Homer Teeters, county surveyor of Jay county and formerly and for years engaged hereabout in the road and bridge contracting line, is a native son of Jay county and has lived here all his life. He is a member of one of the real pioneer families of this county, his great-grandfather, David Teeters, having settled here with his family about the time Jay county was erected as a separate civic unit in the group of counties which go to make up the state of Indiana. David Teeters settled on a tract of Government land in Noble township, where he established his home. One of his sons, John H, Teeters, grandfather of Homer Teeters, also became a landowner in that township and reared his family there, one of his sons, Hiram Teeters, father of Homer Teeters, in turn establishing his home there after his marriage. Hiram Teeters married Sarah A. Houndeshell, who also was born in Noble township, a member of one of the pioneer families there, and became one of the substantial members of that community, the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres. He and his wife had nine children, those besides the subject of this sketch the fourth in order of birth being Dora, Pearl, Margaret, Orville, Russell, Elmer, Glenn and Fred.
Homer Teeters was born on the home farm in Noble township, August 29, 1882, and was reared there, receiving his schooling in the Metzner school. He remained at home, an assistant to his father in the operations of the farm, until he had attained his majority when he became engaged in the road and bridge building business, becoming a general contractor and continuing in that line for twelve years, or until his election in 1916 to the office of surveyor of Jay county. When about twenty-four years of age Mr. Teeters had entered upon a three-year course in surveying and mapmaking with the International Correspondence School and was graduated from that institution, thereafter giving considerable attention to surveying in connection with his other work. He was the first surveyor to occupy that office in the new court house and so admirably has he discharged the duties of the office that by successive re-elections he is now serving his third term in office. Mr. Teeters is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church at Portland.
On June 9, 1904, Homer Teeters was united in marriage
to Lolah E. Thornton, who also was born in Noble township, and to this union
three children have been born, Edna, James and Mary, the first named of whom
is a member of the class of 1924, Portland high school. Mrs. Teeters is a
daughter of James and Mary (Arnold) Thornton, also members of pioneer
families in this county. James Thornton is a landowner in Noble township and
has also for years been engaged in ditch contracting. He and his wife have
had five children, four of whom are living, those besides Mrs. Teeters being
Sylvia, Charles and Harley.
SOURCE: Milton T. Jay,
M.D.,History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922,
Vol. II, p.75-76. Transcribed by Eloine Chesnut