Jacob NELSON GARD.—Especially deserving of more than passing
mention in this biographical volume is Jacob Nelson Gard, of Perry town-
ship, Clay county, who comes of honored pioneer stock, a man of sterling
integrity, a farmer of skill and ability, and who served during the Civil
War as one of the youngest soldiers in the Federal army. A son of the
late John H. Gard, he was born October 20, 1849, in Jackson township,
Owen county.
    Aaron Gard, grandfather of Jacob N., was one of the earlier pioneers
of Union county, Indiana, coming to this state while it was yet a terri-
tory. Taking up land in that county, he improved a farm and there
resided until his death. His wife was horn in Virginia and she survived
him, and spent her closing years at the home of her son, John H., in Owen
county.
    Born in Union county, Indiana, in 1821, John H. Gard was there
bred and educated. About 1845 he removed to Owen county, becoming an
early settler of Jackson township. Purchasing land that was in its primi-
tive condition, he cleared a space in the timber, and subsequently built the
log house in which his son Jacob was born. It was a substantial building,
made of hewed logs, and a part of it is still standing and is occupied.
Clearing and improving a homestead, he lived there until a short time
previous to his death, when he removed to the home of his son Jacob,
where his death occurred January 25, i888, at the age of sixty-seven years.
He married Phebe Nelson, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1821,
and died in Clay county, Indiana, June. 25, 1906. She reared four children,
namely: Lorenzo D., Nancy J., Jacob Nelson and James Monroe.
    Before celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of his birth, Jacob N.
Gard, inspired by patriotic zeal and enthusiasm, enlisted, in 1864, in Com-
pany B, Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and from that time
until the close of the war was in the thickest of the fight. With his regi-
ment he took part in Sherman’s campaign while on the way to Atlanta,
marched with that gallant hero and his troops to the sea, afterwards pass-
ing through the Carolinas and Virginia on to Washington, where he par-
ticipated in the Grand Review, and on June 9, 1865 was honorably dis-
charged with his regiment, all of this taking place before he was sixteen
years of age. Returning home, he remained with his parents until taking
upon himself the responsibilities of a married man. Going then to Craw-
ford county, Illinois, he bought a farm and resided there a year. Selling
out then, he returned to Indiana, and for a year resided in Owen county.
Buying then his present farm in Perry township, Mr. Gard has since been
here successfully employed in general farming and stock-raising. He
has made improvements of a noteworthy character on his place, having
erected good farm buildings, planted fruit and shade trees, and in other
ways added to the beauty and value of his estate.
In February, 1868, Mr. Gard married Sarah E. Anderson. She was
born in Owen county, Indiana, in Jackson township, a daughter of Robert
Anderson, and granddaughter of Isaac Anderson, an Indiana pioneer.
Isaac Anderson came from North Carolina, presumably his native state,
to Indiana in 1822, with his wife and children making the journey with
teams, and bringing all of his earthly possessions. Locating in what is
now Cass township, Clay county, he entered a tract of government land,
a part of which is now included within the limits of the village of Poland.
This section of the country was then a vast wilderness, the home of wild
beasts, and the hunting ground of the Indians. Reclaiming a farm from
the forest, he continued as a farmer until his death, about 1854. His wife,
whose maiden name was Barbara Dyer, survived him, and in 1859, with
three of her sons and some of her neighbors, went to Kansas, making an
overland journey. Settling in Bourbon county, she was there during the
troublous times that preceded and during the Civil War, continuing her
residence in that county until her death, at a ripe old age. She reared
seven children, namely: James, Joel, Robert,- George, Daniel, Isaac and
Eliza. Born near Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1813, Robert Anderson
was a lad of nine years when he came with his parents to Cass township,
Clay county, where he was reared. On attaining his majority, he entered
eighty acres of government land in Jackson township, Owen county, and
there built the log cabin on which his children were born. For a number
of years thereafter Terre Haute, twenty-five miles away, was the nearest
market. Deer were plentiful, roaming at will through the, woods, which
was also the home of bears and wolves. Subsequently clearing a large part
of the land, he replaced the log cabin with a frame house, erected a fine set
of farm buildings, and there lived until his death, at the advanced age of
eighty-three years. He married Lydia Cagel, who was born in North
Carolina, and came with her father, John Cagel, to Cass township, Clay
county, where he bought land and improved a homestead. She died in
1871, having reared seven children, as follows: Mary Jane, Daniel, John
C., Sarah, Edward, Elizabeth and Alice.
    Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gard, namely: Willis L.;
John R.; Iva F.; Mary V., who died at the age of eighteen years; Henry
R., who lived but fourteen years; Ada M.; Frederick C.; and Flona E.,
who died when sixteen years old, in March, 1908. Willis L. married
Dovey Chamberlain. John R. married Martha Jackson, and they have
three children, Jessie 0., Hugh M. and Vola. Iva F., wife of Ross
Tucker, has six children, Edith, Jacob, Sarah, Lucy, Ernest and Velma.
Ada, wife of John Knust, has two children, Herbert and Effie. Fred C.
assists his father in the care of the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Gard and
their family are members of the Christian church. Mr. Gard is a Demo-
crat and is somewhat independent in his franchise. He is a member of
the G. A. R. Post at Cory, Indiana.