Israel Jared, the son of Joel and Mary "Polly" (Dowell) Jared, was born near Sinking Creek, Breckenridge County, Kentucky. He married 27 February 1837, Rhoda Meador. In the fall of 1845 they migrated to Jasper County, Illinois with his father, Joel and his brother William. They had ten children at that time. On a rolling clearing, not far from the wooded banks of Painter's Creek, in Grandview Township, they built their log cabin home. The only landmark left today is the family well.

Israel was a community leader, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Lodge. He believed in education. Six generations of his descendants have been school teachers. Under his leadership a school was built across the road from his home on a piece of his land. It was called "The Jared School" and there Israel taught for many years.

Two more children were born in Illinois bringing the Tribe of Israel up to twelve. Then came the Civil War and the end of their close family ties. The Israel Jared family gave much to the Union; their sons, Granville, James Mack, Joel, and Thomas, enlisted. To Israel was given the unpopular and dangerous commission of hunting and returning deserters to the army. He also served from 1864 to 1866 as supervisor of Grandview Township.

Rhoda Meador, wife of Israel Jared, was born in Virginia 22 January 1808. The Meadors are an old English family dating back to Wystensham, Norfolk County, 1188. In 1636 one Ambrose Meador received a grant of land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia and in 1638 Nicholas and John Meador also came to America and settled in Virginia. Their coat of arms bears the inscription "Mea dod Virtus" which means "Virtue is my dowry." This well applied to slender courageous Rhoda Meador Jared.

During th e Civil War, with husbands and sons serving their country, Rhoda was left head of the family. It was she who had to ride to the nearest post office. She opened the door when strangers knocked. Both tasks took courage, for Israel's job of arresting Army deserters brought them much animosity and threats. Several times bullets penetrated their doors, and once when Rhoda opened a closet a strange man walked out. He ran away when the woman screamed for help.

On 10 February 1863, Granville, who served in the 123rd Illinois Regiment, Company E, was badly wounded and six months later his sister, Missouri, aged twenty seven, died. The next year, 1864, Joel was killed on the skirmish line near Acworth, Georgia fighting with the 32nd Illinois Infantry.

Rhoda died on 1 August 1874. On 13 January 1876 Israel Jared married Mrs. Sarah J. Brown. She was greatly loved by Israel's grandchildren. Sarah was born in 1830. She had no children by Israel, but had at least one son by Mr. Brown, name John B. Brown.