James Waugh

    James Waugh, an active and enterprising citizen of Blackford County, was born at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont, April 15, 1821, a son of John D. and Elizabeth (Patterson) Waugh, the Waugh family being an old New England family. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving in that memorable struggle until his death, at the battle of Bunker Hill. He left a widow who lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years and three sons. His widow died at Chelsea, Orange County, Vermont.

    John D., the father of our subject was the eldest child, and was but six years old at the time of his father's death, he having  been born in 1770. He was reared to the farm life in New Hampshire, but in 1794 went to Vermont, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Patterson, a native of Amherst, Massachusetts. He followed farming in Vermont on a tract of land, which had been cleared by himself, until the war of 1812, when he went out as a soldier, as his father had done in the preceding war, and participated in a number of battles, including the battle of champion Hill. The uniform which was worn by him during this war was in the possession of his James up to a recent date. After the war he returned to his Vermont home. In 1837 he started West by wagon over the Green Mountains, and was on the canal ten days, going from White Hill to Buffalo, and from there went by steamboat to Toledo, Ohio, and while at Toledo saw the first railroad track laid at that point, which was constructed entirely of wood. He left Toledo with his family, carrying their goods in a wagon while they walked, and finally arrived at Napoleon, Indiana, paying $26 for their short trip.

    They erected the first frame building in Napoleon, and here James paid a five franc piece for a loaf of bread. At Napoleon they hired a pirogue and poled their way up to Fort Wayne with that old historical character known as Appleseed the recluse. The father then left his son, James, and his daughter, Eliza Ann, at Fort Wayne, and proceeded to what is now Blackford County, arriving at his destination June 16, 1837, where he entered 160 acres of unimproved land. James and his sister left Fort Wayne June 16 to join their father in their new home. In the fall of the same year the father erected a log cabin on his land, and the following year continued the improvements already begun on the place, with the help of our subject. In the summer of that year, 1838, he was taken sick with intermittent fever, and died July 3. The night before his death James Waugh went six miles through the woods for a doctor, guided only by a compass. Mr. Waugh was buried on his land in Blackford County. His family had left their Eastern home on their way to Indiana, and had reached Syracuse the day of his death. Elizabeth Waugh survived her husband many years, dying November 15, 1871, and is buried at Montpelier Cemetery.

    James Waugh, whose name heads this sketch, was but sixteen years old when he came to Blackford County, and has always called the old homestead where the family first settled his home, although he has spent several years in various parts of the country. He spent about a year and a half in New York, and at his old home in Vermont and in Ohio almost a year, and in the southern part of Indiana he worked three season, some five or six months at a time.

    Mr. Waugh was married September 19, 1850, to Miss Jane E. Boon, a native of Dorsett, Bennington County, Vermont, born May 25, 1833, a daughter of Isham and Betsey (Laws) Boon, her father a native of Vermont, and her mother of Ipswich, New Hampshire. In 1844 Mrs. Boon with her son, Oscar P., and daughter Jane E. (Mrs. Waugh), came to Blackford County, Mr. Boon having remained behind until he could settle up his business. Later in the fall, while coming out to Indiana, Mr. Boon was drowned while crossing Lake Erie. His widow made her home in this county until her death, which occurred at Montpelier, February 20, 1863.

    Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Waugh, of whom only one is living -Melissa E., who was married November 30, 1878, to James W. Brown, of Harrison Township. Those deceased are -Lorenzo I., Lillie E. and Alonzo U.

    Politically Mr. Waugh is a Greenbacker, and is the only surviving man in Blackford County who voted for Birney for President. He was a strong anti-slavery man. In his religious views he is a Universalist, and is an able and fearless exponent of the principles of his faith. In 1861 Mr. Waugh turned his attention to the nursery business, and in 1863 settled at his present residence, where he has now a splendid nursery, arranged in a very tasteful and beautiful manner, and the evergreen hedge bordering the driveway leading to his residence, and skirting the plants and trees, can not fail to attract the notice of all who pass by. Mr. Waugh has on his place a beautiful natural grove, which is an enjoyable place for picnics or public gatherings, and has been named by Mr. Waugh "The Rustic." June 15, 1887, the Old Settlers Association met at this place, where they spent a very pleasant time.

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