Theodore Fuqua

    Theodore Fuqua, a respected and worthy citizen of Blackford County, resides on section 32, Jackson Township, where he owns eighty acres of well improved land. He was born in Madison County, Indiana, February 29, 1844, a son of Austin and Elizabeth (Woods) Fuqua, natives of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where they were reared and married. Soon after their marriage the parents moved to Indiana, and settled in Henry County, and thence to Madison County, and in 1850 moved to Delaware County, where the father died in April 1863. The mother died in 1873, and both are buried near the old homestead. They were the parents of thirteen children -Jordan, Burden, William, James, Harry (died aged six years), Mary J., Theodore, Sarah A., Elizabeth, John, Nancy, an infant died unnamed, and Margaret E.

    Theodore was six years old when his parents moved to Delaware County, and there he was reared, remaining at home until after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when filled with patriotic zeal, he enlisted August 4, 1862, in the defense of the country's honor, and was assigned to Company B, Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His regiment joined General Nelson's command in Kentucky, and at Richmond, he with others of his regiment were captured, but were paroled a few hours later, although not exchanged for two months. They then joined General Grant's command at Memphis, and soon after had an encounter with the enemy at Chickasaw Bluff. From there they went to Arkansas Post. Returning they went into camp at Milliken's Bend, where Mr. Fuqua was taken sick, and being unable to perform his duties, he was discharged April 20, 1863. He reached home May 1, and for a year was unable to engage in any business, but this year of rest, supplemented by the care of his devoted mother, restored his health.

    Mr. Fuqua was married October 3, 1864, to Mary J. Rinker, who was born in Delaware County, Indiana, December 4, 1845, a daughter of John and Jane (Clevinger) Rinker, whose farm adjoined the Fuqua homestead, Mr. and Mrs. Fuqua being schoolmates in their childhood. They have had three children -Emma F., born June 22, 1865; Maggie L., born August 1, 1867, died August 29, 1870; and Clara M., born June 25, 1872. Emma F. was married September 22, 1881, to Joseph Whitecotton, who died November 21, 1883, leaving one child -Jesse Earl, who was born September 21, 1883, and died October 31, 1886. She was again married June 14, 1885, to J. B. Orndorff, and they have one child -Ora Golden, born September 28, 1886.

    The parents of Mrs. Fuqua were natives of Virginia, her father born May 10, 1803, and her mother January 28, 1809. They were reared and married in their native State, and soon after their marriage moved to Union County, Ohio, and thence a few years later to Henry County, Indiana, subsequently moving to Delaware County, where the father died march 1, 1874. The mother now makes her home with Mrs. Fuqua. They were the parents of ten children -Elizabeth, born November 11, 1827, died in September, 1875; George, born May 1, 1830; Daniel, October 7, 1832; Jacob, April 2, 1837; Phoebe, born September 23, 1834, died in 1841; Samuel, born January 26, 1840; Aaron, born April 16, 1842; Alura, born December 19, 1843; Mary Jane, born December 4, 1845, and Sarah E., born August 29, 1850.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.