My Genealogy Hound

Jacob B. Novinger, a farmer, stock raiser and coal dealer of Morrow Township, is a native of Dauphin County, Penn., where he was born in 1845, and when but eighteen months old was brought by his parents, Isaac and Christina (Shoop) Novinger, to Adair County, where he was reared, with no educational advantages save those offered by the common country schools, and upon reaching his majority he could not write his name. He then attended two three-months’ terms at Greencastle, and then attended the North Missouri State Normal for two terms, after which he taught a couple of terms, and then attended the Normal again for one term. Since then he has been farming, marrying Miss Maggie, daughter of Noah and Susannah Motter, October 11, 1874, a native of Adair County, He has six children all living, viz.: Lizzie B., Martin L., Emanuel L., Minnie, Noah and Bessie. He remained in Nineveh Township until 1878, when he came to Morrow Township, and has since lived upon his present farm of 140 acres, situated near Stahl. When he first came to his present home he opened up a coal mine, the first of any consequence ever opened in the township. This he has since continued to operate, supplying quite an extensive local trade, besides shipping fifteen or twenty car loads each year. Mr. Novinger is the owner of perhaps the most favorably located and valuable coal field in this section of the State. Thus far he has succeeded in discovering two good veins, the first about three and a half feet thick, and the other about three feet below the first, four feet thick.