John William Rayn

    John William Rayn, of Washington Township, where he is engaged in the manufacture of hard wood lumber, is a native of Ohio, born in Pickaway County, April 15, 1840, a son of William Rayn, of Bear Creek Township, Jay County. When our subject was fifteen years of age his father removed with his family, consisting of wife and six children, to Bear Creek Township, where he has since made his home.

    John W. Rayn grew to manhood on the homestead in Bear Creek Township, and was married in November, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Leer, who was born in that township in October, 1840, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Weist) Leer, the father a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and one of the early pioneers of Jay county. Mr. and Mrs. Rayn have eight children living -Jemima E., Almeda, Florence A., Viola E., John W., Emma A., Myrtle and Charles. Two children are deceased -Mary D. died, aged three years, and an infant son.

    Mr. Rayn first operated a mill at West Liberty, where he remained a number of years. He then spent three years in attendance at Liber College in Jay county, after which he went to Bear Creek, where he operated a stave and fanning mill for eighteen months. He then ran a mill in Penn Township for two years, when he went to Grant County and purchased a half interest in a  mill in Van Buren Township, remaining there two years, after which he lived in Monroe Township, Grant County, for three years. He then bought a mill in Wayne Township, moving it to Monroe Township, and there sawed 400,000 feet of lumber for the firm of J. G. Blenmer & Russ, of Blackford County. He bought a half interest in a mill of Jadden, Grant County.

    He subsequently returned to Jay County, and three years later came to his present home in Blackford County. He built the mill which he now owns and operated in October, 1884, and since coming to Blackford County has met with reasonable success. He has been engaged in the manufacture of hard wood lumber in all for eighteen years, and thoroughly understands his business, and is classed among the active and enterprising business men of Washington Township.

    In politics Mr. Rayn affiliates with the Republican party. he is a member of the United Brethren Church.

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