James A. Angevine, of York Township, and one of the old residents of this county, was born in New York City, in 1814. His parents, James and Susan (Montfort) Angevine, both born in the same city. His grandfather, John Angevine, was a native of France, and came to America prior to the Revolution, in which he participated as a soldier. He reared a family of twelve children--eleven daughters and one son--the latter being the youngest of the family. He was a shoe-maker by trade, and in 1818, cane to this county with his son James, with whom he resided till his death, in 1831. His wife survived two years, passing away in 1833. James Angevine, the father of our subject, James A., grew to maturity in New York, and in his earlier years was a sailor. It is said that he passed through many disasters during his seafaring life. He finally abandoned the water, and with a capital of $500, emgaged in the grocery business, meeting with excellent success. At the age of twenty-three, he married his first wife, who died eleven years later, childless.
At thirty-six, he married Susan Montfort, whose parents were from Pennsylvania, and whose ancestors were from Holland. Of the twelve children born to them, eleven grew to maturity. The deceased was an infant. On moving to this county in 1818, he purchased 1,100 acres of land in York Township, where he afrerward engaged in farming, till old age compelled him to retire. His wife died July 2, 1869. In his ninety third year he was taken by his relatives and others, to La Salle County, Illinois, where he died July 10, 1874.
November 9, 1862, MR. and Mrs. Angevine celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, and there were present the entire family, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grand children, twenty-one of the latter, and thirty-five in all. He was a man of unblemished character, and all his life was devoted to the best interests of his family and the community.
James A. Angeevine, whose name introduces this sketch, grew up in the quiet walks of rural life. He resided with his parents till 1844, when he married Miss Mary A. Davis, established a home of his own. Her parents were William and Ann (Jenkins) Davis, who were natives of Morganshire, Wales. They were married April 20, 1814, and in 1816 immigrated to the United States. They located for a short time, In New York, and then to Hamiliton County, Ohio, where their oldest daughter, Mrs. Angevine, was born, in 1821. In the following year they settled in this county, where they purchased land, and resided till their death, the mother passing away April 19, 1867 the father June 13, 1868. They reared a family of ten children,nine still living, namely: George, John, Thomas, Griffith, David, Mary A., Elizabeth, Helen, and Jennie. After his marriage, Mr. Angevine rented land for a time and by hard labor, aided by an industrious wife, gradually worked his ninety acres, on which he has since conducted a prosperous farming business. On the death of his father in 1874, he inherited 120 acres and, besides these two tracts, owns another forty acres in this township.
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Source of this article "HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA"-1885
SUBMITTED BY: John Minneman