Brown County IN Archives Biographies.....Petro, John 1847 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 4, 2007, 5:00 pm

Author: B. F. Bowen (1904)

JOHN PETRO.

   Holding worthy prestige among the leading farmers and stock raisers of the
township in which he resides, the gentleman whose name appears above is well
worthy of mention in this volume, being an honorable representative of one of
the old pioneer families of Brown county and a man of integrity and sterling
worth, whom to know is to esteem. John Petro is one of Brown county's native
sons and dates his birth from September 3, 1847, having first seen the light of
day on the old family homestead in Hamlin township. His paternal ancestors for
several generations were Kentuckians, and his grandfather, Levi Petro, was the
first of the family to leave the Blue Grass state and locate in Indiana, moving
originally to Johnson county, thence after a few years to the county of Brown,
his arrival here being as early as 1831. Levi Petro entered land in Hamlin
township and cleared a farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying
a number of years ago.

   George Petro was a youth when his father took up his residence in this county
and he grew to manhood on the home place in Hamlin township, assisted to clear
and develop the same, and, like other early comers, experienced in full measure
the toils and vicissitudes which attended the lot of the pioneer in this part of
Indiana. When old enough to begin life upon his own responsibility, he entered a
tract of public land in the township of Hamlin and in order to obtain a patent
for the same was obliged to make a trip to Indianapolis on foot, two days being
required in going and coming. The patent, bearing the signature of James K.
Polk, and dated 1848, is now in possession of the subject of this review, by
whom it is highly prized, not only for its legal value, but also as a relic of
no little worth. Securing his land, Mr. Petro at once addressed himself to the
labor of its improvement and by hard work and persevering endeavor was in due
time rewarded with a good farm and a comfortable home. He became a prosperous
tiller of the soil, also an excellent and praise-worthy citizen, took an active
and influential part in the development of the country and the advancement of
its varied interests and to the end of his days was considered one of the
leading men of the community in which he resided. In politics he was a
pronounced Democrat of the old school and in religion a pious and devout
Baptist, of which church his good wife was also a faithful and consistent
communicant.

    When a young man, George Petro married Sophia Calvin, who was born and
reared in Brown county, and by her he had a family of nine children, five sons
and four daughters, the subject of this review being the oldest of the number.
Mr. Petro served three years in the late Civil war as a member of the
Eighty-second Indiana Infantry, took part in a number of campaigns and battles
and earned an honorable record as a soldier. He lived a long and useful life,
and died in the year 1892, leaving to his descendants a good name and a
reputation free from the suspicion of dishonor; his faithful wife and
co-laborer, who shared with him the efforts of home-making and to whom not a
little of his success was due, preceded him to the grave, departing this life in
1875.

   John Petro's early experience included the usual routine incident to life in
the country, and he spent the years of his childhood and youth pretty much after
the manner of the majority of lads reared on a farm. During the summer months
his employment in the fields kept him exceedingly busy and after the crops had
been harvested, he attended the district schools. To these early years, under
the tutelage of parents, whose high ambition was to engrave upon the minds of
their children such principles as would insure them careers of honor and
usefulness, Mr. Petro, like thousands of others, is largely indebted for that
integrity of character and steadfastness of purpose which has distinguished him
as a citizen in every walk of life. He remained at home until a youth in his
teens, when he started out to earn his own livelihood as a farm hand, and to
this kind of labor he devoted his attention until the year 1869, when he made a
trip to Iowa. After a brief period in that state he returned to Brown county and
resumed agricultural pursuits on the farm, taking full charge of the place after
his father's death, and has so continued to the present time. As a tiller of the
soil he easily ranks with the most enterprising and successful of his fellow
citizens thus engaged, being not only industrious and energetic, but exceedingly
methodical in his labors and a most efficient manager. In addition to general
farming he pays considerable attention to fine live stock, and of recent years
he has given no little of his time to fruit raising, for which his land seems
peculiarly adapted, and which, in his judgment, will ultimately become one of
the leading industries in this part of Indiana. From the beginning of his career
to the present time Mr. Petro has made substantial progress and is now one of
the well-to-do men of Hamlin township, being the possessor of an ample
competence for himself and for those dependent upon him, with encouraging
prospects of still greater additions to his material wealth in years to come.
Like all public spirited citizens, he manifests an abiding interest in politics,
and ever since old enough to exercise the right of ballot he has been a zealous
worker in the Democratic party. In 1898 he was elected to the important and
responsible office of county commissioner, and served a full term of three
years. In 1903 he was renominated by his party, the election to occur in the
fall of 1904. Possessing sound judgment, excellent business ability and wise
discretion, his presence on the board has been of great value in directing its
affairs.

   On February 19, 1874, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Petro and Miss
Miranda Flint, of Ohio, daughter of Luther and Mary Flint, the father a native
of Vermont, the mother of the Buckeye state. Luther Flint went to Ohio when
twelve years of age with his father, Porter Flint, and after living in the
latter commonwealth until 1867, moved to Brown county, Indiana, where he
purchased a farm, on which he resided until his death, January 13, 1903, his
wife dying the 2d of February of the year 1871. He was one of the enterprising
agriculturists of his county, a fine neighbor and public spirited citizen. A
Democrat in politics, he was by no means a place seeker and as an earnest and
sincere member of the Baptist church, he lived a consistent Christian life and
made his presence felt for good in the community. His wife was also identified
with the same religious body and her influence made for the moral advancement of
all with whom she associated.

   Mr. and Mrs. Petro have a family of six children, the oldest of whom, Stella
M., was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Terre
Haute and for some time past has been one of Brown county's most efficient and
popular teachers; Everett, the second in order of birth, lives in Iowa; Marvin
is a resident of Brown county; Walter holds an important position with the
Stockmen's Indemnity Association of Michigan ; Ida M. makes her home in
Indianapolis, and Eva C., the youngest of the family, is with her parents and
pursuing her studies in the public schools. Mr. Petro educated his children with
the object in view of preparing them for useful and honorable lives, and thus
far his interest in their behalf has been anything but disappointing. They
responded heartily to his efforts, the sons fitting themselves for business by
taking commercial courses, and at this time all except the youngest are
self-supporting, with prospects of continued advancement in their respective
fields of endeavor.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
INDIANA

INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA

ILLUSTRATED

1904

B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/brown/bios/petro870gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/

File size: 8.5 Kb