William H. Abel

    William H. Abel, an early settler of Madison Township, was born August 23, 1823, in Miami County, Ohio, where he spent his early life until he was fifteen years of age. Since that time he has lived on the farm he now occupies, having come to this county with his parents, September 1, 1838. The previous June he and his father came to the county on horseback and selected land on several sections, then went to Fort Wayne and entered about 800 acres of land. On their way to that city they stopped for dinner with Peter Studebaker, who was living on the banks of the Wabash River, near New Corydon.

    Mr. Abel's family, Henry, Abel, was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, October 3, 1793, where he grew to manhood and was married. at thirty years of age he removed to Carlisle, Ohio, where he accumulated considerable property. In a few year he exchanged this property for land, which he improved and sold for $1,800. With this he came to Jay County. Several years before his death he was engaged in the mercantile trade at Salamonia, and was keeping a hotel at that place at the time of his death, which occurred September 6, 1879. The mother, Sarah Ann (Franklin) Abel, was born October 28, 1792, in the same county as her husband and died April 6, 1867.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. Page 554.