Stewartsville, Indiana

JOHN CHEISTIE was born in Virginia, June 21, 1834, son of Henry and Ellen (St. Clair) Christie. The parents were natives of Virginia, born in 1806 and 1811, respectively. The father was a stone-mason, and came to Posey County, Ind., in 1850, where he followed the life of a farmer. His death occurred June 6, 1879. The mother is yet living. Our subject received a limited education, owing to the poor facilities of that day, and when nineteen years old began working for himself. June 13, 1859, he took for his companion through life Rosetta Kirby, born September 13, 1842, in Tennessee. They have this family: Jessie E., Minnie E. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Martha A., Nellie G. and Bstella F. Mr. Christie enlisted in Company D., Ninety -first Regular Indiana Infantry, August 20, 1862, and was an active and faithful soldier for three years. In June, 1865, he returned home, and in the fall of the same year, purchased forty-seven acres of land in Robb Township, and began farming. December 8, 1880, he lost his wife, and since that time his daughter Jessie has been his housekeeper. He aftetWard increased his farm to 107 acres, but meeting with an accident which crippled him in 1884, he abandoned farming, and has since lived in Poseyville. He is a Republican in politics and cast his first vote for Fremont.

Passage source: History of Posey County, Indiana : from the Earliest Times to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. : Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1886.

LEANDEK DEFUE was born in Posey County, Ind., February 15, 1831, son of Eoswell and Bedy (Eoberts) Defur. The father was of French descent, born in 1803, in South Carolina, and came to Indiana in his youth. He was married in 1821, and resided in Posey County until his death in 1858. Our subject's grandfather took an active part in the battle of Tippecanoe. At that time the country was full of hostile Indians, and many atrocious crimes were committed. Some interesting stories related by Mr. Defur will be found in another part of this work. The mother was born in South Carolina October 20,. 1804. She is at present living with our subject, and is quite bright and active for so old a lady. Leander was educated in the district schools, and in 1854 took a trip to the Pacific coast, going via the Gulf of Mexico, Isthmus of Panama, and up the Pacific coast to the Golden Gate. He became a miner, and only a few days after his arrival found a piece of quartz rock which contained over $60 worth of gold. He remained there four years and then returned to "Hoosierdom" with upward of $1,000, which he had earned. He located on the old place, where he has ever since lived, owning 101 acres of land. In 1874 the house caught fire and was consumed. Since that time he has rebuilt, and is doing well as a farmer. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Eegular Baptist Church.

Passage source: History of Posey County, Indiana : from the Earliest Times to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. : Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1886.

WILLIAM A. DEAKE, miller, is a native of Kentucky, born August 23, 1854, son of Eev. James and Sarah Jane (Gish) Drake. The parents were natives of Keiitucky, born in 1815 and 1821, respectively. The father was a farmer and miller by occupation, and also became minister of the gospel while in his native State, and preached for upward of forty years. He came to Posey County, Ind., where he remained until 1880, when he moved to Kentiicky and remained until his death in 1883. The mother's death occurred in 1872. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and aided his parents on the farm until nearly twenty-one years old. In 1879 he entered into partnership with his brother, John, in the saw-mill business. In 1884 they became partners of James Hall in grist-milling, and are doing a paying business. In politics Mr. Drake is a Eepublican. In 1884 he was married to Miss Mattie A. Sandefur, daughter of J. T. and Julia B. Sandefur. She was born April 28, 1866, and has borne her husband one child, George Humphrey. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Passage source: History of Posey County, Indiana : from the Earliest Times to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. : Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana, published 1886.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Robb Township - it names this place 13 more 13 times.