Person:Mathew Tracy (1)

MATHEW J. TRACY, a prominent citizen of Whiteland, and president of the Whiteland Fruit Packing Company, was born near Whiteland, January 6, 1832, and was the son of James and Mary (Tanner) Tracy, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. His father was born in the year 1783, and was the son of Nathaniel and Mary Tracy, the former of whom was a native of Maryland. His mother was born December 31, 1788, and was the daughter of Josiah and Martha (Wooten) Tanner, who were both natives of Virginia. Both of his grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War. His paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Tracy, served under the immediate command of Gen. George Washington. His maternal grandfather, Josiah Tanner, was wounded in the battle of King's Mountain, in the month of September, 1780. Nathaniel Tracy was born in 1736. He was married to Mrs. Mary Hill, in 1765. He died in Kentucky in 1816. His wife, Mary Tracy, was born in 1734, and died in Kentucky in 1820. Josiah Tanner was born in 1744, and was married to Martha Wooten, in 1767. He died in Kentucky in 1818. His wife, Martha Tanner, was born in 1747, and died near Vernon, this state, in 1844. The father and mother of our subject were married in the State of Ken-tucky, in 1805. They removed from Henry County, Ky., to Johnson County, Ind., in 1827, and became early settlers of Pleasant Township. They located on a farm five miles north of Franklin, where the father died February 14, 1833, and where the subject of this sketch was born, and where his early boyhood was spent. James Tracy was a farmer by occupation, and a whig in politics. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of our subject died in Franklin Township in 1848. Our subject was the. youngest of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters. He received a fair knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning, and at the age of sixteen, he began to learn the carpenter's trade. For a period of over thirty years, he was a contractor in that branch of mechanics. In connection with this pursuit, he controlled farming interests. His place of residence has always been in Pleasant Township. He resides at Whiteland, where he has a comfortable home. He helped to organize the Whiteland Fruit Packing Company in December, 1887, and besides being a stockholder, he was elected president of the company, which position he now fills. Mr. Tracy served in the War of the Rebellion from July 25, 1861, to September 1, 1864. He served in Company F, Third Indiana Cavalry. He partici-pated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Upperville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. He was also in the campaign of Gen. Grant, through the wilderness to Petersburg. In all, he served in fifty-two battles and skirmishes. Mr. Tracy has been twice married, the first being to Susan M. Smith, December 2, 1852, the second to Mary K. Varner, April 20, 1859. He had five children: Louis F., born November 10, 1853; James B., April 10, 1855; Richard M., March 7, 1860, deceased; Mathew V., February 23, 1862, deceased, and Clarence A., December 9, 1867. Mr. Tracy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the F. & A. M. and the G. A. R. lodges. He began life in very moderate circumstances, and he has become one of the well-to-do and influential men of the county.^[1]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Matthew J. Tracy, in Banta, D. D. (David Demaree). History of Johnson County, Indiana: from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana. (Chicago, Illinois, United States: Brant & Fuller, 1888).
2. ↑ Pleasant, Johnson, Indiana, in Johnson, Indiana, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication M432)
   HH 33, Fam 33.

   Pierce, Joel R., 22, Farmer, RE = $700, b. VA
   , Margaret, 25, b.KY
   , Sarah J., 1, b. IN
   Tracy, Matthew, 18, Laborer, b. IN

3. ↑ Indiana, United States. Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920: [database on-line]. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2004).

   Name: Mathew J. Tracy
   Date: 13 May 1917
   Location: Whiteland
   Age: 85 Yr
   Source Location: County Health Office, Franklin
   Source notes: The source of this record is the book H-22 on page 98 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration.

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Holmes, Maurice; Indiana. Probate Court (Johnson County); and Indiana. Circuit Court (Johnson County). Court records of Johnson County, Indiana, 1823-1853. (1982).

   Probate Order Book B, p. 153
   On petition of John Webb, John Tracy was appointed guardian of Josiah D. Tracy, Mary Jane Tracy and Mathew Tracy, minor heirs of James Tracy deceased. 3 Aug 1840
   
   Probate Order Book C, p. 242
   John Tracy gdn of Mathew Tracy and Mary Webb (now wife of Alexander Webb, formerly Mary Tracy) petitioned court to sell his ward’s real estate, which was lot eleven with house thereon in Morgan’s Addition to Franklin. This lot was deeded to his wards by Joseph Reese and wife. 16 Nov 1848.
   
   Probate Order Book C
   p. 310 – Alexander Webb appointed administrator of estate of Mary Reese decd by court in vacation . 17 May 1849.
   p. 577 – Alexander Webb admin VS John Tracy et al in a chancery suit. Entry stated that the adm. Should collect and account for the balance of the decree in the Probate Court in favor of Mary Reese and Joseph Reese against the summary minor heirs of James Tracy. At the bottom of the entry were listed: Alexander Webb, John R. Carver, John Tracy, John W. Webb, Nathaniel Tracy, Charles Johnson, Joel R. Pierse, Mathew J. Tracy and John Tracy the gdn of Mathew Tracy. 14 Nov 1851.

5. ↑ Johnson, Indiana, United States. Deed Records
   Vol. J, p. 1.

   Indenture 25 Feb 1842
   Between Joseph and Mary Reese his wife of Boon County, IN
   In Consideration of the Natural love and affection Which they bear to Mary Tracy and Matthew Tracy as for the better maintenance and support of Mary Tracy and Mathew Tracy give, grant, convey & confirm
   Lot no. 7 on Jefferson Street in Addition #4 to the Town of Franklin, Johnson County, IN
   Signed Joseph Reese, Mary x her mark Reese
   Witness Elisha Riley, Jno S. Hamilton JP of Boone County