Portrait & Biographical Records of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties,
Indiana. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1893, p 577. John W. DEATH is successfully engaged
in tilling the soil, and has been a resident of Fountain County all his life, for here he
was born Nov 29, 1841, a son of John C. and Rosanna Walker Death, the father being a son
of Aaron Death, and mother a daughter of John Walker. The father was born in Ohio, but
came of good old Virginian stock, for his ancestors for many years had been residents of
the Old Dominion. He came to FOuntain County in 1828, when but 17 years of age, and
located no a small tract of land. His efforts in following agricultural pursuits met with
the best results, and he eventually became the owner of 900 acres of some of the best land
for agricultural and stock raising purposes in the county. His first labor for himself
was as a rail splitter at 37 and a half cents a hundred and although this occupation did
not offer many inducements, he continued to follow it until he had accumulated sufficient
means to permit him making a small purchase of land, from which grew his magnificent
estate. He at first resided in a lot house, but this eventually gave place to a more
modern and better structure, and other improvements about his place were made accordingly.
Aaron's sons and daughters are as follows: Townsend, a native of Ohio and cabinet
maker by trade; joseph also born in that state and resident of Fountain County; Newton a
successful farmer of Fountain County; Caroline D. who was born in Ohio married TH Young,
and became the mother of one child; Mary, who married Abram Caldwell, sho is engaged in
farming in Fountain County; and Chloe, a native of Ohio, who married Seth Button, by whom
she has six children. Of the children of John C. Death's marriage with Miss Walker,
Aaron W, who was born in this county in 1844, was killed by a runaway team in 1876; Allen,
born on the old homestead in this county in 1847 was married to MIss Melissa Davis and
died on his farm in Jackson Twp, April 17, 1892; Millard who was born in 1850, was married
to Miss Lizzie Campbell, by whom he has 3 children and is the owner of a fine farm of 500
acres; and John W, the subject of this sketch was reared to mature years on the old
homestead and obtained a common school education. He was married Jan 5, 1871, to Miss
Laura E. Campbell, a daughter of AJ Campbell,she being one of his 5 daughters. To Mr. and
Mrs. Death two children were born Eva C, who was born Oct 11, 1872; and Duraward Allen
born in 1876. Mr. Death resided on his father's farm until 19, soon after which the
flag of his country became endangered and he left home to enlist in the NY Cavalry, being
one of Gen. Baker's bodyguards. He served his country for 3 years, was in the 2nd
battle of Bull Run, was wounded in the right hand at Middleburg. >From 1864 until 1867
he followed the occupation of farming, after which he superintended the home farm until
1872. He first became the owner of 160 acres of land, to which he subsequently added 80
acres more. His land is in an excellent state of cultivation, and on it he erected in 1889
a handsome residence at a cost of $3,000 which contains 9 rooms, and is fitted up with
many modern conveniences. His wife is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and Mr. Death is one of its most liberal supportesr, and has been one of the officers.
Politically he is a Republican and sosically belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the
Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, and the Horse Thief Detective Association. His
family is supposed to be of English lineage and were early settlers of America. A brother
of the great great grandfather of the subject of this sketch was killed by the Indians.