My Genealogy Hound

JAMES HENRY, Jr., farmer, P. O. Ripley. The grandparent of this subject, James, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, where he raised a family. Subsequently, he, with his son James, the father of our subject, who married Miss Sarah Baird, moved and settled in this township, where James, Jr., was born in 1820. James, Sr., raised a family of six children, five of whom are residents of this county. His death occurred in this county, in 1851. James, Jr., was married in 1842, to Miss Ruth, daughter of John Day, a family of early pioneers, of Pleasant Township, where she was born in 1822. This union has been blessed with ten children, nine of whom are living, viz.: Joseph, Frank, Charles, Lucy, John, Etha, James, Jr., Richard and Sarah. Mr. H. began the battle of life empty-handed. Possessed of a natural ambition, and having but limited opportunity for educational advancement, he applied himself in the physical forces of his nature to attain success. For fourteen years he rented farms, and in March, 1864, settled upon the estate of his present home, consisting of 135 acres. In 1873, he erected a large and commodious residence at a cost of about $4,000, which, with all its improvements, is one of the finest in the township. He has made a subsequent purchase of 383 acres adjoining the homestead, and has one of the finest farming localities in the county. Mr. H. has for many years been connected with the Presbyterian Church of Ripley, and is widely and favorably known.