On This Day - January 4

JASPER SARGENT 1857-1898
 
  Jasper was born in Martin County, Indiana on January 4, 1857 to Jacob and Mary Elizabeth (Adkins) Sargent. He was the second of six children and the first son.  He often went by the name Jack. At the age of  21 he married 19 year old Mary Elizabeth Adkins (1859-1927) on 25 Oct 1876. They had seven children between 1878 and 1896.

   In the 1880 census Jasper, his wife, and 1 year old are living in Martin County, Indiana, next door to his parents. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster for Kech's Church, in Martin County. In 1890 he ran for Sheriff of Martin County.

    Despite the newspaper's opinion, Jack did not win the election.  He did, however, become a deputy sheriff.  He would patrol on his horse. 

     There is a family story that says Jasper was shot in the leg and died of blood poisoning as a result.  I have never found an obituary for Jasper but the following article indicates he was in dire condition.

     The newspaper article was on June 6 and he died on June 9, 1898 at the age 41.  He left his wife with five children at home, aged 18 to 2.  He was buried in the Old Salem Cemetery. Today that cemetery is on a government installation  -Naval Support Activity Crane.  It is the third largest naval installation in the world by geographic area and it includes all the old homestead's of the Sargent's in Martin County.  There are actually over 20 cemeteries within its boundaries and a government escort is required to visit them.

CHILDREN OF JASPER SARGENT

  This is the page from Jasper 's Bible where he wrote the births of  all his children

1.  ETHA MALINDA SARGENT  1878-1898

    Jasper spelled her name Eatha, but all other instances have Etha.  Etha was married several months before her 17th birthday to Lorenzo "Linzy" Taylor who was ten years older than her. Her first child, a son Luther, was born in 1896 and died 16 months later when Etha was 6 months pregnant.  Then five months after the birth of a daughter Etha died.  Just three months later Linzy died of tuberculosis.  The surviving daughter was raised by her maternal grandmother.

2. EMMA JANE SARGENT 1881-1894

3. ASA NELSON SARGENT 1882-1908

    Asa was the first son born to Jasper.  In the 1900 census, just after the death of his father, he is a servant in the Miller home in neighboring Lawrence county. In July of 1901 he marries Rhoda Jane Brown. They had three sons, William (1902), Orvil (1903), and Jasper (1907). Only Orvil survived beyond infancy Asa worked in the coal mines.  He died as a result of a mine accident at age 25. Ironically his wife who outlives 3 more husbands and her son, lived to be 102 years old. 

4.  JOHANNA SARGENT 1884-1913

     Johanna was also a servant in the home of the Millers with her brother Asa in 1900.  In September of that year she married Lafayette Ellsworth Kirkman. They had five children but Johanna died just hours after the birth of her daughter Ruth and her husband died a year later. 

5. JAMES HILLARY SARGENT 1886-1963

     James married Vercie Heacox in 1905. James was a coal miner. They had five children. James was active in the Republican party and ran for Mayor of Linton, Indiana, although he did not win.

6. THOMAS MCDONALD SARGENT 1888-1957

    He was always known as Donald.  He married Bertha Houchin in 1909. They had three children as well as raising two of his sister Johanna's children after her death.  He was a coal miner.      

   

7. HOBART McKINLEY SARGENT 1896-1973

   Hobart married Rose West in 1919. Hobart had several occupation: a coal miner, carpenter for railroad, crane operator for railroad, public school janitor, janitor at fraternity house. They had three sons.

RELATIONSHIP- Jasper is my great grandfather

  Jasper Sargent

     Donald Sargent

        Arnold Sargent

           Lynda Sargent Towles