Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographies

John  Toner



            John Toner,  a native of Lycoming County, Pa., where he was born December 28, 1814, being the next eldest in a family of twelve children born to  Edward and  Susanna (Updegraff) Toner , who were also native of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish, and the latter of German descent.  In 1815, they emigrated to Indiana, settling on White Water, in Franklin County, where they lived exactly seventeen years, when in 1832, they came to Shelby County, locating in Hendricks Township, about one mile from our subject's present place of residence.  They remained here and made this county their home until their death.  He died at the advanced age of eighty-four years.  John remained at home until he attained the age of twenty-two years.  He received a common school education such as was to be obtained in the primitive log school-houses of those days.  March 9, 1837, his marriage with  Nancy J. Parker  was solemnized, and to their union eight children were born, of whom these four are now living:  James E., who married  Sophia SallaMattie, now  Mrs. William H. MillerElizabeth, wife of  Dr. J. H. Sanford, and  Belle, now  Mrs. George Williams.  June 14, 1856, Mr. Toner suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife.  May 3, 1857, his and Janette Thayer's nuptials were celebrated and their union has been blessed with these four children:  John S.,  whose wife was  Cad HesterCaress L.Harry M. and  Elmer S.  Mr. Toner has always made farming his occupation, in connection with which he has always dealt in stock quite extensively and he has been very successful.  He now owns 900 acres of well improved land.  He and family are members of the Christian Church.  In politics he affiliates with the National Greenback party.  The Updegraff family preceded the Toner family a number of years, coming in 1821.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, page 665.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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