NOAH L. BABBS, of Rising Sun, and one of the oldest residents of the place, was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 13, 1794. His parents were John and Rebecca (LANE) BABBS, natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively, and of English and Irish descent. In 1803 his parents removed from Virginia to Cincinnati. Here the family resided until 1819, when they removed to the vicinity of Rising Sun and purchased forty acres of land, where the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm of his parents, remaining until nineteen years of age. During the war of 1812 he was in New Orleans, and saw Jackson after he had won that battle which has almost immortalized him. Returning North, Mr. BABBS went to Ohio, and during the building of the Miami Canal, he worked on it as one of the bosses. Next he purchased a tract of land several miles back of the Ohio River, north of Cincinnati, and followed gardening for thirty odd years. In 1871 he again purchased property in Rising Sun, where he has since resided, living a retired life, though by proxy dealing some in real estate. Mr. BABBS first married Nancy SMITH, who died one year later. He then married Kittie Ann PHARES, who died in 1832, there having been born to the union, five children, viz: Charles P., William, Emeline, John and Susan. His third wife was Amey (TUCKER) RAWLSON; one child was born to them- Virginia. His fourth marriage occurred in 1868, to Mrs. Catharine HYNER. Mr. BABBS is a member of the Christian Church.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


WILLIAM H. BAINBRIDGE, Lawrenceburgh, judge incumbent of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, and an able member of the Dearborn County bar, is a descendant of the old English stock of Bainbridges, of which his second cousin, Com. Bainbridge, of Tripoli fame, is perhaps the most conspicuous member. He is a son of P.W., and Catharine (PALMER) BAINBRIDGE, and was born in the State of Pennsylvania, June 5, 1829. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother was reared in Stark County, Ohio, her parents both living to the advanced age of over ninety years. His paternal ancestors were a hardy and intelligent class of people, though his parents died when he was in childhood, and he was reared by a family by the name of GOODE from the age of six to thirteen years, at which time Mr. GOODE died. This period of Judge BAINBRIDGE'S life was passed on the farm. He obtained the rudiments of an education during the winter terms of the district schools, and with this as a basis, by close application to his books during every moment of his leisure time, he acquired a thorough general knowledge such as is rarely attained outside of a regular collegiate course, of which latter advantage he was never able to avail himself. Mr BAINBRIDGE resided in Warren County, Ohio, till nineteen years of age. He then spent three years in Rushville, Ind., moving to Shelbyville, Ind., in 1851. Here he began the study of law with Judge Cyrul WRIGHT, an able lawyer of that county, and in the meantime was also engaged in editing a political paper called the Banner, and which he says is the only act of his life, in a political way, that he has any reason to regret; that he undertook the enterprise without due consideration, but soon saw the error of his position as the editor of a "Native American" or "Know-nothing" paper, and true to his convictions of right, abandoned the whole thing as soon as he could possibly dispose of his press and office. From the fall of 1855 to the spring of 1858, Judge BAINBRIDGE spent most of his time in the State of Ohio, engaged mostly in reading, returning to Indiana in the spring of 1858, and locating at Martinsville, the Democratic paper of Morgan County, which he did with credit to himself and satisfaction of his party and friends. In the fall of 1859 he removed to Nashville, Ins., where he continued the practice of his profession til in January, 1864, when he was appointed county recorder over ten other applicants, the regular official having been removed by death. In the fall of the same year he was elected clerk of the circuit court of that county, on the Democratic ticket, and he filled that office and practiced his profession till 1866, when he came to Lawrenceburgh, where he has ever since resided, giving his entire attention to his professional business. He served five years as city attorney for Lawrenceburgh, and, in the fall of 1884, was elected to the office of judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of INdiana, comprising of the counties of Dearborn, and Ohio, the duties of which office he assumed October 22, 1885. On that date, the Lawrenceburgh correspondent to the Cincinnati Enquirer referred to his character and abilities in the following complimentary terms: "This morning Judge GIVEN retires from the circuit court bench, and Hon. William H. BAINBRIDGE dons the judicial ermine, and for the next six years will preside over the counties of Dearborn and Ohio, as sole judge. Judge BAINBRIDGE goes upon the bench with a mind possessed of superior legal attainments, having for nearly thirty years, been an active and leading practitioner in all the courts. Always a close and hard student, as well as a deep thinker and a forcible speaker, he made his mark as an attorney, and those who know his abilities as a jurist, predict for him a high place among the judges of the land. A man of faultless character, pure motives and the strictest sense of justice and right, fair minded and impartial; the litigants in his courts will never be able to even reflect against his honesty or judicial fairness in administering the law. Having experienced the hardships of poverty in his youth, and being compelled through misfortune early in life not only to earn his own living, but under the most adverse circumstances acquire by his own exertions an education, he is in every respect a self made man, and, although but fifty-three years of age, has filled a number of important positions, being elected at different times, recorder and clerk of Brown County, Ind. for thirty years he has been a wheel horse in the ranks of Democracy, and in every campaign and upon every stump his voice has been lifted fearlessly and eloquently advocating the Democratic principles. At different localities he has edited Democratic papers, while at the same time keeping up with his legal business, thus evincing the tireless energy of the man." Judge BAINBRIDGE was married in 1855, to Lucretia A. WRIGHT of Quaker extraction, a daughter of Joshua Wright, a man of fine mental attainments, and niece of Rev. George MALEY, a former prominent Methodist minister of Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. BAINBRIDGE are parents of five children, Maley, Cora and Lulu, living. An interesting little son of five years, and an infant daughter are deceased. Miss Cora BAINBRIDGE is a young lady of rare musical attainments, and devotes some time in giving instructions in that most civilizing of all arts, and is now in Europe prosecuting her musical studies. In manners Judge BAINBRIDGE is affable; in principle, firm and decisive; in business, active and energetic; in heart generous and kind. He is a firm believer in the religion of Christ, he and his entire family being members of the Presbyterian Church.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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CONWAY BAINUM, farmer, Hogan Township, is a native of West Virginia, born August 9, 1809. His parents William, and Elizabeth (BRYAN) BAINUM were born in Wilmington, Delaware; father February 29, 1765, mother in October, 1790. They came to this county in 1810, where he farmed all his life. Conway was educated at Wilmington, His father built the first cabin on the ridge between the two Hogan creeks. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; father was an official member and his house was a home for the preachers. The first quarterly meeting in this locality, was held in his house. He was a zealous worker in the church. Mr. Conway BAINUM was married APril 11, 1832, to Sarah DESHIELL, who was born in Maryland, February 10, 1812. By this union four children; Elizabeth, Alfred H., Mary J., and Charles W. The wife died October 15, 1868. October 21, 1869 he married Mrs. Harriet (HAYES) SWING. She was born near Delhi, Ky., February 27, 1834. The entire family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. BAINUM is an active, energetic, well-preserved man, and bids fair to endure the frosts of many more winters before passing to his reward.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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J. W. BAINUM, farmer. Clay Township, was born in Hogan Township, Dearborn County, Ind., September 15, 1851. His parents, William and Aloveda (WILLIAMS) BAINUM, were natives of Indiana and England. T he former was born in Dearborn County, Ind, in the year 1810, and the latter in Cornwallshire, England, in the year 1815. They were married in Dearborn County, Ind., and afterward settled on a farm in Hogan Township, where they still reside. They were the parents of nine children: Elizabeth, Benjamin, Martha, Mary, Louisa, James W., Vienna, Agnes and one infant daughter (the eldest of the family who died in infancy unnamed. J.W., our subject, was united in marriage at Aurora, Ind., October 15, 1879, to Harriet, daughter of John and Catherine (LINDSAY) SPIDELL. She was born in Hogan Township, this county, August 27, 1851. After our subject's marriage he first settled at Wilmington, where he resided until March, 1881, at which time he moved to Clay Township and settled on the farm where he now lives and has since resided. He owns 155 acres of fine land.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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THOMAS L. BAKER, farmer, Hogan Township, owns eighty acres in Section 26, which is well improved and under a good state of cultivation. He was born on the same section in April, 1840, and received a fair education. His father, Thomas BAKER, was born in Virginia in 1790; mother, Rachel (POWELL) BAKER, in Pennsylvania, December 20, 1797. They came to Indiana in an early day and located in Hogan Township, where he farmed all his life, although he was a shoe-maker by trade. The father died in 1853. The mother is still living, and enjoying good health in the town of WIlmington. Thomas L. enlisted in the war in 1861, in Company D. Third Indiana Cavalry, and served three years and two months. He was wounded in the arm at White Oak Swamps in Virginia, which renders that member almost useless. With the exception of his army experience, he has followed farming all his life. Since the war he has been compelled to farm mostly by proxy on account of his crippled arm. He is an active, energetic man, and devotes a portion of his time and talent to handling stock, at which he is able to secure a good living outside of his farming interest. Mr. BAKER was married, November 15, 1866, to Miss Celestia CANFIELD, a native of Hogan Township, and four children were born to them: Mittie, Ada, Gatch L., and Irena. The family is endowed with considerable natural musical talent, which is being cultivated as a part of their general education.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


JAMES H. BALDWIN, Sparta Township, retired was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 8, 1814. His parents, Samuel and Flora(WOODRUFF) BALDWIN, were both natives of Connecticut and of English extraction, and were born as follows: the former in 1777, and the latter in 1780. They were married at Avon, Conn., in 1799, and afterward settled at Branford, where they remained until 1814, at which time they, in company with several other families, immigrated to Worthington, Franklin Co., Ohio, and from thence, in 1827 to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained until their deaths. He died in 1840, and his widow in 1862. They were parents of thirteen children, viz: Almon, Sarah, Joseph, Serene, Emily, Libanius, Serenna, Arden W., James H., Nancy M., Samuel D., Lysander and Abel. James H., our subject, was educated at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a student in the first public school of the city, which was taught by Thomas Jennings of this county. He completed a classic course in the old college building of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he traveled for a few years, returning to Cincinnati again in 1838, resuming the study of medicine, which he completed, but never engaged in practice. He was united in marriage at Cincinnati, Ohio, May 13, 1847, to Rhoda L., daughter of John and Huldah (TOWNSEND) SPENCER. She was born in Switzerland County, Ind., February 1, 1823. Her father was born at Providence, R. I., in 1775, and her mother in Duchess County, N.Y., in 1776. they were married in New York, and from thence in a very early day moved to Pennsylvania, and from there to cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1819, to Switzerland County, Ind. They were the parents of twelve children, viz: Millicent, Emily, Peter L., and Rhoda L. In 1865 Mr. BALDWIN moved to Dearborn County, Ind., purchased and settled on the same property where he now resides, and has since remained. They have had born to them three children, viz: Samuel S., Henriette L., and Jeannette D. Mr. BALDWIN is a man of good general information, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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COLONEL E. D. BANISTER, Lawrenceburgh, at present inspector of Indian agencies, has been a resident of Dearborn County for the past twelve years. He came to Lawrenceburgh in 1873 and for several years was engaged as a manager of the Walsh Distillery. He was prominent in the revival of the Dearborn County Agricultural Society of which he was president three years, and is notable for his ability in the management of business details. He is an active worker as a Democrat in politics, and was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention held at Chicago in 1884, and also a member of the notifying committee to inform Grover Cleveland of his nomination to the presidency. In 1885, Col. BANISTER was appointed by President Cleveland, inspector of Indian agencies and he is now engaged in the discharge of the duties of his office.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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JOSEPH BARTHOLOME, Lawrenceburgh, one of the oldest landlords of this city, was born in Germany in 1819. He immigrated to America in 1836 with his step-father and mother, and thereafter spent several years in different parts of the country, locating in Lawrenceburgh in 1840. He was employed as a laborer til 1848, when he assumed charge of the BARTHOLOME HOUSE, the proprietor of which he continued to be for about thirty-three years. In 1877 he retired, placing the house in charge of his son-in-law, Frank WEIKLE. Mr. BARTHOLOME was married January 23, 1843, to Anna Mary Josephine SCHOLLE, and fourteen children have been blessed their union, twelve of whom are still living: Simon, Joseph, Reinhold, William, Albert, Edward, Frank, Margaret, Josephine, Augusta, Mary and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. BARTHOLOME are members of the church. They have labored hard to maintain their children and gain the competency which they are now enjoying in their declining years.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


JAMES S. BARNS, retired minister, Rising Sun, was born in Marion County, W. Va., May 6, 1812. His parents were William and Jane (GRAHAM) BARNS, natives of Maryland and West Virginia, respectively, and of English, Welsh and Irish extraction. They were married in Marion County, W. Va., where they remained until about 1817, at which time they moved to Madison County, Ohio, and from thence, in the following year, to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1830 to Brown County, Ohio, where he died in 1833, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1840, and there died in 1843, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a physician by profession and a local minster of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of Thomas F., John W., Rebecca A., Phebe S., Frances S., William A., Rachel S., Thorton S., Reason M., and James S., our subject, the third member of the family. He was educated in the district schools of the vicinity where he was raised, and in them acquired quit a thorough education. But after reaching the years of maturity, he turned his attention to milling, farming and trading. He was united in marriage, in Clermont County, Ohio, September 11, 1838, to Miss Lydia A., daughter of Elijah and Nancy (CHAMPION) APPLEGATE. She was born in Clermont County, Ohio, August 3, 1819. After Mr. BARNES' marriage, he settled in Brown County Ohio, , and engaged in the grocery trade. In 1845 he removed to Switzerland County, Ind., and purchased a farm and engaged in farming, and shortly afterward was licensed to preach, as a local minister, in that county, and in 1849 was admitted in the Indiana Conference as a traveling minister, a calling pursued till 1862, in this State, and was then sent to southern Illinois, and in 1875 was transferred back to the Southeastern Indiana Conference, and then settled at Moore's Hill, Ind., where he resided until the spring of 1885, at which time he removed to Rising Sun, where he at present resides. Mr. and Mrs. BARNS have had born to them five children, viz: Carroll C., Maria B., Olive E., Florence A., and Emma M.; of whom the latter two only are living.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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CHARLES BAUER, carpenter, Aurora, a native of Germany, born in Wurtemberg, March 9, 1825. His parents Christian and Catharine BAUER, were born in Wurtemberg, the former in 1800 and the latter in 1802. The father died in 1826 and the mother in 1869. Charles came to America in 1847, located in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he remained seven years and followed carpentering. In 1854 he moved to Aurora, and carried on a sash and door factory for eighteen years. In 1872 he sold out and engaged in house building and contracting. He built the Catholic Church, priest's house, schoolhouse, Indiana House, brewery and several other buildings. He was a stockholder in the brewery when first built. He was married, January 6, 1850, to Miss Catharine Schultzheis, who was born in Wurtemberg, June 9, 1826. Himself and wife are the parents of several children, namely : Mary F., born November 21, 1850, died March 6, 1867; Louisa C., Therissa, Harriet, Emily, Carrie and Charles. In 1865 Mr. BAUER was elected councilman from Second Ward, and served eighteen years. He is a member of Chosen Friends Lodge No. 13, I.O.O.F.; also the Druids, and Druid Encampment and the Lutheran Church.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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JOHN G. BAUER, Lawrenceburgh, president and secretary of the BAUER Cooperage Company, was born in Cincinnati in 1856, and his parents are still residents of that city. His father is Jacob BAUER who is well known in business circles there but now retired. Mr. BAUER passed his early years in his native city in whose public schools he was educated, supplementing this by a course of study in the Cincinnati Business College. Up to 1882 he was engaged in the coopering business in Cincinnati, coming to Lawrenceburgh at the above date and since remaining in the establishment with which he is now connected. Mr. BAUER was married in 1881 to Anne DE BENATH, a native of France and a daughter of August and Anna DE BENATH, her mother now being a resident of Cincinnati. He is an energetic business man, of fine executive ability and alive to every interest of the enterprise under his supervision.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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T. J. BACHMAN. In 1845 Mr. BACHMAN came to Aurora and engaged in the distilling business with T. and J.W. GAFF, and became a member of the firm in 1862. He was a man remarkable for his energy and enterprise. No transaction in the complicated business in which he was engaged escaped his observation. Quick in perception, punctual in attendance to his duties, he never wanted in determination to accomplish whatever he undertook. He was a warm-hearted, kind and generous man, and assisted much in giving life and activity to the business of Aurora. He died January 11, 1874 at the age of sixty years.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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GEORGE W. BAKER, farmer, Sparta Township, was born in Dearborn County, Ind., January 19, 1818. His parents were the old and highly esteemed pioneers-Thomas and Rachel (POWELL) BAKER, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The former was a son of John BAKER, an old Revolutionary soldier, who emigrated from Virginia to Dearborn County, Ind., about the year 1801, settling near Wilmingon, where he resided until his death. He was the father of six children, viz: Thomas, John, Elizabeth, George, William and Sarah. Thomas (the father of our subject, the eldest member of the family) came with his parents to this county in 1801, where he and the above Rachel POWELL were united in marriage in about 1812, after which they settled near Wilmington, and there remained, with the exception of a few years in Ripley County, until their deaths. He died Juyl 11, 1853. His widow still survives, and resides at Wilmington. They were the parents of twelve children, namely: Elizabeth (deceased), Susan, George W., Sarah J., Angeline, Nelson T., Huldah A. (deceased), John E., William, James M., Thomas L. and Josephine. George W., our subject, was married in Hogan Township, this county, February 11, 1841, to Margaret A., daughter of Peter and Margaret (HIGBEE) HANNEGAN. She was born in this county February 3, 1823. After our subject's marriage, he moved to Ohio County, where he remained about four years, and from thence removed to Dearborn County, where he has since resided. In 1867 he purchased his present farm, and in the following year moved on it , wehere he has since resided. He wons eighty acres of fine land, which is well improved, a part of which is located in Sparta Township, and a part in Clay Township. They have had born to them eleven children, viz: Martha A., Harlan P., Thomas E.(deceased), Zada M., Lewis W. (deceased). Ella R., Mary A., Dollie C., Hattie E., George M. and Carrie E. Mr. BAKER is a fine man, and highly esteembed by all who know him. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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HORACE BASSETT, was born in Mansfield, Conn., January 18, 1782; in early life he immigrated to Vermont; he there studied law with Col. Mattox, and followed his profession successfully -- for some time filling the office of State's attorney. He removed to Indiana in 1820, and settled at Aurora. In 1842 he was elected to the Legislature which met at Corydon, and continued to represent the district in which he lived for six years. He was a member of the Legislature that assembled at Indianapolis. It was through his instrumentality, in about the year 1822, that the township system was adopted as a system local to Dearborn County. Twenty years later, when, by the adoption of the new constitution of the State, legislation concerning townships, county business was required to be uniform, impressed with the value of the system, William S. HOLMAN, another member from Dearborn County in the State Legislature, introduced the bill, extending the system to all the counties of the State. This bill passed, and the township system, although since greatly modified, became the permanent policy of Indiana. In 1832 he was one of the commissioners who removed the Indians from this State to the far West, beyond the Mississippi. Two years afterward he was appointed by Judge Holman clerk of the United States Circuit and District Courts, which office he held till the time of his death. He became a resident of Indianapolis in 1840, and died in that city December 18, 1860. Mr. BASSETT was universally respected and loved by those who knew him. His natural intelligence, united with extensive reading, in which much of his time was spent, rendered him a favorite companion in the social circle. At his death the committee appointed to draft and adopt resolutions expressive of the feelings of teh members of the bar and officers of the United States Circuit Court said: "Inasmuch as it has pleased our Heavenly Father to call to Himself our friend and brother, Horace BASSETT, Esq., who for so many years past has been clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States, we hi friends and associates have met to pay our tribute of respect to and veneration for his memory. It is not so much his long and useful life as a lawyer, a legislator and an officer of court, as his high merits as a man and Christian, which we desire to commemorate".

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
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D. B. BEATY, Sparta Township, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, Moore's Hill, was born in Ohio County, Ind., February 14, 1842. His parents were William and Mary A. (HERRON) BEATY, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The former was a son of Hugh BEATY, a native of Ireland, and from thence, in an early day, immigrated with his parents to the State of Pennsylvania, where he married Margaret SMITH , a native of Pennsylvania, and afterward settled in Lancaster County, where they resided until about the year 1815, at which time they immigrated to what is now Randolph Township, Ohio Co., Ind.,entering land and afterward resided there until death. They were the parents of eight children, viz: Jane, Rosanna, John, George, Mary, Margaret, Nancy and William, the father of our subject. He was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in the year 1805, and came with his parents to Ohio County, Ind., in 1815 where he and the above Mary A. HERRON, were united in marriage and afterward purchased a farm in Randolph Township and remained there until 1855, when he moved to Dearborn County, Ind., and from thence, in 1859 to Harrison County, Ind., where he afterward resided until death which occurred in July, 1865. The following spring of 1866, his widow removed to Aurora, Ind., where she resided until 1881, when she went to live with her daughter at Johnson City, Mo., where she still resides. Ten children were born to them, viz: Hugh S., John H., Lydia, David B., Elisha G., William E., Margaret J., Mary E., Jesse T. and an infant son, who died in infancy and unnamed. D.B., our subject in 1866 began the tinner's trade but continued the business only about two years, when he and his brother purchased the harness shop of I. T. Campbell, of Aurora, Ind., which they continued together for about one year, when our subject purchased his brother's interest and carried on the business himself until 1872, at which time he sold out and in the following spring turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has since continued. He was united in marriage, near Aurora, Ind., December 19, 1872, to Nancy M., daughter of Edward T., and Elizabeth (DOWDEN) HUBBARTT. She was born in Dearborn County, Ind., December 4, 1850. Three children bless their union, viz: Carrie M., Walter E. and Edith L. In the spring, of 1855, Mr. BEATY purchased a farm on Section 9, Sparta Township, where he removed and has since resided. He owns ninety-five acres of fine land, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is also a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885
SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp