JAMES W. TERMAN, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Clark
Township, was born in Muskegeon County, Ohio, February 10, 1834, a
son of John and Ann (Jones) Terman; the former was born in Maryland
in 1793, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was in the War of
1812. A peculiar incident happened by which he entered this war. He
had a neighbor of whom he thought a great deal, who was drafted,
and the man was crying to think he had to leave his family, when
Mr. Terman volunteered to go in his place, if they would take him,
he being only eighteen years of age at the time, and arrangements
being made, he took the place of his friend and served with credit
to the close of the war. He died in 1869. The mother was born in
Virginia, in 1799, and died in 1871. Our subject came with his
parents from Ohio in 1847, and settled in Bartholomew County, this
state, where he remained seven years, thence to Shelby County,
where he remained one year, then to Johnson County, and settled in
Clark Township on the farm where he now lives. He received a good
common school education. At the age of nineteen years he began life
for himself as a farmer. On October 12, 1854, he was united in
marriage to Martha Cutsinger, a daughter of William and Parthena
(Deupree) Cutsinger; the former was born in 1813, and came to this
state when only nine years of age, is of German descent; the latter
was born in 1814. To this union the following children were born:
James A., deceased; Elizabeth, June 26, 1857; Martha P., April 10,
1859; Emma A., January 13, 1861; Flora E., April 4, 1863; James W.,
February 22, 1865; Joseph E., June 9, 1867; James A., deceased;
Omar, deceased; Ida, November 9, 1872; Sarah, deceased; Lewis M.,
February 15, 1877; Bertha, February 5, 1879, and Jessie Blanche,
June 15, 1881. The mother of these children was born September 29,
1837, in Shelby County. He and wife are members of the Christian
Church. In politics, he is an ardent republican, casting his first
vote for John C. Fremont. He was chosen by his party in convention,
as their candidate for trustee in the spring election of 1888; he
ran against an opposing majority of twenty-five, and reduced it to
eleven votes. He now owns 210 acres of well-improved land.
Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
Banta, D.D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888.