Descendants of Jonathan Wickersham
& associated families
contributed by G. Davis

....with....
LaPorte Co. Research done by D. Nelson & D. West

Anyone wishing to add further information on the Wickersham or any of their associated families, please contact me.
Email address can be found on this Links Page

Jonathan Wickersham (Samuel, Richard, Thomas) was born in 1779 York County, Pennsylvania,
m.1 on 3 Jun 1805 to Jane Beeson in Frederick County, Virginia,
m.2 on 1 Mar 1816 Mary Scarff in Frederick County, he died 17 Apr 1824.

It appears as if Jonathan lived in Virginia for the rest of his life after marrying Jane Beeson. He is listed in the 1810 and 1820 Federal Censuses for Berkeley County. In the 1830 census, Mary is listed as head of household. In a letter from his brother, Samuel, to his brother, Isaac, Samuel indicates that he believes Jonathan to be living in Virginia.

Source 1: The Wickersham Family in America. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 2001.
Please see site listed under Title of this page for more information on this family before arriving in this county.
We will basically cover the Wickersham and associated families that came to LaPorte County from Greene County, Ohio.

1st wife of Jonathan: Jane Beeson was b 1773 and d 1815 in Frederick County, Virginia, the daughter of Edward and Jane (Pugh) Beeson. Jonathan and Jane were both disowned at Hopewell MM 3 June 1805 for "marrying contrary to discipline."
Information on known children of Jonathan & Jane is as follows:

Maria m. James Evans 26 Nov 1822 in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia. Maria d in 1841 and James d 17 Sep 1828 in Greene County, Ohio. He was the son of Isaac, Jr., and Mary E. (Strode) Evans. Maria is also known as Mary. She is buried in Xenia Woodlawn Cemetery in Greene County, Ohio.

Narina m 1st to Isaac Perkins on 28 Apr 1835 in Highland County, Ohio. Then she married for a 2nd time to Eli Bryan on 15 Dec 1859.

Jonathan's second wife: Mary’s name is spelled Scarf in the Frederick County marriage records and Scharff in other records. Mary is buried in Pinhook Cemetery in New Durham, LaPorte County, Indiana. She d 15 Sep 1876 at age 90 yrs, 9 mo, 12 dy. This would indicate her birth date as 3 Dec 1785.

Edward : Did not come to LaPorte County - Go to -    http://homepages.dunelady.com/~wicker/   for additional information on this individual

Jane B Wickersham - Mrs. Aaron Peterson,
New Info. b. on or about February 2, 1817 who died 25 July 1867 and was 50 yrs 5 mo 23 da. - wf of Aaron - m. in Greene Co., Ohio 28 Mar 1838
Argument 1. She appears in the West Virginia Estate Settlements, Berkeley County, 1815-1850 in a dispute of fathers will. Filed on her behalf on June 14, 1830.
Argument 2. Proximity living arrangement in New Durham, near Mary Wickersham.
Argument 3. Proximity of marriage to Aaron Peterson in Greene County, Ohio where family dwelled for an undetermined amount of time.

Francis - New info: is also buried in Pinhook Cemetery. I Believe she was also daughter of Mary Wickersham (Ref: see 1850 Federal Census, LaPorte Co., IN, New Durham Twp page 316A & Inscription on stone in Pinhook Cemetery.
Argument 1. She appears in the West Virginia Estate Settlements, Berkeley County, 1815-1850 in a dispute of fathers will. Filed on her behalf on June 14, 1830.
Argument 2. Proximity living arrangement in New Durham, with Mary Wickersham.
Argument 2. Burial location, proximity of burial in comparison to burial of Mary.

Additional info on known children of Jonathan & Mary who came to LaPorte County is as follows:
Both James Wickersham and Eliza D Wickersham's Husband, William Medaris, own quite a bit of property within New Durham Twp, LaPorte Co., IN. as viewed on the 1862 and 1874 plat maps.
Refs: 1862 New Durham Twp, Map of LaPorte Co., Indiana published by Geil, Leamings & Cathcart - Philadelphia
& New Durham - An Illustrated Historical Atlas of La Porte Co., Indiana, higgins, Belden & Co., Chicago - 1874

Eliza D (Wickersham) wife of William S. Medaris  Proximity being the clue here, Eliza and husband are living next door to her mother. Also they are buried close to her mother in Pinhook Cemetery as are 5 of William & Eliza's children. - According to "The History of Pioneer LaPorte County", compiled by Gene McDonald and printed in January, 1966 - William S. Medaris, Eliza's husband, opened a blacksmith shop to make wagons. And in the 1850 census we see a Rufus Sovereign living at the same residence and he is a wagon maker. According to the 1860 and 1870 census, William is now operating a Saw Mill.  The Medaris children were; Charles E, Franklin E, John M, James A, and twins , Mary , William F., and Hiram born in 1866.

Rebecca Wickersham - married William Metcalf 1 Feb 1849 in La Porte County, Indiana and she died 28 Sep 1854 in New Durham, LaPorte County. Rebecca and William are found in the 1850 Federal Census for LaPorte County, Indiana. William was b ca 1812 and was married previous to his marriage to Rebecca in 1832 in Hampshire County, Virginia. He was a Methodist Minister. They had at least one child, Sarah b 1849. William is a Justice of the Peace in LaPorte county. It is unknown at this time where Rebecca and William's final resting place can be found. Many grave stones were missed when readings of both Pinhook and Westville Cemetery stones were done several years ago.

James Wickersham (Jonathan, Samuel, Richard, Thomas) b 3 Aug 1819 in Virginia, m 22 Jul 1846 Susannah Sanders in Greene County, Ohio, he died in December of 1907, New Durham Township, La Porte County, Indiana and she died before him in 1900.

Children of James Franklin and Cora (Thomas) Wickersham are as follow:

Ralph L. b Apr 1882 m Emma Vandewaller (Should probably read Vandewalker)
Mable C. b Nov 1884
James W. b Jul 1888
Arthur M. b Apr 1893 d. July 1949 - Obituary appeared newspaper 7/14/1949

Source: History of La Porte County, Indiana - 1880 Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago, 1880 
Wickersham, James - p. 788 - Mentioned as a boarder with Dr. Vaughn Wickersham,
Jane B - p. 801- From the Bio o Aaron Peterson - "Aaron Peterson was born in Hardy county, VA., March 3, 1815, and is a son of Jacob and Hannah Peterson, deceased; natives of Virginia. Mr. Peterson was reared on a farm, and educated in a common school, in Clinton county, Ohio, whither his parents had removed in 1818. He was married in 1839 to Miss Jane B. Wickersham, by whom he has had 8 children; of these, 6 are living, viz.: Virginia A., James A., Hannah M., Elizabeth A., Charles A., and Arthur E. One son, William H., was killed at the battle of Stone River, during the struggle for liberty in 1862. Mr. Peterson came to this county in 1848, where he now resides on a nice 100 acre farm, sec. 23, engaged in farming and stock-raising." (Webmaster note - See Pin Hook for Jane B Peterson burial)
Wickersham, Robert - p 788 - Mentioned as a boarder with Dr. Vaughn

The 1904 references are from: "A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of LaPorte County, Indiana", Rev. E. D. Daniels, Author and Editor - The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1904:
Wickersham, Frank - p 355 - in 1904, listed as township vice president of LaPorte County Farmers Institute.
Wickersham, James - p 97 - same as 1880 history, mentioning Robert & James as boarders at Dr. Vaughn's

Jonathan d in Apr 1850. He is buried in Pinhook Cemetery in New Durham, LaPorte County, Indiana.
Mary Luganie "Ganie" was living at home with her parents in 1880. Her age is given as 28. Another Mary also appears with them, however, she is 84 years of age. This is probably James' mother.

Herman Beach resided in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. m. Fannie Snyder she was born Apr 1866 in Minnesota. She had a daughter, Blanche, by a previous marriage.

Schuyler d in 1870 and he is buried in Pinhook Cemetery in New Durham, LaPorte County, Indiana.
See Cemetery listing

Susannah (Susan) was b in 1827 and d in 1900, according to cemetery records. She is buried in Pinhook Cemetery in New Durham, LaPorte County, Indiana. She is listed as age 48, b in Ohio, in the 1880 Federal Census for La Porte County, Indiana.

James is buried in Pinhook Cemetery, New Durham, LaPorte County, Indiana he died in December of 1907 Obituary appears in the Michigan City News page 5 Column 3 on Dec 11, 1907.

1880 Federal Census, LaPorte Co., IN, New Durham Twp page 267D : lists Frank & Cora (Thomas) Wickersham same census as James Wickersham (Franks father) and James' wife Susan with many of their children are listed on page 145B

George's death can be viewed at -

LaPorte County Biography Page