Stoddard - James M.
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana: with personal sketches of representative citizens.
Indianapolis Ind.: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1913, p. 624.
The record of a life well spent, of triumphs, of persererance under difficulties and steady advancement from a modest beginning to a place of honor and distinction in the world's affairs, when imprinted on the pages of history, present to the youth of the rising generation an example worthy of emulation and may also be studied with profit by those of more mature years whose achievements have not kept pace with their expectations. Dominated by the highest principles of integrity and honor was the course of the late James M. Stoddard, one of the well known citizens of Montgomery County during a past generation. He was a man who placed true values on men and events, so that he was essentially democratic and unassuming and showed the intrinsic strength and loyalty of his character. His benevolences and his charity were always from a fulness of heart and never from a desire to gain the plaudits of his fellows. He knew the spring of human motive and action so that he was kindly and tolerant in his judgment and ever ready to lend a helping hand to any worthy movement. His long residence in the vicinity of Linden, his upright life and mature judgment, and the many services he rendered have made his name a synonym for character and worth. He was imbued with the deepest and most helpful public-spirit, and he was well fortified in his opinions as to matters of public policy and gave of his best to the furthering of good government, as he was neglectful of no civic duty. It is scarcely necessary to say that in the inviolable precincts of an ideal home life the true nobility of Mr. Stoddard found perfect apotheosis, but there is no desire in thjis connection to lift the sacred feil of the fireside circle. Pure, constant and noble was the spiritual flame that burned in and illumined the mortal tenement of the subject of this memoir, and to the superficial observer can come but small appreciation of his intrinsic spirituality, his faith being fortified by the deepest study and the Christian verities were with him the matters of most concern among the changes and chances of this mortal life. No man with his intellectual vigor and the love of truth which marked him could live long without inevitably being brought to investigate the great moral laws governing life in fact he was a strong man in every respect and was successful in all he undertood. Mr. Stoddard was born in the year 1828 in Connersville, Indiana and was a son of Orren and Mary C. Chantz Stoddard. The father was born in Connecticut in 1789. The mother was born in PA in 1781, and their family consisted of 11 children, all of whom are now deceased. These parents came to Montgomery County in 1830, locating on land purchased from the government, north of the village of Linden. The country was then a wilderness and settlers were few. Here the parents of our subject worked hard, endured the hardships incidental to life on the frontier and spent the rest of their days, the death of Orren Stoddard occuring in 1855, his widow surviving until 1867. James M. Stoddard worked on the home farm and helped develop the same from the virgin soil. Schools were few and the terms short in those days, so our subject had little opportunity to obtain an education but he later became a well read man conversant with the current topics of the day. Early in life he began farming for himself and this continued to be his vocation, in connection with stock raising and he was very successful. Mr. Stoddard was very much interested in politics, working zealously for whatever party he thought was right, having been in turn a supporter of the Democrats, Know Nothings, Republicans and Greenbackers. He was the choice of the last named party for joint-representative from Montgomery and Parke Counties and was elected in 1876, his choice being eminently satisfactory to the people and a most worthy career in the state legislature was predicted for him. But Fate interposed and just before being sworn in to this important office, he was called to his eternal rest, his death occuring Nov 25, 1876, after a successful and honorable life. On AUg 15, 1867, Mr. Stoddard was united in marriage to Jane McGovney, a daughter of Robert and "Sally" McGovney. She was born in Adams Co Ohio Feb 16, 1835 and came with her parents to Montgomery County, Indiana when 7 years of age. Robert McGovney was born in 1802, Adams Co Ohio and was a son of James and Agnes McGovney, who were natives of Ireland from which country they emigrated to the US in an early day, locating in Adams Co Ohio where they both died. Robert McGovney received a meager education and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade. He married Alice Mason, daughter of Thomas Mason, a Revolutionary soldier, who died in Montgomery county. Robert McGovney farmed and worked at his trade until his death in 1878. The death of his wife occurred many years before, in the year 1845. Six children were born to Robert McGovney and wife, only one living at this writing, namely, Mrs. ELiza Bennett, widow of John H. Bennett, both deceased; Jane, widow of James M. Stoddard of this review, the only one living; Mrs. DOra Layton, deceased wife of Albert Layton; Marilla Ann, deceased, married Moses Washburn. Two others died in infancy. The four children named all living past 70 years of age.
Montgomery County, Indiana
Source: Atlas of Montgomery County (Chicago: Beers, 1878) p 51 (two below from same source; same page)
STODDARD, James M., deceased. Orren Stoddard, a native of Connecticut, and Mary C. CHANTZ of Pennsylvania, were married and located in Connersville, Ind. Here a family of 11 children were born to them, which they named as follows: Joel; Thomas; Benjamin; John; Daniel; Moseley; Orren; Nelson; Hannah (afterward Mrs. A. MORROW); Elizabeth (wife of Thompson PARKS), and James M. Stoddard. Nelson died in infancy at Connersville. In 1830, Mr. Stoddard moved with his family to Montgomery Co, locating upon land just North of Linden, purchased by him from the government. Here he raised his family and made his home until death, which occurred in 1855, at the age of 68 years. His wife survived him several years and died Feb. 28, 1867 at the age of 81. James M, the youngest member of the family, was born in 1828, assisted his father in farming until after he became of age; he then engaged in farming and stock raising for himself; in which he was very successful. Later in life he erected a warehouse in Linden; and engaged in buying and shipping grain. August 15, 1867, he married Miss Jane McGOVNEY, daughter of Robert and Sarah McGovney, who settled in Montgomery Co, Indiana in 1840. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard located a home in Linden. Mr. James M. Stoddard was a man who took deep interest in the political movements of his day; at first he was of the "old Line Democracy," but when Know-Nothingism swept its tidal wave over the country, became a worker in that cause; when Republicanism annihilated the Whig party, he worked in their ranks until the passage of the Resumption Act and the demonetization of silver; this caused him to affiliate with the Greenback party; he became their chosen leader as Joint Rep. to the Legislature for Parke & Montgomery Counties, and by the fusion of Democratic votes was elected in 1876. Previous to the assembling of the Legislature, the messenger of death called him, as we trustee, to a seat in a more august assembly, and thus ended his labors here below. He was a firm advocate of temperance; and in all question of morality he was ready to espouse the side of justice and equity; was a member of the Christian or New Light Church, and bequeathed them $2000 the interest of which is to be used by them so long as Christian character remains the test of Christian fellowship. He left his widow a comfortable home, at whose instance his portrait and this sketch appear in the Atlas.