Oliver E. LACEY, one of the leading farmers and landowners of Jefferson township and proprietor of an excellent farm home in the New Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, rural mail route No. 2 out of Redkey, for twenty-eight years a dealer in live stock hereabout and also widely known as a trader, is a native son of Jay county, a member of one of the county's pioneer families, and has lived here all his life. Mr. LACEY was born on a farm in Jefferson township, November 1, 1872, and is a son of Fernando H. and Sarah C. ( BOST ) LACEY, the latter of whom died when he was but a child. There was one other child born to that union, a child which died in infancy. Fernando LACEY later married Nancy WHALEY, and to that union three children were born, of whom but one now survives, Laura B. The late Fernando LACEY, who for years was one of the best known residents of the New Mt. Jefferson neighborhood, was born in Fountain City, in Wayne county, this state, and when eight years of age came to Jay county with his widowed mother, who located at Portland, but presently moved to New Mt. Pleasant, where he completed his schooling and where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Indianapolis [ Marion Co.]. He was living at Indianapolis when the Civil war broke out and during the time of those days of stress was engaged on Government construction work there. He then returned to Jay county and bought a tract of eighty acres in Jefferson township and proceeded to clear and develop the same. Five years later he returned to his old home place in that township and there his first wife died. Following his second marriage he bought a quarter section in that same township, established his home on this latter tract and there spent the remainder of his life. It was on this tract of land that Oliver E. LACEY grew to manhood, acquiring there the practical knowledge of farming which has given him the success he has attained in that line. He was married in his nineteenth year and began farming for himself on an "eighty" he bought in Jefferson township. On this place he made his home for twenty-two years and then moved to the farm of 101 acres on which he is now living in the immediate vicinity of New Mt. Pleasant, where he has since resided and where he has an admirably equipped farm plant. In addition to this farm Mr. LACEY owns four other tracts of land in Jefferson township, a total of something more than 500 acres, and is accounted one of the county's leading agriculturists. He is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. It was on October 8, 1891, that Oliver E. LACEY was united in marriage to Lillie C. HORNER, who also was born in this county, daughter of Henry and Ella HORNER, and to this union three children have been born, Carrie, Fern and Goldie, the latter of whom was born on June 9, 1893, and died August 25, 1910. Carrie LACEY married Charles HENISER and has two children, Wayman and Theda Ellen. Fern LACEY married Glenn ORCUTT and has one child, a daughter, Wanda Winifred