Howard-Johnson-Tipton County IN Archives Biographies.....Disbro, Charles E. 1839 - ************************************************ 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 April 24, 2006, 12:53 am Author: Jackson Morrow REV. CHARLES E. DISBRO. The honored gentleman whose name introduces this article is one of Howard county's most popular citizens and his life forcibly illustrates what energy, integrity and a fixed purpose can accomplish when animated by noble aims and correct ideals. Rev. Disbro has long been prominently identified with the moral and spiritual affairs of Howard county, having devoted nearly a half century to the ministry in this and other sections of Indiana, and is also a veteran of the war of the rebellion, in which he rendered valliant service in defense of the nation's honor. During the long years of his residence in the county he has held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of its people as is today a popular and much admired resident of the beautiful and serene village of Greentown, being widely known principally through his office as presiding elder of the Kokomo district of the Methodist Episcopal church which he held with great credit from 1881 to 1885, having done a very commendable work in this field during those years. Rev. Charles E. Disbro was born in Johnson county, Indiana, February 5, 1839, the son of Zalmon and Rachel (Massey) Disbro, the former a native of New York and the latter of Kentucky. Both came with their parents to Johnson county, Indiana, in an early day: there they became acquainted and married, moving to Tipton county in 1851, when this county was practically a wilderness. The subject's father followed farming all his life, becoming a man of considerable influence in his community. He passed to the "silent land" in 1904, after an active and useful life, having reached the advanced age of ninety-one years, his faithful life companion having been called to her rest in 1892. As a young man our subject worked on his father's farm, attending the common schools in the district in the meantime; being a close student he received a fairly good education. He was converted to the Christian faith at the age of eighteen years and soon afterward joined the Methodist Episcopal church. Being under the impression that he should preach, he entered the ministry at the age of twenty years. Owing to devotion to study, coupled with his natural ability as a speaker, etc., it was soon seen that he would be eminently successful in this calling, later years proving that he made no mistake by entering the field of the Gospel. For his first year's work he received one hundred and twenty-two dollars and one hundred and twenty-five dollars for his second year's work. He was in the ministry for forty-one years, having served in the following places during that time: Peru, Huntington, Decatur, Bluffton, LaGrange, Kokomo district, Elkhart and Portland. In all these charges he became popular and much liked, having built up the churches at each and won scores of souls for Christ. Finally the great strain was too much for his nerves and he was compelled to relinquish the work in 1899, much to the regret of all who knew him or had heard him expound the Gospel. Rev. Mr. Disbro responded to the patriotic fervor that seized him when the integrity of our nation was threatened, and severing home ties, he went forth to defend, the stars and strips, having enlisted early in the war in Company H, Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private. Soon his conspicuous service caused the superior officers to promote him to the rank of second lieutenant, later to first lieutenant, and he served as captain nearly all the time he was at the front, but he was never commissioned as captain. His regiment took part in the battles at Pittsburg Landing, April 6 and 7, 1862, Perrysville, Corinth, Murfordsville, Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Franklin and Nashville. The regiment was later sent to Texas, but the subject did not accompany it. He was mustered out late in 1863. He at once returned to Howard county, Indiana, and re-entered the ministry and for forty years occupied the pulpits of various charges of the Northern Indiana Conference. In 1890 he became pastor of the church at Greentown, serving five years in that capacity, and with the exception of five years has continued to make Greentown his home ever since. Rev. Mr. Disbro was appointed postmaster of Greentown in 1904, in which capacity he served very efficiently until 1908. He was nominated as trustee of Liberty township at the close of his term as postmaster and his nomination was generally regarded as a most fortunate one. The subject's happy domestic life dates from March 7, 1861, when he was united in marriage with Mary C. Hall, of Tipton county, this state. She was born November 13, 1843, the daughter of Eli and Margaret Hall, who resided in Tipton county, where they were reckoned among the leading families of their community. Her father was a Kentuckian and her mother was a native of Scott county, Indiana. They were Methodists. Mrs. Disbro received a common school education and early gave evidence of the possession of many admirable attributes, which her subsequent life has manifested. Four children, two sons and two daughters, have been born to this union as follows: Mary Florence and Emma Flora, both still members of the family circle; Charles M. is in the supply department of the Wabash Railroad Company, located at Decatur, Illinois; Willie S. died March 24, 1884. Our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the post at Butler, Indiana, and he receives a twelve dollar pension. He owns a beautiful and comfortable suburban home in Greentown, and is pleasantly situated, enjoying his declining years, conscious of the fact that his life has been well spent. He is well preserved physically and gives promise of a very long life; this is no doubt due to the consistent and even tempered life he has led. He is held in high regard by those who know him, as is shown by the confidence the people of his community repose in him by honoring him in official capacities and many other ways. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/disbro379nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 6.7 Kb