KIGER-John A. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John A. Kiger, farmer, Waterman, is a son of George and Rebecca (Reid) Kiger. His father, George Kiger, was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1827 moved to Rockbridge county, Virginia, and there five children were born to him: John A., Rebecca, Sarah A., Martha, and Mary. In 1827 he moved to Parke county, Indiana, and in 1833 bought the saw-mill of Furgeson & Beckelhymer, in Fountain County. He buried his wife in Parke county in 1829, and he next married Mary Reynolds, who, after his death, moved to Illinois. He fought in the war of 1812. But one child, John A., is living. John A. Kiger was born February 6, 1816. Many a day has young John hauled saw-logs, and then worked till late hours in the mill of his father. At his father's death John bought out the heirs and controlled the mill for some years. He has secured 417 acres of land by his hard work, a part of which he has given to his children. He is a staunch republican, and has been active in the church and temperance work. He first was a member of the Baptist church, in which he was deacon, but later joined the Methodist church. Mr. Kiger was married February 2, 1827, to Eliza J. Dodson. She was born in Kentucky June 28, 1817, and died February 25, 1857, leaving nine children: George (spent three months in camp life), Elias (died at Frederick, Maryland, in the civil war), James, (spent eight months in the late war), Elizabeth, Sarah a., Caroline, and William; Rebecca and Alexander, deceased. Mr. Kiger was next married to Martha E. Nevins, October 7, 1860. She was born in Parke county, Indiana, April 29, 1839, and died February 21, 1866, leaving four children: Charles, Oscar, Ettie, and Edgar. He was last married to Nancy, daughter of William and Margaret (Odell) Bullington. She was born April 4, 1830, in Parke county, Indiana, whither her parents had come in 1825. Her father was born in Pittsylvania county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1800, and in 1807 went to Kentucky, and in 1815 came to Indiana, and in 1825 to Parke county. He aided in the removal of 1,200 Indians, going with them from Mansfield, Indiana, to St. Louis, being in their company twenty-three days. Mrs. Kiger is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. One child, Marga, died December 25, 1870.