My Genealogy Hound

REV. J. A. WHITELEY, farmer and minister, post-office Avilla, is a native of Kentucky, born in Pulaski county, April 4, 1818. When seven years old his parents moved to Tennessee, where they remained three years; then to Indiana, where they lived one year; thence to Clay county, Ill., where the family lived during the Black Hawk War, and three of his brothers were volunteers. At the age of twenty he pre-empted forty acres of land, which he improved, and afterwards purchased eighty-one acres. He was married there, Jan. 10, 1839, to Miss Caroline Walters, a native of Illinois, born in Sangamon county, March 16, 1823. He moved to Iowa in 1852, locating in Marion county, and purchased 120 acres of land, upon which he lived two years; then moved to Wayne county, where he lived twelve years; thence back to Marion county, and from there to Barry county, Mo. Became a resident of Jasper county in 1877, and purchased a farm of ninety acres near Avilla. Bought the farm upon which he now lives in 1882, consisting of ninety acres, sixty-five under cultivation, with good buildings, orchard, etc. Mr. Whiteley entered the ministry and commenced preaching the gospel according to the tenets of the Primitive Baptist Church in 1854, since which time he has been an earnest worker in the Lord’s vineyard. He was the only preacher to hold regular meeting in Wayne county, Iowa, during the war. Has always observed the injunction of the Saviour, and takes “neither money nor scrip,” but preaches the gospel for humanity and salvation’s sake, and wins his bread and has supported his family “by the sweat of his face” and the occupation of a husbandman. Is self-made, self-educated, and self-reliant, and has never received but seven months schooling in his life. At this writing he has pastoral charge of three churches, and is also moderator of the Center Creek Association. He has reared a family of seven: Mary E., wife of John Root; Naomi C., wife of Isaac Porter; Christiana J., wife of Abel Still; Rebecca H., wife of William Kenyon; John W.; Elmira, wife of P. F. Jones; and James H.