John S. Templin

    John S. Templin was born at Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, July 22, 1828, a son of James and Catherine (Swan) Templin. James Templin was born in Ohio, and was reared near Chillicothe, and after his marriage located at Hillsboro, where he worked at the tanner's trade. In 1829 he moved to Indiana by team, there being no roads of any kind, the only path through the woods being the old Indiana trail. He entered a tract of land in what is now Perry Township, Delaware County, and while he was getting a cabin built, his family remained in Bluntsville, Henry County. Wild animals were the principal inhabitants of the county, and wolves were especially troublesome, as the stock of the settler was not safe from their depredations. The family lived on this farm about eight years, and then bought another tract in the same township, on which he lived until 1853, when he moved to Wheeling, Delaware County, and subsequently to Grant County, where he died in 1880, aged seventy-five years. His wife died in Delaware County about 1842. He was originally an old-line Whig, and subsequently became identified with the Republican party. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church.

    John S. Templin remained with his father until his marriage, and then settled on the farm where he now lives, but seven or eight acres of which were at that time free from timber. He now has fifty-three of his ninety acres cleared and under cultivation, and his farm is one of the best in the township. In 1883 he built a handsome, substantial residence, which commands a fine view of the surrounding country, and his grounds are tastefully laid out, and ornamented with beautiful shrubs and shade trees.

    Mr. Templin was married October 9, 1851, to Elizabeth Atkinson, a native of Pennsylvania. She died May 10, 1863, leaving three children -George H., Hannah Ann and James Albert. October 27, 1867, he married Elizabeth Lyons, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio. To them have been born five children. The eldest, Addie Jane, is deceased. The others are -Charles Oscar, Richard Anson, Florence Willene and Ida Blanche.

    Mr. and Mrs. Templin are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a ruling elder. In politics he is a Nationalist, with prohibition proclivities. he is an exemplary man, and is respected by his friends and neighbors.

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