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Below is a family biography included in The History of Perry County, Indiana published by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co. in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CAPT. ANDREW P. BATSON was born in Sweden, October 16, 1824, the youngest of eight children of Andrew P. and Magdalena (Dalsta) Batson. The entire family were sea-faring people, and our subject early encountered the pleasures and dangers of a sailor’s roving life. He made several trips to Rio Janeiro while young, and on the second was cruelly whipped by orders of the captain who had ordered him to bring his spectacles, which were afterward found over his forehead instead of lost. Young Batson then came to New Orleans, and from 1834 to 1846, was a sailor under the Stars and Stripes. He became second officer of the ship “Ondickee,” of Philadelphia. December 15, 1846, he married Prudence, daughter of George Nixson, meeting her on his own ship while she, with her father, was en route to the United States. To this romantic marriage twelve children were born: Mary H. (wife of M. H. Royal), Elizabeth A. (wife of James McDaniel), Partiney E. (wife of Albert Gengelbach), Andrew G., Isabel M. (wife of Nicholas Eigel), James B., Prudence (wife of Austin Thompson), John P., Anna M., Florence B., and two deceased— Josephine and Benjamin F. Christmas eve., 1846, Mr. Batson came to Perry County, and the following year located on his present farm. He was captain of the “Legion” four years; is an Odd Fellow. Politically he is a Democrat. He was county sheriff one term; is now pension agent, and has been township treasurer and trustee.

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This family biography is one of 257 biographies included in The History of Perry County, Indiana portion of the book: History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties Indiana published in 1885 by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Perry County, Indiana family biographies here: Perry County, Indiana Biographies

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