Earl T. Rector

    Earl T. Rector was born in Lancaster Township, Jefferson County, January 12, 1842. Daniel Rector, the great-grandfather of E. T. Rector, was the founder of the Rector family in Jefferson County; was a native of Virginia, and came to Jefferson County as early as 1807. Daniels was in the Ranger service in the War of 1812-15, and was killed at a muster near Kent, Jefferson County, Indiana. Daniel Rector, son of Hezekiah, was the father of the subject of our sketch; was born and raised in Lancaster Township, Jefferson County, Indiana. He married Jane C. Farris, daughter of Leonard Farris, a native of New York. They had ten children, of whom Earl T. Rector was the eldest. Born and reared on a farm, was educated in the common schools of the county. Lived on the farm and learned the plaster's trade. At the call of President Lincoln for troops, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Reg. Indiana Volunteers, Col. Jeff C. Davis. He was with his regiment in all the battles in which the regiment was engaged; the principal ones were Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Corinth, Mississippi, and Perrysville, Kentucky, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and others. He was one of the men of his company who came out of all the battles unhurt. During his last months of service he was in the Pioneer Corps.

     He came home in 1864, and returned and served until 1865, when he was discharged at close of war. On one occasion, while following Price, he was detailed as forager for provisions, and during the raid he lost all of his clothing but boots and shirt; at a store he found a pair of linen pants, a cut-away coat and a stove pipe hat, all of which he appropriated as contraband of war; and in this costume fought the Johnies for some time during the spring of 1862.

    he came home and settled down to a farm life, taking unto himself Miss Irene Craft, as a wife, in 1867. She was the daughter of John B. Craft, a native of New York. They have three children: John B., Daniel F. and Jennie, who are all at home.

    Mr. Rector is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is commander of John A. Hendricks Post, G. A. R.; was a Freemason. He spent the four best years of his life in the army. He is a good citizen and farmer.

    Hezekiah Rector, grandfather of Earl T., was a captain of a company in our Colonial War, and he was shot by one of the company's sentinels who refused to be released from duty.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.