"COUNTIES OF MORGAN, MONROE & BROWN, INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL."
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884.
F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND MARTINSVILLE, MORGAN COUNTY, INDIANA
PAGE 212
J. E. TONER, a native of Shelby County, Ind., was born on January 21, 1841,
and is the son of John and Nancy (Parker) Toner, natives of Pennsylvania and
Kentucky respectively. The father still resides in Shelby County, the
mother having died in 1856, leaving four children, of whom our subject is
one. The father subsequently remarried, and has four children by his last
wife. Our subject was engaged in early life on the farm and attending
school; later entered the Northwestern (now Butler) University, at
Indianapolis. From this university he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company
D, Seventy Indiana Infantry (three months' service), went to Virginia and
was a participant in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill and Carrick's
Ford. Returning home after his time expired, he re-enlisted for three years
in Company D, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, proceeded with his regiment to
Kentucky, and participated in the battle of Wild Cat, siege of Mill Spring
and Cumberland Gap. At the latter place he was taken prisoner by Morgan,
held for seven weeks, when he was paroled and sent to Columbus, Ohio, Parole
Camp, where he remained four weeks, and then decamped and came home. On
January 8, following, he was exchanged,and returned to his regiment at
Nashville, Tenn. He with his command took part in the battle of Thompson's
Station, where a large portion of his regiment was captured by the enemy.
Our subject, with about eighty others, escaped. Returning to Franklin, he
was discharged for disability, and again returned home. In January
following he again re-enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Indiana (mounted)
Infantry, served sixteen months, and was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg,
in the Red River campaign, and at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. After
his regiment's term of service expired, he was transferred to Company C,
Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, and served with it until December, 1865, when he
was mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss. He was wounded at Thibodeaux, La., in
the left leg, the enemy's bullet severing the main artery near the groin.
Upon his return home, he assisted his father on the farm until he was
twenty-seven years old. On September 24, 1867, he was married to Sophia
Salla, a native of Rush County, Ind. Then for seven years he farmed for
himself in Shelby County. In 1875, he came to Martinsville and embarked in
the grocery trade, continuing nine years, when he purchased the Mason House,
and has since been conducting it. This is the only first-class hostelry in
town. Mr. Toner is a Republican, and served as Chairman of the City Council
seventeen months. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., and of
the G. A. R. He an wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Toner have five children living--Ottway C., Edward, John, Grace
and Annis, an infant deceased. He is one of the liberal and enterprising
citizens of Martinsville.
Data Entry Volunteer: Diana Flynn "ivie@tima.com"
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