Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Jonathan R. Whitacre
Jonathan R. Whitacre was born in Wayne County, Ind., Jan. 13, 1828. His grandfather, Samuel Whitacre, was born in Virginia about 1770. In 1816 he came to Indiana and settled in Richmond, and in 1832 removed to Randolph County, where he died at the age of seventy-four years. He had a family of ten children — John, William, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Levi, Samuel, Joseph, Rachel, Jonathan and Mary. Elizabeth is the only one living. William, the second child, was born in Virginia about 1802 and came to Indiana with his parents. He was married in 1823, to Sarah Roberts. She was born in 1804 and died in August, 1836. Mr. Whitacre died the same month leaving five children — Mary Ann, Milton H., Jonathan R., Louisa and Rebecca. Our subject enlisted in 1862 in Company E, Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He was wounded at Richmond, Ky., and lost a leg. In 1863 he was elected Recorder of Wayne County and filled the office eight years. He then removed to his farm in Webster Township, where he still resides. In 1880 he was assistant doorkeeper of the House of Representatives, and at the organization of the Eighty-seventh Congress, was appointed Messenger on the soldiers' roll. Mr. Whitacre, was married Jan. 13, 1848, to Amanda M., daughter of Fridoline and Sarah A. Schlagle. She was born in Burlington County, N.J., Dec. 18, 1832. They have had a family of fifteen children seven of whom are living — William T., married Emma Ensley; Fridoline L., married Alice Frazier; Joseph D., a clerk in the Pension Department, Washington; Philip S., Albert, Lucy and Sadie at home. Alfred L., Etta M., Samuel B., Mattie C., Franklin, Alice, Charles and Laura are deceased.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana, Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2