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Switzerland County

Biography

Judge Joseph Malin

was born at Charlestown, Jefferson Co., Va., November 30, 1793, of Quaker parentage, and on his father's side of Welch descent. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to Samuel Russell to be instructed in the art, trade and calling of a saddler, as per his indenture dated November 30, 1808, signed by his father, William Malin and Samuel Russell, in the presence of subscribing witnesses Jacob Crawell and Nathaniel Offut. In place of being taught to "read, write, and cipher to rule of three, said Joseph Malin was to receive six weeks' schooling in each year, and five dollars, or one week in harvest each year." After Mr. Malin had performed his part and taken up his indenture he removed to near Urbana, Ohio, where in 1815 he was married to Elizabeth Mendenhall, and in 1816 removed to Vevay. Mrs. Malin died in 1822. Mr. Malin was married four times, without issue by the second and fourth marriages. Mr. Malin has been a remarkably active, enterprising business man, pursuing very sucessfully his "calling of saddler;" excelling in the quality of his manufactures, he soon succeeded in acquiring means to combine the mercantile business, in which he had had some experience in boyhood, with his manufacturing business. He soon accumulated a competency. Some of his saddles were taken across the Atlantic Ocean, and hundreds of miles to the interior of the continent of Europe, where they were much admired. Mr. Malin was called by the people to serve in positions of trust and honor, where he acquitted himself with credit and the public approval. As justice of the peace, when the old style of "knock down and drag out" was the order of the day, he was peculiarly practical in quelling the rioters. With an ax handle in hand he rushed into the crowd, commanding the peace, at the same time dealing blows right and left, enforcing the command. As associate judge and sheriff he was not less original in his methods. Many amusing incidents are related of him, for which we have no room here; he loved his friends, but hated his enemies, consequently had many warm friends and cordial enemies. It has been his pride to help young men starting in life by loaning them money, and otherwise encouraging them, and more than one has become rich by his assistance, advice and encouragement. He was always foremost in schemes for the relief of the unfortunate.

Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell