Jessamine County Genealogy Trails
Biographies
WILLIAM S. TODD. The subject of this biographical
sketch is a native of Kentucky, born in Jessamine County on the 13th day of
March, 1814. His parents, David and Sallie D. (Smith) Todd, were natives of
Tennessee, and his paternal grandfather, John Todd, one of the pioneers of that
State, served with distinction in the war for American Independence. When the
subject was about seven years of age his parents emigrated to Indiana and
located in Parke County, about eight miles from Rockville, having been among the
earliest settlers in that section of the country. Here on a farm William S. Todd
passed his youthful years, and in the common schools, which he attended under
many difficulties, he obtained the rudiments of an English education. By coming
in contact with business men in after years, and by always taking an active
interest in literary matters, he became in time the possessor of a fund of
valuable information which has enabled him to successfully fill positions of
trust at different times. He began life for himself at the age of nineteen, as
clerk in a mercantile house at Rockville, in which capacity he continued until
about the year 1843. In 1837, July 13th, while at Rockville, he was united in
marriage to Miss Margaret Christian, a native of Virginia, by whom he had eight
children, to-wit: Mary D., born April 15, 1838; Sarah E., born January 6, 1840;
William B., born July 31, 1841; Margaret, born August 18, 1843, died June 6,
1871;. Martha E., born October 9, 1845; David R., born March 1, 1848; Lucy A.,
born April 18, 1850, and Lewis C., born April 21, 1852. In 1845 he moved to
Jefferson County, Iowa, where for eight years he was engaged in the pursuits of
agriculture. He left Iowa in the fall of 1853, and returning to Indiana, located
in Peru, where he accepted the position of salesman in the mercantile house of
Blake & Todd, continuing in that capacity until elected to the office of County
Recorder in 1862. He took charge of the office in 1863 and served for a period
of eight years, during which time he transacted the business of the position in
a manner satisfactory to his friend and political opponents. Since the
termination of his official career Mr. Todd has been actively engaged in
preparing a complete abstract of the real estate of Miami County. His first wife
died November 3, 1854, and in 1860, March 1, was solemnized his second marriage
with Mrs. Mary Ann (Oldshue) Brownell, who departed this life August 15, 1884,
leaving him the second time a widower. Mr. Todd is a Democrat in politics, and a
consistent member of the Masonic fraternity.
History of Miami County, Indiana: From the
earliest time to the present ... By Brant & Fuller, Chicago [Submitted by
Barb Z. August 2010]
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