John  S.  Trees


                John S. Trees  is a native of Rush County, Ind., and was born June 5, 1838; he is the eldest son of  John and Rhoda (Simmons) Trees, of German and English descent.  His parents married in Rush County, Ind., and lived a pioneer life in that and Shelby County. In 1858, they removed to Howard County, locating on the farm where our subject now lives; here they toiled and improved their farm until they had a good home.  Mr. John Trees died in May, 1874, at the age of sixty-two years.  Mrs. Trees (aged sixty-nine) is still living, and makes her home with her children.  Mr. Trees was in early life a Whig, and later a Republican, and his religious views were with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a common school education, and February 10, 1858, he was married to  Miss Fannie E. Floyd, of Shelby County, and the same year moved to this county, stopping with his father on the farm; he shortly after returned to Shelby County, where Mrs. Trees died.  Mr. Trees then returned to this county, and assisted on the home farm, and in December, 1859, he married  Miss Mariah Hazzard, of this county.  She died September 20, 1870, leaving four children:  Rolla A.,  Denny M.,  Lizzie L.  and  Effie L.  Mr. Trees was married to his present wife, Miss Alice Curlee, of this county, March 1, 1872.  She was born in Johnson County. Ind., September 21, 1852.  This union has been blessed with four children:  Rhoda S .,  Fred L.,  Susie M.  and  John G.  Mr. Trees purchased a farm in 1859, and November 8, 1870, he removed to Kokomo, having been elected Sheriff of the county by the Republican party.  After serving one term, he entered the grocery business, continuing eighteen months, and in the winter of 1881 he purchased the farm where he now lives.  In 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, forming a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and was engaged in battle at Columbia, Spring Hill, Crasked Creek, and December 15 went out to meet Gen. Hood, at Nashville, and was here struck in the right thigh by a minie ball.  He lay all night on the battle-field, and the next morning was taken to Columbia Hospital, where his wound was dressed.  A few months later, he was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, and later came home on a furlough.  He was honorably discharged in June, 1865; he was compelled to go on crutches for nine months, and is a cripple for life.  Mr. and Mrs. Trees are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Trees is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I.O.O.F..
Counties of Howard and Tipton, Indiana, "Liberty Township,"  F.A. Battey & Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1883
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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