Jeremiah M Bishir (1800 - 1875)

Born 13 Jun 1800 in York, Pennsylvania, USA

Husband of Ester (Millet) Bishir — married 1 Nov 1827 in Warren, Ohio, USA

Husband of Elizabeth (Welch) Bishir — married 2 Nov 1837 (to about 1842) in Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States

Husband of Malinda Grace Gillam — married 1845 in Jasper, Indiana, USA

Husband of Harriet Baum Asba — married 7 Oct 1861 in Monticello, White, Indiana, USA

Descendants

Died 21 May 1875 at age 74 in Monticello, White, Indiana, USA

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Biography

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVX-81C : accessed 4 May 2016), Jeremiah Bishir, White county, White, Indiana, United States; citing family 167, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• Find A Grave Memorial# 34661707

• entered 80 acres in section 8 and Robert Newell 80 acres in section 18; John Bostick, 80 acres in section 12, on the 12th of October, same year; Joseph H. Graham, 80 acres in section 8, November 15, 1830; John Stockton, 80 acres in section 7, on November 20th, and Jeremiah Bisher filed his claim on December 20th, also of the year 1830.

• JEREMIAH BISHER

Among the old-timers who settled previous to the organization of the township, and whose name has already appeared, was Jeremiah Bisher. Even in his younger manhood he appears to have been rather an eccentric character; it will be remembered that he was brought before the Circuit Court, at its first session, charged with malicious mischief in tying the tail of one of his neighbor's fractious horses, thereby causing the animal to injure itself. But be survived that ordeal as well as many trials of a more serious nature incident to a resident of some forty-four years in Union Township. His death occurred on his large and comfortable homestead, four miles southwest of Monticello, in May, 1875, and his remains were buried in the old Kenton grave yard about a mile from his

• SETTLED BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP WAS ORGANIZED

Quite a number of settlers, most of them with their families, located in what is now Union Township before the county was organized, the most prominent of these being John Rothrock and his son, Robert; Peter Price, John Roberts, Reuben Stout, James Shafer, Jeremiah Bisher, Hans Erasmus Hiorth, Peter B. Smith, Melchi Gray, Matthew Hopper, Zebulon Sheetz; Samuel Gray, James Spencer, William Orr, John Orr, Mahion Fraser, Sr., Abraham Lowther, John Wilson, Richard Worthington, Henry Baum and George R. Bartley. The first entry of land from the United States Government in what is now Union Township was made by John Rothrock, who, on November 30, 1830, purchased a large tract in section 3, township 26 north, range 3 west, and some time afterward erected a log house thereon. He was soon followed by Peter Price, his brother-in-law, who bought 160 acres in sections 32 and 33, on June 13, 1831; on that day also George R. Bartley purchased land in the same section. *WHILE A PART OF CARROLL The territory included within the presents limits of White County had a political existence before it was organized as a separate civil body. Its area, besides much more country north and west, was attached to the County of Carroll by legislative enactment, at the time the latter was erected in 1828. On the 11th of May, 1831, the commissioners of that county ordered that all the territory attached to the county, or a part of the county, west of the Tippecanoe River should thereafter be Prairie Township; and an election was ordered held on the first Monday of the following August for the election of one justice of the peace, the vote to be polled at the house of Jesse L. Watson, who was appointed inspector. At this election the following men voted: J. L. Watson, Jesse Johnson, Samuel Smelcer, Michael Ault, Jeremiah Bisher, W. H. McCulloch, Aaron Cox, Royal Hazleton, Ed McCarty, Charles Wright, William Phillips, R. Harrison, Robert A. Barr, William Woods, Ashford Parker˜total, fifteen. The entire vote was cast for Noah Noble for governor. For justice of the peace, Royal Hazleton received nine votes, and Jesse Johnson four. In May, 1832, the elections were changed to the house of Samuel Alkire and Jesse L. Watson continued inspector. At the April election in 1832, only six votes were polled, as follows: J. L. Watson, Jesse Johnson, William Phillips, Charles Wright, Edney Wright, J. G. Alkire. Charles Wright was elected constable; Jesse Johnson and Robert Newell, road supervisors; William Phillips and William Woods, overseers of the poor; Samuel Smelcer and Samuel Alkire, fence viewers. These were undoubtedly the first officers of the kind elected in White County. In September, 1832, all of White County, east of the Tippecanoe River was formally attached to Adams Township, Carroll County

• THE FIRST JUDGMENT OF THE WHITE CIRCUIT COURT The first term of the White Circuit Court was held at the home of George A. Spencer, in Big Creek Township, about five miles southwest of Monticello, on Friday, October 17, 1834. Present James Barnes and Thomas Wilson, associate judges. Both judges presented their commissions signed by Noah Noble, governor, dated July 7, 1834, and William Sill presented his commission as clerk, which was also signed by the governor and dated July 7, 1834. These commissions were each for a term of seven years. Mr. Sill took the oath of office before Aaron Hicks, sheriff, and thus originated the White Circuit Court. A grand jury was convened and, having heard witnesses, returned one indictment charging Jeremiah Bishir with malicious mischief. It seems that his neighbor, John Roberts, owned a certain horse which had broken into the Bishir fields. Mr. Bishir had caught the horse and tied to its tail a full-sized clapboard, the which the said horse had kicked until both tail and clapboard were almost worn out. At the April term, 1835, towit on Friday, April 17, 1835, the case came on for hearing when Mr. Bishir entered a plea of guilty and the court fined him with the costs and ordered "that the said defendant do stand committed in the custody of the sheriff of said county for the space of one minute." This first judgment violates the laws of syntax for which it seems there was no penalty, but tradition informs us that tho bystanders gathered in a circle around the prisoner and for the full space of one minute he was "it." At that time there was no jail in the county or Mr. Bishir would have had the honor of being our first jail bird.
• FIRST FULL COURT KEPT BUSY

At the second term of court, beginning April 17, 1835, also in Mr. Spencer's house, all the judges were present and a number of cases were brought before them. Mr. Spencer himself acted as bailiff, William Sill, clerk, and John Wilson, sheriff. Bisher's case of malicious mischief was at once taken up and the defendant was fined , and sentenced to the custody of the sheriff for the space of one minute, "the fine to go to the funds of the county seminary." *GEORGE A. SPENCER'S DOCKET AS J. P. One of the most interesting records in White County is now in the possession of Miran B. Spencer, Esq., of Monticello. It is the old docket, bound in deer skin, which his grandfather, George A. Spencer, used when he was a justice of the peace in Big Creek Township from September 16, 1834, to June 23, 1836. ...

The second case was that of Ashford Parker against our old friend, Jeremiah Bishir, filed the same day, and on November 15, 1834, judgment was rendered against defendant for .90, which was later paid.

On January 30, 1836, one Samuel Beever recovered judgment against Jeremiah Bishir for .75 and costs, which included fees for several witnesses who had been subpoenaed in the case. The Beever family name figures prominently in this record, and on February 23, 1836, one W. M. Beever was arrested for an offense which is not stated. He pleaded not guilty, was tried, acquitted, but placed under bond to keep the peace, and the record concludes: "Said defendant fined for swearing .00." Mr. Spencer was a good churchman and would have no swearing in his court.

One of the most important cases was that of Joshua Rinker vs. Jeremiah Bishir, in which, on May 30, 1836, judgment was awarded plaintiff for , and upon which Simon Kenton became replevin bail. The record shows that is yet due on this judgment.

The last case tried was on June 23, 1836, in which Jeremiah Bishir recovered judgment against W. M. Beever for .18 3/4, upon which judgment Philip Davis became replevin bail, but this judgment is not yet satisfied of record.

On August 9,1837, this docket was turned over to Joseph Phillips, justice of the peace, who states that it was one year after the commission of George A. Spencer had expired.

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In the 1830 Tippecanoe Co., IN Sheffield Twp. census p116

2 males under 2(one is Miles, who is the other one?), 1 male 30-40(that would be Jeremiah) and 1 female 30-40 (Esther)

The last name is spelled BISHERE. I do not know when the census for Tippecanoe co. was enumerated.

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1840 Census, White Co., Unknown Twp. page 222 line 3

Jeremiah Bisher 3m under 5,1m 5-10,1m 10-15, 1m 40-50-- 2f under5-10, 1 f 10-15, 1f 20-30

Jeremiah and Isaiah were both under 5 at that time, Miles would have been around 10, Elder Jeremiah is 40-50; f 5-10 would be Emily, don't know who the other is, Malinda would have been 2, as to who the female 10-15 is??? Esther could be the last female 20-30 if the census was mismarked or maybe it was Elizabeth Welch ,I doubt if it was Malinda by then, but it could be, as Malinda would have been 20 at that time, Ester would have been 37. I know that Emily states on her marriage certificate in 1892, that her mother was Ester Millett, so Ester was still alive in 1832.

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1850 White Co., IN Dist. 130, p. 407B line 23-34

(Last name, First name, age, sex, race, occupation, real estate value, Birthplace)

Bishir, Jeremiah 49 m, w, farmer, 12,000, PA

Malinda 28 f,w,IN

Miles 20,m,w,farmer, OH

Emily 18, f,w,IN

Isaiah 16 m,w,farmer, IN,

Jeremiah 14 m,w,IN,

Malinda 11 f,w,IN,

Mary 9 f,w,IN,

Christopher 7,m,w,IN,

Hannah 3 f, w, IN

John 1 m w IN

Perigo, Ruben 17 m,w,farmer, OH

(*note, Miles, Emily, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malinda, Mary, and Christopher attended school within the year)

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1860 White Co. Union Twp. p86-87 fam.#590 (#19=attends school)

name, age, sex,race,occupation,real estate wealth, personal wealth, birth place

Jeremiah Bisher 60 m w farmer 40,000 22,150 PA

Malinda 40 f w housekeeper IN

Isaah 27 m,w farm laborer, IN

Mary 20 f,housework, IN #19

Christopher 18 m, farm laborer IN, #19

Hannah 12 f In, #19

John 11 m,IN, #19

Sarah 8 f IN, #19

William 6 m,IN, #19

Albert 5, m, IN,#19

Eli 3,m, IN

Jane 2, f, IN

James 6/12, m,IN

Mary J. May 27 f servant VA

Wm. Hoffman 19 m, farm laborer IN

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1870 White Co., Union Twp. p22 fam. 174, line 13-21

name, age, sex,race,occ.,real estate, personal wealth, place born, (19 is males over 21)

Bisher, Jeremiah 70,m,w,farmer,100,000, 4000, PA #19

Harriet, 47,f,w,keeping house, OH

John 21 m,w, at home, IN #19

Albert 13,m,w,IN attend school

William 17, m,w,IN, attend school

Jane 12 f,w,IN, attend school

James 10,m,w,IN, attends school

George 9,m,w,IN attends school

Mose Daniel 17, m,w,IN, attends school

(note, the 100,000 is not a typo, that is how the census reported it)

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OBITUARY

dated June 10th 1875, Monticello Herald

"Another White County Pioneer has passed away. Jeremiah Bisher, sen, was born in York County, Penn, June 13, 1800, and died at his late residence, four miles south of Monticello, May 21, 1875. He was, within less than a month, 75 years old.

He came to this county in 1830, and has, therefore, been a citizen of White County forty -five years. It was his privilege to witness its progress from its early beginnings in cultivation, internal improvements and civilization, up to its present condition of improvement. Those who have had frontier experience, understand fully how much is meant by the struggles and triumphs of early settlers in a new country. The advantages of early choice of home and farm, he wisely improved. He leads to his heirs an excellent farm.

The sickness that resulted in his death was short and severe. Taken down on the 8th, he died on the 21st of May.

His funeral services were conducted by Rev R.C. Neal, and attended by a large number of his neighbors. All his living children except one or present to witness the solemn services of their father's consignment to the grave. Thus has closed a life three-fourths of a century long-more than half of which was spent where he died. We are left to await our turn. "

(penned by Mary Bisher)

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* from:

A Standard History of White County Indiana An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with an Extended Survey of Modern Developments in the Progress of Town and Country Under the Supervision of

W. H. HAMELLE. VOLUMES I and II ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1915

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From History of Colusa and Glenn Counties - see entry for Robert Mills Wright.

In 1870, in Indiana, Robert Mills Wright and Sarah Bishir

were united in marriage. She was born in that state, of German

and English ancestry. Her grandparents were natives of Ger-

many and England, but early came to the United States. Her

father, Jeremiah Bishir, was born in York County, Pa. He

went to Kentucky, and later removed to Ohio and then to Indiana,

in the early pioneer days, and assisted in building up the last-

named state. He farmed and raised wheat, hauling it by wagon

to Cincinnati, Ohio, with six yoke of oxen. Her mother was

Malinda Gillam, born in North Carolina, and brought to Indiana

when a child and reared there under pioneer conditions.