NEBEKER-Nelson - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Nelson G. NEBEKER, Superintendent of the Poor Farm of Fountain County, Ind has been a resident of this section from his birth, which occurred in 1842, he being a son of Lucas and Abigail (Gilbert) Nebeker, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1819, the latter in 1821, in Conn; she being a daguhter of Asa Gilbert, who was born in the state of Conn. Lucas Nebeker, Sr. took up his abode in Fountain County in 1824, and settled on a farm on Sec 12, Troy Township, entering some Government land. He eventually became the owenr of 580 acres of land, which he tilled in a very successful manner and on which he resided until his death in 1839. Of his brothers and sisters, John, who was born in Ohio in 1806, married Margaret Bishop, and until his death resided on the old SHelby place, where he reared a family of 9 children and took for his second wife Delila Morris; Mary, born in Ohio in 1808, was never married and died in 1869; Richard M, born in Ohio 1810, married Lucinda Long and is a resident of Fountain County; Nancy born Ohio 1816, married John Adamson, a farmer residing in the vicinity of Covington; Charlotte, born in Ohio married John McKinney and is deceased; George, a native of the Buckeye State born 1813, married Mary Steeley, and for some time resided on a farm in the vicinity of Covington. One of his sons, EH Nebeker, was US Treasurer under General Harrison. Lucas, a native of Ohio was born in 1819, as above stated and took for his second wife, Miss margaret Leach, his third wife being a Miss Insley. He became the father of 15 children, of whom the following may be mentioned: Charlotte was born in 1844, and died in 1852; Charles born in Fountain County in 1846, died in 1851; Edna I, also a native of this county born in 1848, died in 1851; Almira born in 1850 died in 1851; Clara J. born in 1852, married Will Crapp, a minister, and resides in Illinois; Asbury C, born in 1856 is a stenographer of Decatur, Ill; Martha J was born in this county in 1858, married Anderson Brugh, and resides in LaFayette, Ind; J.L. first saw the light of day in 1860 and is a resident of Chicago; Anna R, born in 1870, yet single and Nelson, the subject of this sketch. Our subject's youth was spent in assisting his father on the home farm, and during this time he fortunately secured a fair common school education, which he has since found of great service to him in conducting his affairs. In 1885 he was united in marriage to Miss Knapper, who was born in 1855, in the county in which they are at present residing, a daughter of NF Knapper, her mother's maiden name having been Morris. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Nebeker has resulted in the birth of one child, H.F. who was born in this county in 1886. In addition to attending the common schools, he entered Greencastle College at the age of 15 where he reamined from the fall of 1858 to 1861, when he dropped his books to become a votary of Mars, enlisting in the 63rd Indiana Infantry. During his three years' service he was in many engagements, among which may be mentioned the second battle of Bull Run, and was with Sherman all through the Atlanta campaign in 1864. Since that time he has devoted his attention to farming in Fountain County Ind with the exception of some time spent in Kansas, whither he went in 1870 and entered 160 acres of Government land. After remaining on this farm 5 years he returned to Indiana and here has since made his abiding place. His first purchase of land amounted to 45 acres on which he erected a substantial residence and other good farm buildings. His good judgment is well known and in 1890 he was elected Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, which he has since conducted in a very satisfactory and praiseworthy manner. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and both are teachers in Sunday School. Mr. Nebeker is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which organization he has been a member since 1882, and politically, he is a stanch Republican, although he has never aspired to public office. His grandfather was Associate Judge of the county and was on the Bench when the first man in the county was sentenced to be hanged. The Nebeker family is of German descent, but for a number of generations back have bee natives and loyal citizens of America.