Todd - John W.
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913 p 1188
One of
the most representative citizens of Montgomery County and one
of her worthiest native sons is John W. TODD, prominent agriculturist
and banker of Browns Valley, a man, who has succeeded in life
because he has worked consistently along proper lines of endeavor
and has never permitted obstacles to depart his pathway to the goal of success, and also because he has led an upright
and honest life, thereby gaining and retaining the confidence
and respect of all who know him. He has done much for the general
upbuilding of the community honored by his residence, and is eminently
deserving of a place in his County's history. Mr. Todd was born
in Montgomery Co, Nov 11, 1841 and he is a son of Johnson and
Ruth (VanCleave) Todd, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew
to maturity, were educated and married and from which state they
came to Montgomery County, Indiana in 1832, when this section
of the state was practically a wilderness, settlers were few,
and the land only meagerly improved in places. They devoted their
lives to general farming, developing a good farm here from the
virgin soil. Mr. T. was known as a raiser of shorthorn cattle.
His family consisted of 10 children, namely: James C; John W.
of this review; Henry is deceased; I.S.; George W; Johnson b;
Mrs. Sarah J. DAVIS ; Mrs. Melissa SERVIES ; Pauline and Mrs.
Mary WILLIAMS . John W. Todd was reared on the home farm, where
he worked hard when a young man, and he received his education
in the public schools of his community after which he took up
farming in Brown Twp. and there continued as a general farmer
and stock raiser with ever increasing success until the present
In 1905 he assisted in organizing the Browns Valley Bank, with
a capital stock of 410,000 with a surplus of $3700 and with undivided
profits of $1200. The stock is held by local men, all reputable
citizens and men of known integrity and business ability, and
this institution has met with favor with the people of this part
of the County and is regarded as a sound and safe institution.
The stockholders are John W. Todd, president; Walter SOUTHERLAND,
VP; Walter WIATT, cashier; board of Directors, L.M. McLOED ; C.W.
TAYLOR ; George W. CANINE ; T.D. COONS and WW. BAYLESS . Mr. T.
is deserving of a great deal of credit for his splendid work in
promoting this splendid bank, which has filled a long felt want
in this community and its pronounced success has been due for
the most part to his able management and wise counsel. Mr. Todd was married in 1867 to Susan STEGER, daughter of James and Elizabeth
Steger, natives of Ky. The union of Mr. T. and his first wife
was without issue. Her death occurred after a few years and Mr.
T. married in 1871 Hester HARRIS, daughter of John and Caroline
Harris, both natives of Ky, from which state they removed to Montgomery
Co in a very early day. Mr. T's second wife died in 1900. Politically
Mr. T. is a Democrat, and has always been a loyal supporter of
the party. Religiously, he is a Methodist, and in fraternal matters
he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He has been a member of
the Horse Thief Detective Association for the past 50 years. -