Biography of John A. Provines, pages 540 / 541/ 542.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John A. Provines, druggist and Postmaster, Spencerville, Ind., was born in 
Wayne County, Ohio, July 22, 1843, the eldest son of Alexander Provines.  
When he was ten years of age, in the spring of 1853, his parents moved to De 
Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township, where he was reared and 
educated, remaining with his parents till after the breaking out of the 
Rebellion, when, Sept. 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana 
Infantry.  The following October the regiment went to Munfordville, Ky., and 
in February, 1862, to Shiloh, participating in the battle there, proceeded 
to Corinth, thence to Lavergne, Stone River and Chickamauga.  At the latter 
place, Sept. 21, 1863, he was captured and taken to Richmond, and from there, 
Nov. 13, to Danville, where he, with a comrade, L.C. Delano, made his escape 
the next day.  They made their way to West Virginia, where they were 
recaptured the 25th of the month, having walked 240 miles in ten days.  
They were taken to Stanton, Va., and kept in a guard-house over night, and 
then taken to Richmond and confined in a dungeon three nights and two days.  
On the 29th they were taken to Belle Isle and kept in the guard-house till 
Christmas.  March 10 they were taken to Richmond, and on the 12th were 
started for Andersonville.  On the 12th he and two others cut a hole in 
the bottom of the car and escaped, but the 22d were captured by five men 
and thirteen dogs, and the following morning were taken to Barnwell 
Court-House and remained one night; then were sent to Augusta, Ga., where 
they were kept in jail till April 12, thence to Macon, and the 14th landed 
in Andersonville, where he was confined till Sept. 9;  thence to Charleston, 
where he was kept under fire of our own gunboats three days, and then taken 
to the Fair Grounds, and about three weeks later to Florence, and confined 
in the stock-ades till the 8th of December, and then taken to Charleston, 
and on the 10th was exchanged.  He arrived at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 13, 
where, Dec. 25, he was given a thirty days’ furlough, and arrived at home 
the 30th, weighting ninety pounds.  Jan. 25, 1865, he was discharged.  He 
followed the farming till October, 1872, when he moved to Spencerville, and 
engaged in the grocery business till the spring of 1873, and then became 
established in the drug business.  In 1874 he erected the only brick 
building in Spencerville.  He has built up a good business, and has gained 
the confidence of the residents of the village by his upright dealing and 
courteous manners.  He has been Postmaster since July 28, 1873.  He was 
married March 28, 1867, to Elizabeth, daughter of William Prosser.  They 
have had five children, four of whom are living---Minnie, Clauda, Ella and 
Ethel.  Their eldest child, Henry, is deceased.  Mr. Provines is a member 
of Spencerville Lodge, No. 424, F.& A.M., and John C. Carns Post, No. 144, 
G.A.R.  In politics he is a Republican.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com