James J. Maxwell

    Hon. James J. Maxwell was born in Morgan County, Indiana, February 27, 1839, and is the eldest of the family of John and Catherine Maxwell, natives of Ireland. The grandfather of our subject was a native of England, who emigrated to Ireland, and thence, in 1805, to America, where he settled at Germantown, Columbia County, New York. About 1813, he moved to Lebanon, Ohio, thence to Dearborn County, Indiana, and finally in 1842, to Morgan County, where death laid claim to him. He was by trade a weaver, and that was his life-long business. His family comprised seven children -Robert, James, William, Henry, Nancy, Ellen and John.

    John Maxwell was born in County Down, Ireland, July 24, 1805, and was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1837, to Catherine Graham, born in 1812. After marriage Mr. Maxwell located near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and in 1838 moved to Morgan County, purchased land and settled in Washington Township, where he died February, 1872. His family was as follows: Susan (deceased), Jane (deceased), Susanna, John (deceased), Robert F., Catherine and James J.

    James J. Maxwell was educated in the district schools in part, but which education he completed at Cincinnati. February 14, 1866, in this county, he married Cynthia A., daughter of John and Lucy Hodges, and born January 18, 1848, a union which gave being to eight children -Josie, Minnie (deceased), Otto (deceased) Franklin R., Howard, Nora (deceased), Mitte M. and Don. Mr. Maxwell was elected to the Legislature in 1874, a position which he filled with honor. He is a highly respected citizen and a member of the Christian Church.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.