Parke County Indiana Biographies  -  I

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INNIS, O. J. ., one of the enterprising businessmen of Rockville was born in Millerstown PA September 5, 1826.  When he was a small child his father moved, with his family to W. Hanover near Harrisburg, PA and thence to Canonsburg in the same state in 1840.  In that year the subject of this sketch left home and ret. To W. Hanover where he remained till June 1843 and thence with his uncle's family removed to Terre Haute arriving in that city in July of that year.  From that time till January 1845, Mr. Innis was clerk in the dry goods store of Shultz & Porterfield Terre Haute.  He then entered the store of George W. LANGWORTHY at Rosedale and took charge his business, remaining till Mr. Langworthy sold out in the fall of 1845, when he came to Rockville and after remaining about two months took a stock of goods and returned to Roseville, and remained in business there for D.C. WALLACE till the fall of 1846.  On the 17th of February 1846 he was married to Miss Mary E. SIBLEY daughter Elisha Sibley of T. H. .  By this married he has had 4 children, all deceased but one.  In 1846, he went to Terre Haute and engaged in selling goods for Dixon PORTERFIELD which he continued to do till the fall of 1848.  In April 1848, he returned again to Rockville and commenced selling goods for the merchants here -- first for G. W.  SILL then for GK STEELE and finally for Isaac J. SILLIMAN; and in 1853, went into partnership with the latter and J. M. NICHOLS under the firm name of William, Innis & Nichols, continuing till the spring of 1855 when he went into the family grocery business in the firm of INNIS & HOUGHMAN.  On the 5th of September, 1855, he bought the stock of hardware, stove etc of Joseph BALLARD and run the hardware business until 18 __ and took in J. M.  COX as partner, to whom he sold out in 1866.  Since .. Innis has been engaged in various agencies, such as insurance, express.  He is at present agent of the American Express Co. At Rockville. As a businessman, Mr. Innis has displayed the qualities of energy, foresight and perseverance and has made his enterprises, upon the whole, successful.  What he has gained, he has acquired by his own exertions and has a reputation for honor and integrity in all his business relations.  He is a Republican in politics and has held various offices of responsibility and trust, in all of which he has sought the welfare and prosperity of the town and county in which he resides. Taken from the 1874 Parke Co In Atlas, p 29)

IRELAND, J.N., merchant, Montezuma, was born in Orange County, NY in 1814.  At 14 years of age, he went to NY City and engaged as clerk in the grocery business, where he remained for some time, and in the fall of 1843 he came to Lafayette, Indiana, where he again engaged as clerk in the same business.  After remaining one year he went to Eugene, Indiana, where he embarked in the grocery business for himself.  In 1849, he removed to Montezuma, where he has been engaged in his former business ever since  He started in life without anything but a determination to succeed, and by paying strict attention to his business he not only owns a fine brick store, in which he carries on business, but has other property in the village of Montezuma.  His father was John Ireland, and his mother Azubah WOOD.  The latter part of their lives were spent with Mr. Ireland.  His father died in 1858, in his 84th year and his mother in about 1875, being over 91 years of age.  Mr. Ireland is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Presbyterian Church.  By his honest dealings with his many customers he has not only been able to retain their patronage, but has continually added many new ones.  (Beadle, J.H.  1880 History of Parke County, Indiana (from Historic notes on the Wabash Valley and History of Vigo County) Chicago: H. H. Hill & N. Iddings, Publishers reprinted 1977 by The Bookmark, Knightstown IN) - Ireland, J.N., after clerking in a grocery store in NY City and Lafayette, IN and conducting a store of his own at Eugene, Vermillion County, came to Montezuma in1849.  His trade at Montezuma was quite large and he continued as one of the town's foremost business men for many years.  he was born in Orange Co NY and at the age of 14 went to NY City after which time he was entirely dependent on his own resources.  His life was exemplary and he was always held in the highest esteem in the community where he finally located permanently. (Taken from the Historical Sketch of Parke Co Atlas of  IN Centennial, 1816-1916, Page27)