General Notes

John Toner

JOHN TONER, a native of Lycoming County, Pa., where he was born December 28, 1814, being the next eldest in a family of twelve children born to Edward and Susanna (Updegraff) Toner, who were also nativeof Pennsylvania, the former of Irish, and the latter of German descent. In 1815, they emigrated to Indiana, settling on White Water, in Franklin County, where they lived exactly seventeen years, when in 1832, they came to Shelby County, locating in Hendricks Township, about one mile from our subject's present place of residence. They remained here and made this county their home until their death. He died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. John remained at home until he attained the age of twenty-two years. He received a common school education such as was to be obtained in the primitive log school-houses of those days. March 9, 1837, his marriage with Nancy J. Parker was solemnized, and to their union eight children were born, of whom these four are now living: James E., who married Sophia Salla; Mattie, now Mrs. William H. Miller; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. J. H. Sanford, and Belle, now Mrs. George Williams. June 14, 1856, Mr. toner suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife. May 3, 1857, his and Janette Thayer's nuptials were celebrated and their union has been blessed with these four children: John S., whose wife was Cad Hester, Caress L., Harry M. and Elmer S. Mr. Toner has always made farming his occupation, in connection with which he has always dealt in stock quite extensively and he has been very successful. He now owns 900 acres of well improved land. He and family are members of the Christian Church. In politics he affiliates with the National Greenback party. The Updegraff family preceded the Toner family a number ofyears, coming in 1821.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887, page 665

THE  SHELBY  REPUBLICAN
August 29, 1899
page 4, column 3
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CALLED  TO  REST.
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Accidental Death of a Well Known Farmer Occurred Yesterday Afternoon.
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John Toner  was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, December 28th, 1814, and died August 26th, 1896[sic], aged 84 years and 8 months.
The death of John Toner, one of Shelby county's wealthies[sic] and most influential farmers, occurred at the home of  George Williams, on the Smithland pike, at 11:30 o'clock last night.
During yesterday afternoon Mr. Toner and  Thomas Updegraft,  a hired hand, came to this city, Mr. Toner in a buggy and the other on a wagon, for the purpose of purchasing a load of shingles.  After making their purchase they started to return home.  Arriving near the residence of  George Williams, about 4:30 o'clock, when one of the bunches of shingles fell from the wagon onto one of the horses causing the team to run away and throwing the driver to the ground, one of the wheels running over his right foot.  The team continued running.  Mr. Toner being in front in his buggy did not hear the approach of the runaway horses until too late, the tongue of the wagon striking his vehicle in the center tearing it to pieces, and throwing Mr. Toner on the road side, the force of the fall causing unconsciousness.  He was carried into the home of  George Williams where he remained unconscious until the time of his death.
Mr. Toner was born in Lycoming county, Pennsulvania, December 28th, 1814, he being a son of  Edward and Susan Toner.  A year after his birth he and his parents located in Franklin county, Indiana, where they remained just seventeen years, and then moved to Shelby county.
On the 9th of March, 1837, Mr. Toner was united in marriage to  Nancy J. Parker, in Hancock county, the result of this union being the birth of four children, namely:  James Edward,  Marthena,  Elizabeth  and Belle.  In June, 1857, he was married the second time, to  Janet Thayer, daughter of  Spencer and Sallie Thayer,  the wedding occurring in Marion township, this county.  This