Greene County IN Archives Biographies.....Axtell, S. W. 1850 - 
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Author: Goodspeed (1884)

   S. W. AXTELL, Superintendent of the schools of Greene County, is one of three
surviving children in a family of five born to George R. and Amanda (Farnham)
Axtell, appropriate mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. The
genealogy of this family is traced back in England as early as 1535, to one John
Akstyle, a member of a religious order in Hertfordshire. Thomas Axtell, baptized
at Berkhamstead, England, January 26, 1619, was undoubtedly the progenitor of
the name in the United States. The following are the names of the heads of the
different families in a direct line of descent from the Axtell last mentioned,
together with their respective births: Henry, born in 1641; Daniel, 1673;
Thomas, 1727; Thomas. 1750; Thomas, 1797; George R., May 10, 1825. The last on
this list is the father of the subject of this memoir, and is a prosperous
farmer of Beech Creek Township. S. W. Axtell was born in Knox County, Ohio, June
17, 1850, and when six years old removed with his parents to Greene County,
Ind., locating in Beech Creek Township, where he was raised, and largely
educated. After attending the best schools afforded in the county, he entered
the State University the term of 1871-72, and in July, 1874, graduated from the
law department of that institution. The same month of his graduation, he located
for the practice of his profession in Bloomfield, and has ever since resided
here, being at present a member of the well-known legal firm of Pickens, Axtell
& Moffett. For several years Mr. Axtell has been at work perfecting a complete
set of abstracts of title for lands in Greene County, and is now prepared, to
furnish anything in his line. He is a Democrat, and in 1876 was elected County
Superintendent, which position he has ever since held, making one of the best
Superintendents the county ever had. Through many obstacles and against the
advice of older heads, he undertook the system of grading the schools of the
county, and has made it a flattering success. In a like manner, he was
successful in perfecting the graduation system, which he claims is not a fabric
woven in the loom of fancy, but a complete system of common-sense plans. Mr.
Axtell, at one time, was the candidate of his party for State's Attorney, but
owing to a Republican majority in the district, suffered defeat. His marriage
with Miss Mary J. Gray was solemnized February 16, 1861, and by her is the
father of this family: Aden F., deceased, G. W., Ilie M., Casper B., Edna M. and
Nita Vera. The parents are members of the Christian Church.

Additional Comments:
Richland Township Biographies

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES,
STATE OF INDIANA,
FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1884.

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