Leander Carey
Now living retired at Jonesboro, Leander Carey has spent the greater part of his life in Grant County, represents some fine old Quaker stock in this region, and in his own career has exemplified the quiet industry, effective virtues and the religious devotion, which have been noteworthy in the various members of the Carey household.
Leander Carey was born in Fairmount Township, May 10, 1855, and lived and grew up in the county, was educated in its country schools, and followed farming here until 1880. The following fourteen years were spent in the States of Kansas and Nebraska, and since then he has once more resumed residence in the county of his birth.
Grandfather John Carey, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, lived most of his life in Ohio, where he died, and his death occurred following a visit to Pennsylvania, where he had some duties to perform. He was born in 1783, and died about 1850. John Carey, Sr., married Margaret Green, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1782, and died in Ohio when quite an old lady. They were both Quakers and of old Pennsylvania stock, being very devout in their religion and simple and unworldly, but successful people.
John Carey, Jr., son of John Carey, Sr., and father of Leander Carey, was born in Ohio, March 17, 1818. For his first wife he married Eliza Moon, who was born in Ohio, about 1820, and was married in that State. She died in 1847, and was the mother of eight children, tow of whom died young and the others are mentioned as follows: Elias, Pleasant, Charles, Panina, Margaret, and Susanna, all of whom are deceased, except the last, who is now Mrs. Scott of Fairmount Township. John Carey after the death of his first wife brought his family to Wayne County, Indiana, and there married Mrs. Lydia Hollingsworth, who was born a Jones, daughter of Richard and Hannah (Thomas) Jones. Some years after their marriage John Carey and wife moved to Grant county, settling in Fairmount Township, but late in life he moved to Jonesboro, and died here in July, 1895, his wife surviving him and passing away in Fairmount in 1909. She was then very old, having been born in 1822. Both were birthright Quakers and for forty-five years John Carey was a hardworking and faithful preacher of the Friends Church. He lived up to his creed, and was a man of deep spiritual nature, and one of the best evangelists of his locality. While he succeeded in business he was ever ready to neglect his own affairs in order to carry on his religious work. In politics he remained true to the Republican party until 1884, but after that was a Prohibitionist. By his second wife John Carey had eight children and Leander was fourth among them. These children are mentioned as follows: Richard; John T., in whose sketch found elsewhere in this work are given a number of other details concerning this interesting family stock; Isaac; Leander; Lindlay M.; Hannah J.; Eliza, deceased; and Anna. All are living and married except Eliza, who died after her marriage to Thomas J. Pierce and she left three children.
Lander Carey was first married in Fairmount on September 3, 1875 to Minerva, a daughter of Jesse and Sarah Reece. her parents were early settlers of Grant County, and died in their county. Mrs. Minerva Carey died in Kansas July 3, 1882. She was the mother of three children: Lillie H., who died at the age of eighteen; Jesse R., and Eliza J., both of whom died in the same year as their mother. Rev. Jesse Reece, father of Mrs. Carey was a well known Quaker preacher, and his daughter was reared and held to that faith all her life.
While living in Nebraska, Mr. Carey married for his second wife, Miss Mary Julia Munns, who was born in Decatur County, Indiana, May 18, 1855, was reared in her native county, and was a daughter of Archibald and Sallie (Miller) Munns, both now deceased. Her father die din Rush County, Indiana, January 1, 1910, and her mother passed away in Grant County in 1908. The Munns family were Methodists in religion. Mr. and Mrs. Carey have no children. They are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. For many years Mr. Carey supported the Republican party, but is now a Prohibitionist, both in principle and in action.
Mr. Carey is the acknowledged leader of the Carey family in this part of Indiana, and was for two years president of the Carey Annual Reunion, and had done a great deal to keep the various branches of the name in touch with each other, and to stimulate pride and interest in the family lineage.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.