James Anderson Cannon was born in Morton, Indiana not far from Indianapolis to Basil Cannon and Lavina Lowe on August 15, 1860. By the 1880 federal census the family was living at 119 Vantress St. in Washington, Indiana. His father, Basil 43, was working as a laborer as well as his three oldest sons in the home. Children present in the home were Columbus 21, James A. 19, William A., 17, Ulysses 13 Schulyer C. 8, and Jacob aged 9 months.
Continue readingRoscoe Charles Launius was born near Stonefort, Illinois to John Logan Launius and Nancy Ann Absher on December 8, 1882. No obit was found for him but the 1880 federal census reflects the family living in what was then called Saline Township, later renamed Stonefort Township in the SE corner of the county. Roscoe’s parents, John 38 and Nancy 39 were farmers and at the time only had two sons in the home Roscoe 16 and William 9. The owned their land but it was mortgaged.
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Although a proper obit could not be located for Owen Peterson Brown, he appears to have been born in Township 12 Range 3 of Johnson County near Vienna. This is where his farming family was located in the 1870 federal census. In the census, his father Robert 41 and mother Mary 36 were living in a farm home. Owen was 9 and had 4 siblings along with four other young people, likely relatives.
When the 1880 census was taken the family were living in Elvira, Johnson County and Owen 19 and his brother Austin 12 were working as farm laborers on his father’s farm.
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Elbert Ray Scobey who went by “Bert” was born January 3, 1879 in Crab Orchard Township. An article found later in life described his trip to the Plumville area as visiting his place of birth which would place him north of Crab Orchard. His parents were John Scobey and Amanda Caroline Pulley and were a farming family.
In the 1880 census the family was still located in Crab Orchard Township farming. His parents, John and Amanda were 49 and 41 years of age. Elbert was the youngest of three children still in the home at the age of 1. He attended the local schools in his youth and later attended Crab Orchard Academy. From 1897 to 1900 he taught in local public schools.
Continue readingThomas Hiram Hunter appears to have been born in Southern Township south of Marion on August 8, 1873 to Leon Hunt and Mary Hudgens. This is where the 1880 federal census located his parental family living as farmers. In the census, Thomas was listed as 8 years old with 4 siblings.
On July 22, 1896, 22 year old Thomas married 20 year old Nettie Parker, daughter of Pinkney Parker and Mary Norman (or Noorvars?). Four years later in the 1900 census, the couple were renting a home in Marion and already had two children, Leon aged 3 and Tom aged 1. Thomas was employed as a coal miner.
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