John Oscar Calvert

John Oscar Calvert, a farmer of Highland township, was born in Kentucky, January 5, 1837, where he attended subscription schools when a boy and worked on his father's farm until he enlisted in the army, April 9, 1865, and was mustered out August 4th the same year, after which he returned to farming. He married in 1855 Levina Bryan, daughter of John L. and Mary A. (Turley) Bryan, natives of Kentucky. Levina was born in Greene county, Indiana, September 15, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Calvert had the following children: Alice, who died in infancy; Philander, who also died young; Clara I., deceased, wife of Jerry Bender; Robert L., a farmer in Highland township, to whom were born two children; Allie, wife of Wyatt Miller, a farmer in Highland township, to whom one child has been born; Tilman A., a farmer in Highland township, who has four children; Mary J., deceased; John B., a farmer in Highland township, to whom was born two children; Della, wife of William Crites, a farmer in Greene county, to whom has been born five children.

The parents of the subject were Robert W. and Celia A. (Russell) Calvert, the latter a native of Maryland. The Calvert family was originally from Virginia. Grandfather Calvert went from that state to Kentucky and worked as a tailor, dying there when seventy years old and leaving four sons and three daughters, all living to maturity. He was a Baptist and a Democrat.

Robert W. Calvert was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, and attended subscription schools in Kentucky. He was a farmer; also owned and managed a saw-mill, which was operated by waterpower. He left Kentucky in 1842 and settled in Highland township, Greene county, Indiana, where he bought a farm consisting of one hundred acres, which was added to from time to time until he had six hundred acres, partly improved. Later he had most of it cleared. When he first bought the place the buildings on it were log and the fences were rail. He married Celia A. Russell and they raised a family of four boys and three girls, all but one boy and one girl reaching maturity. The subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth. Robert W. Calvert died in 1857 and his wife died a few years later. The former was a Democrat. The latter was a member of the Methodist church.

Two brothers, Constantine Calvert and William O. Calvert, were also soldiers in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Calvert are members of the Baptist church. He is a Democrat and served five years as trustee of Highland township. Robert L., his son, is now a trustee of Highland township.

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"Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Ind. with Reminiscences of Pioneer Days", B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1908. Vol. 2 pg. 745-47

Last updated 8.11.2009