John H. Blount

    John H. Blount was born near Dalton, Wayne County, Indiana, October 7, 1822, a son of Andrew R. and Sarah (Warren) Blount. Andrew R. Blount was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, but when a boy of seven years old his parents moved to Kentucky, where they lived about ten years, and in 1805 moved to Nolan's Fork, Wayne County, Indiana, his father, William Blount, being one of the first settlers of Wayne County. During the war of 1812, Andrew R. enlisted and served three years. After the war he moved to White River, across the river from Smithfield, but subsequently returned to Wayne County. He was married soon after his return from the war, near Economy, to Sarah Warren. In 1822 they moved to Henry County, and in the spring of 1836 to Blackford County, where Mr. Blount had bought and entered a tract of land in the woods, only two acres of which was cleared. At that time the only timber was large, the Indians keeping the underbrush cleared out. Mr. Blount was a good hunter and fine marksman, and his son John H. attended eight shooting matches with him one fall, when he won nine beef hides and made over $40 by his shooting. He remained in Blackford County until 1864, when his son Warren, who lived in Henry County, persuaded him to move there, and when he was on his way he was taken sick and died at the age of seventy-two years. The mother died in 1874. They had a family of thirteen children, but four of whom are living -John, Warren, Andrew A. and Sarah. Both are buried near the old home in Henry County.

    John H. Blount was but fourteen years old when his parents moved to Blackford County, and here he was reared and has since lived. When he was about sixteen years old he went with Jake Brugh and his young son to Carter's mill, above Eaton, but the river being dry they could get no grinding done. They then went to Muncie with the same result. They then went to Blountville, and from there five miles further to a brother-in-law's of Mr. Blount, John Fisher, who went with them to a man named Thornburg, who had some flour he had got ground at Milton, and after much argument he was persuaded to let the boys have some in exchange for their wheat.

    Mr. Bloiunt was married in September, 1841, to Eliza Markins, a native of Lawrence County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Frances (Sumter) Markins, who located in Blackford County in 1837, where the father died in 1859, aged seventy years, and the mother in 1881, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Blount has a cover-lid, which is made of cotton raised, carded, spun and woven by her mother over fifty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Blount have had thirteen children, nine of whom are living. James died at the age of nineteen years and nine months; Richard, aged three years and five months; Bertie, aged two years and seven months, and Emma, aged one year. Sarah Frances is the wife of Roswell Jackson, and lives in Lincoln County, Kansas; Mary Etta, wife of Henry Danenower, of Howard County, Indiana; Andrew, of Delaware County, Indiana; Rachel, wife of Reuben Lewis; Lorenzo W., Nancy, wife of Cyrus Lewis, and John, lives in Harrison Township.

    Mr. Blount ahs been a life-long Democrat, although now he is inclined toward the principles of the National Greenback party. Mrs. Blount was  a member of the Christian Church over thirty years, and then with her husband joined the Society of Friends, and since its disbandment they have untied with no church. They have been residents of Blackford County over half a century, and witnessed every change it has undergone in transforming it from a wild uncultivated forest to a state of advanced civilization. Mrs. Blount is the only woman that ever killed a deer in Blackford County, her victim being a large animal with long antlers, and her weapon being an ax.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. Page 821-822.