Biography - James W. Carey
JAMES W. CAREY, a prominent resident on section 25, Big Spring Township,
Shelby County, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 15, 1862. Elias
Carey, his honored father, was a native of Virginia, where he was born April
23, 1814, being a son of John Carey. In early life Elias Carey learned the
trades of the silversmith and blacksmith, and in 1837 he decided to make a
home of his own and chose as the woman in ail the world best pleasing to his
eyes, Jane Moon, who was born in Martinsville, Ohio, November 26, 1819.
After marriage the parents of our subject made their home in Martinsville,
and in 1851 removed to La Grange County, Ind., where they lived upon a farm,
and afterward resided for some time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later in
Martinsville, Ohio, whence in 1867 they emigrated to Illinois and settled in
Big Spring Township. Here they purchased land which was but partially
improved, that is it had upon it a log cabin and a few acres of the land was
broken. At the date of his death, which occurred in 1875, Elias Cary owned
some one thousand acres of land, had built a fine brick residence and made
other valuable and substantial improvements. Thus had the poor tradesman
through his own enterprise, and by the wealth hidden in the soil of the
Prairie State, become a rich landed proprietor. He was a man of sterling
Christian character, and belonged to the Society of Friends. In the
beautiful homestead which was built by him his bereaved and venerable widow
now resides.
The ten children of this excellent couple were: Mary E., who married Richard
Jones and resides in Zenia, Ohio; Sarah M., who married David Hazely and
died in Richmond, Ind.; Hannah M., who became the wife of Jesse Mendenhall
and died in Shelby County; Martha E., who married Jesse A. Gibson, and John
H., both of whom reside in Neoga, Ill.; Rachel, who is now Mrs. Francis M.
Hackett and resides in Jamestown, Ohio; Anna, who is now Mrs. William C.
Bain and makes her home in Marion, Ind.; Isaac M., who resides in Shelby
County; Irene, the wife of Alfred Lindley, who also lives in Shelby County;
and James Walter, the subject of this sketch.
He of whom we write was united in marriage in April, 1885, with Miss
Elizabeth A. Hubbert, who was born in Cumberland County, Ohio. To this happy
couple have been born three children — Ethel I., Edith J., and Pearl I. Mr.
Carey in connection with his mother, owns and carries on the homestead which
contains one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, all in a high
state of cultivation.
Extracted 29 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 631.
