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Below is a family biography included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published by Weakley, Harraman & 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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STEPHEN H. SCRANTON, farmer, Posey Township, is a son of Harvey Scranton, who was born in Lower Canada in 1800, a son of William and Elizabeth (Perkins) Scranton, who came to Ohio County and settled back of Rising Sun about 1815. Harvey’s parents entered or purchased land there and resided till their deaths. He married Celia Bradford there and purchased land, where he followed farming all his life, locating in Rising Sun a few years before his death, which occurred in 1874. His widow survived till 1884. They reared a family of three children: Stephen H.; Tryphena, widow of Ezra Kemp; Alice, wife of William Turner. Stephen H. Scranton, son of Harvey Scranton, of this sketch, was born in Ohio County in January, 1822. He grew to manhood in that locality and there married Sarah J. Kemp, daughter of John Kemp, one of the early settlers of this locality. Mr. Scranton resided at home with his parents till twenty-eight years of age, in the same house, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres back of Patriot in Switzerland County, where he lived five years. He then lived three years in Ohio County, Randolph Township, when he again returned to near Patriot, where he lived twelve years. One year again in Rising Sun when he purchased the farm of 175 acres on which he now lives, and to which he has since added twenty-four acres. Mr. Scranton has engaged chiefly in farming. Did some coopering in early days, and has been quite successful. Mr. and Mrs. Scranton have three children: Harvey; Rachel, wife of Hosier J. Harris; Mary, wife of Abijah Humphrey.

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This family biography is one of 215 biographies included in The History of Switzerland County, Indiana published in 1885 by Weakley, Harraman & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Switzerland County, Indiana History and Genealogy

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

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