McCord - James A. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

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McCord - James A.


Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke &   Fountain Counties,
  Indiana p 390

   
James A. McCord.  Among those who are pleasantly located   in
  Washington Township is he whose name introduces this sketch.  He   is a native
  of this county, and was born Sept 14, 1834, his birth place being   within a
  distance of one and one-half miles of his present home.  He is a   son of
  David and Celia Elder McCord.  The former parent was a son of   James and
  Margaret Summers McCord.  He was one of a family of 10 children,   5 sons and
  5 daughters and at the age of 20 years was married to a daughter   of
  Alexander and Ann Elder.  He began in life for himself by   accepting form his
  father 80 acres of undeveloped land.  Here he began clearning it   of timber,
  but being unused to the hardships of pioneer life, he fell a   victim to
  disease and died at the youthful age of 23 years, leaving a widow   with two
  children: Margaret, who married WR Canine, Waveland; and James S.    After the
  decease of our subject's father the mother married William   Canine, an uncle
  of her daughter's husband.  She lived but a short time, her death   occuring
  December 8, 1841.  Our subject's father and mother were members   of the
  Baptist Church, in which capacity they served faithfully.  In   politics the
  father was a Whig. The grandfather of James McCord was a native   of NC, his
  birth occuring in 1785.  When but 6 he moved to Madison Co, Ky   with his
  parents, where he grew to manhood and married a wife two years   his junior.
  He was strictly a farmer by occupation and took an active part in   politics,
  using his influence for the Whig party.  He died Dec, 1873, his   good wife
  having preceded him to the better land but two months before. In   1828 he
  emigrated to Parke County, locating on 160 acres of Government   land. He came
  with very limited means, but by close application to his work he   finally
  accumulated good farms for each of his children.  James A. McCord   and his
  sister were reared by their Grandfather McCord.  At the age of 20   James
  began working by the month for James Elder, which he continued to   do for 5
  years.  On attaining the age of 25 he wedded Amanda J, daughter   of William
  D. and Mary Noel Burford.  He laid the foundation of his   education in the
  common schools of the district and added to his general fund of   information
  by one year's course at the Bloomingdale Academy.  After   marriage, Mr.
  McCord moved on his present farm of which he had bought 80 acres   some time
  before.  But by devoting his attention to the cultivation of this   tract he
  has increased his possessions to 160 acres and has placed himself   among the
  most prosperous men of his calling in the county.  Mr. McCord is   one of the
  most useful members of the Baptist Church as is also his   companion.  He has
  been a liberal contributor toward its support.  In politics he is   identified
  with no particular party, preferring to cast his vote for the man   best
  fitted for the office, regardless of party lines.  His attention   is mainly
  devoted to the cultivation of his well-kept farm, and his   perseverance, good
  management and honesty have won for him the reputation of being   one of the
  Washington Township's best agriculturists.
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