Calvin Dean
It is now many years since the Dean Family was established within the limits of Grant county, the earlier ones have long since passed away, but here is definite record of their worthy work as pioneers, as developers of the wilderness during the pioneer times, and in later generations the activities and the associations of the family have always been of the most character. Mr. Calvin Dean, by his residence in an attractive country home in Section Six of Fairmount Township would be considered primarily a farmer, though he is best known for his long connection with the business of auctioneering, and in that profession he probably has no superior in the state, and his work takes him to many counties besides his home locality.
The Dean family was established in Kentucky many years ago, and grandfather Thomas Dean was born in Bourbon County, and died near Nicholasville, in that State when seventy-eight years of age. Farming was his occupation during his active years. He married a Kentucky girl, and they were both members of of the Baptist faith, and had a large family of children. Among the younger ones was John Dean, and others who can now be recalled were James, Harrison and Thomas.
John Dean was born in Kentucky about 1820, grew up on a farm, and married Serena Tennel, who was born about 1823, a daughter of Joseph Tennel. Joseph Tennel, a native of Kentucky, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died when an old man, after a career of much local prominence. The Tennel family like the Deans were prominent land owners, and early settlers of Kentucky, and before the war their possessions comprised many broad acres of land and a numerous household of black slaves. After the marriage of John Dean and wife, they lived in Kentucky for a few years, and two or three of their children were born in that state. later they moved north to Johnson County, Indiana, and it was in Johnson County that Calvin Dean was born August 27, 1847. During the early fifties the family moved to Delaware County, Indiana, where john Dean bought eighty acres of wild land. In the midst of the woods a log cabin was erected and the strenuous labors of the head of the family and his children went to the clearing and improvement of that estate. After living there a number of years John Dean traded his farm for another eighty acres near Little Ridge in Liberty Township of Grant County. In 1883, he sold that and bought forty acres in Fairmount Township, and there he and his wife passed their peaceful years until death. He passed away at the age of seventy-seven, while she was seventy years old. Their church was the United Brethren. In politics John Dean voted the Democratic ticket regularly. There were seven sons and five daughters, and the only son now living is Calvin. His two sisters are Lucy and Laura, the latter the wife of James Logan of Anderson. Two of the sons, James H. and John, were soldiers in the civil war, going out from Delaware County in the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. Their military service brought them actively into many battles and campaigns, and John was disabled when he fell from the breastworks of the fortifications about Memphis, Tennessee. However, both brothers returned home, without serious injury, and the older died in Fairmount Township, and the younger in Madison County, both leaving families of children.
As previously stated, Calvin dean was born in Johnson County, Indiana, August 27, 1847, and when sixteen years of age, his parents located in Grant County. His home was with his parents until he was twenty-two and during his boyhood he had the advantages of local schools. From early boyhood, one thing of which he may be justly proud was his devotion during his earlier life to his parents, and he lived with them and cared for them during their declining years. His first move toward establishing a home of his own, was the purchase of a part of the old Liberty Township homestead. Selling that his next acquisition was one hundred acres in Fairmount Township, and this was the nucleus of his accumulation of land in that section of the county. It has been increased, until he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty acres in Fairmount Township, and there are probably no better improved farms in the vicinity. Where needed there are plenty of ditches, and practically all the ground is tillable. He is a progressive farmer, and has made a reputation for the growing of crops. A feature of his barnyards is the fine red Duroc swine, and all the rest of his stock are of high-grade. His home is comfortable, but without ostentation. for the past forty-five years Mr. Dean has plied his profession as auctioneer, and his record in that line cannot probably be excelled. His services have been almost constantly in demand, and some years ago he established a record of working as auctioneer for sixty consecutive days with the only intermission on Sunday. As as auctioneer he has visited many counties of the state, and his patrons have felt the utmost confidence in his ability, and effective salesmanship.
Mr. Dean was first married to Lavina Reed, who was born in Madison County, and who died in Grant County of lung trouble in 1876. Her one son, Pearl R., has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is now a well known local auctioneer with home at Summittville, in Madison County. He married Maude Worth, and they have one son, Rolland Dean. Mr. Dean after the death of his first wife married, in Madison County, Miss Arminta Alice Cree, who was born in Madison County, March 27, 1858. He father was the late Honorable Robert Cree, who at the time of his death was serving as State Senator from Madison County and had a long career of activity in politics. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dean are mentioned as follows:
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Charles, now a farmer and breeder of horses and mules, married Emma Woolen, a daughter of Edward Woolen, and their children are Ortense A. and Winton A.
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Ellas S., is the wife of Eldon Marine of Delaware County, living near Muncie, and they have two children, Eva W. and Claude M.
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Frederick O., also a farmer, with his home near Summittville, in Madison County, married Arlice L. Johnson, and has two children, Lodema C. and Estelle Louise.
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Flossie E., like the other children has received the best advantages of school, and is now a member of the class of 1916 in the Fairmount Academy.
Mr. Dean and family are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and in politics his support ahs been given to the principles of the Prohibition party.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.