Biography of John Casebeer, pages 802 / 803.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John  Casebeer, deceased, was born in Virginia, Dec. 24, 1799.  When he was 
sixteen years of age his father, John Casebeer, moved with his family to 
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and settled near Canal Dover.  When he was eighteen 
years of age he began to learn the trade of a blacksmith at which he worked 
the greater part of his life.  In 1840 he came to De Kalb County and settled 
in Troy Township, on the Ohio line, his land at that time being all heavily 
timbered.  In addition to clearing his land and making a farm, he made cow-
bells and maple sugar and traveled over the country with them, sometimes 
going forty and fifty miles, selling them to farmers for provisions.  He 
cleared a farm of 120 acres on which he lived till his death.  In 1871 he 
moved his house just over the line into Williams County, Ohio, where his 
son George now lives.  He was married Jan. 11, 1821, to Nancy Smiley, a 
native of Washington County, Pa., daughter of George Smiley.  To them were 
born twelve children, but nine are living---William, Ann, Jane, Sarah, 
George, Kate A., Rachel, John F., and Nancy.  One son, Jacob, was killed 
when twenty-one years of age by a horse falling on him.  Robert died when 
twenty-four year of age.  Mr. Casebeer and his wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church from their childhood.  Mrs. Casebeer died May 
4, 1870, and he subsequently made his home with his children till his 
death, Sept. 4, 1881.  They were among Tory’s most esteemed citizens; 
charitable and kind to all, and will long be remembered by many for their 
many virtues and honorable, upright lives.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com