I. B. BETTS, a representative citizen of Salem and the popular Circuit Clerk of Marion County, is recognized by all as a man of executive ability and clear judgment, and in his official capacity is rendering valuable service to the county.
Mr. Belts was born in Morgan County, Ohio, July 27, 1841, and is the son of Hon. Jordan Betts, a native of Loudoun County, Va., born in 1803.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Betts, was also a native of the Old Dominion and was a lad of fourteen years on the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He in turn was the son of John Betts, Sr., a soldier in that war. The first representative of the family in America came from the frontier between France and Germany, and formed one of the "Mayflower" party, arriving here in 1620. The grandmother's name before her marriage was Nancy Self. She was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1762, and died in Ohio at the age of eighty-six years.
The mother of our subject was born in Virginia in 1806, and bore the maiden name of Nancy Smith. She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gander) Smith, who moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1817. The grandfather died at the age of eighty-six years. His family consisted of seven daughters and eight sons, all of whom attained mature years and married excepting one, who died at the age of forty.-tive years.
After his marriage Jordan Betts settled in Morgan County, that state, and there he opened up a tract of heavy timber land, which he improved. He came west to Illinois in the fall of 1864, making his home in Fosterburg, Marion County, until 1875, when they removed to Vernon, and ten years later to Salem. Here Jordan Betts died in April, 1893. His good wife had departed this life in 1868, while residing in Fosterburg. It is a remarkable fact that our subject's father, as well as his grandfather, Thomas Smith, and grandmother, Nancy Betts, died at the age of eighty-six.
The parental family included six children, three of whom are living:
Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Betts were devoted members of the Baptist Church, and in the congregation at Bristol, Ohio, the father held the office of Deacon. He was always actively interested in politics and ever voted with the Democratic party. He was Justice of the Peace for nineteen years and was elected a member of tbe Ohio Legislature in 1846, but was unseated by the Whigs, who were in power.
I. B. Betts was reared on his father's farm and educated at the schools of Sharon, Ohio. In 1862 he emigrated to Iowa, and for a number of terms was engaged in teaching school in Warren and Black Hawk Counties. Then, going south to Atlanta, Ga., during the late war, young Betts acted as Clerk in the Quartermaster's Department for six months.
In the spring of 1865 he came to Marion County, and lived on the farm until 1876, when he moved to Vernon. He later came to Salem, where he held the office of Deputy Circuit Clerk for seven years.
December 21, 1867, our subject and Miss Rebecca E., daughter of John and Louisa (Gardener) Parsons, were united in marriage. She was born in April, 1847, in Belmont County, Ohio, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four sons and two daughters, viz.:
She is a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a very estimable lady.
Socially, our subject is connected with Mt. Olive Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
He has been a life-long Democrat, and in 1890 was elected Mayor of Salem. He has frequently been a delegate to the different conventions of his party, and served for fifteen years as Justice of the Peace. He is deeply interested in all matters pertaining to local and national welfare, and in the fall of 1892 was elected Circuit Clerk for a term of four years.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 510 - 511
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer