"John T. Thacker and His Descendents" by Alva Blunk, 1957

John T. Thacker, Jack Thacker, and Wilma Thacker were all brothers and sister. They were born in Kentucky and came to Monroe County, Indiana, before the Civil War. Jack Thacker lived in Monroe County, Indiana, south of Paragon and lived and died in Indianapolis, Indiana. John T. Thacker was born in Kentucky in 1829. He married Margie Street and they lived in Monroe County, Indiana, where their children were born. He served in the Union Army with Co. H. 70th Indiana regiment. He died January 7, 1911. He married Margie Street before the war and they were the parents of three girls, Ollie, Josephine, Mary, and one boy Eugene Thacker. His wife died during the last year of the war and is buried in Green County, west of Bloomfield, Indiana. After the death of his wife, her married Samantha Fry. They moved to Morgan County near Mahalasville. She owned the land and was the Mother of George, Joseph, Andrew, Samantha, and Ida Ferjuson's mother. They were the parents of one daughter, Hattie Thacker. Samantha Fry, his wife, was born in 1829 and died in 1879. John T. Thacker and Smantha are buried in the Fry Cemetery in Monroe County. After the death of his second wife, Samantha, he married Martha Slack and moved to the Slack farm south of Mahalasville where he lived the remainder of his life. He owned land on Indian Creek, also in Brown County, Indiana. (The above transcribed with no effort to correct spelling or factual errors) Other reports say John t. traveled in a wagon train with Archibald Thacker, Wilmoth, and Jack, from Bowling Green, Kentucky. The following story related by Sylvia, Annis, and Herman Thacker at various times concerning history of John T. Thacker: John T. came to Indiana from around Pikeville, KY, about 1850. He left his family and crossed the Ohio river riding either a white or a yellow pony, with the Thacker family. It is also said that he came from near Bowling Green, KY. These places are NOT close together. His name was originally Clinton. He was so pleased with the treatment given him by the Thacker family, he adopted their name. It is noted that a similar story concerning the crossing of the Ohio on a horse is told by a descendent of the Archibald family branch, with the deed attributed to Archibald. There is no evidence to support either story. Nor is there anything to support the name Clinton. John T. settled in Mahalasville and plat records from 1909 show his name on considerable acreage. He was a land dealer. Herman remembers Sylvia telling of visiting John's house near Mahalasville. She said John always wore a suit and that children were left to play outside the house, but never allowed inside. He also farmed corn and raised cattle.

John T. served in the Union Army during the Civil War with Company H, 70th Indiana Regiment. This is shown on his tombstone. He reportedly went AWOL during the Civil War, about 1862, to be home for one of his daughters birth. This daughter is presumed to be one of Eugene's sisters, Mary Ann. Fro the book "Morgan County Civil War Veterans: by Melisa Rose, John T. Thacker was a Private in Company H, 70 Indiana, who enlisted August 10, 1862, and was discharged March 3, 1865. The same reference lists Jacob Thacker, Private, Company H, 148 Indiana, enlisted February 14, 1865, and discharged September 5, 1865. John was about 5' 8" tall, red headed, and loved to drink and fight. He attacked his last wife, Clara A. Norman Thacker, with a cow dehorner. She divorced him and had him committed to Madison, Indiana, after being found of "unsound mind". William S. Cramer was made guardian of John by the court. Cramer was involved in making the final settlements for the outstanding bills and mortgages on the farm land, as shown in some of the land abstracts currently held by Norman Voyles. John died at the home of his daughter, Hattie Platt, after an illness of three years, and is buried in Fry cemetery. Fry cemetery is located on Lowgap road, 1/2 mile past Chauncy Downey's old farm. Drive South past the artist's sculpture garden and cross the Monroe County line. In 1997, the line was where the pavement changed to gravel. Fry cemetery is on the East side of the road and about 10 feet above the road grade. Fry Cemetery in northern Monroe County on Low Gap road. Military Service: August 10, 1862, Enlisted for 3 years in Company H, 70th Indiana Volunteers. February 03, 1865, Honorable discharge for medical disability. Medical information: suffered Typhoid, flux, kidney disease, rheumatism, and chronic diarrhea during the Civil War. Mortician: January 7, 1911, H. J. Hinson Funeral home. Occupation: between 1860 and 1880, Farmer and land dealer. Retirement: 1910, living on own income. Cause of death: General debility. (Text courtesy of Jim Kelly)

Born Steubenville, Ohio, 1817 Died 1868 Buried in the Union Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ohio. Married Rachel Smith, 1864, Washington County, Ohio.