last known residence: Per, NE in 1914
One of twins.
One of twins.
Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana.
Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 989-990.WILLIAM J. PARKISON, son of Ebenezer and Isabella (Johnston) Parkison, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 25, 1845. In September, 1847, he was brought by his parents to Wells County, they settling on section 4 of Lancaster Township. He was reared on the home farm to agricultural pursuits, remaining with his parents until attaining his majority. When twenty-one years of age he began life for himself. May 30, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Maddux, who was born in Wells County, October 28, 1845, a daughter of Jacob Maddux, who settled in the county in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Parkison are the parents of six children: Delner Grant, Charles F., Anna Belle, Harry C., Minona F. and Oliver W. Mr. and Mrs. Parkison began housekeeping on a farm owned by John Osborne, located in Jefferson Township, where they spent one year. They then removed to section 83 of the same township, and commenced improving a small farm. Two years later they removed to Cass County, Indiana, where they followed farming three years, returning to the homestead of Mr. Parkison�s parents, in Lancaster Township. Two years later they went to Allen County, returning to the old homestead in Wells County in 1880, where Mr. Parkison has since been extensively engaged in the manufacture of tile and terra cotta at Kingsland Station in connection with his farming pursuits. He has made most valuable improvements in ovens used for burning tile and terra cotta, and for utilizing the heat in drying sheds, by which he believes two-thirds of the fuel generally used can be saved. Ebenezer Parkison, the father of our subject, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 13, 1818, a son of Thomas and Eunice (Coe) Parkison, the father born in Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, and the mother a native of Virginia. They were pioneers of Jefferson County, Ohio, and in 1816 removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where they lived until their death. Ebenezer Parkison was married in Wayne County, September 24, 1840, to Isabel Johnston, who was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1811, a daughter of William Johnston. They came to Wells County in 1847, as before stated, bringing with them two children, a daughter, Margaret A., who is now the wife of Elisha O. Huss, and William J., the subject of this sketch. Three children were born to them after coming to Wells County, as follows: Philo John, who died aged fifteen years; Eunice, and Johnston S., of Ossian, Wells County. On coming to the county the father purchased 240 acres of land in Lancaster Township, of which a few acres had been cleared, and a log cabin built. Here this old pioneer cleared and improved his land, bringing it under good cultivation, and has since made his home on the land on which he first settled in Wells County. He was bereaved by the death of his wife, June 26, 1886.
Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 847-848.
SAMUEL J. McAFEE resides on section 4, Lancaster Township, where he has one of the best improved farms in his part of the county. His fine residence was erected in 1886, and his farm buildings are correspondingly good, the entire surroundings of the place proving the owner to be a thorough, practical farmer. The homestead was first opened by his father, James McAfee, who was the first man to introduce underdrainage in Wells County, which he did in 1855. The farm, consisting of eighty-four acres, contains 1,200 rods of tile drainage. The parents of our subject, James and Rachel (Dinsmore) McAfee, were born in County Antrim, Ireland, and were descendants of the Scotch Covenanters. Immediately after their marriage they came to America, and for a short time made their home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Samuel J. was born December 29, 1829. Soon after his birth they removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where the mother died in 1844, and in 1853 the father came to Wells County, Indiana, with his family. He was married again, taking for his second wife Miss Eliza Cherry. He died on the old homestead in Lancaster Township, July 9, 1861, in his fifty-eighth year. William J. McAfee, a brother of our subject, lives at Bluffton. He has two step-sisters, Mrs. Matilda J. Earl, living in Lancaster, and Hannah M. Samuel J. McAfee was reared on the home farm in Lancaster Township, remaining there until his marriage September 28, 1865, to Miss Rachel Nelson, who was born in Wells County, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Nelson, of Lancaster Township, her parents being pioneers of the county. She died November 9, 1871, leaving two daughters, Etta A. and Florence E. Mr. McAfee was married a second time, September 29, 1873, to Miss Catherine Maddux, born in Lancaster Township, December 28, 1848, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maddux, and to this union were born two sons– Ernest W. and Jacob M. Mr. Maddux came from Miami County, Ohio, to Wells County in the pioneer days, and settled on section 9, Lancaster Township, in 1838, where he entered 160 acres of Government land. He was a native of Pennsylvania. After clearing a little of his land and erecting a cabin in Lancaster Township, he married Anna Evans, whom he brought to his pioneer home. To them were born five children– John N. died after reaching manhood; Martha J., wife of W. J. Parkinson, of Lancaster Township; Catherine, wife of our subject; Sarah, wife of Elijah Miller, of Lancaster Township, where he lives on part of the old homestead, and Alice, wife of Isaiah Bush, who also lives on the old homestead. The parents lived to an advanced age, the father dying February 9, 1884, at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother dying two months later at the age of sixty-five years. For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McAfee lived on rented land on section 8, Lancaster Township, when they went to Allen County. One year later they returned to Wells County, to the old homestead of his parents, of which he is now the owner, and here they have since made their home. Both are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. McAfee has always been a Republican.