William Ginn
Mr. and Mrs. William Ginn and Family
On section fifteen of Jefferson Township is located the attractive rural estate of William Ginn, who has lived in this county for more than forty years, and stands high among his neighbors and friends for his success as a farmer and stock raiser, and for his kindly and useful relations with those who live in the same circle of social neighborhood.
Mr. Ginn comes of Irish stock. His grandfather William Ginn, was born in Ireland, and in young manhood emigrated to America, first settling in Virginia. In that state he married and he and his bride came on to Indiana and settled in Henry County when the country was still new. Henry County was his home until his death, and he and his wife were about threescore and ten when they passed away. They were both Protestants in religion. His sons were: James, Joseph, John , Job, William, and Ezekiel. Their daughters were Nancy, Sarilda, Elsie and Polly, all these children having married and having families except, John, who was wounded as a Union soldier in the battle at Richmond, Kentucky, and died of gangrene. Job and William were likewise soldiers and saw service from the beginning to the end of the struggle.
Ezekiel, father of William Ginn, was a married man at the time of the Civil war and he had volunteered his services to put down the Rebellion. In 1863 he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry in Henry County, and served until the war was over. Part of the time he was on detailed duty. Not knowing that Ezekiel Ginn had already enlisted, they drafted him, but he had already been gone two weeks and was with them in Nashville, Tennessee. After the war he continued to live on his farm in Henry County until February, 1869, and then moved to Grant County. Twp years were spent in Fairmount Township, and in the fall of 1870 he moved to Jefferson, where his wife died on October 15, 1875. She was born in Maryland in 1833, and her maiden name was Sally Nicodemus. She was still young when she came to Indiana, and her father died in Henry County, while her mother later moved to Fulton County and died at the age of eighty-seven years. The latter's maiden name was Catherine Eckers, who was born in Bremen, Germany, and her parents emigrated and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where she lived until they came out to Henry County. After the death of his first wife Ezekiel Ginn married Betsie Aldred, and a year later, in 1878, went to Independence, Kansas, where he died when seventy-eight years of age. His wife passed away some years later.
Mr. William Ginn was one of twins, and he has two brothers and three sisters living, all of whom are now married. He was born on a farm in Henry County, Indiana, December 14, 1856. part of his boyhood was spent in his native county, but he was only about thirteen years old when his family came to Grant County. Since the age of fifteen he has been practically self-supporting, and has made his own way in the world. In 1877 Mr. Ginn bought his present farm in section fifteen of Jefferson Township, and has now a highly productive estate of eighty acres, improved with a comfortable, though not pretentious residence, and a place which on the whole represents a good return for his many years of steady and consistent labor and management.
In Jefferson Township, Mr. Ginn married Miss Sarah Jones, who was born in Jefferson Township, February 3, 1860. Her home has been in this vicinity all her life. Her parents were Joshua and Malinda (Owings) Jones, who came to Grant County in 1840, and lived on a farm in Jefferson Township until their death. The father was from Greene County, Ohio, and the mother from Muskingum County, Ohio. They were married in Grant County in February, 1843. Her father was ninety-one years old when he died on August 12, 1909, and his wife passed away some eight years before at the age of eighty-six.
Mr. and Mrs. Ginn have the following children: Joshua, born July 13, 1865, is a progressive young farmer and married Iva Fenton; Frank died in infancy; James A., born December 19, 1891, is a graduate of the high school, and follows the profession of electrician, being unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Ginn attend the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church and he and his sons are Republican voters.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner