My Genealogy Hound

AARON E. JOHN, postmaster at Dudenville; also carries general merchandise. The subject of this sketch was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Dec. 22, 1828. He was reared and educated in Ohio. He is the son of Geo. C. and Elizabeth John. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ohio. Our subject was the second of ten children; and moved to Illinois in 1851. In 1852 his father died and left a large family in meager circumstances. Our subject taught his first school in the winter of 1855-56, in Putnam county, Ill. He continued to teach school during winter months until 1859; during the summer he worked at the carpenter trade and engaged in farming. In 1864 he enlisted in the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Sixteenth Army Corps, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war at Springfield, Illinois, and returned to his old home in Putnam county. In April, 1866, he was married to Miss Esther A. Rumery. She was born Dec. 22, 1846, and is the daughter of Moses and Hannah Rumery. Her father was born in Maine and her mother in New York, the same year. Mr. John moved to Iowa and engaged in farming and carpentering, also taught school until March, 1873; he then moved to Kansas and was there nine months; then went to Dade county, Mo., and bought his present farm, which joins Jasper county. In 1874 he settled on the farm and has been engaged in farming ever since. In October, 1882, he took charge of the post-office. His farm consists of 245 acres, 85 acres are in Lincoln township, Jasper county; the rest is in Dade county. It is well watered with three living springs and two wells, and has two fair houses, barn and out-buildings. Mr. and Mrs. John have six children, named Henry E., Milton J., William E., Moses R., Mary, and an infant. Himself and wife are members of the M, E. Church. Mr. John is quite an enterprising man and has a great deal of public spirit. He was county judge in Iowa for several terms, and also held the office of county clerk. In politics he is a Republican.