Arthur E. Sutton

    Arthur E. Sutton, farmer and school teacher, Jackson Township, was born in Dunkirk, Jay County, Indiana, December 11, 1858, a son of Daniel and Sarah C. (Hobson) Sutton. His father was born in Greene County, Ohio, August 20, 1835, and when two years of age was taken by his parents to Dunkirk, Jay County, where he lived until nearly twenty-three years of age, and was then married December 4, 1856, and died June 20, 1875. The mother was born in Harrison Township, Blackford County, July 4, 1840, and is still living in the county. They were the parents of seven children -Arthur E., Albert E., born May 25, 1862; Nellie A., September 11, 1864; Jose S., January 29, 1867; Ada A. R., March 31, 1869; Eliza C., October 8, 1871, and Minnie M., December 25, 1873; the last named died June 2, 1879.

    The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, William G. Sutton, was born in Ohio, and married Catharine Sutton. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and also served in the commissary department under General Wayne at the time he built Fort Wayne.

    The grandfather, Isaiah Sutton was born in Greene County, Ohio, where he married Catharine Shrack, and to them were born seven children -William G., Margaret, John, Daniel, Jacob, Sarah and Elizabeth, Jacob dying in boyhood.

    The maternal great-grandparents of our subject, Samuel and Catharine (Walgamoth) Gochnauer, were natives of Virginia, and pioneers of Blackford County, where they both died, the former October 26, 1873, aged eighty years, eight months and twenty-nine days, and the latter December 23, 1865, aged seventy years. They were the parents of three daughters -Mary A., Eliza and Catharine. They were all born in Virginia. The latter married Jose K. Hobson, and to them were born six children that lived to man and womanhood -Sarah C., the mother of our subject; James P., Margaret A., Jacob E., George L. and Walter M.

    Arthur E. Sutton lived near the village of his birth until sixteen years of age, when he with his mother's family moved to Blackford County. Through great disadvantages he managed to procure a common school education, and was able to enter college, which he did, going a few terms to the Methodist Episcopal College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, although he was unable to complete the course. As a teacher his success is good, using energy and determination. Out of the nine terms  of his teaching, five have been at his home school, the Gochnauer.

    He was married September 3, 1885, to Anna E. Schmidt, who was born in Hamilton County, Indiana, October 17, 1862, and came to Blackford County when a  child. She is a daughter of John P. and Anna B. (Triech) Schmidt, natives of Germany. Both died in Blackford County. To them were born five children -Anna E., Jacob, Catharine B., Eva and William H.

    Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have one child, Jacob A., who was born May 12, 1886, in the house built by his great-great-grandfather shortly after he settled in Blackford County.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.