Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 2 Jul 2005

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922

JOSEPH NEDRY, farmer; P. O. Lebanon; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1818, is a son of James and Lydia (Antrim) Nedry, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia. The maternal ancestry is fully given in sketch of Isaac Antrim. James Nedry was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1767, and remained there till 18 years of age; thence, in 1785, he removed to Frederick Co., Va., where he married and resided till the year 1817, he emigrated to Ohio and located in Clinton County, where he resided till 1856, they removed to Harveysburg, Warren Co., where he died in September, 1869, aged 102 years; his wife survived him till Aug. 19, 1881, she died, aged 89 years. They had ten children, seven now survive - Maria, now Mrs. Edwards; Joseph; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Welch; William; Lydia, now Mrs. Raines; and Eliza, now Mrs. Wilson. Mr. Nedry lived to a remarkable old age, having seen the beginning and favorable ending of the three great wars of our country, the Revolutionary war, the war of 1812 and the great and terrible conflict of the rebellion. During the war of 1812, he was engaged in teaming, and one day while in Baltimore he was seized and impressed into the service and served about three months and returned home. He was a man of remarkable physical endurance, and performed a great amount of. labor and endured much exposure in teaming and other labors of those early days; was a man of energy and promptness, whose character and integrity were above reproach. Joseph, Our subject, was raised in Warren County; was married, February, 25, 1846, to Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Wright) Wilgus, natives of New Jersey, who came to Ohio by way of Pittsburgh and down the river on a flat-boat to Cincinnati in 1815; thence to Warren County and located on the place where our subject now lives, and here opened out right in the woods and swamps, and here he toiled and labored till his death, He was a tailor by trade, which business he followed many years, hiring help to clear up his farm; he became a very successful farmer and quite a trader and dealer in stock; was a man of great activity, and of more than ordinary ability - thoroughly posted in the affairs of business and the progress of the times; an excellent neighbor and a worthy citizen. He died March 9, 1866, aged 90 years; his wife. died Sept, 2, 1843, aged 60 years. They had twelve children, ten grew to maturity, seven now living - Thomas, William, James, Daniel, Mary, Lydia (now Mrs. Dunham), and Harriet (now Mrs. Sabin). Mary was born on the place where they now live, May 8, 1821. Mr. Nedry and wife have had four children, three now survive -Lydia Alice, born June 8, 1849, married Henry McKinney; Lillie L., born Sept. 25, 1854; and Emma B., born Dec. 25; 1859. Mrs. Nedry's paternal grandparents were Samuel and Rhoda (McCabe) Wilgus, natives of England, but who emigrated to America and died in New Jersey, The maternal grandparents were Stacy and Sarah (Baker) Wright, also from England, and died in New Jersey. Mr. Nedry was a carpenter by trade, which he followed twenty-five years; then engaged in the mercantile trade; then gave his attention to farming and general trading business; has been an active, stirring man, destined to "wear out and not to rust out." Started in life with no means, now has a good competency. In spring of 1867, he bought and located upon the place where he now lives, which is the old Wilgus farm. Here he has improved the farm and buildings till he has a beautiful home and residence, and can now enjoy the comforts of life. Mr. Nedry is a Director of the County Infirmary.