Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Joseph D. Laughlin
History of Knox and Daviess County
Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886
JOSEPH D. LAUGHLIN, attorney at law and notary public at Odon, Ind., was born in Martin County, Ind., February 1, 1845, and is one of ten children born to John O. M. and Elizabeth (Gyger) Laughlin. The father was of Irish descent, born in Kentucky, in 1815 and is a farmer by occupation. He came to Indiana, when but three years of age. In 1843 he moved to Martin County, where he entered forty acres of land, and where he has since resided, but now owns 160 acres of land. The mother is of German extraction, born in Tennessee in 1814. Our subject attended the district schools, and in addition attended two terms at Zion's Seminary, in Zion, Ill. in 1869, and the following year attended the two terms at Dover Hill, Martin County. He was one of the "boys' in blue" and August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Dalton, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and in the grand review at Washington, D.C. In November, 1864, he was transferred to Company C, Seventieth Regiment. He was in the field until the close of war. October, 1873, he married Lakie, daughter of Charles and Amanda Legerwood. She was born in Daviess County in 1852. To them were born these children: Laurette, Edgar Tecumseh. Lillie, Maud, Bertha, Oliver and Elizabeth. Mr. Laughlin has lived in Odon since his marriage. In 1870 he began teaching school, continuing that occupation eight years. The last three years of his school teaching he studied law, and, since 1877, has given his entire time to the study and practice of that profession. In 1881 he drew up a petition for the purpose of changing the name of the town (then Clarksburg) to Odon, and presented it to the county board of commissioners. The petition was granted. Mr. Laughlin is a Republican, and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. In 1874 he was appointed notary public, and has since held that office. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Contributed by: Michael L Tedrow