History of Northeast Indiana
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties
Editorial Supervisors: Ira Ford [LaGrange], Orville Stevens
[Steuben],
William H. McEwen [Noble] & William H. McIntosh [DeKalb]
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York City
1920

JAMES NORTH. Among the substantial agricultural element of
LaGrange County perhaps none os those now enjoy so much prosperity
or had more interesting variety of experience and early struggles
than james North,who is still occupying his farm at Woodruff.
He was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 28, 1851, a son of
Richard and Sarah [Baker] North. His parents were reared and
married and spent their lives in lincolhsnire. His father was a
musician and shoemaker, and it is said that he made some of Queen
Victoria's shoes. James North was only eighteen months old when his
mother died, and six years later his father died. Opportunities to
get an education by formal schooling were denied him, ansd as an
office boy he had to work his own way and make a living as best he
could. Frequently he was paid only 3 cents a day for what his
strength permitted him to do. He managed to get some education in
the meantime, and in 1875 he left England and came to the United
States, landing in New york City. Later he came to Indiana, to the
farm of William Baker, a relative, and in the spring of 1876 was
employed by Weible foster, working for him until he was able to buy
a tract of land and clear it up and make a farm.
In 1878 Mr. North married Naomi Baker. She was born and reared
in LaGrange County. They then settled on their farm and for many
years Mr. North kept his affairs growing and prospering until he had
sufficient for his own needs. He still owns 160 acres, and has had
other land which he has sold to his sons. He and his wife have seven
children: Sarah, a graduate of the common schools, wife of Charles
Seigler; Blanche, wife of Ernest Sperrow; Nellie, unmarried;
William, a farmer in LaGrange County; George, a farmer in Johnson
Township; Lizzie, wife of John Milbon; and Russell, unmarried. The
family are members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. North is a
republican. At one time he was rather extensively engaged in
breeding registered sheep


Submitted by: Joey Pedigo