From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 534

Thomas Failing was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., March 20, 1796. He was married Dec. 8, 1818, to Catherine Klock, and to them were born five children-- Ann, wife of Edwin Benedict; Elizabeth, widow of Abram Drygart; Nancy, widow of Jacob Young; Adam, and Mariette, wife of I.D. Miner, of Branch County, Mich. In 1835 Mr. Failing moved with his family to Tecumseh, Mich. In 1836 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and located land on section 35, Jamestown Township, and 160 acres in Scott Township. In 1837 he moved his family to Steuben County and settled in Jamestown Township, clearing and improving his land on section 35, and in 1860 he moved to section 33. He had $400 when he came to the county, which he laid out in land, and by hard work accumulated a large property and left his children in comfortable circumstances. He was in politics a Democrat, but cast his last Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, but there being no churches of their choice in the township when they settled here, never united with any church. Mrs. Failing died Oct. 24, 1871, after a married life of over fifty years. Mr. Failing died Nov. 18, 1883. He was an upright, honorable gentleman and had many friends, especially among the early settlers of the county.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com