James J. Maddox

    James J. Maddox was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 7, 1827, a son of Michael and Frances (Mann) Maddox, who were natives of Culpeper County, Virginia, and of English and German descent respectively. The father was one of the early settlers of Highland County, Ohio, and is said to have built the first blacksmith shop in that county. In 1839 he came with his family to Indiana, by team, and located near the Godfrey Reserve in Blackford County, October 13 of that year, where the year before he had bought 147 acres of land, and here the family experienced many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. The father died on this place in 1845, in his seventy-fifth year. His widow remained on the homestead until about 1869, when she went to Nebraska to live with her children. She died in Falls City, that State, about 1873.

    James J. Maddox was twelve years old when brought to this county, and here he has since made his home. He began life poor, but by good business management he met with excellent success, and is today classed among the wealthy men of his township. He was married February 15, 1849, to Sophia M. Miller, born near Strasburg, Germany, a daughter of Jacob and Christina Miller, the former dying in 1869, and the latter in 1871. They have had seven children, of whom six are living -Elizabeth A., wife of Harry Caffrey, of Findley, Ohio; Jacob, married Lucy Blake, and lives in Hartford City; P. L., married Lucinda Porter, and lives in Hartford City; Alonzo C. married Nellie Meneely, and is engaged in the grocery business at Hartford; John W. and James H.  Their son William, who is deceased, was married, and left at his death three children.

    Mr. Maddox started each of his children in life for themselves with $3,000. In October, 1861, Mr. Maddox helped raise the first company from Blackford County, which was mustered in as Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and after remaining with the company for a time he resigned his commission as Second Lieutenant and returned home.

    In politics he was a Democrat before the organization of the Republican party, since which he has voted the Republican ticket. He is now serving as justice of the peace, having been twice appointed to this office by the county commissioners. He was a delegate to every State Republican Convention from 1856 until 1870, and also several times since that time.

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