Joseph Edward Arvin

                                            The merchants...were cautious and prudent men, they had begun the world     
                                 with little or nothing and had risen to independence by slow but steady steps.
                                 They did business in their own houses, traded principally on their own capital,
                                 lived in houses of their own and most of them owned farms from which they
                                 could draw a subsistence when trade failed.                         —J F McElroy 
                                                                  History of Lebanon [Ky]

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                                            This biographical sketch is under development and subject to change.

Joseph was born 9 November 1815 in Charles County Maryland. As a baby, moved with family to the Hardin's Creek Settlement in frontier Kentucky.  

As a young man, he set off on his own circa 1837 and settled in Reeves Township, Daviess County, Indiana.
At least three of his brothers settled in the area at the same time, each buying "Congress Land" directly from the government. Joesph purchased 40 acres of land. He eventually built an "earth house," partially buried in the side of a hill and operated a country store on his land. He also ran a still which supplied the liquor he sold in the store.  As of 1977, the house and still were long gone. The property had been bought by a retired dentist, who named his place, "Toothacres."

 

Married Rose Ann Hayden back in Hardin County, Kentucky, on 5 November 1844. 

 

Children:    William Henry, born 17 September 1845

                  Elizabeth Ann, born 3 February 1848

       Joseph and Rose Arvin are shown on the Census of 1850 in Daviess County, Reeves Township, Indiana:

                                 Joseph            35         Farmer
                                 Rose               27
More children:


                 Edward Martin, born 1 July 1850

                  Mary Jane, born 25 March 1852

                  Rose Ann, born 13 July 1854

                  Joseph Thomas, born 22 June 1856

                  Benjamin Francis, born 19 July 1857

                  James Paul, born 6 December 1863

                  Susan Ellen, born 1 July 1868

                  Valeria Catherine, born 15 March 1871

Joseph and Rose Ann celebrated their golden wedding anniversay on 5 November 1894.

In April of the year 1900, both Joseph and Rose Ann contracted the flu. Rose Ann died of her illness on April 10. Joseph died less than twenty-four hours later. They are buried in a common plot at the current St. Martin's Church cemetery.  The church and cemetery are visible from Highway 231 in Whitfield, Indiana.  

Joseph's 1872 edition of the Holy Bible, with family genealogical information in it.   

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Robert Joseph Arvin, Jr.    

Arvin Family Biographical Sketches.