Newton Co., IN Biography

Newton County, Washington Township.  From A History of Warren, Benton, 
Jasper & Newton Counties, 1883.

   JOSEPH LAW was born in Butler County, Ohio, June 14, 1828.  His
parents, John Law and Hannah (Easley) Law were pioneers, having moved
there from Virginia.  When Joseph was three years old, his parents 
moved to Carroll County, Indiana, where he went to school in a log 
schoolhouse until thirteen, when his mother died and his father broke
up housekeeping and went to Arkansas, where he died.
   Joseph was bound out, but, not being well treated, concluded to 
start for himself.  He left Carroll County, going to Burlington, Iowa, 
thence to Illinois, Wisconsin and other points, working at anything
a boy could do, returning after a while to Carroll County, where he 
worked at farming.  Again he left, going to St. Louis, where his clothes
were stolen.  Without money or friends, he obtained work at chopping
wood on the Mississippi River.  When he had earned $15, he started for 
Indiana, walking part of the way, arriving with but 50 cents.
   He commenced farming at Battle Ground on shares, saved some money,
and entered 160 acres of land in Washington Township, Newton County,
Indiana, where he commenced farming and raising stock.  He now owns
1,200 acres and as fine a house as there is in the county; deals
largely in cattle.
   In politics, he is a Democrat; in religion, a Baptist.  Five times 
he has been Township Trustee.  He is an Odd Fellow of River Lodge No.
586.
   October 10, 1853, he married Elizabeth Kessler, daughter of David
and Rachel (Fisher) Kessler, who were early settlers of Indiana, by
whom he had eight children--Rachel E. (deceased), Mary D., Sarah E.,
Ida C., Joseph D., Algie J., infant boy (deceased) and Blanche A.


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