James Parmer is a practical and progressive farmer of Clark Township, a native of Kentucky, and is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Wishard) Parmer. His father was born in Somerset County, Maryland, October 22, 1801. The mother was born August 14, 1805. They emigrated from Kentucky, and settled in Johnson County about the year 1835. To the parents of our subject were born the following children: Matilda, October 8, 1829; one unnamed, November 3, 1831; James, December 23, 1832, Charles, September 23, 1834. The mother of these children was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Wishard. She was called away by death, and the father married for a second wife, Jane Robison, the widow of Thomas Robison, in 1838. This union was blessed with the following children: Samuel, born March 8, 1839; Noah, October 31, 1840; Nancy, July 26, 1842; George, March 30, 1844; Margaret E., March 1, 1846; Susan M., December 10, 1848; Isabell J., April 11, 1850, and Martha A., August 11, 1853. Our subject was reared on a farm in Johnson County. He received a fair education for that day, but being fond of reading books and papers, he has become conversant on subjects of general interest. At the age of eighteen years he began the battle of life for himself. He served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith’s trade, which he followed three years. At the age of twenty-one years he drifted with the tide of emigration to the gold fields of California, remaining there nearly three years. He then returned to Indiana, and settled in Johnson County, on a farm where he now lives. It contains about 110 acres of well improved land. He was married to Lucy C. Oldham, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Oldham, September 23, 1858. To this union the following children were born: Charles O., born August 8, 1859; Appie, September 27, 1860; Addie, April 10, 1862; Lula, December 9, 1863; Albert, August 17, 1865; James, March 1, 1869; George W., January 12, 1871; Alonzo, June 20, 1873; Frederick, December 3, 1875, and William, February 21, 1879. In politics, he has always been a staunch republican, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He has been a deacon in his church a number of years.