G”, 133rd Ind. Vol. Inf., and was immediately sent into the heart of the enemy’s county, doing guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala. It cannot be said that our subject was very favorably impressed with the character of the service he was called on to render, but he did his duty faithfully, until the measles put him into the hospital, where he remained until the expiration of his service. Returning home, he was rapidly recruited under the watchful care of his oldest sister and again sent forth to do his part in the great struggle. This time he became a private in Company “E”, 149th Ind. Inf. and again went to the far south for garrison duty. Here he remained until the close of the war, leaving Decatur, Ala., in October of 1865, and being mustered out at Nashville shortly after. Mr. Deer remained in Indiana until 1881, engaged in general laboring work until 1878, when he married and settled on a farm. He located on a quarter section in Fawn Creek township, Montgomery county in the spring of 1881, which he sold in 1884 and removed to Rutland township and resided five years, then spent a short time in Independence township, when he moved to town, since which time he has been engaged in handling stock. He was married on the 25th of December, 1877, to Miss Sarah J. Surbaugh, a native of Indiana, daughter of Rev. A. Surbaugh, a minister of the M.E. Church. To this marriage there were four children born: Frances, a young lady at home; John B., a clerk, married Gertrude Wadman; A. Clyde, a high school student; and a deceased infant. On the 6th of October, 1902, the family was called on to mourn the unspeakable loss of the mother. In all respects Mrs. Deer was a most exemplary character. She was especially devoted to husband and children. No service was too great for their comfort, and the loving care with which she brooded over her little flock was a subject of gracious wonder among her host of friends. Truly may it be said, “Gone, but not forgotten”. She was a consistent and active member of the Friends’ church, where her loss is greatly felt. Mr. Deer is an elder in that church, is especially active in the cause of temperance, and is found leading in every work which looks to the uplifting of humanity. The solid character of his citizenship is a matter satisfactory to his hosts of friends.