Author Archive

Dorothy’s Dunkirk $20.00
Early Post Offices $5.00
Ghost Towns $10.00
Recollections by Wm G. Sutton of Dunkirk $10.00
Detailed descriptions of these materials follow.

Dorothy’s Dunkirk was compiled by Janice Stucky in 2006 for the Jay County Historical Society Inc. In Dorothy’s words, “I have tried to write about our town as I have seen it through the years.” Born December 4, 1900, she lived to the age of 99.
The book begins with recollections she wrote in recognition of the Sesquicentennial of Jay County in 1986. She wrote memories again between 1988 and 1993. Included are memories of her farm life in Zion School District in Knox Township. Pictures of many of the sites she describes are shown. An index of names is included. Original manuscripts used to compile this book were found in the Dunkirk City Public Library, including some articles from Dunkirk News & Sun and The Observer newspapers.   To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

Early Post Offices was originally compiled by Mrs. Robert [Treva] DePoy in 1966 as a report at the time of our state of Indiana’s Sesquicentennial. This book begins with information identifying early mail routes. Samuel Hawkins’ experience with some fugitive slaves is recounted. A table showing Jay County information from the mid-1850s includes post offices, postmasters, compensation and net proceed.  To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

Ghost Towns – Miriam’s description means these towns no longer have business places even though they may have churches and residences, or they may be in existence, but by the name given here they no longer exist. The revised edition has them listed in alphabetical order by townships. Some photos have been included. The 1864 county map and a later hand-drawn county map are included. There is an index of individual names mentioned concerning the towns. J. Walter Fiers tells of New Charleston in Wabash Township that “died a-borning”.  To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

Recollections was updated by Janice Stucky in 2006 for the Jay County Historical Society, Inc.
William Garner Sutton was born August 12, 1828, and came to Jay County at the age of nine. His family was the first to have a cabin erected in what is now Dunkirk. When he was 88 years old, Wm wrote his recollections in notes. The original notes are lost to the current generation. His great-granddaughter, Janice Sutton, is credited for typing the oldest known manuscript of his notes, which appeared in the Dunkirk City Public Library. That edition was the basis for this book. An index of names is included.  To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

1864  M. W. Montgomery with index  288 pages $15
1887 Jay County Indiana History Lewis Publishing Company biography reprint 514 pages $30
1901 Biographical Memoirs of Jay County 2 volumes 572 pages (only one copy available)
1922 History of Jay County Dr. M.T. Jay Vol. II biography reprint 540 pages  $25
1982 Jay County History Hubbard Publishing Company 415 pages $15
1988 History or Redkey 200 pages $25
1836-1986 Jay County Sesquicentennial  97 pages $10
1975 Bryant Area Centennial (temporarily out of stock)
2002 School History of Richland Township, Book 1  140 pages $20
2002 School History of Richland Township  Book 2 129 pages $20
2002 School History of Richland Township, Book 3  165 pages $25
2003 Dunkirk Sesquicentennial 35 pages $15
2003 Historic Penn Township (eight books in one) 247  pages $25
2008 A Journey Through Time (3rd Grade textbook)  80 pages $10
2010 When Grandpa Farmed 2-volume set,   278 pages $25
2011 From the Farm to the Factory – The Early History of Manufacturing in Jay County, IN  131 pages  $20

 There is a separate index included with Marcus Whitman Montgomery’s book. This is a reprint of the earliest known history of the county. It was written when Montgomery was a young newspaper editor here. An 1864 map, showing the major communities begins the book. Stories are told of the first settlers, organization of the county, college histories, and townships. It concludes with Civil War events. 

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .
 

This is a reprint of the Jay County portion of the original book published by the Lewis Publishing Company as 1887 History of Jay and Blackford Counties. Divisions include general history, settlement, county government, professional, the press, natural gas, the Civil War, communities, and indexed biographical sketches. 

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

This is a typed copy, which was done by the Jay County Genealogy Society, of the biographical section only.  It is taken from the original book published by the Bowen Publishing Company as Biographical Memoirs of Jay County. There is an index. It comes in two volumes. 

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

This book was edited by Dr. Milton T. Jay, M. D. His book had an index Only biographical material from Vol. II was reprinted. This is the PART IV section of the original book. Many portraits are included with approximately 300 biographies. 

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org . 

This book is a collection of historical sketches and family histories compiled by members and friends of the Jay County Historical Society, Inc., Portland, Indiana.

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371.

You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

Written by J. Walter Fiers, these books have excellent genealogical information of the pioneer families living in their districts is given.
They were compiled in 2002 for the former Jay County Genealogy from a series of weekly newspaper articles of Mr. Fiers published in the Redkey Times newspaper. The articles are devoted to history of Richland Township schools, beginning with the Booth and Wade log schools.
Major family names in Book 1 are Allegre, Anderson, Andrew, Andrews, Armstrong, Beekman, Booth, Bridgford, Bromagem, Brooks, Burns, Campbell, Caylor, Clore, Clouse, Coons, Current, Daugherty, Davis, Evans, Ewing, Hesser, Hoppes, Kern, Manor, Mitchell, Pierce, Redkey, Reeves, Richardson, Roberts, Smith, Sutton, Wade, and Wilson.To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .
The building of the five Halfway Schools – three of which were brick – is told in Book 2. It is from the name of this school that the Halfway Lodge in Redkey got its name. Major names in Book 2 include the following: Allegre, Anderson, Andrew, Bell, Booth, Boots, Carder, Clore, Coons, Current, Daugherty, Dragoo, Evans, Ewing, Fulkerson, Green, Hamilton, Hesser, Hickman, Hoppes, Jackson, Kern, Manor, McKinney, McVey, Nibarger, Redkey, Reed, Rook, Shrack, Smith, Stewart, Sutton, Wade, and Wilson. To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .
Book 3 concludes with Mr. Fiers’ obituary. Major names included are: Anderson, Bell, Bridgford, Brooks, Brotherton, Carl/Carle, Clevenger, Coons, Current, Daugherty, Dragoo, Dunn, Ewing, Fiers, Fulkerson, Gunckel, Hall, Hayes, Hesser, Hickman, Holley, Hoppes, Horn, Jackson, Kern, LaFollette, Manor, McKee, McKinney, Orr, Phillips, Pierce, Redkey, Rees, Richardson, Roberts, Ross, Smith, Stewart, Sutton, Wade, Whetsel, Whipple, and Wilson.
To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

Compiled by Oma Scruggs, Dunkirk-the Glass Capital of Indiana-Sesquicentennial, is a review of the founders, early churches an schools, the discovery of natural gas, businesses and the glass factories.

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org

Historic Penn Township is a compilation of eight small books about

Penn Township for the former Jay County Genealogy Society by Janice Stucky in 2003. Titles included are as follows: A. EARLY DAYS IN PENN TOWNSHIP PUBLISHED IN 1926-1927 B. SOUVENIR BOOKLET, INDIANA SESQUICENTENNIAL 1816-1966 C. GRIEST 1915-1923 HISTORY Balbec and Vicinity D. YE OLD SCRAP BOOK Issue XII E. RUBY CROSBIE’S HISTORY F. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD G. FROM RUBY CROSBIE’S SCRAPBOOK… H. PERSONALITIES I. PHOTO ALBUM J. INDEX Some original materials may be seen in the Indiana Room at the Jay County Public Library, the Pennville Public Library, the Genealogy Department of the Jay County Historical Society, Inc. To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

This history is the current third grade textbook for students in the Jay School Corporation. It tells the early settlement of Jay County, maps showing Jay County’s location, a time line listing the “firsts” in Jay County from 1816-2007. A brief history is given for each of the major communities – Bryant, Dunkirk, New Corydon, Pennville, Portland, Redkey, and Salamonia. Schools featured are Liber College, Farmers’ Academy, Eastern Indiana Normal School, and the current schools in the Jay School Corporation. The county courthouses are featured. This book has a glossary of terms and bibliography.

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .

The history of agriculture in Jay County was written in two volumes.

 Volume I has the 1850 Agriculture Census of  Jay County. It tells the name of the owner, agent of manager of the farm, acreage, value of farm equipment, animals crops, produce, and homemade manufactures. It also includes an adaptation The Good Old Days, a collection of pictures and articles written by the Pennville History Club in 1970-71, under the supervision of Frank Cline. Names included in this volume are indexed in Volume II.

Volume II includes family stories. Surnames include Avey, Axe, Bailey, Bash, Bernhart, Binegar, Bowen, Bubp, Bye, Campbell, Dilts, Fultz, Garringer, Giff, Gilpin, Glentzer, Haffner, Hammitt, Hedges, Hiles, Hilfiker, Hoagland, Hoover, Hudson, James, Journay, Larsh, Leavell, Locker, Longerbone, McBride, Miller, Morehous, Mumby, Odle, Oehler, Orr, Outcalt, Reinhart, Rice, Schmidt, Shawver, Sheffer, Sherman, Shreeve, Stolz, Simmons, Steed, Stephen, Stephenson, Stultz, Sudhoff, Symons, Theurer, Thomas, Treece, and Zimmerman.

Two farm-related businesses are Caster/Hudson Wool, Hides, and Fur Company and Loy’s Sale Barn.  Jay County”s Hoosier Homestead awards are listed. An article entitled Three Out of Four – A Trip Around Jay County in 1889, published by the Commercial Review, tells of the editor’s travels around Jay County as he tried to renew subscriptions to the newspaper. The story is told of Norman Rockwell’s The County Agent and Rockwell’s visit to Jay County. The index for both volumes appears only in Volume II.

From the Farm to the Factory – The Early History of Manufacturing in Jay County, Indiana, by Jane Ann Spencer, is a partial record of the early manufacturing businesses of Jay County. It begins with the manufacturing census of Jay County, Indiana, for 1850-1870. Included are the oldest manufacturers still in operation. They are: The Portland Forge, Verallia (a Saint-Gobain company division glass container factory formerly known as Maring-Hart, Hart, Armstrong Cork, Kerr and Ball Incon Glass Packaging) of Dunkirk, and Red Gold (formerly Naas Foods) of Portland and Geneva.

Other businessses included are: Adams Stave and Heading Company, Bimel Auto Spoke and Wheel Company, The Creamery Package Manufacturing Company, known as the “Butter Tub”, Sheller Manufacturing Corporation, Portland Body Works, Joseph Lay Broom Factory, Standard Brush and Broom, Haynes Milling Company, Willman-Hampton Bakery, Portland Tile and Hollow Building Block Works, Journey Wagon Factory, Wilson Frank and Sons Greenhouse, CAAR Canning Factory, Knocker Shirt Factory, The Jay Garment Company and The Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

To purchase materials contact the Jay County Historical Society at 903 East Main Street, Portland, IN 47371. You may call 1-260-726-7168 or e-mail research@jaycountyhistory.org .