FINE-John M. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John M. FINE belongs to a family who emigrated to America from Germany and settled in NC before the war of the Revolution; there were members of the family who were soldiers in that war and they fought valiantly in behalf of their adopted country. The grandfather of Mr. Fine was one of the pioneers of NC and emigrated to Fountain County, Indiana at an early day, being one of the first settlers. His son, Peter, the father of John M, was born in Rown County NC and came with his father to Indiana when quite a young man. He married Miss Eliza A. HYBARGER, of Fountain County, Indiana a daughter of Jonathan Hybarger who was of German extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Fine were the parents of 9 children: Amanda C; John M; Aaron C; Washington L; Ephraim J; Martha C; Harriet A and America A. The father became a prosperous farmer and for many years lived in Indiana. In 1857 he removed to Taylor County, Iowa, and bought a steam saw mill which he managed several years; he then returned to the occupation to which he had been trained in his youth, farming. He puchased 200 acres of excellent land in Polk Township, where he passed the remainder of his days. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and took a decided stand on religious and moral questions. Mr. FIne was an exhorter and local preacher in his church and was an earnest laborer in the cause of his Master. Politically, he was identified with the Democratic party. John M. Fine (handwritten note: L. Abbey's grandfather) was born in Fountain County, Indiana May 13, 1842 and was reared to the life of a farmer; he received his education in the common schools at that time and when a youth of 15 he came with his father to Taylor County, Iowa. Here he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Emrick a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Market Emrick who were originally from Ohio and early settlers in Fountain County; they also emigrated to Taylor County, Iowa in 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Fine were born 8 children: William T. S.; Albert A; Mamie C; Peter D; Ada A; Rhoda B; Ira E and Casper G. Mr. Fine settled on a farm in Polk Township, Taylor County and lived there until 1886 when he bought his present farm; it consists of 273 acres of fine farming land and is improved with good buildings. He and his faithful have worked with untiring effort and by industry and frugality have accumulated a comfortable fortune. They have brought up their children to habits of thrift and economy and to appreciate the self-denial and labor they have performed in order to assist them in starting out in life for themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Fine are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their oldest son, William T. S. married Miss Emma Lasley, a daughter of Israel Lasley of this county and to them is born one child, Orpha F.